Can you guess where these pictures were taken? They are from my visit with Pastor Dagoberto last week. It was really fun to show him some of my favorite museums. Lowell in the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, and I wanted my friend to have a sense of the important history that surrounds us here. We started by looking at the waterfall in the Merrimack River. That waterfall is the reason why Lowell is where it is. It provided the water power that drove the engines of industry here.
When I saw Dagoberto in the mill or in the space suit, I realized how far from home he was; not just in distance, but also culturally. I often asked him what he liked best from our day's adventures, and invariably he would say, "Todos!" "Everything!"
At the dinner on Thursday, someone asked him what things would be most useful to give to him for his ministry in Honduras. He said what he wanted most was our friendship. Yes, it was great to have people come to construct a church building in Yuscaron, but what we were really building was friendships. He is in Florida how, and he called to say he made it OK, and he wanted me to extend his blessing to all the people here. He has some new friends at Trinity!
When we go to Honduras, especially for the first time, it may seem as strange as putting on a space suit. The language is different, the money is different, and the ways in which people interact is also different. People there do not have much in the way of material gifts, but they really pay attention to one another. They make us guests feel safe and welcome. The only way to really know this is to put aside our impressive wealth for a time and to receive the friendship the people of Honduras offer.
I am so happy he was here. I am also so happy to be going back to visit him and his people in April. There is still time to register to come with me. The pictures are from the National Industrial Park, the American Textile Museum, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
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