*note* I apologize for the delay in updates. When I started this, I didn't realize how hard it would be to be taken back... Remembering is bittersweet. When do we go back??
So, Sunday morning... a little tougher to pull myself out of bed after the Coke in a Bag the night before and some crazy noises that sat me & Ali up in bed in the middle of the night. More than once.
Anyway, it was a slower morning for everyone but once we were dressed and ready, we loaded the vans for the daycare. Breakfast was delicious!! Pancakes! However, in Honduras, pancakes aren't served with syrup like they are here - they're served with honey. I felt like I was at Rosa's eating sopa pillas for breakfast. We all lounged over breakfast before going to market. The store we went to had everything you could want - groceries, toys, books - kind of like a Honduran Wal-Mart. I picked up a few small notebooks (in case I filled my journal), a package of Honduran cookies (they were similar to Nilla Wafers), a Twix (which turned out to be quite stale), and a can of pear nectar (best purchase of the day). Once we were content with snacks and other necessities, we visited the home of one of the micro-loan recipients. She owns something of a small grocery/convenience store so we were sure to buy from her to support business. Her neighborhood was also home to 2 Bread goats Bobby was sure to get pictures with.
Our morning was spent exploring places in Campamento; the central park, local shops, and the Catholic church. A few blocks from the church was Bob's house where we could access the internet and sit to visit awhile. After seeing the livelihood that exists in Honduras, it was odd to walk through Bob's front gate and find plush grass, blooming rose bushes, and a comfortable home that seemed more likely in the states. Since Bob used to live in Ft Worth and has only been in Honduras for 15 years, it seemed fitting his home would be a more Americanized establishment. It was comforting to sink into one of his couches or play with his dogs on the back patio. He had Christmas decorations everywhere; his home even smelled like Christmas. It was lovely.
After our visit, we made our way back to the daycare for lunch: vegetables, french fries, and fried tilapia. AMAZING. I actually had a second helping :)
Church service was held at 2pm but Marin told us there were going to be 4 baptisms if we came around 1:30. When we got to the church, we found out 3 of the 4 came to him early in the day so there would only be 1 for us to witness that afternoon. Surprisingly, when we entered the church, we saw the platform used as a stage/pulpit had been lifted to reveal the baptistry. Very smart!! It was a quick ceremony and we sang "We Love You With The Love of The Lord". Soon after, the church started filling in with the regular congregation and we sat quietly and waited.
Service was completely in Spanish and Sra Longcore, if you're reading this, I can't begin to thank you enough. My understanding of the language is due so much to you and the rest of the department at Milford High. I understood enough to get the message of the sermon and take notes. Here's what I learned in church that day:
Navidad (Christmas), is not about new clothes (nueva ropa), food (comida), or vacations (vacaciones). There are three things (tres cosas) you need to remember to understand Christmas;
1. Christmas is about God being born of a virgin
2. Christmas is about the transformation of our divine God to man
3. Christmas is the love of God manifested through his son
Supporting verses
Luke 2:6-9
Matthew 1:18-25
Psalms 139:13-15
John 3:16
Philippians 2:5-7
"Celebramos que Jesus ha nacido en nuestros corazones" - We celebrate that Jesus was born in our hearts
I love a good Christmas sermon. Every year. Turns out, I love it in any language :)
Communion was taken standing "con hermanos de Cristo" - with brothers of Christ. Marin was sure to make it clear to the congregation that communion is taken by those who are baptized and I think it was a big deal for many of the people of that church to understand the family that lives in Christ when they saw our group stand to participate. At that moment, it didn't matter who any of us were, the shade of our skin, the color of our hair, or the accent with which we spoke. Anyone could look around the church and see people we'd be sharing Heaven with - it was pretty amazing.
When service was through, Marin commented on the Americans in the audience and told everyone to be sure to welcome us and thank us for the work we were there for. The children wasted no time swarming our group for hugs and smiles and gracious thank yous. We took pictures and loved on them and their parents for quite a while before making our way outside. Walking down the street to the daycare, you could see other children poking their heads out or lingering in the street, waiting for our return. They were anxious to play and visit so we spent the afternoon entertaining... it wasn't long before someone produced a soccer ball and the playtime became competitive. The game started in the street and after the ball had to be saved one too many times from under the van, we got permission to move down the street to the park. I sat on the bleachers to cheer and visit with my friend Mauricio, who was there with his sister Jenny. He was more interested in visiting with me than playing futbol so we were content taking pictures and goofing off. Ali found Carlito to keep her company since he was too small to play and we cheered for players of all ages and sizes. The kids had a BLAST playing futbol with the Americans and Calvin was quick to notice that the 2 best players on his team - a young boy and even younger girl - were playing in Crocs with no backstrap and Jellies. Talk about a lesson for American kids: shoes have nothing to do with skill.
We had to wrap up the soccer game to get part of our group to Mass on time; some of them wanted to experience Mass in Spanish and a few others wanted to see about finding a fabric store. Naturally, I went on the hunt for fabric :) However, we quickly learned that the shops close down right around 5 so everyone can attend Mass. I stopped at the fire department and asked the on-duty fireman about finding a fabric store in Campamento (in Spanish, of course!). He told me I wasn't going to find that there; fabric was in Tegucigalpa with the manufacturers - Campamento is where you buy coffee!! He was funny and friendly & even let me take his picture with the firetrucks. "Bombero" - firefighter. It was printed on the trucks backwards, similar to how we'll read 'ambulance' in a rear-view mirror here in the states. We said goodbye to our new friend and ventured on. Soon, we learned the only places open were pool halls and the occasional convenience store but we luckily happened upon a place selling "helado" - ice cream!! (definitely one of my favorite Spanish terms from my trip to Spain 10 years ago...) Our little group had an ice cream appetizer and sat in the park outside the church to wait for the rest of our group. Calvin and I found a quiet park bench and were looking through all the pictures I'd taken that day while he played soccer. Soon after we were joined by Pat and I showed both of them the video I'd shot of the singing that had taken place at church. When I looked up, I saw 4 young boys watching us curiously so I invited them over. There was an empty bench across from us they sat on and I asked them their names and ages. They ranged from 8-12 and I asked what they were doing out and where their parents were. Their parents were attending Mass. They couldn't answer why they weren't at church...
I asked how long Mass lasted and they said until 8. Mass started at 5!! Somewhat alarmed (since we knew dinner was at Bob's house at 6), we quickly found the others in our group on another bench and told them this information. We decided to go ahead to Bob's so we wouldn't be late and as we were walking away, I realized my camera wasn't in my pocket. When I couldn't find it in my pack, Calvin and I turned to cross back over to the park we'd been at. We noticed the 4 boys were nowhere in sight and sadly... neither was my camera. I'd set it on the bench to give the boys some candy and never put it back in my bag during our conversation with them. So bummed... I realize these boys never have things like that and I wasn't so upset about the camera since it was my own foolishness but I really would've liked to have that memory stick.
Dinner at Bob's started sadly but soon lifted my spirits; we ate out on the front lawn under the open star-filled sky. We were served stuffed chicken, baked potatoes stuffed with goat cheese, rice, vegetables, and more of the same amazing cake served at the wedding the day before. Rachel, one of the teens on our trip, turned 18 that day and someone went back to the bakery to get a cake to celebrate. Such a sweet girl and such a blessing, spending her 18th birthday giving back. We were very blessed for all 4 of the teen girls on our trip: Rachel, Haley, Callie, & Mariah. They were some of the hardest working high schoolers I know.
After dinner, we sat out in the cool breeze while Bob got his guitar out to serenade us with some old George Strait and even a few songs of his own. Love the sound of an old man's singing voice; there's just something comforting there...
We cleaned up Bob's yard and packed our things to make our way back to El Cafe. Before we left, we prayed over Bob and the work he's been so diligently doing in Campamento. Circle prayer is something I'm getting more comfortable with; I never have much to say (and rarely speak at all), but there's something so honest about it that I love. Especially when it's with a group of people who are so honest and open and willing. Such a blessing... God is so good.
No comments:
Post a Comment