It is Friday night and we have finished our devotions, planned our cleaning duties, contemplated tomorrow`s schedule .... And we all feel incredible sadness in leaving, while at the same time being eager to return home.
Today, we rose early to prepare to go to the celebration at the Instituto Technico Santa Maria, given in honor of Padre Ricardo Kunz who is leaving the El Hogar project and Honduras to return to the United States. After 6 years in Honduras! The journey out to the Technical School (for older El Hogar boys) was again an exercise in faith (largely in Raul Castro who seems to have the ability to levitate the El Hogar van over potholes that should rightfully consume it). Yet, after some fits and starts we made it to the Institute, set in a tranquil rural lanscape, quiet and comforting.
The idea today was to surprise Father Richard with a fully-operational chapel: windows in place, painted and boasting a marvelous mural painted by an El Hogar graduate now in his final year at Hondura´s leading art school. Father Richard had no idea of any of this, he was simply asked to come by for a meeting before he left Honduras. As the Epiphany crew walked in (thank goodness we beat Richard and his wife Barbra out there!), we saw all three El Hogar project schools already in the Chapel: there must have been hundreds of kids there! And their behavior was simply amazing ... I fear that a similar group from our own hometowns would not have fared well in comparison.
Father Richard and Barbra arrived and walked into the chapel to a thunderous standing ovation from everyone, a moving moment indeed. The service was long, especially given the heart-felt thanks given by so many that had been helped by this incredible man -- the love was tangible. And so too, was the sensation of real participation in the service. I am extremely grateful to have been present. Some of the Tech boys comprised the band that served for musical support ... and they were wonderful. The rythmn guitar also played drums and the drummer proved to have an excellent set of pipes. The keyboard player also played a five string bass, the lead guitar ... channeled Los Lobos. They continued to play long after the service was finished and some members of our group had to be dragged out to lunch ... I might resemble one such.
After a nice lunch for all outside in the interior park of the Institute (and a tour of the facilities), we set out for a town in the Valle de Angeles where they sell artisanal crafts representing Honduras. The ride was essentially a backtrack of the morning`s route followed by a long haul into the mountains Northeast of Tegucigalpa. On the way over a particularly nasty bump, the rear seat crashed to the floor, so three gentlemen seated there spent the rest of the journey on the floor. The mountains are the "real deal": I guesstimate about 4,000 additional feet up making for perhaps 7,000 ft in total. At that altitude the air was pristine and the countryside astoundingly beautiful. I was reminded of being in the Coastal Range of Northern California, only the constant reminders of grinding poverty would alert you that you were in fact in the second poorest country in this region. Truly, Honduras can be a land of contradictions: gated communities for the rich existing within a stone`s throw from shacks with no power, clean water, sewage or hope. Signs of danger represented by armed security guards offset by sunny smiles, warm welcomes and honest hospitality. Desperately poor people outside of malls boasting the latest fashions and fast food.
We returned to El Hogar to quickly bolt our tortillas, beans and creme queso and go to the dormitories to particpate in the talent show with the children. Members of our choir bailed us out with a stunning rendition of a blues-folk song as an example of "our" talent. For my part, I croaked or lip synched at the back trying not to be obvious for my lack of talent! The boys and girls gave us an enjoyable show and we were sad to say good night -- although we did manage to sneak in a few photo ops.
For my part, I wish we had been able to spend a little more time on our projects. There is a feeling of investment in our labors and I can`t help but wish that I-we could see them through to completion. I know that I have to let go ... what is done is done and what is not done is not done ... but that just doesn`t seem to cut it. And it will have to. Tomorrow morning we will have one more time to be with the children and at 10am we will be on our way. I am thankful for the fellowship, care and faith of the members of this team. I know that you readers will hear many stories about this mission trip and I hope that each of us can share with you how truly important El Hogar is, how enriching the experience is and how critical our support is to protect these children. Bless you all and see you soon.
BHL
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