Holy Week in Central America

When lent started at the beginning of March, Easter felt so far away. Now, over 40 days later, Easter has somehow already come and gone. And I have so much to catch you all up on!

I was fortunate enough to take a trip for Holy Week with Claire, my Honduras YASC buddy, and my friend Rosella (Claire’s roommate). We traveled to Panama City where we were able to see the sights and visit with the two YASC volunteers serving there, Joseph Morin and Rachel Carter. We had a chance to see a lot of the city from the historic ruins of Panama Viejo to the brand new underground metro. 

We also saw the locks at the Panama Canal, and it just so happens that they’re celebrating the 100 year anniversary of its completion this year. It was really neat to see one of the places my grandpa passed through when he was serving in the navy during World War II.

On Thursday night, we had the privilege of attending the Maundy Thursday service at St. Luke’s Cathedral in Panama City, complete with foot-washing by the Episcopal Bishop of Panama. It was a beautiful service.

After a long and somewhat stressful day of traveling on Good Friday Claire, Rosella and I arrived back in Tela. We spent the afternoon of Holy Saturday at Lancetilla Botanical Garden before heading to church for the Easter Vigil Service.

When Claire and Rosella went back to San Pedro Sula on Sunday morning, I have to admit the apartment felt a little bit empty. But I took the opportunity to catch up on some reading and take a nice long nap. I had such a wonderful time in Panama and I’m feeling well rested to dive back into teaching this week!

10 Things Everyone Everywhere Would Understand

English

There’s a list for everything these days. From “39 Catchphrases Real “Friends” Fans Use On A Regular Basis,” to “75 Thoughts Every Runner Has While Out For a Run.” There are thousands of them! Now, I like a good Buzzfeed binge just as much as the next guy, but you’ve got to admit it’s getting a little ridiculous. I mean, “21 Food Things Only San Franciscans Would Understand”? That’s pretty specific. It’s fun to read the ones you can relate to, like my personal favorite, “12 Sayings Only People From California Will Understand” (http://www.businessinsider.com.au/california-sayings-2013-12 in case you want to check it out). But maybe we’ve gone too far. I think the danger of focusing too much on the things that make us “unique” or “special” is forgetting that we have things in common with people all over the world and in all walks of life.  With that in mind I wrote just one more list to add to your daily article-reading.

10 Things That Everyone Everywhere Would Understand (in no particular order)

1. When you don’t understand what someone is saying, but you’ve already asked them to repeat themselves twice so you just smile and nod.
2. The way your mouth feels when you just lost a tooth.
3. The desire to feel loved.
4. When you don’t feel like doing something, but know that you have to do it anyways.
5. Losing your train of thought in a conversation.
6. The anger you feel when no one will listen to you.
7. The brightness of the sun after a dark, cloudy, or stormy day.
8. The way your head feels like it’s going to explode when you have a cold.
9. The panicky feeling when you realize you forgot or lost something.
10. The joy of seeing someone you haven’t seen in a while.

Español

Hay una lista por todo lo que en estos días. De “39 Frases Entusiastas de “Friends” Utilizan Sobre Un Base Regular” hasta “75 Pensamientos Que Cada Corredor Tiene Mientras Que Salir a Correr.” ¡Hay miles de ellas! Me gusta una juerga de Buzzfeed como nadie, pero tienes que admitir que ya es un poco ridículo. Por ejemplo, “21 Cosas de Comida Que Solo Personas de San Francisco Podrían Entender.”  Eso es bastante específica. Es divertido de leer las con que se puede relacionar, como mi favorita personal, “12 Dichos Solo Personas De California Entenderán.” (http://www.businessinsider.com.au/california-sayings-2013-12 si quieres leerla). Pero tal vez hemos ido a la medida. Yo pienso que el peligro en poniendo demasiado atención a las cosas que nos hacen “únicos” o “especiales” es olvidando que tenemos cosas en común con personas por todo el mundo y en todos los caminos de vida. Con este en mi mente, yo escribí sólo una lista más para añadir a su leído diario. 

10 Cosas Que Todo El Mundo Podría Entender (no en un orden particular) 

1. Cuando no le entiendes lo que alguien dice, pero ya le has preguntado a repetir dos veces entonces sólo sonríes y cabezeas. 
2. El sentimiento de tu boca cuándo pierdas un diente. 
3. El deseo a sentir amado. 
4. Cuando no quieres hacer algo, pero sabes que tienes que hacerlo de todos modos. 
5. Perdiendo tu tren de pensamientos en una conversación.
6. El enojo que sientes cuando nadie te escucha a ti.
7. El brillo del sol después de un día oscuro, nublado o tempestuoso. 
8. El sentimiento que tu cabeza va a explotar cuando tienes gripe. 
9. El pánico que tienes cuando te das cuenta a algo que se olvidaste o perdiste. 
10. El gozo de ver una persona que no has visto por un tiempo.