Sending love and happiness - from the white girl

The kids had to get their foot measured today so that the First Lady can have the correct sizes to buy new shoes for them.  Not many showed up today, so we'll have to measure the rest on Monday.  They had a field trip to a museum.  I am happy they have opportunities like that.  It is also great that their teachers are showing up every day.  I mentioned the teachers' consistent attendance to Jairo and he explained to me that if they don't show up to work they will get fired.  Well, if that's what it takes I support it.  There is a huge difference between this school year and last year.  They actually have school every day!  Last year they were lucky to have school 3 days per week.

Things have gotten even crazier politically here.  Yesterday the man who is charge of national finances (I don't know his official title in English) was killed.  He was requiring top political figures to show records of their earnings because they appeared to be laundering money.  Now he is dead.  It is really no surprise.  One of the most prominent tv personalities got on tv yesterday and said if you have children and you have a way to get out of Hondruas, leave now.  Everyone was shocked because he has always been really hopeful for the future of this country.  Now he is saying leave if you can.  Sad.

I had to do some paperwork for my car today.  I don't think I got it turned in early enough to get the car on Monday.  The lawyer who had my passport was not very cooperative.  But I should have the car on Tuesday!  Car paperwork in Spanish is a little confusing.  Thank God I had Eunice to help me.

I am getting excited about the car.  Today as we drove to the church I thought about what it will be like when I no longer ride with Jairo every day.  I have ridden with Jairo to the church about 6 days/week for over a year.  I like riding with Jairo.  I like hearing his advice and learning about what is going on in this country through him.  I should start buying the newspaper now to keep myself current on everything that is going on.  But it will also be really nice to be able to come and go on my own schedule.  I have almost forgotten how to do things on my own schedule.  Everything I do depends on when someone else can help me do it.

Today Marcela brought me home after the Breakfast Program.  We stopped and got liquados (Honduran milkshakes with your choice of fresh fruit).  Yummm!

Afterward I skimmed Facebook for a while.  A lot of my friends are struggling right now.  On Monday, a few hours before everything happened in Boston, a girl I grew up with died after being hit in a car crash.  Then everything started in Boston and the craziness there still hasn't stopped.  It feels good to be physically removed from that.  I can turn on the tv and see NO reports about it.  It was on one page of the newspaper.  But it is not so overwhelming.  I think because I am not so overwhelmed by it, I am able to be more supportive of my friends who are sad.  While Facebook is a silly thing, it is my main means of contact with friends in the US.  I posted some cheerful photos of the kids from the Breakfast Program today in an effort to lift the mood.

This morning my phone rang at 7:11 a.m.  I was sound asleep.  I had no idea what time it was.  In Honduras the sun goes down at between 5-6 p.m. depending on the time of year.  People tend to go to bed earlier.  But the sun comes up at 5:30-6 a.m. so people get up earlier.  They find it very strange that I sleep until 7 or sometimes even 7:30 (gasp!).  Anyway it was Marcela's Aunt inviting me to a birthday party for her husband Jerry on Sunday.  Jerry is my landlord, Carlos' brother.  He and his wife and mother live on a separate part of this property.  They are really kind to me and I enjoy their company, so I am honored and excited to go to the birthday party Sunday.  See?  I am really fitting in here!

One final thing.  Sometimes I forget that I am not Honduran.  Especially lately.  When I first got here I would walk through the store and feel different from everyone - more white, like everyone knew I didn't really belong here.  But I haven't felt that way in a while.  Last weekend we went to the pool, so I have a pretty dark tan.  In the US I have always had darker skin than most people.  I think of myself as having dark skin and dark eyes.  Until I see photos like this:

I love it!  Boy am I white!

Well, it's the weekend.  I am going to make beans tomorrow and probably some cookies too.

Sending love to my friends who are hurting in the US.  Thinking of you and praying for you.

 Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. 
Where there is hatred, let me sow love; 
Where there is injury, pardon; 
Where there is doubt, faith; 
Where there is despair, hope; 
Where there is darkness, light; 
Where there is sadness, joy.