Las Alfombras de Comayagua

One of many "alfombras" and  still in the process of being completed.

Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is very much celebrated here in Latin America. Many people take vacation during this time. Most banks, businesses and even the buses shut down, at least for Good Friday, sometimes for the entire week. Good Friday, the day Christ was crucified, is, as one person put it, the day most respected in Honduras.

Comayagua is about 30 minutes from where we live. The road winds up over a mountain, as most roads here do, and drops down into a much drier valley than that which Siguatepeque lies in. Comayagua is one of the oldest cities in Honduras, founded in 1537.  It was the first capital of Honduras and it's Spanish heritage is still visible in much of the architecture. It is home to two of Honduras' oldest cathedrals, one of which has in it's tower one of the oldest, if not the oldest working clock in the Americas, made sometime in the 13th or 14th century, or as some claim, the 11th century.

Comayagua has also, for the past 50 years, been famous for it's "alfombras" or "carpets" that people make in the streets each year during Semana Santa. These carpets are made, for the most part, from pine sawdust which has been dyed different colors. They are elaborate, intricate, colorful and very Catholic in the way that they portray the Crucifixion of Christ. I am well aware that there exist many differences between Catholics and Protestants, but I must say, the Catholic Church seems to be to able to express, in both art and tradition, the solemnity and momentousness of Christ's death in a way that we Protestants seem not to

Mark, Charley, Luis, me, Thomas, Barbe, Corey, Gavin, Garret and Kirsten. Standing by the fountain in the Central park, the Cathedral built in 1650 with the oldest working clock in the Americas stands behind us. Both clock and cathedral have been renovated.

Because of this solemnity, as we walk along the streets admiring the artistry with which each carpet is created, there really is a sense of worship and remembrance in the attitudes of the people around us. A nun, eyes closed, lips moving in silent prayer stands alone, surrounded by people. Families move together, slowly, through the calles, taking time to admire each carpet. The usual throbbing, pulsating, hard driving beat of music emanating from loud speakers, so prevalent in most of the cities here is absent, prohibited by law for this one Day. For this I am very thankful.

We eat pupusas purchased from street vendors, washing them down with Pepsi. We're in the minority here, Coca Cola being the drink of choice for most Hondurans. We have invited some of our friends from Siguat to ride with us. Reyna, Gaby and some of their family have come. Trey, the Wells and Luis are here too, and a new friend we have met only recently while at the retreat in Valle several weeks ago, Charley Jackson, has driven all the way from Tegucigalpa to spend the day with us. Charley lives on one of the mountains surrounding Teguc, in a very dangerous part of town. He loves the Honduran people in his neighborhood and helps them as much as he can, when he can. We love Charley and it is an honor to have him as a guest in our house.

Luis and me enjoying a lunch of papusas.

Las Familias Mendosa y Garcia (I hope I got that right)

Thomas and Luis filling bottles with sawdust.

After the procession has passed, children rush into the streets to fill bags and bottles with the sawdust from the carpets.

It is a beautiful day. The weather, which had been cold and rainy only the day before, is perfect. The ride from Siguatepeque in our van filled with friends has been an incredible blessing to us. I want to say thank you to my brother Jon, for suggesting we buy a van for our trip down here. It has become, as our friend Kirsten calls it...the Party Bus. Aren't road trips with friends the best! We're already planning several more.

I want to take just a moment, this Resurrection Day, to acknowledge the One who gave His life for me and for whom I live. We are here in Honduras because of Him. I know that there are many of you who are following my blog and our life here in Honduras who do not profess faith in Christ, and out of respect for you I do not express, overtly, in this blog my religious sentiments. (I write another blog for that). But, I would be remiss if today, as Believers around the world celebrate Easter, I did not give thanks for what Jesus has done for me. Without His death and resurrection, my life, both now and for eternity, would not be the same.