Friday, July 31, 2009

60 Kids and Banana Panqueques

This morning there were 60 kids at the breakfast program. I woke up in a funk again and had a hard time getting out of bed, but I can't waste my time sitting around the house feeling sorry for myself. So I called Muncho and went to the breakfast program where I was greeted with tons of good hugs.

I was supposed to spend the afternoon with Tony, but he had the opportunity to talk with two more dentists to finalize the dental program, so he had to take off and do that. It seems the dentists are willing to lower their prices so between the Lions Club here in Honduras and a church in Atlanta all 60 kids will have their dental needs met every 6 months!!!!

Karla is still working like a maniac and we still don't have internet at home, so she leaves early in the morning and returns at dinnertime. Yesterday Valery had school, so Karina and I didn't go to the mall because we had to pick up Valery from school.

Yesterday afternoon the news was very ugly. Supporters of Mel are gathering at the Nicaraguan border and trying to fight their way across. Jairo said they are putting together their own band of people to fight the border guards. On one hand it is very hard to watch the border guards hit people with bats, but on the other hand I am not sure what the guards are supposed to do when the people are being so aggressive. Afterall, their job is to guard the border.

The orphanage has been closed because of the problems, but really things here in Tegucigalpa are very calm.

Sunday is Jose's birthday and I may have finally tracked down a place where I can buy cocoa powder. It is so frustrating to be with out a car and to have so little money. I hate spending money on a cab, but I also can't just sit at home.

Time to head back to the house and see if Karina wants to take a "collectivo" to the mall for bday presents for Jose. If you take a "collectivo" you can go anywhere for only 11 limpiras, but you share the cab with others. For me, this is not safe to do alone because I don't know the city well enough. Also you don't know who you are getting into the cab with, or who may get into the cab after you. Karina has been held up twice in a collectivo for her phone and her money - which is a better statistic than the bus, where she's been held up 19 times! It's kind of just a fact of life or a risk you take if you take public transportation. Which is why I pay 60 limpiras to ride alone with Muncho. My safety is not worth 49 limpiras.

I am applying for a position back at my old job as a back up plan and a way to make money immediately when I get home. A guy got let go yesterday from the unit I would like to work on, but I doubt they can hold the position for me for two weeks, and besides, his shift was on weekends which makes it impossible to go to church.