Good night

On Thursday I got to the church after swimming and Ana hardly took the time to say hello before she asked if I had any Ibuprofen because she had a sore throat.  Well, guess what.  Last night at 10 p.m. my throat felt a little funny.  By 10:15 it was killing me, as were my ears and the glands in my neck.  By 10:30 my nose was running.  For me, ibupofen is not helping.  I am going to get my butt out of bed and try an anti-inflammatory that everyone here takes.  Grateful there is no fever!

Jetty has been doing great with her asthma, but of course last night it came back.  She had that cough that sounds like she is going to vomit.  I know I should have gotten up and given her a nebeulizer treatment, but I am a bad mom.  I told myself if she coughed again I would give her one, but she only coughed that once.  I'll give her one tonight before bed.  Night is always worst for her.

She must have known my throat hurt somehow because she spent the night curled up against the side of my neck, which she never does.

My cousin Carolyn is getting married.  She was in the Peace Corp and stationed in Guatemala, where she met her future husband.  The wedding is next month.  I was planning to take a bus which has to cross over El Salvador and into Guatemala.  Because it has to stop at each border and pay "aduanas" they can never guarantee how long it will take.  It would be 12 hours minimum and probably more.

Then last week I heard on the radio that there have been problems at all three borders.  Apparently they are putting in x-ray machines and raising the price of the "aduanas".  The lines JUST TO WAIT AT THE BORDER are 12-36 hours.  Ugh.  I was telling my Mom I wished I could drive, but it is not safe.  I have friends who did the same drive as a family, but I am told they paid a body guard to go with them for security.  So driving is not an option.  I just hoped things would get fixed before the wedding.

Then last night in our hour long talk, my Mom suggested that I look into flights.  She is a smart lady!  Flights to Costa Rica are almost $700 so I didn't consider it.  But flights to Guatemala are $239!  I was thinking if I may be spending 12-36 hours at the borders I should upgrade my bus ticket.  However, a flight is far, far cheaper than the upgraded ticket and much safer.  It's only a little bit more expensive to fly than take the cheap bus.  So, I am going to fly and only spend 1 & 1/2 hours in transit (God willing) and not worry about the crazy border crossings.  It is even possible that a friend might be able to help me out with frequent flier miles.  He mentioned it once a long time ago, so I am going to ask.  The idea of flying takes a big weight off my shoulders.

I also talked to some friends from the church.  They used to be my landlords here in Honduras.  They moved to Guatemala more than a year ago and always ask us to come visit.  So, I am going to spend a few days with them on the way home.  That will be fun!

I am really excited to see family, friends, and to visit Guatemala.  And now I can do it all with no worries.  Yay!

Well, I am feeling tired.  I've been eating manderine oranges like crazy.  Cindy's Mom brought me a whole bag full when she and Cindy came to get pictures taken on Cindy's birthday Friday.  I was wondering how I would ever eat them all, but between last night and this morning they are already half way gone.  I bet I'll finish them today.  They are delicious, fresh from the tree on Friday!  Can't wait to tell them how much I appreciated their gift!

At 10 a.m. I will say "good night" to you.  Hoping if I rest today I will be better by tomorrow because we have a group visiting from Ohio and tomorrow is their first day at the Breakfast Program.

37 days til Guatemala!

Lasagna in Los Pinos

Today is my Mom's birthday.  Happy Birthday Mom!  She said she had a nice meal with my brother and his family.  Then she and I talked on the phone for over an hour.  Mostly about nothing important.  We're good at that.  :)

I made lasagna this morning, then took it down to my friend Ana's house.  Along the way I stopped and picked up stuff for a salad and diapers for Isabella, Ana's one year old daughter.  Later Ana told me she was praying for diapers for her daughter.

The first thing Samuel said to me was that his kitten died.  He seemed okay about it.  We spent part of the morning and most of the afternoon just chatting.  Ana knows how to do special decorations with fingernail polish so I now have flowers on my toes.  We are planning a "salon day", which really means a day to put all of our nail polishes together and do each other's nails.

I talked to Ana about the idea of her asking me for help when there is something she and her family need.  She disclosed to me some more details about her situation.  Afterward I felt even more compelled to help.  I told her that I have been praying about it since Tuesday and I feel God is speaking clearly to me.

I know Ana is a person who would never take advantage of me.  I told her there could be times I have to say no because I have limited resources.  She said she understands that.  I told her I want to help in any way I can.  I don't want to have to think of Ana and her family going without food or other basic necessities.

Ana is not a proud woman - in the negative sense of the word "proud".  She is a woman who has a lot of faith, which means she does not ask for human help.  She usually turns only to God.  She has told me many times, after the fact, that she really needed something (shoes, food, diapers, the dirt floor of her house covered in cement, bus fare to visit her family for Christmas), she prayed and God provided.  She never said a word to anyone.  I told Ana I do not want to devalue her faith and dependence on God.  If there is something that I can do to help, I would like to.  I have a plan for a few things that I can start doing for this family.  I feel good about the plan and believe it is a healthy decision for me, for Ana's family, and it is from God.

I explained to Ana about the idea that I want to serve them in a way that is best for them.  I told her maybe it was crazy for me to bring lasagna to her house.  Maybe I should give her that money or use that same money to buy basic supplies.  Ana's response was that she believes God chooses to bless people in many ways.  She said our afternoons together, our conversations, our friendship, my relationship with her kids, is as much a blessing as the food I bring.  That's how I feel too, but others might see it as a little ridiculous to spend money on lasagna when it would buy a lot of basic staples.

So, I hope Ana knows that she can turn to me as a friend.  I know I would turn to her if I need her help.

I have recently become more conscious of the fact that some relationships fill up your heart and make you feel closer to God.  Other relationships drain you and leave you feeling empty, or hurt, or unsure of yourself.  Being with Ana and her family fills me up.  Her friendship is a blessing to me.  She is the kind of person I want in my life.  I hope I can be the same to her.

After lasagna and a nice run at the gym I went to Mas x Menos to buy saldo for my phone so I could call my Mom and wish her a happy birthday.  I noticed earlier this week that their shelves were strangely bare.  Today everything was restocked with a ton of new items they have never carried before.  I told the cashier I felt like I was in the US!  They had Oikos, Fage, and Chobani yogurt.  I walked back and forth in front of the yogurt, taking it all in.  It was like heaven.  There was pancetta, 3 kinds of Manchego cheese, a bunch of new Tropicana juices, vegetable cheese spreads, a variety of Baked Lays chips...  I felt like I was at Whole Foods!  (Actually I strongly dislike Whole Foods, but do appreciate their selection.)  The prices resemble Whole Foods too.  I can't afford to buy any of this stuff.  It's just so nice to know it is there.

Please continue to pray for my Aunt Cathy as her bypass surgery will be Wednesday.  She could use prayer for the kind peace that only God can bring when you are facing a situation like this.  Six bypasses is tough to comprehend.  The kids at the Breakfast Program are praying for her, as are others from the church.  And of course my prayer team.  Please cover my Aunt Cathy in prayer.

Cindy's Birthday

First the sad news.  Samuel's kitten died.  This morning when I got to the church I was talking to Eunice.  Samuel came into her office and interrupted our conversation.  I am working with him about not interrupting, so I made him wait until I was done.  Then he looked up at me with horribly sad eyes and told me his cat is not eating.  I told him I brought cat food for them.  He said no, the cat is sick.  He can't eat.  And he can't talk!

It was so adorable!  And so sad.  I talked to Samuel's mother, Ana.  She told me that this morning when they woke up Samuel told her excitedly the cat had grown overnight.  At four weeks old they do grow fast.  But when she looked at the cat she realized the cat had not actually grown.  It was sprawled out, very sick.  She cocked her head to the side and stuck out her tongue to demonstrate how the cat looked.  She told me she was pretty sure the cat would be dead when they got home from the Breakfast Program.  Samuel asked his Mom to take the cat to the doctor, but she had to explain that she didn't have enough money for diapers for his sister, so they couldn't afford a Dr appointment for the cat.

She asked me what I thought they could do for the cat.  I told her I thought the cat needed its mother's milk.  It was too young to be away from its mother.  I told her my opinion is that even if they had unlimited resources, they could spend a lot of money at the vet and the cat would probably die.  There are a million things that could be wrong with a tiny kitten - something the cat was born with, a parasite, heart worm, feline leukemia.  Who knows?

Ana told me that in Los Pinos people SELL kittens.  She said they steal healthy cats.  I was shocked to hear that.  There is such an immense overpopulation of dogs it is painful to drive through the neighborhood.  The dogs there are in horrible shape.  It hurts my heart to see them.  Put apparently cats are a hot commodity for their rat chasing value.

Marcela (my landlord's daughter) and I are going to look for kittens up here in the mountains where they are more abundant and free.  Ana said she would like another if we can find one.  I told her we are only going to bring a cat that is weened.  I was thinking about the fact that the kids wanted to call the cat "Papi".  Cute until you think about the fact that their Daddy left them over a year ago.

Tomorrow I am going to Ana's house.  I am going to bring lasagna, salad and garlic bread.  A good old North American dinner.  I have to remember to bring something for us to drink too.  They drink rain water which is collected in a big cistern.

It is all arranged for me to park by the pulperia above her house again.  I am even more convinced that my car and I are safe there since many of the kids from the Breakfast Program rushed up to me the day after I last visited and said they saw me drive past their house.  They said that they pointed me out to their family as the person from the church who is teaching them to swim.  They were so excited to think that I drove past their home!  I'll have to look out more carefully and wave to them tomorrow.

I have been thinking a lot about how I can help here.  Basically it has come down to a quality over quantity issue.  For example:  Do I buy a lot of food that will feed Ana's family for a few days and hand it over to them?  Or do I bring over a nice meal and sit down to share with them?  For now, although it is not practical - I know! - I am going for quality over quantity.  It is something I should talk to Ana about.  I would like to give to them in a way that is best for them.  Not what is best for me.

As I get to know the kids at the church on a deeper level I see more and more needs.  There is no way I can meet them all.  This week I gave away my bathing suit and my warmest sweater.  I am completely fine with both of those things.  But there is still Christian, who goes to swimming lessons in 57 degree weather every morning and doesn't have a warm jacket to put on afterward.  I don't have anything that would fit him.  If I went to the used clothing store, I could find something cheap.  But then where would I stop?  When I asked Christian if he had something warm at home the boy next to him spoke up and said that he didn't have anything warmer than his tee shirt either.

Cindy turned five today.  Her Mom couldn't afford a cake so she came up with another way to celebrate.  She spent the morning curling Cindy's hair and dressing her up for a special birthday picture.  Cindy's Mom brought Cindy to the church and asked me to take photos of Cindy.  She said she never had a photo of Cindy before.  Wish I had a camera!  I told her I would get photos printed.  We borrowed a cell phone and celebrated Cindy's fifth birthday by taking photos.  Cindy's Mom did the best she could do.

Kebelin is playing soccer on the church soccer team in sparkly shoes that are like "Toms" slippers.  I just noticed that yesterday.  She doesn't complain.  Kristopher has had a painful molar for over a month.  Jose returned to the Breakfast Program after our three week break absolutely filthy.  He had abrasions on his face and a huge swollen lip with a hole where his teeth went through.  We asked how it happened and he (at 5 years old) told us that he was not going to talk about it.  His sister was filthy too.  Layers and layers of dirt.

I don't feel hopeless.  Or helpless.  I just wonder where to start and how far to go.  I am very, very blessed.  But my personal resources are limited.  Today I went to the mechanic to get a new air filter.  I learned I need new head lights, new tires and a new car battery.  The mechanic is completely trustworthy.

There are so many needs, at so many different levels.  I'll listen for God to speak about how I should move forward.

Cindy and her curls

"Good stuff" :-)

Finally!  I thought I was going to explode I was so full with all of the things I have wanted to share with you.  But it has been raining non-stop which means no internet.  It's the kind of rain that leaves lakes in the road and rivers running through the ditches.  I haven't seen this kind of rain since I bought my own car here.  It made me think of all of the time I used to spend with Jairo when he provided my transportation for the first year I lived here.  I remember riding with him and thinking that I never wanted to drive in this weather.  Man hole covers disappear and leave enormous chasms in the road, completely obscured by the lakes of water settled there.  Scary!

Well, before I burst and before the internet dies again let me get started.

As you know, since about August I have been struggling with something.  This is not an appropriate place to share details, but I can share that I feel quite sure I can declare today that:  With wise counsel, support from friends, and biblical reinforcement, I have not only conquered the problem, I have also grown closer to God by experiencing it.  As much as it sucked, I have learned a good lesson.

I am moving forward with more self assurance, more ownership over my role as a missionary in Honduras, and a sense of security I haven't felt since I moved here.  I chatted with Jairo for a few minutes on Facebook and he led me in the right direction.  He told me all answers are in the bible.  Then on Sunday I met with Walter and he was able to point out exact scripture which fit the situation perfectly and told me how to move forward.  My landlords and Eunice have also been extremely supportive.  And of course I always have my Mom.  She has learned, or God has moved her, to be supportive in new ways.  I am very blessed to have so many wise and caring people in my life.

Sooooo...  No more sleepless nights.  At least not about this situation.  No more beating myself up about what I could have done differently, and no more worrying about what I will do in the future.  Bottom line is that Luke 6:27-36 is all I need to know.  Well, I did know it.  But I needed to be reminded.

Okay, so now that that is behind us I have some other cool things to share.

Today was the first day that we returned to the pool.  It did not go as planned.  The soccer coach said he didn't want to coach only 3 girls and he left!  The swimming coaches never showed up at all.  Yet, not one of the kids complained.  They waited for 2 hours in the cold rain, then got on the bus and went back to the church with not a bit of negativity.

It was so great to see them, although there were few today.  I am afraid this is the way January will be.  It is cold and rainy.  I don't blame the kids if they don't want to swim in this weather.  We had 9 hard core swimmers today and 3 soccer players.  In some cases their parents do not allow them to come in this weather, even if they want to.

There is a family that recently joined our group for swimming lessons.  Three little boys have come for the past two weeks with their father and sometimes their mother.  Today they sat with us as we waited for the coaches to come.  The father asked what organization we are with.  The kids and I explained where Iglesia en Transformación is located.  He said he knew the place.

I told him about the Plentiful Life Program.  He shared with me that his church is more about theology.  He wishes that they would get out and do more for the community.  He thanked me for coming to his country and for doing what he believes the people of his country are not doing for themselves.  He said that he and his wife have been watching me.  They discussed me and my relationship with the kids at the pool.  He said he told his wife, "She is here for the children," and that he can see I am following God's will.  WOW!  What a tremendous compliment.

We discussed knowing about God vs. living as a Christian.  I told the man that my church in Honduras is very focused on learning, and we are equally focused on doing in my opinion.  He said that sounds great.  He doesn't often see that balance in Honduras.  I live in a bubble, so I really can't say much about what goes on outside of my church here.  But I can easily rattle off numerous study groups as well as ways that we serve the community ( learning and doing).

He said he believes Hondurans became focused on theology because they have people from other countries coming in and doing for them.  They, themselves, have grown complacent about the doing.  He said he and his wife are leaders in their church and they are struggling to do more.  It was a very interesting conversation.  I felt proud of the the leaders of Iglesia en Transformación and the path they have chosen for the church.  I was also very happy that my actions reflected God's love for the children as this couple watched me from a distance.

Last Sunday after church my friend Ana and her son, Samuel, who is in my preschool class, invited me to their house to meet their new baby kitten.  They were not sure about a name yet.  Ana's four kids and Ana each have a different name for the cat.  They asked if I could determine the sex of the cat.  It's still tiny, only about 4 weeks old I think.  Looks like a boy so far to me.

Ana's son David, is the middle son and doesn't get a lot of 1:1 time despite Ana's effort.  He came with me to shop for lunch fixings.  He was very protective of me and offered perfect advice.  We bought chicken, tortillas, salad fixings, rice, and also beets because they looked good to me.  I got a box of dark chocolate covered cherries, which were on sale after Christmas, for Ana.  She asked me what the brand name on the box meant.  I realized they are "Queen Anne" brand.  Perfect for my friend Ana.

We had a beautiful afternoon together.  She found a special place for me to park my car, way up on the mountain behind her house, in front of a pulperia (tiny neighborhood store) owned by her friend.  Her friend lived in the US for 7 years.  He was very kind.  Thanks to him, we were able to relax and enjoy our time with no worries for my car.  We went through family photos and had a really nice visit.

At one point Ana asked me to put the salad in the fridge.  I did.  Inside the fridge was completely empty aside from a little package of ketchup.  When I left Ana asked if I could drop her off at the bank.  I told her sure.  She stopped before she got out of the car and thanked me for following the idea to come to her house and serve her family.  She said she knows I can't understand how difficult things are.  She's right.  I can't.  I have never had an empty refrigerator with four kids to feed.  But I am glad I was able to buy her a chicken today.  We have plans for another lunch on Friday.

I am going to pray about the idea of asking my friend Ana to make a promise to me.  I am thinking of asking her to promise that if her family does not have food, she will tell me.  I do not want my friend and the children I love to go hungry.  Unfortunately, I know the fact is that other friends and other children whom I love are also going hungry.  This is the second time I have taken food to Ana's house without knowing that she had none.  It would be nice to think God had me swoop in on the two occasions that the family was struggling, but I'm pretty sure it happens far more often than I can imagine.  Thank God for the Breakfast Program.  If Ana is struggling like this, I know there are others in FAR worse situations.  After 3 weeks with no Breakfast Program, I think we will be feeding some hungry kids tomorrow.  And now that I have written this down, I think I will ask my friend Ana to make that promise to me.  I don't have a lot.  But I have never gone hungry.

I learned where Saul lives today too.  It was awesome to see him so proud to show me his home.  It was a tiny pink house on the side of the mountain in Los Pinos.  It was in a place that felt really peaceful to me.  The area even seemed landscaped, though I can't imagine that is true.  The trees were beautiful there.  Saul and I have known each other since 2009.  He was a tiny boy then.  Now he is pretty much an adult.  He started singing at church about a year ago and has grown to be a self assured, seemingly happy young man.  We sang together in the Christmas choir, which was fun.  He also helps me a lot at the Swimming Program.  He's my right hand man.   :)

People here continue to greet each other with "Feliz año".  (Happy New Year)  Greetings are such an important part of Honduran culture.

Tomorrow is the first day of the new school year!  The kids in public school don't go back to school until February.  This is their extended break, like summer vacation in the US.  Tomorrow I am excited to get the preschool rolling.  I have a lot of ideas I added to the last year's format.  It won't look a lot different from the outside, but I am adding some English this year.  I am also going to work more on the alphabet, letter recognition and the kids recognizing (and writing if age appropriate) their names.  I think that is one area I could have done better in last year.

In the past I never included much English because I didn't want to be the North American who came in and pushed my own values on the people here.  However, as more and more people of all ages ask me for help learning English I now see that it is beneficial for the preschoolers to learn basic English when it fits into the curriculum.  I've asked around and everyone seems in agreement.

I feel a new sense of ownership about the preschool class.  What I mean by this is that I feel a sense of personal investment and confidence in my abilities which I never felt before.  In the past when people introduced me as a teacher I would stop them and clarify that I am not really a teacher.  My degree is NOT in education.  Teaching is not a gift I was particularly blessed with.  However, recently I find myself telling people that I am a preschool teacher.  I think that is a good thing.  It is not prideful.  It is owning what I am doing.  Stepping into the shoes and accepting my role.  I can't wait to see how my role will grow in 2014!

I am so excited to see all of the kids tomorrow!  I still don't have a camera and my phone only works when it feels like it.  The touch screen has quite a few dead spots.  I will try to get some photos and upload them while I have internet at the church.

I hope you can sense the happiness, peace and self confidence God has recently placed in me.  It feels great and I want to share it with you.  Thank you for sticking by me.  Thank you for all of the different ways you support me, even by reading this blog.  (Did you know I am pretty sure there is a class of 28 people somewhere in Malaysia that read this blog?  Interesting, huh?  I repeatedly get 28 hits, all in the same day, from Malaysia!)

Feliz año!

Darn.  The power just went out.  Hope I can post this soon.

Note to self:
Keep bedroom door closed when using space heater because when the power goes out it gets cold quickly.
Keep something on hand for dinner that doesn't need to be heated.
And charge the Kindle while you do have power so that when you don't have power you can read.
Welcome to January in Honduras.  Chin up.  It will be over in 3 & 1/2 weeks.

1/1/14

HAPpy New Year!  Feliz año nuevo!

My evening was super fun as I expected.  It started out mellow.  Everyone was dressed up and looking great.  We sat around chatting.  The men played pool.  We grazed on my cookies.

Then suddenly Marcela's Aunt looked startled and said it was midnight.  I said NO and checked the clock on the phone in my hand, which read 12:00.  I was in shock!  It felt like 10 p.m.  We grabbed each other and gave each other a big hug.  Then she said a bunch of nice things about how happy she is to spend the holidays with me and that she hopes every year I spend in Honduras will be better and better.  Everyone hugged and said Happy New Year.

Then we got in line for food.  We had a delicious meal and the dancing began.  They asked if I know how to dance.  I told them all no, but I like to try.  So we danced the rest of the night away.

My favorite part of the night was dancing with Hermida's father.  He is in his 80's and the very definition of spry.  Tonight as he was eating dinner a pool stick fell over behind him.  He lept out of his seat to pick it up.  This man does not move like any other person of his age.  He is a beautiful dancer.

I felt a little silly dancing with him, because I had no clue what I was doing.  But everyone kept telling me I was a great dancer, and I was having a good time, so I kept dancing.  Marcela's uncle got video of me dancing one song with her grandfather.  We watched the video together and he remarked, "Wow, technology these days."

This was one of my favorite New Years Eves ever.  My other favorite was when my friend and I were invited to an Ethiopian restaurant we frequented.  We didn't know that they were closing for good that night and that we were the only ones outside of the restaurant staff and their families who were invited.  They did traditional Ethiopian dances all night and were great sports about teaching us.  We danced Ethiopian style to Snoop Doggy Dog.  It was an honor to be included as guests there.

That was how I felt tonight too.  Now I am getting to know the family well.  I can easily move from room to room and make conversation with whomever is there.  I loved the dancing part.  While merengue is difficult, I must say that Ethiopian is much harder.  A few more merengue lessons and I might feel as good as they say I am.

It was a wonderful New Year's celebration.

New Years Eve!

This morning Hermida called to invite me to her her sister's house to celebrate New Year's Eve.  They have great parties, so that was where I was hoping to go.  But I did also receive invitations from others so I had a few options, which was very nice.

At 10 a.m., my neighbor Gerry called from outside to see if I was awake.  I was, lucky me!  He came bearing a bottle of Ronpopo (spiked eggnog) that his wife made for me.  Her Ronpopo is seriously incomparable.  (I have tried a few just to be sure.)

My internet connection was stronger than usual so I got on line and ordered the birthday present I have been thinking of for my Mom.  I didn't get any Christmas presents for my family this year because of the short notice that I couldn't go home, so I figured I could get Mom something extra fun for her birthday.

Then I made the rounds delivering cookies.  My original plan was to give cookies as gifts for Christmas.  However, only my landlords' relatives got their cookies because we ate the others throughout the day on Christmas.  Luckily I also packed a tin for my landlords' relatives so they also had a real gift to take home.  I didn't expect to, but I still had the ingredients to make them all again.  So that's what we did yesterday.

Today I went to La Tigra and dropped off 2 plates to friends there.  Then I went to El Hatillo and visited my friend Lucy.  We chatted for a while and talked about ideas for the Breakfast Program.  I wasn't really prepared to talk business, but it was nice to hear her ideas.  I think she can bring some really interesting new things to The Vida Plena this year.  She wants to reach out more to the families and said I can help with that, which is something I would like to do.  My final stop was at Walter's mother, Martita's house with my last plate.  I have enjoyed getting to know her and really appreciate her friendship so I wanted to show her my appreciation.

When I got home the men were all loading pick up trucks with chairs and single beds to take to the house where the party will be tonight.  Last week I was told there will be a bed for me if I want to spend the night at this party, but I didn't realize they were bringing in extra beds!  I think this might be a once in a lifetime night!

If only Hermida weren't incapacitated.  She had surgery a few weeks ago on her foot and is in a big cast.  No dancing for Hermida.  The rest of her family can dance.  I am a little intimidated and nervous.  I am not the best dancer, especially when it comes to Latin music.  But I always try.  Hopefully I won't embarrass myself too much.

Here is a bit of Honduran culture that I learned about today:

On the way to La Tigra I noticed these stuffed men sitting on the side of the road.  Most of them had a sign.  This one had kids:

They were asking for "pisto" (slang for money).  The idea is that this man represents the Año Viejo (old year/last year).  They ask for money for fireworks and then at midnight they blow up the man.  Apparently for this family someone wants to give up smoking - note the cigarette in his mouth.  The kids loved having their photo taken!

This año viejo is politically motivated.  They are going to blow up a man representing the incoming president.  They even wrote his slogan on a piece of paper.   'I am going to do what I have to do.'  He was the only one who didn't have a jar or bag to collect money.  I guess they are going to blow him up even if they don't get donations.

This was the first one I took a photo of:

He has a water gun,  I am not sure what is in the red tin.  The can white can is to collect money.

I also followed the Utah bus home.  To my house in Honduras.  (The license plate on the right is a pink skiing themed plate from Utah!)

One of the plates of cookies I will take to the party tonight.

The next time we speak it will be 2014.  I have been thinking a lot about this year.  It all still seems surreal.  I am hoping to summarize my thoughts more clearly and share them with you soon.

Happy New Year!

Calamar

Just got home from a fun night.

Went to the gym this morning.  It was empty.  Got my 4 miles in.  Not as fast as Saturday.  I was over 10 mins/mile.

Baked 4 batches of cookies and cooked 2 batches of peanut brittle, all in three hours this afternoon.  The first batch of brittle didn't turn out.  I wanted to make more but only had peanuts with lime and chile which is really popular here.  Turned out they taste good in peanut brittle.  I'm calling it Honduran Style Peanut Brittle.

Got a little dressed up and went to the sushi restaurant to take them some cookies.  I brought a package for my new friend, Josira, and a plate for the rest of the staff to share.  I know the owners now.  They are really, really sweet.  They have the best calamari I have ever had in my life.  I have tried a lot of calamari, but I have never had calamari that melts in your mouth.  Calamari always has a little bit of chew, just a little, right?  Not at Usami in Tegucigalpa.  It is cooked with a tiny bit of salt and a light tempura batter, served with two slices of lime - no sauce - and it melts in your mouth.  Wow, is it delicious.

When I told the owner how much I love the fried calamari she insisted I try the raw, sushi style calamari.  She said it is different from the calamari they fry.  It was sweet and a little more firm.  Very tasty.

When I arrived at the restaurant tonight the staff asked if I wanted to go on a trip with them.  I asked where they were going.  Turns out they spending Saturday afternoon at a park which they know is not far from my house, so they invited me to come.  I asked if they were bringing family.  They said no, just the staff from Usami and I are going.  I feel honored to be invited!  It should be fun.  It feels good to be branching out my friendships to outside of the church.  I think it is healthy.

I learned it is dangerous to sit at the sushi bar.  They kept slipping me free food all night.  By the time I left I was stuffed and was not charged for half of what I ate.  PLUS it was 2 for 1 night on the things I did order.  I left a good tip.

Then I went outside to get into the car.  The guard is always really kind and thoughtful toward me.  Tonight he saw me looking for a parking space when I arrived and found me a spot when everything was full.  Then as I left, I slipped him a tip.  He helped me back out of my space, as always, and then as I pulled away he waved and called, "Good night, travel safely, Happy New Year!"  All of the well wishes a person could ask for, accompanied by a very energetic wave from the arm that wasn't holding the machine gun.  It was a nice way to end the night.

Jetty seems wheezy.  Going to nebeulize her before bed tonight and hope she won't need another dose at 5 a.m.  I am not sure why she is having a bad day today.  The weather is warm and clear and I haven't sprayed any chemicals or burned any cookies.  Maybe it is still left over from last night's attack.

Tomorrow is NYE!  Marcela said we may not celebrate with her family after all.  There is another family from the church I might call.  If they are celebrating they wouldn't mind if I joined in.  I am going to have a backup plan in case Marcela's family doesn't celebrate tomorrow.

Off to nebeulize the kitty!

5 a.m.

Up again at 5 a.m.  Something irritated Jetty's asthma last night, but I was too lazy to give her a nebeulizer treatment at 11 pm.  Neither of us slept well because she was really wheezy.  When she gets like that for some reason she likes to sleep as close to me as possible.  I think it's for the warmth.  I turned on the space heater and wrapped her up between myself and a pillow.

She started that "cough" thing at 5:09 a.m. so I finally dragged myself out of bed, which I should have done last night, and gave her the nebeulizer treatment.  When it was over she laid there purring as if to say, "Thank you for finally taking care of me."  Now she is resting in the crook of my neck and breathing much better.

If I had gone to the US for Christmas, this would have been the second time she needed the nebuelizer at night and nobody would be here to give it to her.  Miss spending the holidays with my family, but glad I could be here to take care of Jett.

Got one batch of cookies done yesterday and another started, sitting in the fridge overnight.  Gonna hit the gym early, then come home and bake.  Need to remember to buy more saline for the cat.

Gym and cookies

I should be at church right now, but I'm not.  Woke up at 4 a.m. this morning with some sort of stomach thing.  Apparently it was short lived because I felt better by 10 a.m.  Jetty had a little something too.  She threw up on my bed.  At least I was already awake to clean it all up.

Yesterday I went to the gym and was very excited when I did 4 miles in 39 minutes.  I coasted through the last one or I would have been even faster.  Haven't run 10 minute miles since I worked out with the trainer in the US two years ago.  I started working out here, in Honduras, on Nov 6.  Then took 10 days off in December when my first month was over because I didn't want to pay for another month if I was going to the US for Christmas.  In less than 6 weeks I see a huge difference!

I have to admit, I was thinking back to the days when my ski team coach had us outdoors in the freezing cold, running 5 miles to warm up before we even started practice.  That sure was a long time ago.  Today I am a little sore, but that is because I have been integrating weights for the past 2 days.

It was hot and sunny for two days so my truck stayed clean for a whole 24 hours.  Then it rained all night last night.  Maybe I won't drive anywhere today.

Tomorrow gym, then cookie baking, then cookie delivering.  I only have to buy eggs in order to make all of the same cookies I made for Christmas, so it won't even cost any money!

My internet reception has been sparse, so in case I can't write again before Wednesday, Happy New Year!

Keeping up with the holidays

Productive days feel great.  This morning I woke up late, as I have most of this week.  But once I was awake I got things rolling.  It's 4 p.m. and the house is clean, laundry is almost finished, grocery shopping is done, I ran 45 minutes in the gym, then lifted weights and then did pilates, had a light lunch of sushi, and washed the car.

People in Honduras keep their cars really, really clean.  On the way to Tegucigalpa, there is a drainpipe that empties water onto the side of the road when it rains.  Taxi drivers are always there, washing their car in the water from the drainpipe.  Buses here are always clean too.  The end of one bus line is near the church.  I am amazed by how much time people spend cleaning those buses.

I have given up trying to keep my car clean to Honduras standards.  It's a never-ending battle.  It rains almost every day and the road to my house is 6" of mud most of the time.  I am lucky because my car is almost the same color as the mud, so it doesn't show up too much.

Today my car was filthy.  On my way to the gym I kept my eye out for a place that looked reputable.  Right as I turned the last corner I saw a sign that said "Car Wash" with an arrow pointing toward the gym.  I came upon a place that advertised oil changes, breakfast, lunch, and car washes.  Hahahaha!  It was so close to the gym, I thought it would be perfect.  I talked with the guy and felt okay about leaving my car there.

After I got to the gym I realized I had left $25 in the glove box.  It was still there when I got back.  The car was shiny and clean.  And the guy gave me a subtle reprimand for letting it get so dirty.  First he said to me, "You live past El Hatillo."  I told him yes, not wanting to be too specific.  He said he only sees cars this dirty with so much mud "glued" to the bottom from people who live on the road to La Tigra.  He recommended that I come back at least every 15 days to clean the entire car and every 4 days for the bottom.  Tiene razon.  (He's right.)

I find it harder to write in English these days.  Sometimes there are things I can say better, or more easily, in Spanish.

Yesterday and today I been feeling a little off.  I was concerned about how I would do at the gym today.  Yesterday I was a little nauseous when I was running.  Today I just felt weak but I decided to go anyway.  The exercise felt good.  Still, outside of the gym I am not feeling quite right.  No appetite, and I get tired walking up the stairs.  Yesterday I was nauseous and didn't eat.  Today I didn't feel like eating but knew I had to get some food into my tummy.  So I stopped at my favorite sushi place for miso soup.  Nice and salty after all of that exercise and tofu for protein.  Perfect.

I always talk to the waitresses there.  They are really nice.  Sometimes they give me special things for free.  Today they brought a little appetizer of rice noodles and vegetables.  I am getting to know the sushi chefs too.  One of them is a flirt, but it feels nice.  I haven't flirted in so long I forgot how.  So I sit and smile as he tells me and the waitresses how beautiful and sweet I am.

At the grocery store I found four cups that match really well with the dishes my neighbors gave me as a Christmas gift.  That was an exciting find.

Last night I learned that my Aunt needs open heart surgery.  She has a meeting with the surgeons on the second of January to plan the surgery.  I think either my mom or I will go to New York to be with her.

I feel safe, but have been extra, extra cautious over the past few weeks.  About a week ago the embassy sent out a letter saying US citizens in Honduras need to be careful.  A few hours after receiving the letter I went to the mall.  As I approached the elevator in the parking lot I noticed 2 men standing nearby.  After I walked up to the elevator door they came over and stood next to me, ready to get on.  My mental alarm went off.  It was strange they didn't seem to want to get on the elevator until I was waiting to get on it.

There was a construction worker nearby.  I backed away from the escalator and asked the construction worker where were the stairs.  He pointed the way to the stairs, but said the elevator was better.  I subtly pointed out the 2 guys and told him they hadn't approached the elevator until I was ready to get on it.  He told me I could go ahead and take the stairs, but he knew the two guys.  They are security for the mall and they are always around, he said.

I have been extra careful to keep my car doors locked and windows up when I drive.  I only go places where I know the guards - my sushi place and the gym.  I am so blessed to live in a home in a beautiful place, that is about as safe is any house can be, with people who look out for me.

This is the letter I got from the embassy this morning:

The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens that the level of crime and violence in Honduras remains critically high. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning dated June 17, 2013, and includes additional information on crime and security in Honduras, as well as updated contact information.

Tens of thousands of U.S. citizens visit Honduras each year for study, tourism, business, and volunteer work without incident. However, crime and violence are serious problems throughout the country, and the Government of Honduras lacks the resources to address these issues. Since 2010, Honduras has had the highest murder rate in the world. Various institutions and government agencies are still analyzing statistics for 2013. The National Violence Observatory, an academic research institution based out of Honduras’ National Public University, reports that the murder rate was slightly above 81 murders per 100,000 people for January through November.    

Crime and Security Threats

U.S. citizens do not appear to be targeted based on their nationality, and expatriates are victims of crime at levels similar to those of the local population. Most resort areas and tourist destinations have lower levels of crime and violence than other areas of the country, though still high by international standards. In 2012, the Government of Honduras increased police presence and established special police forces in areas frequented by tourists, such as the Copan Mayan ruins and Roatan. Tourists traveling with group tours also report fewer criminal incidents.

The Honduran Government is evaluating similar options for other locations, and major hotels, and other tourist installations have increased private and police security. Some businesses report that extra security costs account for up to 15 percent of their total expenses.

The vast majority of serious crimes in Honduras, including those against U.S. citizens, are never solved; of the 50 murders committed against U.S. citizens since 2008, police have only solved two. Members of the Honduran National Police are known to engage in criminal activity, including murder and car theft. The Government of Honduras lacks sufficient resources to properly investigate and prosecute cases, and police often lack vehicles or fuel to respond to calls for assistance. In practice, this means police may take hours to arrive at the scene of a violent crime, or may not respond at all. As a result, criminals operate with a high degree of impunity throughout Honduras. The Honduran government is in the early stages of substantial reforms to its criminal justice institutions.

Transnational criminal organizations also conduct narcotics trafficking and other unlawful activities throughout the country, using violence to control drug trafficking routes and carry out criminal activity. Other criminals, acting both individually and in gangs in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and other large cities, commit crimes such as murder, kidnapping, extortion, carjacking, armed robbery, rape, and other aggravated assaults.

Kidnappings and disappearances are an ongoing concern throughout the country as well. Kidnapping affects both the local and expatriate communities, with victims sometimes paying large ransoms for the prospect of release. Kidnapping is believed to be underreported. Since January 1, 2012, four cases of kidnapped U.S. citizens were reported to the U.S. Embassy. The kidnapping victims were all subsequently released.

Precautions While in Honduras

U.S. citizens should be vigilant of their surroundings at all times and in all locations, especially when entering or exiting their homes, hotels, cars, garages, schools, and workplaces. Whenever possible, U.S. citizens should travel in groups of two or more. It is also advisable to avoid wearing jewelry and carrying large sums of money or displaying cash, ATM/credit cards, or other valuables. U.S. citizens should avoid walking at night in most areas of Honduras or walking alone on beaches, historic ruins, and trails. Incidents of crime along roads, including carjacking and kidnapping, are also common in Honduras. Motorists should avoid traveling at night and always drive with their doors locked to deter potential robberies at traffic lights and on congested downtown streets.

The location and timing of criminal activity is unpredictable in Honduras. The U.S. Embassy recommends that all travelers exercise caution when traveling anywhere in the country; however, certain areas of the country demonstrate higher levels of criminal activity than others. Most of Honduras’ major cities (Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, and others), as well as several Honduran “departments” (a geographic designation similar to U.S. states) have homicide rates higher than the national average for 2013 thus far, including:

DEPARTMENT                               CAPITAL
Atlántida                                      La Ceiba
Colón                                           Trujillo
Cortés                                         San Pedro Sula
Yoro                                             Yoro

There are no reliable statistics for the department of Gracias a Dios; however, travelers to the area should note that it is a remote location where narcotics trafficking is frequent, and where infrastructure is weak, government services are limited, and police or military presence is scarce.

A Sign

I had a ticket for yesterday to go back to the US and spend Christmas with my family.  However, there were 2 problems.  First, I couldn't afford to buy the ticket to come back to Honduras.  Secondly, Jetty has been struggling with asthma and needs nebeulization when she has an attack.

Recently Jetty has been doing well with just pills.  Her asthma seemed better.  I was thinking I could have gone to the states and left her in the neighbor's care.  But during the night a cold front rolled in.  The wind was strong, the temperature dropped, and Jetty started to wheeze.

I am taking this cold front as God's way of letting me know I made the right choice - to stay in Honduras for Christmas.  Jetty needed a nebeulizer treatment this morning.  I am hoping that she won't need more treatments, but I will be here if she does.

Yesterday I started making Christmas cookies.  My touch was a little off.  I undercooked the 7 layer cookies and burned peanut brittle.  Finally I made a portion of lasagna in a bread pan and gave up on the cookies.  Today I am hoping my baking talents will be back.

For the past 24 hours lots of loud fireworks have been going off.  The celebration has begun!

Hope you all are enjoying Christmas Eve!

Celebrating Christmas

I noticed something interesting over the past few weeks.  I have even done some research about it once I noticed the pattern.  It is my newest reason to love Honduras.

When people in the US bump into a friend the big question is (and has been for weeks), "Are you done with your shopping yet?"

This usually is followed by one of 2 responses.  "Yes, I was done in November."  Or "No.  I still have to find something for my ...  I have no idea what to get for that guy."

In Honduras the most commonly asked question is about where and with whom you will celebrate Christmas.  And then they want to know what you will eat.

Nobody mentions the hustle and bustle.  Nobody talks about being exhausted and overwhelmed.  Nobody talks about feeling financially stressed.

Interesting, huh?

My research showed that it is not because I am from the US that people here ask me where and with whom I will celebrate.  Everyone is asked this because it is common to travel within the country and visit extended family for several weeks at a time over Christmas.  (Many of my friends have parents who live in the country several hours away.  Job opportunities brought them to the city many years ago, but they go to the country to visit their extended family for Christmas.)

People here also want to know what kind of tamales you are eating because there are special kinds just for Christmas.  Some people make them themselves.  Some order them from their favorite tamale maker weeks in advance.

We had our Christmas celebration at the church yesterday.  It was great.  They've been working on it for weeks and it's been a huge secret.  I watched them transform the church this week.  Saturday morning when I drove in I was stopped by a burro.  It was tied up on the side of the driveway and decided it preferred to stand across the driveway so I couldn't pass.  Overnight a corral was built and two sheep appeared outside my office.

The church members dressed up and told the story of Jesus' birth in a play, with music interspersed.  The play was really well done.  I sang in the Christmas choir.  That was fun!  Watching the play, I felt like a kid again.  It was fun to get excited for Christmas.

We stayed after church and ate tamales.  Tiny Lorenzo had at least 3 that I saw.  A lady sold Ronpopo (homemade eggnog with rum).  I got lots of hugs from lots of kids.  I was introduced to Moms and Grandmothers I hadn't met before.  And I was asked a million times, "Where are you celebrating Christmas?"

I haven't bought any gifts yet.

Powerful socks

Tuesday when we got back to the church after a morning of swimming and girls' fútbol, the girls were scrambling to figure out how to wash their uniforms.  Apparently the church was short on water and normally they are not allowed to take the uniforms home with them.  One of the older girls offered to wash the uniforms for the entire team at  her house.  While I thought that was amazingly generous and sweet, it didn't seem fair.  Especially since none of the kids have a washing machine at home.  She would be washing everything by hand.  I told them to put everything in a bag and I would wash it.  Little did I know what I was in for.

When I got home that night and opened the bag, the smell was enough to knock me over!  It was powerful - especially the socks.  I washed everything twice, but most of it still stunk, so I left the socks to soak in sudsy water and coated some of the armpits in laundry detergent for the night.

The next day I washed everything a third time.  Finally it was clean.

I tossed it in the dryer for a few minutes.  Thank God I went back to check on it.  I was afraid things would shrink or bleed.  Well, the colors did not bleed, but the smell of those socks, warmed by the dryer sure did.  It stunk up everything in the dryer!  All I could think of was a song we sing in church.  I think it is called "Poderoso" which means powerful.  I had that song in my head all night, "Poderoso, Poderoso, Me libraste (You freed me), Me salvaste (You saved me)".  I pulled the socks out of the dryer and hung them.  Then I stuck an extra dryer sheet in with the shorts and shirts to try to kill the powerful smell.  Afterward I hung everything instead of storing it in a bag overnight.

This morning I bagged the socks separately, although they seemed to be okay, and took them to the church.  The girls raced up to my car to greet me as they do every morning and I told them I have their clean uniforms.  I told them I also have a new song for them because the smell of their uniforms was powerful.  We had fun all morning joking about the powerful uniforms and changing the lyrics of the song to fit the stinky socks.

It's funny how sometimes the simplest things can be really funny - like stinky socks.

Tuesday I had another strange laugh.  I was telling someone at the church that one of the girls had shown up for the swimming program that morning with a broken arm.  The adult asked me which of the kids it was because there are several with the same name.  I replied, "La loca."  (The crazy one - because she is really wild.)  The person told me "Shhhhhh!  The other kids will hear you!"  I was a little confused because in English to say someone is crazy, especially the way I meant it - that she is very active - is fine.  But the person corrected me saying "La negrita?"  (The black?)

I realized a while ago, I have no idea which kids are considered "negro" and which aren't.  Now that I see them in bathing suits I have noticed that some are more dark skinned than others.  But it was never obvious to be before.  In Honduras it is completely acceptable, at least with the people I know, to call someone "Negro".  It is never, ever meant in a negative way.  It is a nickname and usually intended as a term of endearment.  Many spouses call their other spouse "Negro" or "Negra".  It is still strange to my North American mind to hear, but there is clearly no harm meant by it.

I think nicknames in general are more common here.  We have a "pony", a 'rabbit', a 'little rabbit', a 'baby rabbit', some 'skinny', many men and kids known as 'fat' and a ton of "negro" and "negras" of all ages.  But in my mind "la loca" seemed kinder than "la negra".  I still have a lot to learn.  In the meantime, I think I'll stay away from describing people by anything other than the color of their shirt.  That should be safe, right?

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.