The last day in Honduras is always the most difficult of me and I think all of us a whole… emotions, fatigue, wanting to go home and yet wanting to remain here with your extended family. You try to find closure on the project that you have toiled over for the past 7 days. In most cases it goes something like this, Completed, which means that is ready to use. Mostly complete, where there are a few more items that need to be done. Incomplete meaning that there is less than 50% of the work was completed. I think we are at the Mostly Complete status. The roof was completed today, most of the plastering of the walls is done. The floor has been leveled and will need to be poured and the electrical needs to be ran for the lighting.
It has been a very successful trip this year, sure we have had moments of discretion, but the team worked really well together. Juan Solo was a great addition and his skills was needed and welcomed! The 5 other members are veterans in the action so we did what we do, doing old things and trying new ones, just serving others. Hector commented that he was very happy with our work, I think that is one of the highest complements any one could expect.
The day started off badly me, for I had been battling some eye irritation for the past several days, and this morning after a sleepless night, my eye was almost swollen shut… I knew that was a trip to the clinic for attention was in my future. No fussing here, I was ready for the full service treatment. Although I was sadden by the absence of Jefe and Mater who did not accompany me on the trip and offer assistance (Being carried) into the clinic as we did Jefe when Molly went rampant on him years ago. A short time of triage and I was in the doctors room. Juan explained my symptoms and to the Doc and he numb up the ole eye and began to gouge and cleaned the foreign bodies out, Not sure if it was metal or Mook, but it was raw! Once the eye was bandaged, the nurse came in as said it was time for the grand finally… Shot in the rump! I eased my shorts down to a comfortable level, only to have the nurse tug a little more and expose me fully… no pap smear was needed, I guess a visual inspection was enough. Am of the day for me!
We drove up the mountain arriving at about 9:30 local. The plan was to install the remaining tin on the roof while we practiced our Mook slinging skills in front of the peanut galley… many laughs rang out upon the hillside during this time. The ladies at the school again fed us a wonderful meal of local delicacy to wet the pallet, and quite possibly fill the Bano mas tarde. The work was finally completed at 2 pm local, we re invited back to the picnic shelter to say our good byes.
That is when the emotions kick you square in the gut. Jefe spoke a word of thanks being translated into Spanish for all to understand the message. The school leader spoke to us as well in a spirit of gratitude for our efforts. I told Jefe I would say the final prayer today. I had thought about it all day, formulating my best Spanish to speak to them and translated to English for the group. As I stood up to pray, we gathered hands to complete the circle, the emotions started to flow, I was barely being able to speak to them, and only obtaining half of what I wanted to say in Spanish…. the loss of words brought me back to my native English to finish the prayer. No matter what the nationality the world segregates us into, in the end, we will be one day, one nation in God’s kingdom.
The day concluded with a trip into Quimstan to do some sight seeing, shopping, eating ice-cream and dreaming of buying a motorcycle to have for future transportation. I think a few looked into booking an extended say at the downtown Marriot Hotel. $400.00 a month including free Wi-Fi! What a deal! We traveled back to the Compound for a quick clean up and then went to a new restaurant in town called El Bunker. Inviting all of our Honduran friends to a final meal together and spend those last few precious moments together as a way to say Thank You, Maynor, Pablo, Wilmer, Lupia, Suyapa, David, Hector, Ricardo and special guest Lucia Marilu and Nancy Drew for serving us, while we were serving their homeland of Honduras.
The fatigue factor is setting in on me hard right now, and I want to write the second part of the review once we get back home. I want to decompress my thoughts, do some meditation and get things caught up before Mondays return to the work force. I will sign off for now, until then, Many blessings from Honduras.
Beuno Naches,
Mark Francisco Valle Valle
Honduras Agape 