Saturday Swimming with the kids - Week 6

Saul!

Paola and Jose
Little Jose is in the big kids' group - he's only 7!

Maykol always dazes out on the bus

Guillermo leads the kids in stretching

Saul working on breast stroke

I adore this photo of beautiful Maria Angelica

Today was Johanna's first day.  She did great!

Paola is so excited to learn to swim!

I don't know this little boy, but it's such a cute photo!

The older group making a star

Michell worked really hard today!

Michell worked so hard she got a cramp.
But the coach helped her work it out.

Things to come

Well, I knew it would happen.  I just wondered how long it would take.  This morning my laptop slipped and the top left corner broke off.  My HP computer fell like that a million times and nothing happened, but this computer is obviously not well made.  I got it online.  If I had known how flimsy it is I never would have bought it.  So, in case you ever consider buying an ASUS computer, don't.  The screen bends if you touch it and every time I tap the mouse pad the whole thing sounds like it is going to fall apart.  At least it still works.  For now.  Seems like I only have good luck with HP.  My Acer was a piece of crap too.

Buuuut otherwise, this has been a good week.  I am starting to get ready for my time in the US.  Making lists of things I need to pick up while I'm there.  Nature Made vitamins (the cheapest grocery store brand in the US) are $35 for a bottle of 30 multivitamins in Honduras.  I can find them in the US for $7.99.

Things are going to be different for me when I return to Honduras after visiting the US.  I am going to teach English and help out with different aspects of the church.  I am not sure of the details yet, but I am excited and ready for a change.

One of the coolest things about this whole change is that I know it was completely from God.  On Wednesday there was a church leadership meeting.  The same day I also had a meeting concerning the Breakfast Program.  When I left my meeting we had come to the consensus that I should pray about whether God wants me to continue working with the preschoolers or focus more on teaching English.

The logical path seemed to be teaching English.  The kids have no clue how to do their homework.  They fill in the blanks but they have no idea what anything means.  There are many people who are interested in taking an English class whom I don't currently tutor, so there was the possibility that it could be a full time thing.  But I also knew I had to follow God's will for me, and I had no idea what that might be.

I prayed and prayed.  I only slept a few hours.  I didn't feel anxious, I just felt the need to pray.  The only response I kept getting was that the decision would not be made by me.  I kept feeling that my ideas and my thoughts really didn't matter because it was all in God's hands.  That gave me a lot of peace.  I didn't have to weigh out the positives and negatives.  I didn't even have to think about my options.  I only had to pray to God and ask what He wanted me to do.

I reached out to a very few people and asked for support in prayer.  That was very helpful.  Prayer was my only recourse, but I was not alone.

I talked to my landlord and she prayed with me on Wednesday night.  She also advised me to speak with Walter, who is in charge of Buen Provecho.  It was a wise idea, because it was possible that he might not want an English class in the church.  So the next day I met with Walter.

I explained to Walter that I met with the ladies the day before and we came up with the idea that maybe I should teach English.  I told him that I was praying about it and really had no idea what I should do.  I started to ask him to join us in prayer, but he stopped me.  He said in the leadership meeting the day before they decided I will be teaching English and helping the church in other ways too as soon as I get back from the US.  He hadn't had a chance to tell me yet and the details are not finalized.

The fact that the leadership came to the same conclusion we reached in our little meeting gave me a lot of peace and made me realize that God was guiding us all in the same direction.  I am excited to see how it is all going to turn out.  It feels like I am about to enter a new phase of my life in Honduras.

Today I was reminding all of the kids to be at the church tomorrow morning at 7:15 for swimming.  Last week was a little chilly and was also the first time the instructors had some of them swim without the flotadors.  It was the biggest challenge they have faced so far.  A few of them came to me over the course of the week and said they would not be able to swim this Saturday.  I doubted their excused but never said a word

Today we all sat down and had a talk.  It wasn't planned, we just happened to be together.  We said that some weeks will be cold, and sometimes the teachers will teach things that feel scary at first.  But if they miss a week of swimming they will fall farther and farther behind.  So if they really want to learn to swim they need to come every Saturday unless they are in school.  I know they all really want to learn to swim.  I told them I am going to pray that their other obligations disappear, so they can swim tomorrow.  Suddenly they all agreed that they wanted to pray the same.  I have a strong feeling that most of them will be there tomorrow.  I don't think they really had obligations.  I think they were at a scary place and needed a little pep talk to move forward.

In the middle of our talk Maria Angelica leaned forward and whispered in my ear that she loves me.  THAT is why I am serving in Honduras.  I know she doesn't get a lot of attention at home so I have been consciously trying to spend time with Angelica and give her positive attention.  Today we looked at photos on Facebook of her and the others swimming.  She also was adjusting my earring.  Some of her friends told her not to touch my earrings, but I told her that it was fine.  So she adjusted the other side too.  And told me my dress was pretty.  It sounds like nothing - that she adjusted my earring.  But for Angelica, any form of touch and positive interaction is important and precious.

I notice since she started swimming her personal hygiene has changed dramatically.  In order to swim the kids have to bathe before they go to the pool.  Today we were talking to 3 new girls who want to join the swimming program.  I was going over the rules and she told them they have to bathe at home before class.  Since swim classes began, Angelica comes to the Breakfast Program clean every day AND with her hair combed.  (Let me tell you, that is a big deal.)  Today she looked absolutely beautiful in her school uniform.  I am constantly surprised and amazed to see the way that swimming effects so many other aspects of the kids' lives.

Last week when it was so cold several kids were shivering as soon as they got in the pool.  I asked them individually and subtly if they had breakfast.  Each of them said no, they had not eaten.  I asked if there was food in the house.  They said no.  I told them if they don't have food in the house they need to tell me on Friday and I will bring food for them on Saturday morning.  Tomorrow I am bringing breakfast for Angelica at her quiet request.  I am going to make a bagel with egg and cheese.  I hope she likes it and knows it was made with love.

Maria Angelica in a bathing suit for the first time.

Taking the leap and leading the less brave
So proud of this girl!

Yesterday I taught the first Pilates class to the ladies who volunteer at the church.  I have been wanting to do this for 2 years!  We all thought it went really well.  The ladies had a few sore muscles today, which to be honest I was hoping for.  No injuries, but sore muscles.  The ladies seemed to feel proud and happy.

Last week on Friday we had a salon day.  We will have Pilates every Tuesday and Thursday.  Today we had another salon day (that means we paint each other's finger nails after the Breakfast Program).  We also had a birthday party for Jacky.  I made a cake and we had a nice prayer before painting nails.  I really enjoy sharing my nail polish and my knowledge of how to be healthy with the ladies who want to learn.  It is fun to have lady time!

I am happy and blessed and very much looking forward to the future!

4 a.m. wake up

Last night Jetty started in with the bowl banging at 4 :30.  I jumped out of bed and stuck the food dish on the bottom rung of my nightstand, prayed it wouldn't fall off, and went back to bed.  The last thing I heard was happy lip smacking.  I got the best night's sleep I have had in months!

And the sun is out today.  It has been raining for a while - ever since I said it had started to rain.  Everything turned from dust to mud.  But today there is sun.  Yay!

Time to do some laundry and take advantage of this precious sunshine.

Hips don't lie

Today started with me sucking up my pride and thanking someone for something they did which was really thoughtful.  It would have been easier to say nothing at all, but it felt good to do what was right.

One of the high school boys had to translate a list of 20 English words to Spanish and asked for help with his homework.  I gave him my Spanish/English dictionary.  He had no clue how to use it.  I'm not even sure he understands what alphabetical order is.

The other kids kept jumping in and doing the work for him if I allowed them.  That is something about Honduras that drives me nuts.  I see parents constantly doing their child's homework for them instead of with them.  Older siblings do the same for younger siblings.  And smarter kids for slower kids.  So nobody ends up learning.  After writing out the 20 words in Spanish the boy announced, "She made me look up every single one."  I told him, "Yes.  That is how mean I am."  He laughed.

The kids were all in one big group together today, but we did have lunch as a class in the preschool room.  Today was pancakes.  I cut one of the kids pancakes because they were eating slowly.  Then all of them wanted me to cut their pancakes.  I cut pancakes until my hand hurt, which the kids found hilarious.

Violet is getting so grown up.  She is quite a character.  She keeps talking over me lately so I asked her to listen when I talk and told her I will listen when she talks.  She spent the rest of the day putting her ear directly up to my mouth every time I spoke.  At first I was confused as to why she kept sticking her head in my face.  After I figured it out, it was really funny.  After she got done eating Violet gave us a ballet show.  Violet's ballet is sticking her leg out to the side, then sticking it out to the back, then twirling around.  It was pretty darn cute.

Milagro told me a story about her little brother and her baby sister.  Milagro used to be really shy.  She is not shy anymore.  One of the class's favorite thing to do is tell stories.  Milagro joins in with the best of them.  It is hard to pay attention to all of them.  Today Milagro was so animated it was hilarious.  I could see the influence of her older siblings in the way she cocked her head and opened her eyes really big to make a point.  They are all growing up so fast!  I was laughing inside my head, but listening seriously on the outside.

Apparently Milagro has some sort of a small pool at her house.  Her two year old brother can swim in it if the water is really shallow.  Milagro swims in deeper water.  Milagro said that some days her brother can't walk because his foot hurts.  I asked why and didn't understand her answer.  I was something that happened to her brother and the story included her mother and a stick.  When she realized her older sister had appeared in the doorway she got really quiet and looked uncomfortable to be sharing the story so I didn't ask questions to clarify what happened with her mother and the stick that makes her brother frequently unable to walk.

Eunice asked me to translate a newsletter for her tomorrow.  That will be fun.  I haven't done any translation since Lourdes left and it is something I enjoy doing.

On the way home I stopped at the gym.  The treadmills and ellipticals were both all being used so I lifted weights but didn't do any cardio.  When I went downstairs there was a dance class that I have watched before from the sidelines.  I have always wanted to join in, but never had the guts.  I just don't have the hips these Latina women have.

Usually I take a kickboxing class.  Kickboxing is totally within my comfort zone because I took karate for a long time.  But there is only one kickboxing class each week.  I'd like to have more options.  There are a million dance classes, I'm just too scared to take one.  Even in the US I never dared to take a dance class to exercise at the gym.

Suddenly I had a flashback to one of the karate tournaments I competed in when I was about 16 years old.  I really thought I could win.  But I didn't even place.  I was really confused.  Afterward my mother told me I looked like I was dancing when I did karate in the competition.  In my mind what I heard my mother say was that I was flouncing around like a wimp.  I was not tough and precise like a person should be in a karate competition.

Finally I thought to myself, it's now or never.  I was on the dance floor before I had time to second guess myself.  Can't say I was great, but I didn't embarrass myself.  It was really fun and I did better than I expected.  It felt great to get out there and just move, even if I wasn't the best.  I am already looking forward to my next dance class.

4 a.m. routine

Every morning between 4:15-4:30 a.m. I am awoken by my cat.  First there are the licks.  And Jetty is not a gentle licker.  Her licks hurt!  She licks anything that is not covered by a blanket so usually arms first and then my face.

Once I am completely hidden under the covers she tries another tactic which she knows will be sure to get my attention.  She climbs on every piece of furniture and knocks everything off.  I have found ways to cat proof my night stand, but the bookshelves and tv stand are her favorite 4 a.m. stomping grounds.  If there is anything breakable there, she is sure to break it.  This means a 4 a.m. glass cleaning session for me.  I am soooo fond of those.  We've already had one this week.  She is also good at spilling juice on my bed.  I love cleaning cranberry juice off the wall, floor, bed frame and sheets at 4 a.m. in order to prevent the inevitable ant invasion which would come if I waited until a decent hour to clean.

Once everything has been knocked off the shelves and tables she moves on to her third and final favorite 4 a.m. game.  She thumps her metal food bowl on the tile floor.  Depending how deeply I am sleeping at that point I either yell at her, or lie there and hope she will stop.  But it never does.

I realized a while ago that the noise comes from her using her paw to rake at the floor around her food, as if she were in her litter box and trying to cover her food with kitty litter.  The thumping is her lifting the food dish and it clacking onto the floor as she rakes, rakes, rakes at the floor.  I've tried putting towels under the bowl.  Doesn't help.  Last night before bed I got on my hands and knees and scrubbed the floor around the cat food dish.  It was clean at 10 p.m.  At 4:22 there was the daily clack, clack, clack of the food dish.

Recently I discovered that if I get out of bed and move the dish to a different location she will usually calm down and eat.  So this morning after a couple of minutes of yelling (I don't know why I still think after months of this that yelling is going to do anything) I finally dragged myself out of bed and moved the dish 2 feet from its original location.  Then I climbed back into bed and heard her happily smacking away at the food.  Why it is inedible in the first location and fine in the second, I have no clue.

Some night I will just get up and move the food as soon as the licking begins.  Maybe tonight.  But for now I am lying here awake and Jetty is next to me, with a full belly, content and sound asleep.

Flying Man

I had to deal with a bunch of crappy things today, but I didn't let any of them get me down and I am still feeling chipper.

I had an extra long class with the preschoolers.  Got some paperwork done within a 1/2 hour of being asked for it.  Received a nice note from an unexpected source.  Did some overall organizing to set myself up for success in the future.

Followed the flying bike guy down the mountain today.  Friday he angered me because he rides down the center of the lane, no handed, with his hands in the air like he is flying and nobody can pass him.  Plus it seems for sure like he is going to kill himself.  Today I enjoyed his flight.  I think he might do it daily.

The oil in my car needs to be changed, but since the bank has all of my money "on hold" and won't let me access any cash, I am waiting.  I could pay over $50 at a place that accepts credit cards.  But I'd rather wait until this is all straightened out and pay my mechanic in cash to do it for half the price.

I also have to renew my residency card within the next ten days.  The stupid bank still can't tell me why they placed a hold on my account.  All they keep saying is maybe I tried to use the wrong password too many times.  But I don't remember ever trying to use the wrong password at all.  I can't wait until the day that USBank no longer has a penny of my money.

Here's a picture of the flying man.  It's the best I could do while driving.  Bystanders enjoy him too.  When he is not flying he is in what a skier would call "tuck position" trying to pick up speed after the sharp corners.  He also has what I call "prayer position" where he sticks both arms up in the air and centers himself with his hands palm to palm over his head.  That's the way he was riding when I first saw him.  I wonder how he gets back UP the mountain?

Adult Swim

Today I am in a much more positive mood.  Maybe it was studying that scripture more.  Maybe some of you were praying for me.  I think at least in part it was getting out to the pool and doing something I am good at - teaching swimming!  Whatever it was, I am remarkably better.  Now my prayer is to carry this with me in the week to come.



The adult class - Front Row:  Oswol, Selvin, Heber
Standing: Nicolle, Shelly, Caleb, Zeydi, Estephany, Karla, Clara, Sahory, Maritza, Jossira, Veronica

Same group with me in it and laughing

Clara and her girls.  Clara is now officially Leukemia free!

Me with my first English students from 2 years ago.
Now I am teaching them swimming!

Me with Jossira, my friend who hooks me up at the sushi restaurant.

Veronica and I took a similar picture 2 years ago

Vero and me 2 years ago

We were trying to recreate it.

The ladies from Usami sushi restaurant

We had to wait a while before the pool was clean, so we did a little photo shoot.

Swimming with the adults today was great.  I really don't like getting up at 5 a.m., but in the end it is always worth it.  Today the trainer came, but his 2 assistants didn't.  I planned on swimming today, but instead I had to teach the advanced class.  We all had a great time and they learned a lot.  We are still working on the kick.  Most of them have a good kick, but I want them to have a really good kick before we add arms.  If I let them add arms too soon they could get sloppy in their technique.  We did the kick for backstroke too, and they learned to keep their hips up and their head back.  Lastly they all learned to dive!  Every single one of them from my group can dive now.

The beginners group

My students practicing their patada (kick)

Karla doing burbujas (bubbles to practice breathing)

Everyone in my class learned to dive today!

Zeydi and Clara relaxing at the end of class

Selvin needs some rest too

We have 12 more weeks of swimming.  The trainer said he thinks I will have my group doing all four styles of swimming by the time we're done.  He was surprised how much we advanced today.  He said that he really loves they way our group is so eager to learn.

Nitty Gritty

Sometimes being a missionary in a different country, in a different culture is difficult.  You leave behind your friends and the people you really trust.  The people you can unload on.  The people you can talk to about anything and everything.

When you have something you need to talk about it's hard.  You don't want to be seen as a gossip or a trouble maker.  You don't want to spew your negativity onto innocent friends.  Who do you talk to?  Who can you trust?

When it comes to the nitty gritty, sadly, I have decided the best answer is nobody.  Yet, keeping things to yourself is tough.  Solving the problems that life throws at you, or trying to solve them all on your own sucks.  It's a difficult place to be.  It is a place I have never been until I became a missionary in Honduras.

One advantage I have is that most of the time I am not speaking in my native tongue.  That has saved me more times than I probably realize.  You see, in Spanish my tongue is not so quick.  Those "Huh oh.  Did I really just say that?" moments happen much less frequently in my second language.

I am trying my best to deal.  I am trying to make the right choices.  I am trying to treat people well.  I am trying to be a good representative of North Americans, of my church, of what a Christian person should be.

When I am angry I try to remember:

1 John 2:9 (NLT)
If anyone claims, "I am living in the light," but hates a Christian brother or sister that person is still living in darkness.

Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

And I have been trying to live by this gem:

Luke 6:27-36 (ESV)
But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.  To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.  And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Focusing on these helps most of the time.  Other times I am just plain lucky that I don't know how to tell someone off in Spanish.

Bring it, rain!

The rain is here!  I know.  You have heard months and months of me complaining about the unceasing rain.  Last year it rained from May until February.  But since the end of February it has been BEASTLY hot.  Like this horrible heat that you just stand and sweat until your clothes are soaked.

When I went to meet the people who live up the road 2 days ago they commented over and over that they have never felt weather as hot as it was when we were touring their property.  They have lived there for over 40 years, so it says something if they have never been in weather hotter than that day.  Honduras was baking.  It has been so hot and dry.  Everything is covered with dust.  As soon as you wash it off, it reappears.  Dust and ashes from the forest fires.  My lungs ache and my throat has been a mess.  For over a month I have been sick with a terrible cough.  This dry heat is horrific.

Friday the Dr diagnosed me with a throat infection and bronchitis.  I had to take 4 medications and nebulizer treatments.  I don't remember having bronchitis ever before in my life.  This cough sucks.  For the first time since I moved to Honduras I agreed to take antibiotics.  (People take antibiotics here to cure a hang nail.  Okay I am exaggerating, but antibiotics are horribly overused.)  I was coughing up chunks of things that would fly across the room if I didn't cover my mouth.  That did literally happen a couple of nights ago when I was in bed.  It was quite disgusting.

You get the point.  It was "H" "E" double hockey stick - ishly hot and dry.  The night before I visited my neighbors I heard a little bit of rain on the tin roof but it stopped as quickly as it started.  When I got out to my car the next morning their were little spots of rain on the otherwise dust covered car.

People have taken to watering down the road in front of their house throughout the day to keep the dust down. Some are even building their own speed bumps so that traffic is forced to go slower and can't kick up as much dust.  It drives me nuts because they build the homemade speed bumps steep and it is rough on my car.  But if my house was close to the road I might be tempted to do the same.

When I visited my neighbors they commented that we got some rain last night.  I said, "Yes, a few drops."  They found that very funny.  Sometimes I say things that I don't think are funny at all, but people find me hilarious in Spanish.  They said I am "pura Hondureña" the way that I speak, which I will take as a compliment from a man who has lived here for over 40 years and his Honduran wife.  I think my Spanish has improved lately because more people are commenting about it and there are only a few words here and there that I don't understand now.

Anyway, we got a few drops of rain 2 nights ago.  Then as I was touring the property the man kept saying it felt like rain when the wind blew.  Well, he sure was right!  It started raining yesterday afternoon and rained through the night.  It let up early in the morning until about 1:30 this afternoon.  Perfect for the Breakfast Program.  Then the clouds rolled in and the thunder came and I saw huge bolts of lightening as I was driving home.  It's only been a light rain so far today.  Yesterday's rain knocked down all of the dust and poured garbage and dirt that has been sitting stagnant for months into the road.  Today's rain has been uneventful so far.  But it feels so darn good.

Jetty's asthma has been acting up since the humidity returned.  My cough has been better for 2 days.  Not sure if that is medicine related or weather related.  Tempted to give the credit to the meds since what I am coughing up has changed color significantly over the past 3 days.

I have never, ever appreciated rain like I did yesterday.  That must be how farmers feel.  I was aching for rain.  Marcela says hurricanes are blowing in from the coast this weekend.  I'll make sure to have some food on hand that doesn't need to be heated (note to self) and keep everything charged.  Keeping things charged becomes part of life here.  As is stocking candles and matches throughout the house and placing headlamps/flashlights in key spots.

If this year is like last year and it continues through February with no break I know I will complain about the rain again.  That was not fun.  But for now, please God, let it rain.

Breakfast Wine

Today was a very cool day.  Much different than expected.

This morning I had a meeting I really didn't want to go to.  It felt like one more thing on a list of many things I needed to get done.  It just didn't seem like a priority.  I wished I could call and reschedule the meeting for some time in the future when I didn't have a million things going on.  But it was with people I have never met before.  I didn't want to make a bad impression.  My landlords have wanted me to meet these people for about a year now.  Some of the church leadership said it would be a good idea to get to know them too.  So I went.

As I pulled up to their gate a man came out.  He said, "Well there you are!  Right on time!!  Mary, Mary quite contrary.  Do people ever call you that?"  I just smiled and thought, 'Oh no.  This is going to be a looong meeting.'  Luckily my first impression was way off.  I ended up not wanting to leave!

Their home is incredible and it sits on a beautiful piece of property in La Tigra.  The owner quickly explained to me that yes, he is incredibly blessed, but he gives all of the praise to God.

We sat down and had a traditional Honduran breakfast of eggs, sausage, delicious fresh pineapple, honeydew melon, guayaba, beans, mantequilla, chismol, and a few other things I can't remember right now.  Oh, and wine.  We had wine for breakfast.

You see, not only does this family run a school and make a fertilizer product from the algae in their pond - they also make wine.  Right now they are trying wine with a coffee flavor.  Since coffee and wine are both big products in Honduras, they decided to blend the two.  As I asked questions about the wine he asked the lady to bring a bottle of the sweet coffee wine and the more bitter coffee wine.  Jokingly he declared it a great "after breakfast wine".  Then he confessed that really he specializes in blackberry wine (I later saw the blackberry vines) so of course we had to try that too!

For the first two we just took a sip but he gave me a big glass of the blackberry.  I thought to myself, 'What am I going to do?  I can't possibly drink all of this and then drive down to the church!  (and it's 9 o'clock in the morning!!!)'  I took a few sips and declared it delicious, because it was.  Then I explained I felt horrible wasting wine, but I couldn't drink the whole glass.  He said, "Oh.  You seemed like you would like to drink it."  I thought to myself Would and SHould are two different things.

Next I got a tour of the house.  It was absolutely gorgeous.  Spacious.  Tasteful.  Built from the original one room where he lived 40 years ago.  The same chimney still stands.

They are adding on to the house with dorm-like rooms to host mission teams that come to Honduras.  Or maybe promote eco-tourism.  They are still kind of throwing around ideas and were hopeful that I might have some too.  As I passed through the property I thought it would make an excellent retreat center.  I believe it is one of the most peaceful places in the world.  Not because I claim to have seen the whole world, but because I can't imagine a place more peaceful.

After the tour of the house we toured the school they built.  Right now it is Pre-K through second grade.  They are building a new building with hopes of having it complete by next January, in time to start a third grade there.  The school is not completely bilingual in their opinion.  They say in order for it to be a bilingual school, the kids must be always taught in English.  All I know is that their first grade class was speaking more advanced English than the high schoolers I tutor at the church from public school.  I was very impressed.  The kids were all in uniform.  The some of the classrooms were small, but the kids seemed well behaved, appeared happy and were definitely learning a lot.  It was very inspiring.  Lately I need inspiration because teaching preschool at the church has never really been my thing.

Then they asked if I wanted a tour of the property.  I said sure.  They said okay, hop in the car.  Yes, we had to use a car.  The property was enormous.  You could walk all day on that property and never see the same thing twice.  The coolest part was that he knows every inch.  There were ponds and cliffs and beautiful old houses that nobody lives in anymore.  At one side was a factory for the fertilizer.  Another part was where their daughter has a nice home.

And there was a crick.  YES!  He called it a crick!!!  Oh.  I was so happy.  Sometimes when you live away from all of the things you are accustomed to, the smallest things make you feel at home.  When he said, "The crick runs along the bike path" the hugest smile spread across my face.  Wow.  I haven't heard "crick" in years.  And he said it repeatedly as we passed from one side of the creek to the other.

I asked where he was from.  I think he said Missouri?  Or someplace South.  I don't remember.  I was too busy thinking about "crick" and wondering if he would say "chimbley" too.  (He didn't.)  We got out of the car and hiked around a little bit.  We drove up on some of his employees lying down in the road instead of harvesting coffee.  They scurried to their feet and started to work after they saw the car approaching.  He didn't say a word about catching them resting.  He talked to them as if they hadn't just been lying down on the job.  I really liked that.  He seems like a very special man.

His wife was not as nonchalant about what she saw, but she remained reserved.  She is a Honduran lady.  She speaks Spanish.  And puts up with her husband's alleged addiction to basketball.  He tried to get us to play against him, but she and I declined.

I did pass other tests though, as we toured the property.  He set up some places to resemble biblical stories and I had to guess what the story was.  They were abstract.  One was an altar made of rock.  He never told me the story for the alter.  Another was big rocks at the bottom of a hill, with a bench at the top.  That represented Jesus praying while the disciples (the big rocks) slept.  He said I was the first one to ever get that one.  I would have thought he was trying to be kind, but he also told me that I eat a lot so I think he is just honest.  There was an open tomb made of stones.  We all know that story.

He said he was traveling around Central America and was looking for a place to grow strawberries.  That is how he moved to Honduras.  That was the year before I was born and he has lived in La Tigra ever since.  He wrote a book about Central America, published in the US by Viking Press in 1970, which he showed me.  He has noticed that castor trees grow everywhere on the property and wants to figure out a use (besides the notorious castor oil) for the beans that grow so abundantly.  Maybe a cure for cancer?  I like the way this man operates.  He dabbles in wine making, enjoys horticulture, is educating kids in the school he and his wife created, and is running a factory for a pesticide/fertilizer.  Soon they will be hosting people who stay at their home for missions/retreats/bicycling in La Tigra.  Very cool.

I hope to return to the school to spend some time and learn some things.  I would love to go hiking on the property and have a picnic.  Preferably all by myself.  That would be awesome.

In the end I was really happy that I kept my appointment to meet them.  I am still not sure why everyone wanted us to meet.  But they are very pleasant people who live in a beautiful place, do great things, and share my love for God, La Tigra, kids and nature.  And wine.

Fotos of making bread in Guatemala

Today is my last day in Guatemala.  I love it here.  And as my second host family pointed out, when I come here I get the best of both worlds.

Last week I was in Sololá with my cousin Carolyn.  She first went to Guatemala as part of the Peace Corp.  Now she is married and working in one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

We had a nice balance of family time, tourist sights, and rest.  Plus a TON of good food.  I really enjoyed getting to know Carolyn's husband Edyn and his family better.  By the end of my time with them I felt like part of the family.

There is a lot of tradition in Edyn's family.  Every Easter they make bread in a stone oven heated by wood that Edyn's Dad made.  They spend almost a week, baking bread every day and selling it to the community.  It was a lot of bread.  On Wednesday we helped bake bread with the family.  I got to see the whole process, from making the dough, to forming the dough into special shapes, to running the trays of dough to the oven when the oven hit the right temperature and watching it bake.  Then they separated it into baskets for the families who ordered from them.

This was the first thing I saw when I walked into the room where they were all working.
LOTS of bread.  But this is only a small portion of what they made.

Bags and bags of flour

Cartons and cartons of eggs

Soon after this, we were told the men needed to take over  ;) 




 

 

Something is wrong with my computer.  I can't post any more photos for some reason.  Hope you enjoy these!





Old men with canes make good watchmen

Today was my prep day.  Got everything ready to leave for Guatemala.  Read about kidnappings of North Americans in Guatemala and Nicaragua.  Semana Santa is always a dangerous time in Honduras too.  For that reason when I ran my errands today, I called my neighbors to tell them where I was going and when I would be back.

The streets were pretty empty - that is what makes it more dangerous.  The grocery store was also empty.

The gym was the only place that was crowded.  It is never usually that full.  The strange thing was that nobody was using the pool, although it was a beautiful day.  I guess people are getting in their last minute workouts before they wear their bikinis to the beach.

As I pulled up to the gym I was surprised to see the parking lot full.  A little old man who sometimes takes care of the cars for tips was sitting on the ledge where he usually perches.  Saturday when I went to the gym he was there too.  When I parked about five spots from the door he jumped up and ran over to my car.  As I was getting out he told me I should not park so far because it was getting late.  I didn't think there were anywhere closer.  He pointed to a spot right next to the door which I had not noticed.  I moved my car over to the door and thanked him with words and a tip.  He was waiting right outside the door as I left, apparently watching to see that everyone got safely to their cars.

Today I wasn't sure where to park, so I drove over to where he was sitting on the ledge.  I rolled down my window and asked where he thought was best.  He told me to park right in front of him.  I did and he watched me get out the car and walk into the gym from his ledge.  I soon realized I forgot my water so I went back to grab it from the opposite side of the car.  When I unlocked the car to open the passenger's door the alarm beeped once.  I then heard the sound of a metal cane tapping loudly on the sidewalk.  When the alarm sounded again as I shut the passenger's side door I heard the metal cane banging more loudly and quickly approaching from the other side of the car.  I realized my alarm had alerted the watchman.  As I headed back into the gym I turned around and told the man that it was just me, holding up the bottle of water.  He smiled, nodded and walked quietly back to his perch.

In the past I always thought he was too old to really be able to take care of the cars.  I trusted the other man who is a little younger to watch over my car.  I made assumptions about the older man that I shouldn't have made.  I never thought about the fact that from his vantage point, he can see almost everything.  I never thought the cane is actually a weapon and a tool for him.  Now I know that my car is in better hands with the older man, than it was with the other.  It's nice to know that those people who are working for tips, are actually looking out for me and for my car.  I am grateful for the man who looks over me and my car at the gym.

I spent the evening safe at home.  Tomorrow I will go to the airport with Walter.  Yes, I live in a dangerous place.  But there are many people here who are looking out for me.  Today I realized there are even more than I know.

Swimming with the adults yesterday was really nice.  They seemed happy to be there and eager to learn, just like the kids.  The coach explained to my neighbor about how well he and I work together with the last group.  We both commented on how naturally we came together as a team.  He said that I never undermined his authority and he never undermined mine, which was very true.  No power struggles.  No problems.  He said we both have the same approach and the same teaching style.  It was such a pleasure to teach with him.  We fell into place together so easily, I didn't fully appreciate it at the time.  I wish all teams could be as effective as the coach and I were.  I look forward to teaming up with him again with this group of swimmers.

My letter asking for financial support seems to be helping.  I have one response from someone who is praying about my finances.  Two more people wrote saying they will double their monthly support.  A third is adding to her monthly donation!  Another friend said she is "really going to go through with it this time" and become a contributor.  I am 1/5th of the way to my goal!

First day of swimming classes!

Today started off terrible but then turned awesome.  I woke to a beep on my phone which I thought could be a message from the boy I was driving to swimming so I checked it out.  It was a friend informing me that I had been hacked and was sending everyone spam email.  I sent him and his wife a bunch of messages and even called them in the US, but they didn't answer.  I was desperate to send out a message to all of those people who were about to wake up this morning and open the spam email, then discard my other email which was begging for money.

Unfortunately I had to head out to the pool without being able to follow up on the spam email.  I felt sick to my stomach thinking of all of the people who might not open the email I had spent months praying about.  But I need to leave that in God's hands and believe that the people who are supposed to open that email will.

Then I went to pick up the boy who needed a ride.  I was already late and he was even later.  No time to stop and get gas or cash.  Luckily the supply of swimming caps on my desk at the church magically grew so I had enough money to buy a few more caps and everyone was fine without stopping for cash.

One girl forgot her donation.  We had made it really clear that they needed to bring their donation or they could not get on the bus.  I felt horrible, but everyone was watching and I really thought I had to set a precedent.  We said you cannot get on the bus without your donation, and I had to stick to it.  Otherwise everyone would forget their money every week.  So she didn't get to go  :(

A few kids didn't show up, but the bus was full and the pool was PACKED.  Our beloved trainer had two other guys working with him.  I talked with them a little.  They kept the kids busy the whole time. The kids said they really liked the new coaches a lot.  That was a good thing.  I hope that continues.

All of the kids but two - TWO out of 30! - were really excited to swim.  They followed directions really well and worked hard.  We told them very clearly when they signed up that this was going to be tough.  We warned them it is a serious class to learn the four styles of swimming, not to play in the pool.

One of the boys is a great swimmer.  He never had classes with us before but he knew how to swim.  However, he got cold and when he was allowed to get out and warm up he refused to get back into the pool.  I explained to him that one of the rules he agreed to was that he would follow the coach's instructions.  He said he didn't care about following instructions because he didn't want to ever swim again.  Finally on the bus ride home he agreed to try one more time, with the understanding that if he does not follow the coach's directions he will have to give up his place for someone who wants to participate.



Jose got cold so I set him up a bed.  (see below)
Maybe it was a little too comfortable.



The girls got a 10 minute break.  Jose laid in the sun.

The kids were perfect.  They sat in their seats on the bus.  They didn't bring food or drinks with them.  They changed their clothes quickly and followed directions really well. I was extraordinarily proud of them.

My favorite part of the day was watching Maria Angelica.  Maria Angelica has a tough life.  Really tough.  She is 8 years old.  The kids often come to the church and tattle on Angelica for begging for money on the street corner.  We have talked to her about that for years.  She seems to do it less often lately.

Maria Angelica is rarely clean.  Her hair is rarely combed.  She has a tough time in school.  But she comes to Buen Provecho every day.  She used to have difficulty following the rules.  Getting her to leave was almost impossible.  But for about a year she has become more social with other kids her age and has learned to follow rules.  Her younger siblings are now the strongest evidence of lack of parental guidance in the house.

Angelica asked me last week if she could swim.  I'll be honest.  The first thing that crossed my horrible mind was her lice situation.  But I told her sure, if her Mom came to meet with me like everyone else's parents did, then she could swim. 

Angelica is a practical girl.  She is streetwise and a little too grown for her age.  She said that neither of her parents are working and she would not be able to bring the 10 Lempiras we were asking for as a donation.  I did not want to let the 10 Lempiras stand in the way, but I also didn't want to cause a problem.  So Angelica and I had a private meeting with Walter.  He is in charge of all of the sports programs.  Walter asked if Angelica could bring 5 Lempiras.  She said yes, she could.  I said I did not want to hear about her begging in the street or she would not be able to swim.  Walter said Angelica should talk to him if she has problems getting the 5 Lempiras and should never beg in the street.

She asked if I could come to the church early the following morning to meet with her mother.  I told her sure!  And I did.  But her mother never came.  The next day she came from school and asked if her mother had come.  I could see she was disappointed when I said no.  And the next day she asked again.  I had to tell her no.  Finally on the very last afternoon Maria Angelica introduced me to a lady and said, "This is my Mom."  I told her, "Yay!  I know Angelica is so excited that you were able to come!"  We went over the rules.  I told her that she is the only one allowed to pay 5 Lempiras instead of 10, so she should not tell anyone else about her special permission.

Today when I called her name Angelica slipped me the 5 Lempiras like she has been greasing palms all of her life.  It was rolled up so nobody could see the denomination and she slid it smoothly into my hand.  Sometimes the wisdom of a 8 year old shocks me.  And sometimes it's scary.  How does Angelica know how to handle money like that?

Angelica absolutely shone in the pool.  She was so happy!  She said she never felt scared.  It was beautiful to watch.  A little girl with so little opportunity grasped on to this chance and she was GRRRREAT!  She didn't stand out as a girl from Los Pinos.  She was just any other kid in the pool.  Except she wore shorts and tee shirt.  And I brought a towel for her because she doesn't have towels at home.  Angelica learned a lot today.  She is going to be a good swimmer.  I love seeing her be successful. What an honor it is to be able to witness Angelica doing something so healthy and being so successful at it.  That was my favorite part of the day.



Boy does she look grown up!  This is Maria Angelica



Swimming!

Also, I have made some friends at the sushi restaurant that sells 2 for 1.  The man who is in charge of organizing all of the sports programs told me that they were welcome to join us.  It was fun watching the Moms look down at their kids.  Tomorrow the Moms are coming as part of the adult group to learn to swim themselves.  They were really happy and grateful for this opportunity.



The Moms were not allowed to come down to the pool because it could interfere with the lessons.
But they enjoyed watching from above.

I had a super great day, and all before 11 a.m.

I took a lot more photos, but swimming will continue for a while and I don't want you to get sick of them.

First day of vacation

Today was my first day of vacation.  In Honduras the whole world stops for Semana Santa.  Businesses and restaurants close.  Everyone goes to the beach.  Well, not me.  But most people.

I finally got a letter written that I was trying to write for MONTHS.  What a weight off my shoulders.  I was trying to think of some suave way to ask for money.  Today what I wrote was very direct and it felt right.  So I deleted all of the happy-go-lucky drafts and sent out the "please I'm desperate, send me money" version.  It feels so good to have that letter written and sent.  Now it's in God's hands and I can write a happy go lucky two year update.  I'll enjoy that.  Why did God choose me to be a missionary when I stink at asking for what I need?

Tomorrow morning is the first swimming class!  I am really looking forward to it.  Can't wait to see how these kids do.  In the last group the kids learned quickly and had so much fun.  I imagine it will be just as great this time.  I love the positive environment of the pool.  Everyone is so happy there.

Photos to follow!

Still burning

What a day!  As I left this morning the fire was still smoldering.  I stopped my car on the way down the driveway and tried to put out two of the smoldering areas.  First I tried smothering them with a rock.  Then I tried sweeping the hot spot apart with a piece of bamboo.  Bad idea.  It just spread the problem.  I finally scooped up dirt with my hands and covered the smoky spots but that didn't work either.  When I pulled the car ahead I saw there were more even larger areas smoking.  There was even a tree stump still on fire with flames.

In daylight the damage to the property was a lot more than I expected.  Last time trees didn't burn.  This time there isn't much left in some areas except black dirt.  As I was trying to stomp out and smother the fires, people would drive by and stop their cars to look.  Fires are common in this season, so I was surprised people were so interested.  Turned out my neighbors, who are also related to my landlords but live on several adjacent properties on the way toward El Hatillo, got it as badly as we did.

I was not comfortable leaving the house that with so much smoldering so I called my neighbor who lives on the same property.  I know from last year that it is very normal to leave fires smoldering for days, but I wondered if anyone was still on the property since the stump was on fire.  Only my landlord's 89 year old mother was at home.  I wished I could stay with her.  They said she is pretty scared.  But I still have a horrible cough.  (Last night was the first time I slept through the night without coughing in a week and 1/2.)  I can not give this cough to "la abuela" as we call her.  (Grandmother)  She stayed home alone until my neighbors got out of work.

Last night the wind picked up until it was one of the strongest winds I have ever experienced.  There are some dead trees around from last year's fire.  Lots of branches fell and the wind whistled through the windows.  It is still gusting today.  Until the wind calms down we really won't be able to put out the fires.  It sure cooled down a lot.  It has been in the mid to high 80's for a few weeks.  Today it was only in the low 60's.

I went to the church this morning reeking of smoke and a little concerned.  As I was saying good morning to Eunice I looked out the window.  There was little Jose, walking down the hill to come to the church.  He paused right outside Eunice's window, turned his back to the street so he was facing the window, and began to pee on the side of the road.  Tomorrow I am going to count how many people I see urinating in public.  I am guessing it is at least four people per day.  I still am not accustomed to public urination.  Eunice laughed and continued on with her work.

The kids are learning a lot about Semana Santa (Holy Week).  I called some of the tutors into the classroom and had each of the kids share what they learned today.  It was interesting to hear what they remembered.  Most of the tutors have children in my class, so they were happy the kids are learning so much.

I sent out picture postcards today.  I am hoping they will bring in some more donations.  I am really lacking in funding.  Can't go home in June this year.  Normally my brother, his family and I go to Telluride Bluegrass Festival together.  I love camping for 10 days with the friends we have made over the years.  I started going in 2000 and have a long history there.  I'll be sad not to go.

This afternoon I finally went back to the gym.  It has been about 2 weeks since I last worked out.  First the groups were visiting and then I got this cough.  Today felt good though.  Way better than I expected.  One of the trainers taught me a bunch of arm stuff.  He is so nice.  A while ago he taught me some leg exercises to specifically target what I wanted to achieve.  A few weeks ago he taught me some stomach stuff.  Today I did the arm things until I couldn't lift my arms any more.  Never knew how much arm strength it takes to drive home.

On the way home many of the telephone poles had people from the electric company working on them.  Lots of wires were down.  I kept wondering what I was going to eat for dinner if there was no electricity due to the high winds.  But I came home to electricity and cable!  Amazing.  I need to remember to keep something in the house that does not need to be heated up so I have something to eat on days when there is no electricity.

I'm in a new discipleship group and very excited about it.  It is made up of single, professional ladies.  This will be a nice change for me.  I haven't had any discipleship since I got here and have been waiting eagerly.  I don't know any of the ladies in the group, so maybe I will also make new friends!

Fire 2014

I've been spending more time at the church lately, where the internet connection is better and I can get prepared for swimming.  We start classes this weekend!  Thirty kids are signed up for Saturday and 15 adults are going Sundays.  I am really psyched!

Yesterday was my first day back in the classroom in ages.  Our group is back to being small again since all of the teams from North America have come and gone.  I only had 6 in preschool yesterday.  But I guess it is more relaxed that way.

We are teaching about "Semana Santa" as they call it here.  When asked on Monday why we celebrate Holy Week the kids said "to rest", "to go to the beach" and one of my preschoolers said "to fix your glasses".  Some of you can guess - that was Samuel.  But not one of them in the whole Breakfast Program could talk about Easter.  I was shocked!  They will know by the end of this week.

I am noticing a sad and strange phenomenon.  In order for the kids to swim, we would like to have a 10 minute meeting with the parents to go over the rules and have them sign a permission slip.  But very few of the parents will come.  They are all too busy, they say.  Even the homes with 2 unemployed parents say they don't have time to come and sign their kids up.  It frustrates me because I have to imagine they are the same with their children's education - can't be bothered to go to the school.  I also don't understand why these parents can't set aside 10 minutes of their time (I have said I am available 7 days/week at any hour) for such a special gift for their child.  The church pays for everything - the lessons, the bussing, the swim caps, the professional coaches, even the sun block!  Yet the parents can't be bothered to walk across the street and sign a paper.

Yesterday as I left the church I noticed I had a missed call from my landlord.  I called him back right as I noticed he had left me a text.  It is fire season here.  Everything is on fire and the smoke fills the city.  Yesterday a lady who works on the property noticed a fire down at the front gate.  She called my landlord and his brother, who also lives on the property.  They rushed home from work and together with the house cleaner they worked hard and finally put out the fire.  It started, as it did last year, across the street.  It came up the side of our driveway and around my landlord's brother's house, and up the mountain.  Apparently it burned a lot up there.  I haven't seen it yet in daylight.

My landlord's brother was very, very sad.  Plus he fell while climbing the hill to fight the fire and got hurt.  It wasn't a good day for him.  After they got the fire controlled on that side of the property it spread toward my house.  It didn't make it as close as it did last year yet.  I say yet because last year we had several fires.  Carlos said it was a big fire.  As soon as they finally got in under control, 12 firemen came.  They went and walked around the property, then left because it had spread over to our neighbors properties.

Last year the fires really upset and scared me.  This year I felt more calm.  I saw last year that the fire can burn right up to my house and the only thing that happens is the odor of smoke lingers for days and I have to wash everything to get the smell out.  My house is cement with a wide sidewalkish thing around it and a tin roof, so the structure is likely to be safe.  My landlord's house is brick, so they are pretty safe too.

Right as I pulled up the driveway last night, raindrops fell on my windshield.  We had a good rain but heavy winds.  It hasn't rained in weeks.  I was happy for the rain, hoping it will take some of the dust off the roads and some of the smoke out of the air.

A short pondering as I approach 2 years in Honduras

I was thinking today about how times have changed.  On Thursday I will have been in Honduras for two years!  While 2 years is not a long time, I see it as an accomplishment.  I continue to feel blessed that God chose me to be here.

In the past two years God has taught me about waiting, whether it be waiting for people who run on "Honduran time", or dealing with things that I think should happen NOW.

He has shown me about patience for others.  We are all on our own journey.

He has taught me about relying on others and asking for help when I need it.  The people here are more thoughtful and generous to me, as a stranger in their community, than I could have ever imagined.  I continue to be amazed.

He is teaching me about trust.  I still trust people I shouldn't and don't trust people when I should.  This is a tough one for me.  How to stop expecting changes from people who repeatedly break my trust, yet remain open to the many, many people who are worthy of trust?  That is the question.

He has taught me to be more outgoing when I need to be, even if I don't feel like it.

He has shown me that little things mean a lot.  From a hug, a smile, or a kind greeting, to sharing food with someone who might otherwise go hungry.  A small thing to me might be a big thing to someone else.

I am learning more about who I am, who I am not and who I want to be.

I am learning to choose how much I take other peoples' opinions into account.

I have learned that four year olds are quite wise.  You can learn a lot from a four year old if you listen.

People are not always who I expect them to be - both good and bad.
Kindness can come from the places you'd never imagine.  Even complete strangers.
People who are hurting tend to hurt others.  If they want to hurt me, that is more about them than it is about me.

Life is more fun when you are doing things you are passionate about.  But sometimes you have to do the dull things too.

Most of all I have learned that I still have a lot more to learn.  More things to explore.  More experiences to share.  More people to know.  More ways to grow.  There is always more.  Mas y Mas.

I wonder what God has in store for me in the year to come.  Sometimes I try to imagine.  But that is just silly.  Because God's plans are way bigger and better than mine.