Honduras - Day 5

Today was complex in its layers – sweet like the Honduran Rosquillas en Miel (honey donuts) and bitter like dandelion greens. On one hand, it felt exhilarating to have an impact on so many lives, and to have forged new relationships with so many wonderful people. On the other hand, it felt slightly morose to say goodbye. Shakespeare may have said it best when he claimed “parting is such sweet sorrow.” But much like the dandelion greens, our difficult departure is necessary and healthy to continue onto the next adventure, the next challenge, and the next chapter in each of our stories. Our day started a bit earlier than usual for three teammates and me, as we planned to take a hike up to the Cerro La Cruz in Danli, a 60-foot cross that overlooks the city. It is a common destination for locals during Semana Santa (Holy Week), where families often go for reflection. It is a relatively short but rigorous climb, where the path seems to go completely vertical at times. Just as I began to wonder if I could catch my breath, we had made it to the summit to behold the picturesque backdrop of Danli. It was a wonderful moment to appreciate the majesty of God’s creation.

For our last day at the work site, one of the masons was unavailable; our master builder Jose offered to fill in at another pila to help wrap things up before going back to Jason and Ani’s. My work partner John had fallen ill and was unable to join me for the last day, something I know he was very much upset about. He and Jose had become fast friends and made a great team. What amazed me most was the high quality of work that was achieved with very modest materials – mostly hand tools, hand mixed concrete, and cut pieces of PVC pipe to craft the lines of the washboard in concrete. It reminds me that it typically is not the tool that matters, but the hand that wields it. Diligent labor and attention to detail will often supersede minor limitations of the instruments we use to accomplish our tasks.

We had our final theatrical performance for the kids, where we told the story of the rich man who could not give up his possessions. To portray this role, I wore a suit jacket and carried a bag of Starburst in place of my bag of coins (we gave the candy to the kids, of course!) I made an effort to recite all of my lines in Spanish, simple as they were.

These stories all contain lessons that are so pivotal in being a good person. Even though most of these kids are very young, I am again confident that many of them can grasp these crucial truths. It is only now that I observe these lessons aren’t just for the children to ponder and find meaning, but also for us adults. Material wealth, social status, and political connections mean nothing if we do not rest them upon a foundation of humanity, gratitude, and love for God and our neighbors. Looking back on the hundreds of photos I took, I can’t help but feel my heart skip a beat whenever the kids from Bible school come scrolling by. It’s not just the kids, but also my teammates who were so good with them. Two of us had expressed a little apprehension about serving with kids (I was one of these two) and it turned out this anxiety was completely unfounded. I found myself really getting focused when I helped the kiddos with their word searches. These were mostly words I did not recognize nor understand the meaning, but I was committed to helping them get each word crossed off the list.

One of my teammates commented on a devotional that education is the ultimate revenge against poverty. Some of these children have rich and expansive dreams, and it is a painful reality that many of these dreams will not become reality. But if I can make a dent in realizing the dream of just one of these kids, it is worth a king’s ransom.

Another special treat was our last dinner in Danli, provided from the catering of the second-to-none culinary expert, Don Carlos. We were blessed to have his cooking for four nights in a row while staying in Danli. The finale was a Honduran skirt steak and “the best pasta salad I’ve ever had,” as quoted by someone on our team; I agree with that claim! This nightly meal was a perfect opportunity to celebrate each completed day, to nourish our bodies in preparation for the next, and to have fellowship and reflection on what we experienced while out in the community.

In our devotional, we discussed the plague of food insecurity and what it can do to people who experience it. Life quickly becomes desperate when one is unsure of when they will be able to eat next, and what they may have to give up or endure to get that meal. If millions of Americans are experiencing normal bouts of hunger, it is reasonable to assume that an even higher proportion of Honduran people have to live with this reality. It is likely they endure such struggles because they rely on God to enable them the strength to continue, persevere, and beat the odds to fight another day.

These realities make me even more grateful that I have adequate food, water, and shelter; most of my problems are trivial compared to the dire situations that billions of our fellow humans face every day. I know this, and I thank God for it as often as I can.