Today was James’ first full day in Honduras. James is a “newbie.” He and I worked together at IBM for several years before he retired. I have been hounding him to come to Honduras and, ta-dah, finally he joined our team. We are still without internet (country-wide issue) and there has been a drought so the cistern is almost out of water until tomorrow. Welcome to Honduras! Not to worry, internet will connect, cisterns will be filled, and God’s work will be done. We spent the morning in Flor visiting the school. As we visited classroom after classroom, the children shouted, “Wheeler! Wheeler!” This, of course, was after all the staff had showered him with hugs. What a joyous reunion it was. The school looks great, with 230 children. The soccer field now has basketball nets installed! The 6th graders were having a blast during recess. We visited the day care room. Wheeler was dancing with some of the tiny little girls! The man simply can’t resist a good tune and a pretty girl!
After our visit to the school, Rosangel came over to tell us that a family was on their way to see us. She had written me that a woman who worked as a street cleaner had been hit and killed by a car while sweeping the street. She left 3 boys, 17, 12, and 2, who are now being cared for by their grandmother. Rosangel had requested clothes and shoes for the boys. When we delivered these, she called the grandmother who immediately gathered the 2 younger boys and set off walking to meet us. What precious children, so dear. How heartbreaking to think they have lost their mother.
We got back to Erika’s for lunch and to greet Margot and Anne who arrived today. It was great to see Anne’s suitcase which we knew was filled with goodies including her famous “puppy chow,” the most delicious shortbread, chocolate chip cookies and more. Oh, yeah. It was great to see Anne and Margot too! We headed off to SBV to see the children taking a short detour to Ojojona on the way. Guess what we did in Ojojona? YUP. Shopping. This time it was Anne who was the shopaholic. At least she was the instigator. I bought the most, as usual. We bought several pieces of the beautiful, unglazed natural pottery. Anne started a tradition several trips ago that we all sign pots as a souvenir of the mission trip. We bought several in case the team members each want their own. We had a raucous signing party last year – everyone signing everyone else’s pot. Wheeler’s bottle of pepto bismol even got signed!
FINALLY – we got to SBV. The children were so happy to see us. Gina asked me no fewer than 15 times if her Padrino, John, was coming. 15 times I told her, “ Si, Domingo!” (Yes, Sunday!) She even got a bilingual staff person to ask me in English again! I love that relationship between Gina and John. Dunia came rushing up to give me a big hug and ask about her amiga, Meagan! I gave her the Barbie Doll from Meagan which made her so happy. Next I went to see the toddlers so I could give Fanni the gift from “Tia Kathy.” The kids were running up in twos and threes to say hello, get hugs, find out who was coming and when! It was sublime.
We saw Franklin, Abel, Toyita, Valerie, Francisco. All were thrilled to see Wheeler. There is a new staff member, a man who speaks great English. I have forgotten his name, sadly, and he might be Toyita’s nephew. Will find out more about that. He gave James an in-depth tour of SBV. We all went up to see the chapel. Breathtaking. I can’t wait for the chapel dedication on Sunday. The windows are done, the huge mahagony doors in, all the beautiful light fixtures hung, a mahagony pulpit and altar, the meditation porch on the side of the chapel, and a lovely fence to keep people from falling off the edge of the cliff! Finally, after oohing and aahhing over it all we went to see the bell in the tower! All of us, ALL of us (Wheeler too) climbed all the way to the top of the tower to see the bell and look out the windows. What a gorgeous vista from up there. Wheeler couldn’t stand it any longer and grabbed the bell pull and started ringing the bell! What a sight that was – he worked tirelessly for years getting that built and the bell was installed after he left. He couldn’t wait to ring it!
There are two new babies at SBV, sisters. Little Maria Mercedes is 5 months old and cute as a bug. Her 16 month old sister, Yalani (spelling) is blind from birth. So precious. What really touched my heart was how sweet and affectionate the children are with her. I had her standing between my legs as I sat with the teens. Kenneth, a little 4 yr old, came up and gave her a big hug and then whirled away. All the children truly love and watch out for each other. I just love how they are with each other.
We got back to Erika’s for a delish dinner, more sorting of ingathering items and then Compline. James brought his guitar and voice and we sang some songs along with the devotion. I am the last one up finishing the blog. I hope the internet is up tomorrow…
Sleep well, I sincerely wish you all were here. This is a place of wonder, miracles, and that peace that passes all understanding.
