Heading Home

Friday, April 7, 2017 – Last Morning

Blessed indeed!

It was our last night and our last “Junta” (which means gathering) and we were standing in the light of the moon. We are feeling blessed indeed as we reflected on the experiences and people that have so deeply touched our lives this week. It was an extra long “Junta” as we heard special messages from Carolyn Bickford and Richard Seivert. There was a lot of sharing and even some teary eyes as we expressed to each other the impact on each of us of these last 10 days. Lives have been changed: for each of us missioners; for those we were able to help here; and hopefully for you our blog followers. The moon has increased in light each night simply by reflecting the light of the Sun back to us. We have stood in the light of Christ reflected back to us from these beautiful Honduran people. Our challenge is to continue to reflect the light of the Son in the way we live our lives from here forward.

It’s Friday morning, our last in Honduras. The early risers are already enjoying some of the rich Honduran coffee and already at work packing and inventorying all of our tools and supplies for next year’s group (s? Kuemper?). Soon we will all be up and packing. We are invited to the assembly that begins each school day for a special send-off. We will say our last goodbyes and head for the airport and our long journey home. (Thanks for prayers for a safe and quick trip.) There is sadness in leaving but joyful anticipation to see loved ones again back home.

Thursday was a flurry of activity. The crew at the houses was putting on the finishing touches. The houses are not only wired but have electricity hooked up. Everything was cleaned and staged for the presentation in the afternoon and a new bunk bed and wood cooking stove delivered. A missioner noted one day that the mother of the house removed her sandals when she came into the house to answer a question. Even though they were still under construction, she was proud of the house and showed the respect with which she and her family will care for it. Back at the school bunk beds were being completed and leaders were tying up loose ends.

After lunch the entire Kuemper Catholic Mission Honduras Team walked one last time over to our houses for the presentation to the families. Official paperwork was signed and Fr. Doug prayed a blessing and then the big moment . . . A rep from the  Kuemper adult team presented the keys to the family and they opened the door. Our houses that we built with the help of so many back home are now Their Homes! And the first thing the new owners did was to invite us to share their new home “mi casa es su casa (my house is your house)” is the attitude so prevalent here. A student rep from Kuemper hung the cross on the wall. They were blessed Wednesday evening at our final Mass and signed on the back by each missioner. There were teary eyes on the part of both the family missioners. We sang a blessing over the family and received words of great gratitude. “This help for our family comes from God through your hearts and hard work. Thank you. Thank you.”