A Series of Funny Moments and Learning Patience

A Series of funny moments and learning to be Patient   So our theme for the week is love, but our theme for the day yesterday was patience!  And yes, as usual here in Honduras, definitely something we all need.  It was a very long day again yesterday, but a good day.    We began with our our group short worship and enjoyed breakfast together.  A little while later, we joined in the with the church Sunday worship.  I'm always amazed at the patience, and uninhibited worshippers.  Church "begin"s at 10am, and I say that loosely.  People stroll in all throughout the service and the service often starts late.  But its not disruptive or a concern if there is a steady stream of people showing up mid-service.  In fact, those people are welcomed with open arms and showed to a seat.  Those of us from the USA who drive a car to church, and have an alarm clock and a schedule to keep, don't often realize the effort these people have to make to get to church.  Some walk a long way, some rely on busses, some start out but don't always make it before the service is over, but yet they are not discouraged.  They cherish the ability to go to church  and see it as a blessing.  We should all worship this way.  There is no time set for the service, it's over when its over, and that's just okay.  The music is loud and heartfelt and the prayers are genuine.     After the service, we had a very productive meeting with the leaders of the church.  It was awesome to see such a large group of strong, dedicated leaders, taking an active role in making sure their church was successful and growing.  We learned a lot about their needs and desires, and what we could do to help them help themselves.  They said our church is your church, often and talked about their appreciation for us and the work we do there.     Some of our new missioners, took some time to visit the Christ Statue and also the Valle of the Angels - small artisan village with lots of handmade items.  The rest of us had a short lunch and went in a few different directions.  Some of us had to go to the airport to pick up the lost luggage from the day before and run a few errands.  Both of these things were experiences by themselves!   I don't think I have ever received such kind but funny treatment at an airport.  Starting with the desk agent who tried to pretend he did not have our bags, to the guy who came out to meet us to help us retrieve those bags - also joking that we wouldn't be able to get our bags without our claims tickets - which the other guy had just taken! We were escorted to a tiny, tiny office at the back of the airport where we had to turn in our passports to get special "backstage" passes, in order to go back and find our luggage with the delta agent who was helping us.  The sign on the wall told us to wear the lanyard by our "thorax".  For some reason this entertained us way more than it should have and I don't know if it was just because we don't use the word "Thorax" that much or we were just slap happy at that point, but it was funny and you had to be there.  We were then walked back through the airport to enter the secure area to retrieve our bags.  While struggling to get through the metal detectors, undetected, we turned around just in time to see the first guy wheeling all our bags out into the main lobby area.  So, we gave up on the metal detectors, returned out "special" tags and returned to the truck where they were already loaded and ready to go into the truck.  The delta agent walked with us the entire way, talking about how much they appreciated groups like ours who take time out of their personal lives to do the work that is needed out here.  Have you ever in an airport, had the opportunity to have a heartfelt, un-rushed conversation with an airline agent???  I haven't until this day.  Another example, of the love and patience this culture demonstrates on a daily bases.     Back at the ranch, the rest of the group was setting up the equipment and supplies for the rest of the week, working through glitches and complications, but working tirelessly until it got done.  Once the luggage group arrived back we dove in to help finish up.  We broke for dinner and gathering and heard some more entertaining stories and some more inspiring stories from the rest of the group.  Including owner from our the new guys in our group.  They are sharing a room and on the back wall of that room there is a window.  During the first night, one of them had suggested they open the window to get more airflow as it was a little hot.  So they opened the shades, and were somewhat surprised at how dark it was.  They proceeded to open the window, only to realize the window opened out into the church area and they were actually in an interior room!  The way they told the story had us all laughing, complete with stories of making sure they all had deep on before opening the window!! Fun times.    We returned to work at about 9pm to make sure we were squared away for our first day of seeing patients and working on site.  Again, entertained by our new guys trying to hang a tarp in the optical area.  It's going to be an entertaining week with this bunch, I can just tell!  The only thing missing is Bob, who is one of our faithful missioners, and at the last minute was not able to come due to an injury on his leg.  We miss him a lot and know he is hear in spirit.  Ron, also is missing this year and we know he is here in spirit also.     Another exercise in patience and understanding.  The work was done and I returned to the room to shower and then attempt to do a little soccer team work and update the blog.  God had other plans and I think was probably telling me to go to bed, as the internet did not work and I was quickly approaching frustration an hour later sitting trying to post stuff.  After a moment in prayer, I came to the understanding that not everything needs to get done on a schedule and that it's okay if the blog does not get done by a specific time every night.  It's okay! Just like in church this am.  No time limits, and no one is judging!     Well, I need to get ready for the day working between construction and optical so I am going to finish for this am.  Will try to update tonight, but know that it's okay if it just does not happen!    Blessings,       Shelley