Thanks for the Memories - by Haley

Today was, sadly, my last day to be with the kids and teachers at the Mission Lazarus school in San Marcos. The day could not have gone better. I spent the hour before school started with kids on my lap. I made sure to smell them, to study their faces, and to feel their warmth, as I want to remember each of these precious ones for a long time. During the Friday morning movie, I was able to sit on the floor, with three of the older girls leaning up against me. Toward the end of the movie we four had a great conversation about my university, pets, English words, and the climate(s) and topography(ies) of the United States. During recess I played with the kids (which included pushing kids on the swings, twirling kids around, and having a seven-against-one tickle fight). I also took a few more photos. After recess the Kindergarten class sang (I pounded the words to the songs firmly into my memory), and read stories. Dismissal was, of course, the saddest part for me. I said goodbye to as many of the kids individually as I could. I dearly hope to see them again - in this life, as well as in Heaven.

This has been an amazing summer. It´s hard to believe that already eight weeks have gone by. I wish that my memory were strong enough to remember for the rest of my life each moment of this summer. Alas, some details will fade. But I think I have a good list of those dearest and strongest memories which I may indeed be able to carry with me for the rest of my life:

• That first medical brigade with the group from Mayfair, and the ensuing flooded trek across hills, fences, walls, and streams back to the intern house
• The homes of the people of Cedeño, constructed of sticks and thatched roofs, home to families with shoeless and educationless children
• The cobblestone street in San Marcos, leading up to the Hotel Shalom - the site of our semi-weekly Spanish lessons and home of the beloved Señora Mari
• Sitting in the park in San Marcos, listening to the quiet, looking at the trees, and loving the peace and the people passing by
• Working, awestruck, alongside Don Porfilio, the ninety-year-old man who could outwork all of us interns combined
• The hugs and smiles and laughter and faces of all of the kids at the school and at the refuge
• The love and great cooking of Doña Cristiana at the school in San Marcos
• Those first successful conversations with Doña Roxana, Don Oscar, Don Porfilio, the children at the futbol field, and the girls at the school
• The air and rain and mountains of Honduras
• Learning to see God at work in the lives and hearts of the people around me
• The way that Jaclyn lightens the air in a room with her fun and always-loving attitude toward others
• The neard, and the man behind it
• The alternately joking and contemplative nature of Kyle
• The air of a leader (and of great cooking) that surrounds Loren
• The unexpected trusting and open conversations with Amy
• The transformation from worry to trust, peace, and eager anticipation in Kendra
• The God-conversations and cattle-herding amazingness with Katie
• The deep discussions and story-sharing with Heather - in El Jefe, under the stars, or on walks back to the intern house.
• The great team that is Jarrod, Ally, Chad, Shelly, Meredith, Gustavo, Arle, Alma, Samuel, Ariel, Don Porfilio, Margot, Jorge, Henri, Juan, Luis, Javier, Lexi, Wilson, Claudia, Carmen, Alba, Olman, and all the other amazing, loving, and hard-working people that serve with Mission Lazarus every day of the year.

To all the people with whom I have had the privilege of spending this summer, thank you for the love, and thank you for the memories.

Que Dios le bendiga.

Haley

A Little Bit of Love - by Haley

I officially love the kids at the school in San Marcos.

I think I started loving them a long time before this, but now I realize that I only have 3 more days left with them, and I am really going to miss them. It´s funny, because I feel about them rather like I feel about my family. The kids misbehave a lot, and don´t seem to respect me much when I try to correct/scold them. But they´re awesome. We´ve developed a relationship, and I love them. No matter what. I think they all call me ¨Haley¨ now, instead of ¨gringa.¨ When we see each other on the street, they call my name excitedly. They make conversation with me, instead of acting all shy. They ask me to tell them stories. They teach me how to play games like ¨cebollita¨ and ¨landa fruta.¨ They play make-believe with me. They ask me to teach them songs and English words. They give me huge bear hugs around my legs, and then lean back to look up at me with big eyes and even bigger grins. They fall over each other to let me take their pictures. They play with my hair, and tell me that it is beautiful. And today, one of the 7-year-old boys stretched out his arms for me to pick him up. When I did, he wrapped his arms and legs around me, gave me a peck on the cheek, and laid his head on my shoulder. We stayed like that for ten whole minutes.

It feels so good to be loved by these kids, and to love them in return. I´m going to miss them so much.

Thank you, Lord, for bringing me here.

--Haley