If you have been following the news lately, you have probably noticed that Honduras has been a frequent headline. With exiled president Manuel Zelaya's sudden and curious return to Honduras on Tuesday and interim president Roberto Micheletti’s steadfast refusal to cow to international pressure, the political situation has become more tenuous by the day. There has been rioting, looting, and vandalism in Tegucigalpa, the capital and in San Pedro Sula as both sides seem to be waiting for the other to break the stalemate.
La Ceiba however has been very calm. The distance from the capital as well as the character of it citizens has made it one of the safest places to be in Honduras right now. There have been no demonstrations or acting out for or against the government. The city did shut down under curfew on Tuesday and Wednesday along with the rest of the country, but has since been nervously going on with daily life. I have had no reason to fear for my safety and have no plans of leaving the country before Christmas, when I will be heading to Spain with the family to visit my sister Nell, who is studying abroad there. I am registered with the US Embassy in Tegu and have a cell phone on me at all times in case the situation changes and decisions have to be made. I feel confident that the crisis will eventually resolve itself in a peaceful manner, and I remain committed to fulfilling the covenant I made with Trinity to teach secondary school science for the school year.
As it stands now, Zelaya, or Mel as he is disaffectionately called, is holed up in the Brazilian Embassy, hoping that someone will give him the chance to be the Caesar of Honduras that he has always wanted to be (if Raul and Hugo get to do it, why shouldn’t he?). Micheletti continues to enjoy his new found power by declaring martial law and keeping Mel and everyone else locked up. Meanwhile, the people of Honduras suffer.
Luckily I was already at home on Tuesday when the nationwide curfew was announced. The government gave everyone a half hour to get home, which quickly overwhelmed the mass transit network. All the buses, which are privately owned converted school buses, had people hanging out the doors as they headed out of town to the surrounding pueblos. Cabs were impossible to find and people lined the streets often with children in tow searching ahead for any sign of a white vehicle that might provide an escape. It was absolute chaos.
As someone who has always been fond of my civil liberties, 48 hours of house arrest was a startling experience. All you want to do is go outside for a walk but the pick-up trucks with men in back wearing black body armor and wielding automatic rifles and combat shotguns make a convincing argument. There is a real feeling of imprisonment, even though it is your own house.
Like in any crises, it got to the point where all the news on the television was the same and none of it useful, all speculation and bias commentary. Every few hours, they extended the curfew another six hours. Nobody knew when it would be over. I sat for awhile on the roof above my landlords garage looking over the city. It was if the entire population had disappeared. The silence was deafening. The taxi car horns, the soccer whistles, the children yelling, the two stroke mopeds high pitched whine were all gone. Just the a few dogs barking and the rooster next door that prefers the hours of 2:02am, 4:47am, and 5:19am to announce that he is the king of the yard getting in some extra rehearsal. It was emptiness I had never felt before in an urban setting until then.
I was lucky. I had plenty of pasta, grades to get done, and two animated movies I borrowed from the library. It was vacation. But for many people in Honduras, there are no days off. A day not working is a day without eating. Many churches including Trinity have found themselves at the front lines, working to get families the food they need. When the curfew finally ended, I ran over to the grocery store to pick up some milk and peanut butter. The place was mobbed. Shelvers could barely keep up with the frantic shoppers, who were not just resupplying but stocking up should there be another extended curfew. The check-out lines went half way across the super market. I waited in line for 45 minutes before getting out of there.
While I am very disappointed with the power struggle and international community’s response to the political crisis in Honduras, I have made an effort not to take a side because it is not my battle. It is the battle of people of Honduras’ to fight as they decide how to best defend the principles of their democracy. My mission here is to give my students, the future leaders of this country, the tools to be engaged citizens: asking questions, thinking critically, challenging ideas, and being present. I will continue that mission pursuit for as long as I can, and leave the rest to God.
“Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” Luke 20:24
Monday, September 28, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Mike and Betty - from Jake Pinkston on teaching mission in Honduras
It was a tough day at NFL central, La Ceiba this weekend for three passionate fans a long way from the action. Mike and Betty invited me over to their house after church f0r bunch and an afternoon of football. I am an avid Boston sports fan and it has actually been easier to follow the Red Sox and Patriots here in Honduras than it was living in Colorado. Go figure. Mike and Betty are big Steelers fans so we had our afternoon schedule set up well, with the games one after the other. Unfortunately, it did not go too well. Both our teams lost as Tom Brady’s passes hit the ground more than his receivers and the Steelers kicker wished that the goal posts were a little farther to the left. However, we still enjoyed the fellowship, not to mention the brunch of eggs and waffles, chips and dip, and a couple beers to wash it all down (the beers were after brunch). The conversation over the dinner of hot dogs and mashed potatoes was a little subdued though…
I met Mike and Betty last March when I came with the Colorado mission team. Since then, they have been the catalysts for my year here and have been supporting me everyday in my transition from Vail ski bum to gringo science teacher. They proposed the idea of me coming to Veronica, the rector, found my apartment, negotiated the rent, stocked my refrigerator, showed me around town, and have invited me over to eat with them every week since. They have adopted me as their Honduras son. But that is only what they have done for me. Their story is one of incredible sacrifice and devotion to God and the children of Trinity.
Mike and Betty Kaszer are from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the parents of three children who are now grown and married. They retired two years ago from the steel industry and child services respectively and, feeling a very young sixty years old, decided to take on a three year mission trip. They found Holy Trinity through Mission Works, and after touring the school with a team from their church, found their calling. They hit the fund-raising trail across their diocese, rented their house, packed whatever they could fit into a couple suitcases, and got on the plane.
What a different school Trinity was then. Recently under the new direction Veronica Flowers after an extended period of decline, falling admissions, large debt accumulation, deterioration of facilities and abandonment of its bilingual curriculum, it was difficult to identify where to even start. The Kaszers spent the first year as teachers in the upper school, learning about the culture, observing, teaching US History, Religion and English, and trying to find some semblance of order. They found no classroom discipline, little progress in covering the curriculum, and a constantly changing schedule to accommodate for weekly extra curricular programs. The classrooms were is disrepair, desks broken or infested with termites and the grounds were covered in trash. It was a very difficult place to work.
Last year, Mike took on the role of secondary school principal in addition to his teaching responsibilities. Realizing that the facilities would come around little by little, Mike and Betty set to changing the culture and attitudes of the students and teachers. They set high expectations for behavior, attendance, and academic performance. This meant putting a lot pressure on the parents, who had not been particularly active in their children’s education. They stabilized the calendar, rescheduled core curriculum classes during the cooler morning hours, and pared down the special programming. With passion and persistence, they found the teachers and students progressively bought into the new system.
Coming into their final year, the school is a completely different place. Enrollment in the secondary school is over 60 students, and will likely grow another 20 students with the addition of the 11th grade next years. There is continuity in the curriculum and the children are performing at much higher levels than in the past. These educational successes have resulted in increased support from US missionary groups, who have donated time and materials to improve several spaces that are now in use this year. There now is a science lab, home economics room, wood working shop, library with internet, and teacher’s lounge with AC. Every classroom has new desks, a new paint job, white boards, and storage space for the student’s books. Much of this has happened as a result of Mike and Betty’s impressive fund raising efforts and their ability to define and pursue priorities. They have a vision for the school and they have made it happen.
When I asked Betty what her children think of all this, she laughed and said that her kids thought she and Mike were crazy for taking this on. Crazy or not, what the Kaszers have done is nothing short of miraculous. Their work here in Holy Trinity is a testament to their strong faith in God and their optimistic, hardworking nature. It has been inspiring to work with them and I hope that when I retire someday, I am able to do something as meaningful and exciting. And still keep an eye on the Pats score.
"The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ... The Church pursues its mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and promotes justice, peace, and love." - The Book of Common Prayer
I met Mike and Betty last March when I came with the Colorado mission team. Since then, they have been the catalysts for my year here and have been supporting me everyday in my transition from Vail ski bum to gringo science teacher. They proposed the idea of me coming to Veronica, the rector, found my apartment, negotiated the rent, stocked my refrigerator, showed me around town, and have invited me over to eat with them every week since. They have adopted me as their Honduras son. But that is only what they have done for me. Their story is one of incredible sacrifice and devotion to God and the children of Trinity.
Mike and Betty Kaszer are from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the parents of three children who are now grown and married. They retired two years ago from the steel industry and child services respectively and, feeling a very young sixty years old, decided to take on a three year mission trip. They found Holy Trinity through Mission Works, and after touring the school with a team from their church, found their calling. They hit the fund-raising trail across their diocese, rented their house, packed whatever they could fit into a couple suitcases, and got on the plane.
What a different school Trinity was then. Recently under the new direction Veronica Flowers after an extended period of decline, falling admissions, large debt accumulation, deterioration of facilities and abandonment of its bilingual curriculum, it was difficult to identify where to even start. The Kaszers spent the first year as teachers in the upper school, learning about the culture, observing, teaching US History, Religion and English, and trying to find some semblance of order. They found no classroom discipline, little progress in covering the curriculum, and a constantly changing schedule to accommodate for weekly extra curricular programs. The classrooms were is disrepair, desks broken or infested with termites and the grounds were covered in trash. It was a very difficult place to work.
Last year, Mike took on the role of secondary school principal in addition to his teaching responsibilities. Realizing that the facilities would come around little by little, Mike and Betty set to changing the culture and attitudes of the students and teachers. They set high expectations for behavior, attendance, and academic performance. This meant putting a lot pressure on the parents, who had not been particularly active in their children’s education. They stabilized the calendar, rescheduled core curriculum classes during the cooler morning hours, and pared down the special programming. With passion and persistence, they found the teachers and students progressively bought into the new system.
Coming into their final year, the school is a completely different place. Enrollment in the secondary school is over 60 students, and will likely grow another 20 students with the addition of the 11th grade next years. There is continuity in the curriculum and the children are performing at much higher levels than in the past. These educational successes have resulted in increased support from US missionary groups, who have donated time and materials to improve several spaces that are now in use this year. There now is a science lab, home economics room, wood working shop, library with internet, and teacher’s lounge with AC. Every classroom has new desks, a new paint job, white boards, and storage space for the student’s books. Much of this has happened as a result of Mike and Betty’s impressive fund raising efforts and their ability to define and pursue priorities. They have a vision for the school and they have made it happen.
When I asked Betty what her children think of all this, she laughed and said that her kids thought she and Mike were crazy for taking this on. Crazy or not, what the Kaszers have done is nothing short of miraculous. Their work here in Holy Trinity is a testament to their strong faith in God and their optimistic, hardworking nature. It has been inspiring to work with them and I hope that when I retire someday, I am able to do something as meaningful and exciting. And still keep an eye on the Pats score.
"The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ... The Church pursues its mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and promotes justice, peace, and love." - The Book of Common Prayer
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Sermon, September 20, 2009 by the Rev. Frances A. Hills, Rector
‘Some of you are probably sitting there with bated breath waiting for me to wax eloquent about that “capable wife” you heard about in the first reading from Proverbs! Well if you are, I’m going to disappoint you! But I will say in that description of the “capable wife,”
there are qualities of Wisdom that all of us should be glad to have! And it is Wisdom I will talk about in today’s homily.
For the past 14 months, we’ve been in the process of “data collection” here at St. James.
We’ve had a lot to find out about our building, our insurance and the costs associated with these. Now that we’ve gotten most of that information, we are starting a discernment process in which we will, over time, deal with the hard truths and discern our way forward as a parish.
The Discernment Process will require time, thought, more research, and much prayer.
Ultimately, I think the thing we’ll be praying for (or praying for most) is Wisdom. Now Wisdom is a quality of God…in fact it’s the way some describe or even personify God.
Wisdom is also a gift from God’s Spirit that we mortals may actually have in varying degrees—if we are so blessed.
In the Letter of James, we’re reminded that true Wisdom comes “from above.” We don’t manufacture it! The qualities of true Wisdom are gentleness, peacefulness, willingness to yield, and mercifulness. The wise person yields good fruits and isn’t partial or hypocritical. My hunch is if all of us could receive this gift of true Wisdom then we’d have really smooth sailing in the days ahead as we discern.
James reminds us, however, that things don’t always go so smoothly, especially when human beings act out of their own wills and not out of God’s Wisdom. Instead of being wise, folks often fall into “bitter envy and selfish ambition.” James says this leads to “disorder and wickedness of every kind.” James says the cause of these is our cravings and desires to have our personal pleasures. So we wrongly ask to have these desires satisfied. Then we get unfocused, and we forget that part about “willingness to yield” and “mercifulness.”
My hope of course, is that we could stay in God’s true Wisdom and avoid these other things! But my hunch is, being human beings, we at St. James will see a mixture of God’s true and gracious Wisdom mixed with our personal agendas, which sometimes won’t be the same thing!
Remember in the Gospel today even the disciples, those closest to Jesus, didn’t want to focus on the hard truth that Jesus had to suffer and die before he was raised. So they denied the real truth and got into an argument about who was the greatest. With the cravings and desires of their personal pleasures run riot, they got unfocused. But then Jesus brings them back in an amazing way.
He sets a Child—someone from the fringes of society, someone with no status or power—right in the center of them. He tells them to focus on the powerless Child; and that if they did that, they would, in fact, be focusing on God’s Truth, God’s Wisdom, even God’s very self!
.
Well, I’m not sure if the disciples really “got it”—the example of the Child in the center.
Maybe they just stayed in their bickering about who was the greatest, whose ideas were most important. Maybe they did not have the pure Wisdom to understand the Truth Jesus tried to convey. Maybe that’s just human nature. Maybe that’s what’s ahead for us at St. James.
But perhaps this isn’t inevitable.
The Letter of James tells us, “You do not have because you do not ask.” As the ordained spiritual leader of this congregation, I suggest we ask…ask for the gift of true Wisdom.
As James says, let’s “Submit ourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and know he will flee from us. Let’s draw near to God, and God will draw near to us.” What comforting words! What words of assurance that God is with us and wants to be near us!
And surely if God is near us then we will have that gift of true Wisdom, and all the other gifts we will need as we move forward into God’s preferred future…All we have to do is ask!
Let us pray. God of Grace and God of Glory, grant us Wisdom, grant us Courage for the facing of this hour…for the facing of this hour. Amen.
there are qualities of Wisdom that all of us should be glad to have! And it is Wisdom I will talk about in today’s homily.
For the past 14 months, we’ve been in the process of “data collection” here at St. James.
We’ve had a lot to find out about our building, our insurance and the costs associated with these. Now that we’ve gotten most of that information, we are starting a discernment process in which we will, over time, deal with the hard truths and discern our way forward as a parish.
The Discernment Process will require time, thought, more research, and much prayer.
Ultimately, I think the thing we’ll be praying for (or praying for most) is Wisdom. Now Wisdom is a quality of God…in fact it’s the way some describe or even personify God.
Wisdom is also a gift from God’s Spirit that we mortals may actually have in varying degrees—if we are so blessed.
In the Letter of James, we’re reminded that true Wisdom comes “from above.” We don’t manufacture it! The qualities of true Wisdom are gentleness, peacefulness, willingness to yield, and mercifulness. The wise person yields good fruits and isn’t partial or hypocritical. My hunch is if all of us could receive this gift of true Wisdom then we’d have really smooth sailing in the days ahead as we discern.
James reminds us, however, that things don’t always go so smoothly, especially when human beings act out of their own wills and not out of God’s Wisdom. Instead of being wise, folks often fall into “bitter envy and selfish ambition.” James says this leads to “disorder and wickedness of every kind.” James says the cause of these is our cravings and desires to have our personal pleasures. So we wrongly ask to have these desires satisfied. Then we get unfocused, and we forget that part about “willingness to yield” and “mercifulness.”
My hope of course, is that we could stay in God’s true Wisdom and avoid these other things! But my hunch is, being human beings, we at St. James will see a mixture of God’s true and gracious Wisdom mixed with our personal agendas, which sometimes won’t be the same thing!
Remember in the Gospel today even the disciples, those closest to Jesus, didn’t want to focus on the hard truth that Jesus had to suffer and die before he was raised. So they denied the real truth and got into an argument about who was the greatest. With the cravings and desires of their personal pleasures run riot, they got unfocused. But then Jesus brings them back in an amazing way.
He sets a Child—someone from the fringes of society, someone with no status or power—right in the center of them. He tells them to focus on the powerless Child; and that if they did that, they would, in fact, be focusing on God’s Truth, God’s Wisdom, even God’s very self!
.
Well, I’m not sure if the disciples really “got it”—the example of the Child in the center.
Maybe they just stayed in their bickering about who was the greatest, whose ideas were most important. Maybe they did not have the pure Wisdom to understand the Truth Jesus tried to convey. Maybe that’s just human nature. Maybe that’s what’s ahead for us at St. James.
But perhaps this isn’t inevitable.
The Letter of James tells us, “You do not have because you do not ask.” As the ordained spiritual leader of this congregation, I suggest we ask…ask for the gift of true Wisdom.
As James says, let’s “Submit ourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and know he will flee from us. Let’s draw near to God, and God will draw near to us.” What comforting words! What words of assurance that God is with us and wants to be near us!
And surely if God is near us then we will have that gift of true Wisdom, and all the other gifts we will need as we move forward into God’s preferred future…All we have to do is ask!
Let us pray. God of Grace and God of Glory, grant us Wisdom, grant us Courage for the facing of this hour…for the facing of this hour. Amen.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Sermon, September 13, 2009 by the Rev. Frances A. Hills, Rector
Here we are in mid-September. Vacations over. Teachers and students back to school.
And next week, our Sunday School will begin a new class for children three-years and up. This time of year is exciting: New classes, teachers and students. New things to study and learn. New books. New friends.
It would have been nice on this “back-to-school Sunday” to hear that lovely scripture from Matthew (19:14) “Let the little children come unto me.” Or that scene in Acts (8:26ff) when Philip asks the Eunuch, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replies, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (Unless I have a teacher.) But NO…The Revised Common Lectionary and the Letter of James really put a bit of a damper on our back-to-school enthusiasm, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” Then it talks about how important and unruly our tongues are. (The words that come out of our mouths.)
If you’re a preacher or a teacher it calls us up short. ‘Maybe makes us want to be excessively careful about what we say…After all, we teachers & preachers do use our voices to do our work, so the chances of our making mistakes, of verbally blowing it, are probably greater than for many others. . . just because of the odds—we talk a lot! .This reading may even make us wonder a little if we should be teachers. Certainly it plays into my sinful tendency towards perfectionism.
However one New Testament scholar (Mary Hinkle) suggests, and I agree, the point of what James is saying in this passage is not so much about saying the right thing or trying to be perfect. In fact James admits, “All of us make many mistakes.” The point is about making sure our actions match our words…And especially in the case of the “little ones” with whose care we are charged. These little ones—God’s Children, students young and old, are precious to God. James warns us against doing anything hypocritical as we teach them. Besides, you know children…They know immediately if what we say doesn’t match what we do! So if our parish “says” our children are important to us, then we need to be and do things that embody that for them. Or think about our Baptismal Covenant. In it we pledge “To strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.” But if we welcome the rich and turn away the poor, what we’re doing doesn’t match what we’re saying in the Covenant. Or, if in one breath we praise God for the goodness and beauty of creation, and in the next say something unfavorable about another human being, who is part of that creation, we are hypocrites. And we’re not speaking the truth about God because God made all human beings in God’s likeness and image: So all human beings are created good. Who are we to demean or judge another human being whom God has made? Who are we to decide we know better than God, and so declare some things “not good?” When we say and do these things, our actions give lie to our words. And so the warning and strict judgment in the Letter of James is to all who teach, preach, pray, praise or just talk about God. Said differently, as Christians, we’ve not only got to “talk the talk” but also “walk the walk.”
Now over the centuries, some Christians have been very critical of the Letter of James. They think his intent is “Works Righteousness.” By that I mean trying to earn our way into God’s good graces by what we do and say. We’ll, if that is what James had in mind, I’d criticize him too because we are saved by God’s grace, not by our good works. But I don’t think that’s what the Letter of James is about at all. I think James is saying if we truly accept our acceptance, which God gives us as free gift, then the only way we could possibly respond is in words and acts of love.
So as we begin this new school year, I invite all of us—as teachers, parents, grandparents, preachers and friends, to offer our children the great gift of not only Talking the Talk but also of Walking the Walk…
Let us pray…
Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy, care and teaching of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good. And that whatever we speak to them with our lips, we may show forth to them in our lives, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
And next week, our Sunday School will begin a new class for children three-years and up. This time of year is exciting: New classes, teachers and students. New things to study and learn. New books. New friends.
It would have been nice on this “back-to-school Sunday” to hear that lovely scripture from Matthew (19:14) “Let the little children come unto me.” Or that scene in Acts (8:26ff) when Philip asks the Eunuch, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replies, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (Unless I have a teacher.) But NO…The Revised Common Lectionary and the Letter of James really put a bit of a damper on our back-to-school enthusiasm, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” Then it talks about how important and unruly our tongues are. (The words that come out of our mouths.)
If you’re a preacher or a teacher it calls us up short. ‘Maybe makes us want to be excessively careful about what we say…After all, we teachers & preachers do use our voices to do our work, so the chances of our making mistakes, of verbally blowing it, are probably greater than for many others. . . just because of the odds—we talk a lot! .This reading may even make us wonder a little if we should be teachers. Certainly it plays into my sinful tendency towards perfectionism.
However one New Testament scholar (Mary Hinkle) suggests, and I agree, the point of what James is saying in this passage is not so much about saying the right thing or trying to be perfect. In fact James admits, “All of us make many mistakes.” The point is about making sure our actions match our words…And especially in the case of the “little ones” with whose care we are charged. These little ones—God’s Children, students young and old, are precious to God. James warns us against doing anything hypocritical as we teach them. Besides, you know children…They know immediately if what we say doesn’t match what we do! So if our parish “says” our children are important to us, then we need to be and do things that embody that for them. Or think about our Baptismal Covenant. In it we pledge “To strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.” But if we welcome the rich and turn away the poor, what we’re doing doesn’t match what we’re saying in the Covenant. Or, if in one breath we praise God for the goodness and beauty of creation, and in the next say something unfavorable about another human being, who is part of that creation, we are hypocrites. And we’re not speaking the truth about God because God made all human beings in God’s likeness and image: So all human beings are created good. Who are we to demean or judge another human being whom God has made? Who are we to decide we know better than God, and so declare some things “not good?” When we say and do these things, our actions give lie to our words. And so the warning and strict judgment in the Letter of James is to all who teach, preach, pray, praise or just talk about God. Said differently, as Christians, we’ve not only got to “talk the talk” but also “walk the walk.”
Now over the centuries, some Christians have been very critical of the Letter of James. They think his intent is “Works Righteousness.” By that I mean trying to earn our way into God’s good graces by what we do and say. We’ll, if that is what James had in mind, I’d criticize him too because we are saved by God’s grace, not by our good works. But I don’t think that’s what the Letter of James is about at all. I think James is saying if we truly accept our acceptance, which God gives us as free gift, then the only way we could possibly respond is in words and acts of love.
So as we begin this new school year, I invite all of us—as teachers, parents, grandparents, preachers and friends, to offer our children the great gift of not only Talking the Talk but also of Walking the Walk…
Let us pray…
Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy, care and teaching of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good. And that whatever we speak to them with our lips, we may show forth to them in our lives, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Piñatas--from Jake Pinkston on teaching mission in Honduras
I am in the midst of enjoying a week long vacation from classes. I am sure many of you are asking yourselves, “Wait. They have been in school less than a month. A week long vacation? Who’s in charge down there? This is crazy.” Well maybe not. However, that about sums up my reaction as I watched any sort of classroom continuity and rhythm drift down the storm drain. There is some rationale to it however. Some.
Thursday was the Day of the Child, so the entire school spent the day participating in a service project (more on that later). Then Friday and Monday were special programs that no one really explained besides saying that I would not have any classes to teach. Tuesday is Independence Day and Wednesday is another day off. Why do all this right at the beginning of the school year? Well, it is only the beginning of the school year for bilingual private schools that follow the American school calendar. For the public schools that began the school year in February, they are in the home stretch / pseudo spring break mode. Our vacation actually is shorter than most schools, which get about 10 days off total.
I am still scratching my head, but all I can do is roll with it and get ready for next week. I am enjoying the time off by catching up on my grades and class prep, walking around the city, and curling up with a book next to my high powered floor fan. I understand now why dogs like to stick their heads out the car window at 45mph. I need goggles. My eyes are drying out. But it is so comfortable. I will check out the festivities on Tuesday.
I was not familiar with the holiday el Dia de los Niños before coming to Honduras. Held on September 10th, the best way that I can describe it is national little-kid-birthday-party day. The teachers and parents throw parties with kid-friendly food and cake, the children receive gift bags with small toys and candy, and often times there is a piñata for the kids to hack away at. The women at church threw another small party to celebrate the occasion today after the services. It’s a fun day. The kids run around, bicker over candy and have a good time while the adults keep an eye on things, clean-up the mess, and console the few who have been gravely and unjustly wronged by one of their peers. It was the St. James Easter Egg hunt all over again.
The 10th grade class elected to organize a community project and use the day to go serve and minister to the small children living in the nearby pueblo of La Linea. I chaperoned the excursion along with Betty, the English teacher but besides lining up transportation, the students planned and executed the whole day on their own. It could not have gone better.
We crammed 15 people into a van no larger than a station wagon (seat belts only exist for the driver in Honduras) and drove about twenty minutes east along the coast. La Linea has about 50 residents and gets its name from the old Standard Fruit railroad bed it follows. Most of the residents make their living making palm oil while subsisting on corn crops and fishing. The pueblo has no power, only a couple spigots for running water and is about a half mile hike to get to.
All the kids in the town were waiting for us outside a large, elevated, multifamily house when we arrived. They had canceled classes because we were coming and were very excited to have us there. One of the “back-up singers” from church came with his guitar and after saying a prayer, led the children in some songs while the students were setting up. The 10th grade girls served chips with refried beans, chicken salad sandwiches, brownies and Tang from the kitchen area, which was open with a mud floor and a wood burning stove. They also offered face painting and passed out balloons and stickers. The children loved blowing the balloons up and popping them behind people. They made me jump a couple of times.
I don’t think the 10th grade boys were expecting such a young and girl heavy crowd (the median age was probably 6 years old and at least two thirds female). However, realizing that their hopes of spending the morning lazily playing soccer were dashed, they regrouped and organized games like limbo and musical chairs that produced lots of laughs and participation. By far the most entertaining activity of the morning was the piñata. The danger of a small, blindfolded child swinging a large stick as hard as she can in all directions while other children dive across the ring, dodging the flailing attacks in an attempt to capture a small piece of congealed corn syrup cannot be understated. It really should be an American Gladiator event. The 10th graders managed to have every child get a chance to take some cuts without a single injury. However, though mortally wounded, the yellow paper mache duck refused to yield its sucro-licious delights. Wisely recognizing God’s divine providence, the boys elected to go with a controlled candy release, thus eliminating the bludgeon variable from the ensuing dog pile. A good decision. After that, we cleaned up, said good-byes and drove back to school.
The Day of the Child was a wonderful opportunity to be an observer and see the students interact with the young children and each other outside of class. Every student found a way to help out and participate in their own way and I got to see and appreciate personalities that tend to be more subdued in the classroom. Again this was a project that was, from conception to completion, their project. Betty and I were just there to make sure that everyone was accounted for and we got there on time. They did a super job and I could not have been more impressed. It is really wonderful to see the students not just receiving the ministry that Mike, Betty, and I do everyday but take that service into their own hands and reach out to their own people who need them.
“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” 1 Peter 4:10
Sorry this is posted a little later than usual. My internet (and power) have been a little spotty over the past few days and I guess it didn’t post when I thought it did. Thank you for your continued support of my work here in Honduras. Your prayers and contributions have been overwhelming and I could not be here without them. This year has already challenged and inspired me more than I ever could have imagined. I cannot begin to express how thankful I am for this amazing opportunity to work with these students. I am truly blessed to be able to call St. James’ my home church.
Thursday was the Day of the Child, so the entire school spent the day participating in a service project (more on that later). Then Friday and Monday were special programs that no one really explained besides saying that I would not have any classes to teach. Tuesday is Independence Day and Wednesday is another day off. Why do all this right at the beginning of the school year? Well, it is only the beginning of the school year for bilingual private schools that follow the American school calendar. For the public schools that began the school year in February, they are in the home stretch / pseudo spring break mode. Our vacation actually is shorter than most schools, which get about 10 days off total.
I am still scratching my head, but all I can do is roll with it and get ready for next week. I am enjoying the time off by catching up on my grades and class prep, walking around the city, and curling up with a book next to my high powered floor fan. I understand now why dogs like to stick their heads out the car window at 45mph. I need goggles. My eyes are drying out. But it is so comfortable. I will check out the festivities on Tuesday.
I was not familiar with the holiday el Dia de los Niños before coming to Honduras. Held on September 10th, the best way that I can describe it is national little-kid-birthday-party day. The teachers and parents throw parties with kid-friendly food and cake, the children receive gift bags with small toys and candy, and often times there is a piñata for the kids to hack away at. The women at church threw another small party to celebrate the occasion today after the services. It’s a fun day. The kids run around, bicker over candy and have a good time while the adults keep an eye on things, clean-up the mess, and console the few who have been gravely and unjustly wronged by one of their peers. It was the St. James Easter Egg hunt all over again.
The 10th grade class elected to organize a community project and use the day to go serve and minister to the small children living in the nearby pueblo of La Linea. I chaperoned the excursion along with Betty, the English teacher but besides lining up transportation, the students planned and executed the whole day on their own. It could not have gone better.
We crammed 15 people into a van no larger than a station wagon (seat belts only exist for the driver in Honduras) and drove about twenty minutes east along the coast. La Linea has about 50 residents and gets its name from the old Standard Fruit railroad bed it follows. Most of the residents make their living making palm oil while subsisting on corn crops and fishing. The pueblo has no power, only a couple spigots for running water and is about a half mile hike to get to.
All the kids in the town were waiting for us outside a large, elevated, multifamily house when we arrived. They had canceled classes because we were coming and were very excited to have us there. One of the “back-up singers” from church came with his guitar and after saying a prayer, led the children in some songs while the students were setting up. The 10th grade girls served chips with refried beans, chicken salad sandwiches, brownies and Tang from the kitchen area, which was open with a mud floor and a wood burning stove. They also offered face painting and passed out balloons and stickers. The children loved blowing the balloons up and popping them behind people. They made me jump a couple of times.
I don’t think the 10th grade boys were expecting such a young and girl heavy crowd (the median age was probably 6 years old and at least two thirds female). However, realizing that their hopes of spending the morning lazily playing soccer were dashed, they regrouped and organized games like limbo and musical chairs that produced lots of laughs and participation. By far the most entertaining activity of the morning was the piñata. The danger of a small, blindfolded child swinging a large stick as hard as she can in all directions while other children dive across the ring, dodging the flailing attacks in an attempt to capture a small piece of congealed corn syrup cannot be understated. It really should be an American Gladiator event. The 10th graders managed to have every child get a chance to take some cuts without a single injury. However, though mortally wounded, the yellow paper mache duck refused to yield its sucro-licious delights. Wisely recognizing God’s divine providence, the boys elected to go with a controlled candy release, thus eliminating the bludgeon variable from the ensuing dog pile. A good decision. After that, we cleaned up, said good-byes and drove back to school.
The Day of the Child was a wonderful opportunity to be an observer and see the students interact with the young children and each other outside of class. Every student found a way to help out and participate in their own way and I got to see and appreciate personalities that tend to be more subdued in the classroom. Again this was a project that was, from conception to completion, their project. Betty and I were just there to make sure that everyone was accounted for and we got there on time. They did a super job and I could not have been more impressed. It is really wonderful to see the students not just receiving the ministry that Mike, Betty, and I do everyday but take that service into their own hands and reach out to their own people who need them.
“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” 1 Peter 4:10
Sorry this is posted a little later than usual. My internet (and power) have been a little spotty over the past few days and I guess it didn’t post when I thought it did. Thank you for your continued support of my work here in Honduras. Your prayers and contributions have been overwhelming and I could not be here without them. This year has already challenged and inspired me more than I ever could have imagined. I cannot begin to express how thankful I am for this amazing opportunity to work with these students. I am truly blessed to be able to call St. James’ my home church.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Singing Praises--from Jake Pinkston on teaching mission in Honduras
I have always loved how every Episcopal congregation celebrates Sunday Eucharist in their own distinct way. You would think that with one of the most organized and documented liturgies in among the Christian sects, the venerable Book of Common Prayer, there would be a cookie cutter effect across the Anglican Communion. Yet every chapel, church, and cathedral has found the loopholes to create their own proprietary brand of Anglican worship. And of course, these Sunday faithful will passionately inform you, if you dare to broach the subject that their way is without question, the best.
I have been attending weekly worship service at Holy Trinity every Sunday since I arrived and would like to share some of my observations and experiences at the services.
The church is a small, square cinderblock and concrete, one room building that is on the corner of the school property. There are maybe 10 rows of pews made of termite resistant wood that don’t quite match stylistically as you move from back to front. The book rests on the back are a little short so when you sit down, it is advisable to check behind you first. The windows are of the Venetian blind style that is very popular in Honduras. The church is adorned only with paintings marking the Stations of the Cross and a simple gold cross on the altar. Neri, the rector, makes beautiful bouquets of tropical flowers from her garden for the front of the altar every Sunday.
The congregation is for the most part student families and faculty members of the school. There are usually between 20 and 30 attendants on any given week plus the children who spend the middle part of the service in Sunday school. I usually sit with Mike and Betty so that between the three of us, one will catch the page number we are supposed to be on.
The biggest change by far has following the service in Spanish. I have heard the Rite II service so many times in English that I seldom use the BCP at home. While my Spanish is pretty good, I find that I have to read along in the book in order to follow the service. The act of reading and translating the liturgy, even though it is very familiar, has been a neat experience. It has forced me to think about every word that I would normally buzz right by and made me a more active participant in the service.
If there is anything that Hondurans excel at, it is prayer. There is no such thing as a short prayer in Honduras. It doesn’t matter if it is in the Pre-Sermon, Post-Sermon, Pre-Peace, Post-Communion, or Dismissal. Once those eyes close, out comes the divinity thesis, complete with several Bible passages, a rhetorical flourish or two, and enough adjectives and titles for Jesus Christ to make any Gospel writer jealous. Today’s service time: 2 hours, 8 minutes. There is only one word to describe it: epic.
By far the most distinctive part of the service at Trinity is the music. The only way to describe it would be late 80’s synth-rock. Nobody reads music so most of the songs people already know or pick up by ear. The organist, Nelson, wears a black collared shirt with “Rock Star” written across the back and has a faux hawk. He rocks a keyboard and a PA system that is turned up to eleven (Spinal Tap, anyone?). Every song begins with a with programmable drum beat intro and the only person you can here sing in the whole church is Nelson, and occasionally his two back-up singers if they get close to his mic. I don’t think their mics actually work. The songs are pop-style tunes and we will usually sing them two, three, even four timea through. It is all up to Nelson. He likes to play quietly (sort of) behind Reverend Neri while she is giving her extended prayers, just to add effect. Most of the tunes I have never heard but Bob Dylan’s, “Blowing in the Wind” has made an appearance along with “The Sound of Silence” accompanying The Lord’s Prayer. Everyone in the church has a great time, clapping along, not necessarily in time. It is a powerful experience to be a part of because it is so passionate and organic. I love it.
A man was baptized today in church with a few members of his family and his fiancé looking on. When it was over, there was almost water left in the baptismal font. That is Trinity church life in a nut shell. The church is small, the congregation is small, but the experience is huge.
“O my strength, I will sing praises to you,
For you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.”
Psalm 61:17
I have been attending weekly worship service at Holy Trinity every Sunday since I arrived and would like to share some of my observations and experiences at the services.
The church is a small, square cinderblock and concrete, one room building that is on the corner of the school property. There are maybe 10 rows of pews made of termite resistant wood that don’t quite match stylistically as you move from back to front. The book rests on the back are a little short so when you sit down, it is advisable to check behind you first. The windows are of the Venetian blind style that is very popular in Honduras. The church is adorned only with paintings marking the Stations of the Cross and a simple gold cross on the altar. Neri, the rector, makes beautiful bouquets of tropical flowers from her garden for the front of the altar every Sunday.
The congregation is for the most part student families and faculty members of the school. There are usually between 20 and 30 attendants on any given week plus the children who spend the middle part of the service in Sunday school. I usually sit with Mike and Betty so that between the three of us, one will catch the page number we are supposed to be on.
The biggest change by far has following the service in Spanish. I have heard the Rite II service so many times in English that I seldom use the BCP at home. While my Spanish is pretty good, I find that I have to read along in the book in order to follow the service. The act of reading and translating the liturgy, even though it is very familiar, has been a neat experience. It has forced me to think about every word that I would normally buzz right by and made me a more active participant in the service.
If there is anything that Hondurans excel at, it is prayer. There is no such thing as a short prayer in Honduras. It doesn’t matter if it is in the Pre-Sermon, Post-Sermon, Pre-Peace, Post-Communion, or Dismissal. Once those eyes close, out comes the divinity thesis, complete with several Bible passages, a rhetorical flourish or two, and enough adjectives and titles for Jesus Christ to make any Gospel writer jealous. Today’s service time: 2 hours, 8 minutes. There is only one word to describe it: epic.
By far the most distinctive part of the service at Trinity is the music. The only way to describe it would be late 80’s synth-rock. Nobody reads music so most of the songs people already know or pick up by ear. The organist, Nelson, wears a black collared shirt with “Rock Star” written across the back and has a faux hawk. He rocks a keyboard and a PA system that is turned up to eleven (Spinal Tap, anyone?). Every song begins with a with programmable drum beat intro and the only person you can here sing in the whole church is Nelson, and occasionally his two back-up singers if they get close to his mic. I don’t think their mics actually work. The songs are pop-style tunes and we will usually sing them two, three, even four timea through. It is all up to Nelson. He likes to play quietly (sort of) behind Reverend Neri while she is giving her extended prayers, just to add effect. Most of the tunes I have never heard but Bob Dylan’s, “Blowing in the Wind” has made an appearance along with “The Sound of Silence” accompanying The Lord’s Prayer. Everyone in the church has a great time, clapping along, not necessarily in time. It is a powerful experience to be a part of because it is so passionate and organic. I love it.
A man was baptized today in church with a few members of his family and his fiancé looking on. When it was over, there was almost water left in the baptismal font. That is Trinity church life in a nut shell. The church is small, the congregation is small, but the experience is huge.
“O my strength, I will sing praises to you,
For you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.”
Psalm 61:17
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