La Joya #3 -- My Kids

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There have been a few, unforgettable moments in my life where everything just felt PERFECT; times when I felt completely ALIVE and filled with such a PEACE that I never wanted the moment to end. It's as if what I'm doing in that exact moment is exactly what I was CREATED to do for the rest of my life. One of the first of these moments was when I was at the Prince of Peace Foundation near Guayaquil, Ecuador. Another was during my time as a counselor at Camp Mel Trotter outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan. And now, the time with My Kids in La Joya, Honduras has become some of the priceless moments in my life that will last forever.

It really was a bit unexpected though. I was excited for the trip and eager to see all that would happen, but my personal expectaions weren't exactly phenomeanoly high. I mean, I knew it was going to be a great trip, but I had no idea how that place, and the people, would so quickly and easily place roots in my heart.

The first time I met the kids was the Tuesday night that the mission team arrived. I had gotten to the clinic compound in La Joya with the missionary family a few days early to help set things up. But when the bus pulled into the clinic, a dozen or so curious kids followed it ("kids" in this context range from 6 to 16). Some of the teenage girls from the States had brought Frisbees and jump ropes, so within minutes we were all playing outside, while the older guys got an easy game of football going (that's American football...not "futbol").

I was really excited to start forming relationships with these kids, especially since they lived so close and I know they'd be around probably every evening. But soon I was feeling frustrated as several of the kids were asking/begging/demanding for us to give them the jump ropes, Frisbees, coloring books, crayons, clothes, shoes, food, or anything. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE giving things to people. God has blessed me with so much and I'm eager to be generous with it! The problem is that this was the kids' view of any foreigner. In their eyes, we're just there to give them stuff. Perhaps it's a bit blunt, but really, they're developing a mindset of, "You have it. I don't. So you should give it to me." The issue and culture is SO much more complex than that, but during that Tuesday night I wasn't sure how "deep" I could really look into the problem. I was mostly frustrated because if that was they way they would act, then I didn't feel I could fully trust them. If they had the chance to take something, then they would (such as the box of crayons that went missing that night). I was beginning to feel that the upcoming week would be so much harder than I anticipated (especially when the older guys started making comments and cat-calls).

Later, as I was explaining my feelings to someone, she said, "April, they're not asking for or taking YOUR stuff...it's God´s. But really, the issue is respect. I mean, you wouldn't do that, or demand things, from someone you respected." That night and the next morning I eanestly prayed for God's guidance and wisdom. How would HE respond to this situation? And that's when I realized that this was the exact same thing that happened to Jesus! Crowds followed Him, pressed against Him, begged from Him...they saught another free meal, a miracle, healing...and how did He respond? "And when He saw the crowds He had compassion on them, because they were lost and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

God could not have revealed anything more amazing to me! And then He taught me, "April, it's not about Frisbees or Footballs, crayons or coloring books. You have something SO MUCH greater than a jump rope to give these children. You have something that will never wear out, never be used up, never get lost...something that will last in their lives forever. You have Jesus, April. Give them Jesus." It was an incredible re-revelation and became my goal and prayer. "Oh that I may leave JESUS with these children!"

Okay, so the first day of clinic work there weren't many patientes that came. A very SLOW day. Hence, there weren't many kids that were waiting around with their parents. But, our neighborhood kids showed up mid-morning (I had told them the night before we'd have Bible Club every morning). We sat in the shade and I told the story of Daniel in the Lions Den, taught a few Spanish kids songs, and then taught them how to play duck-duck-goose. They LOVED it! After lunch they were still around, so I got out a tennis ball and tuaght them Hot-Potato. EVEN BETTER! We must have played it 20 times in a row! The rest of the afternoon I just "hung out" with them, developing a trust-relationship between us. Soon they were asking questions about the states, or the meanings of things they had heard in English (I was surprised at some of the "dirty words" they had picked up. Leave it to the US culture to spread that part of our language), and they wanted me to sing songs in English. I had a good time singing all the Christian kids songs I knew in both languages!

I loved it. Sitting in the grass, under a shade tree, with a view of mountains and valleys in the distance, and just chatting it up with the kids in Spanish!

I still got a lot of "Do you have (tennish shoes, jeans, food, etc)? Give it to me." But I began to use this to ask questions about how they got money, bought things, worked, etc? They kept telling me, "There's no work." I later found out that the work available in the area is field work, specifially with beans and corn. If it's not planting or picking time, then work can be scarce. It's not that they don't have jobs, it's just the don't have to report for work as often. And the little villages and towns in the area don't really have many consistent jobs. Even if they did, most of the people wouldn't qualify. Public education goes up to the 6th grade, but that's just going to school for half-a-day, with sometimes 40 kids in the classroom, and a teacher that's trying to complete her university classes. But a lot of kids drop out by the 4th grade, or some never attend at all. (Santiago can't read or write, and doesn't even know when his birthday is, though he thinks he's around 16).

As the days went on, our "regulars", as some at the clinic called them, began to find their way into my heart. I found that they were each ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! And as I explained to them that "The toys aren't mine. They belong to the clinic. I can't give them away", most of them stopped asking, and then (one of the best parts of all!) they became very helpful to make sure I got all the ropes and Frisbees and balls back at the end of the day. Rather than lumping them altogether as I had on the first night, I was learning their different personalities, character and temperments. They were good kids that wanted to DO stuff, and help out. They wanted to be busy and work. There's something, I'm sure, that could be done in terms of skilled job training, etc. I'm not exactly sure what or how yet, but I think there's something...

Okay, so you´re probably getting more info than you bargined for when you began this post. I really thought I'd just be sharing about all the fun I had with this group of kids, but there's a lot more to it than that I guess. Here's a few more things, though, that I loved about being with them.

These FANTASTIC SMILING FACES that you see are great, aren't they? I can't help but laugh out loud looking at these pictures. But, I've gotta explian that these photos were taken during my last couple days with them, and I had to wait until just the right moment to click the camera. They weren't always smiling like that. A lot of times, espeically when they first got to the clinic, they'd be sitting cautiously on the sidelines, near the bushes, lifeless faces, practically just blending in with the background. There were a lot of serious things about life, and they have to be careful. They've learned that most of the time it's safer to keep everyone at a distance, not let yourself be valunerable. Less chances of getting hurt that way. OH but once they've been included and accepted and they know it's SAFE, then they can have FUN and SMILE and LAUGH and it's the most incredible thing in the world. It's true their lives are hard...most of us would have difficulty just spending a few minutes in their "homes", yet alone living there...but when they are enjoying themselves it's marvelous to watch!

For one thing, I never heard or saw any of them say, "You're too little." or "You can't play." Four-year-old Laura was included in everything (and she caught on just as fast, and was usually just as good as the big kids). And then, if somebody messed up or did something wrong there was never any, "Ugh! You don't know how to do it! That's not right! Go away!" Uh-uh. Instead, everyone (including the kid that just tripped the jump rope or missed the catch) would laugh together and just start over again. A few of the team members from the States commented on this too. "They don't get mad at each other. They just have a good time with it all."

I did get some grief from the kids for my limited spanish though. 😊 After all, you say "el arca" not "la arca", and I could never quite get "círculo" right when explaining duck-duck-goose...but Tania's little brother became my personal Spanish teacher, since he was most picky. But I told him on the first day, "OK, you can help me! Every time I don't say something right, you tell me." And he did! I was thankful though. A lot of people in Copán are too "polite" to really help me out like that.

One late afternoon, after the clinic was closed for the day, and most people were down at the house eating supper (I was usually late for meals...), Mario and Carlos were throwing the football with me and I asked if they knew many Bible stories. When they said no, I pulled out my Bilingual Bible and we started reading in Genesis 1. I read some, then they read some. They were both enthralled with it and my heart was thrilled hearing them read the creation story in Spanish!

A couple days before we left, a few of us on the team wanted to "climb a mountian". I invited my kids to come with, and several eagerly followed. It was a good thing too because they were excellent guides (keeping us away from the house house with the biting dogs, and taking us to the easier places to crawl through fences). It was a bit more of a hike up than I had anticipated, but it was more than worth the experience from the top. Looking down and across at the lush-looking valley and the green mountains rising up in the distance, I was inspired. And as I followed the kids exploring to find a well, I saw hawks flying below us. "Higher than the hawks soar," I thought. Incredible. It reminded me of a song they'd been playing on the radio. I began singing the few lines I knew and the kids joined me as we weaved our way up and down slopes. (The song goes something like this...)

Cuando levanto mis manos / When I raise my hands
Aunque no tenga fuerza / Even though I don't have strength
Aunque tenga mil problema / Even though I have a thousand problems
Cuando levanto mis manos / When I raise my hands
Mis carga se va / My burden leaves

Beautiful, eh?

After coming down the mountain we had to cross a stream to get back to the clinic compound. I was hot and worn out that a nice "dip" sounded perfect. So a few of us laid down in the shallow stream. Once we were already in the river I asked one of the kids, "Is it contaiminated?" He quickly shook his head...then he paused and shrugged his shoulders, "Well, maybe." I laughed and joked, "So, I´m going to die?" He smiled big and said no. I was reassured.

Of course we also had our FÚTBOL time. Thanks to my buddy Mario, I was allowed to play (sometimes they can be really picky about who gets to play). Most of the kids were in flip-flops or running barefoot, but that didn´t hinder their soccer skills at all! There was a group playing on the make-shift soccer field nearly every night until dusk. The goal posts were made of bamboo fitted together. 😊

My last day at La Joya was bitter-sweet. I was having such a wonderful time, felt so full of life, but also knew that within hours we´d be leaving. The kids asked if I was coming back, if they could go with me, if I´d remember them, etc. At 6 am the morning we left, Josue was waiting outside the bunkhouse. I got to say a last goodbye, telling him that I was going to miss them all and they´d be in my thoughts and in my heart. He told me it would be the same for them with me. Precious.

La Joya is about 8 hours away from my home in Copán, but more medical trips are being planned for January and February of next year...so I´m already counting down the months til I get to go back! I´m even thinking about spending some extended time there next summer after I´m done teaching at Mayatan...we´ll see what God has for me.

Please pray for My Kids in La Joya. Pray that people will be in their lives to share the love of Jesus and that they will grow to be what God created them to be (and pray that time passes quickly til I get to see them again!).

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Photos

My Kids
This was after the Bible story of Jonah...Javier, on the end, is reading from my Bilingual Bible!

Flowers in the hair
This was after we climbed the mountain, then "swam" in the stream, then had fun taking pictures and videos with the camera.

Comments

[Gracie Lucas]

My home, La Joya
I have been reading your blogs through blurry teary eyes...and even sobs of joy...I grew up in La Joya, and swam in that river daily (was recently told that because of the tomato fields, the river is now just a shallow stream). My parents were missionaries to the town of Piedra Gorda, but we lived on the side of the mountain, directly above La Joya. My best friends parents lived in the missionary compound of La Joya, and were Wycliffe Bible Translators who translated the Bible for the tolpani (Hicackie) indians of La Montana de La Flor. This area was my stomping grounds for the first 14 years of my life, and will always be home. I traveled every mountain, bareback, on my white Honduran mustang, and it will always be home...whether I ever get to go back or not. Just recently, last month, I have begun to receive phone calls from the village where my parents ministered, and it feels like heaven to talk to those dear people who became family to me. I am a single mother of 5 kids, been through much hardship (married a man who was very simular to a Honduran man), so I am not at a place where I could return. However, I totally empathize with Honduran women, who are practically all single moms. I am currently writing a book about life in Honduras, to record what life was like, and the changes that occured as a result of people serving the Lord there. God bless you, Gracie Lucas