10 Months in Honduras

Ten months ago today I moved to Honduras.  I remember spending so much time wondering if I would raise the finances necessary to stay.  To be honest, I was doubtful.  I kept trying to convince myself that I would feel okay if I had to return to the US because I had given it my best shot.  I tried hard not to get attached to anyone or anything here.

And then, little by little, the finances started coming.  People doubled their monthly donations.  People I had never met before offered enormously generous donations.  Others kept telling me they had complete faith that I would stay.  It took me longer to believe.  I think I was protecting my heart.

I'll save all of the memories for my actual one year anniversary in Honduras, which I plan to CELEBRATE!

I can't lie.  There have been rough times.  But there has also been more joy than I have ever known before.  I love my day to day life here.  I am blessed to have some wonderful friends, both in Honduras and in the US, who are very supportive.

The Breakfast Program, which is the reason I was called to be here, has gone from about 40 kids every day to over 100 kids.  This is especially meaningful to me because the Breakfast Program is not new.  It has been feeding 20-40 kids for more than five years.  But this is the year that is more than doubled in size.  We are doing lots of good things there.  I have no doubt that we are touching many lives.

On Friday we will send 9 boys from Los Pinos to El Sembrador.  El Sembrador is a private Christian school many hours away.  Three of the boys are returning for their second year, one (Bismar) for his third year, and five are going for the first time.  They are being given the opportunity to completely change their future.  They are excited!  Some are even talking about going to college in the US, which is a realistic goal after they complete their education at El Sembrador.  They are learning to dream big and make their dreams come true.  Imagine going from living in a shack with a dirt floor, no running water, no electricity, and an outdoor fire for cooking in one of the poorest areas of the city, to a beautiful prep school in the country.  It is a huge transition, but they understand the importance of what they are being offered.  We are so excited for them!

Bismar and his mother.
He is so handsome in his new suit and she is so proud!

Jairo presented Bismar to the church for prayer before he leaves.

A lady from Canada is here for a few weeks.  She is a kindergarten teacher.  She has been spending every day helping me organize and plan activities for the preschool kids.  With her help, we have completely changed the Breakfast Program.  Now the kids have to be four years old to be in the preschool class with me.  We have a separate classroom for the 0-3 year olds.  The older kids take turns caring for the youngest.  Lourdes is tutoring "los medianos" (the 7-11 year olds).  Walter and Chayito are teaching "los grandes" (12 and up).  I am really excited.  Especially since the program continues to grow.  Now there is room for everyone to learn..  It is nice to have them each in an environment that is age appropriate.  I think this new arrangement is going to make a big difference in the children's education.  I am really grateful to the teacher who is helping us implement everything.  It is a blessing to me because I was feeling overwhelmed and a little discouraged.  But now that I see how productive our class can be, I have a new sense of motivation and excitement.

Veronica, whose Mom (Doña Albertina) died a month ago, has been keeping herself busy helping Marlin in the kitchen.  She seems to be doing very well.  Bismar and his mother are also doing well, as you can see.  Cancer took Bismar's father on New Year's Eve.  Christian (Conejo)'s grandmother is dying.  His mother saw me at church this week and asked me to come to the house and pray with the family.  I was very honored that she asked.  I explained I will need to find someone to go with me into Los Pinos, but I will go as soon as possible.  I am hoping to go Wednesday.  Clara, who has leukemia, is getting chemotherapy every week.  A family from the US was planning to come visit, but were unable so the money they would have used toward the trip will pay for Clara's treatment for a year!  Clara is thin, but still strong emotionally and physically.  Pat Pike, back in the US, still needs prayer.  The Drs have chosen not to close his stomach because each time they tried he got an infection.  He is not able to process food and was diagnosed with pneumonia last week.  He is a strong man with a new wife so we are praying for a quick recovery from pneumonia and that the Drs will choose to close him up soon.  I don't mean to be a downer, but I know some of you are eager to hear these things.

Yesterday Marcela (my landlord's daughter) and I went for a walk.  It was a gorgeous afternoon, for which I was grateful because the sun doesn't come out very much in the mountains lately.  We decided to walk toward La Tigra.  We passed Shalom, turned the corner where all of the signs for La Tigra begin, and headed up the hill.  But we got side tracked by stopping to visit Marcela's grandmother.  She has the most beautiful yard.  Part is a vegetable garden, part fruit trees, beautiful flowers, different kinds of vines, and the biggest jade plant I have ever seen in my life.

We took a tour of the yard, sampling mint, basil, cherry tomatoes, and taking photos.  Then Marcela's uncle invited us to go for a ride with him "up the mountain for just a minute".  We put a garden bench in the back of his pick up truck and headed out.  Four hours later he dropped us off at home.  I was shivering as the sun had gone down and it was cold up there, but I loved every second.  We visted Marcela's grandfather's land. He used to live in La Tigra.  (La Tigra is a rainforest which is protected as a National Park.)  He also used to grow coffee there.  We visited the land where the coffee plants still grow.  I think her Uncle is going to farm the coffee.  It was really interesting.  I had never seen a coffee plant before.

Pictures from Marcela's Grandmother's yard:

Huge jade plant

Pictures from La Tigra:

Coffee plants

I still have a cough, left over from the flu I got in the states.  It is finally getting better.  I don't need the nebeulizer anymore and I haven't vomited from coughing in over a week.  I feel good, but need to get back into shape after resting for more than a month.  Marcela and I are planning to start the Insanity Workout as soon as my cough gets better.  We will also swim in a month or two when the weather is warmer.

I am hoping to get a car soon.  It is hard to run simple errands when my home is so far from everything.  I am loving the new house and being in the mountains, but I think I will love it even more when it warms up and when I have my own transportation.  Everyone is awesome about getting me where I need to be.  I never feel like I am burdening anyone.  Jairo, Walter, and my landlords always seem more than happy to help out.  But sometimes I miss the independence of having a car.

There were a lot of other things I've been meaning to write about, but I needed a little respite from the computer.  I will get back to blogging regularly now.

And in the news - Jairo told me that the murder rate was the highest it's ever been last month.  He also told me that the unemployment rate in Honduras is 48%.  While I was still staggering from that statistic Jairo said it's no wonder people are stealing and turning to illegal activities.  Unfortunately, he's right.  Puts things into perspective, doesn't it?