This morning I realized it was my nephew Jack's birthday. I've been thinking about it for over a month, but yesterday and today I wasn't thinking about the date so it kind of snuck up on me at the last minute.
I woke up early to the sound of Fany filling her pila. A pila is a tall cement tub for storing water outside. It is where you get water for washing clothes. Those who don't have running water inside use it for all of their water needs, like washing dishes. Many people use buckets of water from the pila if they have flushing toilets with no connection to a water source. Just dump a bucket of water into the toilet and it flushes itself.
I love to take a shower with the water "de la calle" (from the street). The shower pressure is really strong. It only comes every third night. We are lucky to have two tanks which store water for the days between. Still, sometimes we run out.
I was bathed and ready for church two hours early, so I sat back down in my bed to prepare because I had to "dirigir" (open the service with a short message and time of prayer) at church today. That was when I noticed the date. My nephew's birthday!
I waited until 8 a.m. mountain time and called with a free video call. Video calls are the best! Before we were even connected I could see my two nephews smiling at me.
I sang Happy Birthday to Jack. We goofed around on the phone for a while. It's nice to be able to laugh and be silly without worrying about the phone bill. I sang to Jack in Spanish too. Jack and Joe are starting Spanish classes. Jack thought it was really cool that in the Honduran version of Happy Birthday we say that we want a piece of birthday cake and Coca Cola too. His mother would not have been pleased to hear Jack say, "I want Coca Cola!" at 8 a.m. I don't think those kids drink Coke at any hour. Honduras is much different than the US with its Coca Cola habits.
Before the phone call I was feeling a little homesick. But after hearing Jack talk about how excited he is to spend his birthday with friends I felt better. He got up super close to the camera when I told him I was going to send him kisses. I am appreciating these younger years before he gets too old to be happy about a phone call from his Aunt.
After the phone call I realized how much my experience with Jack spoke to the message I was about to share at church. It was about family and loving one another. I don't have my biological family here, but I certainly have a great church family.
When it came my time to share at church I got all choked up and couldn't talk. Finally, when I was able to speak, I talked about my first "mission". After I was baptized I moved to Colorado for six months to take care of Jack for the first six months of his life.
I talked about family and unity and love. I thanked my church for all of the love they show me and for the way they accept me as part of their family while my biological family is so far. Almost every adult was crying. After the service they told me that my words were simple, but they felt so much love from me - God's love - the kind that really touches one's heart.
It was a super special time. I think it's the first time I have ever been used by God to bring such emotion from a large group of people. Pastora Ruth said she has been waiting for the church to long for this sense of unity. She said if we are not a family, we are not a church. She has been wanting to bring this emotion out of the congregation and is glad God used me for the people to see the necessity of loving one another as a family. I'm glad too!
One of the leaders in my church said that without me, the church would not be all it is today. He said I came and immediately fit in perfectly, just like a ring. He said that my personality and my respect for the leadership complement and complete the church. It's nice to know he feels that way. I know that I would not be the person I am now without my church and the people there.
Afterward I had arranged to go pick up a bike with training wheels for Laura. I posted on a missionary group in Facebook and a woman answered saying she had one that had been ridden hard but if I wasn't looking for a special gift it would be fine. I said if it works, it will be fine.
Turned out it's perfect! I was expecting something beat up and ugly. It's pink with brand new mountain bike tires, a little basket, and an old fashioned bell! I am dying to give it to Laura, but she doesn't have space to ride it here. We are going to wait and give it to her when she goes to her Grandparents' house. There she can ride down the middle of the road.
Her Dad said she is not strong enough (at five years old) to pedal a bike. I assured him that she is. Although her gross and fine motor skills are not what they should be. Her mother still opens twist off caps for her and she just recently got the arm strength to boost herself into my car. This bike is going to be great for her developmentally and emotionally too, if her parents are able to give her a little bit of independence eventually.
When I got home from church I was dying to show Fany and Santos the bike, but they were hosting a Christmas party with some members of my old church. In the past I might have felt uncomfortable and hid out or not come home while they were here. But I don't feel that way anymore and I shouldn't have felt like that before. I saw that as another big step.
So, today was a good day. My nephew knew I was thinking of him with love on his birthday, God used me to promote unity, love and a sense of family within the church, and I was given the perfect bike for Laura. On top of all of that, my Pastor said he will have room in his luggage for an Instant Pot when he comes back from the US after Christmas! Good, good stuff!
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| At church today |
Yesterday on the last day of our club for 2016:
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| Chinese fried rice, a Honduran staple for any celebration |
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| I really like this mom. She sells tortillas while her oldest daughter is left at home with the baby |
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| The kids on their last day of the club, writing about the problems they face |
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| According to my coworker, the girl on the right normally never likes North Americans. Thankfully, she has been nothing but sweet to me since the first time we met. |
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| \I am really impressed with this young man. I think he will grow up to be a leader, once he learns not to punch people |
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| Musical chairs is big here |
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| It came down to this brother and sister. The brother won. |
