More than learning to swim

Today was a good day despite the fact that I can no longer answer my phone.  Oh well, I already couldn't send text messages.  The phone is dying a slow death.

And despite the fact that the camera my brother found on sale on Amazon.com is not available.  He ordered it.  But they said they can't send it, nor can they sell him another for the same price.  I am a little bummed because I was excited, but I can live without the camera until we find one on sale again.  I hope it is before February, so my cousin can bring it to me in Guatemala when we go to see our other cousin get married.  As a friend from K2 can attest, sometimes packages take literally ONE YEAR to get here.  So I am not keen on sending a camera by mail.  (My cousin IS bringing me Johnson & Johnson brand Q Tips, which are almost as exciting as the camera since the Q Tips in Honduras suck.)

On Saturday I thought something was stolen from my classroom at the church.  I was really sad when Don Juan told me he saw who stole it.  It was someone who works hard at the church.  I couldn't imagine this person would steal.  I spent the past few days fluctuating between sad and angry.  Some of what disappeared was for the kids, which made me angry.

Then today, I found it all sitting on my desk in my office.  I felt horrible.  It had been there the whole time.  In my mind I had allowed myself to think that one of the boys was a thief.  I was thrilled to know that nothing was stolen.  I felt so guilty when I realized what really happened.  I was very, very close to tears and still feel that way when I think about it.

Walter was going to talk to the boy but he said he had a strange feeling to wait.  I am so glad he waited.  That poor boy would have been devastated to think that I was accusing him of thievery.  I think God was at work there - telling Walter to hold off.

Today I woke one minute before my alarm.  That was nice because I hate waking up to an alarm.  Jetty is no longer taking her medicine calmly.  She spits it out every time if I am not careful, and she is very sneaky about it.  She acts like she swallowed it, then waits until she is far from me and spits it out.  She is still wheezy and I accidentally overdosed her last night with an allergy pill that she is only supposed to get once per day.  I stayed awake for a while, making sure she was still breathing.  The wheeze helped me out a little in that aspect since it is easier to hear her breath.

Today the swim coach told me something funny.  He said that when he came to the church for our Christmas dinner he was looking all over for little kids who look like me.  He reminded me that when I invited him for the Christmas dinner I told him that he could meet my little kids.  (I meant my preschool class.  He thought I meant my own biological children.)  He looked and looked for kids that share my features, but none of them did.  Finally, when the preschool class was called up to the front of the church and he could see how much they love me and I love them, he figured out what I was talking about.  They are my little kids.  He knows many of my bigger kids from the swim class.  He said he loves to see our relationship and how much love we share for each other.

Yesterday Kristofer greeted me with the hugest hug.  He hadn't seen me from Friday until Tuesday and he said, " I missed you." while he snuggled up to me.  Kristofer used to be a tough guy because of the environment he was raised in, but he has changed drastically in the swimming program.  He hugs and snuggles now instead of kicking and fighting.  His demeanor has changed from being defensive and hard to kind and loving.  I adore Kristofer and the changes God is making in him.  The swimming program is so much more than learning to swim.

Staying in Honduras for Christmas

Well, I have officially settled with the fact that I will not be going home for Christmas.  I expected my mother to be a lot more sad, but she was very understanding which helps a ton.  Now I just feel sad that I am not going to see my nephews.  I hate the fact that they are growing up without me in their life more consistently.  But at least now they are at the age where they remember who I am when I do get to go home.

Several things factored into the decision to stay.  I do want to experience Christmas in Honduras.  I live here all year long, so it seems fitting.  Also my cat has asthma.  Yesterday we went for her second vet visit.  She has been on a nebeulizer 5 times/day.  I am not home enough to give her the medicine correctly, so the doctor gave me pills and told me to keep medicine for the nebeulizer in case of emergencies.  With a sick cat I knew I couldn't go back to the US for very long and leave her with a sitter.  Also, I have some big bills coming up.  I need new tires for the car, my camera broke months ago, and my phone only works when it wants to, which lately is rarely.  So, taking all of that into account, it was best that I not go back to the US for Christmas.

I will have a good time here.  I can't go to Olancho with Jose and Karla's family because of Jetty, but my landlords family already have big plans for me so I will stay busy celebrating with them.  I was a little stressed out about gifts.  Normally I get people things they need from they US, and I already had things in mind for this year.  But yesterday I realized I can make a bunch of Christmas cookies give them to everyone as gifts.  So now I am collecting recipes and feeling more relaxed.

I took 10 days off from the gym - I've been staying super late at the church every night and also was waiting to see if I was going back to the US for Christmas.  They don't make me pay if I am in the US.  Yesterday, after deciding for sure I would stay in Honduras I went back to the gym and it felt great.

This week is the kids' last week of swimming until after the new year.  Then we have 4 weeks in January and it will be over.  I may miss the swimming program more than the kids do!  I don't love getting up so early, but I do love every second once I get out of bed.

For those of you with snow - enjoy!  And I will enjoy the sunshine and warmth for you.

Christmas lunch at the Breakfast Program

The Christmas party was AWESOME!  The food was great.  The kids were great.  The attendance was great.  It was a really good time.  Both swimming coaches came and shared the meal with us.  They told everyone how special the kids from Iglesia En Transformación are.  They even gave out special presents.

Over 100 kids

Licenciado Francisco Sanchez

Coach Ricardo

Saul earned a present for his perserverance

Ingris was recognized for her natural talent for swimming and motivation

I got to give gifts to my class.  And special gifts to those who are graduating and moving on to public school kindergarten next year.

Cessia with her special gift

Misael with his special gift

Jose is graduating too

They did a good job keeping their eyes closed while they received their gifts
(which I didn't have time to wrap).

My preschool class 2013

Misael got up and gave a speech about how much he loves me and my class.  One of the reasons is because I let him go pee pee when he needs to.  That made the whole crowd laugh and he got a little thrown off because he didn't understand why they were all in hysterics.

It was one of those beautiful, amazing days that affirms deep down in your heart that you are following God's plan.

Here are some other photos:

The kids thanking their teachers and the swim coaches -

Muy guapo David!

Saul admitting he was a "desastre" when he started.
 He never gave up and had a great coach.
Now Saul is a great swimmer.

Gloria thanking the coaches

Meylin thanking the coaches

The leadership team were all present!

Daniel, Kelin and Christian won special awards for their efforts in class

Someone snuck a candy cane!

Kenia was my Secret Santa

It was a perfect day.

I love you

I forgot to write about something important.

Today I was at the swimming program.  I have told a few people that I really enjoy getting to know the kids on a different level than I am able to at the Breakfast Program.  I have free time to focus just on them, and I think it helps that we are doing something I love and am good at - swimming.  I can teach them and give them a ton of positive feedback.  They are learning so quickly!

They spend all morning calling my name, asking me to watch the new thing they can do.  It has been a great bonding opportunity.  Today I was talking to two of the older girls at the pool when suddenly one of them threw her arms around my neck and said, "I love you!"

I replied, "I love you too!"

She said, "I hope you never leave Honduras."

I just kept hugging her.

This is a photo of us from a few months ago:

Lolita and me

Preparing for Christmas

Angie, overcoming her fears and taking a leap

This foto of Alejandra makes me laugh

Ingris.  The fish of the group.

The older kids - Fabiola, Gloria, Ingris, Olga, Kenia, Lolita, Erik, Yarely, Saul

Cristian and his sweet smile

Cristofer is learning a new way of life
as well as how to swim 

YESSSSS!

Normally the last to get in,
look who was the last to leave the pool today!

I am still LOVING swimming lessons.  My alarm woke me up for the first time this morning.  For five weeks I have woken up by myself before 6 a.m.!  Some of you know how amazing that is.  But my alarm had to work hard to get me awake today.

Part of the reason is that I have to nebeulize my cat every 8 hours.  So at 1 a.m. I was up with Jetty and that nebeulizer.  Thank God she is an easy going cat.  She mostly lies there and lets me cover her face with the pediatric mask.  It is quite a sight.

Another reason I was tired is that for some reason it took until today for me to recover from my VACATION!!!!  I went to the North Coast (Caribbean) with 11 friends for a four day weekend.  We went to the city of Tela and rented a bungalow close to the shore.  It was the first time I have ever seen the ocean in Honduras, so I was thrilled out of my mind.  Plus it was great to spend time with friends, and make some new friends too.

I don't have any pictures because I am still without a camera.  BUT...  my brother called me today to say he found the one I have been searching for at a really good price!  So I told him to go ahead and order it.  It was painful to travel to the coast and not be able to take any pictures.  I know some of you said you would like to contribute to a new camera.  Thank you!  Here is the link:

www.WorldOutreach.org/donations

Just click on my name - (Fager, Mary Lynn)

Today we cleaned the church for a Christmas party tomorrow.  The preschool class was chosen to put up the Christmas tree.

Jose and Samuel said they were mechanics

Beautiful Milagro

Proud of our tree!

Overall, things are going really well.  Getting to the pool, exercising in the gym, and a little travel has been really good for me.  I am grateful for the opportunity to do all of these fun things!  Looks like I won't make it home for Christmas this year between the sick cat and the cost of the flight, but my family is understanding and I will be able to experience my first Honduran Christmas.

Tomorrow is our Christmas party for the kids at the Breakfast Program.  The swimming coaches are invited to, so the kids are extra excited!  Marlin was hard at work in the kitchen today to prepare a special meal and the church is looking spiffy, as you can tell.  It is strange to be at the pool everyday and swimming in the ocean.  I think this will be my first Christmas without snow.  It's pretty strange.  But the kids' excitement helps get me into the spirit.

My Birthday - 2013

My birthday was everything a birthday should be and more.  I felt special and blessed and very, very loved.  We celebrated for 4 days!  Here are some highlights:

The coach from the swim team completely surprised me with a cake and Pepsi at 9 a.m.  He said that he sees how much the kids love me and think of me as a mother, so he wanted to give them the opportunity to celebrate with me.

They threw me in the pool

A hug from the most awesome coach ever

My cake!

Note the carmel fish in the corner  :)  AND it was one layer of chocolate!

Covered in frosting

Thanks girls!

My friend Ana and her baby, Isabela were there

Coach Fracisco Sanchez and me

 When we got back to the church Eunice and Walter had planned a second party for me!  So we had a second cake after the Breakfast Program was finished with the boys from El Sembrador, the ladies who work in the kitchen and their families, and everyone who works at the church.

My second cake!

Singing "Feliz Feliz Cumpleaños"

Walter said a nice prayer

Eunice praying over me.
Samuel looks so cute!

Happy Birthday to ME!

Ashley enjoying cake

Saturday we had a Thanksgiving dinner at my Carlos' brother's house. I cooked the turkey and all of the traditional side dishes.  I was surprised when Marcela came in with a birthday cake for me.  It was BLUEBERRY and very, very delicious!  We popped some sparking wine and celebrated my birthday, then moved on to Thanksgiving dinner.  It was a really fun time.

Carlos popping the cork

The birthday toast

Me with the ladies - Miljian and Hermida

Miljian hosted the party at her house 

Carlos' brother and sister-in-law 

Blowing out the candles of my blueberry cake

Sunday was election day.  It went smoothly and peacefully.  Nobody has officially been declared president yet because they are waiting for 10% of the votes still from voters in the US.  But the party who is currently in charge has the most votes and will win.  People are saying the vote was fraudulent.  I watched it on TV.  Everything I saw seemed very open and forthright.  But of course there could be things going on behind the scenes.  Personally, I think it's a case of sore losers.

There have been small protests, but nothing at the scale I saw in 2009.  Things could escalate when everything becomes official.  For now everything feels normal.

People are still wishing me a happy birthday and it feels really great to be able to say that I had a really special day.  It was definitely one of my very best so far.  Not just because of the cakes.  I truly felt special and honored.  I kept thinking, "This is how everyone should feel on their birthday!"  I'm grateful so many people care about me and take the time to say or do something to make me feel special on my birthday.  Thanks guys!