Trip with Lourdes and Jairo to San Isipido

I have been tired, still recuperating from last weekends 4 day get-away, so I have not kept up with my blog. In the morning I leave for another four days away, so I better hit the highlights of last weekend before I get too far behind.

Last weekend Lourdes, Jairo and I went for some R&R in the country.  We headed up North and stayed with their friends.  Lourdes and Jairo used to live in this area many years ago.  They showed me the home where they used to live and Jairo's former office.  He was in charge of building many of the National Forest areas, as well as all sorts of programs to educate the illiterate.  He was one of the founders of Habitat for Humanity, building many homes in this area as well as schools.  He coordinated more than 40 churches and worked with people who had never really left their villages in the mountains.  Now there are roads that never existed, schools, and most exciting for Jairo is to visit the people, who are now educated with fruitful lives.  He is not prideful, but is happy for this generation as he sees the way the programs he created have changed their lives for the better.

The drive to get there was absolutely gorgeous.  Deep green mountain after mountain with lush forests that were the home to many indigenous people.  These people make crafts or sell wood at the side of the road to make a living.  They live in homes like I'd never seen before.  I don't know how the homes remain standing with no cement or anything to hold them together.  They make a row of rocks, then put a 2x4 on top, then make another row of rocks with another 2x4 to create the walls of their homes.  There is nothing to fill in the cracks between the rocks.  Some people sold honey, some wood and some gorgeous crafts.

This was one of the big groups of stands.

Selling platanos

Hand made crafts

Part way there, they asked if I wanted to share the music on my iPod through the car speakers so we sang and danced in our seats to songs from the 70's.  It was a good trip.  We passed the small village where Don Juan was born, and where his family still lives.  We also passed an area where many of Walter's relatives live, and a store they own.  We passed the place I will go for a conference this weekend.  And we passed where Jairo was born.  He was born in a state called Olancho, which he said is known for it's agriculture and for having lots of burros.  We did see a lot of burros.  But if Olancho was known for it's burros then I think the state where we stayed, Santa Barbara, should be known for the number of men who travel with machetes.  There were people walking down the street with machetes (not unusual) people riding bikes with machetes sticking out in front of them, climbing trees with machetes hanging from a rope below them.  Machetes were everywhere.  At the same time, it was very noticeable that people there felt safe.  They walked alone at night, after dark.  I was so envious!  Such freedom and lack of worry.

The home where we stayed was nice.  The front part of the house was a pulperia, so people passed by and stopped to buy things.  They had everything from sneakers and perfume to razors and flour in the pulperia.  It was planned that I would stay in the living room, but as time came for bed they decided that all three of the boys/men should sleep in the living room, I was to stay with a daughter in the boys' room, Lourdes and Jairo got the daughter's room.  I was appreciative, but felt bad about displacing three people!

We took a ride into the nearest town.  Lourdes and I stood in the back of the truck and enjoyed the view.  The men road in the cab.  I loved every second of it.  In the pueblo, the men had to change a tire on the truck so Lourdes and I went window shopping.

Lourdes talked to me about his friend's oldest son.  He returned three days before from living in Florida for the past 12 years.  He has not seen anyone but his mother in that time.  He has a brother who is only 11 years old.  They had not met.  He was very happy to be with his family.  He said he really doesn't miss the US at all and is happy to be back in Honduras.  He was the foreman of a construction company and speaks great English, so he already has a job offer to be a translator for mission teams who work near his home, which is amazing, because there are not many jobs here.

As soon as we got back home from town, the feasting began.  We didn't stop eating the entire time I was there.  We had huge meals every 3 hours!  I gained a few pounds, but the food was so good it was well worth it.  Carlota, the mother, taught me how to make tamalitos.  Tamalitos are like tamales, only they are smaller and have no meat.  It is corn season right now, so they ground fresh corn, added a little sugar and some margerine, then poured the mixture into husks to cook.  I learned how to fold the husks.  We made fried corn, which is like a pancake with the mixture above, and some baking soda.  You would think there was cream or milk inside, but the corn is so creamy that no cream is necessary.  YUMMY!!!

I watched the men prepare for the fishing trip and said I wished I were a man so I could go.  Jairo explained all of the reasons why I can't go - the most important being that I don't have written permission from the government.  Also the men spend the entire day from 6 am - 7 pm, in a small metal boat with not much space in the HOT, HOT sun.  He said it is a tippy boat and not a good place to learn to fish with the equipment they use.  I thought he was doubting my fishing knowledge until I saw them wrapping line around Gatorade bottles and jabbing the hook into the plastic.  I guess that is their fishing pole.

The mens' catch (mostly tilapia) from Friday

Carlota with a Tilapia 

The men woke at 3:30a.m. to fish - as did the rest of the house because four men who are as excited as children on Christmas Eve are very loud.  They came back at about 8 p.m., all of them teasing the brother who just returned from the states, saying he had been in the US too long.  He agreed that he will not go fishing again any time soon.  The men had two coolers of fish. Mostly Tilapia, but some smaller (and easier to gut) fish.  I went out to the pila and watched as Carlota scaled and gutted the fish.  We had a nice time talking and getting to know each other.  She is also teaching preschool at her church.  A few days later I met some of the kids she teaches.  They were cute!

The next day was Saturday.  We all were tired, so we cooked, ate, and rested.  Lourdes and I worked on a project together for the whole day.  Jairo made chicharron, which I never had before.  It is the skin, fat a some meat of a pig, deep fried outside in a huge pot over a fire.  He stirred it with a paddle, made specifically for stirring big pots.  We also talked about the paperwork that he will be starting soon.  I had never asked about it specifically, but was really excited to hear that I will be applying for residency here!  The church will be my sponsor.  That is so cool!

Jairo and Carlota making Chicharron

Chicharron

Sunday the men fished again.  Just before dinner Lourdes and I finished the project we have been  on for a month.  Whew!  We ate dinner and headed home.  We had seen lightening since we left the house, but as we got closer to the city it was POURING rain.  The roads turned into overflowing rivers.  It was dangerous and we came upon numerous accidents, but I knew I was in good hands with Jairo at the wheel.  I noticed a sign I had never seen before.  The same way we have signs in the US to warn of deer crossing the road, they have signs for rabbits!  I never saw a rabbit, but the sign made me giggle each time I saw it.

Comayagua is home to the largest US military base in Central America.  It went on for miles, but I didn't see much activity.  We were stopped on the way home by Honduran Military Police at a checkpoint.  I had been leaning forward into the front seats to talk to Lourdes and Jairo, but at that point I sat back and tried to be invisible.  The police asked who was in the car.  Jairo said family.  Then he talked to Lourdes.  He never looked at me and told us to continue on.  I was glad.  He could have made things difficult if he wanted to, even though I was traveling with my passport.

I thanked Lourdes and Jairo repeatedly for allowing me to come with them.  The roads were almost impassable in the city.  Everything was flooded and water poured off roofs literally like a waterfall.  As I got out of the car in the downpour and crossed the river that used to be the sidewalk in front of my house, I had a big smile.  Fany heard me coming in and said Jett had been very calm while I was gone for the four full days.  I thanked her for taking care of the cat, then climbed into my own bed.  It was a GREAT weekend!

New Opportunities

Homni is proud of his work

Cindi

Junior

Misael is proud of his circles!

Elvin really keeps me on my toes!

Yesterday was Monday.  Everything was going well in preschool - the younger kids are all counting at least to 10, they are asking to learn colors in English as well as Spanish, four of the six kids raised their hands to contribute to our time of prayer.  As we were praying it happened.  Violet.  Violet is only two.  She is smart, a little spoiled, and a spitfire!  As we prayed her mother opened the door, pushed Violet inside, and shut the door before Violet could slip out.

The class continued praying and Violet started screaming.  She continued screaming as we served spaghetti, ate spaghetti and cleaned the room.  First she was screaming "Mommy", then she started screaming her mother's first name.  Lourdes came in and said that Violet needs to learn the expectations, so she has to stay in the classroom until she can be calm.  Lourdes said she will probably wet herself again because that is what Violet does to get her way.  I told Lourdes I thought she was screaming so hard she had almost vomited.  Lourdes said then she may vomit too, but she will only learn what is expected if we don't give in so Violet has to stay in the classroom.  All of the kids ignored her behavior.

Calm Violet with her brother

Lourdes tried to get Violet to eat.  Violet screamed.  Lourdes told Violet that when she is calm, she may leave.  Each time she stopped screaming long enough to take a breath, we would say "Very good Violet." but once she caught her breath she would scream again.  Finally she stopped screaming for longer than ever so we told her that she was calm.  We let her go to her mother.  After she really, truly was calm, her mother and I brought Violet back into the classroom and sat there with her as she ate.  We talked about what a beautiful class it is and how nice it is to eat in the classroom.  Violet left with a hug and kiss and said she would go to class on Wednesday.

Lourdes and I finished a project to help with funding for the boys who are attending the private Christian school.  Lourdes said she was really stressed out about it.  On the way home she said she felt a big weight off her shoulders since the project is done.

Later that night I received an email from the woman in charge of funding for WorldVision.org.  She had received the project.  She asked who I was and where I was writing from.  I wrote back and told her I am a missionary in Honduras and friend of Lourdes'.  I said Lourdes has me work on projects that require writing in English.  The lady sent me an email back, welcoming me to their team.

Today on the way to the church I let Lourdes know that the lady had emailed me because I always want Lourdes to know if I speak of her or for her.  Lourdes told me that the lady was curious who I was because I had done such a good job on the project!

Lourdes gave me a new opportunity today that was unexpected and wonderful.  The woman who is the Wednesday tutor is doing a self esteem class for the teens.  Lourdes asked if I would like to help with the class.  There were 20 kids involved and it was amazing!  The teacher told me she wants to take things really slowly so that everything has time to sink in.  Today they talked about what everyone has in common, and also that we are each unique, but unique is good.  She talked about how God made each of them to have their own likes and dislikes, gifts and flaws.  She talked a little about body image, empathy and about how we talk to each other.  It was absolutely great.  At the end they prayed.  Nobody noticed, but I was in tears, praying that the kids hear what she is saying to them and learn to love themselves as young people.  I spent so many years lost, not loving myself or appreciating the gifts God gave me.  I prayed these kids can see how beautiful and awesome they are.  It was also nice because now I know each of them, so I know which kids need to work on body image, or bullying, or being overly focused on outer/physical beauty.  I am excited about this new class.  The kids seem excited too.

Afterward I went to the preschool classroom and finally really made it my own.  In the past I was afraid to throw things out, because I know that I sometime see things as garbage when others would keep them.  So I asked Lourdes if I could throw things away.  There were papers in that class from 2007.  If things were questionable, I asked Lourdes.  Each time she gave me permission to toss it.  By the time I was done I knew everything I had in the classroom and where it all was.  There are still some broken toys, but I'm thinking the kids can help me with that.  It feels good to know what and where everything is.  I found some really fun things to work with as well.

Lourdes asked me to come with her and Jairo to the country for 4 days.  They are leaving Thursday and returning after Jairo is done fishing on Sunday.  At first I was nervous about leaving Jetty.  Lately I have had tiny ants that get into her water and food, so I have to basically feed her by hand a few bites at a time throughout the day and repeatedly give her fresh, ant-less water.  My neighbor, Fany has not been home much and I don't know if she will be home while I'm gone.  So I was in a tizzy all day, wondering what to do - go with Lourdes and possibly neglect my cat for four days?  Or stay home and be sure the cat is well, but miss an opportunity to see more of the country and the great corn harvest.  Lourdes really wants me to go.

The this evening Jose called.  He said that next week the seminar a different city. It is in on Thursday and Friday.  Afterward we are going on to spend the rest of the weekend at a beautiful place in the country.  He said if I have plans in Tegucigalpa I can take a bus home by myself, but I am invited to spend the weekend and visit this beautiful place.  I told him I will talk to Jairo.  I doubt Jairo will let me take a bus back by myself.  Especially since yesterday Elenai (Eunice's daughter) was getting off the bus and the driver pulled away too soon, causing her to fall and hurt herself.  Elenai had to make a quick trip to the hospital.  She is fine, but a little bruised.  The driver never stopped.

So it looks like I will spend Thursday - Sunday in the country this weekend, as well as next.  I have to move past my anxiety of leaving the cat for four days.  She will be okay.  I have to make the most of every minute here.  I don't want to have regrets.  I think I would regret it if I don't go on these trips.

Lourdes said that the family we are staying with this weekend has a son who spent 15 years in the states and just got back this week.  Lourdes said he is having a hard time adjusting and it will be good for him to have a gringa around to talk to him about the US.

Jairo said he found me a beautiful Honda CRV.  He said he loved the outside, but he is worried about the motor because it is 10 years old.  He apologized, saying he was not comfortable buying the car, even though it was perfect from the outside.  I told him not to worry, I have patience.  As long as he doesn't mind driving me, I don't mind waiting for the right car.

I received an email today from a friend in the states.  She knows someone who would like to come and serve with us in Honduras.  I talked to Jairo about the idea of this person coming.  Jairo explained that it doesn't matter how wonderful the person is, it is not safe and he cannot be responsible for another person here.  He said he has to register me with the government and say that he, personally, and the church here are responsible for me and accountable for me and my behavior.  He reminded me how long it took for the church to approve for me to come here.  It was three years of waiting and praying and hoping.  He said that it is far too dangerous here for someone who has never lived here before so the person cannot come.  I expected him to say that.  But I felt strange telling another person that they can't come to Honduras.  I know how it feels to want to be here, but to be told no.  It stinks.  If God wants her to be here, He will have the final say.

This weekend I will not have internet, so there will be no posts once I leave.  I am going to bring a journal and I have a bunch of books downloaded on my Kindle, so I am prepared.  I have been sleeping a lot because I've had a headache since Saturday.  I think Lourdes is inviting me as a sort of retreat.  I will be sleeping on the living room floor, but I am fine with that.  As anyone who knows Lourdes and Jairo will agree, I am blessed to spend this time with them.  I hope I can go and not worry about the cat.  Maybe I will even be invited to fish with Jairo and his friend.  They go early in the morning and stay all day.  But I have always wanted to learn to fish by hand with just as line, as Jairo does.  If I don't fish, I can exercise with Lourdes and make all sorts of things out of corn.  This weekend is corn harvesting time, so we will make corn tamales and a bunch of other corn things.  I will be sure to take pics and keep good notes in my journal so I can write about it when I get back.

I almost watched the news today.  As we left the church at dinner time the skies were BLACK.  Everyone said it is going to start raining tonight and not stop for three days because a tropical storm is coming.  I wonder if Jairo will fish in a tropical storm.  I am kind of excited for the storm.  Hope it doesn't upset Jetty if she is here alone.

Don Juan made a point to tell me today that he is still thinking about my next cat condo.  I told him not to worry, when he has the idea complete we can get to work.  No hurry.  This afternoon I walked into the kitchen and Don Juan announced that I am now a Hondureña.  I noticed in the class and in groups I am understanding almost every word that is spoken.  Rather than understanding the general topic of conversations, I am catching the details now.  I am also speaking in Spanish with people who know English.  This week Lourdes' mom has been coming to the breakfast program.  She was the first to really push for me to stop using English.  I bet she will tell me soon that she has noticed a difference in my Spanish skills.  Within the past week Lourdes has stopped using English with me.  Now Joss and I speak "Spanglish" together, but it is 50/50 Spanish/English.  I'm making good progress!

This evening I had a nice chat with my Aunt by internet.  I was telling her a story and said something about "home", meaning the US.  She immediately wrote that I am already at home.  Honduras is home.  She is right.  For now, Honduras is home.  I am excited to get into the classroom tomorrow, now that I have really taken ownership there.

Hearts in the Soup

Just realized it's been 5 days since I posted!  Sorry guys.

I'll try to remember the highlights.

Tuesday I sat down with the kids from preschool.  They were out eating with the big kids, but they gathered together at one table.  Elvin was talking loudly, as usual, but his mouth was full of food.  I asked him, "Elvin, why are you talking with your mouth full?"  He quickly responded, "Because we're not in class!"  I couldn't do anything but laugh.  I told him at least he is honest!

Wednesday we only had 4 kids in the preschool class, so there was room to spread out.  Some of the kids were doing summersaults on the carpet.  Carpet is a luxury for them.  They don't have carpet at home.  Some only have dirt floors.  I decided since there were only four kids we should take advantage of the space, and the carpet, so we did some stretching then some exercises, then some more summersaults, frontward and backward, and bridges.  The kids had never tried back summersaults before.  I used to teach acrobatics and they really enjoyed it so I told them anytime we have a class of four or less, we can do that again.  Patience is not the strongest virtue of preschoolers, so it is dangerous to do summersaults with more than 4 kids.  Feet were flying everywhere.  The next morning they met me at the van asking if they could do exercises again.  I took a quick look around and pointed out that there were more than four kids, so no, we cannot do exercises today.

Thursday was chicken soup day.  Merlin told me he found a heart in his soup.  I looked up expecting to see part of the heart because chicken soup is made from all of the left over parts.  Marlin literally clips the toenails off the feet and cooks the feet.  The kids love it.  I scoop out the veggies and try to avoid the meat.  Anyway, Merlin was holding a piece of celery shaped like a heart.  It was so cute I took a picture.  Then all of the kids found hearts in their soup and needed pictures taken.  I have lots of smiling kids with celery hearts   from Thursday.

Merlin's celery heart ♥

Friday the teachers were on strike.  We had 68 kids and 14 of them were in my preschool class.  I started out with two of the older girls helping, but then they left me alone and didn't send anyone else in to take their place so I was stuck in the classroom with 14 crazy preschoolers.  One of them was screaming and crying and wanting to leave, which made more scream and cry, but Lourdes said she needs to learn to stay in class so she stayed for about an hour, screaming and crying.  I stood next to her.  She knows me well and hugs and kisses me every day, but she didn't mention a word before she decided to urinate on the floor.  So then I had 14 kids and a wet floor.  It was not my favorite day ever.  I was ready to go home after all of the kids left.  My bags were packed when Walter went to his car.  But then Lourdes said that Walter could not take me home because where he was going was very ugly (ugly is used often here) and I could not go with him.  I figured he had to do an errand at a bad part of town or something so I said I would call my taxista, then I could stop at the store and get milk on the way home.  That was when she said NO!  I could not go to the store because that was the ugliest place of all!  Finally I understood the teachers were having a horrible strike, burning tires and flipping over cars right in front of my supermercado.  That is a good place for them to have a protest because it blocks all of the major highways.  I was anxious to get home and do laundry because I knew I'd be busy all weekend.  I did not want to hear that I was trapped at the church.  Then Lourdes said Don Juan could take me home on his motorcycle.  I asked how it was safe to go home on a motorcycle, but not safe in a truck?  Lourdes said motorcycles can scoot between cars and get away faster.  Jairo was gone to another city.  He had been stuck on the highway, not moving, for 3 hours because of striking teachers too.  What kind of an example does this set for the children when they hear about their teachers having violent riots in the street???

I finally decided I would call my taxista just to ask him how the roads are.  He is always parked 2 blocks from my house so I figured he would know what was going on.  I trust him and I knew he would tell me if I should just stay at the church.  He said he could come and get me, but we might have a long ride home.  Turned out we had no problems at all getting home.  Everything was clear in our direction.  Cars were backed up in the other direction, but we sailed right home with no problems and I sent a text to Lourdes to tell her I was home safe.

Today I got up early to attend an all day seminar about how to preach.  It was really great.  At the very beginning during prayer Jairo asked us to choose a passage to pray over.  In the end we had to speak about that passage.  It was harder than we all thought.  Jose did a great job and of course Walter did really well, but he is a pastor now, so that is to be expected.  It was crazy watching Jairo prepare things in one minute that sounded great when we worked for hours and still struggled.  That is why Jairo and Walter are pastors and I am not.  But I can see now that I could give a message if I ever had to.  At the end we decided to meet again in November to learn something else.  The topic has not been decided yet.  I will also attend a seminar about violence - how to differentiate between difficult and dangerous situations.  I am not sure when that is.  Since I don't have a car, I just go where they tell me.  Jose, Karla, Walter and I are going.  Not sure if others are going as well.

The other Walter sent me a message yesterday that he received notice I have a package waiting for me.  He will get a copy of my ID at church on Sunday and pick up the package Monday.  It's from my Mom and it took less than 2 weeks to get here!

I just experienced the strangest thing!!!  Right now, I heard rain in the distance, but no rain drops on the trees outside my window.  I could hear the pounding of the rain getting closer and closer from the North, then a couple of drops on the trees then a few drops on the roof and then a downpour!  After about a minute of rain the temperature dropped significantly.  The rain moved back toward the North for a second, but now it is a constant pounding storm outside.  I am sitting about 8 feet from the window and my toes are getting wet.  The front door just blew shut.  Glad I am not outside or driving in this!  But it is good for the trees.  My avocado tree is very dry.  I've been watering it when we have extra water.  The lime tree is full of gorgeous limes.  The platano tree that broke in April is still broken but there is a smaller one next to it which has two big bunches of baby platanos on it.  Fany knew I would be excited about that because she remembered how sad I was about the platano tree falling down.  Fany and I talk almost every day now.  We stop over at each other's houses and yell into the door to see what the other is doing when we are bored.  Did I write about climbing the avocado tree and shaking the avocados down?  That was fun.  Her daughter, Laura, laughed so hard.  She is about 8 months old.  She was giggling like she thought we were nuts, shaking that tree.  That got us giggling too.  Those were the hugest and juiciest avocados I've ever had in my life.  Actually it was the first juicy avocado I have every had.

Well, not much else to say.  I am already getting requests from people to bring them things from the states.  Today a friend asked me to bring him some specific shoe laces.  I told him sure, they won't take up much space and they don't weigh much.  I can bring him shoe laces.

The storm is already calming down.  Glad I didn't have any laundry out.  That was the strangest thing, hearing rain in the distance like that.  Always something new and exciting in Honduras.

You can pray for Lourdes.  Her back is hurting her a lot, like it used to back in March and April.  Also Clara, the mother of two girls from the breakfast program keeps having to go to the hospital.  She has something wrong with her back and also has something wrong with her chest so she is having trouble breathing.  She has been to the hospital twice.  From what I understood the first time they told her to breathe with her mouth open and that was it.  I asked Lourdes to get a better idea what was going on, but Lourdes said that I understood correctly.  The second time she was given more medicine to shoot into her veins.  I don't know what it is or what it does, but Lourdes has been going to her house and giving her the medicine every day, which is hard for Lourdes because it is a long walk all uphill to get there and it's tough on Lourdes' back.

Jetty has been doing much better.  She hasn't had a hairball since that first day when I started the vasoline treatment.  She is getting a little chubby, probably from lack of exercise.  I play with her, but it's not the same as when she used to go outside.  She is famous here.  Even today at the seminar one of the men asked how she is and if she has a boyfriend yet.  I'd rather have people talking about my cat getting a boyfriend than about me getting a boyfriend.

Sorry for the long lapse in entries!  I'll do better this week.

Elvin and Avocados

It's been a very relaxing two days, which is good because I think I will be very busy for the next 2 weeks.  Yesterday I woke up from a dream that I was about 16 years old, living back in NY.  My brother and I were trying to skip church without Mom finding out.  Finally we decided to go to church, but reward ourselves with a hike afterward.  I woke up as we were driving to hike.  It was a  really nice dream, being that young, being with my brother, being back in Lyons Falls headed out for a hike.  Wish I had stayed asleep long enough to enjoy the hike.

I sat with Karla and Jose's family at church.  Lourdes stayed home yesterday and today.  She said she needs rest.  After church I relaxed at home, made a huge lunch, then took a nap.  At 4:45 a.m. I was still wide awake this morning.  Uuphhhh...

Finally got a few hours of sleep and made it through the day just fine.  Most of the preschool class came up to the car as I was getting out.  They wrapped themselves around me with hugs and asked if we were having class today.  When I say yes, all but two let go and ran around with their hands over their heads yelling, "We have class! Class!!! Class!!!"  Eunice had to ask the other two to unwrap themselves from my legs so I could  move.

Today in preschool we went for a walk outside so that each person could find one thing that was yellow.  All of the kids know their colors.  They like the IDEA of being in a line, so they always line up like a train, but staying in line is a different story. Fortunately the older kids always want to help with the class.  Since Lourdes wasn't there today to give the older kids a lesson, I took two older kids with me.  Extra hands are always helpful.

We glued and colored and walked.  We have already made big progress in prayer.  I used to say the prayer, but then I realized it would be better if the kids could do it themselves.  In the past only one boy has been able or willing to pray.  Today three of the kids asked to pray!  I was so excited!  Elvin asked if he could pray for his dog who was hit by a car and killed.  He saw it happen as he was walking to the breakfast program on Friday.  He and his sister were both very sad and upset that day.  Elvin has 2 sisters.  The other sister was not sad. She suggested to Don Juan that the dog would make good soup!  Oh boy.  Anyway, Elvin said a really nice prayer asking God to care for his dog in heaven.  It was sweet.

The kids had a huge breakfast of eggs, beans, tortillas, cheese and juice.  They all did a good job eating their food.  They do well reminding each other kindly about using good manners.  We have clothes pins hanging from ribbon on the ceiling, so each day we add another piece of their work to their clothes pin.  Today we made yellow stars and drew the number two.  Most can write their names, but I notices Elvin writes his name backwards.  I tried to point it out to him and showed him the correct way the write it, but he didn't seem to get it.  We'll have to work on that more.  I wonder if he is dyslexic?  He wrote the whole name backward, not individual letters.

We fed 53 kids with no problems.  It all went smoothly.  There were less kids than usual because they all had school today.  On days when there is school, less kids come to the breakfast program.

Clara came to the church to ask Lourdes to give her medicine that is administered as shots into her vein.   Lourdes was taught how to do it, but since she wasn't there Clara asked me to give her the medicine.  I don't know how to do that, so I had to say no.  Clara did have to go to the emergency yesterday morning at 5 a.m. because she couldn't breathe.  She said she has had problems eating since Friday because everything comes back up.  She looks fine, but says she is in a lot of pain in her back and when she breathes.  Her daughter, Estephany, said they got a cat.  Estephany is excited and plans to have the cat sleep with her.  Clara did not like that idea at all.

Estephany wants to go to La Tigra this weekend.  She wanted me to go because she knew her mother would only let her go if I were there to supervise.  But I can't go because I have the conference this weekend about how to preach.  I am really excited about this conference.  Today Jairo asked me to attend another seminar.  This one is about violence.  It is about how to discern the difference between difficulties and danger.  I think it will be interesting.  I am happy Jairo is offering me all of these opportunities.  Jose and Karla will also go, so if I need a few words translated I can turn to Jose.

I was relaxing at home when Fany, my neighbor, called me to come outside.  One avocados had fallen from the tree and she was hoping to get the rest down before they fall and rot on the ground.  She tried shaking the tree, which made her baby daughter giggle like crazy, and in turn made us giggle too.  Shaking the tree did not shake the avocados loose.  We got a ladder.  I held it with my foot while holding the baby in one arm, and protecting the baby's head with my other hand.  Fany climbed the ladder and poked the avocados down with a stick.  Then she told me to wrap them up in a towel and put them in a silverware drawer.  If I understood her correctly, they should be ripe by morning!  I like spending time with Fany.  Her baby is comfortable with me now, which is nice.  Maybe some day she will trust me to babysit.

I am making tapioca pudding for Jairo.  He has been talking about tapioca pudding since we got back from the states, so I am going to surprise him with some tomorrow.  Not good for his diabetes, but he'll love it!

Simplicity and Gratitude

I wondered yesterday, if maybe I might get a "case of the Fridays" like others get a case of the Mondays.  We pulled away from the church and I missed the kids already.  We hadn't even left the gates.

Lourdes is concerned because Marlin is talking about looking for a job.  We really need Marlin at the breakfast program.  She runs the kitchen.  I want what is best for Marlin, but I would really miss her if I didn't see her every day.  We are very close friends.  She loves me and I love her.  I love her kids too.  I hope there is a way that she can provide for her family and still be at the breakfast program every day.  Or at least most days.  Or some days?

Lourdes told me yesterday that I am a good teacher.  A week and a half ago we learned about circles in preschool.  Yesterday someone handed Violet a ball and she said very clearly "Circulo!"  A ball was one of the things we had used as an example of circles in the classroom, but Lourdes didn't know that.  Violet is only 2 years old.  Lourdes said, "See, the kids are learning.  You are a good teacher!"

Lately I have been really, really happy.  And very content.  Contentment is a feeling I have not felt much in my life.  I think that is mostly because of my biological make-up.  Since I was young I have times of happiness, but never this much consistent joy and contentment.  I do miss my family and I miss friends in the US.  But there is nowhere I would rather be right now than here, in Honduras.

Jetty is struggling a little.  She has suddenly begun to have hairballs.  Probably from the heat here.  I read about hairballs on the internet and gave her some pumpkin to help loosen her stool, as well as some vasoline to help the hairballs pass through.  She was lethargic for a few hours after taking the "meds", but she vomited a hairball and now she seems to be back to normal.  I'll give her some more tomorrow and for a few more days until her tummy is cleared out.

Lourdes and I went back to Los Pinos on Friday to visit Clara.  She is not feeling well at all.  We prayed for her.  We did some of her physical therapy exercises with her, which we all agreed felt great.  She may have to go to the hospital Monday.  We noticed there was no food in her house, so we packed up a garbage bag full of food and sent it up to her house.  Lourdes is also hoping to find a new mattress for Clara.  The one she is currently using is soft and so lumpy it might be harming her back more than helping when she rests.

I decided yesterday that from now on I will not think so much about "if I have to leave".  I have been focusing on that too much and it is keeping me from being fully present here.  So I am working on adjusting my mindset to fully comprehend that this is my home.  This is where I will live until God calls me to be somewhere else.

I am so grateful to be here.  I am grateful to be happy.  I am grateful to be serving these incredible people.  Clara brought me conservas, my favorite candy, months ago on Mother's Day.  She wasn't sure if I was a mother and wanted to be sure to honor me in case I was.  Now is my time to serve Clara.  To pray for her and her family.  I know I keep saying this, but it is such an honor to be here.  I feel blessed every day.

Today I did laundry in the morning, which was good because it has rained all afternoon and night.  I was supposed to tutor Daniel this afternoon, but he is very sick with asthma.  He has been sick since Wednesday.  A lot of people have been fighting asthma this week.  I guess it's the weather.  I am blessed with strong lungs.      Even though I had nothing to do today, I still had a great day with some visits from Fany and her baby Laura, as well as some quality time with Jetty.  The simplest of days are wonderful here.

Beautiful people in a beautiful place!

Wow!  I can't believe it is Thursday already!  Now do you see why I don't get a case of the Mondays?  My week is almost over and it feels like it's barely begun.

When I brushed my teeth last night I brought my bottle of water into the bathroom, set it down, and proceeded to brush my teeth with tap water.  Realized it as I was tapping my toothbrush on the side of the sink at the end.  Probably should have boiled the toothbrush last  night, but I was too tired and annoyed with myself.  I've been clenching my teeth lately.  A friend from the Peace Corp said she and all of her fellow PC volunteers did the same thing.  Wonder why?  I don't feel stressed or anything.  Anyway, I am not sick so far.  I have a good feeling that I'll be fine.  But normally I am very careful not to ingest any water here.  I've seen little things that look like miniature seahorses in glasses of tap water before.

After the tooth brushing incident I was lying in bed and realized it was Wednesday night already, which meant I should have taken the garbage out.  I got it out in time this morning, which was a good thing now that I have the kitty litter.  We don't have garbage cans. We just put our bags of garbage by the side of the road on Thursdays and Mondays.  I was very grateful to get the garbage out in time this morning.  I remember thinking, "If the rest of my day goes this well, I am going to have a great day."

When we got to the church, once again Marlin had outdone herself.  She had made over 200 huge pupusas as well as the "salad" that goes with them, one sweet and one spicy.  Most of the kids like the spicy salad with jalapeños and onion.  The other is sweet with carrot and cabbage.  There were 79 kids in the first group today.  That means 79 kids had full bellies this morning!

After the first group left, Lourdes asked me to go for a walk with her in Los Pinos.  I had thought we would drive, and I assumed we would bring a man with us for safety, but we didn't.  Lourdes had chosen specific kids to walk with us instead.  As we crossed the street and left the gated safety of the church I was excited.  I have walked through Los Pinos several times before, but only once, briefly, since 2009.  Some of my friends have lived in Los Pinos, but they moved out about a year ago because it became too dangerous.  I wasn't sure what to expect this time.

We drive to the church with the doors locked and the windows up.  I never leave the gates of the church except in a locked car.  From inside the gates I watch the kids come over, we serve them, and watch them walk back home.  I often sit and gaze at the homes on the mountains and think about what life is like there.  I know, from talking to the kids, that life is hard.  But it is so far beyond anything I have ever experienced that it's just hard to comprehend.  And yet, at this time in my life, some of the people I love most live in Los Pinos.

First we went to visit Karlita and her Mom, Clara.  Clara has been very sick for a while and was not feeling well today.  The doctor gave her some new medicine yesterday.  She didn't have money to buy all of the things that were prescribed, so she bought two of three.  What she didn't realize was that the third prescription was to counter the negative side effects of the first.  Lourdes explained that and told her the church will help her to get the third prescription.

Here are photos of Karlita, her mother, and their home:

Karlita washing clothes in her pila.

Karlita and her mother, Clara

The front house is their home

The first flight of steps

The second flight of steps - look how steep and narrow!

Their view of Los Pinos

Their view of  downtown Tegucigalpa in the distance

Christian (Conejo) taking advantage of the view

When we left Karlita and Clara we went a few houses down to visit the family of a Kiki, who is away at a Christian school.  We took more pictures and talked.  His family misses him a lot, but they realize that this is an important opportunity.  Kiki lives at the school, which is in another state within Honduras.  Gas is too expensive and the roads are too dangerous with kidnappings and drug trafficking to allow visits.  But he will be home in October for vacation.  The church helps find sponsors for the 6 boys who go to school in Olancho.  The photos and discussion from this visit will be forwarded to the families in the US who are helping to sponsor Kiki's education.

During our walk, we passed by one of the students from my preschool class.  He was proud to show me house he is building for his Incredible Hulk.

Esteban Josue and his Incredible Hulk

The view from Esteban's house

Next we went to Christian's house.  He has had the nickname "Conejo" which means rabbit, for a long time. Lourdes would prefer that we don't use the nickname, but it is so fitting that somehow it sticks.  Even Lourdes uses it sometimes.  Christian's family lives in 4 homes.  His Aunt lives in one, Grandmother in another, an Aunt and Uncle in the third, and Christian lives in the fourth with his mother and three sisters.  Here is the first.  His Aunt was inside making tamales.

First we went to Christian's house where his mother was making tortillas.  She gave Lourdes tortillas, salt and cheese.  I knew I was next.  I was full after having eaten pupusas at the breakfast program.  I wasn't sure how to handle the situation because I really had no room in my stomach and I knew that this would be taking food from the family.  But I also knew it could be very insulting if I didn't accept the food.  Finally I explained that I was really, really full so she only gave me one tortilla instead of two, with no salt or cheese.  Looking back, I think I should have just eaten whatever she chose to give me, even if I did feel too full.  I also think I will ask Christian if I can buy tortillas from his mother.  I really liked her tortillas.  She doesn't normally sell them, but it might give them a little extra money and I'd only ask for a few at a time.

Christian's mother asked when I would leave to go back to the states.  Lourdes explained that I live here now and that I have a home here.  It felt so good to hear that!  Sometimes I can't believe this is my life.  Hearing someone else say it makes it feel more real.  I guess it's still sinking in.

At Christian's Aunt's house we had a good time of prayer.  His family is dealing with a lot of difficult situations.  They really opened up and were very appreciative of Lourdes' advice.  We prayed for an Uncle who is unable not able to get out of Mexico and return to Honduras, a great aunt who is in very poor health, and an aunt who is having trouble starting a family of her own.  I could feel God's presence strongly in that home, even when we were not in prayer.  Christian lives in difficult circumstances, but God is with him and his family.

Christian and his family

Christian's baby sister, Cindi, is in my preschool class

Christian asked for his photo with his dog

We climbed more steps/tires.

Then we visited Samir and Yareli's house.

Our guards took a break and hung out in the tree

We talked with Samir and Yareli's mother.  Her oldest son is one of the boys in Olancho at the private school.  Just as we were about to leave she sent one of the boys to buy a juice for Lourdes and me.  He returned with two cans of pulpy apple juice and two packages of chocolate, chocolate chip cookies.  I asked Lourdes in English, so nobody would know what I said, if I could share the pack of cookies with the boys.  She considered, but said no.  So we sat and ate and drank.  We took photos of her house to share with the sponsors in the US.  Her son, Jarvin, who is the most advance boy in the preschool class, is covered in a rash that looks like a lot of bug bites.  Lourdes encouraged them to hurry down the mountain to meet the doctor who sees the kids at the breakfast program.  We looked over the meds they had in the house and found an anti-histamine.  We told her to use that until she is able to get other meds.  Poor little guy was so itchy!

Jarvin!

Samir in red, with his Mom and brothers

I wondered who wrote this in English

I thought this was a cool house.

We climbed more steps to our final stop at Bismar's house.  I really care about Bismar a lot, but I don't get to see him much because he, too, has earned the opportunity to attend the private Christian school.  When we got there his mother was making tortillas.  She provides the sole income for his household, since his step father has cancer.  He is very, very thin.  We talked and prayed with them.  Like every other family who has a boy away at school, they talked about how much they miss their son.  They appreciate the opportunity, but it is hard for then to have their son so far away.

More steps

Bismar's step father and mother

The oven where Bismar's Mom makes tortillas

View from Bismar's house

As we walked home Lourdes reminded me to hide my camera.  She started talking to me in English about what we would do when we got back to the church.  I reminded her it is probably best that she speak to me in Spanish while we are in Los Pinos.  She quickly agreed.  We made plans for a man we are tutoring.  He is very eager to learn English because he needs it for his work.

Our "guards" walked us safely back to the church.  Lourdes gave them each a bag of potato chips and thanked them for keeping us safe and showing us all of the fastest trails to get around in Los Pinos.  They seemed proud.

God is everywhere in Los Pinos.  Every home I entered was full of crosses and religious pictures or sayings.  But it wasn't just decoration.  These people seem to be really walking with God.  I wish my friends could experience how beautiful these people are.  They don't have running water.  Most don't have an indoor bathroom.  They are struggling to provide for their families and facing horrible health problems.  However, they have love and hope in God.  That seems to be more than enough for the people of Los Pinos.  It was an incredible, amazing day.  I am so grateful the God chose this path for me.

Today was also Don Juan's birthday!  We surprised him with a birthday cake - more food, but it was delicious!  It was a fun ending to an incredible day.

Happy Birthday Don Juan!

Trying my hand at plumbing

Got the faucet off the pila this morning and took it to Don Juan.  He bought me a new one and let me borrow his wrenches again.  I attached the new faucet as soon as I got home tonight, but in order for it to be on tight, it turns to far.  Basically the water comes out facing 9 o'clock.  I think if I buy some of that white, skinny, sticky tape it will fill in the gap and I can put it on straight so the water comes out at the bottom.  Never tried my hand at plumbing before, but I have running water in my house and the faucet on the pila is functioning.  Yay!

I was supposed to tutor my individual student today but he has horrible asthma and had to cancel.  Misael is also sick again.  His has a cough, which got worse throughout the day.  Last time he got this type of cough he was really, really sick for over a week.  It was bad.  Since his mother has Lupus we worry that she might get sick too.

Today was the day that Walter and some boys from La Tigra got called to get the stuff the grocery store is throwing away.  It happens at the beginning of every month.  This was one of the times when everything stunk like a dirty dumpster.  We got Ensure and lots of little pudding cup sized baby food.  There was some sun block, body wash, and lotion which will come in handy at the breakfast program for the kids who shower there.  There were also bags and bags of mini Reece's Peanut Butter Cups.  Everyone held their noses and scrubbed the packages, then we opened the bags and dumped out.  Some people tasted them.  I couldn't get past the smell today.  I mostly worked on making a meal for the boys.  It felt nice that everyone trusted me to cook for them.

Preschool was good today.  We counted up to three, talked about colors, made music, drew shapes and practiced good manners.  Some of the kids can count to 100, but others can't count at all.  I thought it would be hard to teach such a variety of kids, but really it makes everything easier because the kids who already know how to do things help the others.  We have a nice balance.

Lourdes and I worked more on the special project I've been talking about every day.  We are about 2/3rds done.  It was raining today so we couldn't go to Los Pinos to take photos.

Lourdes and Jairo are celebrating Jairo's mother's 80th birthday tonight.  Lourdes was a little worried because we stayed so late at the church that she didn't have time to prepare.  I love how people here go with the flow.  She will do her best to get everything ready and everyone will be happy with the party exactly as it happens.  That's we we roll in Honduras!

Jarvin, Merlin, and Misael  - Some of the preschoolers

Merlin

Merlin's leather shoes which are very typical here

Earth Day at Iglesia en Transformación

So far two people have given me ideas about things they'd like to see in the blog.  Both asked for more pictures of the surroundings here.  Perfect timing because Lourdes and I plan to go to Los Pinos tomorrow to take pictures of the homes and families of the 6 kids who are away at El Sembrador, a Christian school in Olancho.  I will try to get a lot of photos tomorrow of the homes of families we serve.  If you haven't been here before, you will be surprised.  I am quite sure most people have never seen anything like the way that people in Los Pinos live.  But as I have said before, somehow it is beautiful to me.

Today Lourdes did come to the breakfast program.  She said she has not slept well or very much in 5 nights.  This is worrisome to me because sleep used to be a big problem for Lourdes.  She has slept better for the past few months.  I hope it will not become a problem again.  The good news is she said she is not lacking for energy this time.  She said she never gets tired, that's why she can't sleep.  Last time she was exhausted all of the time.  Fibromyalgia is such a difficult disease!

When I got into the car Lourdes handed me the most beautiful necklace!  It it totally my style.  I love it.  It didn't match anything that I was wearing but I put it on and got many compliments on it.  Tomorrow I'll find an outfit that matches so I can wear it right!

Vanessa's collection of garbage

Marlin had the pancakes all made by the time we got there.  Lourdes had the kids each take a small garbage bag and search for garbage all over the church property.  The 3 teams who got the most garbage won a prize.  Then everyone else got a toy from a box of donations.  Lourdes had set some aside that she thought would be useful in my classroom too!

The whole group and their "basura" (garbage).

We got a lot of microwave popcorn from the "garbage" that the supermarket was throwing away, so Lourdes had all of the kids take home a bag of freshly popped popcorn.  They left feeling like they won the lottery with a new toy and a bag of popcorn!

As the second group came heavy clouds blew in and we could hear thunder in the distance.  Some of the kids walk a long way to get to the church, so we fed them quickly and told them to be careful in the street, but hurry home fast.  They didn't seem to care about the impending downpour.  No matter how much we encouraged them to rush they moved with no urgency.  Lourdes even told Marlin to go home early to avoid the storm.  I didn't mind cleaning the kitchen alone because along with the storm came cool air, so it was much easier to work in there.  Usually that kitchen is absurdly hot.

Lately it has been so hot, this is Jetty's new sleeping position.  (I know, she is a strange cat.)

Later we all sat down for lunch.  Lourdes made rice in a rice cooker that belongs to the church.  She said she would love one for her home.  It looked like a crockpot to me.  She also made a spaghetti with meat sauce.  She said she knew I was not going to eat something with all of that meat so she set aside some beans and cheese and eggs for me from earlier.  I am well taken care of!

We sliced up some cucumber and tomatoes, our daily staple for lunch, and had a feast.  Then Jairo had a meeting with a journalist.  I think it may have been one of the journalists he has been counseling fir post traumatic stress since the kidnapping of journalists has been popular.  But I'm not sure.

Lourdes and I worked some more on our project.  It is going to be so great!  It is for a family of 3 kids whose mother died recently, and for their father as well.  Every single one of the kids in the breakfast program contributed.  Now Lourdes and I are working to put it all together.  For me, the coolest part is seeing how well the kids in the program know God.  Even the little ones!  The things that they say and the advice they are giving to this family shows their deep faith and their knowledge of who God is.  I am proud of them and honored to be able to work with them.  It is hard to know what to say to someone when they lose a loved one.  But God has put His hand on this project and is working through these kids.  I believe their words will be healing to this family who lost their mother.

Another really cool thing that happened today is that Jairo asked me if I would like to attend a seminar about how to preach!  I was surprised.  My immediate response was, "I don't want to be a preacher."  Jairo said, "You never know when God might call you."  My mind went to the kids in the preschool class.  This seminar might help me to be a better teacher.  Although I don't want to be a preacher, and (at least so far) do not feel called to be a preacher, I am very excited and honored to be invited to a seminar about how to preach.  I realized later that this also means that Jairo has confidence that I will be able to understand the seminar, and maybe preach, in Spanish.  I can't wait!

I got home and figured out how to take the faucet off my pila.  I even figured out how to turn the water off first.  I didn't realize that turning off the water to the pila also turned off the water to the whole house, so I went inside and put soap all over my hands then had no way to rinse them.  When I got outside I had a choice, scoop water out of the pila with my soapy hands and contaminate the pila with soap, which is a BIG no-no.  Or try to screw the faucet back on with soapy hands.  I chose the latter.  It worked.  Afterword I felt quite accomplished.  I'll leave the faucet screwed on for tonight, then turn off the water and take it off in the morning before I leave for the day.