Area Church

Yesterday was graduation at Baxter. Marc and I went to watch as these men who have worked hard for four years received their diplomas. Graduation was fun as some of the guys with which we have worked, received top awards. Because there was so many people in from the states for graduation, there was area church at Baxter this morning.

After graduation, Marc and I also went to the banquet. I sort of grumbled as I had to be up and dressed an hour and a half earlier than I usually have to on Sunday morning.

The churches from Santa Ana and Ojojona were going to ride a bus in. A Torch bus. Marc met our bus driver in front of the clinic at 7:30. I am not sure how early he had to leave to be here at 7:30, but, as usual, Marlon was wearing a big smile.

Marc and Marlon went to Ojojona to get the bus and the people from Ojojona. They were suppose to be back at the clinic gate at 8:00 to get the Santa Ana people. About 8:15, I was calling Marc to see where they were. He said on their way. After we all loaded on the bus, Marc said they had to stop and pick up a few people that didn't get to the church building and even had to look for a few. Welcome to Honduras.

There was between 75 and 80 of us on the bus. The only thing missing to make this a true Honduran experience was the chickens.

As we neared Baxter, we saw Timoteo driving his van full of Los Pinos people. We also saw a bus from Jovenes En Camino and one from the church in Mateo.

In true Marlon style, he backed the bus in the back gate of Baxter, backed between the bus from Jovenes and a row of cars, and found just the perfect parking place for the bus.

Worship was in the ampitheater. The singing was beautiful. There were 3 0r 4 songs in spanish and then 3 or 4 in english. I knew all of them. Communion was meaningful and the sermon was good. Both communion and the sermon was in spanish and I understood most of it.

When the children were dismissed for class, Rosita and Monica walked down the main aisle hugging every single person in the end seats. The people that received those hugs were smiling.

Thirty minutes after church was over, we were headed back up the mountain. We stopped several times in Santa Ana to let people out of the bus. This is the Honduran way. We stopped in Ojojona at the gas station. A man that lives far up in the mountains brought a little jug so he could buy kerosene. He walked down to get to the church building so he could ride the bus into town. He saw no reason to have to walk down another time to get his kerosene. After filling his jug, he got back on the bus and we rode on down the road. We stopped another few times in Ojojona.

When we got back to the church building in Ojojona, what Marlon had done at Baxter backing the bus, was nothing compared to backing it through the narrow gate at the church building. Amazing is all I have to say. I wish all of you that have been amazed at what the bus drivers do, could have been here to see that.

Worship was so beautiful and even the bus ride was fun. It was well worth getting up early.

Terri