A Life Lesson in Los Pinos

Due to heavy rains, we have had very little internet service for the past 24 hours.  It has been an eventful 24 hours, which part of me was dying to share.  Another part of me is extremely hesitant to write this because it is bound to send my mother and some members of my church in the US into a panic.  But I can't just write about the cheery stuff and leave out the not-so-cheery stuff.  So here goes:

Yesterday I was supposed to leave with Fany and her friend at 7:30 a.m. to go to the Women's Conference.  I didn't consider setting an alarm.  At 7:32 when I woke up I could hear Fany outside.  A few minutes later I heard her say, "I think Mary Lynn isn't awake yet." They had been bathed and ready since 6 a.m.

I threw on clothes. brushed my hair and teeth, and ran out the door.  We ended up being right on time, actually a little early, for the event.  Everything was fine.

The conference was for women who have been abused or are suffering abuse.  We also talked about the laws and how to help someone who is in an abusive situation.  There was a nice time of worship and then prayer at the end.  Everyone really enjoyed our time together.  A friend of mine decided that she will press charges against her husband for emotional and physical abuse.  We are going to help her with that tomorrow.

Nathan opening the conference with his shofar

My friend Oneida

Women in worship

Ilsa came from Danli

Gracie Murphree taught us the laws and definitions of abuse

Gracie guarding her heart...

Pastora Ruth - I love her smile in this one

Pastora Ruth preaching

Two of the most powerful and awesome women I know - Gracie and Pastora Ruth

I learned today that this woman's husband told her she was not allowed to attend the conference
She attended and won a new bible.  She was so excited to have her own bible!
Then she returned home to have glasses thrown at her last night.
But she was still at church this morning.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch!

My guests - Ilsa, Fany, Erika and Ana

Fany

Ilsa and Fany

After the conference I had the scariest experience of my life.  I am thinking back, and I honestly can't remember a time I was ever more afraid.  Before I go on, let me say that I have learned from this experience and will not allow it to happen again.

I dropped off Ilsa and Fany at our house, then drove toward the airport to drop off two more people and pick up some flyers from Molly.  It was raining at my house, but the rain had not arrived yet at Molly's house.  Molly handed over the flyers and asked if I could give a friend of hers a ride to Los Pinos too.  I said sure.  I was headed that way.

It started to rain right at the entrance for Los Pinos.  We came to Ana's house first, but Ana said she didn't want to get out in the rain, which was coming down hard at that point.  She said she'd rather ride with me to the pastor's house to drop off the flyers at the church in Los Pinos.  Erika decided to ride along too.  So we headed up the hill, dropping off Molly's friend along the way.

I stood outside in a DOWNPOUR - the kind of rain where you are instantly drenched to the skin the second you get out of the car.  No matter how hard I banged on the pastor's gate, nobody answered.  Ana came and stood beside me with an umbrella, which did feel nice since the rain was cold.  We were both soaked and neighbors were yelling that the pastor was not at home.  Confused, I called Molly. I thought she had called the pastor to let him know I was coming, but she had not.

As we headed back down to Ana and Erika's homes I noticed the rain was starting to flow like a river down the road.  A young girl I've known for years was the only person outside.  She was huddled in a doorstep, caught outside in the rain too.  There was no way for me to help her.  In fact, that was when I realized that the water was coming down the hill so swiftly that we should not be driving on the road.

I said to Ana that I didn't feel comfortable driving and I wanted to wait out the rain.  She agreed and we pulled over onto a side road that had no water flowing down it at all.  It felt like a safe shelter.  Below I noticed buses, first one, then a second, then a third, all pulled over, waiting out the rain as we were.  I decided I had made the right decision.  If the buses weren't driving on these roads then neither should I.  We waited about five minutes.

Meanwhile, Ana called home to explain why we were so late.  She left her 16, 11, 5 and 2 year old at home with her sister-in-law.  Her son said they were hiding under Ana's bed because the roof had blown off the house.  Not something you hear often in the US, but (unfortunately) very common in Los Pinos.

Ana was anxious to get home, but didn't want to take any chances.  She told them to stay under the bed until she got there.  At that point we started to pray out loud together.  Knowing Ana's house is one of the strongest in Los Pinos I began to worry for Erika's house.

Eventually the rain let up a little.  The buses turned around and headed down the mountain. I fell in line behind them with my flashers on, going very slowly.  I drove on whichever side of the road the river was not flowing as we took the curving path downward.

Finally we got to the turnoff for Erika's house.  Like the side road where we had been waiting out the storm, Erika's road was clear.  I told her I would drive her as far as I could, as long as the road was okay, and we headed from the valley, back up the side of the mountain.  Everything was fine, until it started to sleet or hail, or whatever it does at warmer temperatures.  I wasn't sure the windows would hold up.  It was the first time I have ever literally seen the rain coming down in "sheets".  Now I know what that saying means.

We made it to the path to Erika's house. I was desperate to get out of there, but I couldn't kick her out into that horrible storm.  Normally when it rains everyone just stops where they are and waits for it to pass.  So Erika was calm, waiting in the back seat.  Meanwhile, I was desperate to get Ana back home to her kids.  Little did I know the worst was still ahead of us.

Once it stopped coming down in sheets I encouraged Erika gently to go, but the storm was still heavy and she waited it out.  Finally (only a couple of minutes later) the rain actually did let up, just long enough for Erika to get out of the car.  As soon as she scurried down the hill it poured again.  Ana yelled that she saw a mudslide crossing the path where Erika had to go.  I didn't know what to do.  Soon Ana said, "There!  She is in!  Erika just went into her house!"

I headed back down, relieved that Erika had made it safely.  The roads there are steep, but they were clear and not too covered in rain.  Then we got back to the main road.  At the same time we both said, "We can't go."  The main road was a raging river.  The water was coming  down from the right so hard that when it hit the speed bump in the road, it flew up and came down like a huge waterfall.  Rocks floated by.  A soccer ball.  All sorts of garbage and stones.  The water was dark with mud.

Once again, we had to stop.  There was no way I could drive in that water.  We were so close to Ana's house.  Yet so far.  But we were safe.  Praise God, we were safe.  Ana and I prayed more.  We thanked the Lord for keeping Erika safe and for our safe shelter in that place.  We thanked Him for my car, which is strong and reliable.  We prayed for the kids in Ana's house.  And that the water would lower so we could pass.

I guess the water must have lowered.  At least it seemed to.  A big flat bed truck drove past, so I followed it down to Ana's house.

The road we were on is the valley.  On one side is the hill where Erika lives.  The hill where Ana lives on the other side.  There is a creek that runs through normally.  The creek was still there, rising high at the bridge by Ana's house.  But the water in the road was running almost as powerfully as the creek.

I pulled off of the road to let Ana out.  The flat bed in front of me stopped.  The side wall of the bridge was missing.  All of the water from the road gushed off the side of the bridge into the creek.  Water came from Erika's mountain and from the road, joined together at the bridge and poured into the creek.  It was a mess.

I told Ana I couldn't make it through that much water.  She said we have to just wait until the water lowers.  I couldn't help but think about how my buddy Saul had almost been killed by a car that came down the mountain from Ana's side and went into the creek.  It is only right now that I realize that event had nothing to do with rain - it was bad brakes.

I couldn't tell if the current on the bridge was strong enough to pull a car into the creek, which was now a fast flowing river.

We sat and watched as a few cars drove through.  I was not convinced.  I told Ana I would have to drive far to the left, but she was worried about the invisible overflowing drainage ditch on that side.

Then a car came through and died in the middle of the bridge.  It didn't float away, which had been my fear.  For a while it seemed that the car would remain there, blocking the bridge.  Then 10 or more people waded in to help push the car out.  Ana and I thought the car died because the motor got wet.  She told me not to drive to fast because the waves would wet my engine too.

I noticed that even with all of those people, it was really difficult for them to push the car.  Another car passed, and then the truck behind me started to go.  I told Ana to hop out, I was going to follow after the truck.

She ran over to a porch nearby and waited.  Meanwhile, a woman who had helped push the car banged on my window and yelled something about the mountain.  Then a boy, about 18 years old, dressed in only shorts and shivering from the cold came over to my car.  He said, "Señora! You can't pass.  The road is full of glass.  The car's motor didn't die.  All of it's tires are popped.  You have to turn around."

Turning around was something I had briefly considered.  But I know that road.  It is horrible with a little bit of rain.  I knew it would be impassable.  That wasn't even an option.  Today on the news I saw people wading through water up to their shoulders.  I would have been exactly where they were, if I had turned around.

I considered leaving the car and spending the night at Ana's.  But what if the car was swept away?  Or stolen?  That was not a great option either.

A few more cars drove across the bridge.  The boy and I held our breath and watched.  None of them appeared to have flat tires.

The rain seemed to let up.  The water seemed to be going less swiftly.  I looked at the boy and he looked at me.  I said, "I am going."  He said, "Go Señora!  If something happens we are here to help you!"  (I have never been called señora before, and hope not to be called señora again for many years, but at that moment those words sounded so sweet.)

I yelled, "I GO WITH GOD!" and I slowly started across the bridge.  As I got halfway across a car decided it was going to cross from the opposite direction.  I couldn't believe it!  Of all the things I had taken into consideration, this was not one. There was not enough room on the road for both of us, but I was more than half way across and not about to stop.  I laid on the horn and kept moving slowly and steadily across the bridge.  When I was almost nose to nose with the guy he swerved off toward the drainage ditch.  I must admit, I didn't look back to see what happened to him.

On the other side I took a deep breath and started to cry.  I still get teary, thinking about it.  Most of my tears were of gratitude.  I cried because God had protected me, my car, and everyone in it.

During one of times we were waiting, Ana had told me not to drive by the factory on the way home.  She said the road gets really bad there, which makes sense because it is low ground.  I know people who have blown tires there because the manhole covers come off in the rain.  If the road is wet and you can't see the pavement your whole wheel can fall inside.

However, when I got to the corner by the buses, the road where I wanted to turn was blocked off.  The little street market was destroyed and about twenty people were standing around looking at something.  All I could see was the door of a car and the flooded road.  There didn't seem to be a car attached.  I never found out what was going on there.  The news today only said that the vendors lost everything.

I was forced to go the way that Ana told me not to go, instead of the short cut that led directly to my house and to higher ground.

Crying, I continued on.  My plan was to catch the short cut a little ways up.  But that was where I saw the worst of everything.  Cars at that intersection had water mid-way up their windows.  There was garbage floating everywhere.  Two or three men were pulling a motorcycle out of the flood.  No short cut for me.

Traffic was slow, but uneventful from that point forward.  I called Ana to make sure she got to her house.  We both grumbled about the man who had crossed the bridge from the other direction at the same time that I went across.  She was home.  Her chickens lost all of their feathers, but with more nails her roof would be okay in a day or two.  And the kids were scared, but fine.

As I pulled up to my house, all I wanted was to be inside, out of the rain.  Fany's husband, Santos, was working on his car in the driveway.  He stopped me to chat.  I don't think he understood how traumatized I was.  He asked if he could borrow my car to buy a part that he needed to fix his car.  Normally Santos never asks me for anything, but if he does, I always say yes.  As soon as I heard that he wanted to drive somewhere I told him NO!  You can't drive!  All of the roads are flooded.  There are no pothole covers on any of the potholes.  I almost just died!

Santos probably thought I was crazy because it was raining steadily, but not hard at our house at that point.

It rained all through the night, that same steady rain.  I changed into warm, dry clothes.  Then Fany made dinner and helped me relax.  By the time I came home last night my kitchen floor was flooded.  Fany's was even worse.  I kept thinking that if our nice houses are like this, what is happening in Los Pinos?

Today the rain stopped.  I woke up still a little shaken.  At church I gave a testimony about the whole experience.

What I have now learned is that if it rains in Los Pinos, you have about 20 minutes to get out safely.  Otherwise, this is a typical occurrence.  I have already decided that I will limit my trips into Los Pinos during the rest of the rainy season.  On the days that I do go to Los Pinos, at the first drop of rain, I am getting out of there.  That was enough of a life lesson for me.

Tomorrow, Tomorrow!

The marches have increased from once/week to once/day.  Today there are three.  I was going to go to the church to prepare for the WOMEN'S CONFERENCE!!!!!!!! tomorrow (Yay! The 13th has finally arrived!) but I can't because they are having the torch march on the street outside the church.

The torch march is the "good people" who march peacefully to shed light of the corruption of this government.  But you never know who else can show up at these marches and cause trouble, so it is best to stay away.

There is another march at 4 p.m. on a different main street.  These marches have been announced for at least a week in advance, so everyone knows to plan around them.  But now, the "bad people" are marching at the same time on the biggest route and only other option for people to drive home.  They just announced it menacingly on Facebook, that nobody should dare take El Anillo (the four lane highway) from beyond the airport, which is way outside of the city, and into the city past my house.

Unfortunately for Molly and me, we moved our morning prayer time to the afternoon.  Now we will not be able to pray together this week because I get to and from her house on El Anillo.  Our time of prayer is very important to both of us.  We are disappointed to miss it.  But safety comes first!

Fany's friend from Danli arrived this afternoon for the conference.  She is in a sexually, physically and verbally abusive marriage with a man who is a black belt in karate.  It is a miracle he allowed her to leave the house and be here, but God paved the way, so I believe she will receive a lot tomorrow in the conference. The conference is to specifically address abuse, past and present, to inform women of their rights and to provide healing.  I have big expectations.

Last night I could barely sleep.  My mind kept telling me that it was Friday night and I had to wake up soon to pick up everyone I am bringing with me.  With your support, we ended up sponsoring 15 women who otherwise could not afford to attend.  Tomorrow we will all dress up and enjoy our time together with other women and God.  It is going to be amazing!  Thank you for your help.

The rainy season continues.  Personally I like it.  The leak in the roof over my pillow makes things a little inconvenient.  But I can make adjustments.  Yesterday Laura, Fany's three year old came over to visit and fell on the floor just inside the door for the second time in a row.  That was when I noticed I have a very big leak right above the entry to my house.  At least it's a good spot because I can mop all of the water straight out the door, but of course I would prefer not to have the hole at all.

Fany says that the rule of thumb is nobody can go up to patch a roof unless we have two straight days of sun because otherwise the roof is too slippery.  She has a hole in the middle of her kitchen that floods her kitchen every time it rains.  She she and I are both awaiting two straight days of sun.  The way things are going right now, we are lucky to have 2 straight hours.  In the morning it is sunny for a little while but by 11 a.m. it clouds up.  We have had at least 3 heavy storms every day lately.

Yesterday two people here, in the city, died.  One was a taxi driver whose cab flipped over and he drowned.  The other was an older lady.  I am not sure what happened to her.  I called yesterday and today to check in on Erika.  She said everything is fine.  She and her family are safe.  Her brother, Junior, got on the phone and talked to me for a few minutes.  He is so funny!  And their grandmother, whom I met when Erika's baby was sick, wanted to tell me hello.  Then they all say I love you!  That is one cultural difference of which I will never tire - kids who love to talk on the phone and tell you repeatedly that they love you.

My friend Emi had to go in her Nissan Exterra and rescue a family she works with yesterday because their roof came off the house and one of the walls fell down.  She had some crazy video of her drive to get to the home.  I am blessed with strong house in an area that is less likely to flood and is not on a steep slope.  I praise God for Ana's house which, although on a steep slope is strong and sturdy.  But Erika's house I still worry about.

Yesterday after checking in with Erika, I called Ana to see how she is doing.  She said that all of her family has officially had the chikungunya now.  David got through the three days of a high fever and he is currently resting, feeling weak and sore from the bone aches.  Ana is hoping to get a window put into her house.  She said right now there are as many mosquitoes inside as there are outside, due to a window having broken.  She didn't have the money to pay for repair and her family certainly suffered for it.

At the same time this has been a week of incredible blessings for Ana for many personal reasons.  She believes the future looks bright for her and her family.  I am happy for my friend and grateful to God for all He is doing in her life.  I can't think of anyone who deserves it more than Ana, a woman who constantly gives of herself selflessly, and asks nothing in return.

I'll post photos tomorrow,  Right now I cannot upload photos bc the internet is not strong due to the rain.  Glad I talked to Erika .  Still concerned for her, but feeling better after having spoken to her today.  Lots and LOTS of rain..

Preparation

More preparation for the women's conference this weekend.  I picked up my friend Kathy, who is going to lead worship for the conference.  We went to the church so she could meet Pastora Ruth and check out the instruments she will use to lead worship on Saturday.

We had a time of prayer and then a beautiful, beautiful time of worship.  Although there were only five of us, when our voices united it sounded like a whole church full of people.  The Holy Spirit was present.  I wished that time of worship could go on forever.

In total I received $150 of donations for the women's conference.  That will pay for 15 women to attend!  I am beyond excited to see what God has in store for everyone.  I love the way He has put this together.  He has united the best of the best.  It is going to be just incredible.  My heart is full of hope and joy for what God is going to do through this conference.

Today Ruth told me that a lawyer is going to be at the conference too.  If the women need advice about how to move forward from abusive situations, the attorney will offer legal advice.  It feels like this conference could be two full days of information instead of only a few hours.

I am enjoying the rainy season.  It's raining every day, sometimes all day and sometimes just in the evening throughout the night.  It has been a peaceful rain.  Not the kind of rain that sends homes like Erika's tumbling off the side of the mountains in Los Pinos.  I'm grateful for that.  Lying in my bed at night and listening to the rain on the palm branches of the platano tree is a perfect way to relax.

Today we were supposed to have our intercession meeting at 5 p.m.  I was looking forward to praying for the women's conference together with others.  However, Pastora Ruth called me to say that she was about to leave the city and get her kids out too.  Our time of intercession was cancelled because there was another protest on the street outside the church so we would not be able to get there.

So far all of the protests have been peaceful.  The people are asking for the president to step down, or for a formal investigation into the allegations that the president has been stealing money.  People are hoping that their peaceful protests will be as effective as the protests in Guatemala.  It is interesting to see in the news how much Guatemalans are rooting for us.  Every article I read has encouraging comments from Guatemalans.  I like to see the two countries united in one cause.

Although it has all been peaceful, the number of protests is increasing - even in the rain.  When crowds of people gather, it can attract people who are not there for the right reason.  Organizers of the protests have people in place to encourage peace and discourage any kind of aggression.  I am proud of how things are going so far.  People are voicing their anger or concern in appropriate, productive ways.  But it was still a wise decision to cancel the time of intercession for today.

Cliff Jumping

What a day!  I had to be at the US Embassy at 10 a.m. this morning.  To me, the embassy is an intimidating place.  There are always enormous lines of people on the sidewalk, waiting to go inside.  They get in line at 4 a.m. and wait there all day.

It was very uncomfortable to be a North American and walk right past all of those people in line, who may be desperately hoping for a new life.  I remember when Jairo and his family had to wait in those lines.  We prayed and prayed for them.  As I walked past the people, I prayed that God's plan for them be fulfilled - whatever that plan may be.  That was the best prayer I could think of.

One man was holding a variety of photos in his hand as I passed.  He said to me, "You look like my Mother-in-Law.  Can you help me?"  I am not really sure what he wanted.  I think he wanted me to get a passport for her.  There was a lot of desperation on that sidewalk.

I parked my car a few blocks away and broke all of the rules I was taught, walking alone in the streets with my passport and money.  I had to leave my key fob locked inside the car.  They still took my car key away at the security checkpoint.  The only thing you can bring into the embassy is your passport, your money, and your documentation.  NOTHING else.

I passed by more lines of people inside and was directed to an empty room were one man sat alone waiting.  There was a sign that said to take a number if you don't have an appointment, so I grabbed lucky number 33 and sat down.  Immediately a lady called number 33.  She requested my paperwork, asked me to sign and date it, and told me to go to the next window to pay.  I paid $110, then was told to go back to the first lady with my receipt.  The first lady gave me a piece of paper and told me to come back on June 28th at 10 a.m. to pick up my new passport.  The whole experience only took 10 minutes.  Everyone was very nice and polite.  But the tension among the crowd outside of the "US Citizen room" was palpable.  My heart hurt for them.

Since I had parked on the other side of my doctor's office I had walked through the office building to get to the embassy.  Safer than walking on the street.

On the way back I decided to stop in and make an appointment.  I've had a headache and stomach problems for several days straight.  It's been coming and going for weeks.  I am tired of being sick so much of the time.

They said I could wait in line, or make an appointment for 1 p.m.  Since there were errands I could do, I told them I would come back for the 1 o'clock appointment.

I went to my vet and asked where they thought I might find cat food.  Supposedly it is not being imported to Honduras anymore.  The vet didn't have any and the three malls nearby are out too.  They did some calling and found me one bag of cat food that I can pick up tomorrow.  Then they suggested trying a different place which wouldn't pick up its phone, but was close.  It is right by the famous McDonalds where they sell puppies, but somehow I couldn't find the place.  Finally I stopped and asked an ice cream man.  He told me he has never seen a vet in that area, but he knew a different one close by.  She, too, was out of cat food but she told me that there is a distribution place right by my church.  She called them and they had a lot of cat food.  I could buy as much as I'd like.

I thought I was only about 3 blocks from my normal routes, but somehow I ended up lost in El Centro (downtown) - breaking another big rule.  Jairo told me he didn't want me to drive in El Centro, especially not all alone!  But that is what I proceeded to do, going in circles for about an hour.  It is really hard to drive there.  Streets are one way with no signage. You are just supposed to know.  Same thing with stop signs.  The blocks are tiny with no stop signs at the intersections. You never know who has the right of way, unless you are a local who has lived there for years.  It is so confusing and frustrating!

At one point, I turned to go down a hill, not realizing the hill was so steep that I would not be able to see the road below me once I turned.  That was the scariest part of all.  I literally had no idea what was below me.  It was like jumping off a cliff in your car.  I went slowly, slowly, and prayed to God that the road was below me and that my brakes would keep the car from crashing to the bottom.  Once I made it off the main road and the car was fully on the side road, I was headed straight down, just like a roller coaster ride.  (Fany later told me that road has a special name and is famous because it is so steep.  "Wow," she said. "You were very far from where you wanted to be."  Yes.  Yes I was.)

Thank God I just drove in that area yesterday with Pastora Ruth.  Some things looked familiar enough for me to know that I was far from where I should be.  At one point I knew where I was, but then I took a wrong turn again.

Finally I decided to drive uphill to look for familiar landmarks below.  It was a lot nicer up there, with fancy houses.  A man was standing on the side of the road and he didn't look too scary so I decided I had no choice but to ask for directions.  My heart could not take any more cliff jumping in a car.  When I told him where I wanted to go he just shook his head and said, "That is far."  I told him, "I know.  I am lost."  He said to go back in the direction I had just come, take a left, go two more blocks and take another left.  Then stop and ask someone.  I managed to get lost again.  Where I was supposed to stop and ask someone there was a dead end street with a school whose kids were crowding the road as they left for the day.

Finally I was at a cathedral and park I recognized. ("Oh no!" said Fany.  "You were there!?!!?!" as I recounted the story.)  Not a great part of town to hang out in, especially alone.  I came upon a line of taxis.  One man was outside of his car and would have been easy to ask directions from, but he was urinating.  I pulled ahead of him and pulled up to a driver inside a car, waiting for a fare.  As I started asking for help the urinating man finished and came over to see what I needed.  He said (you guessed it), "That is far!"  I know.  I know.

He offered to ride with me and guide me back to where I needed to go, but I could never, ever allow anyone to get into my car with me.  I probably shouldn't have even rolled down my window to ask for directions.  He understood that.  So he found another taxi driver who was headed to where I needed to go.  He stopped the taxi and told the driver to let me follow him.  That is how I got out of El Centro today.  I followed the taxi driver until I knew where I was again.  What a relief I felt at that point!

After all of that craziness, I went to the cat food distribution place that I drive past all of the time, but never noticed before.  They had three bags of cat food and said they expect to get more.  They have not heard anything about no more importation.  So I bought all they had and left thankful to be alive and safe, with food for the cat.

By then it was time to go to the doctor.  Along the way, I ran into the ice cream cart man who had given me directions for the cat food place.  He was a long ways from where I had seen him before.  I stopped and thanked him.  He said, "Now we know each other, so any time you see me I will always help you."  He was a sweet ice cream cart man.

It is totally worthwhile to get an appointment at my doctor's office.  They called me in right away.  I explained that I had been there a few weeks ago with symptoms of "the bacteria" and I still don't feel good.  Once again the doctor poked and prodded.  Then she showed me a poster of stomach organs.  She said it goes by many names, but no matter what you call it, my colon and stomach are irritated.

The doctor asked if I know believe in God.  (Imagine that happening in the US?!!)  I said, "Yes.  I am a missionary.  In fact here is the bible I brought to read in the waiting room."  She smiled and said, "Here is my sword."  She pulled out a well worn bible from a cubby next to her.  She told me that I am carrying around too much stress and I need to hand it over to God.  She asked what happened when all of this started.  I was able to pinpoint some things.  She said that she understands being under stress, and talked about her life being stressful too.  She has had stomach problems and migraines as well.  But we need to give our problems to God. Otherwise I will always need medicine for a headache and a stomach ache.  I told her I am trying.

Then she wrote on a note pad the name of a medicine that is supposed to relax my muscles, but still allow me to drive and function well.  It was non-prescription.  So far it hasn't helped at all.  She gave me something else that is supposed to help my stomach.  We talked about what I should eat.  I can eat potatoes, yogurt, and fruit.  That's about it.  Papaya is best, but that is the one and only food in the whole world that I really don't like.  The doctor said she never liked it either until she saw how much better her stomach feels when she eats it.  Hopefully my taste buds will change their mind too.

Tomorrow I am meeting with Pastora Ruth to introduce her to my friend, Kathy.  Kathy is going to lead the worship music for the women's conference.  She is the absolute perfect person to do that.  I love how God has put together the best person for each part of our women's conference.  I am praying that many woman will be moved to come and be blessed there.

Visiting Gracie

Pastora Ruth asked me to go with her today to meet Gracie, a woman I know and admire.  Gracie is going to speak at our women's conference.  It was a beautiful drive to Gracie's house.

A glimpse of Tegus in rainy season

Gracie is the woman I wrote about several months ago who rescues abused women and children.  We got to see all of Gracie's ministry.  She currently has 44 people living on her small property. Three are paralyzed children, some are abused children, some are women pregnant as a result of incest (although I struggle to call an 11 year old a "woman").  There are also women who are in hiding after escaping abusive home lives.

At the conference Gracie will speak about the rights and obligations of a woman to report abuse from a legal and biblical basis.

I also got a chance to talk to Gracie about working with her in the new and improved Honduran foster care system.  Gracie is on the board of directors of a non-profit group which works under the government foster agency.  She would like for me to do monthly home assessments in Tegucigalpa.  The plan is to eventually cut out the orphanages and move all kids in foster care to homes.

Gracie was thrilled to hear that I have a degree in psychology and plenty of experience doing home assessments from the years I worked for DCFS and the Public Guardian's office in the US.  We believe it should be a good fit.  I'm looking forward to starting this project in the fall.

After our meeting, Ruth and I are even more excited about the women's conference.  I believe that every woman who attends is going to be blessed in amazing ways.  Can't wait to tell you all about it!

Prayer and protests

Today is Pastora Ruth's birthday.  I arrived at our time of intercession (prayer group) to find that we were celebrating with pupusas!  After our time of prayer, Alexander (the Pastora's son) and his girlfriend, Carmen, arrived with coffee flavored cake.  It was yummy and even moist, unlike most cakes in Honduras.  Although I did have another good cake last week when the team from Salt Lake was here.  Two good cakes is a record!

Molly and I had a good time of prayer this morning too.  It is nice to have that time together to talk over the work we are doing together, check in with each other about how to proceed, and also to support each other in every day life things.

Raising two kids is a lot of work, especially when they come from such a different culture.  On top of that Jennifer, the girl who just started college, has needed hours and hours of help with homework.  Molly has her hands full.  I am honored to support her, whether that be as an ear to listen or a voice to pray or an adult to babysit while she continues the eternal search for a reliable car in Honduras.

Last night I did a bunch of assignments that were recommended to me by a lady from Honduran Fellowship.  She provides support for missionaries here, in Honduras.  I took a Briggs Myers personality test.  I came out as a counselor.  Not surprising.  Another thing I learned it that only 2% of the population views things as I do, which explains a lot.  No wonder I feel misunderstood so frequently.

I also did a test about motivational gifts.  The purpose is to learn where your strengths lie in serving others.  Turned out my gifts are in the areas of encouragement and mercy, with a little bit of prophecy thrown in there.

I was not surprised I am not a teacher.  I have been saying that since 1997 when I was working as a teacher's aide and everyone said I should teach.  Teaching is not my gift.

Also didn't score high on administration and ruling.  Although I can step up when necessary, I prefer to be more behind the scenes.

I was a little surprised that I am not gifted in giving.  Living in Honduras has taught me that giving can cause problems.  Big ones.  So probably my desire to give has shifted due to the vast problems that giving can cause here.

The thing that struck me as I looked over these results is that I believe if Molly took this exam, her strengths would fill in exactly where I am not as strong, and my strengths will compliment her as well.  She is going to take the test to see if I am right.

Today I learned that I have a new monthly sponsor!  That was exciting news.  The person also wants to give an offering to my church.  What a huge blessing, to both the church and to me.  Sometimes (many times) God blesses us in the most unexpected ways.  (Insert smiley face here)

Right after we got done singing to Pastora Ruth and blowing out the candles of her cake, there was a big ruckus outside.  People were carrying torches and marching down the boulevard yelling "Unite village!"  Before we left Pastor Paysen checked the internet.  The march had ended peacefully and the people had dispersed, so it was safe for us to go home.

I did not take this photo, but it gives you a glimpse of what I saw

It was impactful seeing all of those people marching and yelling with their torches and banners in the streets.  There have been several large protests (manifestaciones) here lately.  Thankfully, the people protesting are more educated and less likely to use violence.  They are from the "Anti-Corruption Party".  In Honduras there are a million parties in the presidential race.  And, yes, one is called the Anti-Corruption Party.  To me, it is sad that such a party needs to exist.  They actually had a strong presence in the last election.

For the past few weeks news has been coming out about the president doing many corrupt things.  The newspapers are publishing evidence.  So far nothing has really happened, as far as I know.  There were false rumors of another coup d'etat like in 2009.  I wasn't too worried, but I sure am glad that didn't happen.  I must admit, the protests are making me even more happy that I will spend most of July in the US.  It doesn't seem like they will stop any time soon.  I just pray they remain peaceful.

Calling God

Something sad has been stuck in my mind today.  Yesterday as we were walking out of Los Pinos, Carlos's younger brother, Fernando, was up above us, peeking at us through some tall grass.  Molly called out to him, happy to see him.  He came down to say hello, but you could see right away that he was high and would have preferred to stay hidden.

Molly asked for a hug and he was hesitant, probably because he didn't want her to smell whatever he had been huffing.  We had a short conversation.  He wasn't making much sense.  Molly told Fernando that she is worried about him.  He laughed it off.

Then we walked away in silence.

When I first met Carlos in 2009, Fernando tagged along at times.  My hope was that he would get off the streets before he got older and fell in with the wrong crowd.  Unfortunately, the streets are eating him alive.  He has a biological mother, but she doesn't care for him.  So he is basically on his own.  With whatever he is huffing at the moment.

I can't get Fernando and his goofy grin out of my head.  His smile is so similar to Carlos's smile, but their lives are so different.  Fernando was given pretty much the same opportunities as Carlos was given.  Carlos picked one path.  Fernando picked another.

As we walked away with our hearts aching for Fernando, I said to the two women I was walking with, "That has to hurt Carlos so much."  They agreed.  Carlos has a tender heart.  Seeing his brother make bad choices, life threatening choices, has to tear him apart.

I know that a lot of people are already praying for Fernando.  Many have been praying for Fernando since 2009.  His mind is so clouded by drugs, I don't know how he will ever see the light.

At the same time I give thanks for Carlos. the good choices he makes, and his tender heart.  Praise God that Carlos is far, far from the little boy who lived on the streets when I first met him.  He knows and loves God.  He is respectful, well mannered and extremely caring.

To end on a funny note I will share something that made me laugh last week when I was with Carlos.  We were speaking in English.  Carlos likes to practice with Molly and me when he gets the chance.  He told us that someone stole his phone.  He said that night he was lying in his bed, really angry, and he called God.

Molly and I were sitting in the front of my car.  He was in the back.  We looked at each other to see if we had both heard the same thing.  Then we turned around and looked at Carlos.  I said, "You called God?"  And Molly started laughing.  Then Carlos started laughing too.  He realized his grammatical mistake.  He meant to say he "called out to" God.

"Yes!" he said.  "I have God's phone number.  Do you want it?  The call is free!"

You can imagine how the jokes flowed from there.  Carlos loved making us laugh.  He said I would probably laugh about that for a week.  And you know what?  That was a week ago.  So he was right.  I did laugh for a week about Carlos calling God on the phone.

Too bad Fernando doesn't have a phone.

Nice, steady rain

Today Molly and I met with Mari, a lady who has heart problems which limit her mobility and require constant medical care.  That is a problem because many times Mari is not able to leave her house for reasons of her own safety.

Last week we met with Mari right after a doctor's appointment where she had been diagnosed as anemic.  (I swear most of Honduras is anemic and half of Honduras is diabetic.)  Molly happened to have multivitamins with her, which was the best we could offer with no notice.  Mari has been taking the vitamins regularly.

Mari's daughter is the one who just got into Catholic College two weeks ago.  She is studying her brains out.  She leaves for school every morning at 5:15 a.m.  She gets home at about 12:30 or 1, and studies straight through until 9 p.m.  Next week are exams, so she asked Molly if she can go to Molly's house a few times next week for extra tutoring.  She is a young lady who is striving to be successful!

Her little brother, Daniel is in second grade.  He is struggling with math - adding and subtracting double digits.  He is a super sweet kid.  With about 20 minutes of Molly's super tutoring skills, he was back on track.  She left him some extra homework to practice on so that he would be sure of himself for class tomorrow.

The walk in and out of Los Pinos was, thankfully, uneventful.  They are still doing a lot of construction.  What I see is mostly digging ditches so the water has a place to go when it rains, instead of flooding the dirt "roads".  They are supposed to build steps too.

I talked with a few people about the fact that what was contracted to be one month's work, is now supposedly four month's work.  They all said that yes, there is more work than originally planned.  I wondered is there more work?  Or is it that they didn't expect the slow progress which is a result of workers who only work when the bosses are watching?

And where will the money come from to pay the workers for four months of work if one month was the plan?  The government certainly cannot afford to pay for this, I said.  No problem, I was told.  Other countries are subsidizing the work.  These "other countries" will pay until the work is completed.  In fact they may even see how bad things are, and pay for more work to be done!  At least that's the thought of the locals in Los Pinos.

PS:  The US is not one of the countries who are supposedly subsidizing this construction.

PPS:  The clouds got darker and darker, the thunder louder and louder, until it finally rained today.  It has been a nice, steady rain all evening.  Not strong enough to knock Erika's house off the side of the mountain.  But enough rain that I am sure Osiris's bed is soaking wet tonight.  I am thankful for the rain, for my strong house, and for my dry bed.

Prayer and logic

Normally Monday nights are about reflecting on the home visits we did in Los Pinos.  Tonight is a little different.

One of our "body guards" has a job for the next three weeks.  He will be building stairs and gutters in his neighborhood in Los Pinos for a very good wage.  Last week when we went into Los Pinos with his Mom and Carlos we saw him digging ditches.  Carlos got to work for one day, until they discovered he could not continue because he is not 18 years old.  I was concerned when I saw our other body guard, Ariel.  He was digging ditches in the sun, on a hot day, with no water.

Carlos said it is not a big deal because the work is not difficult.  Carlos said you just stand there unless the boss is watching.  Thinking back, I realized that is exactly what Ariel was doing.  He even had a crowd of neighborhood men standing around, talking to him.  Apparently the boss was never watching while I was there because I never saw Ariel actually work.

It made me sad to think that the men, who knew they were making an exceptional amount of money, had no desire to work hard.  Even to improve their own community.  Disappointing.

Last week Molly and I discussed the idea of going into Los Pinos with Carlos.  I asked Molly how she felt about it, since Carlos is younger and left Los Pinos to live outside of the city several years ago.  She said she thought it would be fine.  However, last night Molly called to ask how I was feeling.

My first thought was to pray about it.  In general I try to let God lead me, rather than logic.  But then I realized that if, logically, there is any question of safety, we should not enter Los Pinos.

Some things are worth a risk.  Sometimes you can do something, knowing that you have good odds of being successful.  But in this case, I told Molly that if we are not 100 percent sure that we are in the safest possible situation to enter Los Pinos, we should not go.  Being 90% sure is not worth the risk.

We have plans to go to Los Pinos on Wednesday, in the safest manner possible.  Today we decided mutally that we should not take any risks.

This afternoon I was thinking a lot about a specific situation.  I was thinking about my options and had prayed about different ideas.  Then, when I was neither thinking nor praying about the topic, I had the strongest feeling that God was saying to leave it in His hands.  I felt like He was saying that He will handle it.  I shouldn't continue to consider my own ideas because He will do it all.

That was a nice feeling.  I was able to let go of the whole thing and have peace with the thought of doing absolutely nothing because God is in control.

Week in review

This has been a strange week for me.  Some highs, some lows, but most of the time it felt like everything was just a click off.

The biggest high was going into Los Pinos on Monday and meeting with the mayor.  At the time I thought he was the mayor of just that sector, but I later learned he is actually the mayor of all of Los Pinos.

He officially gave Molly and me his permission to work there.  He stood and shook our hands and talked to us, as the neighborhood (gang members) looked on.  He said he is going to organize a meeting with the youth so that they can know who we are.  In other words, he will let them know that they are to let us pass safely through the community where we serve.  Having the mayor's backing is a big step for our personal safety.

This is something that Molly has been praying about since long before I joined her there.  He has been open to meet with her for a few months.  But this week the timing was right.  We were able to enter on a road that I haven't been on since 2009, before everything went crazy in this country.  Molly has only been on that road twice in two years.  But we felt safe and didn't have any problems.

In the future we will only use that road on the days we know the mayor is there, until we are able to build a rapport with the people.  Otherwise we will continue to use the upper road, which is longer, but safer.

The lows of the week were Marjory being so sick and a meeting I was asked to attend.  God's presence was obvious in many ways as He took care of baby Marjory.  Although she stopped breathing and had convulsions, she was better by the next day.  I am still praying about exactly what I am supposed to learn from the meeting.  So far I have been shown that God's peace can overcome words that otherwise could be very hurtful.

I asked Molly if we could set aside a specific time of prayer for our ministry.  My church has a weekly prayer group which I attend.  Molly and I are both in prayer individually all of the time.  We pray before and usually after our meetings in Los Pinos together.  But I think it is important, if we are going to serve together, that we spend an extended time in prayer together too.

This week we attempted to pray together three times.  The first time the mechanic interrupted and asked if we would like to go look at cars for Molly.  Since that is a high priority, we decided to postpone the prayer and go car shopping.  The second time people dropped in unexpectedly after we had only been praying for about 10 minutes.  After that I told Molly that we need to be careful, because it seems like things keep popping up to impede our prayer time.  We agreed that we would not let anything get in the way of our third attempt.

The third try was successful.  From this week forward praying together is on the schedule for every Friday morning.  That time of prayer, praying together, is going to make a big difference.  It think it will unite us more closely as a team, strengthen us as individuals, and make everything we do for God more effective as we spend purposeful time in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Tonight was my last night to see the team from Salt Lake.  They leave on Monday.  It was nice to be able to meet them and share dinner with them several times.  I am glad they got to meet Pastora Ruth and Pastor Paysen too.

My messed up stomach has been back and forth.  One day it seems like I'm cured and the next day it hurts again.  It's worst when I lie down.  The best thing to do might be to get back into the gym and try some light exercise, just to see what happens.  Although I am not good at light exercise.  If I don't push myself hard I feel lazy and guilty.

After two trips to the salon, my hair still has a slight red tint in spots.  Tuesday Albita tried to strip the color out, but after three attempts it had only lightened the red a little bit.  Today the plan was to dye over the red, but it wouldn't cover up either.  Albita said she is shocked at how hard it is to get that red out of my hair.

It lightened enough that I feel more comfortable entering Los Pinos now, and that was the goal. Albita was afraid to lighten it too much because blonde and red are the two colors that signify you are a gang member's girlfriend.  Only girlfriends of gang members are allowed to color their hair those colors.  After trying to strip the red three times she was afraid I'd end up blond.  That wouldn't have been good either.  It's pretty natural now.  The red is hardly noticeable at all.

Thank God I am in Honduras and not in the US.  All of those procedures in the US would have been more than a months rent in Honduras.  Here they were a week's grocery money.  Not great for the budget, but at least they didn't break the bank.

Speaking of groceries and money, did I tell you about the $10 box of Sugar Corn Pops I didn't buy last week?  Those are the strange sort of things I would never normally eat, but I crave in Honduras.  I was so excited to see that yellow box.  Until I saw the price on the shelf below.  No Sugar Corn Pops for me.

Marjory is sick

This morning Fany came over as I was sipping my morning liquado (Honduran milkshake).  I've noticed that liquados seem to help my stomach, so I've been making a mixture of pineapple, celery and a little parsley with some ice cubes to start the day.

We were sitting on my bed talking when I got a message that Erika was calling me collect.  I called her back and asked how she was doing.  Erika is always calm, relaxed, and generally happy.  It was surprising when she said, "Mal."  (Bad)

She said Marjory is sick and she doesn't have any money.  Erika has never, ever asked for money before.  She has turned down gifts.  When I ask if there is anything she needs she says no, or she might pray for provision.  But she has never asked for money.

She started talking really fast about the baby and I could hear in her voice that she was scared.  I told her, "I am going to help you.  But I don't understand exactly what you need.  So explain it to Fany and I will be right there.  I am going to pass the phone to Fany."

Thank God Fany was there.  She got the full story.  The baby woke up with a fever.  She had convulsions and stopped breathing.  Erika's Dad did mouth to mouth.  Acetaminophen was not bringing the fever down.  Someone was in the background yelling that the baby was going to die.  Poor Erika!

All I heard was Fany say that the baby had stopped breathing and I went into superwoman mode.  I never got dressed so fast in my life.  I had an important meeting in 2 hours so I tried to throw together something presentable.  Fany packed makeup (which I never put on) into my purse and told me to stop and think about what else I would need for the day.

I grabbed some cash, Fany opened the gate and I sped away, praying that the baby would not stop breathing in my car.

Fany and I had discussed what the best options were.  Hospitals have long lines.  Clinics are cheap, but you could wait hours there too.  We decided our best bet was good old Dr. Gustavo.  He's always a life saver, maybe literally this time.

I called Erika when I was close to her house and told her to start walking across the path that leads to the road.  She has to hike down a hill, across a gulch and up the other side of the hill.  When I pulled up a little boy I recognized was there.  He said Erika was coming up the path.

Her Grandmother made it to the car first.  She started talking to me about putting leaves on the baby.  At the time I was confused, but now I am realizing it was probably a smart thing to do because nobody in Los Pinos, including Erika's family, have any water at all.  I am guessing the leaves were a compress to bring down the fever.  She was clearly upset, poor lady.  She doesn't trust doctors.  I assured her that the doctor is my friend, he would see the baby immediately, and we could choose to follow his advice or not.  (Who am I to tell a grandmother what to do?)

Erika was pretty calm.  Marjory was wearing a winter hat, as does any Honduran baby with a fever.  But unlike most Honduran kids with fevers, she was not dressed in 4 layers of clothes and wrapped in a blanket.  Yay Erika!  Good job!

Marjory was so smiley yesterday, I took a bunch of photos at our women's meeting.  Today, she was hardly alert.  She was burning up with fever.  But she was breathing!

We headed off to the doctor.  I thanked God the whole time that the doctor's office is close by.  There was only one person ahead of us, and Marjory seemed to be holding her own so we finally were able to relax a little.

The doctor did a thorough exam.  He measured everything and moved all of her joints.  The hardest part was getting to see down her throat.

Through talking to Erika, he decided that she had begun convulsing due to a high fever.  It was over 102 under her armpit and still rising when we gave up trying to keep the thermometer there.

Dr. Gustavo said he wanted to do bloodwork and a urine sample so we would know for sure what is wrong, since the Chikungunya is going around.  That's what it seemed to be to me.

We went down to the lab but they said they couldn't get the results today because they are closing early.  Boo!  Bad luck! We had to go in search of another lab.  Meanwhile I was starting to stress out because there was only a half hour before my meeting and we still hadn't gotten any of the meds for the baby.

Luckily, we got a parking spot in a totally sketchy place at some weird hospital that neither Erika nor I had never been to before.  The lady at the lab drew blood on the first try!  That was the one part that was obviously hard for Erika.  She teared up as she held Marjory while they drew blood.  (I always hear horror stories about babies getting pricked and pricked and pricked, so I was just happy they got a vein.)  Then they asked for a urine sample.  We didn't know anything about a urine sample, so we weren't prepared for that.  We told them we had to leave, but would return at 3 for the test results and bring the urine sample then.

At the pharmacy they only had 2 of the 3 medicines we needed.  Nothing for fever.  They even called the surrounding pharmacies.  Everyone is out because of the chikungunya.  But they did have suppositories, which work faster, so Dr. Gustavo told us to use those instead.  We noticed that Marjory had developed a rash on her face, legs and arms.  That is the big sign of chikungunya.  Oh no.

We were lucky because the ladies at the pharmacy saw that we were clueless, so they helped us get the first dose of medicines into the baby and told us the secrets to suppositories.  I got most of her antibiotic all over her dress instead of into her mouth.  But we got the 8 drops of some other medicine into her and the suppository successfully inserted for fever.

I made it to the meeting, which was horrible.  Then Erika and I headed to my house to bathe the baby since she has no water at home.  By then, the medicine had kicked in and Marjory was looking much better.  Erika was more relaxed.

We didn't even go inside my house.  Fany ran a bath for the baby and Erika got Marjory all clean.  Then we attached the bag for the urine sample and headed back to the lab.  I could see from the results of the bloodwork that the white blood cell count was way high.  We took the results back to Dr. Gustavo and he showed that to Erika, explaining what they should be and where they were.  He asked if we had gotten the meds, said she should be fine with exactly what he already prescribed.  But Erika needs to watch out for seizures in the future.  They may never come back.  But it's a possibility.

He also told talked to Erika in a very frank, yet kind way about having a baby so young.  He told her she, herself, is too small.  She cannot get pregnant again.  No letting passion take over when a nice boy says all of the right things.  It made me think Dr. Gustavo is a good father.  We already know he is a great doctor.

I dropped Erika off at home and headed up to the retreat where the team from Salt Lake is staying.  They are winding up their week and getting ready for the last day of serving the kids, so they were feeling tired.

We had a nice dinner and gabbed for a little while.  They were all ready for bed, so I headed back down the mountain.

We will get together again on Saturday before they leave.

Here are some photos of Marjory yesterday, before she was sick:

Erika and Marjory

No Bacteria

Yesterday morning I stopped at the lab to drop off a specimen to be tested.  The night before I hadn't gotten much sleep.  My stomach hurt a lot and I was nervous about how I was going to fit everything I had to do into one day.  I had a long day with several important meetings I needed to attend, plus the test and then getting the results.

First stop was the lab.  As soon as I got back into my car, I burst into tears.  I cried all of the way to the church.  Then I wiped off my face long enough to appear half way normal so I wouldn't scare off customers when I entered Pastor Peter's business, which is downstairs from the church.  Pastor Peter was there waiting for the meeting with my home church.  He took one look at me and told me to sit down.  His poor assistant, my friend Martita, didn't know what to say.

We sat down.  I told him I had been up all night.  In fact I really hadn't slept or eaten since Tuesday.  And I was so scared to take that medicine because people say it makes you feel like you are going to die.  Then I started crying again.  Pastora Ruth arrived at that moment and saw I was falling apart.  She asked what was going on and I explained I was scared and tired and my stomach hurt.  She said, "Let's pray."  We grabbed hands, bowed our heads and she prayed.  Right then the team from my home church walked in.  They thought I was crying from the joy of seeing them, which was better than letting them know the truth.  I was having a breakdown about the idea of having to take that medicine for the bacteria.

My home church from the US had an amazing time of prayer with my Honduran Pastors.  Pastora Ruth explained that although they are here to serve, she would like to serve them.  She read from the bible about Jesus washing the disciples feet.  Then she prayed over each team member.  It appeared that each member of the team was touched by the Holy Spirit in that time.  I was happy they got to experience my new church home and understand why it's such a good fit for me.

Afterward we went to lunch.

In the afternoon I had the predication class.  The mission team went to see the sights and dropped me back off at my church.  Unfortunately the electricity was off, so we couldn't have class.  Pastora Ruth couldn't use the projector or make copies of her presentation for us with no electricity.  We had a nice time of prayer instead.

We prayed again for my tummy, which still hurt but was better with the meds I got Friday.

I remembered when I was in kindergarten.  One morning my mom was dressing me for school and she said, "Uh oh.  You can't go to school today.  You have chicken pox."  I didn't want to miss a day of school so I did what any reasonable five year old would do.  I stamped my feet and said, "I will NOT have chicken pox."

I remember my mom laughed and told me, "I am sorry honey, but you do have chicken pox."  There was more foot stomping and declaring that I would NOT have chicken pox.  But Mom was right.  I did.  I had chicken pox.

This time, in my little girl head, I wanted to stomp my foot and tell God, "I will NOT have the bacteria.  I will NOT."  That is basically the way I prayed.  With no foot stomping.

The prayer time lasted a long time.  We prayed for the team's time in Honduras.  We just prayed and prayed.  It was relaxing.  At one point Pastora Ruth asked Octavio to get out the banners (flags) and we worshiped with flags.  It was my first time to do that.

The lights came on eventually, but by then it was too late.  We spent the rest of class time, and more, sitting around talking and joking like I have never joked before with those people.  There was a lot of teasing and we were all cracking up really hard.  I loved seeing Pastora Ruth almost falling out of her seat from laughing so hard.  It was awesome.

On the way home I stopped at the medical clinic to get my test results.  I expected to get a typical Honduran run-around.  However, God completely cleared my path in that clinic.  When I walked in there was a long line at the cashier.  I took my place at the end of the line.  Right away the cashier noticed me, called me from the end of the line, and said, "You are here for results, right? You need to go through the double doors and talk to the man back there."

I was grateful to be pulled out of that line.  At the back desk there was no wait at all.  The man took my receipt, reached into a box and pulled out an envelope.  He told me to wait in the waiting room for a doctor.  On my way to the waiting room I looked at the results.  Praise God!  It said for bacteria Pylori - NEGATIVE.  Just yesterday the doctor told me I had every single symptom and he was sure I had that bacteria.  Only because the treatment is so rough, he wanted to do the test first.

I called Pastora Ruth and Pastor Peter to tell them the good news - no bacteria and best of all, no medicine for the bacteria!  I thanked them for praying with me and for me over the past two days.  I do not have to take the horrible medicine that makes you feel near death!  Hooray!!

The doctor called me in as soon as I got off the phone with Pastora Ruth.  He had no other patients.  No five hour wait today.

He had me lie down on a table.  First he poked, then tapped at my stomach.  By the time he was done I was worried again.  It hurt all over in random, strange places that made no sense to me. Appendicitis?  An ovarian cyst that was about to explode?

"What is wrong with me?" I asked.  The doctor kind of laughed to dispel my obvious concern.

He said, "You are full of gas.  We can't know what it is caused by.  Probably stress or anxiety.  It could be diet.  But your colon is very irritated.  That is why you have pain and your stomach is distended."

He gave me another medicine to take for two days. and said I should continue the one I started the day before.  He said I will need to watch my diet and lifestyle to find out what exactly is causing this.

I told him I am just glad I don't have to take that awful medicine for the bacteria.  He had to take it once and it was absolutely horrible, he said.  The way he explained it, medicine is so strong it kills everything and makes you feel like it is killing you.  And that was coming from a doctor.

I stopped by the cash register (which now had no line whatsoever!) to pick up my new medicine.  Then I had a moment of worry.  On the internet it had said tests can be skewed if you took PeptoBismol.  I had taken a ton.  What if I really did have the bacteria and it just didn't show up?  I had to get back into that emergency room and ask the doctor, or I would never have peace.  How could I get back in there?  I watched for nurses to walk by, hoping to grab one and ask her to take me back to the doctor.

Just as they handed me the medicine, guess who was headed out of the building?  My doctor!  God showed me favor through that whole medical visit.  The doctor stopped and kindly answered my question.  No, the test would not give a false negative for PeptoBismol, he said.

Relieved and ready to move forward with treatment I headed home.  My stomach is still sore, but at least I do not have the bacteria.  I just need to watch what I eat and relax.

God had my back yesterday.  He heard my cries and He answered.  Praise the Lord I do not have the bacteria.

"The Bacteria"

I haven't written in a while.  A few hours after I finished my last blog entry I got sick.  I dragged myself out of bed a couple of times when I no other choice.  Standing upright hurt.  Each step jolted pain into my stomach.

After drinking almost a whole bottle of PeptoBismol between last night and this morning, I decided this is not normal.  I need to go to the doctor.  Normally I go to Dr. Gustavo, but now I have insurance, so I figured I'd try it out for the first time.

I found the clinic at 11 a.m.  At almost 4 p.m., they called my name.  I have never been in a place that air conditioned in Honduras.  It was so cold kids were crying specifically about the cold.  The woman next to me was wearing her son's winter jacket.  It was like the North Pole and there was no warm cave to hibernate inside.

The only thing I could do to take my mind off the cold was make a list of my symptoms on my cell phone.  I couldn't risk getting in front of that doctor after such a long wait and forget any critical details.

After carefully reading each of my symptoms to the doctor, he said, "You have every symptom of (some long word) bacteria."  Otherwise famously known as "the bacteria".  It is the same one Fany had 2 weeks ago when she took medicine that she thought was going to make her die.  So I asked the next reasonable question.  Would the medicine make me think I was dying? Yes, said the doctor.  The medicine is worse than the symptoms of the bacteria.  It is really horrible and it is a very long treatment.  I didn't ask how long.  I already know Fany is in her third week and not done yet.  That is enough to know for now.

He asked how long I've been in Honduras.  Three years with no history of stomach problems.  (Except when I traveled to Guatemala.)  He asked if I have changed any habits lately or if I am eating new things.  I did start buying cheese at a different market lately.  Otherwise, everything is the same.  Yup.  It is the bacteria.  And on top of all of this good news, the exam is done through fecal matter.

So tomorrow I have to go back with a specimen.  But I haven't eaten food in so long, I'm not sure that is possible.  Sorry if that was too graphic for you.

I went to my prayer group and we prayed for healing so that I will not have to take that awful medicine.  Then I treated myself to miso soup, which seems to be settling really well and was the only thing that doesn't bring over an instant wave of nausea.  Maybe I am healed!

I called my Mom on the way home from enjoying the soup.  She sounded close to tears and asked me to please move back to the US.  But she didn't word it exactly that way.  Even though I've heard it before, it always feels terrible to hear my mother so upset.

A group from my home church in the US arrived today.  If I am not healed, I am thinking about putting off the treatment until after they leave.  I may not be the best company in this state.  But once I start taking that medicine, if I am anything like Fany and the doctor expect, I won't be able to leave the house for at least 2 weeks.  This is bad timing!

Not thinking of that.  Focusing on how well the miso soup is digesting in my belly.  Praying that my test results will be negative for the bacteria tomorrow.  And grateful I don't have dengue, or worse, the chikungunya.

What a perfectly messed up day!

Would you believe that a series of seemingly negative events caused our day to be better than we could have ever imagined?

The plan was for me to pick up Molly, then Jennifer (the girl Molly is mentoring) and Erika this morning to go look at schools for them.  I was supposed to pick up Molly at 9:15 and the other two at 9:30.  But at 9:18, I was awakened from the deepest of sleeps by the water man yelling, "Agua Azul!"

I bolted out of bed because I know he passes by around 9:15 and sure enough, I was late.  This cold still seems to be getting the best of me.  Last night I had an awful headache and this morning I still have a sore throat, cough, and runny nose.  That is the only reason I can imagine I am sleeping so much.

BUT, later we would see that my sleeping late was very clearly part the plan God had for us today.

I called Molly, freaking out and told her I had just woken up.  She told me to pass by and grab the girls first, since they would be waiting in the street.  I was able to reach Erika before she left home, so she knew I was running late.

Molly's plans for the day had been changed too.  Not by me oversleeping, but by the fact that the kids' bus never arrived.  Finally after an hour of waiting outside, Molly called the school and Oh, they forgot to tell her that school is cancelled today and for the rest of the week.

Molly had been sending me messages all morning, which I slept through.  That's another strange thing.  She thought we would have to change plans.  Then she sent me a final message saying she found a babysitter.  But the babysitter could only stay for a couple of hours so we were on a tight schedule.

Each of these events - me oversleeping, the kids not having school, and the babysitter needing to leave early, meant that we had to change our plans.  We intended to visit 4 colleges today.  But there would only be time for two.  Molly had done research about what colleges were reasonably priced and offer the classes that Jennifer wants.  Our best bet was the Catholica.  Since we were now short on time and it was closest to Molly's house we went there first, although it was not our original plan.

At the Catholica they said that if Jennifer passed the entrance exam today, she could start classes tomorrow.  She just needed a copy of her ID and transcripts from high school.  We had enough time to run home, drop Jennifer off to grab her stuff, and go to INFOP again to check on classes for Erika.

This time at INFOP they out-rightly were rude.  One lady was nice, and trying to help us, but the lady who told us she would call us when the next classes started kept butting in and saying, "I told them the schedule already."  "They don't want the schedule that is available."

Finally I just tuned her out and asked the nice lady what we need to do because Erika is not getting any calls and she is already enrolled.  The nice lady told us to go to a place that was a few miles up the road and ask for a man named Hever.  So we went.

It was right next to a Pizza Hut.  Molly ran in and grabbed us pizza for lunch.  Erika and I talked to Hever in the strangest, darkest public building I have ever been inside.  There was a line of people behind us, all of them saying they were signed up for the same computer class as Erika, but none of them were called either.  So it wasn't for my fair gringa skin that Erika was left out.

After talking with Hever I feel better. He said the computer class is now closed.  BUT there is an English class, which is what Erika really wants most, and it will start in June.  They don't know the dates but he gave me two phone numbers to call him if he hasn't called us by the beginning of June.

So, I have faith that Erika will enroll in English classes in June and get some studying in before she goes back to school full time.

We had our pizza at Molly's house, then a time of prayer for Jennifer to pass the test.

Molly left to go look at some cars she would like to buy with my mechanic and I took Jennifer back for the test.  Turned out we had a lot of running around to do still, and things they hadn't told us about before.  Thank God I didn't just drop her off, thinking it was just a matter of taking the test.

... (Three hours later)...  Molly called.  Jennifer took the entrance exam twice at other schools and studied hard to prepare but could never pass.  Apparently God did not want Jennifer to attend those schools because Jennifer just passed the entrance exam at the Catholic University with flying colors!!!!!!

We went to sign her up. find out about transportation (which seems to be the only issue) and get her student ID.  Jennifer kept saying. "This is all happening so fast!"  But she has been ready and applying to colleges for 6 or 8 months.  So, today God made things move fast for her.

The only bad part is that she has to travel through Los Pinos at 5 a.m. to catch a bus at 6 a.m. You'd think the "bad guys" would be asleep at that hour, but it is actually a prime time for assaults because they can watch and see that the same people are coming and going at the same time every day.  Beautiful Jennifer would be a perfect target.  It is not at all safe and Jennifer told us honestly that she is really scared about that.  She and Molly are going to look at bus schedules and class schedules again, in hopes of figuring out another option.  But otherwise Jennifer is now a student, ready to start classes tomorrow!

I also noticed today that the headlines of the newspaper were TOQUE DE QUEDA.  That means "curfew".  As far as I know there hasn't been a toque de queda since 2009 when the president was taken from office and people were protesting violently in the streets.  They only implement toque de quedas when things have reached a level of danger and violence that police can no longer maintain control.

Today I saw more military police than I normally see.  Jennifer commented on that too.  They have been increasing their presence little by little over the past two or three weeks.  There was also a traffic stop where they looked inside every car today.  I'm guessing they were looking for something or someone specific, but I don't know what it was.  It was not a North American woman because they let me pass by quickly.

I hope they don't start having the crazy curfews like they used to, where you would be in the middle of your day and they would suddenly say, "Everyone has to be inside their homes by 4 p.m."  Jobs had to close and people couldn't make a living because they had to be at home instead of at work.  If you were caught outside you would automatically, no questions asked, be put in jail.  It almost happened to the former pastor of my former church.  He was out a few minutes past the curfew with his van full of people and they almost didn't let him go home.

Anyway, I am praying the toque de queda does not effect me.  I am a person who is always home by dark anyway, so as long as they don't go crazy with it, I will be fine.  It's just a pain in the neck to always have to be aware because the city can shut down at any moment, and you could get stuck where you are if you don't pay careful attention.

Today was a perfect lesson about plans.  Even the best laid plans couldn't have given us better results today.  I am glad God "messed things up" by letting me oversleep and canceling the kids' school.  As a result we now have a girl from Los Pinos who will start studying psychology tomorrow, Molly is hoping to buy her car tomorrow, and Erika should begin English classes in a couple of weeks.  We are thankful that God "messed up" our day.  I hope He messes up tomorrow too!