VAYCAY!

Vacation to the states was wonderful! Traveled to Alexandria, MN for my beloved cousin Randi’s wedding! I was able to help decorate, put together flowers and be there for all the unfolding of this spectacular day. I met some pretty cool guys and gals there as well.  I was very happy I could be there to help her and make her day super special!

I spent some time with Jesse before he left for his 2 week training and drove him to Mankato to drop him off. My college roomie, Anna, visited all the way from Nashville, TN, and it was such a treat to see her!  I headed to Duluth, MN to visit some old roommates, some mentors, hang out in Campus Ministry, eat at Fitger’s Brewery, and walked down by Canal Park. Drove down to good old So. Dak. To visit my very dear friend Krista who was graduating from Augustana College. I finally met all of her friends she always talks about and also visited an old friend Nathaniel!

And the last weekend I got to see lots of family. My sister and nieces spent the night. The first slumber party I have ever had with my sister, yes the first ever! It was wonderful, things like that need to be done more often in life. The camp girls and I did our traditional dinner at Buca’s in the kitchen. It was so wonderful to see them all again, Jamers, Fitz, Shawny, and Colleeny!!

I am happy to be back though I have to say. In a lot of ways it feels right; it feels like a routine, like going back to school in the fall. This is my life, not just something I am doing for two years. This is where I belong, at least at this point in my life.

Thank you to all those who I saw over my vacations, all those who donated items or money or prayers! Especially: ISD 196 District Offices, Robin and Jody, and the Knights of Columbus in Rosemount!

Much Love from Honduras,

Deirdre

Pascua!

Holy Week!

I really have loved all religious holidays here. They are celebrated so differently, I feel, the way they should be or how it was intended to be celebrate. I mean I have experienced 23 some Easter celebrations but never have I felt as I did till this Easter Season. I have never felt so close to Jesus in his experience and his suffering and his love.

We started on Palm Sunday where we started at one church and processed to another joyfully dancing! Everyone had their palms waving in the air singing along to the band as we followed the Jesus statue as four man carried him on their shoulders and danced him in and out of the crowd. I really felt like I was welcoming home Jesus to Jerusalem!

Thursday we had mass and imitated the last supper as the priest washed the 12 disciples (8 kids, 2 vols, and 2 house parents) feet and then we processed with Jesus (consecrated) the jardin de paz or peace garden where the entire finca took turns waiting up with Jesus to pray before he was handed over. I had singed up for the last hour of the night. And as I was praying with a few other vols the oldest boys from house 5 came in and prayed with us for another hour, I later found out it was something they had all wanted to do and asked the house parents if they could! Wow!

Friday we went into Trujillo and did the 12 Stations of the Cross. And by that I mean we DID the 12 stations. It was like a play but everyone was involved, Jesus, the two thieves, the soldiers who beat him as we went with their whips dipped in red koolaid. But it was ever so real when Jesus was nailed to the cross, they did not actually nail him, he held on to the nails with his hands. That night it was very solemn in the Finca and in the Vol house.  We also did what is called the 7 Palabras, or the 7 last words-phrases Jesus says where we reflect on those last phrases Jesus says. After words one of the kids, Jose Daniel, was dressed as Jesus as he is taken down form the cross and prepared for burial.

Saturday night mass starts outside in the street as the blessing of the light is done with a bonfire! Then we enter the Easter Vigil Mass without any light. Then once everyone is in candles are lit in the front and light spreads through to the back in seconds and the church is light more so with the spirit of everyone waiting to welcome Jesus and sing Alleluia as Christ is risen.

Sunday was mass in the morning followed by an Easter egg hunt White House style. Unfortunately I missed most of that. There was the mother of one of our children who was severely sick so I took her to the Hospital until her son came. That is a whole another story about families and cultural norms in Honduras!

Overall I really enjoyed Pascua here on the Finca and am excited to be here next year!

Abril 2011

April started out not only as Fool´s day but also our 6 month anniversary! A Volunteers 6 months signifies many great things such as: you can now take vacation in the states, you can buy a cell phone, etc. I spent the day getting my residency card; so now I can purchase land, receive major discounts on almost all big purchases, along with the privileges of living in beautiful Honduras. Seriously who ever thought I would be living in another country long enough to need legal residency, let alone Honduras? Not me that is for sure!

This month was filled with things from the past. One community night we all picked out our favorite childhood story from the library and read it aloud to someone, in Spanish, which really put a different twist on things. I chose Para Siempre Querré or I will love you for Always in English. It was really a beautiful activity actually. It made most of us think about growing up and our parents and made me then reflect on the kids here and how many of them don{t even have one person who can share memories of their childhood or say, I remember when you did this… nor can they see how much they have grown. They have no consistence and no one they can say has loved them all through their life and share their triumphs and struggles, no one to say “I will love you forever and always!”

I had a visit from the former nurse, Beth, and Dr. Johnson and a med student who were all in Honduras for a brigade several hours away. The came for a clinic day and focused on our chronic patients with asthma, diabetes, and HTN. I learned a lot from Dr. Johnson and really enjoyed having Beth visit. While she was here we ended up getting a kid who had cut his leg with a machete just under his knee that I was able to do stitches on! If only every patient was as wonderful as he was.

Some challenging moments this month:              I learned some more parenting skills aka teenage girls can be real beast sometimes and not care at all! Mom, sorry for when I acted the same! Struggled a lot with my faith and what my purpose is here at the Farm.

Some triumphant moments this month:             Eat orange chocolate sitting on Mary Kate’s bed to celebrate her accomplishing some very important self goals. We had an awesome holy hour led by Sheena using a centering prayer around a frijole or bean, which is very appropriate for us here at the Farm. Our second retreat since the Finca was very productive and we grew closer as a community as we reflected one our thoughts of the Farm before coming and now since arriving what has changed good and bad.

Before I left all the kids asked me to bring back either food or the older boys all asked for a car, yeah right guys! Maybe I will bring back a Hot Wheel{s car!