Monday Lad enjoyed a morning of playing with the kids at the Breakfast Program - which is now officially called Plentiful Life since it offers so much more than breakfast. In the afternoon we visited 2 homes in Los Pinos. Lad noticed how different poverty looks in Honduras from what he is used to in Africa. While we agree that need is need, the people in Los Pinos actually have better living situations than the people he is accustomed to serving in Swaziland. I was surprised to learn that. I can't imagine a lifestyle much more difficult than my friends' in Los Pinos. Although I know that God has called me to serve in Honduras, I would like to visit Africa one day just to see what it is like.
First we visited Marlin's house. She said she was very honored to have a pastor in her home. She really loved the bag Lad gave her, which was made by Swazi women who cook for the children in Swaziland. It was cool to imagine the ladies in Africa making a beautiful bag which is now a gift for another woman who cooks for underprivileged kids across the world in Honduras. Marlin promised to pray every day for the lady who made the bag. She is a woman who keeps her word.
Next we visited Ana's home. I had never been there before. It was very nice, made of brick with fruit trees in front. But what we could not see was the fact that Ana had no food at all in the house. Her husband left over a year ago. He usually helps a little financially, but this month his money was very late. Ana hadn't told anyone that her family was without food. But the next day she came to the church and told me that she was very thankful for the groceries we brought. I told her that the groceries were not from me. Only God knew she had no food, so she should thank God for the groceries.
It hurts to think that Ana, her three beautiful boys, and her baby girl would not have eaten without those groceries. As much as they tell me that I am starting to be just like them, I have never gone without a meal because I had no food in my life. I can't even think of a time that I ever lacked a necessity. No matter how long I spend here and how much I care about these families, I will never really be like them. But that doesn't keep me from loving them and holding them close to my heart in friendship.
As we walked through Los Pinos I was telling Lad about David, Ana's second child. He is a sweet, sweet boy. Lad said that I am good at seeing the positive things about people. David is smart, kind, extremely caring and loving, so it is easy to see good things in him.
Since Tuesday was Lad's last in Honduras and he had yet to try a pupusa, I took him out to lunch at the place where Jairo takes people for pupusas. It was nice to just sit and talk. Lad gave me some ideas about fundraising and some things to think about for the future.
Dinner was postponed because our hosts had been without electricity since 11 a.m. the day before. I expected them to cancel or relocate, but instead they cooked at a friend's house. We drove over the downed electrical wires in front of the house. Boris, our host, shared with us about "Stepping off the boat" - that we may be fearful and face storms, but we need to have courage to take that first step to walk on water. He had prepared a whole study, which he read and I tried to translate. By that point my brain was fried and I was doing a poor job. But Marcela came in and saved the day. I think other than that occasion, I did well translating.
We had a nice dinner of stuffed pork and beef. There was a whole house full of people eating by candlelight. Part way through the meal the electricity came on. We opted to keep most of the lights out and finish the meal by candlelight. Afterward we talked and joked. It was nice to sit and laugh with a group of friends. I think Lad enjoyed himself too.
Tuesday morning we stopped by the Breakfast Program - oops - the Plentiful Life Program to say goodbye.
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| Don Juan with his favorite "Gringo" - Lad |
The kids prayed for Lad. Ashley, who won't let anyone else near her, had her last moments of clinging to her new friend. This was also a special day because we fed 125 kids - a record since I have been here.
Then we headed for the airport. After we got baggage checked we went upstairs and had coffee. Walter had a chance to talk to Lad pastor to pastor, which I thought was super cool.
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| Walter and Lad at the airport |
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| My landlords and Lad at Valle de Angeles Sunday afternoon |
Thursday after all the kids left the church I translated letters the boys from El Sembrador wrote to their sponsors. The letters were really sweet. I am always proud and happy when I hear the way these boys share their hearts and open up their lives to people.
On the way home there was a crazy thunderstorm. It was the worst storm I have ever driven in. At times I thought of pulling over, but I thought it safest to try to make it up the mountain. People in Honduras don't turn on their headlights in torrential downpours. Some did turn on their flashers, but almost nobody turned on their headlights.
The road was like a river. Sometimes I was driving upstream, sometimes across the river. I felt like a snowplow plowing through three feet of snow as I drove through the lakes of water and it splashed up around me. Manhole covers were missing. One hole was so huge a motorcycle could have fallen inside and been swallowed whole. Rain poured off rooftops like waterfalls. I thought of all of the flooding in Colorado and was thankful we have good rain gutters along the sides of the road, trees to keep most of the earth in place, and strong roads that are built to hold up to this kind of rain.
The road was like a river. Sometimes I was driving upstream, sometimes across the river. I felt like a snowplow plowing through three feet of snow as I drove through the lakes of water and it splashed up around me. Manhole covers were missing. One hole was so huge a motorcycle could have fallen inside and been swallowed whole. Rain poured off rooftops like waterfalls. I thought of all of the flooding in Colorado and was thankful we have good rain gutters along the sides of the road, trees to keep most of the earth in place, and strong roads that are built to hold up to this kind of rain.
Once I made it home, exhaustion from the past week hit me. I was sound asleep before dinner and didn't wake up until this morning.
Today Don Juan was sick. I took him to the clinic where he has insurance. They told him they can't see him today and told him to come back at 5 a.m. tomorrow. Bismar was with us. Bismar warned me that Don Juan was so weak he couldn't walk. I was glad Bismar told me, and shocked when Don Juan agreed to stand in the shade and wait while I went to the parking lot down the street and pulled the car around. He must have been really, really sick because normally Don Juan doesn't let me go anywhere alone.
I called Dr. Gustavo, the pediatrician who is always willing to help a church member. He recommended some meds so I stopped and got them, then grabbed some orange juice and ginger ale from the grocery store. Don Juan spent the whole day sleeping in the baby's nursery. I have never known him to rest, never mind sleep. It was worrisome. I hope he feels better tomorrow.
I called Dr. Gustavo, the pediatrician who is always willing to help a church member. He recommended some meds so I stopped and got them, then grabbed some orange juice and ginger ale from the grocery store. Don Juan spent the whole day sleeping in the baby's nursery. I have never known him to rest, never mind sleep. It was worrisome. I hope he feels better tomorrow.
Lad asked me to make a video for K2. Belinda and I have been working on it for 2 days, but today after we had all of the kinks worked out my camera broke. It was time. My camera was 10 years old. But bad timing. I have been enjoying photography a lot lately and have been doing a lot of it for the church. I am thinking I would like to get a nice camera to replace my broken one. In the meantime I have my phone. Here are some pics from today:
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| Violet is a princess |
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| Misael is a fireman |
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| Jarvin giving the baby a ride on the moto |
