New Job, New Baby

This afternoon was the meeting at the school so I could meet with the director and talk about the class for the kids with special needs. My boss initially said she wanted it to be just her son. But I thought it would be even better if I could see the way her son interacts with his peers and she was talking about one specific peer that she really likes. So we decided that I would start out with those two kids.

Today the school director informed us that she sent a letter home to the parents and so far 22 kids have signed up for my class. I've spent time preparing for a group of two, doing more intimate activities, which are not even possible with a group of 22. (And there are more who haven't brought in their permission slip yet.

I am a little upset because they are missing gym class. The director of the school said that almost all of them have conduct disorder. Although she doesn't seem to have a clue about conduct disorder because she went on to say that they all act like their parents and that's why they are disrespectful and poorly behaved.

She basically told me I will have a class full of all of the kids who hate school, hate their teachers, think they know more than anyone else and are physically aggressive for no reason.

I just got home because I stopped at the hospital after the school. Erika's dad and boyfriend were waiting in a huge line to get a piece of paper. They said they had been there an hour and a half when I arrived at 3 p.m. Finally Erika's Dad got the paper.

I mentioned that I wished I had gotten water and Panadol for Erika. Immediately her boyfriend disappeared and came back with a bag of juices, ginger ale, and waters. He was physically exhausted after being up all night the night before and working all day. Erika's Dad, on the other hand, was excited and smiling. When he got the paper which would allow us to enter, they told him that Erika had a girl! That was a big surprised!! She had chosen Alex Isaias as his name and I got blue clothes and a blue baby blanket when I was in the US because the doctors said it was a boy.

Fany said this is a common mistake in Honduras because doctors mistake the male and female genitals at early stages of development. It definitely happens more here than in the US.

We waited in the second line for over an hour. People were screaming at the guard because he stopped letting people in unless they paid him. The whole front of the line got mad and left, which I thought was impressive. Usually I see people go along with corruption, not walk away from it. A few people even left the line, but stood and yelled, "We have sick family in there and you are doing something illegal. We have a right to see our family without paying your bribe."

Then the guard got really mad shut the gate completely. When he opened it he started only letting in the person holding the permission slip. Normally it could have been that person plus two. But after people yelled for justice that man wouldn't budge.

I tried to pretend I was an ignorant gringa, but he didn't let me get away with that. That's worked for me a few times at that hospital. Fany says my accent has gotten too good.

In the end, Erika's Dad got inside. People in the line were getting really mad because visiting hours were drawing to an end and they weren't able to see their loved ones. They were screaming at each other and pushing. I took that as my cue to leave.

I started walking to my car and came across her Dad standing by the fence. He passed me the note to get inside. I handed it off to Alex (Erika's boyfriend). He offered to let me go, but it's only fair that the father of the baby should go in before I do.

Tomorrow we expect Erika will get sent home. Her Dad said that he is the one who named Marjory. He was really proud and said a lot of people like Marjory's name, which is true. I asked him what ideas he has for this baby, now that we know it's not a boy. He said he will work on it when he gets home tonight. He was so excited it was super cute.

On the way home I stopped and bought $50 worth of supplies for the class. With 22 kids, we need to have a written list of rules and more things than I have lying around the house. I am feeling super broke after having to spent an unexpected $575 into car repairs. Hopefully both the school supplies and the car repairs will last a while.

Got to get to work figuring out how to entertain these kids tomorrow. Wish me luck and keep me in your prayers!

I'll let you know when I know more about Erika and her baby. I assume they are both well, since nobody called me after the visits.

1:53 a.m. Phone Call

Why am I awake at this hour? (It's 2 a.m. in Honduras.)

Initially I thought it was because the cat came and laid on my head, purring like crazy, which woke me up.

Then I got to thinking that my boss is picking me up in Villa Nueva tomorrow, but I am actually working in Flor de Campo, which is nowhere near Villa Nueva. So I need to get that straightened out.  But there is nothing I can do about that at 2 a.m.

At that point my brain was wide awake and I felt sweaty so I considered a shower, but knew I will never really get out of bed. Yet I was wide awake so I started to pray.

That was when I got a message from Erika's phone, calling me collect. Erika's boyfriend called to say that he just dropped her off at the hospital! Her contractions started getting stronger at 11 p.m. so he took her in a taxi to Hospital Escuela.

He said he and Erika are both calm because they are putting God first.

I am going to stop writing and pray for her, for every doctor and nurse that comes near her, and for her baby boy, who is about to breathe his first breaths in this world.

Good night. Heavenly Father, watch over Erika and her baby...