Day Two

The day began with breakfast at the hotel with the group from Simpsonwood United Methodist. We said our good-byes to them along with Byron, John, Walter, and Barry who headed to Roatan via the ferry. The members from our team went to see what can be done to help the people there and how we can continue our mission in Honduras in future years. They should return to us Sunday evening. With Byron gone, our new ´La Heffe´ was Lisa (who did a great job).

We decide to spend the day in El Pino despite the rain. Ken and Mary were sure that if we just went to the church we could find children to hangout and play games with, while the other part of the team planned to paint some rooms in the clinic there in El Pino. When we got to El Pino, Ken, Mary and I went out and ´Pied Pipper style´went around the village and rounded up children to come to the church. The three of us, along with Sandi and Lisa, played games, did crafts, and just had a great time hanging out with about 40 of the local children. Sandi even taught the ´Hamster Dance´which I just loved!!! David and Pam spent the time holding babies and talking with the mothers. While Terry and Brad, took pictures and spoke with the local people as well. It was such a beautiful experience. As we finished, the keys to the clinic arrived and the painters (Sandi, Brad, David, and Terry) were able to get started on the painting. Ken, Lisa, Mary, Pam, and I went to the village of Nueve de Julio to speak with Elder. While we didn´t find Elder there, we did get to speak with his family and several other people whose homes were built by previous St. Mark teams. Upon our return to the clinic, Pam and Ken went to find and interview Emilio and his family, while Terry and a few others spoke with Joseph. (For those who don´t know, Elder, Emilio, and Joseph are three men who are on scholarships from our church to help fund their education. They also have special places in the hearts of our teams and church.)

We returned to La Ceiba mid afternoon to have lunch at Church´s Chicken and watch the rest of the USA v Ghana game with our drivers (Ricardo, Carlos, and Carlos). The rest of the afternoon was spent walking through the streets of La Ceiba experiencing life on the streets in the outdoor markets. Some of us even made it down to the beach..which is not quite like the beaches in Roatan. Before dinner we had some time and our friend Elder came to the hotel so that Ken and Mary (and I as the translator...yes, I was the translator) could interview him about his scholarship needs for school. We spoke for about an hour in Spanish. I learned a lot about this 26 year old man who dreams of being a nurse. St. Markers...whatever money you are giving to help support these scholarships it is well worth it! Those here who receive it are very deserving.

We then took off for dinner at the mall. Let me interject at this point that the driving here in Honduras is quiet an experience. It really is like the ´rules of the road´are VERY loosly defined and might as well just be...survive. The mall was a fun time and we finished our evening at Applebee´s. (I´m learning that the American restaurants are much safer in terms of health.)

As I look back on Day 2, I am just overwhelmed with emotions. It was truly a beautiful day! As a team we were able to go and begin doing God´s work here in El Pino. For me, it is great to see the relationships that have formed here with our teams and the people of El Pino and Nueve de Julio. Some of these people haven´t seen ¨us¨ in at least two years but you would have thought that they were best friends and that they were here last week. It is amazing!! From kids to adults, they remember by name people on our team. On a personal note, to be able to translate in Spanish for an hour after spending time with 40 children that morning...well, I´m speachless. It is only Day 2 and I have already been blessed beyond measure. Lastly, I would say that the difference between wealth and poverty here is in such contrast. Wealth also has a different meaning in this part of Honduras which is difficult at times to see.

Till next time, love and do not fear....
-Harvey Oaxaca