Divine Community

Let me say straight out this is a long entry..bare with me

So if you have been following my blog you know who Melvin is...he is a sweet boy I met two years ago and besides a country between us, he is my son.
He lives with 5 brothers and sisters and no parents..father gone when Melvin was an infant...and their mom died 2 years ago of cancer and thus left the kids alone. I met Melvin 5 months after the death of his mom. Needless to say this little family has become part of us. We love them...and we do our best to help them along their way and struggle to survive....which they do well for kids.

This year has proven to be a difficult year so far for these guys. When I returned to Honduras in April I went to visit and found that Melvin's oldest sister Mirna was pregnant. Of course I was very disappointed with this and thought "oh great just what they need" As the story began to unfold I sensed there was more to the story and Mirna was not sharing! Usually when I arrive she is very happy to see me..this time, no. Of course there was probably a bit of shame and embarrassment....but she was MAD! She would not talk to me, and after talking to her brothers, I found she would not speak of it to anyone! Either she was really mad at herself OR something happened to her and she was mad at the world. I think the later....One thing you need to know about Mirna is she is not "all there". I am not sure what her disability is exactly but there is a piece missing. This helps me to think someone took advantage of her in some way.
Since April I have trying to get to the bottom of the situation and it has proven to be very difficult, I don't believe I will ever really know.




Well anyway, we return. I had not seen Mirna, Melvin told me she was living with a friend that could help her with the baby. This past Saturday morning Mariano (the oldest brother who has taken care of the family since their mom died) called us and told us Mirna had her baby....and it died. It was born at 8 months and had respiratory problems, of course either thing in the states not a problem..but here?
They asked us to join their family for the funeral. Of course we went.
We arrived at the house and let me just say, for the poor, death is done very different than anything we know. as we entered the house on a table was the baby in a small white wooden box..flowers all around. Visitors came and went and we sat with Mirna until it was time to go..she was very sad and not well physically, she was in a lot of pain and looked like she had not eaten or slept in days. She didn't speak but only a few words.

When it was time to leave a procession started with Mariano carrying the small wooden white box, children carrying flowers and the family walking behind, to which I was honored be asked to be a part of. Mark help Mirna to the cruiser and they rode in that, with the baby, as the rest of us followed behind..walking to the cemetery. It was a walk...a long walk but no one seemed to mind, it just what you do.
We arrived at a place that looked forgotten in the sense that the weeds were over grown and the grounds un-kept. But not forgotten by the loved ones of the souls buried there. You saw signs of visits to many of the grave sights, flowers and notes.

We walked to an open grave. One that they had been to before...the grave of their mother. A plain black metal cross with her name marked the grave and they made a place for little Marlon to join her.
Not many words spoken only faces of sadness. The lid of the white box was removed and the group stood and viewed little Marlon one more time and Mirna placed her hand on his little chest and just breathed a sign of pain and mourning.
As strange as it seems Mariano asked for me to take photographs. You see they embrace death as very much a part of life. So I quietly took some photos that the family could have to remember this day that was very significant for all of them. All the siblings were there...Mariano and Xiomara ( Mariano's wife) Noel, Yonni, Melvin and Onieda..sharing in death together once again....

I couldn't help but feel such deep sadness for these "kids", and feel so blessed to be able walk this journey with them. Tears flowed with no control to stop them as I looked around at their faces and saw pain that I am sure was partly for their mother as well as they stood at her grave.
Mariano placed many of the flowers inside the casket and then placed the lid on the box and hammered it on...I know the sound was not loud, really, but it echoed and each hit was felt by all of us. Marlon's casket was placed in the grave and the family members all took part in replacing the dirt....it was as if by doing so part of them was left there with him.

Mariano them took out some white paint and with his finger wrote the sweet name of this baby on the back side of the grave marker.
We all prayed together and then left to make the journey back to the house.

As I was leaving I turned to see Yonni at the grave alone crying...


The poor in Honduras are more than statistics...and as we "live" among them we share community that is Divine.
Jesus came to live among us....he did not commute from heaven..he got in the middle of our messes and our pain. It is a hard place to be but a place where all are blessed.

Continuation......
Sunday Morning we received another call from Mariano..Mirna was really sick....she needed a doctor. We returned to the San Miguel..Mirna was is sooo much pain. It was just torture for her to ride out of the community in the cruiser..I was very worried about her and as my mind works had very bad visions of what might be happening.

We decided to take Mirna to a private hospital, Dime, that we would go to vs. the public health hospital which is "a pit." She was examined by a ER doc and then a GYN was called in. She was evaluated by the gyn and found to have a very advanced and serious infection..She has been admitted to a hospital..not theirs..they wouldn't treat her...she is "poor" you know....but that is another story.. for another day....Please pray for Mirna..I am going to check on her this afternoon and let you know how she is doing!