One Year Anniversary Dinner

On Wednesday Jairo, Lourdes, Josselyn, Belinda (Lourdes' sister) and I went out to dinner.  A few weeks ago I asked Jairo if I could take his family out to celebrate the fact that I have now been in Honduras for one year and to thank his family for all that they do for me.  We planned to go to our favorite pizza place, which is really nice, but when we got there it was closed for Semana Santa.  I was really disappointed.  They asked where else I would like to go, but I don't know other places except chinese food.  I wanted somewhere special.  We drove around, but restaurant after restaurant was closed.  Someone suggested Denny's.  I kept my mouth shut and prayed (yes, I prayed we would not go to Denny's).  I really did not want do go to Denny's, but people here LOVE Denny's and since everything else was closed it seemed we may have no other choice.  We stopped at the stoplight by Denny's and turned the corner but Jairo drove past Denny's.  Phew!  He went to a gorgeous place he and Lourdes had never visited before.

When they told us to sit anywhere, Lourdes found a private room for us!

Delicious!

Me, Lourdes, Jairo, Josselyn, Belinda

Jairo asked this special opps man if I could have a photo with him.

The restaurant was called Haciendo Real.  My landlord's brother had told me it was a really, really nice place.  He was right!  We had an amazing dinner and really enjoyed each other's company.  It was a really special night.  We talked about the highs and lows of my time in Honduras.  We gave praise to God for bringing me here.  I thanked Lourdes for giving me feedback a few months ago that was a turning point for me.  Everyone agreed they have seen a difference in me since that talk.  They see me as more open and I feel more happy.  The Sarmiento family has been a tremendous blessing to me.  If I need to go to the store, if I need advice, no matter what, Jairo is always there for me.  We reminisced and laughed.  I felt very loved and expressed my own love and gratitude for everyone at the table.  We left with full bellies and full hearts.

In the parking lot there was a special forces military man standing outside to guard one of the people who was eating inside.  Jairo and I have a mission to try to take pictures of the military men on the streets.  We are not supposed to so we have to be sly about it.  But Jairo walked up to him and asked if we could take a picture with him.  He asked who would be in the picture.  When Jairo pointed to me, the man said, "Sure!"

I was surprised.  I stood next to him and he said, (in Spanish) "With the gun, or without?"  I told him, "WITH the gun!"  Jairo explained that in the US, people don't walk around with huge weapons.  He put his arm around me so I loosened up a little and we took a bunch of photos.  As we walked away, he and his buddy talked.  Then the friend said, "Wait!  You have photos of him, but he has none of you!"  So I went back and got my picture taken with his camera.  That was the ultimate topper to a great night.  We all had a super good time!

Second Day with Denver Team - visit to Los Pinos

Janell braiding Maria Angelica's hair

Even Violet got her hair done

So many fun hair accessories to choose from

Wendi looking pretty with her daughter Breyden

Kitchen Crew

Men at work

Keeping the rice from sticking is a 2 man job

Belkis getting braids

Nino praying

Angelica praying

Lorenzo found another lap

Kevin always sets a good example for the little ones

Even Camila got her nails painted

Angelica with her new dress, braids
 and painted nails

Delicious lunch

Sound asleep

After the team finished serving the kids and cleaned all of the dishes we served them lunch.  Then we all went to Los Pinos to visit two homes.  First we went to visit Marlin's home.  It was one room with two beds and a kitchen area.  We prayed over the family and gave them a gift basket of food which brought Marlin to tears of gratitude.

We took a bus to safely get as close as possible

Kenia and Vanessa's house

Lourdes and Marlin embrace after we prayed over the home

Marlin and her two children with the gift basket

I finally got to visit Marlin's home!

Then we went to visit Ubence, Christian, Lesli and Cindi's home where they live with their "Grandmother".  They are not related to their Grandmother by blood, but she took in the four children and their mother and gave them a place to live when they were homeless.  She helped their mother conquer addiction and hold a steady job.  We are so grateful for Grandma!

View of Los Pinos

The Team with Ubence's family

Christian, Grandma, Lesli and Ubence

Cindi must be hiding somewhere

Denver Team at the Breakfast Program/Set aside for a mission

First we had some free time for everyone to get to know each other informally.  Soccer, volleyball, jump rope and bikes.

Then the little kids were bathed, lotioned and dressed in new clothes!  The loved it!

Memo LOVED getting lotion on his belly!

Memo must have said something funny, as usual

Stopping to look at photos

Even the baths were fun!

Memo feeling great - clean, with ALL new clothes, inside and out!

The girls got their hair braided after they bathed

Then we gathered and the team introduced themselves

We sang

Then the team served the kids, and even washed the dishes afterward.

The kids felt every special

Can't forget to brush our teeth and take our vitamins!

Isabelle was thrilled to be reunited with Ever.
She didn't even recognize him in his special new glasses.

We closed the day with special time with Jairo
The theme was "Here Am I, Send Me"

Today was a really fun day.  It was HOT.  Like REALLY hot.  It's been close to, or over 100 degrees in the city for almost a week.  A few of the team members are sick, but they all showed up with smiles and a lot of positive energy.

We started with a time of prayer with just the team.  They are a group of high schoolers from a Christian school in Littleton, CO.  I felt embarrassed because I cried when it was my turn to pray for the team.  I asked God to keep their hearts open to all that the Holy Spirit might offer them. They are staying in the same place I stayed five years ago.  I keep thinking about how it felt to be in their shoes.  I never imagined that I  would be called here to serve.  I think about how that trip five years ago changed so many other women on my team.  Some of them are now my closest friends.  This is an important experience for the team.  I want them to get everything they can from every second that they are here.

Next we had some free time to play.  I spent most of that time running around helping out where I saw a need.  I stayed busy the whole time, but Lourdes is supposed to be teaching me how to lead the team.  I think maybe it is hard for her to let go.  I searched for everything I could see that needed to be done, but Lourdes still led.  At the end of the day she was exhausted and her back was hurting.  I asked her please to let me do more tomorrow so that she can rest.

The team bathed the younger kids.  I wasn't sure about that idea at first, but they LOVED it!  Each of them got a whole new set of clothes - even socks and underwear.  Then the girls got fancy braids in their hair.  I know they felt very special.

The kids all sat at tables covered in table clothes and were served pupusas by the team.  I heard a lot of kids say "thank you", which made me proud.  They are learning!  As they finished, the team cleared the dishes and washed them.  I am sure the children of the Breakfast Program are not accustomed to being treated as though they are at a full service restaurant.  They are usually so good about washing their dishes, it was nice to see them being treated to a special day.

After all of the kids left I got to sit and eat with the team.  Most enjoyed the pupusas, but a couple stuck to PBJs.

We ended the day with a presentation from Jairo.  He talked about the fact that each of the team members were called here for a purpose.  None are here by accident.  He talked about the community we serve and showed a video about "Here I am, Send Me".  He kept it short because it was very hot and some of the team were tired.  A bus came to the church and picked them up.  They were talking about going back to play basketball.  I think they are more likely to be taking naps :)

On the way home Jairo stopped at a shop to buy bread.  The shop also sells gelato, so I treated Lourdes, Joss and the translators to an ice cream.  It was delicious.  One of the translators said he had a headache from the heat, but the ice cream took his headache away.  (Jairo skipped the gelato because of his diabetes.)  We got home as clouds rolled in.  Then the thunder started.  I was hoping to relax and watch a few sitcoms, but the power went off right away and hasn't come back on yet.  I have learned to keep my phone and my Kindle charged for such times.  At least I can read for a while.

Yesterday at church Jairo's message was entitled, "Set Aside for a Mission".  First he talked directly to the team about them being in Honduras for a purpose.  He also talked to the whole church about how I was called here.  He told the church how I prayed for three years before I came in God's time.  He shared with them that yes, I coddle Carlos and I care for Lorenzo, but I am here for my own spiritual growth as well.  He told them about the life I left behind to come here - that I had a good job (my Mother might dispute that), a nice car, a great house.  He explained that I am not here just to pass through in my travels.  Jairo told the whole church that I was called by God to come to Honduras.  I felt really special.

I am starting to appreciate things more, like I used to when I first got here.  I think that I went through a few months that were difficult, trying to figure out where I fit in, who to trust, how things work in this strange place.  Now I feel like it is time for me to sit back and enjoy the ride.  I am sure I will face some more struggles, but I have a good support system.  I have learned it is important to address things more quickly and not let them simmer.

On Thursday, I will have been in Honduras for one year.  I look forward to the future with a renewed sense of energy, enthusiasm, and joy in my heart.  My faith in God has increased and I know He will provide exactly the experience that I am supposed to have in the days, months and years to come.  All I have to do is say, "Here I am."

Stuff

It was 102 degrees today at 2 pm in the city.  It was so hot, Lourdes told the kids to go home early and get out of the sun.  All of my friends in Northern NY got a ton of snow today!

Tomorrow Lourdes and Jairo will go pick up the kids at El Sembrador and bring them home for Easter Break.

Got some new medicine for my stomach that seems to be working well.

I'm working on this one.

Found my calling

Wore a pony tail today for the first time in 9 months.  Now that my hair is not falling out I can wear a ponytail again.

Spent most of the day writing emails for Lourdes.  I believe that being Lourdes and Jairo's voice in English may be a big part of the reason I was called to come here.  Although they speak excellent English, Lourdes prefers that I do her writing.  Actually we write together.  We make a great writing team, if I do say so myself.  We raise money for the boys to go to private school, we arranged their trip to the states last summer, and now we are asking for prayer as it seems they may move to the states soon.

I am a little nervous about the Sarmientos leaving.  I have been praying about whether or not I should be here without Lourdes and Jairo.  I have also talked with Jairo about my safety if he is not here.  Jairo said that as long as I keep the same schedule we have now and don't go downtown alone I will be fine.  In fact he said that with he and Lourdes gone, my presence here will be even more important.  They will need an English speaking person to lead any groups who visit and to maintain contact with the English speaking churches in the states.

Jairo says that tomorrow I will finally have my first opportunity to buy a car.  He says it's a good one!  Part of me is really excited to have some independence.  Part of me is worried about the additional costs of owning a car.  I am also nervous about driving in Honduras.  NYC, downtown Chicago and LA are a piece of cake compared to driving here.  It is completely lawless, and on top of that motorcycles wind their ways between the lanes and come out of nowhere.  I will need eyes in the back of my head and God by my side.  They did put in stop lights recently, but people are still learning to use them.  Honduras is a crazy place.

I spent most of the evening at Lourdes and Jairo's house.  We did more writing - this time for Jairo, ate dinner, and Skyped with friends from Salt Lake.  I was eager to get home because I wanted to make a special treat for Jairo as tomorrow is el dia del padre - Father's Day.  We didn't get home until after 9, but I did get the Key Lime Bars made before I crashed.

Stomach is feeling better.  It hurt a few times today, but is much better overall.  Good night!  Tomorrow I may be the proud owner of a new (used) car!

Happy Fathers/St, Patrick's Day

Today was a gorgeous day.  Nice and warm, even up in the mountains.  My stomach started out a little sore, but felt better after we went to the pharmacy and got some meds.

Tuesday is Father's Day in Honduras, so we celebrated Father's Day today at church.  Two teens got up and spoke about their love and appreciation for their fathers.  One was Aaron.  He was funny, but also very loving.  Carlos, my landlord, gave the message today.  He spoke about how to be a good father.  The fathers were asked to go to the front.  The church prayed for the fathers and the teens presented them with a small gift.  It was nice.

After church I was invited to go with my landlords' family to celebrate Hermida's father's 82nd birthday.  In the end we decided it would be best if I didn't go because they were serving bean soup with lots of meat, which would not be good for my tender tummy.  In Honduras it can be seen as disrespectful if you don't eat a healthy portion of food.  I didn't want to be disrespectful to anyone.  I think I could have gone and just explained, but...

After spending the afternoon home alone I realize I should have found something to do.  I got a little homesick.  Couldn't find any corned beef at the store, so I wasn't able to cook corned beef and cabbage for St Patrick's Day.  Usually I like to spend a lot of time alone, but today it got to be a little bit too much.

Then I got a visit from Mincho (nickname for Benjamin), my landlord's cat, as I was sitting on my balcony watching all of the tourists drive home from La Tigra.  Mincho has figured out how to jump onto the roof and climb onto the balcony where he sits and yowls.  Apparently Jetty is Mincho's new love interest, although I'm not sure why because Jetty is fixed.  After I got done soaking up the sun on the balcony, I went inside.  Mincho moved to the windowsill and peered inside to keep tabs on Jetty and me.  Mincho and Jetty often sit on opposite sides of the window screen and sniff at each other.  It is a peaceful exchange, so I have never deterred it.  But from now on I will.  After a few sniffs today Mincho turned around and sprayed into the window!  I grabbed some vinegar and a spray bottle and chased Mincho away.  Now I know why it smells bad near the windows downstairs.  I'll clean them up tomorrow.

I can't go out there tonight because of the fleas and ticks.  I showed Marcela some crazy bug bites I've been finding since Thursday.  She asked if I've been walking outside.  I said yes, to take out the garbage.  She told me that I am being attacked by ticks or fleas when I take the garbage to the place where it is burned.  She said she has the same problem but nobody else in her family is sensitive to it.  She told her father and he said they will fumigate the outdoors this week.

Today I took out the garbage after church.  I dressed in socks, tucked my pants into boots, then as soon as I got back into the house I stripped out of my clothes and showered.  I don't know how else to keep from being eaten by the bugs.  Of course an hour later I discovered that I had forgotten to empty one garbage can.  I'll take that one out tomorrow when I scrub around the windows.  Then I will shower and check myself for ticks again.