Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Many blessings to you and your families during this beautiful time of year. In December I made my way back to the States as my 27 month commitment came to an end. No doubt it was (and still is) very hard to say goodbye to all that is the Farm. There are no words to express my gratitude for the opportunity let alone the experience of the mission and of the children, who will live on in Honduras
41 Reasons Why I Will Miss the Finca
Brittani- loves to flare her nostrils even though she has no control over it, and makes hilarious faces. She squeezes as
hard as she can when she gives a hug!
Kimberly-speaks vaguely; even the girls in the house have no idea what she is saying. “Remember that thing that we took
with us to that one place that one day?” No Kimberly I don’t.
Cati-the most organized child on the Farm and speaks as a Grandmother does. “Did you see that Wilmer hit my
brother? That Wilmer what was he thinking? And my brother, he didn’t do anything, nothing! He didn’t do
anything. (shaking her head) That Wilmer.”
Luz-on one of the MANY doctor visits I had with her she became impatient (imagine that) and threw a tantrum. I carried
her through the streets of Ceiba crying and kicking, people must have thought I was stealing her. An hour later
while drawing she apologized for her “bad behavior” without being prompted!
Elena- “Day-DEEE!” that is what I hear whenever I smile at this beautiful child, and then she smiles back! Once we had a
seaweed fight in the mar-like a snow ball fight only with seaweed-and came up with this hand signal for saying
“bring it on” which became our regular salutation.
Seidy-when two mothers on the Farm were pregnant Seidy thought every woman at the Farm was pregnant. While talking
about when the babies would be born she said, “And Deirdre , are you going to have a girl or a boy?”
Dorfa-my special friend, who wants to be a nurse! She is always looking out for her siblings and writes beautiful prayers;
those whom she loves, she loves without ceasing.
María-has one of the best laughs and when she smiles, she smiles from the heart. She may seem quiet in a crowd but
Maria will let herself be known when she is with her friends or hanging out in the house on a Saturday night.
Belkis-they call her the cool one. She can kick it with the boys and show off her mad fútbol skills and be girly with the
girls. But she will never wear a dress.
Jenny-my first patient. Three days in at the Farm she re-split her knee open just after she had had her stitches removed.
Her teacher says, “You’re a nurse so you know how to do stitches right?”
Nahomi- my special friend who kindly told me she didn’t need me to be her special friend anymore! I feel blessed to have
seen her be baptized and make her first communion.
to a new home to better meet her special needs. Her siblings were jealous of her now that she has her own
bedroom and bathroom!
Jackson-loved to show the dentist his stained and decaying four front teeth, which all have fallen out this year. Now he
loves to show everyone his big hole!
Hildebrando-the helper. He is always asking to put back your cancionero (hymnal) or carry whatever it is you are
carrying, “Ayudo, ayudo?” he persists with a giant smile, I don’t know how you could say no.
Brayan-makes faces all the time. “What happened to your face Brayan?” I said. “Nothing. Why?” Copying his face I said,
“Because it looks like this!” And he falls on the floor laughing!
Ángel-10 going on 40. His gestures and facial expressions as well as his behavior at times is so adult like he gets the rep
of being the old man on the Farm.
Joel-“¿Porque?” Loves to ask questions. I once told him I loved him and he said “You love me? Why?”
Darwin-my buddy in study hour…one of the most distracted kids but ever so knowledgeable about animals, a true
Franciscan!
José Manuel-was so excited to have his baptism and first communion; he cherishes his Godparents. Godparents are a
pretty big deal in this culture and have a big influence on the child and their life.
José Pastor-the second Finca kid I stitched up (only two though). He seems quiet but he can be quite mischievous.
Miriam his older sister keeps him in check though, he really respects and looks up to her.
Jairo Manuel-is our noise maker! If you hear anything weird in the chapel chances are it is him. He has always called me
“Daa-dri” in a very deep scary voice like Dracula. And let me tell you…it caught on with the other boys!
Rony-the kite maker. With a plastic bag and some string this kid can build a kite. He finds a couple sticks, a rock and he
is happy for the day! He will gladly explain to you the science of his kite making skills when given the chance.
Daniel-after carrying him across the campo and putting 10 stitches through his leg, we’re pretty tight. Weeks before I left
he said, “Every day I look at this ugly scar I will think of you Deirdre ” I took that as a good thing!
and places, which has taught me God’s unconditional Love.
José Isabel-the dancer…give him shades and a beat and that kid can go for hours!
Cesar-is always trying to get me to arm wrestle, even though we all know he will win. “Wow, Deirdre , mira sus musculos
hoy, Vamos!” Look at your muscles, let’s go!
Wilmer-we have been through the ringer a time or two but give it time; his hugs are well worth it.
Juan Carlos-2nd big brother in Casa 5. Juan Ca, pronounces Wonka, is always telling me what they need in the house
from the clinic, who is sick, who is not taking their meds, who is misbehaving etc.
Ángel David-the most respectful 17 year old I have ever met; we singlehandedly made Thanksgiving dinner for all of
Ceiba, aquello tiempo when we were there for a week.
Jose Luis-the morning greeter. Every morning when I passed house 5 Jose Luis was the first to speak always saying with
a big smile, “¡Daa-dri! ¿Como esta Daa-dri?”
Belgia-sticking out her tongue is her way of saying I love you.
Nelsy-she tells people she is like Moses; she was found in a basket without any trace of previous existence, and she is
proud of that! She’s got spunk and attitude!
Miriam-we battled through math homework this year with some tears but it was a beautiful connection to make. We
celebrated A’s in Math at the end of the year with a big tub of strawberry ice cream, her favorite!
Riccy-my special friend this year. We shared many early mornings in laudes and communion services and holy hours.
Julitza- She always makes me laugh-the jokester! She is famous for her English one liner: “Sorry Flower!”
Sigri-LOVES Disney princesses, nothing makes her happier than reading from her Disney Princess book.
Nelly-our fluent English speaker wanting to be a mad scientist. Always getting her hands on the newest pop songs in the
States and dancing while she makes cheesy pasta.
Carlos-the big brother of Casa 5, the enforcer, no one messes with him! But his heart melts when he is walking down the
street with his sister, hand in hand!
Nolvia-we walked together to and from her work and also experienced some late nights with Algebra. Mature and wise
for her age, she is always thinking about her younger siblings at the Farm and how she can love them more!
Marina-actually prefers her second first name-Elizabeth-but no one knows!
Arturo-his smile has only gotten bigger as he has gotten older and unless it is early in the morning or he is playing tough,
Thank you again for taking time to invest in these beautiful children and young adults. May the Christ child bless you and your families in special way this Christmas season.
In gratitude for the great love Jesus has shown us,
Deirdre
