Hopefully tonight will be the end of my wait. I'll stay up tonight and wash everything I can wash, water all of the plants and trees, and mop the floor. This time of year we never know when or if we'll have water.
Yesterday I picked up Karla and we spent the day together. It was really nice! First we cooked lunch together. Then we sat and ate. We talked and talked about all kinds of things. She likes to talk about her Mom. We looked at photos I have of her Mom. She seems happy, not sad. She was carrying around a couple of heavy burdens, but she said God told her to share them with me. I think she felt better afterward.
I learned that she is getting paid to work with me!!!!! I'm so happy for her! I never knew. In fact, neither did she until they gave her the money! She is really happy. This money will pay her sister's college tuition each month, plus she will have a little extra to set aside.
We also talked about safety. Things seem to be getting worse everywhere. She said that the corner where I drop off and pick up Ana is now a dangerous spot. Even the most protected houses with tall, thick walls are getting broken into. She said nobody is safe in Los Pinos. But she feels God protecting her.
(Later last night, around 7:30, there was a big shoot out behind my house. I used to hear a lot of gunfire back there, but not so much lately. Before it was always at 10 p.m. or later. Last night I was messaging with my friend on Facebook. She said my area was on the news because the gangs from El Hato, the little community next door where Fany and I buy groceries, are overflowing into Villa Nueva. My little colonia sits in between El Hato and Villa Nueva. My house is on the edge of my colonia, which means the other side of the wall behind my house is El Hato. That's why I can hear the gunshots so close by.
My colonia has armed guards at every gate. It is well known in the general public that you can't get into my colonia if you don't live here. I noticed today my neighbors electrified the barbed wire fence on top of their wall. I could hear it buzzing. That was new. Anyway, I am being extra careful. I shopped in El Hato yesterday morning, but talked to a woman who works with the gangs last night and was advised not to go back there until things have calmed down. I am thankful for my tall, thick brick wall topped in barbed wire. It keeps all of the craziness out.)
Okay, so back to Karla - After talking for a few hours, we got to work on her English project. She had to interview an English speaking person and video tape it for her teacher. We've been working on it over the phone for a while, but it still needed some fine tuning.
In the end, it turned out great! We pretended that she was sitting in the park, reading a book, and she was interviewing people who walked by. So I walked by and she called me over to sit down. Jetty even had a role. She tried to send me a copy of the video, but it didn't all copy for some reason and it's too big to download.
Here's a funny outtake from while we were practicing. She was supposed to stop me as I walked around the corner, but she was too busy pretending to read and she let me walk right by. We think it's hilarious. It may not be as funny to you. At least it will give you an idea of what we were doing.
I sent Karla home with a bunch of clothes I never wear and some food left over from the party on Tuesday.
My coworkers want to celebrate my four year anniversary with me! It is this Monday, and since we don't have to work they suggested last night that we should get together. I wanted to celebrate, but I am very low on money due to all of my car issues. If I invited most of my friends (outside of work friends) I would have to pay for them and their family. So I thought a party was not within my budget this year. I was content with the celebration for Abel and Keyrin on Tuesday. It will be an extra bonus if we can get together again Monday.
Today I have to get in some bible study. Then I am going over to Molly's house. Molly cares for two Honduran kids. Since I used to work with her last year, they got used to having me around. When we shared a room at a retreat last month I realized they actually missed me. I thought about the fact that I shouldn't just disappear from their lives now that I have another job. They have had enough people disappear - like their mother and father and siblings. The least I can do is show up and let them know they are important to me.
We are having lunch and then playing some games. Anderson is sick with a cold, so we can't go to the park as we'd planned. But that is fine. I may even get lucky and be able to wash a load of clothes there. We'll see...
My Pastor invited me to go to an island down South with him on Friday. It is supposed to be beautiful, but I feel very unsettled about the idea. I've been praying about it, asking God why I feel so ill at ease. I don't get opportunities like this often, so I really want to go. But unless things change I think I shouldn't. I'll keep praying about it.
