Saying "Good-Bye" to Copán (No...it was actually "See You In August") and Arriving in La Joya

Central America Caribbean » Honduras » Central » Tegucigalpa
July 16th 2008

Published: July 17th 2008

I finally packed up my things, cleaned my sweet little room and bathroom and left what had been my home in Copán for over a year and a half. Wow. I have been so ready for a change, so ready to be some place different for such a long time...and then when the moment came it was as if there were still things to do there.

I wanted to have pizza with my friends, lunch in Santa Rita, another trip to the best baleada place, help Ever with his English homework from the colegio, visit Faby's church again, have a coffe with Yenny... and I still never saw the water falls past La Pintada; I have Quetzals I was going to spend in Guatemala; my host siblings and I need to make one more trip up the Elephant; I want my hostess Aura to make her amazing Tortillas con quesillo again before I go. I need to have another heart-to-heart with Lesbia; joke with Deysi on the front porch of the Spanish school; get one more bacon, cream cheese and avocado baguette at Picame; spend another afternoon studying languages in the public library with Denia. I need to give everyone one more big hug and look over the fog-frosted mountains of Copán one more time and whisper, "Thank you..."

For all these reasons, and countless more, I am so grateful to God that I didn't have to say Good-Bye yesterday morning when I left my wonderful host home in barrio San Pedrito Abajo and walked down the cobble-stone streets to get on the 7am Casassola bus to San Pedro Sula. I only had to say, "Nos Vemos en agosto..." (We'll see each other in August). It's so much better knowing that I'll be back there for a few days before I finally fly back to Michigan. Good-byes are hard for me, especially when I'm the one leaving. Of course, next month I'm sure I'll be saying, "See you next year!" rather than good-bye anyway.

My last week in Copán was fantastic. It was simply a joy to ENJOY being there and to make special time with friends. My last two days were a bit more hectic. Packing was more of a job than I had planned and I'm glad I gave myself two days rather than just one. Saturday and Sunday I went through all my stuff (which doesn't seem that much...but really adds up after 18 months, eh?). Deciding what to take, what to leave, who to give what to...THAT was the hardest part. Thanks to God's wisdom I left feeling good about everything and glad I was able to share so many of my blessings with others.

I finally got my pack together for coming to La Joya...just the necessities. I don't like going unprepared, but I hate over packing and brining things I don't use. It was so sad to leave my family Monday morning. I've moved a lot, lived in a lot of places with a lot of different people. I knew I'd be back to visit, etc. But to them, I was an ONLY. I’m the only gringo to ever live with them (the only non-family member for that matter), and I'd done so much with the kids at the church, helped Daniel with his English homework, been part of their lives for a year and a half. I'd forgotten just how special I was to them. The past several months I'd taken my situation for granted. Oh how amazingly wonderful they really are to me. They've a place deep, deep in my heart.

The last couple days with them we watched a few movies Angel left me when she came to visit in June. I sat there, playing with Saraí's hair, cuddling with Daniel, joking with David...and I wondered how it would be when I come back in a year...5 years...10 years. How they would change, where they would be, what they would be doing. ...yeah...they are super-forever-special-in-my-heart people.

OK...so I finally made it to the bus, with no actually plans made for the trip to La Joya (in central Honduras, about an 11 hour trip from Copán). I knew I'd get to Tegucigalpa the same day, but wasn’t sure where I'd stay, how I'd get where I needed to be, etc. Not really the brightest move on my part since Tegucigalpa is the capital city, as well as the largest and most dangerous in Honduras. But all my experiences there have been delightful because of the amazingly wonderful people I've met. I actually felt surprisingly OK about everything. I guess I thought God already had it all figured out.

And did He ever! I love this incredible God that I serve! In San Pedro where I changed busses I called up a friend of mine in Tegucigalpa (“Tegus”). He’s Marvin, one of the Micah Boys that had visited Copán in February to give a concert at our church. I wanted to visit the Micah House and asked if he'd be around later that day. "Sure! I'll meet you in the central park!" Fantastic! I knew my first step. Things would follow after that. (I really have been less definite with my plans here. "Um….I'm leaving Monday … or maybe Tuesday. And I'll be back…uh… sometime between the 10th and 17th of August." I guess I like to see what God has happen and not limit life to a specific date or time. 😊)

I got on the 11:15ish Sultana Bus for Tegucigalpa. A 5 hour ride. It actually went really well. I met a bilingual Honduran that's been studying in Cuba for 7 years, took the past year to backpack through Central and South America and was going to visit his brother for a bit. Good conversation about a lot of things. Politics, religion, history, books, cults, changing the world, etc. Gulp. It made me realize how few of these types of conversations I've been exposed to recently. It was a good brain stretch.

I got a taxi when the bus arrived near downtown. It was about 4:30, which was great since I did NOT want to be anywhere in that city after dark. Made it to el Parque Central, met up with Marvin and got a great tour of Micah House. It’s a fantastic project, working with street boys from the city, providing a home, schooling, and future opportunities. I really hope to visit again on my way back through. Also, being in the city gave me wonderful memories of Detroit. I’m eager to be back there!

I finally was able to contact a Pastor friend of the missionaries I work with. His church supports the clinic in La Joya and I've stayed there several times with the mission groups. He gave me directions and I got another cab (with Pedro, one of the Micah Boys...just to be safe). As soon as I arrived the Pastor had everything set. They have a gorgeous hospitality room which is nicer than most hotels I've stayed in here. The wonderful "housekeeper" Teresa made me dinner (I was so hungry) and breakfast the next morning; the pastor had arranged for a member of the church (a taxi driver) to pick me up in the morning and put me on the bus to La Joya...absolutely EVERYTHING was taken care of. And he even prayed with me for my trip, safety, work, etc. before he left for a meeting. Incredible. As I took a wonderful hot shower and got into the amazingly comfortable bed with super thick sheets I thought, "I want my ministry to be like this." I felt so taken care of. So loved. So special. May God bless that church, that pastor and that ministry like nothing else!!!

Tuesday morning I was up early, breakfast of pancakes, in the taxi and then on the bus. There were such lovely people on their way with me. Several elderly women chatted with me as we waited on the bus before leaving. One had been visiting her daughter's family for two days and now going back home to her pueblo more than 3 hours away. She had had 12 children! 9 were still living. All the ladies were so sweet and helpful. They asked me where I was from, what I was doing, where I was going; they were surprised I was traveling alone. I’ve found it’s good to make friends with people on the bus. They help watch out for you and make sure you don’t miss your stop. 

The trip was nice. I love the scenery here. Lots of pine trees, distant mountains ... indescribably gorgeous. We made a stop about half way at a little roadside shop so that the driver could check the bus engine. It’s funny, but I’m not worried in the least that they need to tinker under the hood of the bus every so often. Back in January we stopped at a stream we passed so they could get water from there to put in whatever-it-was.

Since leaving the bus terminal in Tegus I had really needed to use the bathroom and I sat on the bus for several minutes debating whether I had time, or if I’d be able to hold it for another hour and a half. I finally got off and two guys told me there were bathrooms around back. I saw two wooded lean-to type structures, but no bathrooms. Maybe the wooden stalled things were just urinals for guys. I was going to go back front and ask, "Are there any WOMEN'S bathrooms??" but hated to be such a gringo, so I kept going and realized that two of the "stalls" did have doors. One was flung open and the other was propped up to the side. "Oh you have got to be kidding me!" I thought. As I got closer I saw a wooden board with a hole in it for a seat. Inside the stall people had gone on the floor, there was ... okay, I won’t describe everything. Let’s just say it was the grossest thing I have encountered in Honduras. "Oh Lord," I said out-loud. "This is too much. I just can't do this." But I kept going, went in, and tried to close the door, finally slamming it somewhat shut. "Maybe," I thought. "I'll just wait in here a few seconds and then go out. That way if they're watching me from the bus" (after all a gringa, especially here, always attracts attention) "...if they're watching me, they'll think I went and won’t think I’m such a wuss." But, I was already in there, and I really did need to go...and, well, why not?

After I left the “stall” I thought about taking a picture of the place. But there were still all those people on the bus, and I just hated to have them think, "Those gringos are out of their minds! She's taking a photo of a toilet!" (It’s not obvious I don't like being "touristy", is it?) Either way I was proud of myself. And after I got on the bus a few of the other ladies actually got off and went out back. I guess they figured if I survived they would too. 😊

I made it to the little not-even-a-dot-on-the-map clinic in La Joya safe and sound. Even though I'd been there twice before, I was still glad that the sweet lady behind me tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Se baja aquí" (You're getting off here). The "ticket man" (for lack of a better term) helped me get my pack off. He and the bus driver were the same ones that were on the bus I took here back in January. I wondered if they remembered me. A few others got off with me for consultations in the clinic and walked up the quarter mile drive with me, the man carrying my pack for me. He was one of the numerous angels that God sent me on my journey. I smiled for each one!

Finally I was in the missionary’s home at the clinic compound. It was wonderful to finally be there. The utter BEAUTY all around us is breath-taking! Breezes, mountains, fields, the sun and sky. Jane Bullock tells me it doesn’t matter what window you look out of, each of them has the best view. Without a doubt this is the most gorgeous place I’ve been to in Honduras!

I'll be here for 3-4 weeks (again...not putting any dates on what God has for me), serving in whatever ways I can: Washing dishes, giving English lessons, digging a tilapia pond, work with local churches, preparing for visitors, doing laundry, and anything else that comes up. Two construction/medical teams are also coming from the States during my time here, so I’ll have the opportunity to be a part of them.

I have such a contentment to be in this special place. It reminds me more of my family farm back home than any other place I've ever been to. There's something cleansing and renewing about being here. I am so eager for what God will do during the next several weeks - my last in Honduras.

Love to all!! Keep praying. Life in God's service isn't easy...but it is THE BEST!!!

Saying "Good-Bye" to Copán (No...it was actually "See You In August") and Arriving in La Joya

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