We did have the special dinner with the Transition Kids and the house parents - Hernan and Gloria. It was great food and a great time. We had turkey, rice, potato salad honduran style, tortillas and ice cream for dessert. After the meal we found ourselves over with the kids. The transition girls watching a telenovela (soap opera) on the television and the transition boys watching music videos on the computer.
Bet you can't guess who the artist was in every video we watched and is one of the kid's favorite music artists? Michael Jackson. We watched "Smooth Criminal" and "Thriller" (two versions) along with some others. It was a fun night with the kids.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
December 31, 2008 - The Investigation Continues
The plan was to be guests at the Transition House (where the teenagers live) at Faith Home for a special supper. Almost at the same time we arrived the police pulled up outside the Transition House. Saul and Brad went out to talk with them. The police had arrested the two guys that had stolen the doors. Their father had called the police when they returned to the house (more about the dad later). The dad and the boys had also told the police what the boys had done with the doors. The police wanted Brad and Saul to go with them to identify the doors.
Off Brad and Saul went with the police. Brad and Saul leading the way of course. When they got to one of the houses which had what looked like one of our doors mounted on their front door (and a house where the boys and the dad said was one of our doors) we stopped and talked with the lady. Of course, she swore she had had the door many days and had gotten it from a relative. No way we could really prove it was ours so we left. The police told us later they found another door in the backyard of this house. A little strange the lady would have two doors that looked just like ours at her house. Hummmm?????
Saul thought it would be a good idea to go talk with the dad to try and smooth things over so there wouldn't be any problems as we continue to work in this area. We had a good conversation with the dad. He basically said he was tired of his own sons. He has been telling them they need to get real jobs and work or they can't continue to live at his house. The dad said he called the police because he is a Christian and just wants to do the right thing - even if it means turning in his own sons. He seemed to be sincere.
It did get a little unnerving because the house was located on a dark street and while we were waiting on the street for the dad to come out of the house a large crowd gathered around us. Comprised almost entirely of young men. Being a gringo, not being able to understand the language and what is going on very well, being on a dark street at night, and being surrounded by a bunch of young men that you don't know who may not like what you're doing - sure can make a person feel very, very, very uncomfortable. Sure glad the police stayed close by.
Didn't get our doors back but we do think we left on good terms with the dad and the local community; and, have a new respect for the police. They worked very had to catch the guys and to locate our doors.
Off Brad and Saul went with the police. Brad and Saul leading the way of course. When they got to one of the houses which had what looked like one of our doors mounted on their front door (and a house where the boys and the dad said was one of our doors) we stopped and talked with the lady. Of course, she swore she had had the door many days and had gotten it from a relative. No way we could really prove it was ours so we left. The police told us later they found another door in the backyard of this house. A little strange the lady would have two doors that looked just like ours at her house. Hummmm?????
Saul thought it would be a good idea to go talk with the dad to try and smooth things over so there wouldn't be any problems as we continue to work in this area. We had a good conversation with the dad. He basically said he was tired of his own sons. He has been telling them they need to get real jobs and work or they can't continue to live at his house. The dad said he called the police because he is a Christian and just wants to do the right thing - even if it means turning in his own sons. He seemed to be sincere.
It did get a little unnerving because the house was located on a dark street and while we were waiting on the street for the dad to come out of the house a large crowd gathered around us. Comprised almost entirely of young men. Being a gringo, not being able to understand the language and what is going on very well, being on a dark street at night, and being surrounded by a bunch of young men that you don't know who may not like what you're doing - sure can make a person feel very, very, very uncomfortable. Sure glad the police stayed close by.
Didn't get our doors back but we do think we left on good terms with the dad and the local community; and, have a new respect for the police. They worked very had to catch the guys and to locate our doors.
December 31, 2008 - The Baptism
Brad and Saul had to get back to Faith Home because a new believer from one of our churches was being baptized. It was a great time. People from the lady's church along with several Faith Home kids and house parents were there. It was held outside in the pila (tank) at Faith Home. Pastor Miguel led the event and Eduard and Jorge played the guitar while Javier led the singing (all three are house parents). It was informal, low-key, and Real. Felt like it was family celebrating a great event in a family member's life. Perhaps the way it's suppose to be?
December 31, 2008 - The Investigation Begins
When we got back to Hogar de Fe Brad and Saul left for the police station in San Manuel. Before they could get to the police station they passed the police in their truck headed toward El Porvenir (the opposite direction of San Manuel). Brad and Saul turned around and caught up with the police in El Porvenir. Saul told them what was going on and that we had the names of the guys we thought had stolen the doors. The police said they would follow us. Huh??? Follow us? Aren't they suppose to take it from here? This was just the beginning.
Brad and Saul take the lead with the police following behind in their vehicle and they all head toward a community in the back of El Porvenir. You have to go up a fairly steep, but short, hill to reach the community. We stop just before the hill and Saul goes back to tell them we don't know where the guys live just the names and general area. No problem the police say. Next thing Brad knows Saul has returned to the truck and two of the police are getting in the back of the truck with their automatic weapons. The police vehicle is not four-wheel drive and they don't think it will make it up the hill. So, they want us to take them. What? Aren't they suppose to take it from here??? Oh, wait, already thought that and was wrong.
We drive around the community and ask a few people if they know these guys. Finally someone says they think they live back down where we came from. So, we head back down from whence we came. But, the police stay in our truck and don't get back in their vehicle. Have we been sworn in as police???? Did we miss something????
We stop and ask some more people and they give a little more precise info about where these guys might live. The police tell Brad to drive and they and Saul give directions. We turn on to a road, drive a short distance and Saul says stop here. Brad stops, the police jump out the back doors with weapons drawn, and run into a house. Brad's not really liking this. Once again, aren't the police suppose to take it from here???
In a few minutes the police come around the side of the house. Jump in the back seat and tell us to drive and give directions. Great, we are now chasing the criminals with the police in our backseat. Where is the police vehicle??? After a few more turns the police jump out again with weapons drawn and begin running after the criminals. One is running and the other is waving us to follow them more closely. Guess we're in this for the long haul.
Eventually the two police officers disappear into a side street. After about 15 minutes and no sight of anybody we decide to leave. As we're leaving we pass by the original house the police ran into and there are the police standing in front of the house. How did they get there??? They are waiting until the two guys return to their house.
Brad and Saul figure the police can handle it from here and leave because they have somewhere else they need to be.
Brad and Saul take the lead with the police following behind in their vehicle and they all head toward a community in the back of El Porvenir. You have to go up a fairly steep, but short, hill to reach the community. We stop just before the hill and Saul goes back to tell them we don't know where the guys live just the names and general area. No problem the police say. Next thing Brad knows Saul has returned to the truck and two of the police are getting in the back of the truck with their automatic weapons. The police vehicle is not four-wheel drive and they don't think it will make it up the hill. So, they want us to take them. What? Aren't they suppose to take it from here??? Oh, wait, already thought that and was wrong.
We drive around the community and ask a few people if they know these guys. Finally someone says they think they live back down where we came from. So, we head back down from whence we came. But, the police stay in our truck and don't get back in their vehicle. Have we been sworn in as police???? Did we miss something????
We stop and ask some more people and they give a little more precise info about where these guys might live. The police tell Brad to drive and they and Saul give directions. We turn on to a road, drive a short distance and Saul says stop here. Brad stops, the police jump out the back doors with weapons drawn, and run into a house. Brad's not really liking this. Once again, aren't the police suppose to take it from here???
In a few minutes the police come around the side of the house. Jump in the back seat and tell us to drive and give directions. Great, we are now chasing the criminals with the police in our backseat. Where is the police vehicle??? After a few more turns the police jump out again with weapons drawn and begin running after the criminals. One is running and the other is waving us to follow them more closely. Guess we're in this for the long haul.
Eventually the two police officers disappear into a side street. After about 15 minutes and no sight of anybody we decide to leave. As we're leaving we pass by the original house the police ran into and there are the police standing in front of the house. How did they get there??? They are waiting until the two guys return to their house.
Brad and Saul figure the police can handle it from here and leave because they have somewhere else they need to be.
December 31, 2008 - The uneventful stuff
Our day started with a trip to the bank in San Pedro Sula. However before we could get out of the door Saul (the Bible Institute superintendent) came by telling us he had gotten word that some guys were seen walking down the hill behind the Bible Institute with some doors - probably ours. He was going to go check it out. Great - here we go again.
We went to the bank - had to wait about an hour for them to be able to do what we needed done - and then headed to the grocery since we hadn't been in many days. When we got to the grocery the parking lot was packed and there was a long line of cars waiting to get into the parking lot. We decided to head to the grocery in El Progreso. The crowd there was smaller and the parking lot was bigger so we did our shopping. When we were leaving Saul called and said we were missing four doors from some of the houses at the Bible Institute and he thought we should go to the police when we got back.
Continued in the next entry...
We went to the bank - had to wait about an hour for them to be able to do what we needed done - and then headed to the grocery since we hadn't been in many days. When we got to the grocery the parking lot was packed and there was a long line of cars waiting to get into the parking lot. We decided to head to the grocery in El Progreso. The crowd there was smaller and the parking lot was bigger so we did our shopping. When we were leaving Saul called and said we were missing four doors from some of the houses at the Bible Institute and he thought we should go to the police when we got back.
Continued in the next entry...
Thursday, December 25, 2008
December 25, 2008 - Christmas at Hogar de Fe
We just spent almost 10 hours with our teammates the Willis passing out gifts, cookies, and sodas to 79 plus kids and about 20 adults. A very long day but it was nice to be so busy. It's hard being away from family during this time of year and being so busy the last few days has been nice. We had each house (the kids live in houses with house parents) come one house at a time. Once they arrived Cindy took a picture of all the members of the house together and then a picture of each kid as they received their gift(s). After the pics they opened their gifts and then it was time to help with installing batteries, figuring out for them how their toys worked, cleaning up the mess from the gift openings, passing out the cookies and sodas for each house, saying good bye to that house and getting the presents out and under the tree for the next house.
The transition kids (teenagers) were the last group. It was good they were last because we were tired and they were very energetic and funny just being around them as they teased each other during the pictures.
The Willis and we had a good day, busy and tiring, but good.
Fue bueno día
The transition kids (teenagers) were the last group. It was good they were last because we were tired and they were very energetic and funny just being around them as they teased each other during the pictures.
The Willis and we had a good day, busy and tiring, but good.
Fue bueno día
December 24, 2008 - Christmas at Faith Home #10
A few pics from the day. From top to bottom. (Top) Odalin and Melvin Jose (Saul's son); Pastor Miguel taking it easy; Luisa; and Greysi.
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