The first time I went to the dentist in Honduras, they told me I had ELEVEN cavities! I totally freaked out. In my whole life I've only had 2 cavities. Six months in Honduras and I had eleven cavities? Three days later I saw a dentist in the US. They said I had no cavities, but I needed a cleaning. (The Honduran dentist had just cleaned my teeth three days before. I wondered at the time why it hadn't hurt a single bit.)
In March I will have been here 4 years and there are some exams I haven't had a single time. My glasses and contact lenses no longer work.
At the English speaking bible study I've been talking to the ladies about what they do for glasses and contacts. They all have connections in the US. So I asked my Mom to help figure out the cheapest route. Should I trust Honduran eye doctors?
My wrist doctor is first come, first serve. Normally I arrive an hour early. That left time to visit the eye doctor in the same building last week. Doctors don't do appointments here. The good news is, the exam only cost $10. But I wasn't comfortable with the results. It seemed like the prescription he wrote was not right. And glasses were going to cost $600.
I went to two other places last week and looked for frames. But I couldn't find anything I liked.
Today after bible study I got a second opinion on my eyes. This doctor did more exams and I felt comfortable with his opinion. I looked at every pair of glasses in the store. It was a big store in the mall with hundreds of frames. Not one frame fit my narrow face. I couldn't believe it. The skin behind my ears was sore from trying on glasses.
There was one pair that was okay, but they cost over $600 for the frame alone. I couldn't spend all that money. Especially for glasses that I didn't love.
After an hour of trying on frames the woman who was helping me started talking on her phone and stopped helping me. I paid my $10 for the exam and left, feeling frustrated. Across the hall was another store full of glasses. I felt a little guilty, like I was betraying the first store, but snuck inside.
The lady came over and I explained my problem. She gave me one pair that was too big. I told her I don't think they make glasses for my crazy face. Then she walked across the store and picked out a different pair. They were perfect! They looked nice and felt comfortable. AND best of all, they cost $100. YES!
All of the other places I had visited said it would be a month or more to get the glasses made because they are sent to the US for the lenses. Also there is no guarantee. If something is wrong I would be stuck with them. This place has their glasses made in Guatemala. It takes only a week and they are guaranteed! I was able to give them the prescription from the doctor across the hallway. I can pick up my new glasses on Tuesday, along with a free pair of contact lenses to try for a month. Exciting!
Now to find a dermatologist.
Yesterday when I got home I tried to mop. Unfortunately my mop broke. It took over a year to find that sponge mop in Honduras. Everyone uses string mops here. I can't stand string mops. I was so sad to lose my sponge mop!
Since I couldn't mop, I decided to cook some beans. The light on my Crockpot just blinked and blinked. No heat. My Crockpot was broken too. What a bummer! Crockpots are hard to find here too.
Today while I was in the mall for glasses, I looked for a Crockpot. They had six kinds of rice cookers, lots of pressure cookers, tons of blenders and pots and pans, but not one Crockpot. There is a second hand store in a shady part of the city. That's where I found my last Crockpot, my electric heater, and Chutes and Ladders for Laura (all things that are hard to find in Honduras). Today they had Chutes and Ladders and coffee makers, but no Crockpots. They said maybe the first week of December. I'll be in the US.
So, that will be my next quest in Honduras... To find a Crockpot.
I talked to Erika's Mom today. Marjory is feeling better already. No more diarrhea and she is eating food.
After getting home I walked over to the next community to buy an avocado. I love living in a place where when you buy an avocado (for 50 cents!) they ask, "For today? or tomorrow?" Fresh ripe avocados are the best!
Here are some photos I forgot to share from Fany's birthday and from church on Sunday:
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| Worship |
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| Kids in worship |
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| The bus we rent to bring most of the church members to church |
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| The man in the stripped shirt is blind He crosses a river (no bridge) each week to get to church He missed a few weeks recently when the river was up to his chest |
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| This is Alan He was my partner for evangelism. He is an inspiration for the youth and adults alike. |
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| Praying for Pastor Paysen before the message |
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| Pastor Paysen sharing the message "CSI Jerusalem" |
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| Fany and her birthday flowers |
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| Laura is mad because she wants to hold her doll in the photo |
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| Happy girl |
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| Beautiful cake |
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| Laura and Daddy gave Fany flowers for her birthday |
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| Happy family |
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| Friends |
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| Birthday Dinner |
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| Laura adores her cousin |
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| Painting on the way home "Don't leave for tomorrow the kisses you can give today" |
