Today is a joyful day for several reasons. Of course, it is Easter! I feel like I have been celebrating since last night.
When I first moved to Honduras and lived in this same house I loved listening to the music from the Catholic church across the street. I didn't have cable or internet, so I would sit and read with their song in the background. The church is a huge building with a roof that is angled, but in some places 3 stories tall. It has lots of windows. Last night I learned why I can hear the music so clearly. For the first time I went inside the gates of the church.
Turns out the alter faces diagonally, right at my house. I was dressed in cut off jeans and a tee-shirt or I would have entered the church. Almost all of the seats were full. The incense wafted outside. I finally got to put a face with the man's voice that I hear singing all of the time. There was a flute and some other musicians. At 11:35 it got really rowdy. They were singing, "He is resurrected from the dead." until midnight. In Spanish it is a little odd because the word for 'resurrected' is like 'resuscitated' and I had to push the image of someone doing mouth-to-mouth on Jesus out of my head.
I had a restless night. Even with the house closed up, the music was hard to sleep through. But how do you get upset about people singing that Christ has risen? At 4:28 a.m. they got REALLY loud. Woke me out of my deepest sleep of the night. This time it was a lady singing. It was beautiful. I could feel the Holy Spirit moving from all of the way over here. Pretty awesome when you realize that by that point they had already been in the vigil for over 9 hours. I vowed to myself that next year I am going to change out of my cut off jeans, walk over there, and stay for a little while. Not all 12 hours, but for a while.
My church service was nice too. At my church we have a different theme that we fast for during the first week of each month. Last week we fasted to pray for children who are being abused or neglected and healing for adults who were abused as children. I was super excited about this fast. The topic is something very close to my heart. But last week was the worst I have ever done at fasting. It wasn't the eating part that was hard. I just could not focus on the fast like I should have. Other things came up and I allowed them to get in the way. Then I got mad at myself for allowing things to distract me from the fast, which was not helpful either. I was pretty discouraged.
Friday I called my friend Carol and asked if I could talk with her. She is someone I can always turn to for advice. I can count on her to tell me the truth, even if it is something I don't want to hear. Carol's advice is biblically based too, so I know it is sound. We got together for dinner Friday night to talk about the things that were getting in the way of the fast and to watch The Passion of the Christ. After our talk my heart I was not as confused. She had some words that really hit home. She even sent me some bible passages to read the next day. I did better at fasting on Saturday. But that was the only day that I can say I was really focused.
Today I talked everything out with Pastor Peter and Pastora Ruth. After speaking with them I not only feel peace, but also joy and excitement. I am blessed to have so many people I can turn to for advice. Fany was out of town for the week, but between Fany, Carol, and my church I always have someone to turn to here.
The power went out this morning. I was worried it was going to stay out all day like it usually does when it goes out on Sundays. I hadn't showered in a while, so I was pondering whether I was fit for church.
We are still trying to conserve water. This week we only got a half hour of water from the city and it wasn't pouring into the cistern very hard at all. It sounded more like drops than the usual gush of water I hear when the water comes. There has been no rain for weeks, although I could smell rain close by yesterday. Big chunks of ash are falling from the sky. I am not sure where the fires are, but the wind is strong, carrying ash in pieces larger than I have seen before. Now we are not only sweeping up tons of dust on the patio, but huge pieces of ash too.
I am glad the power came back on this morning because today I was presented with a cool opportunity! After church I was asked if I would direct the service in two weeks. I've never done anything like this before. Directing means I start things off. I can present a bible verse that God gives me, or share a testimony, or whatever I think God leads me to do. It can be long or short. Then I ask if there are any new people and welcome them. Then I pray for the offering and ask someone else to pray for the person who is giving the message.
When they first asked me to "direct" the service my heart almost stopped. But as I stood clutching my heart I realized that I have two weeks to prepare and other than having to stand in front of the church, it is not a big deal. It is actually an honor to be chosen because all of the other adults in the church do it, so it makes me officially one of them. Now I am excited. Instead of being fearful I see it as an opportunity. One of many more opportunities to come, I was told.
Holy Week is over. Tomorrow things will go back to normal. I am meeting Erika to take her back to her old school to get the transcript. I like Erika more and more each time I meet with her. She is a really special girl. Now we just need God to show Erika how special she is.
