Friday was bittersweet---our last full day in Honduras. We were joyous for the privilege of serving, but sad that it was all coming to an end!
After breakfast we stripped the sheets off of our beds and took them and our towels to the laundry room. We packed our bags, and boarded the big yellow bus one last time for our journey to Tegucigalpa. Little did we know that our adventure was NOT over! About 20 minutes outside Juticalpa (about 45 min. from Catacamas), the emergency warning light came on and started buzzing. Travis stopped the bus and openned the hood. The was over heating and we could hear the water bubbling and boiling! The fan belt looked okay but the fan was not turning. There are lots of mountains so it puts a real strain on vehicles! Travis took us back to Juticalpa. He arranged for 2 men to come from the farm and pick up the bus and take it back to repair it. We stayed in Juticalpa, ate lunch at Chester's and then at 12:30 boarded a city bus for Tegucigalpa---the fanciest bus I had ever seen---a Mercedes Benz! There were curtains at the window. You couldn't even see where you were going, with the curtains closed. You would've thought you were in an airplane. There was a stewardess! She came around with cups of water for us (we didn't partake, because the water is not safe for "tourists"). Half way she came around again with cokes and sandwiches. I just drank a Sprite! Fancy!!!!! I couldn't help but think of the huge contrast that this trip was compared to me and my dad's journey from the capital to Catacamas, back in 1972! At that time the roads were NOT paved between the two cities. We boarded a city bus in Teguc, early in the morning and rode around the capital for at least an hour picking up passengers! Then we began the SLOW journey to Catacamas, stopping at every town inbetween, with NO bathroom stops. Halfway through the journey, the bus stopped in a town (maybe it was Juticalpa?, I don't remember). Everyone got off the bus, and we asked Ted where they were going. He said they were going to get something to eat. We stayed on the bus, and Ted brought us a coke! After the "rest stop" (but still no bathroom breaks!) we continued our dusty journey to Catacamas! We were sitting up front and the bus driver had the door open for air. The dust was flying everywhere, in and out of the bus. When we finally arrived in Catacamas 14 HOURS later my dad went in the bus station to use the bathroom. When he returned, he said, "Bev, hold it a little longer. Don't use the bathroom here!" I did, cause I thot, "I've held it for this long, surely I can for a little longer! Surely we're almost at the farm!"
And now, here we are riding in luxary to Teguc, in a bus with a bathroom aboard! Times certainly have changed, even though it now takes 4 hours to go 150 miles!
We arrived at the WGM guesthouse around 4. Travis then took us to a big hotel in Teguc, where there were some souvenir shops. The place he had wanted to take us was closed, since we got there so late. We all enjoyed parusing the shops and buying a few things for ourselves and our families. We didn't need any of it, but it was nice to take home a momento of our time in Honduras. The most meaningful sounvenirs we bought though , were those we got at El Sembrador---the beautifully carved wooden items (pictures, napkin holders, cutting boards) that the boys made.
After a time of shopping Travis and Lori took us to a very fancy restaurant! Golden table clothes and napkins. I got the best fish fillet I had ever had----and I'm not even a fish eater! Topped with lots of garlic, herbs and butter. To top of that huge meal they took us to Baskin Robbins for icecream! Not typical Honduran, but a fun "American" way to end an adventurous day! At the guesthouse we gathered for our final group devotional time together. We invited Travis and Lori (and Verle) to join us. We shared some reflections on our time in Honduras, and also gave Travis and Lori another opportunity to share with us and answer questions. We closed with a prayer time and then most of us turned if for the night. Some of the younger ones stayed up and visited. Scott slept on a hammock for the night!
I give God thanks and praise for our time at El Sembrador! What a wonderful group of people I had the privilege of working with! We labored with our hands, formed relationships, learned a little Spanish, bonded as brothers and sisters, saw God at work, and were blessed beyond measure! All of us felt that God had given US so much more than we were able to give in return. I guess that's how it is in life with Christ. Our hearts have been "strangely warmed" by all the love and joy that we experienced at El Sembrador. Truely, seeds are being sown daily at Escuela El Sembrador, and it was a privelege to go and see first hand how God is using willing servants (Hondurans and missionaries) to prepare young men for ministry, jobs, and families---and to be a small part of helping the Sower sow seeds for the eternal Kingdom.
No comments:
Post a Comment