November Newsletter (long over due!)

Gratitude.

The last 27 + months have been filled with excitement, nervousness, insecurities, frustrations, laughter, struggles and successes, love and anger, family and friendships; but above all, gratitude.

I cannot begin to understand why or how God ever thought I was equipped or prepared to be a Finca Missionary. When I applied I naively thought I was ready, maybe even qualified, to be a missionary. But any Finca Missionary can tell you if not in the first 24 hours of arriving, for sure the first week, doubts start to roll around in your head. You say to yourself “I can’t speak Spanish. I don’t know how to use a pila. I have to run a clinic (or XYZ job), share one bathroom with 15 other women, and learn all 39 names of the Finca children?” It is no small task.

I would remind myself of the reflection my class had in Antigua about Jesus asking Peter three times if he loved Him, which was also echoed by Kate in our last community retreat. Peter answered yes all three times and in the end Jesus told him, then feed my sheep.  Just like Peter God did not ask me before coming if I could speak Spanish proficiently. He didn’t ask if I could be catracha (Honduran), or if I could perform as a physician. He simply asked if I loved him. And if my answer was yes my only task, like Peter, was to feed his sheep; love his people. Again no small task.

Prayer took on a whole new meaning for me as I tried to love God’s people. God became my wing-man as I stepped out into the madrugada for emergencies, headed to work in the mornings, attempted to speak to house parents or kids, and as I tried to ignore the desire to split when I got embarrassed or uncomfortable. Each morning I would give my day to God on the one condition that He’d accompany me and provide me with all I needed to complete the day. And each night I would give thanks as Mary Kate and I asked each other “What is one thing you were grateful for today?”

Poco a poco Honduras and the Finca became what I called home. I was no longer putting my life on hold for 2 years of service, it was and still is my life, actively being lived out. A veil had been lifted and I saw things for what they really were. My community became my second family knowing me better than my extended family. My life was intertwined and dependent on all those in the Finca: children, house parents and tias, sores, and other missionaries. The true God was shown to me, not the one I had been taught about in Sunday school or had ignorantly prayed to in college, but the God to be experienced.

I could easily see God and God’s love in the children and in the way they easily and freely gave of it to others. I experienced God when Jose Manuel drew himself, his tia and all the boys who live in house 4 when asked to draw a picture of his family at Tema. When Elena showed off the gusano (worm) I pulled out of her head to all the houses. When Juan Carlos and all the house 5 boys take turns holding their house mom’s new baby, their sister, and when Seidy gives me unconditional hugs every day I experience God. When I see Nolvia and Julitza dance at the graduation baile as if no one is watching them and when Darwin takes 30 minutes to tell me the detailed history of the dogs at the Finca, I experience God. I see God when Carlos gives his churros to the guys on the streets of Ceiba, and in Belgia’s desire to be a religious sister. Struggling with Miriam to finish her math homework, or Roni saying “thank you for the pills Deirdre” as I leave his house in the morning, God reveals himself to me. I hear God when Daniel tells me “Every time I look at this ugly scar I will think of you Deirdre” (from the 10 stitches I put in his leg a year ago) or when Joel asks “Why do you love me?”

There are endless examples of God manifested in the Children of the Farm. It is not just nice things the children do for others but is them loving one another; them loving God’s people. And through these children all that I had taken at surface value I now could see the deeper meaning. God doesn’t just love me, he LOVES me! And that often was the “one thing” I was grateful for at the end of the day: a child showing me how to love and allowing me to see others as well as myself as God sees them.

With 4 weeks left at the Farm I still do not know why God thought I was worthy enough to enter the Finca’s life. I often feel I have learned and gained more than I have given. But I do know how grateful I am that I was called here and that my “yes” included more than I ever could have imagined. So today I am grateful for the opportunity to live as a Finca Missionary.

Octubre-Noviembre 2012

In Central America, children get their own special day, Día del Niño, just like mother’s day and Father’s day. This year we went back to the Naval Base on the Trujillo peninsula. If you stand on our beach at the Finca they are directly north of us across the water. Everyone had a blast jumping off their dock (and when I say dock I mean a landing strip of cement about 15 feet above the water), seeing star fish the size of your dinner plate, and collecting more candy than imaginable from the piñatas.

About two weeks later the five new missionaries arrived, one of them a fellow Minnesotan from New Prague! We celebrated our MN pride at the annual talent show my “dancing” to a rap about the Midwest with our other community members from Chicago. She also brought some wild rice which was quite the mix-up on our rice and bean nights!

October 7^th the Trujillo Diocese celebrated their 25^th Anniversary with a youth vigil packed full of games and food and fun. Only the oldest kids were allowed to go. We had a march through Trujillo with each parish representing themselves. There were over 20 priests present and the mass was said in Spanish and in English; it was beautiful.

The end of October brought new jobs for the newbies at the end of their orientation which included intro to pizza making. Amanda and I are hoping Thursday night Pizza tradition continues after we leave in December. The 5^th-9^th graders participated in a Feria de Ciencias, or the Science Fair. There were very well done and all were very proud of the hard work they had put in over the last couple of weeks. All the schools in the surround areas came as well to see what our kids had done.

As December gets closer the sabios or wise ones (those who are leaving!) are handing off more of their responsibilities. We all no longer have cleaning day responsibilities or cooking days now that we are jubilado-ed or “retired” by Finca terms!  So last week was my last week of working on Clinic days. My fellow nurses took me out for lunch to celebrate, my class of missionaries had our pre-re-entry or pre-transition retreat, and I have been having many board game dates with our children,  hot chocolate dates with missionaries, and hair cut appointments (I am the adult hair cutter currently at the Farm).

As happy as I am to return home I am equally sad to leave this home and this family that I have been gifted here. I ask that you please pray for our transition from this beautiful place. May God Bless you all and Happy Thanksgiving!

Much Love, Deirdre

p.s. check out the Finca Newsletter...I wrote the "Oldie" reflection!!

The Beginning of the End!

September 2012

All of the last I have experienced in the last month:

Last community dia de limpieza (cleaning day) where the house is literally stripped of everything and we take the hoses and buckets and drench the walls with bleach water, wash every dish, clean the gutters, reorganize the book shelves and throw at all the fubol’s with holes in them. 

Last dia de independencia (day of independence) including those for our sister countries of Nicaragua and Mexico (we have to Mexican-Americans and two Nicaraguans in our house as well). The school parades around the campo and this year we had a band with instruments donated to us from the manicipalidad (the local government). There were ballerinas, cheerleaders, peloton, the pillars of the school, the band, and more. Next to Christmas and Semana Santa (holy week) this is one of the most important days in their year!

Last community retiro (retreat) with “my” community. There will be others but unfortunately I am not part of the community that will remain come December 1^st.  We went to un centro de retiro in Saba which felt like a floral selva (jungle) it was so beautiful, I felt like I was in a different world. We had lots of great conversations and time with God, watched the stars, sat in silence, challenged us to see the world and our own selves as it is. It was radical, ask me about it when I come home I am so excited to live it out!

Last room change day! Every six months we change rooms to live with different people of the community and this is the last one…only there for another two months.

It is so hard to grasp that two years has come and gone; I never thought I would feel it went by fast but it is almost over! I am daily trying to be grateful for this day and not think about or count down the days to leaving. I still have two months of work so I can’t “check out” yet :D Please pray for me and all those in my class (Lily, Mary Kate, Amanda, Betsy, Kate, Nils, Jacob & Rachel and there four boys: Jonah, Isaac, Ruben, Alias) that God is preparing for our transition back into a culture different from what we have been living in and that He gives us the courage to continue our life of simplicity, spirituality, community, and service.

Thank you for all of your support in ALL its forms. It has helped me in many ways.

Paz y Bien,

Deirdre

Abril Mayo Junio y Julio

This month started with the Bendicion of 4th year med student Nick! Such a huge help in our clinic and was my assistant when Ashley left on vacation. Semana Santa was beautiful as always though I didn´t get to participate in everything as I got pretty sick for 3 days!

I also did my first solo trip to Ceiba (about 3 hour drive) with two other adults and 4 kids in the back of the busito (Toyota Land Cruiser ...stick shift... fitting up to 25 people). I am pretty proud of that...conquering one fear at a time people!

This month also brought on some crazy and severe emergencies that I will probably remember for the rest of my life (stitches, gunshot wounds, drownings, etc.)! Rural Honduras can be a scary place at times.

In May Ashley returned from vacation and I left for the states. With in the First 24 hours Avery, mi ahijada (God child) made her first communion and Randi (my beloved cousin) gave birth to her first beautiful child!!! I told Randi, Mary Jane and I have this specially connection. She knew I was home and just couldn´t wait any longer!!! Jesse also came home for ¨Forever¨ as the nieces say. So we had a big thanksgiving celebration for him even on Armed Forces Day...how appropriate! I spent some time at the cabin, ate really good food, saw lots of friends, what more could I have asked for?!?!

By June 1str I was back at the Farm again.Well not quite. The Christ the King brigade from Little Rock, AR arrived and 10 of us missionaries helped translate for them. Last year as well as this year was a great time. I was able to see all kinds of different medical cases as well as help. It was satisfying to see some of the Clinics patients receive care that they have need for years...tumors removed...chronic meds were straightened out...beautiful. June also finished out the half way mark in the school calendar, wa-hoo! Again I love my students but I have such a great appreciation for those who teach as a profession...THANK YOU!!

This month Tami one of my closest and dearest friends, missionary at the Farm, and community member went back home early to start teaching at her home town Catholic school! We all miss her! Seven of our newest children will be baptised this month as well. So they are busy preparing and plans are being made so their Godparents can travel from far away distances to be here!

Thank you to all of those who read my spotty blogging and to all who are supporting the Finca and myself and all the other missionaries in all forms but especially prayer! Con mucho cariño y amor,
Deirdre

Marzo

Things are starting to settle down as Samana Santa, Holy Week, is fast apporaching. I had a wonderful time with my parents and their visit to Honduras. They were able to make eggs and BACON, a rarety a.k.a. we've never had it since I have been at the Farm, tried out the new lawn mower, met the new community of missionaries and relaxed by the water. Then we spent some time with my favorite Honduran teenagers in Ceiba and had dinner with my two extended siblings (Mary Kate and Nils, the encargados of the teens). After a pretty upsetting ride over the ocean we arrived in Roatan-the final destination-and made home there for the next few days! I got some sun!

The next week Dr. Nei (the dentist) and his wife came to do check ups and work on all of the children's teeth. The are a great couple from MN of course, where else?! I have enjoyed working with them for the last two years and they have enjoyed coming to the Farm over the last 7 YEARS! Thank you John and Barb!

We also had a Doc from TX who visits us every year to do a bit of training and see patients while he is helping in a brigade not too far from us. So this month we have had lots of extra hands in the Clinic. This week were final exams so Ashley and I have completed one quarter of teaching wa-hoo! I really do enjoy it and have such a greater appreciation for teachers! Thank you to all those who are teachers in all their forms!!

One thing I have really enjoyed and look forward to every night now is reading, hahaha. It sounds goofy I am sure but hear me out. My roommates and I have been reading Redeeming Love (excellent book by the way, you should read it, i won't give anything away!!!) every night before we go to bed. We take turns reading and interject when needed, predict what will happen in the next chapter, etc. It's like watching a sitcome or your favorite movie. The other night we said...people would never do this in the states! Hahaha! It is so simple but really beautiful at the same time-you'll just have to read it for yourself!

Some upcoming excitements: There is a 4th year med student who will be working with us in the clinic and Ashley and I are very excited. I will be returning home for vacation in May to be there for my niece's 1st Communion!!! As well as hopefully seeing new baby Klobe (Randi and John's first baby due beginning of June)!!

I pray Holy Week is a time for you all to reflect and remember and refocus. May it be fruitful!
Much Love,
Deirdre

Por Fin!

Wow! Almost 6 months since my last entry, I am really sorry about that. Well, where to begin?

September: Our retreat in Bonito was wonderful. It prepared us well to welcome 8 new missionaries to the Farm.

October: New missionaries arrived, and in that group and new nurse!! Ashley has been a huge help to me in the clinic. Finally having someone to talk to during the day in the office I think I may have made her believe I never stop talking, oops! We have found a good balance and work really well together.

November: I was able to unexpectedly be in Ceiba for a week over Thanksgiving with one of our kids for 

health reasons. It was really beautiful to spend Thanksgiving with 9 teenagers who had never celebrated the holiday and 2 other missionaries. We (one of the kids and I) cooked all day while the other kids worked and Nils and Mary Kate ran around town doing their chores. We went to 7pm mass and eat dinner after everyone (standing in a circle) had said one thing they were thankful for. It was hard to understand this holiday was something they had no idea about. They all really enjoyed it and to my surprise took it pretty serious. This day definitely made it to my Top 10 Memories of the Finca list! Another was when one of our youth fell and cut his leg and needed stitches. After this experience we will remember the other forever.

December: Posadas ending with a bang this year as the missionary house did a live reenactment with Mary and Joseph, the Three Kings (I was one!), the shepherds, shining star, etc. We went to each house by candle light gathering those inside and continued our walk until everyone was gathered outside our house. It was tan bonito, very beautiful! Another Top 10 Memories of the Finca addition.

January: A good friend from Camp, Jackie, came to visit! We had fun eating at T-bay, walking the beach, spending the day in Ceiba, and just enjoying the simplicity of everyday life here at the Farm. This month marked the beginning of the school year…yes, this year I am also teaching! I will be teaching health in colegio (7,8,9 grades) as well as 1^st and 2^nd grade, quite the difference. I am learning teacher really have their work cut out for them, so thank the teachers in your life! We also had three broken bones and two falls out of trees…we are reinforcing the already present no-climbing-trees rule I can assure you!

February will bring my parents for a visit to the Farm and to the Islands! It must be the month of parents because two other missionaries also have their parents to come and visit. I hope all is well with every one of you, many blessings and prayers from Honduras!

Les Quiero Mucho, Deirdre Ann