Day 6 - our last full day of work! Can the trip already be coming to a close? After yet another scrumptious breakfast, we went to board this bus for our last trip to Limon. Except there was no bus. We don’t know exactly what happened, but I am told that the bus driver was late so he wasn’t permitted to drive us. No bus driver = no bus. Instead of having our own bus, we crammed in with the team from The Rock.
When we arrived in Limon, the children ran to us and inundated us with affection just as they normally do. Some of us continued building the wall, while a few of us set out to finish painting the malnutrition clinic. What started as a quick touch up turned into a bit more, as the new paint was much thinner. By God’s grace, I think we were able to finish the job. Those of us working on the wall, having become expert masons (thanks to our foreman Alexis), were able to complete another section of the wall. As Alec pointed out, it was remarkable how easy it was to labor in the 95 degree heat and blistering sun. We think that just being around the kids had a lot to do with that. Their boundless energy and joy was infectious.
Around noon we went back to the hotel for lunch. It was tough saying goodbye to the kids at the clinic and the daycare for the last time. We took a picture together, distributed some hugs, and then we were gone. We will miss them dearly.
Today was also our last day of house visits. We split up into our three teams, loaded our backpacks with gifts of food and toys, and went into some of the poorest homes in Choluteca. There are many wonderful stories to tell, and I hope that there will be an opportunity at some point to share them all. Anne, Reina, and I had the privilege of witnessing God doing some pretty amazing things. At the first house we visited, we had the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with Tomasa. All four of us, including our translator (Ricardo) squeezed into her tiny home with walls built with sticks and mud. Our conversation with Tomasa led us to believe that she was a Christian, but while we were sharing with her, a neighbor poked her head in. Her name is Dinora, and she told us that she had been waiting patiently for missionaries to visit her home.
For whatever reason, no one came. Instead God brought her to us! Dinora listened very intently to Anne as she relayed the good news of salvation in Jesus. At the end, we prayed with her and she committed her life to Christ in an expression of sheer joy that I could not possibly describe in words. We embraced her and gave gifts of food to the ladies and toys to their children.
That night, we joined the team of the Rock as well as some of the members of the local Church and Pastor Giovanny for an authentic Honduran dinner. I had been waiting for this all week: papusas, tostadas, baleadas, and taquitos. Let me tell you - it was incredibly good, and some. In Jacob’s words it was "insanely awesome". I would have to agree, and I think the rest of the team would, too.
Following the meal, we watched slide show of our experiences throughout the week, then we had a time of giving testimonies of the marvelous things that God had done, giving thanks, and sharing funny stories about our adventures in Honduras. It was a moving time, and a fitting way to wrap up an incredible week.
-Jason