Mission work in Honduras: Holy Week in Honduras

This is my first experience spending Holy Week here in Honduras. It is already clear it will not be the normal Holy Week. At home, this is a somber time as we move, day by day, to the foot of the cross. Here…it seems impossible to be somber. I realize everyone has a different reaction to what they see and experience here but to me, our time is about witnessing fruits of the Resurrection.

But first…Our morning started very early – 5:45 AM at St. David’s to caravan (thank you Cottage School and Lloyd, Peter, and Mike) to the airport. Until you see 28 HUGE suitcases, 28 pieces of carry on, including a guitar, you have no idea how much stuff a group can haul around! Several of the suitcases contained ceiling fans (thank you Steve and the great folks at Progressive Lighting!) There had been many groans and complaints about the early hour. After we whisked through checking in and seeing the endless line of people waiting we all saw the wisdom of our early start. By the time we got to the gate, Philip had awakened enough to zip tie Carolyn’s backpack to the chairs. Um… no one has scissors, knives, etc to cut the zip tie on that side of security. While the grown ups puzzled over how to liberate the backpack, Carolyn, Mary, and Maddie found a policeman to help. He was very accommodating, especially when we all fingered the guilty party! Philip turned beet red as the policeman called him over. He received a stern “warning” with threat of intense interrogation if it happened again. (Not to worry, Hollie and Steve, the policeman was enjoying this as much as we were…)

The flight was comfortable, full, and uneventful. While we were waiting in the very slowly moving immigration line we suddenly heard a loud THUMP. Anna was on the floor! She had brilliant idea to sit on her roller bag forgetting about the roller part. As she sat, the wheels moved and WHUMP down she went. Auburn, in a display of Christian charity, immediately doubled over laughing! Getting through customs was no problem, although they did pick one of bags to inspect – the one with 93 beanie babies! “Por los huelfanos” (for the orphans) I piously said. They cooed over how cute the beanie babies were and sent me on my way.

After a quick lunch at Erika’s, we headed off to San Buenaventura. The people who hadn’t been there since last year were amazed at the changes. I was here 3 weeks ago and I was amazed at the progress too! The school roof is on, doors installed and window frames in. Toyita and Abel’s house, where the teenaged girls are living has been painted.We had a wonderful time playing with the children. The new folks are already in love with them. I will let some of the pictures speak for themselves.

We returned to Erika’s – a full house this time. There is another group of 21 (15 teens) here from S. Carolina. They are eating on the patio where we normally eat and we are eating in the lower courtyard. Right now, we are all hanging around the living room while Philip is playing guitar. We did a quick icebreaker led by Amy and then Compline.

So back to Holy Week here. Each day is filled with such joy, hope and triumph over the most horrific situations. In March, the teenaged girls at SBV eloquently communicated in a drama they wrote and performed for us that we must all put the past behind us...be thankful for our blessings...and trust in God. That is what we see and fall in love with here. The Lord is risen indeed!

Everyone is pretty tired,especially poor Fredrick who flew into Atlanta last night from Germany... Hasta la vista!