Turn grumbling into gratitude

This is what I saw as I closed the porton and left my driveway this morning.  I love seeing all of the people on horseback.  Not sure what was in the big red bags but the man was very nice.  We smiled and said good morning.

Things were a little hectic at the Breakfast Program today.  We ran out of cooking gas right as it was time for  us too serve the food.  Don Juan and I ran down to the gas station, then to the next gas station, then to the grocery store.  Everyone said the city was out of gas tanks.  Don Juan called a lady he knows who owns a restaurant and cooks with a gas stove.  He asked her how she was getting her gas.  She said told us about a guy who delivers gas on a motorcycle.  We called him and ordered a tank of gas.  We were thinking he might beat us to the church because he could get around faster on his "moto".  He showed up later in the afternoon.  By then the kids were fed and gone.

Every day for months Christian (Conejo) has asked for prayer for his Aunt.  This morning at 6 a.m. she died.  He told us very factually and seemed to go about his day as normal.  I'll check in with him tomorrow.

I got to Skype with a friend in Salt Lake.  She and I are close friends but we are not good at keeping in touch by computer.  It is so cool to talk to someone only occasionally and still feel as connected as if you spoke every day.  That is true friendship.

Had a bunch of errands to run today.  Gas, groceries, meds for someone at the church.  On the way home I was calculating all that I spent and feeling a little overwhelmed.  Then I realized what a blessing it is that I am able to do all of those things.  I know many people here who can't afford a weekly shopping trip, who don't have a car and probably never will, who don't have a refridgerator, or even a cooking stove.  After thinking of it that way, I felt very blessed to have a full tank of gas, a strong car with groceries in the back, and a refrigerator to keep things fresh.  It was kind of like turning a frown upside down.  What had felt like a burden was really a blessing.  I just hadn't looked at it that way.

As I headed up the mountain I passed Jairo and Walter in the van on their way down.  That seems like a very small thing.  But it was a really big moment for me.  They recognized my car and waved.  I beeped the right beep.  (Honduras has it's own beeping vocabulary.)  Everything felt so right.  Finally, the day has come that I am able to function on my own.  I do not depend on them for everything like I used to.  I thought about all that Lourdes, Jairo and my church family have done for me over the past year.  I can never repay them.  It is not possible.  They took care of me and looked out for my every need.  Finally it is time for me to do things on my own.  It felt great to pass Jairo and Walter and see them wave.  I feel like part of the team.  Now I can serve without burdening anyone.  They have never once given me the sense that I am a burden, but it sure is nice to be independent.

Jetty resting on a rainy day

It's official.  The rainy season is here.  During the rainy season my electric bill is going to be crazy.  I've been waiting for a sunny day to do laundry, but finally broke down and used the dryer for clean sheets and jeans today.  I am also using a de-humidifier.  It sucks the moisture out of the air like crazy.  According to it, this morning the humidity in my house was at 83%.  From what I have read, if I want to avoid mold growth in the house I have to keep the humidity below 50%.  I am worried about my electric bill, but grateful that I have a clothes dryer and a de-humidifier.  At the moment the power is out.  Maybe I should be grateful for that too - keeps the electric bill down.