I knew Mother's Day is a big deal here. I've been hearing about it for weeks from the kids as they work to prepare. So I made sure to greet each mother in the car with a special mother's day greeting. When we got to the church it was all decorated in pinks and purples with new flowers. Everyone gave extra Mothers Day hugs and took extra time to settle in as two teens opened up the service (Evelin Michelle's brother, Ricky, and the son of the radio journalists I wrote about last week). The boys did a great job introducing each of the opening songs, reading tributes that other teens had written for their mothers, and saying sweet things to their own mothers. The girls from the breakfast program performed the dance they have been practicing with me for 2 weeks. They were nervous, but looked very pretty.
Then Eunice's daughter, Elienai, gave the message. Elienai did a great job too. She spoke about the bible's definition of a woman, then a mother, then the role of children and how they should respect their mother. She used a lot of scripture, as well as heart felt words to illustrate her point.
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| All of the Madres as the rest of the church prays a blessing over them |
Jairo later told me that the jovenes (teens) have been working hard to prepare for this day since January! He said he gives them free reign. Sometimes they come to him with questions but this day is all theirs.
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| Jose amd Dana Sophia honoring Karla |
In the end people got up and spoke of/to their mothers. Husbands also spoke of their wives as mothers. It was so sweet. At the very end a stunningly beautiful woman (I was dying to know her age. I'm guessing 80's.) stood and recited a poem about women vs men. The poem was as beautiful as the woman. It was very, very long. She had memorized it and practiced just for this occasion. It was an honor to be in that place at that moment.
Jose asked every mother to remain seated. He asked the men to help pull out tables and asked friends and children to help serve food. We had a fried rice dish with fantastic horchata. It was cool to see the men serving horchata. The kids had big trays to carry plates of food. They did a great job of serving everyone quickly. Moms were all dressed up and sat enjoying lunch with their families. It was cool to see how the families from Los Pinos have become an intregal part of the church community. I remember times when they would come and stand by the gate, or back by the offices, but not come forward into the church without coaxing. Now they seem at home and their children are working side by side with kids who grew up in the church. I like it a lot!
I finally really felt at home after the service. I didn't have to stand and think about who to talk to or what to say. I was a social butterfly - serving and wishing mothers "Felicidades". Three tables invited me to sit with them, so I spent some time at each. It was really nice.
As we were leaving I talked with the Seamans. They are very active members of the church, as well as the owners of my house. Their teen aged daughters attend a bilingual school and speak excellent English. They were asking me if I am bilingual. I said I have been wondering the same thing! I don't know how to define bilingual. They said they think I am definitely bilingual, and they wish they were as well. To me, they are easily bilingual. They are feeling a lack of confidence right now because they are studying the SATs and finding the English difficult. We laughed about the "troubles" a bilingual person faces - thinking, singing, dreaming, watching tv in more than one language can all get confusing.
On the way home Jairo asked if I would like to go to his sister's house. I said sure! He said we had to go to his house to cook first, then we'd go to his sister's house. Sounded great to me. I don't have anything else to do. And I had been missing the quality time I used to spend with Lourdes and Jairo.
We cooked, then Jairo and I talked about Mother's Day in Honduras and some of the other cultural differences I have noticed. At dinner time we headed out. It was a gorgeous drive through the mountains past lots of cool sights. Of course there were the usual brightly colored houses, precariously perched on the side of mountains, horses wandering in the street, a spot that smelled funny and was full of huge vultures, and a girl in her pajamas playing with a man (who I'd guess was her father) in a small garbage dump.
We pulled up to a gated community and I learned why Jairo had stopped at a little place few miles back to buy friend chicken. (We already had a car full of food.) As the guards greeted him and went to open the gate he called them over. They were confused. He told them "Happy Mothers' Day! You are not mothers, but you have mothers, no?" and he gave them meals of chicken and soda. He had told me earlier that most people don't have to work Friday afternoon before Mother's Day and the only places open on Mother's Day are restaurants. It's like a national holiday! So he felt bad for the guards who couldn't be with their mothers today and brought them a special treat.
We arrive at Jairo's sister's house where his entire family was present, except one brother who is in Argentina right now. I got to meet his sister for whom we have been praying since I got here. She has cancer. She had to make a trip to the emergency room last night, but is feeling better today. She said it was nice because the young doctors at the hospital recognized her as a nurse who had taught them when they were in school, so she got very special and immediate treatment.
I had the opportunity to talk to Jairo's sister, Ruth, who really changed my life 3 years ago when she spoke to me about the words God had put in her heart for me. She remembered meeting me and was so happy to hear that the words had been helpful. I have waited so long to be able to tell her, it felt great! She has a church outside of the city. Jairo said any time I want to go to her church I can always go. I could even ride with his brother, who lives a few blocks from my house. I will probably visit her church soon. She is blessed with many special gifts from God and it is very interesting to visit her church.
I had fun talking and joking with Jairo's mother and brother. Everyone made me feel at home. Lourdes' Mom was with us. She made sure everyone only spoke to me in Spanish. Even when they asked if they could practice their English with me. They were told firmly that they can speak in English, but I must speak Spanish. She is always willing to help if I get stuck, but Lourdes' mother has made it her personal mission to keep all English out of my vocabulary.
I rambled away in my usual fashion, feeling pretty good about my Spanish, with a house full of new people. I also spent some quality time with Lourdes' sister, Belinda. I haven't had time with her since I lived in her house when I first arrived here and my luggage was lost. It was really nice to catch up with her. She was able to give me some personal advice about the transition I am facing in the next few weeks as I learn whether or not I will live in Honduras permanently.
Finally it was time to go. I wished all of the mothers a Happy Mother's Day, hugged them all and thanked them for sharing the day with me. Then I got a ride home with Jairo's brother. He reminds me a lot of Jairo. He is easy to get along with and funny. He helped create the colonia where I live and was one of the first people to live here 27 years ago. If I need to buy a car here, he will help.
I got home and called my own mother for the second time today, just to tell her what a great day I had. Even though she is far away, I felt like I was able to share this amazing day with her. I wish my mother could experience a Honduran Mother's Day. Hondurans know how to do Mother's Day right! I will never forget this day.
