My Birthday - 2013

My birthday was everything a birthday should be and more.  I felt special and blessed and very, very loved.  We celebrated for 4 days!  Here are some highlights:

The coach from the swim team completely surprised me with a cake and Pepsi at 9 a.m.  He said that he sees how much the kids love me and think of me as a mother, so he wanted to give them the opportunity to celebrate with me.

They threw me in the pool

A hug from the most awesome coach ever

My cake!

Note the carmel fish in the corner  :)  AND it was one layer of chocolate!

Covered in frosting

Thanks girls!

My friend Ana and her baby, Isabela were there

Coach Fracisco Sanchez and me

 When we got back to the church Eunice and Walter had planned a second party for me!  So we had a second cake after the Breakfast Program was finished with the boys from El Sembrador, the ladies who work in the kitchen and their families, and everyone who works at the church.

My second cake!

Singing "Feliz Feliz Cumpleaños"

Walter said a nice prayer

Eunice praying over me.
Samuel looks so cute!

Happy Birthday to ME!

Ashley enjoying cake

Saturday we had a Thanksgiving dinner at my Carlos' brother's house. I cooked the turkey and all of the traditional side dishes.  I was surprised when Marcela came in with a birthday cake for me.  It was BLUEBERRY and very, very delicious!  We popped some sparking wine and celebrated my birthday, then moved on to Thanksgiving dinner.  It was a really fun time.

Carlos popping the cork

The birthday toast

Me with the ladies - Miljian and Hermida

Miljian hosted the party at her house 

Carlos' brother and sister-in-law 

Blowing out the candles of my blueberry cake

Sunday was election day.  It went smoothly and peacefully.  Nobody has officially been declared president yet because they are waiting for 10% of the votes still from voters in the US.  But the party who is currently in charge has the most votes and will win.  People are saying the vote was fraudulent.  I watched it on TV.  Everything I saw seemed very open and forthright.  But of course there could be things going on behind the scenes.  Personally, I think it's a case of sore losers.

There have been small protests, but nothing at the scale I saw in 2009.  Things could escalate when everything becomes official.  For now everything feels normal.

People are still wishing me a happy birthday and it feels really great to be able to say that I had a really special day.  It was definitely one of my very best so far.  Not just because of the cakes.  I truly felt special and honored.  I kept thinking, "This is how everyone should feel on their birthday!"  I'm grateful so many people care about me and take the time to say or do something to make me feel special on my birthday.  Thanks guys!

Swimming and Marisol

Sorry for the time between posts.  I miss writing each night.  Right now I can't afford a modem for my house.  Gym membership or modem?  I chose gym.  I've been running every day.  Tomorrow I will go to my first pilates class.  So far none have fit my schedule.  I am excited for tomorrow!

Today I am posting from the church.  Everyone else went to a funeral for the father of a church member, so it is quiet here.  I stayed in town and couldn't go to the funeral because I needed to go to the sports program with the kids.

They are learning at an incredible rate!  It is so interesting to watch them learn and to see them feel good about themselves.  By the end of the morning I am ready to change my name because of course, ALL of them want to show me what they can do.  They all yell my name and ask me to watch them.  My head is spinning in all directions.  I am so proud of them!!!  And better yet, they are proud of themselves.

It is really interesting to see how desperately they want to be there.  Sometimes it is really cold.  They have blue lips and their teeth are chattering after the first 15 minutes.  But they don't quit!  (Well, most of them don't.)  Sometimes what they are doing is really challenging.  The coach doesn't baby them.  But they don't give up!  Sometimes they are not used to discipline.  They are not accustomed to asking permission to go to the bathroom, or to wait their turn to climb up the ladder.  But they are learning quickly.  They actually seem to love the discipline.  I think they see it as a way we show them that we care about them.

The kids who struggle most with behavioral problems are trying SO HARD!  I thought a few might have a really tough time behaviorally.  They are so well behaved I didn't know it was possible.  Cristofer is thriving!   He went from being a tough street kid to a snuggly boy over the past five days classes.  About six months ago he told me that he prays every night that he will be good in school the next day, but he never is.  I told him to keep praying.  God will listen.

Last week on the bus ride back from the pool to the church I asked Cristofer if he has an easier time at school.  He smiled and nodded.  I said I see great improvement in his behavior.  I told him I remembered his prayer.  Now we can see that God answered him!  At the end of the week I called him to stand in front of the whole Breakfast Program and congratulated him for his accomplishments in swimming and his excellent behavior at the pool.  He was very happy.  This morning he came over to me shivering and wrapped himself around me.  (He must have forgotten his blanket from last week.)  I gave him a big hug and we stood that way until he warmed up.  That was one of the best hugs I have had in a long time.

Another boy is really hyper.  He understands that he has to follow directions in order to be part of the program.  I can see it is sooooo tough!  But he is trying hard to be on his best behavior.

Here are some photos from today:

Seryi and Ingris are excellent swimmers!

Check out the beautiful background

The younger group swimming laps

Relaxing after a long lesson

Today when I got back to the church I met Marisol.  During the preschool class she was quiet,  She didn't participate when we played Duck Duck Goose (or here, Pato, Pato, Ganzo).  I chalked it up to being her first day, and the fact that she is still very young.

When we sat down to eat she spilled a little so I held the bowl up to her chin and she started to just shovel the food into her mouth as fast as she could.  I have never seen anything like that.  It had to hurt her stomach.  I took the bowl away and asked her to drink some tea.  (It still drives me NUTS that we serve these kids tea, but it is the only affordable option I am told.)

She went back to eating really fast.  I told her there is more food if she would like it, but let's eat slowly.  I took the bowl and spoon fed her.  I was afraid at the speed she was going she would vomit!  Marisol ate 2 plates of food with two cups of tea.  It seemed like she could have eaten more, but I didn't want her to get sick.

Notice the distended belly.  And her eyes.

I asked around and found out she had an older brother with her.  He has come a few times before.  So I talked to him for a while, welcoming him to the program and telling him I hope he will come every day with his sister.  I told him that she seemed very hungry.  He said they don't have food at home.  At that point I decided he should talk to Belinda.

We all sat down privately.  Actually it was perfect because instead of being at her desk in the office, she was in the baby daycare room so they sat on a swing while she fed a bottle to Marlin's baby.  The boy said he is seven years old.  There is a one year old baby at home.  He said they are cared for by their Grandmother.  An uncle also lives with them.  They will not be coming back after today, he said, because the uncle is taking him to work in the mountains cutting coffee.  Belinda and I looked at each other in silent horror.  He was pretty excited.  I asked if he had cut coffee before.  He said no.   Belinda asked if he would be paid.  He didn't expect to be paid.

We encouraged him to come back to the church tomorrow and to bring his sisters.  But as he walked out the door I noticed he had on brand new rubber boots - just like all of the men who work in the fields.  My heart dropped another notch.

Marisol

At 2 years old, Marisol already knows how to wash dishes

My ducks

Let me quickly summarize the past week.  Friday was kind of a crappy day for me.  I was discouraged but also grateful to have a new stove.  Saturday was busy.  I had choir practice, then went to the gym.  I did a lot of praying and reading the bible that night about the situation that was causing my frustration.

Sunday people had plans to help me resolve the situation, but for some reason, it didn't feel right.  I explained that I was in prayer and that it felt like bad timing so they said fine.

That day was the first time that I really did not feel like being alone.  Normally I spend so much time alone that people who don't know me well get a little worried.  Wanting to socialize was a new feeling, but I knew it was also a healthy one at that moment.  So I called my neighbors/landlords and asked if I could use the internet from their house.  They said sure.  I confessed to Hermida that I was feeling like I wanted to be around people so she invited me to eat with them.

They had family visit and we spent the whole afternoon and evening together.  In the end we went to my house.  Hermida and I had tea while Carlos hooked up my new stove.  It was a really nice day.  There are a lot of great people in my life in Honduras, and God really blessed me with my living situation.  When my landlords tell me they want me to feel at home in their house, they really mean it.  I know I can always count on them.

Monday much of what has been bothering me resolved itself in a way I never imagined.  I didn't have to do or say anything.  God worked it out perfectly!  Yay!!

This week has been great!  Sunday at church Samuel asked me to help out with the sports part of the Plentiful Life Program.  So you understand, the Breakfast Program is one part of the Plentiful Life Program.  Samuel already had a group of 15 boys playing soccer as the sports division of the Plentiful Life Program.  Starting this week the kids have 3 months off from school so Samuel arranged for other kids to do more sports.  So now I am serving in the sports division too.  I absolutely love it!

I told Samuel a few months ago that I taught swimming for a long time, so he asked me to help out with the swimming classes.  But then it seemed like he didn't really need me anymore.  I was disappointed.  I had been really, really excited for this opportunity.  I saw it as God's plan for me.  I started teaching kids to swim when I was 13.  When I was 16 I officially became a lifeguard and taught swimming lessons every day all summer at a lake near my home.  Swimming has always been a big part of my life.  I am not the world's best preschool teacher, but I do know how to teach kids to swim.  To me, it felt like there was finally an opportunity for me to share/serve in a way which I am very competent.  Now it has all come to fruition.

The only hitch is that I have to get up very, very early every morning to be at the church at 7:15 a.m.  I hate getting up early.  But so far I have been so excited I barely sleep, so waking up has not been a problem.  Everyone says I look exhausted, but I feel great.

More importantly, the kids are having a blast!  There are 2 coaches who are really in charge once we get to the pool.  One of them is the most amazing teacher I have ever seen.  When the kids first arrived most were afraid to get into the pool.  Imagine...  They come from homes with no running water.  They are accustomed to bathing with a pail of water.  Submersion is a new experience for them.  They have every reason to be scared.  But within an hour and half this coach taught a group of about 10 kids to swim and even to dive!    He is really incredible.

The first day he said they would be swimming all four strokes by January.  I thought he was exaggerating at the time.  Now I am sure he is not.  He is a super good motivator and he makes everything really fun.  He learns all of their names and makes up sweet nicknames for some.  He runs a very tight ship, but keeps things positive too.  I really admire his approach, style, demeanor and knowledge.  I am grateful he is the teacher of the kids I love.

The kids and their coach!

Stretching.
The first day the kids had noodles wrapped below their chest and tied back with a strip of rubber from a tire.  What a great way for them to float with lots of room to move around!

It's chilly at 8 a.m. this time of year in Honduras.
Cristofer modeled a new look I had not seen at a pool before.

As you can see, we have a lot of great stuff going on!  I feel so blessed to be part of it - to see the smiles, to watch them learn and grow, and have so much fun while they are at it.  Every day their coach tells them he is proud of them.  I do too.  We talk about the fact that God loves them very much and God wants them to have these opportunities to learn and have fun.  This is only the first week.  It will be amazing to see what they are doing by January!

First day of class

Beautiful girls

Cindy leaned so quickly!  She always wears a smile.  So fun to see!

Little ducks on their first day at the pool

So, that is what I have been up to lately.  I don't have photos of the girls soccer team or the boys soccer team.  Next week we will have a tennis team too.  The kids from Los Pinos are getting out and experiencing the world around them.  They are getting a taste (literally) of "diving in" and achieving success.  If they are as successful in life as they are in the swimming pool, Honduras has a bright future!

Friday, November 8

Hello!  I am still alive and doing fine - just without internet.  At the church we have had intermittent access and at home it is out.  So...  I have some great photos to share with you of Marlin's baby, but no way to download them from my phone because I can't get into my email account.  You will see them someday.

This week I decided to join a gym.  It was a really good decision, I think.  I really don't have the money in my budget, but it is keeping me in a positive frame of mind so I am going to find other ways to cut back.

I think I also told you about my broken stove last week?  I tried to make a birthday cake for Misael, as I do every year, and the oven would not heat up.  So I spent the week searching for deals and found a good one.  A friend delivered it on Friday, but I still haven't been able to get it hooked up.  Here they sell stoves without the electric cord.  Don Juan and I spent half the day looking for electric cords so I could plug it in once I got it home.

Hello again

Hi folks!  Sorry, I know it's been a little while.  I firmly believe that this should be a place where you can come and enjoy yourself.  For a little while I was not in the right mind space to offer you that place.  I am not going to sugar coat things here.  It is a place where I will be honest.  So, I thought it best to take a little break.

In reality, the situation that is troubling me has not been resolved.  Know that I do have a lot of support, both here in Honduras and from my friends, family, and church in the US.  I am extremely grateful that people seem to see things the same way I do.  It is a matter of patience and letting things fall into place, I think.

Another stumbling point for the blog has been that I did not have internet in the church yesterday or today, and have not had internet access in home for a week or two.  Maybe this is God's way of keeping be silent while I didn't have much positivity to offer.

In any case I am back and feeling good.  I realized that there are several things I can do on a personal level that will not change the situation, but can change how I feel about it.  As a result, I joined a gym today!  This should help me get my sleep patterns back into shape instead of waking up every night at 2 a.m and fretting away the hours until morning.  It will also get all of those good chemicals flowing through my body again.

The gym is a little bit expensive ($42/month).  They don't have as many gyms here as in the US, so it costs more but I know that physical exercise will benefit my mental health greatly.   I will ask for your support - If you are able to help out with a monthly donation toward a gym membership, I would be really grateful!  The link is always at the bottom of the page.  I will also pinch pennies a little tighter.  I think this is an important and worthwhile investment.

Living in a place where I can't get out and do the physical activities I was accustomed to doing is tough.  Imagine if you could not walk outside of your house alone!  That is life in Honduras.  But this gym is safe and I really enjoyed myself today.

I may not be able to move tomorrow.  I swam for 1/2 an hour.  I did the elliptical for 25 minutes and then I took my first kickboxing class.  I always looked down on kickboxing after so many years of studying karate.  But the class was great exercise and I had fun.  Tomorrow I am looking forward to a pilates class.

So, step one, physical activity.  Step two, more cooking at home.

I tried last week to cook a birthday cake and my oven was broken.  No great surprise.  It has been failing for a while.  For the past week I shopped for ovens and found a store that had great products with really good prices.  Finally today I broke down and invested in a stove.  If I am going to exercise, I need to eat well.  AND my landlords extended family are going to join me in celebrating Thanksgiving!!!!!!  I am really psyched for this.  Carlos' brother and sister-in-law lived in the US and are looking forward to it too.  In fact, she is going to make the pies - the one area where I do not feel confident.  I am extremely excited to share a traditional Thanksgiving dinner!

Yesterday Marlin brought her baby to the church for the first time.  That was super nice.  Marlin was looking and feeling very weak when I last saw her Friday.  But yesterday she looked great!  That gave me a lot of peace.  I was a little worried about her.  The baby is still extremely healthy, with a huge appetite, and growing like crazy.  I have a bunch of pictures I will download as soon as we have internet at the church.

In the evening yesterday we had the weekly ladies meeting.  Last week it was about sexual abuse.  This week it was about self esteem.  I really enjoy our weekly meetings on 2 levels.  I am able to serve the mothers of the kids from Los Pinos because the women who are the leaders of this program always invite me to help them.  Also I learn a lot and can share my own knowledge/experience with the other women.  The coordinators are an interesting team of psychologists, pastors, teachers...  Last night after everyone left as we were cleaning up, they invited me to go out to dinner with them.  They made a point to say it would be very cheap (less than $3.00) and they would like me to come.  We went to a Chinese Restaurant (Chinese food in Honduras is more popular than McDonalds) and shared a delicious plate of fried rice with wonderful conversation.

The whole night was extremely enjoyable, but my favorite part was the ride home.  Jairo had a rule, which I have continued to follow, that I was not allowed to drive in El Centro (downtown).  Last night I learned part of the reason why.  The streets are old, narrow and twisty... and full of transvestites!  Okay.  They were not full of transvestites.  But I did see some.  I told the ladies, "This is quite an education!"  I always like an adventure.  The part that kept cracked me up was that I was there with Walter's mother and her friends.  Walter's mom is very conservative and proper.  I got my first taste of Honduran night life with her.

I guess that gives you a good idea of what has been going on.  Know that I do think of you often.  Every time I see something noteworthy I think, "I need to write about this in my blog!"  I hope to be able to be more regular in my posts.  Thank you for sticking with me!

What to do

Hey guys!  Welcome to entry # 400.

I am doing a lot of personal journaling right now.  Need to get my head in the right place.  Things are going well overall.  Just one sticky situation I need to work through and this public blog is not the place to do it.

Please pray that I take the right approach and that the final outcome is God's will.

Thanks.