Thursday, June 5, 2014

Goodbye

Dear Honduras,

It has been a pleasure being here. Honestly, I can’t believe my time is over. I just wanted to write this note to say thanks. There is so much I could thank you for.

I’ll start by saying thanks for teaching me about myself. Within your borders I came across so many challenges, emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual. I learned both my weakness and my strength simultaneously. And I learned to accept both. It is interesting that, when away from any familiarity and the societal pressure to be successful, you have a lot more freedom to know yourself.

Also, thank you for all the wonderful things I have experienced. Your people are beautiful and I will always carry many in my heart….my students, those I met on mission, the other missionaries in the community, and so many others. But speaking of people, you really need to take care of them better. It is so difficult when situations that people do not choose cause such suffering. Please, Honduras, take care of your people…ALL of them.

On the topic of people, it is certain that through your people I grew so much in my faith. The example of their trust in God is incredible. He truly takes care of those who trust in Him. And the way He took care of me during all the challenges of mission was also so beautiful. Thank you, Honduras, for creating the typically crazy circumstances that allowed this clarity.

Finally, Honduras, thank you for teaching me about the world. I know that I grew up very much in a bubble. But now I can see how my brothers and sisters in the rest of the world are connected to me. I have seen that the way I live and decisions I make must build up and not oppress, not even indirectly. To be honest, I don’t know what this means yet, but I do know that I want to live with integrity and solidarity.

In conclusion, it has been a great two years. I will miss you.

Your half-Catracha friend,

Jamie