The Last Lunch

Today was my last chance to say goodbye to Jairo.  I will go to the airport with the other hordes of people who are seeing them off tomorrow.  But today was my time to try to express to him the gratitude and appreciation I have for all he has done over the past year and 1/2 for me.  The problem is that no words are sufficient.  How do you thank someone for always, always being there for you?  For over a year, I rode to the church with Jairo 6 days every week.

I am a person who has a tendency to feel like I am a burden to others.  I don't like to ask for things and I don't like to get in the way.  For over a year, Jairo drove me everywhere I needed to go.  Never once did he allow me to feel like it was a burden to him.  He took me grocery shopping whenever I asked.  He took me to doctor appointments and all over the city to pharmacies to buy medicine when my hair was falling out.  He made sure I had everything I needed and wanted.  And he made sure I was always safe.  I don't know anyone else in the world who would take in someone they barely know and care for them in such a way.  But Jairo and his family did.

So today I was supposed to say thank you for all of that.  I had thought and thought about a gift.  Unfortunately nothing came to mind.  I think there will be ways for me to thank them while they are in the US.

So today as Jairo sat in his usual chair in Eunice's office I looked at him and told him that I had to say Goodbye.  He said, "Aren't you coming to the airport tomorrow?"  I said yes and burst into tears.  Don Juan looked at me like I was nuts.  I am crying as I write this.  I am excited for what the future holds, but I can't imagine my life in Honduras without Jairo.

So as I sobbed I told him that there are just not words enough to thank him for all he has done for me.  He wrapped me up in a hug and I knew he understood.  I said he has taken me in and treated me as his daughter all of this time.  How can I thank him for that?  I am going to be okay without him, but only because of all he has taught me over the past year and 1/2.

He stood back at arms length and said, "This is your time to grow.  You are going to stretch and grow a lot in the next year.  I already see you making friends.  Deepen those relationships and keep making friends.  You look like a real Honduran woman now.  You are beautiful.  You are a beautiful gringa.  You know that?  Don't be embarrassed.  You need to know that you are beautiful.  Just be happy.  Be happy.  Go travel.  Go to the lakes.  Go to the ocean!  Ask Belinda to go with you.  Be patient and keep trying to work as a team.  Stand up to people, even if it is going to make them mad.  Who cares if they are mad?  Keep standing up to them until they hear you.  You are going to grow and thrive here."

I promised I am not going to leave.  He said he knows I will be fine here.  He said he will stay in touch.  I said I don't know what I am going to do without him.  He said he is going to check in about how I am doing and that if I will allow, he would like to always be there for me, for the rest of my life if I will allow him.  I told him yes, please.  He said, "I will not intrude."  We have lived so closely for all of this time and he has never intruded.  I can't imagine that he would intrude from another country.  Plus that is not his style.  We straightened out some last minute details.  Then I went and sat with Jairo and Eunice while they shared lunch.  They used to do this almost every day and always invited me to join them.

How fitting - one last diet coke just for Jairo

We joked it was like The Last Supper - the last lunch with Eunice

Tonight will be the last night for the Sarmientos to sleep in their beds in Honduras.  I hope there is a huge crowd to greet them in the US.  I wish the Sarmientos all of the happiness and blessings God has in store for them, because I know HE has bigger and better plans for them than I can even imagine.