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| Homni is proud of his work |
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| Cindi |
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| Junior |
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| Misael is proud of his circles! |
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| Elvin really keeps me on my toes! |
Yesterday was Monday. Everything was going well in preschool - the younger kids are all counting at least to 10, they are asking to learn colors in English as well as Spanish, four of the six kids raised their hands to contribute to our time of prayer. As we were praying it happened. Violet. Violet is only two. She is smart, a little spoiled, and a spitfire! As we prayed her mother opened the door, pushed Violet inside, and shut the door before Violet could slip out.
The class continued praying and Violet started screaming. She continued screaming as we served spaghetti, ate spaghetti and cleaned the room. First she was screaming "Mommy", then she started screaming her mother's first name. Lourdes came in and said that Violet needs to learn the expectations, so she has to stay in the classroom until she can be calm. Lourdes said she will probably wet herself again because that is what Violet does to get her way. I told Lourdes I thought she was screaming so hard she had almost vomited. Lourdes said then she may vomit too, but she will only learn what is expected if we don't give in so Violet has to stay in the classroom. All of the kids ignored her behavior.
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| Calm Violet with her brother |
Lourdes tried to get Violet to eat. Violet screamed. Lourdes told Violet that when she is calm, she may leave. Each time she stopped screaming long enough to take a breath, we would say "Very good Violet." but once she caught her breath she would scream again. Finally she stopped screaming for longer than ever so we told her that she was calm. We let her go to her mother. After she really, truly was calm, her mother and I brought Violet back into the classroom and sat there with her as she ate. We talked about what a beautiful class it is and how nice it is to eat in the classroom. Violet left with a hug and kiss and said she would go to class on Wednesday.
Lourdes and I finished a project to help with funding for the boys who are attending the private Christian school. Lourdes said she was really stressed out about it. On the way home she said she felt a big weight off her shoulders since the project is done.
Later that night I received an email from the woman in charge of funding for WorldVision.org. She had received the project. She asked who I was and where I was writing from. I wrote back and told her I am a missionary in Honduras and friend of Lourdes'. I said Lourdes has me work on projects that require writing in English. The lady sent me an email back, welcoming me to their team.
Today on the way to the church I let Lourdes know that the lady had emailed me because I always want Lourdes to know if I speak of her or for her. Lourdes told me that the lady was curious who I was because I had done such a good job on the project!
Lourdes gave me a new opportunity today that was unexpected and wonderful. The woman who is the Wednesday tutor is doing a self esteem class for the teens. Lourdes asked if I would like to help with the class. There were 20 kids involved and it was amazing! The teacher told me she wants to take things really slowly so that everything has time to sink in. Today they talked about what everyone has in common, and also that we are each unique, but unique is good. She talked about how God made each of them to have their own likes and dislikes, gifts and flaws. She talked a little about body image, empathy and about how we talk to each other. It was absolutely great. At the end they prayed. Nobody noticed, but I was in tears, praying that the kids hear what she is saying to them and learn to love themselves as young people. I spent so many years lost, not loving myself or appreciating the gifts God gave me. I prayed these kids can see how beautiful and awesome they are. It was also nice because now I know each of them, so I know which kids need to work on body image, or bullying, or being overly focused on outer/physical beauty. I am excited about this new class. The kids seem excited too.
Afterward I went to the preschool classroom and finally really made it my own. In the past I was afraid to throw things out, because I know that I sometime see things as garbage when others would keep them. So I asked Lourdes if I could throw things away. There were papers in that class from 2007. If things were questionable, I asked Lourdes. Each time she gave me permission to toss it. By the time I was done I knew everything I had in the classroom and where it all was. There are still some broken toys, but I'm thinking the kids can help me with that. It feels good to know what and where everything is. I found some really fun things to work with as well.
Lourdes asked me to come with her and Jairo to the country for 4 days. They are leaving Thursday and returning after Jairo is done fishing on Sunday. At first I was nervous about leaving Jetty. Lately I have had tiny ants that get into her water and food, so I have to basically feed her by hand a few bites at a time throughout the day and repeatedly give her fresh, ant-less water. My neighbor, Fany has not been home much and I don't know if she will be home while I'm gone. So I was in a tizzy all day, wondering what to do - go with Lourdes and possibly neglect my cat for four days? Or stay home and be sure the cat is well, but miss an opportunity to see more of the country and the great corn harvest. Lourdes really wants me to go.
The this evening Jose called. He said that next week the seminar a different city. It is in on Thursday and Friday. Afterward we are going on to spend the rest of the weekend at a beautiful place in the country. He said if I have plans in Tegucigalpa I can take a bus home by myself, but I am invited to spend the weekend and visit this beautiful place. I told him I will talk to Jairo. I doubt Jairo will let me take a bus back by myself. Especially since yesterday Elenai (Eunice's daughter) was getting off the bus and the driver pulled away too soon, causing her to fall and hurt herself. Elenai had to make a quick trip to the hospital. She is fine, but a little bruised. The driver never stopped.
So it looks like I will spend Thursday - Sunday in the country this weekend, as well as next. I have to move past my anxiety of leaving the cat for four days. She will be okay. I have to make the most of every minute here. I don't want to have regrets. I think I would regret it if I don't go on these trips.
Lourdes said that the family we are staying with this weekend has a son who spent 15 years in the states and just got back this week. Lourdes said he is having a hard time adjusting and it will be good for him to have a gringa around to talk to him about the US.
Jairo said he found me a beautiful Honda CRV. He said he loved the outside, but he is worried about the motor because it is 10 years old. He apologized, saying he was not comfortable buying the car, even though it was perfect from the outside. I told him not to worry, I have patience. As long as he doesn't mind driving me, I don't mind waiting for the right car.
I received an email today from a friend in the states. She knows someone who would like to come and serve with us in Honduras. I talked to Jairo about the idea of this person coming. Jairo explained that it doesn't matter how wonderful the person is, it is not safe and he cannot be responsible for another person here. He said he has to register me with the government and say that he, personally, and the church here are responsible for me and accountable for me and my behavior. He reminded me how long it took for the church to approve for me to come here. It was three years of waiting and praying and hoping. He said that it is far too dangerous here for someone who has never lived here before so the person cannot come. I expected him to say that. But I felt strange telling another person that they can't come to Honduras. I know how it feels to want to be here, but to be told no. It stinks. If God wants her to be here, He will have the final say.
This weekend I will not have internet, so there will be no posts once I leave. I am going to bring a journal and I have a bunch of books downloaded on my Kindle, so I am prepared. I have been sleeping a lot because I've had a headache since Saturday. I think Lourdes is inviting me as a sort of retreat. I will be sleeping on the living room floor, but I am fine with that. As anyone who knows Lourdes and Jairo will agree, I am blessed to spend this time with them. I hope I can go and not worry about the cat. Maybe I will even be invited to fish with Jairo and his friend. They go early in the morning and stay all day. But I have always wanted to learn to fish by hand with just as line, as Jairo does. If I don't fish, I can exercise with Lourdes and make all sorts of things out of corn. This weekend is corn harvesting time, so we will make corn tamales and a bunch of other corn things. I will be sure to take pics and keep good notes in my journal so I can write about it when I get back.
I almost watched the news today. As we left the church at dinner time the skies were BLACK. Everyone said it is going to start raining tonight and not stop for three days because a tropical storm is coming. I wonder if Jairo will fish in a tropical storm. I am kind of excited for the storm. Hope it doesn't upset Jetty if she is here alone.
Don Juan made a point to tell me today that he is still thinking about my next cat condo. I told him not to worry, when he has the idea complete we can get to work. No hurry. This afternoon I walked into the kitchen and Don Juan announced that I am now a Hondureña. I noticed in the class and in groups I am understanding almost every word that is spoken. Rather than understanding the general topic of conversations, I am catching the details now. I am also speaking in Spanish with people who know English. This week Lourdes' mom has been coming to the breakfast program. She was the first to really push for me to stop using English. I bet she will tell me soon that she has noticed a difference in my Spanish skills. Within the past week Lourdes has stopped using English with me. Now Joss and I speak "Spanglish" together, but it is 50/50 Spanish/English. I'm making good progress!
This evening I had a nice chat with my Aunt by internet. I was telling her a story and said something about "home", meaning the US. She immediately wrote that I am already at home. Honduras is home. She is right. For now, Honduras is home. I am excited to get into the classroom tomorrow, now that I have really taken ownership there.
