I just got home from celebrating Christmas in Honduras. Normally I make a genuine effort to do things Honduran style. I believe that old saying "While in Honduras...". This year I learned that Christmas is a little bit different from most ordinary days. This year for Christmas I mixed both US and Honduran traditions. It was good.
I have one missionary friend (yes ONE) who, in my opinion, has really done her best to delve into Honduran culture, talk with the people and learn their customs. I am surprised by the number of people who live here, but don't spend time with Honduran people. Some never even learn the language or customs or food. That is odd to me. I don't understand why someone would move to another country and not want to learn the ways of the people there.
God blessed me when He presented me the opportunity to know a missionary who lives in and among the people of Tegucigalpa, and specifically Los Pinos. She focuses more on the Southern side of Los Pinos. The sectors where she serves are much more dangerous and difficult to maneuver than those where my loved ones live. I worked with her about two years ago. Serving together wasn't ideal for us. But we have now developed a strong friendship.
Three years ago I spent Christmas in Honduras. A family I loved invited me to spend the holiday with them. In reality, I spent that Christmas alone. I tried my best to be positive. I was successful in portraying a positive image. Everyone in the US believed I had a great time. In reality that was a difficult Christmas for me.
This year I had no choice but to stay in Honduras. All of my money is going toward a car. There was no money for travel.
I expected to feel lonely and homesick, but my experience was actually the opposite. I was invited to spend Christmas Eve with ten different groups of people! TEN!! That is a lot when you consider that I was alone only three years ago. I am blessed.
To my own surprise I chose to spend Christmas Eve (which is the equivalent of Honduran Christmas because Hondurans celebrate on North America's Christmas Eve) with my North American friend. Usually I avoid other North Americans. She does too. But this year we got to share all of our North American traditions with the kids she adopted from Los Pinos. It was fun and everything I wanted in a Honduran Christmas.
I could have celebrated with my boss. But she was in the heart of downtown Tegucigalpa where I don't even drive during the day, never mind in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve. Things can get pretty rowdy here on Christmas Eve.
I also could have celebrated with coworkers or members of my church. I could have gone into the country with Fany. I was even invited to celebrate with the women who sells me avocados and papayas. I had a lot of options. In the end, I choose North American style.
We watched Christmas movies in Spanish and listened to Christmas music in English. We ate seafood lasagna on Christmas Eve. Then we watched from her balcony as the world exploded before us while the whole city below set of fireworks. Her two kids woke up early this morning to open presents, just like the kids in North America. I loved every minute!
Their Biological Mother called. She promised to visit in a few weeks. She won't show up. My heart broke when they prayed over Christmas dinner that their mother's trip to visit them will be "safe and healthy". Unfortunately, their mother's visits will never be healthy for them. But they have to learn that on their own.
A boy we have both known for years came to visit this afternoon. He hasn't spent the night in Los Pinos since a person was killed outside his doorstep the last time he slept there. Last night he celebrated Christmas there with his family, but he was quick to get out today. We talked about the fireworks and the loud music all night. We didn't mention the ugly stuff. I told him that December was strangely calm this year. He is sure things are about to blow up in Los Pinos. One gang is about to get kicked out by the other gang. It's going to be an ugly fight for territory. The gang being kicked out has kicked out 15 families and rooted themselves deeply inside one of the homes where my friend serves. The unexpected peace of December will be followed by a January full of violence, we expect. It is a cyclical pattern.
Now I am back at home. It was nice to celebrate Christmas in Honduras. My coworkers and friends sent sweet messages at midnight. Today I received a video chat from my family in Colorado. I felt the presence of each of the cultures I love, mixed into one. I had a wonderful Christmas. I hope you did too!
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