Yesterday the paper was about church leaders being killed. It is happening every day. They are being killed for two reasons it seems - either they are working to get people out of gangs, or they are not paying the extortion fees that gangs are charging most churches. My church seems to be one of the few that is not asked to pay the local gang members for "protection". We think it is because we are feeding so many kids.
Jairo asked if I made it clear to people while I was in the states that I am safe in Honduras. He asked if I explained the precautions I take. I told him I did explain. With so much danger around, how can people believe I am safe? It is hard to understand, even for me. Basically I am always aware, I don't go into many areas alone, I ask for and follow advice about what I should and should not do, and I pray a lot. I have a lot of other people praying for me too.
On the way to the church this morning there were police blockades everywhere. Usually there is one and they only pull over specific vehicles. But today there were four checkpoints. The police and military were searching cars and frisking people. None of us could figure out what they were looking for. They were definitely searching for something or someone. It made me a little nervous. I was happy to be traveling with Jairo.
As we pulled up to the church the DHL (like UPS) van pulled out. We cheered. I accidentally left my purse in the US. My friend Julia sent my drivers license, credit cards and bank card on Monday and it got here this morning, completely intact. Eunice asked if I felt better now. I said that I really hadn't been worried about it. Either the package was going to arrive, or it wasn't. I could choose to wait anxiously or wait calmly, so I waited calmly. In the past I was not capable of this. Living in Honduras has taught me about being more "tranquila". I must admit I have had dreams full of anxiety. I wonder if it was because of this. Possibly.
One other thing is bugging me. It is out of my control so I am trying to ignore it. It's hard! We always want the best for other people, but sometimes you have to let them make their own mistakes. Especially when they have already shown you they have no intention of taking any advice. Right now the situation is a learning experience for me, teaching me patience and how to let go of things that are out of my control. In the end it doesn't effect me at all, so I am trying not to care. Some day I hope the other person will learn from this experience too.
There is a Canadian group from Mar y Mundo at the Breakfast Program this week. They are fun. They pitch right in and help in any way they can while the kids are around. In the afternoons they have cleaned the property and re-arranged the things in storage. Tomorrow is their last day with us.
Yesterday Belinda asked me to start having class for the preschoolers every day like I used to. I told her I would love to! For the past few months we have suspended classes because many days I was the only one there to watch all of the kids. Belinda told me she was offered Lourdes' position as leader of the Breakfast Program so she will be at the Breakfast Program every day. I am really happy about it. Belinda is much better at running the program than I would be. Plus she really needs the income. I love working with Belinda and am excited to see how everything unfolds. Today was our first day back in the classroom and it felt great! The kids are all looking forward to tomorrow. So am I.
