| Honduras
Newsletter Two May 14, 2004 La Juventud, Saturday, at 6:30am, the streets in Tegucigalpa are alive with women sweeping the dirt out their front doors, people leaning against a fence, lined up and waiting for the bank to open, taxis dodging through the traffic, beeping horns, and people setting up their fruit stands in the dusty, humid air. This particular Saturday morning, I’m walking up 6th avenue toward the market with 14 youth from Emaus Lutheran Church in Syuapa, Tegucigalpa. Including Dañia, their youth director and Xiomara, the national youth coordinator, we are 17 people. We work our way north, leaping over pot holes, dodging motorcycles, and holding hands across the streets. A taxi screeches to a halt and out leaps Samuel, a little late, but he caught us before we left town. (How in the world he managed to track down our group in the middle of Avilladella is beyond me). We are headed to the bus station. Today at 2:00, the community, Light of the World Lutheran Church up in the Cuñada celebrates their weekly worship service and we have a plan. Several hours later, the bus pulls to the side of the highway. We jump out and begin the trek up the dirt road into the Cuñada. Finally outside of Tegucigalpa and up in the mountains, we relax. We pass a bag of mangoes between us and begin to enjoy our afternoon. First things first, we confirm our idea for the afternoon. For whatever reason, the youth group in the Cuñada is extraordinarily disanimated. Their numbers have dwindled to almost non-existent, their leadership has cooled to lukewarm, and their community is cracking. When the youth community in Emmaus heard of the difficulties in the community, they were immediately surprised and motivated. And so, filled with the spirit, we’re heading to the Cuñada to look for the youth, to pray with them in their homes, encourage them, and invite them to the afternoon worship. Our first stop: Blanca’s house. “Buenos Dias,” we call out from the gate, and her tiny daughter, Nicole, peeks her head out the door. “Hey, girl, is your mom here?” I ask her. Blanca appears, and shocked with the surprise of 15 youth on her doorstep, she begins to laugh and invites us into her house. Once inside, Dañia begins, “Blanca. We, the youth of Emaus, are here because we know this has been a really difficult time in the life of the youth here in the church. We want to check in with you, sister, and encourage today, and invite you to join us in the worship this afternoon.” Blanca smiles softly and nods. One of the youth opens a Bible and begins to read Psalm 103, “Bendeciré al Señor con toda mi alma; bendeciré con todo mi ser su santo nombre. Bendeciré al Señor con toda mi alma; No olvidare ninguno de sus beneficios...” At the close of the Psalm, we join hands in prayer. We pray for Blanca, we ask for blessings on her home, her daughter and her family. We thank God for her health, and her opportunities to study. We pray for strength and encouragement, and for God’s steady presence in her life. We share the peace with her in hugs and kind words and strong hands, and we leave for the next house. We make up the road to Mary’s house, and are greeted in the doorway by her grandmother, one of the smallest women I have ever seen. She gives me a hearty embrace around the waist and invites us into her home. There is barely space for Mary to duck inside and join us. We stand together, crowded and giggling, and again share our message of encouragement and hope. A different youth opens a bible and begins to read the Psalm. We reach out to one another, we hold hands, link arms, touch shoulders, and bow our heads in prayer. We continued around the Cuñada, stopping at different homes, reaching out to the youth, talking and laughing and enjoying ourselves between stops. The worship service that afternoon had a few more youth and a few more community members. We sang with such gusto that poor Mauricio could barely keep up with us on the guitar. After the worship, we met with various youth around one of the tables outside. “You are the life of the church,” Dañia said emphatically. “You have to come together and support eachother. Know that you are loved.” And God strengthened us all that day. …Life in Honduras continues to surprise, bless and challenge me. The past month has been busy, I’ve been assisting with translating, teaching a little theology, assisting with some project coordinating in the office and visiting communities. Thank you again for all your notes of support and news, and thank you especially for your prayers. As always, please feel free to share this newsletter. In Peace, Lindsay |