Grieving in Paradise

By Janée Hartman

When traveling with OBIIS you have to be prepared for anything. For weeks I prepared for my trip, continually packing and repacking my carry on in order to prepare for every possible weather scenario during our time in Honduras. I was ready. Just before boarding the plane, I received a phone call informing me that Joanne Moorehouse, my friend and a donor to the school, had unexpectedly passed away. She had just texted me a few days prior to wish me safe travels and to tell me that she was hopeful that the school children would like her donations.

The airplane was humming, people were boarding, and babies were crying. I was still. I sat there trying to process the news. As everything began to sink in, my eyes began to tear and my breathing became restricted yet heavy. Michelle, our amazing host and yoga extraordinaire offered to help me regulate my breathing.

Inhale for four.
Exhale for six.

Inhale for four. Joanne was an amazing mother to five children. She dedicated her life to helping and advocating for others. She worked as a special education paraprofessional and an in-home caregiver for the elderly. 

Exhale for six. My mother and Michelle brought me comfort for the remainder of the flight. I was still in shock when we left the airport, but the excitement of this experience was creeping back in with every pothole hit on the winding mountain roads. 

Arriving at Finca Terrerito, we were met with cheering, flags waving, and seven beautiful women who were giggling and holding a banner that said, “Bienvenidos! Finca Terrerito.” I couldn’t help but smile back. I felt welcomed and warm in their presence and immediately thought, “I want to be their friend!

Inhale for four. Being at Al and Leticia’s home felt familiar even though it was my first time at Finca T. There was always an undertone of adventure that was presented in a cool, relaxed demeanor. Our days were filled with activities, excitement, and laughter but Joanne was always right there with me. 

She sat with me on the back of the pickup truck as we sped down the dirt roads, she ate with me by the river, and she joined me on my walk up to the coffee field. Just as tears would fill my eyes, Lourdes’s laughter would fill the room or Al would tell a captivating story. Michelle would give me a random lingering hug, or my mom and Letty would giggle in the corner. More times than not my sadness was interrupted by a German Shepard demanding a scratch or pushing me off the trail at the sight of an approaching vehicle.

Exhale for six. Finca T is filled with love and service from the river, to the cross on the hill, to the electricity filled village down the road. The foundation of FincaT is built on three pillars: Improving Lives, Sustainability in Everything they do, and Extraordinary Coffee. Finca Terrerito is more than a coffee farm. It is a second chance, a leg up, a consistent meal, and a place where everyone is welcome. All of this is evident in their accommodations for the pickers, the way they empower their employees, their support for the community, and their incredible school. 

With the help of the Matiak Foundation and generous donors, FincaT built a school located on the farm. The school is a resource for not only the farm but for the surrounding communities and the kids of the farmhands at Finca T. There is a large school room broken into three equal size classrooms. Outside is a large cafeteria and kitchen. The outdoor cafeteria doubles as an outdoor classroom. There are clean, updated restrooms and fresh water fountains for the children that are easily accessible from the vibrant playground. There is also a large garden and orchard that the children tend to while learning academic and life skills that will last them a lifetime. 

Inhale for four. On the last day of our visit at FincaT we went to the school to watch the students engage in their english lesson and tour the grounds. The school was bursting with color and excitement. The students had been on winter break but came to school that day to meet with us, show off their traditional dancing skills, and share a lunch with their friends. The students greeted everyone with excitement and you could tell when they hugged their friends and teachers that they were genuinely excited to be back at school that day. After a brief demonstration from the students, we learned more about the Matiak Foundation and the students’ curriculum before touring the rest of the school. We walked through the outdoor kitchen/classroom and into the garden. We passed the vegetable patches and into the orchard. 

Hold your breath. We stopped at a small, freshly planted tangerine tree in the left corner of the school’s orchard. A teal sign with “Joanne Morehouse” painted on in black, bold letters. Below is a yellow plaque with the message “In loving memory of Joanne Morehouse whose kindness and generosity will forever impact the lives of our students. We honor her legacy by naming a tree in her memory, a symbol of growth, hope and enduring love for our community.”

Exhale for six.

The goal of the school is to serve, empower and cultivate Future Leaders who will make a positive impact. The fact that Joanne’s memorial will be tended to by children as an act of love and education couldn’t be a better way to honor her memory.

Inhale for four. Someone once told me that “Grief is love with nowhere to go.” I tried to put the love I can no longer tangibly give her into all the beautiful people around me at FincaT and that is how I will continue to honor her. 

Thank you Al, Letty, Michelle, Mom, and the community of FincaT for honoring my friend, allowing me to grieve, and helping me heal while in paradise. 

Exhale for six.