Sleepless in Honduras

I may not sleep tonight.  This morning my landlord called and invited me to come over and make bread with her.  I said if she was going to make bread I'd make soup for us for dinner.  So I threw all of the ingredients into the crockpot and headed down to the store to grab a few extras.

There was very little traffic because it is a national holiday.  (Soldier's Day)  I figured it was a perfect time to drive around and figure out where the sushi place is.  I have passed it a thousand times and eaten there once.  I've been told directions, and looked on line, but I can't find the darn place!  So I headed toward where I thought it was (learned later that I was way off base) and came across a place called "Pan y Mas" (Bread and more).  Something told me to stop and grab some bread for dinner which was good - you'll see why in a minute.  I asked the cashier where the sushi place was and was very confused when she replied that it was upstairs.  I said no, the big one on the corner that has 2 for 1 every Tuesday and Thursday.  She looked very confused, which should have been my first hint that I was a long way off.

I figured since I was already in the building I might as well check out the place upstairs.  It was pretty cool.  It had the best service I have ever received in my time in Honduras.  Of course, I rarely go out to dinner, so my experience is limited.  But it seems like the servers here don't seem to care very much about customer service.  This guy was great.  He was quick with several recommendations and flexible about altering things to be accommodating.  He cleared away my straw wrapper, topped off my water, and checked back to be sure everything was fine.  I was impressed.

In the US I used to go out to dinner by myself frequently.  It was one of my favorite pastimes.  I have never done so in Honduras.  But today seemed safe and I enjoyed myself.  I'll keep searching for the 2 for 1 place and if I ever find it I may treat myself again.

Unfortunately, I still have a cough and the stomach part of my flu.  So yesterday I got about 5 bites of my neighbor's soup before I got sick and the sushi - lets just say my system is working overtime.  I had to head for home urgently.

On the way back the guy who fills in holes on the dirt road was out working.  I had used my last bit of cash to tip the server, so I had nothing to give him but I rolled down my window and said, "Muchas gracias!".  It is possible I am fooling myself, but he smiled a huge smile and seemed just as happy as the times I thank him with cash.  He's a hard worker.

When I got home Hermida said the bread was still cooking, but I should come over and try out her new espresso machine with her.  I told her I can't drink espresso or I'll be up all night.  We spent an hour figuring out the machine and then I drank some powerful cuban espresso.  I may not sleep for days.

We had fun playing with her new bread machine too, but with less successful results.  First Hermida was afraid to open the bread machine because the power light was still on.  I showed her that the timer was off and convinced her to open the machine.  I can't really describe what we found inside.  It tasted okay, but eventually we figured out that she added baking powder instead of yeast (all of the directions were in English).  So we had some heavy bread.

The espresso machine was almost a disappointment but we finally figured it out.  Why oh why do I never learn that my body was not made to drink coffee?

I brought over the soup and bread just before our nightly downpour.  We had a nice dinner.  I got a lot of compliments on my cooking.  Everyone had seconds except me.  I was happy that my stomach accepted one bowl, since it hasn't properly digested any food in a week.  Now I won't hesitate to cook for them again.  They even raved about how good it smelled!

Although I may never be invited to cook for them again.  The coffee got my jaw flapping and I think I kept them up past their normal bedtimes.  I came home to a kitchen full of mosquitoes because I accidentally left the kitchen light on while I was gone.  Not sure how they got in, but they took over.

Well folks.  Hope you sleep well.  I'll keep the light on for you.

Photos from the past couple of weeks

Sometimes life is tough when you are a princess

Jerseys for the boys Saturday Soccer

Lupe pushing her little sister, Milagro, on the swing
One of the few times I have seen Lupe interact

The horse I hallucinated

31st Anniversary of Iglesia en Transformación

Tonight was really fun.  We had the 31st anniversary celebration at church.  I fixed my hair and even put on makeup.  I would have showered but I forgot to turn on the water heater until it was too late.  Ooops!  Oh well.  Even dirty many people told me that I looked "guapa".

We had 400 chairs but I am guessing 450 people came.  I sat with a bunch of the kids.  We pushed the seats tight together like a bench and squished in as many as we could.

The worship team was rocking!  There were also different performances.  The kids from La Tigra did a really cool dance to a song about faith.  That was my favorite.  It told the story about maintaining faith while fighting against the enemy.  It brought tears to my eyes it was so powerful.  I love that people here don't seem to be embarrassed to get up and performed in front of the church.

The kids from the Plentiful Life Program did a great job.  They sang about God giving them abundant joy.  It was very cute and fun.

The church was decorated beautifully.  It was a really fun atmosphere.  It is cool that 400+ people can get together and feel like such a tight family.

After the service we had a yummy plate of rice with chicken, ham and veggies.  I sat with the kids and helped them eat before I got my own meal.  Misael joked that we are still a class of sick people.  I think we are all on the mend.  Samuel didn't want to eat his veggies.  What's new.  Oh well.  I love those kids.

It was so nice to sit with them and have the older kids pass by and make a point to come over, say hello and give me a hug.  It was much different than a year ago when we celebrated the 30th anniversary.  Now I feel like a part of things.  I have built relationships with the members of the church.  I can laugh and joke quickly and easily.  It's not so much work.  It felt great!

No pictures today.  I am still using my cell phone and all of my photos were blurry.  But I did figure out exactly what I want when I do get a camera.  I told my brother I want a camera like the one I was using to do photography for the church.  My brother and another friend both recommended that I get a Cannon Rebel.  I said before I buy a camera I wanted to see what kind of camera I had used at the church.  Guess what it was?  A Cannon Rebel!  Now I am sure what I want.  It is what everyone recommends and I had a lot of fun using it.  Of course 3 days ago my brother found a one day deal for $110 off, but I didn't jump on it because I wasn't sure then.  Now I know that in Honduras it costs $750.  In the US it costs $449.  I'm not sure how I would get the camera to Honduras if I bought it in the US.

I am not in a rush.  I will appreciate a new camera even more after waiting for it.  It will work out when the time is right.  In the meantime I hope you can enjoy a pictureless blog!

I'm BACK!

Woke up knowing immediately that I felt better.  Hoping it wasn't a fluke.  Did a little cleaning and took my time getting out the door.

It was great to see the kids.  They are still sick too.  I got lots of hugs from the sick ones and left the few healthy ones alone.

My friend Marlin is having her cesarean on Wednesday.  She said she is scared, but prepared.  She has reason to be nervous.  It is a high risk pregnancy because she has lupus.  But she has done so well outside of a flu bug a few months ago and her swollen feet.  I am excited for her and feel confident she and her baby will be healthy.

We scrubbed the kitchen in preparation for tomorrow's 31 year anniversary celebration for the church.  I'll be honest.  I mostly watched.

Things are falling into place.  I am not frustrated about the things I was frustrated about.  There is nothing I can do about one of the situations.  The other situation may fall into place eventually.  Or it may not.  Either way I need to continue on.  I had a good talk with Belinda today and felt better afterward.

Lorenzo is starting individual therapy.  In his first session he apparently revealed a lot of problems in his life.  I really don't know anything about it and couldn't share if I did.  All I know is it was sad to hear.

Next week I hope to meet with Ethel about her ideas for ways I can serve outside of the Breakfast Program - maybe in other parts of the Plentiful Life Program.

I think I am officially bouncing back from this flu.  I can rest tomorrow until our church celebration in the evening.  Then I have no plans for Sunday or Monday, which is a holiday so we won't serve breakfast.

Please pray for Lorenzo and keep Marlin in prayer as she prepares to bring her new baby into the world!  Our friend Clara is still in the hospital with Leukemia, placenta previa, and 26 weeks pregnant.  She needs prayer too.  The hope is that she can keep the baby inside for a few more weeks of development.

I am watching pictures of snowfall in the US and thinking about the upcoming ski season

Warm milk

Don Juan just called.  I have been joking that it is his fault I am sick because he had all of this two weeks ago.  So he called to see how I am doing and say that he knows this is all his fault.  I laughed and went into a coughing spell.  He said he called three times this morning from a different phone number.  I told him I never answer from unknown numbers.  It is so sweet of him to call!  He told me to drink warm milk with cinnamon.  Everyone has their own home remedies.

My landlord has been checking on me too.  Yesterday she asked if I needed to come over and sleep at her house.  Today she said if I am not better by tomorrow I have to go back to the doctor.

I felt better last night.  This morning I was more sick again.  But I slept and rested today.  This evening I think I'm doing better.  I have been eating even though I'm not hungry.  While I was buying my meds yesterday I bought 2 loaves of bread for submarine sandwiches.  I ate a whole entire sub with veggies and meat yesterday.  Today I got fancy and heated it up.  I've got lots of juice and I've been drinking warm milk at night, without even knowing Don Juan's prescription.

Don Juan said he was told there IS Breakfast Program tomorrow.  I am thinking that if I feel well, I may go for an hour or two just to get out of bed and breathe some fresh air.  I would love to see the kids.  Today I know I am still sick.  I can gauge my sickness level by how difficult it is to stay in bed.  Yesterday I couldn't control my urges to clean.  Today I don't care if the house is messy.  I am staying in bed and I'm not even bored.  Tomorrow will be better.

Flu

Went to the Dr today.  First time since I moved here, except for the dermatologist when my hair was falling out in handfuls.  Thank God that stopped.

I've had the flu since Saturday, but it has been a strange flu.  Yesterday was the worst, so Hermida made a Dr appt for me.  She called me mid- day for something (I never discovered what) and learned I was sick.  When she got home she made me some homemade soup and gave me medicine.  Marcela spent the morning at the Dr with the same symptoms.  Hermida has had it since last weekend and she still doesn't feel well.

So this morning I put a load of wash in the washing machine, laid down and rested, drank a glass of coconut water, rested more, took a shower washing only what was necessary, rested...  You get the point.

The guy who is working on out driveway probably thinks I am a crazy alcoholic or something.  Yesterday he watched me drag myself to the car to go to the local store with my hair uncombed.  Today I dragged myself to the car to go to the Dr. with my hair soaking wet.  For a minute I thought I was hallucinating.  There was a horse in the middle of the driveway.  We don't own a horse.  Turns out my landlord's brother has a landscaper who travels by horse.  It was sweet.  But very hand shy.  And old.  Someone abused the poor thing.

Anyway, I drove like a zombie to the Dr.  I thought I had an actual appointment at 10 - forgot for a moment I was in Honduras.  So the receptionist had a nice giggle when I walked into the waiting room and announced I had a 10 a.m. appointment.  She basically told me to get in line behind all of the people who were already waiting.

I was reminded about Honduran manners today.  I walked into the waiting room and went straight to the receptionist.  Every person after me walked into the waiting room and said good morning to the people who were waiting there, even though we were all strangers.  I am such a rude North American.  I never thought to say good morning when I stepped into a room full of strangers.

The Dr is a pediatrician.  Pretty sure I am his oldest patient.  He said I am his biggest, which I think was a nice way of saying the same thing because Marcela and Guillermo are both taller than I am.  He is a member of the church, a really good doctor, and he has seen every kid from the church with the same symptoms this week.  So I figured he would be the best person to handle this.

When it was my turn he checked me all out.  He also took my temperature under my armpit.  I don't remember ever having that done before. Then he wrote prescriptions for some medicine, and gave me a free sample of some antibiotics which he said are easy on the stomach.  I asked if he believed I really had an infection, because to me it seemed more like flu.  He said he wasn't sure, but could give me the antibiotics just in case.  With respect I said I am not accustomed to taking the medicine without knowing if it is necessary.  He was kind and understanding.  He said yes, the correct way is to take a blood test.  He said that in other countries people do things the correct way and they take medication according to the test results.  But the people here do not have money for the test so he has to give antibiotics when they may not be necessary.  He said if I would prefer to know, he could send me to the lab downstairs and save the antibiotics in case I needed them.  I told him that sounded perfect.

Downstairs the lady for the blood test took my name.  When I only had one last name she said, "That's all?"  Most people have at least 2 last names here.  Yes.  I only have one last name.  She charged me $25, took my blood with barely a pinch, and called this afternoon to say yes, I have the flu.  I don't have any sort of infection.  So, no antibiotics for me.  Meanwhile everyone else I know is madly taking antibiotics.

I was thinking about the fact that in the US we do kind of the same thing, in a different way.  We avoid going to the doctor if we think we have the flu.  We don't want to pay for the office visit unless the doctor is actually going to prescribe an antibiotic.  We learn the symptoms of a flu and how to tell the difference.  In Honduras people are quicker to go to the doctor, and also the hospital, than most of my North American friends.

It scares me how people here overuse antibiotics.  But doctors can't stop prescribing them until the people are educated as to when antibiotics are needed and why it is dangerous to over-prescribe them.  Otherwise the people will just go to another doctor until they get an antibiotic.

I called Belinda to tell her I need one more day of rest but I will see her Friday.  She said that both of her sons and everyone at the church has the flu, so we should all rest until we are back to full strength.  I told her I'll see her Friday, but Friday is a holiday, so there is no Breakfast Program Plentiful Life Program.  I am going to have a VERY long weekend.

Lore

I just thought of a funny thing that happened today.  Everyone in the preschool class has "gripe" (coughing with runny noses dripping down their face).  Today in class I asked if anyone wasn't sick.  One girl said she was not sick.  But I reminded her that few hours earlier she had told me that she had a bad cough.  I told the class, we are no longer the preschool class, we are the class of "gripe".  We had a nice giggle over that.

One of the moms came to me this afternoon stating that she was very happy with what her daughter is learning in the preschool class.  Over the weekend her three year old daughter had been reciting bible verses at home.  The mom was surprised and asked where she learned the verse.  Violet responded "Genesis 1:1"  Hahaha!  I told the mom to ask Violet about 1 Timothy 2:13.  Violet knows that one too.  :)

Lorenzo is still working hard every day with me.  We basically have a 1-1 class, but he does bring a friend with him.  I let Lorenzo choose who he wants to bring.  Lucky for me Lorenzo has a great friend in Jarvin.  Jarvin is teaching Lorenzo as much as I am.  I think Jarvin understands that Lorenzo needs the extra help.  Jarvin is younger, but far advanced compared to "Lore" as Jarvin likes to call his buddy.  Jarvin never acts superior or bored.  He doesn't try to answer all of the questions to prove how much he knows.  Jarvin always plays along with every lesson I prepare and gives Lorenzo room to learn, even when it's not much fun.

In the past Lorenzo was a scapegoat.  Kids were always tattling on Lorenzo, even if he did nothing wrong.  I haven't seen any of that lately.  I think it is great that Jarvin and "Lore" are buddies.  Lorenzo seems to get be getting along with everyone much better.  It makes my heart feel good to see Lorenzo doing so well socially.  We still have a ways to go educationally.  But Lorenzo tries hard and has the support of a good friend, so I am very hopeful!

Check in

Saturday afternoon I got a cold again.  It came on suddenly with an annoying cough.  Since then I haven't been feeling well.  For several reasons (which I will keep to myself) I had a frustrating day Sunday, and then again today.  Know that I am fine.  Just keeping my mouth shut for a few days until I have something positive to say.

Nesting

Those of you who have been to any of the places I lived in the US (or any of my campsites at Telluride) know that I am a nester.  When I had a desk job my office was even cozy.  But for some strange reason I have never nested in this house.  I have lived here for more than nine months.  Usually I am nested within a few weeks.  It's a beautiful home.  But for some reason I could not make it my own.

Last week Jetty knocked over my "night stand" (4 cardboard boxes labeled "FOOD FOR RELIEF" covered by a fleece blanket).  I came home to find the lamp that has been the basis of all of my decorative schemes was smashed to pieces.  My night time bite plate was also broken, as was a candle.

I've been trying to catch up with reading for my women's book club at the church, but with no night lamp I haven't been reading as much as I should.  SO today after the Breakfast Program Plentiful Life Program I headed out to a place Marcela recommended to buy a lamp.  I stopped at one place along the way and found nothing.  (Funny side note:  The store is pronounced K Mart but spelled Key Mart.  Hahaha.)  Key Mart's prices were high and all of the night lamps UGLY!

 Then I went to the place Marcela recommended.  It was great!  It had Rite Aid and Walmart brand stuff.  There was a huge selection and I found the lamp of my dreams as soon as I walked in the door.  Plus bungi cords, light bulbs, and Downy fabric softener.  I also got a mug for the desk at my office at the church.  I've been searching and searching for things to make the office more my own and hadn't made much progress in that area either.

I searched for real night stands, but they were over $50.  It seemed like too much.  Even the street vendors who make wooden furniture were asking more than I expected.  I am sticking to the cardboard boxes for now.

I came home and hung up all of the things I set aside nine months ago and never found a place for.  Then I put up my new lamp.  There was a brief moment when the lamp didn't work.  But I figured that out.  I re-arranged my curtains so more light comes into the kitchen and the storage space under my sink is covered better.

Can't wait to have guests!  Don't know why I wasn't ready to nest before.  It sure does feel cozy now.

Little Carlos and Junior both showed up at the Plentiful Life Program today.  We didn't have class because Belinda was gone so I had to watch all of the kids.  But they did sit calmly and eat.  That is already progress.

Looking forward to waking up tomorrow in my newly redecorated home!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

Well, we almost had 48 hours without rain.  A storm is rolling in right now.  I'll get this written now while the thunder and lightening are still a little ways off.  I thanked God several times today for the sunshine.  I have never been so grateful for sunshine before.

One of the schools was closed today so we had a ton of kids.  Thursday is free day for the preschoolers.  It was a little hectic with the extra kids.  Especially since some of them, like Carlos and Junior, have no experience with structure and following rules.  They are used to doing whatever they want.  Therefore it is not their fault that they struggle when asked to follow directions and rules.  They are more accustomed to running wild.  I am encouraging Carlos and Junior to start attending the program every day in hopes that after a week or so they might have a better understanding of the rules and how to follow them.  A real classroom is going to be so hard for them.  But so far they only show up consistently when North Americans are around because they expect there will be special gifts.

The class is really, really good at cleaning up after free time.  I told them in advance that they could play for extra time because last week they did such a great job at clean up.  This week they did just as well!  They put everything back in the right place and only Carlos continued to play after I said it was time to pick up.  Very impressive for a class of 3-5 year olds!

I led the bible study today for the ladies from Los Pinos.  It was my first time to lead a bible study.  I see some things that I could do better, but I think overall it went well and we all got something from it.  There was one point when I wished I were speaking in my native language because one of the ladies was off track and not understanding the verse.  But Belinda helped explain and finally the lady understood.

I chose to share my favorite verse from New Living Translation:  Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  Do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do.  And He will show you which path to take.

There is a lot in that verse to think about.  Trust.  What is trust?  What does it mean to trust with ALL of your heart and how does a person go about doing that?  Why should we not depend on our own understanding?  Why is it so easy to depend on our own understanding and sometimes difficult to seek God in those times?  How can we seek His will in ALL we do?  BUT, the payoff is big!  If we do trust and seek He will show us which path to take!  So simple, yet so difficult at the same time.

Well, the rain is here.  I'll get this published before the power goes out.

I am having a hard time taking pictures since my camera broke so my blog might be light on photos for a while.  For some reason I can only publish them to facebook, I can't email them to myself and download them from my phone.  Here are some I published on FB today:

Jose chose to use his free time learning about shapes

Waiting for class!

Samuelito doesn't like salad

Got my new license!  It was uneventful.  The line was short and the computers were working so I breezed right through.  At the very end I learned something sad.  I wondered why the workers at each phase kept being surprised that my license was lost.  I never thought about the fact that I could either check the box for "lost" or "stolen".

Everyone else in line with me had their licenses stolen because they were robbed.  The guy next to me was robbed on a bus.  He said armed men took everything valuable from every person on the bus.  I told him that a girl from my church have been robbed twice in one week in collectivo taxis.  He said that his female cousin was robbed twice in one DAY in a bus.  He said it is getting worse and worse.  Sad.  Now you can understand why I am not allowed to use buses or taxis.

Last night I realized that I misunderstood the women's book club assignment.  People were discussing chapters far beyond where I had read.  This morning I learned I am supposed to be done with chapter 6.  I was purposely waiting on chapter one so it would be fresh in my brain.  Ooops!  I have some catching up to do.  My goal was to read it in English AND Spanish.  Not sure I'll make it thru the Spanish by Sunday.

Today we made pupusas at the Plentiful Life Program.  My buddy Louis and the boy who went to the soccer game with me, Fabricio, cooked while the ladies did food prep.  The boys are good about helping out wherever they are needed.  After they cooked they helped me get Samuel to eat.

Samuel, one of the boys in my class is a very picky eater.  Every single day he makes a horrible face and says, "I don't like this," holding up some piece of food as though what he is holding is the most disgusting thing in the world.  Then everyone else in the class starts picking things out of their food and it becomes the cool thing to do.  Today he refused to eat his salad.

I am tired of trying to get him to eat, so I told him to take his plate to show his mother.  Bad.  I know.  She told him to go back and sit down and eat.  Usually he eats the parts he likes, then is hungry an hour later, asking for more food.  I was happy she had him finish his plate today.  Except he didn't.  He cried.

Samuel used to cry every single day.  Now he only cries when he doesn't get his way.  Yesterday he didn't cry at all.

Finally I told him that his baby sister (who is 6 months old) is going to be bigger and stronger than he is.  He said no, she is a baby.  I told him yes, but she eats all of her food.  Well, he couldn't argue with that.  So he picked tiny slivers of carrot out of the salad to eat.  It was a lot of work picking out those carrots and it wasn't really getting him anywhere.  So he cried some more.

Finally an hour later he was tired of crying and picking out carrots.  He had tried pretending he was gagging and going to vomit, dropped some on the floor, went to the bathroom twice, and realized everyone else was playing while he was sitting there.

Then I thought of distraction.  I asked if he would like a fork.  (Pupusas are normally eaten with your fingers.)  He said yes, so I shoveled the food into his mouth with my fork.  He did the fake gag a few times.  Pretty sure that works for him at home.  He also asked for more water.  Fair enough.  With me feeding him on my fork he finished every bite.  We showed everyone his clean plate and I told him I thought it was possible his muscles might be getting bigger already.  I hope Samuel likes whatever we serve for lunch tomorrow.

I'm supposed to drop my car off with the mechanic one of these days when the parts are in.  I'm eager to get the work done and have all of my major expenses behind me.  For now.

Honduran DMV

Today was nothing as I planned.  I spent the day running all over the city, following the incorrect information I was given by Transito (DMV).  Don Juan had to go there because his drivers license was taken from him unjustly by a police man who said he had run a red light when he did not.  So I drove us both and then he went with me to local police stations, searching for the place where I could get the paperwork I needed.

Don Juan found it easy to get his license back.  He didn't even have to pay a fee.  He talked to a lawyer and was given a piece of paper.  Then he had to wait in a line.  At the end of the line he got his license back and was told he would have to pay a lot of money if he got another infraction in the future.

If you lose (as in can't find) your drivers license in Honduras you have to make a report that it is missing, but only at two specific police departments in the city.  Now I know.

I also got my car registered.  It had to be done in September.  For the first time it is in my name and I have the paperwork to prove it.  The dealership had a hard time transferring it to my name and had to make 2 attempts.  Turns out each time they attempt to transfer a car to your name you have to pay $15.  So I paid $30 plus the registration fees which were double what I was told they were.  And tomorrow I drop the car off at the shop to finish fixing the remaining things that needed to be done when I bought it.  I am going to put off buying new tires for as long as I can.  Having a car is a huge blessing.  It is a great car.  But upkeep is time consuming and costly.

Tonight I attended a special workshop about domestic violence.  I didn't realize I had attended the same workshop last year.  It is really good.  There were 13 ladies and 2 men there, all from Los Pinos.  It was a little strange for me because I work with the kids of a mother who attended.  Her kids have told me that their mother is physically abusive to their father.  I was glad the workshop also addressed the fact that women can be abusers too.

Last time the workshop was given by a special lady who is a pastor in the US.  She rode home in the same car as I did.  On the way home she told me that night she believes I will serve women in Honduras.  I had forgotten all about that.  At the time it seemed like something in the distant future.  During the workshop today I remembered that she said that.  Then I remembered the two dreams I had a couple of weeks ago.  I dreamed that I was working with women who were in hiding because they were escaping violent situations.  The two dreams were in different settings, with different people, but they both shared the same theme.  I had them both the same night.  It really felt like they were special dreams.  I thought they were from God.  They stuck with me for a long time.

The ladies who gave the workshop commented about how well I get along with the ladies from Los Pinos.  Maybe I will end up serving them in a way I can not see right now.  That would be awesome.

:S

Caught Don Juan's flu so I woke up at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, shivering with a fever.  By 7:30 it felt like seizures, but I had to get out of bed and go to my first pre-discipleship meeting.  In Honduras it is seen as weak and unprofessional if you don't keep up with your social/work commitments when you're sick.  I went to the meeting and then left before church to go back home to rest.  I knew I would be alone at the Breakfast Program today and I wanted to do everything I could to get better.  The funniest thing was, there is one other North American who attends church here.  He did the same thing.  He said he felt obligated to go to the pre-discipleship group, but left right after.  Yes, we North Americans are weak.

As I was leaving the church everyone else was coming in for the service.  I swear everyone I talked to was sick.  They still hug and kiss hello.  I am such a freak about not wanting to spread my own germs, I just don't understand this mentality.  But, I do feel better today.  A tiny sore throat and a headache, but no fever, so it was fine.

We fed 86 kids and everything was calm.  Last week on Tuesday we set a record with 125.  I wonder how many we will have tomorrow.

I lost my drivers license.  It fell out of my purse onto the ground a few days ago, but I thought I just hadn't put it in there right.  Seems like it must have fallen out again.  I can't find it anywhere and it's driving me nuts.  In fact I feel really frustrated so I'll keep this entry short.  Don't need my negativity flowing out onto you.

I prepared a bible study for today.  But Belinda and Marlin were both gone so we had to postpone it.  Marlin has been in bed sick since Saturday with this stupid flu bug and swollen feet.  She almost went to the emergency room today, but decided to wait because she has a doctors appointment tomorrow.

Tomorrow we are hosting a conference about violence against women.  It should be interesting.  I am looking forward to it.

Apparently they announced that I will be giving swimming lessons yesterday at church because today all of the mothers were coming to me and asking if their kids could attend.  I had to tell them I have no idea how many kids will go, or what ages.  I don't even know when it will begin.  But there sure is a lot of interest.  Some of the Moms are even trying to figure out how they can go themselves because they heard the pool was so nice.  All I could say was that it is not up to me.

Colorado got their first snow and I am craving NY style pizza.  Maybe that is why I'm feeling a little irritable.  I am not homesick, but I sure am ready for this rainy season to be over.  Phew.  Coming from 300 days of sunshine a year to four months straight of rain is not easy.  I had remembered January and February being cold and rainy.  But it has rained hard every day for a week, and every night for about 3 months.  Sorry y'all.  I'm grumpy.  Hope to catch some Duck Dynasty on tv tonight.  Maybe that will cure what ails me.

A little story

Yesterday as I was driving home in the rain I had a cool realization.  Once again I saw an example of how God prepared me for this phase of my life.

It was raining hard, but not as hard as the day before when I considered pulling over.  As I passed through my daily commute I looked at the fútbol field where I have watched friends play soccer.  It flashed into my mind that would be a safe place to stop in the rain.  I know that place and have always felt safe there.

Then I remembered the first week I lived in Chicago.

After I graduated from college I was living with my parents and waitressing.  A friend called and said, "What are you doing still living with your parents?  Come to Chicago!"  In reality my friend needed someone to help pay the rent.  But that's how I ended up in Chicago.

What I didn't know at the time was that I would be in Chicago alone for the first 3 months.  My friend was touring with a band in Japan.

I don't remember the details, but somehow I rode from my tiny village in Northern NY to Chicago with a friend who had a Volkswagen bus.  I remember I had a garbage can that my Mom bought for me in college, a stereo (the big ones that everyone had back then with tall speakers), some clothes and my cat.  No dresser, no bed and no money.  An ex-boyfriend gave me $100 on my way out of town.  I never thought about paying for all of the gas my friend used for the 12 hour trip.  (Sorry Chris!)

My only previous experience with city life was when I went to college at Syracuse University.  A few blocks North of the University were housing projects.  My father told me never to go there.  (I did, to visit my friend who lived there because he got shot, but that is a story for another time.)  The projects in Syracuse were nicknamed "The Bricks".  Therefore, in my mind, brick buildings meant poverty, crime and an overall lack of safety.

My home in Chicago was not made of brick.  But most homes on the way to the grocery store were.  So I walked to the grocery store once, scared the whole way, and after that it took me a week to leave the apartment.  I was even scared to go out the back door to take out the garbage!

Now here is the funny part which I didn't realize since I was not familiar with city life.  My house was about 5 houses North of Wrigley Field.  It was one block from Clark Street where everything cool happened.  One of my neighbors collected Porsches.  I lived in a fairly wealthy part of the city.  But I didn't know that because I was too scared to leave the house.

Finally the parting words of my ex boyfriend rang in my ears.  "See you soon!"  "No you won't." I responded indignantly.  "You'll be back," he told me.

I had to leave the house or he would be right.

To make a long story shorter, I did leave the house.  I got a job the same day.  That was January of 1992.  As soon as my roommate got back from Japan I moved out and moved into my own place.  Good thing I didn't own much because I carried everything by myself to my new apartment which was four blocks away.  I lived in Chicago for a total of 15 years and learned to thrive there.

In the end I did learn about the projects.  I learned more than most Chicagoans know about the projects.  As a social worker I was in and out of Cabrini Green more than any other person I know.  I changed my own flat tire in the parking lot of Robert Taylor Homes, which was the most dangerous place in the city at that time.  Finally I was assigned the whole West Side of Chicago as my territory and worked there every day without incident, thank God.

So now I live in Honduras, the "Deadliest Region on Earth".  At first I was nervous to do things.  I lived in a gated community where I was safe.  Yet in the beginning I had to work up the courage to walk outside the gate at the end of my driveway to go to the pulperia down the street.  I was very cautious every time I left the house.  Looking back it was wise to think that way, but I didn't need to be as nervous as I was.

Now I have been in Honduras for a year and a half.  I am falling into the pace of day to day life.  I am aware, but not wary.  I am thoughtful, but not pensive.  I am living more fully.

People did say they thought I would return to the US soon.  I am not here to prove anyone wrong.  If God calls me to leave Honduras, I will do so willingly.  However, I hope He doesn't because I am just starting to get the hang of things.  I have found my own comfort zone and am reaching out from there.  I am starting, once again, to thrive.

Plentiful Life

Wow!  Sorry it's been so long!  For those who were concerned, don't worry.  Everything is fine.

Monday Lad enjoyed a morning of playing with the kids at the Breakfast Program - which is now officially called Plentiful Life since it offers so much more than breakfast.  In the afternoon we visited 2 homes in Los Pinos.  Lad noticed how different poverty looks in Honduras from what he is used to in Africa.  While we agree that need is need, the people in Los Pinos actually have better living situations than the people he is accustomed to serving in Swaziland.  I was surprised to learn that.  I can't imagine a lifestyle much more difficult than my friends' in Los Pinos.  Although I know that God has called me to serve in Honduras, I would like to visit Africa one day just to see what it is like.

First we visited Marlin's house.  She said she was very honored to have a pastor in her home.  She really loved the bag Lad gave her, which was made by Swazi women who cook for the children in Swaziland.  It was cool to imagine the ladies in Africa making a beautiful bag which is now a gift for another woman who cooks for underprivileged kids across the world in Honduras.  Marlin promised to pray every day for the lady who made the bag.  She is a woman who keeps her word.

Next we visited Ana's home.  I had never been there before.  It was very nice, made of brick with fruit trees in front.  But what we could not see was the fact that Ana had no food at all in the house.  Her husband left over a year ago.  He usually helps a little financially, but this month his money was very late.  Ana hadn't told anyone that her family was without food.  But the next day she came to the church and told me that she was very thankful for the groceries we brought.  I told her that the groceries were not from me.  Only God knew she had no food, so she should thank God for the groceries.

It hurts to think that Ana, her three beautiful boys, and her baby girl would not have eaten without those groceries.  As much as they tell me that I am starting to be just like them, I have never gone without a meal because I had no food in my life.  I can't even think of a time that I ever lacked a necessity.  No matter how long I spend here and how much I care about these families, I will never really be like them.  But that doesn't keep me from loving them and holding them close to my heart in friendship.

As we walked through Los Pinos I was telling Lad about David, Ana's second child.  He is a sweet, sweet boy.  Lad said that I am good at seeing the positive things about people.  David is smart, kind, extremely caring and loving, so it is easy to see good things in him.

Since Tuesday was Lad's last in Honduras and he had yet to try a pupusa, I took him out to lunch at the place where Jairo takes people for pupusas.  It was nice to just sit and talk.  Lad gave me some ideas about fundraising and some things to think about for the future.

Dinner was postponed because our hosts had been without electricity since 11 a.m. the day before.  I expected them to cancel or relocate, but instead they cooked at a friend's house.  We drove over the downed electrical wires in front of the house.  Boris, our host, shared with us about "Stepping off the boat" - that we may be fearful and face storms, but we need to have courage to take that first step to walk on water.  He had prepared a whole study, which he read and I tried to translate.  By that point my brain was fried and I was doing a poor job.  But Marcela came in and saved the day.  I think other than that occasion, I did well translating.

We had a nice dinner of stuffed pork and beef.  There was a whole house full of people eating by candlelight.  Part way through the meal the electricity came on.  We opted to keep most of the lights out and finish the meal by candlelight.  Afterward we talked and joked.  It was nice to sit and laugh with a group of friends.  I think Lad enjoyed himself too.

Tuesday morning we stopped by the Breakfast Program - oops - the Plentiful Life Program to say goodbye.

Don Juan with his favorite "Gringo" - Lad

The kids prayed for Lad.  Ashley, who won't let anyone else near her, had her last moments of clinging to her new friend.  This was also a special day because we fed 125 kids - a record since I have been here.

Then we headed for the airport.  After we got baggage checked we went upstairs and had coffee.  Walter had a chance to talk to Lad pastor to pastor, which I thought was super cool.

Walter and Lad at the airport

My landlords and Lad at Valle de Angeles Sunday afternoon

Wednesday I spent the afternoon translating things for Eunice to send to K2.  It was a lot of technical terms.  By the end both of us had a headache, but I was happy to help.  Eunice is always very helpful to me.

Thursday after all the kids left the church I translated letters the boys from El Sembrador wrote to their sponsors.  The letters were really sweet.  I am always proud and happy when I hear the way these boys share their hearts and open up their lives to people.

On the way home there was a crazy thunderstorm.  It was the worst storm I have ever driven in.  At times I thought of pulling over, but I thought it safest to try to make it up the mountain.  People in Honduras don't turn on their headlights in torrential downpours.  Some did turn on their flashers, but almost nobody turned on their headlights.

The road was like a river.  Sometimes I was driving upstream, sometimes across the river.  I felt like a snowplow plowing through three feet of snow as I drove through the lakes of water and it splashed up around me.  Manhole covers were missing.  One hole was so huge a motorcycle could have fallen inside and been swallowed whole.  Rain poured off rooftops like waterfalls.  I thought of all of the flooding in Colorado and was thankful we have good rain gutters along the sides of the road, trees to keep most of the earth in place, and strong roads that are built to hold up to this kind of rain.

Once I made it home, exhaustion from the past week hit me.  I was sound asleep before dinner and didn't wake up until this morning.

Today Don Juan was sick.  I took him to the clinic where he has insurance.  They told him they can't see him today and told him to come back at 5 a.m. tomorrow.  Bismar was with us.  Bismar warned me that Don Juan was so weak he couldn't walk.  I was glad Bismar told me, and shocked when Don Juan agreed to stand in the shade and wait while I went to the parking lot down the street and pulled the car around.  He must have been really, really sick because normally Don Juan doesn't let me go anywhere alone.

I called Dr. Gustavo, the pediatrician who is always willing to help a church member.  He recommended some meds so I stopped and got them, then grabbed some orange juice and ginger ale from the grocery store.  Don Juan spent the whole day sleeping in the baby's nursery.  I have never known him to rest, never mind sleep.  It was worrisome.  I hope he feels better tomorrow.

Lad asked me to make a video for K2.  Belinda and I have been working on it for 2 days, but today after we had all of the kinks worked out my camera broke.  It was time.  My camera was 10 years old.  But bad timing.  I have been enjoying photography a lot lately and have been doing a lot of it for the church.  I am thinking I would like to get a nice camera to replace my broken one.  In the meantime I have my phone.  Here are some pics from today:

Violet is a princess

Misael is a fireman

Jarvin giving the baby a ride on the moto

Pics from Lad preaching

Ethel welcoming Lad, with Walter, Lucy and Carlos

Praying for Lad before he preaches

The church blessing Lad

Walter praying for Lad

Lucy, Lad, Ethel

Sunday

Pictures to follow, but yesterday was another great day in Honduras.  Lad spoke at church and was well received.  Everyone liked how he spoke from the heart and made it very clear that K2 and Iglesia en Transformación will continue to partner together.  His message was about giving "mas y mas" (more and more).  He told the church that they are known for the way they love, but that God always wants us to love more.  It was a nice acknowledgment of the good work Iglesia en Transformación is doing, and motivating in the fact that God still wants more.

After church we went to Valle de Angeles, a pretty little town outside of Tegus, for lunch and to wander around.  Since it was Honduran Independence Day, there were a ton of people there.  Little bands were playing with people circled around.  We checked out most of the shops, got some coffee and relaxed.

Today we are going to the super, then to the Breakfast Program.  It will probably be packed because there is no school for any of the kids in honor of the national holiday.  Afterward we will walk into Los Pinos with some of the older boys who are known there as "body guards" so Lad can have a chance to see some of the homes there.  I am hoping we will have time to go to the Jesus Statue on the way home before we have dinner with the Vermonts  and some other members of the church.

Tomorrow Lad will leave.  I never thought about it before, I think when he leaves I am going to have that feeling like you have after a vacation you have looked forward to for a long time and then you have to go back to every day life.  I love my every day life.  But having Lad here, sharing this place and these people with him, has been really great.  I will be a little sad when he is gone.  In the meantime we are enjoying every minute!

3 dinners and a trip around the city

I ate 3 dinners tonight.  Each of them were delicious, but I am suffering from exhaustion mixed with food coma.

This morning we went to La Tigra to celebrate The Day of the Child with the kids there.  I don't know the kids in La Tigra very well, but I have always really liked them.  They live in poverty, but it is a different kind of poverty than the Los Pinos kids.  Their household income may be little or nothing and their homes are very simple, but they generally have a more supportive family life and live in a safer environment.  They have difficulty accessing resources because they are so far from the city and most don't own a vehicle.  So they have their own struggles.

Their party was more simple.  They had piñatas that they had made themselves, a fruit salad and a little paper bag of gifts.  They played traditional games, had scavenger hunts, jumped rope and played soccer for hours.  Lad and I joined in.

I told Lad he had to get his picture taken at the on the overlook because every member of K2 who has been to La Tigra has this picture.

I thought we were taking a walk to show Lad where many people from K2 (including me) were baptized, but we ended up doing the ropes course which is new and improved.  I did skip the mud pit and walking on the tree, but we did a rock climb and a tight rope walk that wasn't there before.  It was really fun.  Gerardo, who is the head of everything in La Tigra now, Erik, my landlords, Lad and I all went.  We ended up at the place where I was baptized.  I was trying to get a better view of where the water goes after if flows out of the pond and down the ravine when I slipped and fell into the water.  I almost slid right down and got washed away, but caught myself.  It was scary.  Then I had wet pants for the next 2 hours.

Erik on the tightrope 

Lad rock climbing

Carlos, Lad and I after I almost slid down the ravine

After a quick shower Hermida fed us homemade chicken soup and bread.  Then we headed down to the jovenes group.  It was a nice meeting about the traditions and culture of Honduras.  Walter and Jose talked to the kids about being proud of their culture and their beautiful country.  That was very cool.  They showed movies of all the beautiful places in Honduras, but then talked about how the kids could also experience culture within their own city.  They served a traditional meal with 3 entrees, 3 deserts, horchata and coffee.  Lad is starting to see the same kids repeatedly, so some faces are familiar to him.

Don Juan had invited us to his house for dinner.  We almost didn't go because he doesn't live in a great neighborhood, but we considered the fact that Don Juan does not invite people to his house.  This was a special honor.  So in the end, with some counsel from Carlos and Hermida, we decided that it was something we should do.  Don Juan really, really likes Lad.  Well, everyone really, really likes Lad.  But Don Juan is a person who normally sits back and observes.  He told me that Lad is the nicest Gringo he has ever met.  He told Carlos something similar.

So we went to Don Juan's house for dinner.  It was a great meal - tacos Honduran style, which is a tortilla wrapped into a tube, stuffed with meat and deep fried, topped with a cabbage salad and cheese.  By this point my tummy was bursting.  I explained that I loved the food, but was full and Lad finished mine.  On the way home he said that he was not at all hungry, but that if he had to "take one for the team" that was not a bad way to do it.  We talked with Don Juan, his wife Dora and their 2 kids Moises and Nancy for a while.  Then we got a text from Hermida, which meant it was time to head home.  I called her to say I was on the way home after we left.  She was relieved.

But then we got lost.  And I hit a big pot hole which could have popped a tire.  (We are hoping it won't be flat in the morning.)  Then I got more lost. I considered calling Hermida, but I didn't even know where we were and I didn't want to freak her out.  I knew the city lights were on the right hand side and they should have been on the left, so we turned around.  Then I saw a sign for El Anillo which is the road I wanted, but I thought it meant to turn there and really it meant to stay straight.  We got really turned around.  At least we were lost in a wealthy neighborhood.  There were security guards and police all hanging around outside a gated community.  I asked for directions, and they told me to go back where I had come from, but they didn't seem too sure.

I headed back and thought I knew where I was, but got nervous and stopped at a gas station.  The guard told me the only way to get home was to go downtown by Hospital Escuela.  I told him I can't go there at night, there has to be a different way.  So he called over his buddy.  Thank God his friend knew exactly where I needed to go.  He said if we get lost again, only ask directions from taxi drivers.  Don't stop and ask just any person because it's not safe.  We got all oriented and it ended up I was headed in exactly the right direction.  Turned out I was really close to the same route I drive every day.  If I had driven 3 more minutes I would have known exactly where I was.  Finally we were headed home, almost an hour later.  I called Hermida to tell her we were lost, but now were found.  She sounded extremely worried.  I felt horrible because Lad has to preach in the morning and we both were exhausted, but at least we made it home safe and sound in the end.  And at least I wasn't all alone.  That would have been scary.  Now I realize what I did wrong and won't make that mistake again.  It was a long day, but a really good one.

Sorry if there are typos.  I am too tired to proof read this tonight.

Lad is here!

Everyone was bustling around the church today.  It was like a Honduran version of Downton Abbey, with all of us doing last minute things in preparation for Lad to come.  I realized I hadn't put the chairs back after I mopped the classroom yesterday, so Meylin helped with that.  Then Ana, 2 boys and I got to work washing my car.  Don Juan was busy doing other things.  Of course it started raining as soon as we finished, but I was cleaner than before.

I started taking pictures at the airport, of the airport sign, of the video feed, but then I got so excited I forgot to take a picture of Lad coming out of the glass doors!  Nestor was there to help with his bags, which was so kind.  We got some things straightened out and then headed out to have lunch.

Ethel was thinking Lad might like to ease into things so she asked if he wanted to go to Chili's or try Honduran food.  He said he would be crazy not to want to eat Honduran food so we went to a place called Orgulloso Catracho (proud Honduran).  It was all kinds of means and traditional side dishes.  We all enjoyed our lunches and had a nice talk.

Then the food coma settled in.  All of us were sleepy, but Lad was exhausted after leaving SLC at 1 a.m. so he took a nap.  Eunice and I went to my house and sat on the balcony chatting.  Then it was time for dinner.  Ethel asked the church committee to meet Lad tonight at dinner.  We ate at a Brazilian restaurant like Fogo de Chao with a salad bar and lots of meat.  Some of the committee are going to be gone for the weekend so it was nice that Lad got to meet them tonight.

It is cool to see how the 2 churches are on the same page with so many things - discipleship and small groups being of great importance to both.  Everyone was really excited to meet Lad and he seemed to enjoy meeting them too.  I am learning that people here whom I never heard speak English before, actually speak really well.  Very interesting.

Tomorrow we will go to the Breakfast Program in the morning.  In the afternoon the church is doing a big presentation about everything they have planned for the future so that Lad can understand the vision of Iglesia en Transformación.  At night we are going to Carla and Jose's house for dinner.  I can't wait for him to meet the kids and the ladies at the Breakfast Program.  Everyone is eager to meet him.  We are going to get there early enough that he can stand near Eunice's office and greet all of the kids as they come in.  It should be a fun day!

6:22

It is 6:22 a.m.  I have already done a load of wash, seasoned and cooled the beans, ironed 2 shirts and mopped the floor.  Oh, and I read the first two chapters of Extraordinary Woman.  Woke up at 4:30 and couldn't go back to sleep.  Excited/nervous for Lad's visit.  Mostly excited.