“Bella vista!” is what I usually say when I arrive. That’s sometimes all I can say for a few
minutes as I stop to catch my breath. A
good technique I have found is to step out and take a few appreciative snaps
with the camera as my heart rate slows down.
Then I can get to the business I’ve come for – a home visit.
Sometimes Larry joins me for home visits – then I’m really
out of breath because he walks fast and doesn’t stop to smell the roses on the
way UP, UP, UP. Sometimes I’m solo. Stopping to smell the roses usually includes
several little pre-visits along the way.
Home visits help us get a sense of how people are getting along, and
whether a need expressed previously is really a need. It is a really good opportunity to share the
love of Jesus, to pray, and provide encouragement. For the visitee, it’s an opportunity to
extend hospitality.
On some occasions, the visit has a purpose. I make lots of new-baby visits – there’s lots
of new babies! These are usually short visits
and are a chance to oo and ah over this new little one. Sometimes the mom needs encouragement to seek
out medical assistance. I assure
everyone I don’t know anything about health care and if they need some advice
they should head up to the Clinic. I
usually bring along a few things for the baby and leave a Children’s Bible for
the older kids or mom to read to all her kids.
On these visits I often encounter a superstition. You will see pictures where the baby has a
tiny red bracelet on his/her wrist. Originally,
the idea was that the baby was protected from “the evil eye”. Now, it is mostly a tradition. If it appears
the mom is receptive, I’ll tell her that God loves her and her baby, and will
provide protection for her little one, and that the little red bracelet is
powerless. Greicy’s baby Emi wore a red
bracelet for the mandatory 40 days. When
I spoke to Greicy about this, she smiled and said, yes, she put her trust in
God – but she didn’t take the bracelet off either.
Other visits come as a result of an invitation. ¿Cuándo va a venir a visitar? – means literally
“when are you going to come to visit?”
It can also mean “You visited my friend last week so I want a visit too.”
Or, “I am really proud of my house and want you to see it.” Or, “I have a need and if you see my house,
you’ll hear all about it.” Or just, “I
want to share the hospitality of my house.”
I’m always in for a treat, no matter what.
So - there’s no road signs, no road maps, even sketches are
really sketchy, and when you’re getting instructions in Spanish and you’re not
all that fluent in Spanish – finding where you’re going can be interesting. Larry likes to know Where We’re Going. For me?
I get the general idea – close to someone’s house, past a tienda or some
landmark. Then you just stand looking
lost and a kind person will ask if you need help. Surprising to me – usually the person I’m
looking for is known and after a few turns – we’re there. One day, I knew I was close when I asked, and
the woman called up to a neighbour who called up to Besi – and I was greeted
and assisted up the remaining steps.
That’s the coconut grapevine working at its best.
Sometimes I’m invited into the house and other times a
plastic chair is brought outside for me to sit on. I may be sitting in the only chair
available. We chatter away about
whatever comes along. I usually mention how hot it is. And, the family will agree and if they have a
fan (and power) the fan is turned on me.
Frequently while visiting, a neighbour will stop by. The visiting Gringa provides a bit of
novelty, I think.
There’s always a gaggle of kids so that provides lots of
entertainment. On the visit I made this
week, there were 11 kids that popped up. I was doing fine with the names until
about the sixth child, a second “Junior”.
At that point I pulled out a pad of paper and we put together a
multi-branched family tree. The
school-aged kids were not in school mostly because they don’t have the mandatory
uniform. And, the mamas wanted me to be
aware of this! This extended family
include the mama/grandma, Veronika, and her husband Zoilo, with seven teen to
adult children (4 who were working at the dump and one who was somewhere I
never figured out). I already knew the
two daughters and the daughter-in-law who were assisting Veronika with child
care. How eager they were to tour me
through five of the houses/rooms in the little family enclave. There might have
been other little houses I didn’t see, or maybe some live off-site. It appears once you decide to live as husband
and wife you get your own house with this family. Working at the dump provides them with
interesting items to decorate their homes with, and tarps and shower curtains
to keep out the rain in the absence of board-siding for the houses.
While you might think that the language barrier would be my
greatest problem – it’s not. For me, my greatest worry is that I’ll tumble down
a hill in front of these sure-footed friends who navigate the paths, frequently
with a baby on the hip, or a water bottle or propane tank hoisted on the
shoulder, and sometimes in the dark.
While the UP is a cardio workout, the DOWN is painfully slow. My pride will not let me hurry. I think my feet are a lot bigger than the
average Honduran. My shoes just do not
fit the steps! That’s my excuse, anyway.
Reciprocal visits also occur. We hear a call from the gate “Hola, Miss
Susan” “Larry”. Then, Hunter starts his “we’ve
got company” bark. There might be one
or a family waiting for us to let them in.
Our lower deck includes a table and plastic chairs and usually we gather
around the table with a drink of water or lemonade. These visits might be social. Or, they might have a purpose. We have had several visitors who have no food
in their house so the need is an emergency.
Sometimes we’re asked to pray for a need. And sometimes it’s an easy request for a copy
to be made of an ID for a job application.
Sometimes I think we’re looked upon as parents for these friends who are
usually younger than our own kids.
Home visits are always humbling and honoring. What fun to get to know people socially in a
comfortable setting! They are something I look forward to and will plan in my
week. This sounds a bit hokey, but the bella vista we really enjoy looking upon
is the beautiful view of a welcoming face whether that face is at our gate or
UP, UP, UP just past the next turn.
