Don't talk to strangers

Today Lourdes didn't show up until the first group was leaving.  I hadn't prepared a lesson, but I decided to talk to the kids and ask for their ideas about how to get the other kids to come back to the Breakfast Program.  Everyone agreed that the other kids are scared to come because the streets are too dangerous.  I asked if the kids think that parents are keeping the kids from coming, or are the kids choosing not to come on their own?  Nobody seemed sure.  We discussed that we should always respect parents' decision, but that if the kids are not coming lets band together and bring them back.  The kids agreed to talk to their neighbors and ask them to walk together to the Breakfast Program.  I told them I feel very sad and I miss all of the kids who haven't been here over the past month.

Tomorrow the city will shut down and there will probably be a lot of striking.  Maybe even violence.  That is how they "celebrate" Labor Day here.  With unemployment at 48% I guess there is not much to celebrate.  The church will be closed and everyone is encouraged to stay home.

I was very independent today.  It feels good!  I stopped for cash and gas on the way to the church.  Most gas stations here are full service, to prevent theft I think.  I remembered to ask for super because everyone says regular unleaded is really poor quality and bad for your car.  I watched to be careful that he started at $0.00.  Apparently they sometimes don't and are able to pocket money for themselves this way.  I even remembered a receipt for my taxes.  Later I called the Dr and made arrangements to pick up a prescription from him, then went and got the rx, had it filled, bought a toaster, tested it in the store since stores in Honduras do not allow returns.  Tried 3 outlets before we figured out that you had to push down the lever as if there were toast in it for it to work.  Hahaha!  Bought windshield wipers.  I don't know the word for windshield wipers, but I knew they were used for "brisa" which is a light rain and they were not a "toalla" (towel), so I was pointed in the right direction.  Found two guys from a tire shop next door to help me take the old ones off and put the new ones on.  Tipped the guys from the tire shop.  (That used to be hard, I never knew what to tip.)  It took a good 15 minutes in the hot sun and four people to figure out how to get the old wipers off.  Apparently the old wipers had some special lock system.   Dealt with a guy on the phone from the car dealership who wanted my address, which is tough here since streets don't have names and houses don't have numbers so you have to tell them what landmark is near you and what your front gate looks like - that is your address.  I have gotten much better at talking on the phone.  It doesn't phase me too much anymore.

Lourdes said she is so happy for me to have my own car.  She said that I seem even happier now that I have some independence.  I can see myself taking on more and more responsibilities now.  It feels nice to be serving to more of my full potential.  I'm sure it felt good to Lourdes when she pulled in and most of the kids were washing their dishes and leaving the church.  She could see that things ran smoothly without her and the kids were still happy.  Tiny Jose even made a point to tell her that he would walk home carefully and NOT talk to any strangers.  He was paying attention in our group!  Lourdes got a kick out of that.

Pray for the safety of the kids!

This morning I picked up Belinda because Jairo was supposed to be at the Dr all day.  He showed up at the church mid-day.  I forgot to ask when he will have his surgery.

NOBODY was in the kitchen when we got there.  That was a first.  Marlin is home with a sore foot.  She was in a lot of pain Friday so we weren't surprised about that.  But nobody else showed up at all - none of the older boys, none of the Moms, only Belinda, Don Juan and me.  Belinda and I immediately said we should make cereal because that is easiest, but Don Juan insisted that we cook spaghetti.  None of us really knew how much to make or how to make it.  Don Juan was by far the most knowledgeable.  He joked that he was going to open his own restaurant after this.  He basically told us how to do it all and helped with everything.  Don Juan continues to amaze me.  He truly is a man who can do everything.

Not many kids came today.  Some of the kids didn't have school.  Others got out early.  Others have stopped coming.

We are down to about 50 kids on an average day.  I wasn't sure why until our day of prayer.  Since then I have been talking to the kids and it has been confirmed.  The kids are not coming because it is not safe to walk to the church and home again.  At least once per week the kids come running back to the church with stories about how they just saw someone trying to lure away one of our kids on the bus, or with candy - last week it was with a cell phone.  Usually an older kid steps in or the kids just run away.

We emphasize that they walk in groups, don't talk to anyone and go straight home.  Maybe the parents aren't allowing them to come to the church anymore, or maybe they don't feel safe to walk here.  Maybe both.  After hearing their prayer requests last week it seems like they only feel safe when they are inside their houses or the church.  It is so sad!  I know the majority of the kids who haven't come lately are not getting fed well at home.  They would rather go without food than risk walking to the church.  Wow.

Lourdes decided after hearing the prayer requests last week that we would put less meat in the food this week and send cans of meat home with each family so they could have some food in the home.  Don Juan is worried the kids will sell the cans of chicken.  I guess once it is out of our hands, we can only pray that it ends up in their bellies.

Please pray that somehow the kids can feel safe walking from school to the Breakfast Program and home afterward.  We know they need the meal that we provide and the refuge that the church provides for them to play safely and learn.  I haven't seen Lorenzo in weeks.  My heart hurts for the kids that are going without.  It feels like the "bad guys" have won if the kids don't feel safe to walk to the church.

I made a new friend!

I overslept and missed church.  Actually, I woke up at my usual 6 a.m., but fell back asleep.  Ended up going to CCI for the English service.  Jairo and Lourdes have been encouraging me to do that for a while.  They say I need to have North American friends.  Now that I have a car I can go!  The first person I met was actually Honduran.  It was a good service.  I enjoyed singing in English.  At the end I overheard some people describing where the live because they needed a ride home.  Turns out they live basically across the street from me.

We talked and talked on the way home.  Then they invited me in for watermelon.  Part of me thought maybe this is not a good idea because I really don't know them.  But I got a good feeling from them and they knew a lot of people at the church.  They have been missionaries for 28 years and are doing some incredible things.  They know Jairo too.  So I figured they weren't going to kidnap me.  In the end I think I made a new friend.  Her name is Kim.  We have plans to get together every Wednesday afternoon to talk and practice Theophostic Prayer Ministry.  She also invited me to a women's bible study, but it's kind of out of the way and I would have to talk to Jairo before I joined a bible study with people from another church.  I think he would be okay with it, but not sure.

It was kind of funny because I had mentioned to Marcela (my landlord's daughter) that I would be home around 6 pm.  Even though I am a grown woman I felt like I needed to check in and let her know I was fine when I didn't go straight home.  I didn't want her family to worry about me.  In the whole time I've been here I've never hung out anywhere except with people from our church.  It was strange, in a good way, to be out making friends of my own. Many of the people who go to that church service live nearby.  I may make more friends in the future, but for now it was nice to click with Kim.

Kim just moved into this house.  Her last house got broken into.  She told me a story about a 3 masked men with machetes and a gun breaking in and holding one of her daughters at gunpoint.  They ransacked the house, then left.  The same three men broke into her friend's house and held her friend at gunpoint.  Apparently they don't care if you are home or not.  Scary!

At church we prayed for rain, then came home to wet roads.  There was a little splattering of rain an hour ago, but nothing that amounts to anything.  When I left for church the land directly across the road was burning pretty hard.  After an evening of watermelon, conversation and zucchini bread, I came home to find the firemen controlling the fire.  Here they don't put out the fire, the get it under control and then leave.

Besides praying for rain, the man prayed about the lack of joy in this city.  I thought to myself that I see some horrible things, but overall, there is never a lack of joy in my environment.  What a blessing!  The breakfast program is full of joy.  Most of the people I know are generally happy people.  We do not lack for joy around here.  During a time of prayer I really had nothing to ask God  for so I just had a time of praise.  I finally have a car and it seems like a great one.  I am happy and safe.  I have a lot of people who care about me and who include me in the things they do.  I get to work with awesome kids and great adults every day.  My family and friends are healthy.  What more could I ask for?  If my heart is not full of joy I have no one to blame but myself.

The end of a great week

Just as I was lying down to go to sleep I heard that horrible sound again.  Crackling.  I have come to dread it.  The mountain across the street is on fire again.

This has been a super great week, but the past few hours have not gone as planned.  I got all of my errands done this afternoon - grocery shopping, oil change, dropped off money I owed for my hair cut yesterday.  Came home looking forward to a grilled cheese sandwich.  Hurried to get a load of laundry in the wash while there was still time for it to dry in the sun.  But then the power went out.  The laundry was part way through the wash cycle and my stove is electric so I had a change of plans.

Actually all of this day has been about changing plans.  Belinda sent me a text at 7 a.m. asking me to pick her up an hour later.  Then I got to her house and was told she was not there, that I should go to her son's school.  We planned to get to the church at 9, but it was 10:15 by the time we got there.

I gave Wendi a present.  She is a 17 year old girl who has been coming to the Breakfast Program with her daughter every day since about January.  Today is her daughter's first birthday.  Originally I thought of doing something for the baby, but really it is Wendi who goes without.  Her daughter is always dressed nicely and well cared for. I decided to give Wendi a present.  I told her that since Breydi is only one year old, Breydi doesn't know it's her birthday, but I wanted to celebrate Wendi and what a great mother she is.  She is a good Mom.  She gets Breydi's food and feeds Breydi before she even gets a plate for herself.  She is patient and attentive.  I gave her a necklace and earrings that I won as a door prize at a conference.  She seemed to understand that I wanted to honor her for being such a great mother.

Breydi

Wendi and Breydi

After that I was kind of an errand person.  I guess that what happens when you have a car.  I had to go to the drug store, then back to get gas for the stove.  It felt like I didn't spend much time with the kids.  I had to yell at them for the first time today.  Belinda laughed at me for feeling bad about raising my voice.  She said with all they face, you yelling at them is not hard for them.  But my thought is that with all they face they shouldn't have to hear anyone yell at them.

I did have to yell though.  I did it purposefully, and not in anger.  As I pulled into the church about five of the little ones ran right in front of my car!  Jairo made a rule that everyone goes into the church when a car pulls in.  The kids always follow that rule.  I was shocked they ran in front of my car.  I laid on the horn, then pulled the car over and purposefully raised my voice and told them this is not acceptable behavior and is dangerous.  They know better and they should never, never, run in front of any car.  They stood perfectly still and listened.  When I got out of the car they came over and hugged me, so they knew where I was coming from. It was hard to yell at them.

After everyone was fed and gone, Belinda, some of the jovenes and I made gift boxes for the jovenes to take to cancer patients in the hospital tomorrow.  One of the jovenes is going to school but he sometimes doesn't have enough money for the bus.  After much discussion with Don Juan and Eunice, we decided that I would ask him if I could pay him to wash my car.  It was covered in ash from the fire yesterday.  Don Juan thought someone should wash my car for free.  I said I wanted to help the boy and it was a good way for him to get money in his pocket without it seeming like a handout.  Eunice agreed with me.

Eunice's daughter was assaulted this afternoon in a collectivo (shared taxi cab), like Chema a few weeks ago.  The weapon was very creative - a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope.  He wrapped the stethoscope around her neck and took everything she had - her phone, some money, and even her lunch.  The taxi driver was kind enough to offer her the money to take a bus home.  Eunice handled it well.  She said her daughter was very calm too.  I think I was more freaked out than they were.

Finally I headed out to do my errands.  At the grocery store I let the man behind me go ahead of me at the cash register because I had a full cart and he only had a couple things.  We chatted a little bit, which paid off later because the guy who had been trying to sell me windshield wipers in the parking lot when I went into the store had found two more buddies.  All of them were surrounding my car, pestering me as I put the groceries inside.  I didn't realize it, but the man I had spoken to in the store was parked next to me.  He waited until I was safe in my car.  Then he beeped and waved good bye. He must have seen the guys bothering me and waited to be sure I was okay.  Once again, I had to speak more firmly than I like to.  Those guys would not leave me alone until I was almost rude.  That is part of life in a big city though.  It could have been Chicago.  Only I would have been speaking firmly in English instead of Spanish.

Eunice and I had a good laugh today.  She was talking to Don Juan, saying how much my Spanish has improved.  She said (in Spanish), "She talks a lot!"  I laughed and told her she is right, I do talk a lot in English and in Spanish.  She said No! No!  She meant that I am speaking really well in Spanish.  I knew what she was saying, but it was fun to tease her.

My landlord is still outside taking care of the property at 11 p.m.  The fire across the street is still burning.  I'm glad my house is cement.

Lupe and Milagro

Jose

This is how you play "Police" in Honduras

Jarvin

Memo praying

Legos

Memo

Violet

Mainor tried out a new hairstyle

Samuel

Bible Study

Another fire on the mountain

Today was better than I ever expected.  Memo was filthy dirty, as he was yesterday, so I told him he needed to shower.  He said he did not want to go into the showers because it was too cold.  He wanted to bathe in the sun.  I handed him a towel and a bucket of water.  When I came back he had soaped up his shins and was using his fingernails to scrape away the dirt.  It was not coming off.  I grabbed some shampoo and he stood and shivered while I dumped water over his head and washed his hair.  He does not get it that if you look upward the soap doesn't get in your face, but he still giggled the whole time.

I finished cleaning his legs, scrubbed his neck and behind his ears.  Finally I lifted up his arms.  There were layers of black dirt caked into the folds of his skin!  I told him IT'S BLACK!  He giggled harder and I scrubbed more.  When we finished I wrapped him up in a towel and told him to move to a sunnier spot.  He asked me to carry him.  So I picked up the bundle of clean Memo and carried him to a sunnier spot.  I thought about how different the culture is here.  I was very conscious that Marlin and Jacky were working in the kitchen on the other side of the window only feet away, but here it is not strange to bath a child that doesn't belong to you.  I did tell him he had to wash his own butt.  His response (you guessed) was a giggle.

The individual prayer time for the kids was amazing.  Lourdes helped at first.  Then she got busy with other things.  My Spanish was definitely adequate.  The kids liked the individual attention and appreciated the prayer a lot.  The most common prayer request by far was that their parents could find a job.  One boy said he prays every night that he would be well behaved at school the next day, but every day his teacher says he has poor behavior.  He said he really wants to be good. That was my favorite prayer request.  He is a sweet boy, but he really does have a hard time controlling his behavior, even at the Breakfast Program.

The saddest prayer request was the boy who said he feels anxious at all times if he is not inside of his home or at the church.  I asked if he feels safe at school.  He doesn't feel safe at school because there are so many fights there and the streets are dangerous.  Can you imagine being 11 years old and scared all of the time?

Then of course there was Memo.  He sat on my lap and asked for work for his ma and pa.  I thanked God for the opportunity to share a special time of prayer with such a special boy.  When we were done praying I told him okay, now go wash your hands and you can eat.  He usually is eager to be first in line to eat, but today he was more hungry for attention.  Memo didn't want to leave.  He said, "But I need more prayer!"  I told him to eat first and we could pray more after I prayed for the other kids.  I assumed he would forget by the time he got done eating.  I was praying for one kid after another, non-stop for four hours.  Finally I looked up and there was Memo, standing alone.  He was waiting for more prayer.  I offered the chair that the older kids had sat in, but he hopped into my lap.  We prayed again that his parents would find work.  I prayed that he could feel the love that his family at home and at the church feel for him, as well as God's love.  We hugged and snuggled.  Then he asked where Lourdes was.  We found her in a classroom.  I told her Memo had needed two prayer sessions today.  He announced that he still needed more.  Lourdes took Memo and prayed with him the third time.  She said later that he was concerned about his parents finding work.  Jairo and I agreed it was as much about the individual attention as the concern for his parents.  In any case  Memo got lots of love today.

Memo

We had our discipleship group afterward.  By the time we finished I was exhausted.  I had been eager to saunter through the aisles of the grocery store, but I realized before I passed the vegetables that my brain was too tired.  I grabbed milk and yogurt, my staples, and left.  Driving at 5 pm in the middle of the city can be hard, but I took Belinda's advice from yesterday and nosed my way into traffic.  I made it out of the parking lot and into the roundabout - even into the middle lane - quickly.  Once again I was thanking God for driving in Chicago all of those years.

Since I haven't had a haircut since December I stopped to make an appointment.  She said she was just finishing and could cut my hair right away.  What a nice way to relax.  I sank into the chair and let Albita do her thing.  She has a mirror, but you have to stand up to see into it.  Thankfully, Albita is great at cutting hair, so I don't worry about it.  She has a tiny little place with no running water.  She washes hair with a bucket of heated water.  Her hair cutting chair is a cushioned office chair.  She cuts hair from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m.  She does manicures, pedicures, waxing, carries the best products and is an amazing stylist.  I left relaxed and feeling like a new woman.

As I got close to home I could see light that could only be fire in the sky.  I didn't realize it was close until Jerry, who lives on the same property was watering the ground and said he will wake up early to water again tomorrow.  He told me not to worry, we are safe.  He said the fire is on the other side of the mountain.  To me that sounded far away.  I went into the house, put away the groceries and went upstairs.  There was a strange sound like running water.  Finally I realized there was no waterfall in my bedroom, it was the sound of the fire and it was coming closer.  I looked out the window and it was huge so I called Carlos and started thinking about what I should put into my car besides the cat if I needed to evacuate.  (Oops.  Just realized I never thought of my passport.)

I looked out the window and saw Guillermo, Carlos' son standing outside.  He told me not to worry because the fire was on the other side of the road.  It was a huge fire.  Ashes and sparks were falling on our heads.  We took comfort in the fact that most of the property on that side has already burned.  There is not much left that is flammable.

We watched until it seemed to be more under control.  Guillermo asked if I ever hiked up there.  I said no.  He said it used to be beautiful.  There is a big cliff on the other side of the mountain where you can sit and look out over the world.  Guillermo said he will take me there next week, but it will not be the same.

We called Carlos to say that the worst was over.  I was happy to hear Guillermo tell his father what a huge fire it was because I didn't want Carlos to think I was overreacting.  Hearing the crackling of a fire freaks me out.  Especially outside my bedroom window.

Today is my brother's birthday!  Happy Birthday Bob!!

Supercalifragilistic

How strange it is, getting up in the morning and leaving when I am ready to go - not when someone else comes to pick me up!  How awesome it is to know that 12 hours later while everyone else is standing around talking after a conference, I can get in my car and leave!  I feel like I have entered a new stage of life.  It is almost like the freedom of going away to college and not living under your parents roof for the first time.  I can do whatever I want to, whenever I want to!  Well not really, but that's how you always imagine college to be and college is not really that way either.

I picked up Belinda today, so Jairo and Lourdes got to stay at home and rest.  At the Breakfast Program I made my first executive decision.  One of the girls has grown a lot since we handed out undergarments a year ago.  I went to Don Juan and explained that I don't know how to say "bra" in Spanish, but I need some small ones.  I knew we still had some left.  Don Juan is amazing.  He helped me pick out training bras.  Then he discretely left.  I decided since the girl was a twin I should give her sister a bra too.  I don't want to be the cause of any mental anxiety or body image problems in the future.  I let the girls choose the colors they liked..  They seemed happy.

Then I told Don Juan I needed the key for the storage room to put the stuff away.  He said he already did and asked if the bras fit.  I forgot the first rule of the church.  We don't give anything away without making sure it fits.  So I grabbed the girls had them try on the bras.  I never imagined they would have no idea how to put them on!  I showed them how the clasps work and how to put them on.  We made sure they were comfortable.  That was not an experience I imagined for myself, but it is part of serving young girls.  They were really grateful.

It was a hot one today.  The kitchen was packed with people so I hung out with the kids outside.  The big ones played fútbol, some of the girls played fútbolito (Foosball) and the young ones ran races and played police.  Playing police means you lie dead on the ground until someone comes and drags you away.  Much different than how North Americans would play police.

After the Breakfast Program was all shut down, Joss, Belinda and I went to buy the small fire extinguisher and two reflective triangles that every vehicle is required by law to have.  In the Walmart, I heard two women (mother and daughter I think) talking in English.  But it was not only English, it was English with a Southern drawl.  Such a sweet sound to my ears.  They were complaining that they can't find any good mops in Honduras - exactly what I was thinking two seconds before as I passed all of the old fashioned rope mops.  What I wouldn't give for a sponge mop!  I stopped and talked to them for a few minutes and told them I loved their accent.  They were from Louisiana.  The lady gave me a big hug.  She said she bought a folding mop in the US and packed it in her suitcase.  I'll have to look into that.

We got stuck in some crazy traffic on the way back.  I was grateful for all of those years driving in Chicago.  That is one way God prepared me to live here.  If I had not driven in Chicago all of those years I would be scared to death driving here.  So far the worst part for me is the darn motorcycles   They come out of nowhere, they drive wherever they want, weaving between cars and between lanes.  Motorcycles have cut me off and even turned left in front of me from the right hand lane while I was going straight!  People say motorcyclists don't care because their bikes don't cost much - but what about their lives?

The headlines of the newspapers today said that the government has confirmed there is a hit list of the most influential people in the country.

In the evening we went to CCI for a conference.  I didn't realize it was for leaders and pastors until I got there and read my invitation.  It was really cool, except the guy spoke too loudly for my taste.  He is famous in Central America.  He has written 17 books and been doing leadership training for 50 years.  He is originally from Columbia.

It was cool to be in a group of Christians that big.  A few of the people I was with asked if this is what it is like to go to church at K2 (my home church in Utah).  I said actually it was.  They had a 5 minute countdown, they had people ushering the stragglers into the last few seats.  There was a big band and big screens with the words to the music.  CCI is a nice church.  Belinda (Lourdes' sister) and I tease Lourdes that we are going to go to CCI now that I have a car and look for boyfriends there.  It drives Lourdes nuts!  I do want to go to the English CCI service, just because I love to sing worship music in English.  I have no desire for a boyfriend though.

It was nice to come home on my own.  I could decide to stop at the store, or not. I chose NOT since it was a long day.  Tomorrow I am going to the grocery store by myself.  I am going to take my time and look at every single thing on the shelves.  What a luxury!  On Friday or Saturday I am getting a haircut.  On Sunday after church Joss and Belinda would like me to drive them to the movies.  I really don't want to see Ironman in Spanish or English, but I will go to be social.  Everyone here is excited that I have my own car.  They even call to be sure I made it home safely, which is thoughtful.

I'm exhausted and Lourdes said God told her that we need to pray for each child individually tomorrow at the Breakfast Program.  I have already started my own prayers about that one.  Praying in another language is not easy.  Since prayer comes from the heart it is much easier in your native language.  Plus they word things completely differently when they pray in Spanish.  You'd think it would be the same, but it's not.  I've been working on it.  Lourdes knows that and the kids are really understanding.  Tomorrow might be tough but I am sure the Holy Spirit will help me out.

I Got a Car!

I just did something that Lourdes and I have been planning for almost a year!  Jairo was busy, so I drove us home from the church!  Today, after more than a year, I finally got a car in Honduras.  Lourdes and I got home safely.  She even said I am a good driver.

Jairo was at the hospital today.  He has to get his gall bladder out soon so he has been going through various tests over the past few weeks and today he was to meet with the surgeon.  He was still 25th in line at 3 p.m., so it was nice to have the freedom to go home on our own.  If he gets surgery next week, he and Lourdes will stay home and I will have my car to get me to the Breakfast Program every day.

There is one corner on the way up to El Hatillo that I have been dreading since I first thought of driving here.  It is steep and I had to come to a stop (with motorcycles swerving on both sides of me).  I told Lourdes I have been dreading that corner if I bought a stick shift.  That was the one place where I got a little nervous today.  I had to gun it so the car didn't stall on the steep curve.  I hope some day I will get used to that corner, but I expect it will take a little while.  Good thing I have a lot of experience with stick shift.  (Thank you Dad!).

It felt great when Don Juan told me that was the best car I have looked at so far.  He helped me fix up some little things, take off some stickers and clean the stickiness off.  Then he helped me read the manual in Spanish to learn that I can't change the temperature gauge from Celsius to Fahrenheit.  The mileage is in kilometers.

I am extremely grateful to Samuel Matute and his wife, Axa.  They have helped me out a lot.  Samuel went with me pick up the car and has helped me to finalize everything over the past few days.  Many people have helped me find this car.  Basically it took a village.  It feels amazing to know I have so much support.  Samuel knows how to get things done!

My new car!

I faced a new quandary when I got to the church with my new car.  I went and got Eunice to show her, but I wanted to be careful about how I approached the ladies in the kitchen.  None of them will probably ever own a car.  I thought they would be happy for me and they were.  So nice of them!  They have grand ideas of the places we will go and the things we will do together now that I have a car.  Sounds fun to me!

The kids have been praying for God to bring me a car so they were thrilled.  They said, "You got your car!!!" and I told them, "Gracias a Dios"  (Thanks to God).  They said God sent you this car? and I said Yes, I believe He did.  I really do believe it.  I was patient and this car kept coming to me through different people in different ways.

I am excited.  It already felt almost normal driving around.  I bet within a week I will be driving like a Tegucigalpan (Lourdes said I do already!).

It is still sinking in.  I think tomorrow when wake up I will be surprised all over again to realize that my car is finally in the driveway.

"Hagame un Please"

I'm getting my car in the morning!  Somehow I knew I wouldn't get it today so I didn't get my hopes up.  The lady from the insurance agency kept calling me over and over.  (Eunice said my Spanish is getting really good because they called on the church phone so she heard me talking to the lady on the phone.)  Apparently the policy wasn't written by the end of the business day, but they promised they will have it first thing in the morning.  We don't want to drive the car off the lot without insurance so we are waiting patiently.  As Jairo and I drove home from the church today we passed the dealership.  Someone was washing the roof of the car, I assume in preparation for me to pick it up tomorrow.  Yay!!

Belinda led the group today but I helped out.  She had me lead prayer.  I stink at praying in Spanish, but it was fine.  It was nice to have all of the kids back, after so many were gone to the museum on Friday.

After all of the kids left I let Jarvin borrow my camera.  He took some really nice picture.  He is into flowers.  But he hasn't figured out the zoom yet.  I'll have to show it to him next time.  He took pictures until the battery went dead.  His older brother and sister were helping clean out the kitchen.  We have a mouse.  Don Juan has set out traps, but something is still getting into things.  We've cleaned at least two other times.  Today we threw out everything that doesn't belong in the kitchen.  Now THAT is my kind of cleaning.  We never had this kind of problem when Marlin was in charge.  She only comes for a couple of hours now and leaves early, so the kitchen is not as clean as it was when she used to spend the whole day at the church tidying up.

Lots of the kids are practicing their English with me.  It's always a nice surprise when someone speaks to me in English.  Today Lolita said to me, "Hagame un please."  which means "Do me a please".  It actually makes sense in Spanish please is "Por favor" or "as a favor".  But it was funny to hear someone say, "Do me a please."  I explained how to say it correctly in English and that 'please' (as in please and thank you) is not a verb, so I can't do a please.  Favor in English and favor in Spanish are spelled the same, but pronounced and used differently.  I'll remember that one, "Hagame un please".

On the way home today I was talking on the phone when we came upon an enormous, beautiful bull wandering aimlessly in the middle of the road.  It was so pretty, all different colors, and big and healthy.  Strange to see walking down the street.  But a lot better than the whole family I saw sitting in the garbage pile on the way to El Anillo.  Father, mother and two young kids, just sitting in the garbage, digging through, looking for food I'm sure.  It was sad.

I read a statistic in the newspaper today that 800,000 young people who are capable and willing to work are jobless.  The article talked about the fact that the people who lived on the streets used to be either old people who had no family to care for them, or the mentally ill, or sometimes drug addicts.  But now this younger generation is in the streets and they are losing hope.  They see no light at the end of the tunnel and are turning to drugs to dull the pain and theft to survive.  There is a new dimension to the homeless population that never existed before.

The front page of the paper today announced what people on the inside have known for months.  There is an official list of top politicians and influential people and people close to them who are being killed off, one by one.  It's not really new news, but it has finally been made public.  I asked Jairo if the journalist who wrote the article will be killed.  He said probably.

Yesterday I went to my landlord's brother's birthday party.  It was fun.  We had salad and rice with chicken.  Then we had a fancy birthday cake.  In the middle of singing Happy Birthday a neighbor called to ask us to call the firemen because they had a fire at their house.  Jairo said that part of La Tigra by the church burned over the weekend too.  There are still fires everywhere and when the rain comes it is only a few drops, then it goes away.  Never enough to help with the fires.

It is official, not only do I live in the deadliest region on earth, according to NASA I also live in the smokiest region on earth.  Poor Jetty has been a little wheezy lately.  I am glad we are up in the mountains because every day when we drive down the mountain we can see less and less of the city.  Some days it is completely full of smoke.

I started taking photos of Marlin's baby belly today.  Honduran women don't take pictures of their bellies growing, so although I had been talking about it for months, she was a little bit uncomfortable about it.  I promised her I would only show Lourdes and my Mom.  I told her we have to take a picture on the 22nd of every month.  She thinks I'm nuts, but she is really my first close friend who has been pregnant so I am excited to experience this with her.  I think she goes along with it to make me happy.

So, you will not see a picture of Marlin's baby belly, but I think you will like this more:

Jarvin found these glasses while we were cleaning.
He asked if he could take them home.
We told him please do.

Joss asked if I am scared to drive here.  I told her I am, but I am also ready to try.  I would be crazy if I weren't a little nervous.  Driving here is like nowhere I have ever been on earth.  Certainly like nowhere in North America.  I do have some peace knowing that if I ever got into a car accident I can stay in my car and call the insurance company/AAA people.  And Jairo.  Tomorrow night at this time, God willing,  my car will be parked in my driveway!

Sending love and happiness - from the white girl

The kids had to get their foot measured today so that the First Lady can have the correct sizes to buy new shoes for them.  Not many showed up today, so we'll have to measure the rest on Monday.  They had a field trip to a museum.  I am happy they have opportunities like that.  It is also great that their teachers are showing up every day.  I mentioned the teachers' consistent attendance to Jairo and he explained to me that if they don't show up to work they will get fired.  Well, if that's what it takes I support it.  There is a huge difference between this school year and last year.  They actually have school every day!  Last year they were lucky to have school 3 days per week.

Things have gotten even crazier politically here.  Yesterday the man who is charge of national finances (I don't know his official title in English) was killed.  He was requiring top political figures to show records of their earnings because they appeared to be laundering money.  Now he is dead.  It is really no surprise.  One of the most prominent tv personalities got on tv yesterday and said if you have children and you have a way to get out of Hondruas, leave now.  Everyone was shocked because he has always been really hopeful for the future of this country.  Now he is saying leave if you can.  Sad.

I had to do some paperwork for my car today.  I don't think I got it turned in early enough to get the car on Monday.  The lawyer who had my passport was not very cooperative.  But I should have the car on Tuesday!  Car paperwork in Spanish is a little confusing.  Thank God I had Eunice to help me.

I am getting excited about the car.  Today as we drove to the church I thought about what it will be like when I no longer ride with Jairo every day.  I have ridden with Jairo to the church about 6 days/week for over a year.  I like riding with Jairo.  I like hearing his advice and learning about what is going on in this country through him.  I should start buying the newspaper now to keep myself current on everything that is going on.  But it will also be really nice to be able to come and go on my own schedule.  I have almost forgotten how to do things on my own schedule.  Everything I do depends on when someone else can help me do it.

Today Marcela brought me home after the Breakfast Program.  We stopped and got liquados (Honduran milkshakes with your choice of fresh fruit).  Yummm!

Afterward I skimmed Facebook for a while.  A lot of my friends are struggling right now.  On Monday, a few hours before everything happened in Boston, a girl I grew up with died after being hit in a car crash.  Then everything started in Boston and the craziness there still hasn't stopped.  It feels good to be physically removed from that.  I can turn on the tv and see NO reports about it.  It was on one page of the newspaper.  But it is not so overwhelming.  I think because I am not so overwhelmed by it, I am able to be more supportive of my friends who are sad.  While Facebook is a silly thing, it is my main means of contact with friends in the US.  I posted some cheerful photos of the kids from the Breakfast Program today in an effort to lift the mood.

This morning my phone rang at 7:11 a.m.  I was sound asleep.  I had no idea what time it was.  In Honduras the sun goes down at between 5-6 p.m. depending on the time of year.  People tend to go to bed earlier.  But the sun comes up at 5:30-6 a.m. so people get up earlier.  They find it very strange that I sleep until 7 or sometimes even 7:30 (gasp!).  Anyway it was Marcela's Aunt inviting me to a birthday party for her husband Jerry on Sunday.  Jerry is my landlord, Carlos' brother.  He and his wife and mother live on a separate part of this property.  They are really kind to me and I enjoy their company, so I am honored and excited to go to the birthday party Sunday.  See?  I am really fitting in here!

One final thing.  Sometimes I forget that I am not Honduran.  Especially lately.  When I first got here I would walk through the store and feel different from everyone - more white, like everyone knew I didn't really belong here.  But I haven't felt that way in a while.  Last weekend we went to the pool, so I have a pretty dark tan.  In the US I have always had darker skin than most people.  I think of myself as having dark skin and dark eyes.  Until I see photos like this:

I love it!  Boy am I white!

Well, it's the weekend.  I am going to make beans tomorrow and probably some cookies too.

Sending love to my friends who are hurting in the US.  Thinking of you and praying for you.

 Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. 
Where there is hatred, let me sow love; 
Where there is injury, pardon; 
Where there is doubt, faith; 
Where there is despair, hope; 
Where there is darkness, light; 
Where there is sadness, joy. 

Teamwork

The fires across the street have been burning for a week now.  Yesterday they burned down an old forsaken barn.  I think otherwise the buildings have been safe.  Every day we pass and see more little patches of fire.
Today there were more fires in the valley as well.  It rained for about five minutes.  I was hoping it would rain more.  Yesterday was 98 degrees so the rain and chilly air felt nice.

Today I got a ticket to go back to the US in June.  I have been checking daily and today ticket prices started to skyrocket so I talked to my Mom about it and decided to buy one.  After I bought the ticket I was more excited than I expected to be. It will be awesome to see friends and family!

At the Breakfast Program instead of asking for prayer requests, today we had a day of thanks.  It was cool to think about all of the ways that God has answered our prayer.

I might be able to go to Nicaragua with a team of translators.  That would be super cool.  I've heard that Nicaragua is the most beautiful country in Central America in some people's opinion.  Also, it could be a paying job!  I'm not sure about that part.

It seems that I will get my car on Monday.  There are still some papers to fill out.  The people have to inspect the car before they give me insurance.  Also the IRS has to fill out forms.  But that should all be done by tomorrow!  I am excited to have some freedom, to be able to go grocery shopping without asking someone to take me.  It will be nice to come and go from the church on my own time.  I am even excited to park in my driveway, as silly as that sounds.  I am really, really grateful that Jairo drove me around for more than a year.  He has been wonderful to me.  But I am ready to be independent now.  Joss asked if I am nervous about driving here.  I am a little nervous, but less than I used to be.  I know the streets better now and with the AAA coverage I feel more comfortable too.  The drivers here are crazier than any I have ever seen in any other place in the world, but I am as ready as I'll ever be.

An anthropologist proposed a game to the kids in an African tribe. He put a basket full of fruit near a tree and told the kids that who ever got there first won the sweet fruits. When he told them to run they all took each others hands and ran together, then sat together enjoying their treats. When he asked them why they had run like that as one could have had all the fruits for himself they said: ''UBUNTU, how can one of us be happy if all the other ones are sad?'' 'UBUNTU' in the Xhosa culture means: "I am because we are"

I would love to figure out a way to get the kids at the Breakfast Program thinking in this manner.  Right now they are so used to fighting for everything they have.  They are not used to working as a team.  I talked to Lourdes about it and I am going to look into more teamwork games and projects.  The idea of fighting to survive is so deeply ingrained in them, it will be a hard mindset to change.  But imagine if they worked together!

They already do in some ways.  We need to complement them more about the ways they DO work together now.  Yesterday Daniel came to the office upset.  He said that he had yanked one of the girls away from a man who was trying to lure her with candy and cell phones.  We need to emphasize that kind of positive behavior more, instead of standing there aghast when the kids tell us stories like that, which is my natural reaction.

If anyone knows team building activities that would work for all ages, I would love some ideas.

My Car Found Me!

 I am finally buying a car!!!  The whole story is so incredible.  There is NO DOUBT this is the car God wanted for me.  AND it's a car I love!

Car shopping has been going on for so long I can't even remember all of the details, but basically Jairo has been searching for a car for me since July 2012.  His friends bring cars to the church for me to look at.  We all agree there is one problem or another with each car and decide it is not the car for me.  Samuel Wood was helping me to look over the cars because he knows about that stuff.  Finally he said let's go to an agency (dealership).

On the day he took me shopping he had gone earlier in the morning and scouted out 3 cars he thought I would like.  We went to the first place and he started walking over to the corner where 2 cars that he liked were, but I saw a different car.

The week before I noticed the same car everywhere I went.  It was a coffee colored Honda CRV.  On the Wednesday before I said to Lourdes' sister, Belinda, "I like that car.  It's a nice color."  On Thursday I told Josselyn, "Isn't that a nice car?  Do you like it?"  On Good Friday that same car followed Hermida and me everywhere.  In tiny little El Hatillo we saw it four times!   (Probably not the same exact car, but the same color.)  I told Hermida I think that car is following me!  I never noticed it before and now it has been everywhere I look for three days.  I did wish I could buy that car, but I thought it only came in new models and would be too expensive for me.

So Sammy and I are at the dealership and there is the car!  He had two different cars in mind for me to look at but I told him I have to  go look at this car because everywhere I go I see the same car.  I explained that I've been asking God for a sign when I find the right car, and this could be it.  He said okay.  We looked inside and I loved it, but I didn't test drive it because I didn't want to get attached to it.  He still had more places to take me.

We went to the next place where he showed me a Montero Sport, which I liked and it was cheap, but it uses too much gas and gas here is EXPENSIVE!  I told Sammy if I buy this car Jairo will kill me.  Then we went back to the office and Jairo said his friend had another car for me to look at.  His friend pulled into the church with the same car that was following me!  I couldn't believe it!  Turns out that car was a piece of junk.  It had been in a few bad accidents and the repairs were poorly done.  I could see the ground through the floor and the drivers' door didn't shut right so it made a whistling noise.  The whole car was out of alignment so much that the rear end was no longer square.  That was not my car.

Walter said he would take me back to test drive the first car I saw when I was with Sammy.  We got too busy that day and there wasn't time so he said on Monday we will test drive the car.  That was fine with me.  I thought if they sold the car over the weekend then it wasn't meant for me.

On Monday I decided I wasn't going to mention the car but Walter went straight to the dealership on the way to the church.  As we drove up we could see that the car was gone.  If I had been driving, I would have just kept on going, but Walter pulled into the dealership and parked.  We looked around and I confirmed it was definitely gone.  Then Walter went and asked one of the workers where the car had gone.  I thought to myself what a silly question!  They sold it!  This is a car dealership!  But no, they didn't sell it.  They used it as a loaner for someone because the gas mileage is so economical.  It wasn't sold!!!  So Jorge took my name and phone number and said he would call me in about a week when it came back from being loaned.  He was the same man who showed me the inside of the car the week before.

Then Jairo's friend brought a Kia Sorento for me to see on Friday.  I really liked it.  A lot.  I did research on line and read nothing but good things.  They said it was a gas guzzler, but this one was diesel, so it seemed perfect.  There was a noise that worried me and a couple of little things I would have to fix but nothing big.  I decided I would buy the Kia Sorento.   The agency told me I needed 3 years of residency in Honduras to qualify for a loan, so I couldn't get a car there.  This seemed like my best option.  Jairo's friend said he would talk to the owner and call me back in the afternoon, but he never did.  I figured the owner didn't want to sell it for what I could pay.

That night there was a conference at the church.  A church member asked me how the car shopping was going.  I told him I found a good car today, but it seemed like I wasn't going to be able to make a deal with the owner.  The man from church asked if I had tried any agencies (dealerships).  I told him yes, there is a car I really like at an agency, but it is a little more money than I have.   The man from church said he would co-sign for me to get a car and he would take me car shopping on Tuesday.  I was so happy and honored that someone I don't know very well would step forward and do that for me!

Tuesday morning my phone rang.  It was a number I don't know.  I NEVER answer numbers I don't know, but this time I had a feeling, so I did.  It was Jorge - the guy who took my name and number at the agency with the car that I loved.  He said the car was back and available for sale.  I explained I was going shopping with a friend and we may stop at that dealership today.

Jairo dropped me off to shop with the friend from church.  He said he has a friend who owns a dealership and he has been doing business with that man for a long time.  He really trusts the guy and knows the guy will give us a good deal.  He talked to the guy that morning and was told they even have a Honda CRV (which was the car I had loved this whole time).  He said we should go look at his friend's place first and if we don't find anything there are other places nearby.  I told him that Jorge had called me from the dealership and said that the car I loved was back on the lot.  We agreed that would be another option.

Do I need to finish the story?  The person from church and I were talking about the same dealership!  His buddy was Jorge's boss.  Jorge came and shook my hand, then later his boss came and shook my friend's hand.  We were all old buddies!  I test drove the car finally.  It was the ONLY car I drove that didn't have any funny noises.  My friend thought it was a great car too.  So we put money down on the car and got paperwork for a loan.

In Honduras - you know everything is different - the average interest rate is 18%.  That was a punch in the gut.  But everyone told me that it is just how things are here and I wasn't getting ripped off.  We took the paperwork home because other things have to be done here first - so we didn't actually sign the loan.

I called my Mom all excited because I knew God had chosen this car for me.  She was not as thrilled.  She told me I was crazy and almost hung up on me after she heard the interest rate.  Jairo kept asking why I let my Mom make me sad when I had been so happy.  Then I decided to apply for a loan in the US.  I thought I wouldn't qualify because I make so little money.  I don't qualify for a car loan because I'm not buying a car in the US, but I QUALIFIED FOR A PERSONAL LOAN!!!!!  So the money is already in my account.  My Mom isn't mad anymore.  In fact she actually went to the bank and helped with the paperwork!  Now we are just waiting for the IRS people to do some paperwork and then we can write a check for the rest of the money and drive away with my car!!!

Do you know that many loans in Honduras have 40% interest?????  Gosh!

I will get the car Monday or Tuesday.  I was a little concerned because car insurance here is expensive, but I knew I needed it and I knew I was following what God wanted for me.  Today a friend from Iglesia en Transformación told me that he and his wife discussed it and they want to support me.  They want to pay for my car insurance.  They chose really good covereage which also has the equivalent of AAA included - in case I get a flat tire, or lock my keys in the car, etc.  Can you believe that????

It was a long story, but I wanted you to know all of the details!  When you see a picture of me with my new car you will know all of God's work that went into it.  Walter stopping and asking where the car was and Jairo's friend not calling me back on Friday about the Kia Sorento.  (He called Saturday, Sunday Monday and Tuesday, trying to sell me the car but we never came up with a payment plan that would have worked for me. )  If Jairo's friend had called me back Friday, then when the man at the conference asked about my car situation I would have told him I already found one.  I think about the fact that I got the call from Jorge and my friend got a call from the owner of the dealership and we went straight back to the same car that God had been showing me all of those days.  It was all God's hand at work for sure!  And I really can't believe I got approved for a loan in the US.  But I did!  Thank you God!

I am still feeling more and more at home at the church here in Honduras.  Besides having a member agree to sign a loan for me (but he didn't have to in the end) and buy insurance for me, the whole church prayed for my friend who was hit by a drunk driver on Saturday.  She died on Monday.  I received a lot of support from the church members.  They sent emails and texts saying they would continue to pray for her family.  In the past two weeks many of them have asked me to be their friends on Facebook, which is silly, I know, but it feels nice.  I finally feel like I fit in and am really a part of things here.  I've been doing more translation for Lourdes and Jairo.  Lourdes says she doesn't know what she would do without me.  I know Jairo is appreciative too.

Monday, when my friend was killed by a drunk driver and the bombs went off in Boston I saw this.  I thought it was cool.

I want to make light in darkness.

Interesting turn of events

People are up early today.  The retreat center down the road had people playing fútbol until midnight and now someone has been playing electric guitar since 5:30 a.m.  I feel bad for all of the people who have to (try) to sleep there.  It's hard enough from here and I am pretty far away.

A fire started  down the road in the other direction 2 nights ago.  My neighbor told me about it.  We passed it yesterday morning.  She said the firemen were there all night.  They had left but it was still burning in places.  She said it was huge and crazy to watch at night from her house.  Last night as we drove home it was still burning.  Today I hear people shoveling.  I wonder if they are shoveling a sand barrier for the fire.  I can smell the smoke inside my house now.

We went to the church at 10 a.m. yesterday and left at 10 p.m.  Just as we gathered for the breakfast program Jairo's friend came to let me drive his son's car.  His son is out of work and needs to sell the car so it was a really good price.  I really like it and told him I wanted to buy it.  It seemed like the perfect car for me.  He said he would talk to his son and call me in the afternoon but I never heard from him.

Lourdes and I were brainstorming about ways I could pay for the car with the least amount of interest.  I was thinking of asking a friend in the US to either co-sign on a loan for me or loan me the money at a reasonable (for both of us) interest rate.  I was excited about the car and wanted to call my friend, but his phone number was not in my phone and the power went off at the church so I didn't have internet.  I told Lourdes - this is strange.  There is no power.  I have no way to reach my friend right now.  Must be I am not supposed to call him.  She said, "The power here goes out all of the time."  But I disagreed.  At home it goes out frequently.  In the past year it has only gone out once that I can remember while we were in the church.  She agreed it was strange timing for the power to go off.

Then last night at the conference I talked with a member of the church.  He told me that he will take me car shopping next week.  He said he will also sign for a loan for me!  He said I should only put down part of the money I have set aside for a car and save the rest in a special account for emergencies.  I was so surprised that someone I barely know would offer to sign a loan for me!  What a huge blessing.

Jairo wasn't surprised.  He said I should call his friend and tell him that I got a better offer from a member of the church.  So this morning, at an hour when normal people are awake, I will call him, thank him for his time, and tell him that I am going to look at other cars this week.  I don't think the son really wants to sell the car anyway.

Another cool thing happened yesterday.  We have prepared for several conferences and special meals over the past year.  Yesterday Jairo and I went shopping.  Then we came back and got down to business cooking.  I kept thinking about Thanksgiving when we cooked a similar meal.  I told Lourdes how different it felt to be in the kitchen yesterday compared to Thanksgiving.  On Thanksgiving I felt so out of place.  I didn't cut the cucumber the way they wanted it.  I put the tomato on the salad  the wrong way.  I felt like everything I did was wrong.  It was a horrible feeling.  Finally they assigned me to taking pictures.  I felt like that was the only thing I was capable of doing.  I felt like an outsider who was never going to fit in.

Yesterday was the opposite.  I had to ask a few questions, but I was as productive in the kitchen as any other person there.  The only thing I couldn't do was peel the potaste.  But everyone had a hard time with that, so I wasn't alone.  I helped Lourdes set up and decorate the upstairs for 60 people.  We received many compliments about how nice it looked and how great the food was.  Afterward the men cleaned up the chairs and tables.  I cleaned up all of the food.  But I didn't feel angry or frustrated about doing it alone like I might have last Thanksgiving.  I felt like part of the team who worked on the conference and I wanted to finish the job.  It is nice to really feel like a part of things.

We planned to go to the pool today, but Jairo has to go into the city really early before the pool is open, so I think we don't have a way to get there.  Disappointing but I am hoping we will come up with a Plan B.  Someday I will have a car.

A day of writing with Lourdes

My happiness carried over into today.  It was so nice!

Marlin and I were alone at the Breakfast Program.  Marlin's baby belly is starting to show!  The kids were really, really good at our group.  Three of the girls had a giggling fit right before we prayed.  Oh well, I was probably one of those girls more than once in my life.

Lourdes came as they were all leaving.  She made a point to tell me that she is much more relaxed these days because she knows that things go well when I am in charge and that every detail will be taken care of.  It felt great to hear that.  I know that things go well, but it is always nice to be told you do a good job and more importantly,  it makes me really happy to hear that Lourdes is able to relax.

We received a letter regarding the Sarmiento's hope to move to the US.  It required a response, which meant Lourdes and I spent hours at the computer this afternoon.  It is a good bonding time for us.  And we write in the same way, just in different languages, so we enjoy writing together.  We think we could write books or daily devotionals and make millions!

I am looking forward to trying out another car tomorrow.  It belongs to the son of Jairo's good friend.  He bought it brand new.  Knowing the history of a car is a BIG deal in Honduras.  It is also diesel, which is great here.  I think I have been doing a good job at being thoughtful and careful in this process.  In some cases there have been cars that I like and can afford to purchase, but that aren't practical for various reason such as gas mileage or upkeep.  I think Jairo understands that I am trying to be practical, not picky.

I often provide entertainment for people without knowing it.  Yesterday I forgot how to read in English - Jairo was still laughing about that today.  Today we were talking about the marriage conference tomorrow.  Jairo invited a boy who serves in the kitchen most days to attend the conference.  He knew that I would have no partner to bring so he announced that he was going to bring me.  He is really sweet, but I think he is about 21 years old.  He was joking.  So now everyone is teasing me that I have a date tomorrow.  I know he doesn't think of it as a real date, and both of us can learn about love and marriage.

:- )

Today was extra fun.  I was thinking about why it was such a great day and I can't put my finger on it, but that doesn't matter.

Today was Belinda's day at the Breakfast Program.  Things run smoothly with her there and it is calm and relaxed.

It was also Walter's birthday.  Birthdays here are more casual than in the US.  Not so many gifts, but a lot more phone calls and text messages and well wishes.  I asked if he had any special plans for his birthday and he said no, but seemed fine with that.

I helped Veronica, one of the moms of the breakfast program, do pages and pages of English homework.  I don't know how much she really understood.  I tried to teach her but there were so many pages and her daughter was crying.  I wouldn't call it a successful learning session.  At least homework is complete and correct.  I will sit down with her and work on it some more with her.  (Changing verbs to past tense and pronunciation.)

The kids were well behaved today.  I was in charge of shooing them off at the end of the day.  It took less effort than usual.

When everything was clean it was time for Belinda to go home.  Joss suggested that we all go with Belinda to watch a fútbol game.  In Honduras, because the Honduran team is not very good, the people here are fans of either Real Madrid or Barcelona in addition to the Honduran team.  Today Barcelona played.  We rounded up a group from the church and went to Belinda's house for the game.

Everyone screamed and cheered.  I was looking at the advertisements on the walls of the field.  They were in Spanish, which is why when I saw "No to racism" I was confused.  I was trying to understand what it meant in Spanish, not realizing that it was written in English.  After a half hour of pondering the word "to" and trying to figure out what Spanish verb it was, I finally asked Belinda.  I said to her in Spanish, "What does (I will write it phonetically) 'No tow..."  When it struck me tow was not pronounced tow, it was "TO" in English.  I started laughing so hard I couldn't finish what I was asking her.  Finally I explained to the whole room that I was laughing so hysterically because I had spent the past half hour trying to decipher a sentence in English!    "No to racism".  Not so simple when you try to read it in Spanish.  Joss and Belinda said, "Oh Mary Lynn" and shook their heads.  Joss laughed about it all night.  She said she will remember that for the rest of her life.

Belinda and I had a good ladies talk.  It was nice.  I always enjoy my time with Belinda.  She has been without a job for a long time.  We are praying that she will get a job she applied for at the private school in Olancho where some of the boys from the Breakfast Program are.  It would be so good for her boys to live in Olancho and it is a job she would enjoy.  We will miss Belinda if she moves, but it would be best for her family.

We got home kind of late tonight because Jairo is working on the marital conference he is giving Friday.  I am so excited to go to the pool Saturday!  Normally I would not be as excited because I am not feeling very fit right now, but instead I am exercising and well aware that I will not appear any more fit by Saturday.  Oh well.

So, as you can see, there is no real reason that I feel so happy.  But it sure feels good!  Can't complain when you are full of joy and laughter for no reason.  Better to be grateful and enjoy every second of it!

Crying, conferences, Canadians, cars and collars

I got up early today and did some laps up and down the driveway.  If you could see how steep my driveway is, you would understand why this is good exercise and why my legs are so sore from the laps I did yesterday.  I do lunges until I can't lunge anymore and then walk the rest of the way to the top.  Feels good to be exercising again.

Today was Lourdes' day back at the Breakfast Program.  She is adjusting to new medicine and expected to lie down for a minute, but she slept for hours.  The doctor told her this was a normal side effect to be expected in the beginning.  I couldn't believe she slept with Misael sobbing at the top of his lungs for 45 minutes.

When she woke up she said she felt comfortable sleeping that long because she knew I was taking care of everything.  Today was very calm.  Except for Misael crying.  His Mom often leaves him while she runs errands and Misael is normally fine.  But not today.  Ugh.

It was a hot one.  Little Camila, who is not two yet, fell asleep on the cement floor under a table - just like Violet used to a year ago when she was the same age.  My arms and face are getting brown.  It's that kind of heat that you can't stand to be in the sun for more than a minute or you feel like you are going to melt.

The lady who helps run Mar y Mundo from Canada came to the church to visit.  We haven't seen her since the day she brought her son Mateo home from the hospital.  I didn't want to hold him that day because I reeked of smoke from the fire at the church and I hadn't washed my hands.  She promised I could hold him another day.

Today I got to hold him and feed him a bottle and burp him.  Mateo is so skinny, but very cute.  And a good burper.  His mother is Canadian.  His Dad is Honduran.  Lourdes gave them a sling that my team made way back in 2008.  They were very excited to use it.  Strollers here are not practical because if there is a sidewalk, it is never smooth enough for a stroller.

We talked about how hot it is here.  Her Mom is visiting from Canada for three months.  It is so strange to think about the heat here when meanwhile friends in Colorado had a snow day today and Utah has the canyons closed.  I have a sun tan and it's not just on my nose and cheeks from skiing.

I was invited to a day at the pool on Saturday!  I am excited to go.  It will be especially nice since Jairo wants me to help out with a conference he is giving Friday night.  Friday will be a long day with the Breakfast Program all morning and the conference at night, so I will enjoy a relaxing day at the pool on Saturday.  I'm not sure why he wants me to take part since it is about marriage, but I'll be happy to go.  I am also invited to attend a big conference at another church with a world famous pastor from Argentina on April 24th.  Jairo said the man (I forgot his name) is one of Jairo's favorite speakers.  Sounds good!

Lourdes asked today how the car shopping is going.  I told her that I am really not sure what to do.  She encouraged me to take my time and not rush into anything.  I am still trying to think of ways to get a loan without a "paycheck".  I wonder what will happen.

I am thinking about putting Jetty in a collar and leash so she can go outside with me when I exercise.  I'm sure that would make some interesting conversation in my neighborhood.  But Jetty could use the exercise too.

Gosh these kids are adorable!

Today started the first week with Lourdes only working 3 days at the Breakfast Program.  Everything was calm and relaxed.  We had a nice day.  Lourdes' sister, Belinda, gave the lesson today.  She is good at teaching a large group and keeping them all focused.

These photos are from last week.  The Front Range Christian School Team brought a bag of crafts for us, but they weren't here to see the finished product.  All of the kids - boys, girls, little, big, loved making the crosses.  They wore them proudly.

Today I went to test drive the car that I have been looking at longingly for a week.  It was gone!  I figured it was sold.  I was okay with that.  It just meant it was not the car for me.  It was a great car at a really good price.  But Walter talked to the salesman who said that someone had bought a new car from the dealership and had a problem with the new car, so they were using the car I like as a loaner because it is economical for gas.

They said I should expect for the car to be gone for this week at least.  (It takes FOREVER for cars to get fixed here.)  But then I learned I can't buy it anyway.  I am a little bit short of money and the only way I can buy a car here is to pay in cash.  I could get a loan for the remainder of the money I need if I had a paycheck AND three years of residency.  Since I have neither, I feel stuck.  I have no idea how I am going to afford a reliable car.  Jairo says now is the time to buy because in June the prices go up, but I can't imagine how I will come up with more money by June.  I am praying about it!

It's hot here.  Today we were all dreaming about going to the beach.  Jairo and Walter said that Honduras has the most beautiful beaches in all of Central America.  I have yet to see any of them.  I was supposed to go once in 2009, but then all of the stuff happened with the president getting taken out of power and the roads were closed, so I couldn't go.  Jairo said we will go soon.

GO ORANGE!

Today is the final four for college basketball.  Syracuse (my alma mater) will play.  I haven't been following them like I used to, but I'm excited to watch the game tonight.  I decided this morning to make myself some special snacks.  So far I've made arroz con leche and cooked some peanuts.  The arroz con leche was the fanciest recipe I have ever used.  It was like making risotto.  I love risotto, but I can't say that in the matter of arroz con leche it was any better than the simple recipes.  I probably won't do it that way again.  I also have soy chips to fry as the time draws closer.  I am going to make nachos with my homemade refried beans.  I wish I knew others who would watch the game with me but it will still be fun.  Especially when SU wins!!!

I am starting to realize how much I missed cooking.  This week I have been cooking up a storm.  I used to cook a lot in the US.  I think when I first got here the food was unfamiliar and I didn't know how to make it. At the same time my friends didn't really like the kind of food that I cook.  So I kind of shut down on cooking.  That was a shame because cooking makes me happy.

Lately I have been cooking for myself.  If others like it, then fine.  But if they don't I am trying to be okay with that.  The fact is, we have different cultures and backgrounds.  We don't have to all like the same things.

Today one of the young ladies from the Denver team said she is looking into spending the summer in Tegucigalpa and helping out at the Breakfast Program.  As long as she understands the dangers of living in "the most dangerous region on earth" and the precautions she will need to keep herself safe, it would be great to have the extra help

Last night at 11 pm, I realized I had not boiled the refried beans yet.  Refried beans have to be boiled every day to keep them from going bad.  I was tired and ready for bed, but at the same time I didn't want the beans to go bad so I boiled the beans.  I should have let them cool longer, but I needed to go to bed.  I don't know how Honduran women cook their beans every single day.

Someday I would like to get a real stove.  One with burners that have temperatures other than "on" and "off".  One that fits a cookie sheet in the oven.  But in the meantime, I am having fun making do with what I have.    There are so many ways that I am extremely blessed and living in luxury.  I have no room to complain.  Sometimes making do it part of life in Honduras.

Have I mentioned that motorcyclists wear snowmobile helmets and ski goggles?  It cracks me up, but that is how they make do.