I write this blog sitting in the Atlanta airport writing most likely one of my last as I have finished up my two years in Siguatepeque. I have neglected the site for a long time now, SORRY! Selling my things, saying goodbye, and finishing up my work kept me quite busy.
For those of you who’ve lived abroad, you probably know exactly how I am feeling right now. Parece mentiras. It just doesn’t feel quite real that I have finished my time in Honduras and am now about ready to restart my life back in the U.S. This past week was one of a lot of fun, and a lot of mixed feelings too. I finished up work Thursday a week ago to give me a little bit of time to close things up without the stress of work. My last shift was pretty typical. I ordered a cake to say goodbye and thanks, and then that evening my fellow nurses had a little farewell party for me which included games, singing, and an open sharing time. It’s so strange how you don’t know how much people like you until you leave!
Farewell with my nursing compañeras:
The next week was spent selling my things: refrigerator, oven,
microwave, table, and furniture. It is truly incredible how much one accumulates in 2 years! And what is even more incredible is that my Honduran community came to me and asked what I was selling. So it was not hard at all to sell everything, which took a big stress off my shoulders.
The farewells started out almost joyful, but the closer and closer I got to today, the harder and sadder they got! On Thursday my church family had a farewell get-together for me. Also involved games, singing, and open sharing time. This time they focused it on Bible verses they had to share for me. It was a special time. People showed up I never guessed would have.
Wendy, Roxanna, Me, Lety at my farewell from church:
Playing games at the church farewell:
Also had a nice little lunch with some of the female single doctors at the hospital who turned out to be really great friends and company in my time at the hospital.
Then of course it was farewell with my closer friends outside of church and my work at the hospital. As my friends left back to the Tegus to where they are studying, it started to feel real.
Farewell with some of my closest friends:
Saturday I spent running around doing last minute things. That evening I was invited to a small little town called Balin which is near Lake of Yojoa, which is about 1 hour from where I live. This was really quite an honor because the aunt of a close friend/coworker lives there and back in December I had donated blood to her because she has advanced cancer. So she wanted to invite us over for dinner before leaving. Culturally, my friend explained to me that folks from the rural areas tend to make a lot of food when they plan on having company like this, and I guess I was the guest of honor in some sense? So they had chicken soup, tamales, tacos, squash with honey, pork, coffee, soda. SO much food and what I feast. In Spanish there’s a phrase “nos quedamos triste por comer tanto.” I was “sad” from eating too much. And if you think about it, when you eat too much, notice your face, it might look sad from being so full!
Dinner in Balin:
So Sunday was my last day at church. And then afterwards off to eat fried fish with my “Honduran mother.” After that, off to do laundry and finish packing! It’s kind of tricky packing the last 2 years of your life in 2 suitcases, especially with all of the beautiful purses/souvenirs/gifts people gave me. This morning my best friend/coworker brought me to the airport in San Pedro Sula, and up till now it’s been tears, sleeping, getting through security, and being crazy weirded out by hearing English. It has been seeing all sorts of different faces, fancy duty free shops, drinking fountains, clean bathrooms, the smell of delicious toasted and horribly expensive sandwiches. But most glorious of all: throwing my toilet paper in the toilet instead of in the trashcan beside the toilet, which is what one must do in most of Central America due to the plumbing system. Yes my friends, I have arrived, and my feet are now back on American soil. I am so looking forward to seeing my momma and sister’s faces when I land.
Trip to the airport: My best friend Paty and her brother Ismael with his wife Yenni and their daughter Genesis. Really great folks!
So the next several weeks and months will consist of a lot of readjusting. Readjusting my body to American food again, readjusting to interacting with my own blood and my own “people.” Readjusting to having to be on time again, and not the “hora hondureña.” Readjusting to the rules and logic of the road. (If you catch me tail-gaiting, try to understand the craziness of the driving where I’ve been living, haha!) Readjusting to the hype of fast-paced life, and looking for work. Readjusting to the American health-care system. But most of all, I’m really going to miss my friends I made in Honduras. Right now that is the biggest thing on my mind. Fortunately for me, Virginia Mennonite Missions puts a heavy emphasis on making relationships and ministering in that way and I would say that is the one thing I know I did well at Hospital Evangélico and in Honduras.
In the past weeks I’ve been trying to evaluate things that weren’t so great. In past blogs I’ve spoken of the differences in culture, differences in work habits, and expectations. There were times where I felt like I was drowning in the differences and frustrations. To be perfectly honest, when I get to feeling quite sad about leaving Honduras, and the beast of an adjustment I am about to face, I just remember those hard times, and I remember that it probably is the right time to come home. I was able to say I finished my contract. I kept my word, and I stuck to it though I really wanted to quit on many an occasion. I’m glad I did. I think I reaped much more growth and maturity, and also respect from my friends/community in Honduras.
My fellow professional nurses who gave me a hammock for my farewell and a nice lunch, and of course best wishes.
As I took off in the plane today, my mind couldn’t quite get around the fact that I was leaving all of it behind: all of those crazy experiences, all of those painful experiences, but also all of the special people in my life to return to what should seem normal, but strangely seems like a “foreign country.” Now that isn’t fair is it?! To just adjust to living abroad only to return back to another place that now seems so strange. I have to say, the security control at the airport has even updated in just 2 years! It’s cool though, living without all of the modern commodities has made me 1. Incredibly amazed at the advancing modern society of the U.S., and 2. Much much more grateful to have access to them again. Recently I heard a statement “God is more concerned about your character than your comfort.” And as they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. And if you think about it, the good and fun times don’t do much for you. They might keep your morale up, but as far as character-forming, they really just serve you for the moment. So why must we suffer? I suppose for that reason: we must grow as human beings, and as Christians, we must grow in our faith, and many times that involves pain and suffering.
So I hope and pray that God will use these 2 years in my life to continue to grow, and to be able to do some good in the world, in my own country. Maybe my newfound knowledge of the 3rd world, maybe my interactions with Latinos, maybe my new perspective will be useful in some sort of future ministry. For sure I am not the same Malerie Rose Plank who left for the unknown 2 years ago. The Bible says that all things work together for the good of those who love God. I will end on that thought.
I appreciate your support and prayers these last couple of years. Your faithful financial support kept me from stressing that aspect. Your faithful prayers sustained me along with your letters and emails. I can’t thank you enough. My correspondence was not exactly 100% but thank you for understanding. It’s much easier to process it afterwards after the fire, and not so much while you are in the heat of it. So, I’ll try to write another post or two on the readjustment process! Phew, I think this blog has more photos than all of my others combined. That's what happens when you finally get a really fast internet connection! Blessings, and I hope to see you sooooon!!! Hugs!
Bible Study farewell with my gringo church community:
