Tutoring and Talking

This morning I woke at 6:44 to the sound of a neighbor's washing machine.  Let's just say it needs some grease!

Last night Belinda, Lourde's sister, called to ask if I could tutor her son today.  He has some tests coming up which he must pass in order to graduate from his class.  Belinda has been working with Daniel, but you know how kids are with their own mother.

When I first got to Honduras, I lived with Belinda, Daniel and Andres until after my suitcases were found.  Daniel and Andres learn English at school, so they practice their English with me.  They also help me with Spanish.  We go to church every week together each week.  I am excited because this week both Daniel and Andres will be baptized!!!!!  They are excited too.

Anyway, Daniel struggles at school and is not very social.  But he and I have gotten along well since the first time we met.  He doesn't bother to talk to many people.  Last week we hung out and he was very talkative.  I enjoy our conversations.  He is thoughtful.  His mother noticed how talkative he is with me.  We both are curious as to why, but aren't questioning it.  I think maybe he feels more grown when he is with me, like a young man instead of a boy.  When I first got here there was so much I didn't know, but Daniel was able to show me how things are done in Honduras.

To be honest I was not looking forward to tutoring.  I keep telling people - I am not a teacher.  I never wanted to be a teacher.  I love working with kids, but I kind of "specialize" in troubled kids and the psychological side, not education.  However, I know that Belinda needs help with Daniel, and Daniel needs help with his school work.  So I'll do it to be helpful.  Belinda mentioned payment.  Even though I am broke, I am NOT comfortable with that.  They already took me in, gave me clothes, a bedroom and yummy food.  They made me feel welcome and at home when I was a complete stranger and had nowhere else to go.  Now is my opportunity to help them.

Before the tutoring session I tried again to find Olympics on TV.  Nobody seems to watch or know how to watch the Olympics in Honduras.  I guess that's a North American thing.  We have 10 channels of soccer, but no Olympics!  Tomorrow I bet they will show the Honduran Olympic team playing fútbol though.

Some friends back in the US are going through really tough situations in their lives, so I spent part of the morning in prayer.  By the time I was done, it was time for Daniel to come for tutoring.  Belinda and Andres dropped Daniel off and said they'd be back in three hours.  At first that seemed like a long time, but as it happened, Daniel stayed an extra hour and we had exactly the right amount of time.

We worked for over an hour, then went for a walk.  When we came back Daniel was much more focused.  He did some great work.  He was more relaxed and less rushed.  He retained everything we did in the first part of the session!  His mother called to say she was going to be an hour later, so I asked if it would be safe for the two of us to walk together to the grocery store.  I told her Jairo does not want me to walk there alone, but it is so close.  She said yes, with Daniel it would be fine.  So we each grabbed our backpacks and walked to the store.  I was so excited.  It felt like a fourth grade field trip for me, walking those 6 blocks.  Daniel is a good shopping partner too.  He finds good deals and he knows which brands are good.

The guy who was bagging the groceries was surprised when Daniel asked him to pack our backpacks, but that is the safest way to travel in Honduras.  Backpacks are harder to steal than bags.  I use a backpack here almost every day.  The hardest part was getting across 4 lanes of traffic, but we made it safely.

Daniel practiced some more math, just to be sure he really knows what he's doing.  We ate some snacks.  I told him that he did a great job and told his mother how awesome he was so that he could also hear the compliment.  We really had a nice afternoon together.

After he left, my neighbor and I spent some time talking outside.  She is a first time mother.  Her daughter has been sick for a few days.  She is exhausted and needed a few minutes break to talk while her husband looked after the baby.  She expressed how hard it is to be a mother.  She can't wash diapers fast enough to keep up with her daughter's diarrhea and is worried about her daughter's lack of appetite, but the doctor has said everything is fine.  I felt honored that she was comfortable sharing her feelings with me.  I really like both her and her husband.  They are very kind to me and their daughter is adorable.

Tomorrow is Jose's birthday.  Karla called to invite me to the party.  Tomorrow will be quite a day, with 19 baptisms and a birthday party!

A day full of gifts!

Today was a great day.  I worked with the preschoolers on my own for the first time.  They were great!  We practiced "Please", Thank you" and "You're Welcome".  Since we had worked on thank you Wednesday, I thought it would be okay to add please.  But then it was hard not to add "you're welcome".  For me it was a good lesson.  It was too much, but some of the kids got it.  We practiced passing things around the classroom, asking for it with please, then saying thank you.  We'll work on it more next week.  We also reviewed the number one by counting things in the room and using a little rattle, shaking it ONE time.  One time up high, one time down low, once with a jump...  You get it.  Then we colored a teddy bear with one sun on his belly, and one heart on his foot.  Afterward we had free play time.  They were amazing!  They took out one toy at a time and shared (with some reminding).  I was so proud of them!  We had a time of prayer, then ate breakfast in the classroom.  With their food sitting in front of them, they sat with their eyes closed and prayed.  I waited for someone to sneak a bite of food, as the prayer time got longer and longer.  But eyes stayed closed and everyone stayed focused.  So awesome for 3-5 year olds!  The older kids all want to be a part of the class, so Lourdes sent some of them in to "help".  Preschool is the cool place to be!

We take off our shoes before we play on the rug,
just don't get your nose too close  - pyew-eee!

Lorenzo was one of the older kids who visited.  He didn't want to play with trucks and bulldozers.  He asked if he could color.  Then he asked if he could use the magnetic letters on the side of the freezer.  He made shapes out of play dough.  I was surprised at his choices, but enjoyed watching him sit and relax and play.

Lorenzo!

All of the anxiety I have had about teaching preschool is gone.  I know some days will be more difficult than others, but I really love the kids.  They are smart and excited for the opportunity to learn.  I am honored to offer them the opportunity to be in the classroom.  I'll probably learn as much as they do!

Mailin and helping her brother, Misael, with a puzzle.

While we were in class Walter brought me a huge, heavy package.  I had to wait until later to open it.  Inside was a beautiful purple and gray yoga mat with a video and the sweetest card from a high school friend.  I haven't seen him since 1985!  He is a soldier.  He and his family are stationed in Germany.  I mentioned on Facebook that my back was sore from doing pilates on a bath mat, so they sent a yoga mat with the sweetest card from Germany!  I am really grateful.  THANK YOU BILL AND CHRISTINA FRAUSTO!

The church received a huge gift today too.  A huge truck pulled in and the older boys unloaded box after box of canned turkey, boxes of blankets, and sacks of towels and hygiene products.  The kids were excited to be a part of receiving the delivery.  We took pictures and videos.

The words on this package hit home.  Sometimes I forget how deep the need is.  Food For Relief.

The kids with the all of the gifts!

The cute ones seated in the front are preschoolers  :)

After we ate, Lourdes spent hours giving out clothes that have been donated to the church.  The clothes were mostly for girls.  The girls left with bags full of full, which is such a blessing to them.  Just last week one of the mothers was in tears, worried about how she will provide for her 4 children.  This should ease the burden a little bit.

After the Breakfast Program was over, Lourdes asked Jairo to take me shopping for my own bed.  All of the things in my house belong to other people.  Nobody is pressuring me, but now that I am here more permanently, it is time to get my own bed and start returning things to their owners.  We went to two second hand stores downtown.  I like going downtown.  You have to be very aware of your surroundings.  It is not safe, but if you are there with others, it is okay.  Jairo found a cool thermometer.  Lourdes and I found a nice bed for me and a recliner for her, but they were too expensive, so the ladies went home empty handed, but we still had fun.

I got home in the evening, hoping to catch the opening ceremony of the Olympics.  However, the only thing I could find on my (free) 92 channels of cable was a recap on ESPN :(  Apparently the Olympics are not as fully covered in Honduras as they are in the US.  I was really disappointed!  I love watching the Olympics.

I did a load of laundry instead and reminded myself how nice it is to have a washing machine.  I have never fully appreciated the spin cycle until now.  My clothes dry so quickly!  They were dry a few hours later.  Now none of my bedding or towels smell musty anymore.  Yay!

Jetty was very playful tonight.  It is good to see her running around and getting into trouble like she always did in the US.  I was afraid she was a little lonely, but I think she is doing okay.

Today was another good day.