Today was our last day at the GSCH. Blanca made her wonderful banana pancakes again! We packed up our suitcases. Then we had to say thank you and good-bye to Blanca (our fabulous cook) and Benjamin and Waleska (our wonderful translators). It felt like we were saying good-bye to family.
Rob, Benjamin, Steve, and Rich
All of the girls!
Then we headed back to the casitas again. I helped Julie make handprints of the girls in casita #3 for their sponsors for Christmas.
Then I went to see if Tia Tomasa needed help making lunch today. I asked Armando if he would ask Tia Tomasa if I could help her. Armando is one of the teenage boys that lives in her casita. He looked at me like I was crazy and said "You?" I said, "Yes! I helped her yesterday." He shrugged his shoulders and asked her for me. She smiled and nodded again. Today, she just needed me to unwrap boullion cubes and put them in a jar. She was sweet to give me a chair to sit in while I worked. Then I saw Yolany out in the yard, so I called to her and she came to help too. It felt wonderful to all work together. I was a little jealous because they could talk and I couldn't. I was having a difficult time getting the little wrapper off the boullion cube without the cube breaking into pieces. Then Yolany came in to work with me and she put me to shame! Yolany was born with one arm not fully formed below the elbow. It doesn't stop her. She is an inspiration to me!
When I had to go back to the casona for lunch, I asked Armando to come tell Tia Tomasa and Yolany that I needed to leave. I asked Armando why he had been surprised that I would help her. I said, "Don't people usually come and help?" He said, "No." I said but Jesus teaches us in the Bible to serve others. They both smiled and nodded "Si!" (Yes!) Thank you, God, for teaching me to serve others!
After lunch, we practiced our TWIGS routine again. We were not doing so well today. We were supposed to be at the church at 1:00 for the closing program. We made it by 1:15. As we walked by the casitas on the way to the church, the kids were still playing. Most of the children didn't show up until 1:45. We did our TWIGS routine for the children. It was to the Kutless song, "What Faith Can Do." We performed the song the best we had ever done! We were so excited! I think it showed the kids and adults that we cared about them so much. We took the time to prepare and practice this song for them! (Thank you, Karen for heading up this effort!)
Then the younger children sang for us and some played the bells for us.
Little Yolany and Jorgito sang a song.
After a few songs, Daniela and Miguel presented each member of our team with bracelets and gave us hugs.
Then each child that wanted to came up to give us good-bye hugs. I had not been prepared for that. I was crying like a baby even though I knew that I would be blessed by getting to stay another week with Joe, Abby, Ellie, Nathan, and Sarah. I took pictures with Miguel, Daniela, and Yolany.
Me and Miguel
Me and Daniela
Me and Yolany
Steve saying good bye to his daughter, Yami.
Then I walked with Yolany back to the casitas. She gave me a bracelet that matched the one Daniela had just given me! I hugged her and told her "Gracias" (Thank you).
Steve and Yami were next to us. It was so hard to leave the kids even knowing that I would be back tomorrow. I can't even fathom how hard it is to say good bye to your daughter when all you want is to take her home forever. I wonder if that is how God feels everytime one of His children walks away. Our team was sad as we walked back to the casona to get on the bus. We were emotionally drained.
We stopped at the Agricultural School store on the way to the BMDMI mission house. A few of us bought some ice cream. It was so good! At the mission house we were fed chicken lasagna. We got to talk to many of the other BMDMI missionaries. I got the chance to get to know Mike and Marty Edwards a little better. Marty shared her story about how God had called them to the mission field with a few of us.
BMDMI Mission house
After dinner, our GRUMC Honduras team shared with Julie and Kevin what God taught us through this past week. It was very emotional. Most of us were crying by the end. I shared that God taught me to be a servant this week. Serving others shows love and breaks down language barriers. God showed me that Pastor Abner and his wife , Alisson as well as Kevin and Julie need to be served and encouraged. They are on the front lines every day. I went on this mission trip to help others, to love on kids, to meet the children we sponsor (Miguel and Yolany), and to spend time with our friends (The McKenzie family). I failed to understand just how much God would mold and grow me through this experience. God made my heart break for what breaks His heart. I love the people here. I felt closer to God here. I had to depend on Him everyday and listen to where He would lead me. I wanted to be completely in His will. At home, I get in my routine with homeschool, church, and family time. Sometimes I am not even aware that God has something for me to do that day because I don't even look up from what I am doing. I need to be more open to God's leading.
These are some more pictures from today.
