Picnics in La Tigra and Pizza

I have been thinking about a lot of things lately, but it rains every night so I rarely have internet which means I can't share my thoughts here.

One week from today I will wake up in the US.  To be honest I have mixed feelings.  I will be gone for 28 days and that feels like too long.  But it is the only way I could fit everything in and still afford the flight.  Tickets around the 4th of July were pricey so I had to come back later than I would have chosen.

Last week I taught Samuel (age 4) how to use a seat belt.  He has a hard time getting it on and off, but he loves to use it, which is a plus for me since he is not used to sitting down in a car.

I also learned that Maria Angelica has never been to McDonalds.  Actually I bet many of the kids have not been to McDonalds because I only know of 2 McDonalds here (Burger King and Wendy's are a lot more common).  I have a plan to get permission from her mother and take Angelica to McDonalds on her birthday.

I officially learned that I will be speaking for 5 minutes at my church in the US.  Then last night it turned into, "could you talk to ....... and work together to give the message".  I am actually hoping to have a longer amount of time because it feels like there is too much to say in only 5 minutes.  The only problem is that I will be in the woods in Colorado starting next week so we won't have much time to prepare.

Yesterday Belinda announced to the kids that they no longer have to do homework when they come in the morning.  We are back to the old way, where we play every day and they ask for help if they need it.  I am willing to bet grades will go down.  But the number of kids we serve will go up.  They don't like coming to the church and having to sit and do school work.  As Walter explained to me this morning, the church is their sanctuary.  Their only safe place.  And if they are not going to come because we require them to do homework then our good intentions are backfiring.  Their safety and happiness needs to come first and from there we can work on grades the best we can.

I am disappointed that the homework way didn't work, but I agree with Walter.  If having to do homework is keeping kids out of the church, then we need to change our approach.  The good news is, today a lot of kids were still asking for help to do their homework!

On June 7th the meeting with the leadership will be held to see how I can best serve.  I am excited to see what they decide for me.  Several people from the church have approached me about English classes and I know they did not hear that from me, so word is spreading fast and a lot of people are interested.  Even my car mechanic wants to sign up!

Last weekend was a little dreary outside.  Hardly any of the adults went to swim.  Even the bus driver cancelled, so I drove everyone in my car.  I am becoming a real Honduran in the sense that I have learned to squeeze a million people into my car.  After swimming one of the girls from the restaurant asked if she could ride with us to church.  I said sure!  I was very excited - this was the whole point of including people from outside the church.  She seemed to really like the service.  I think she will come back next week with her Aunt and her Aunt's friend!

Pilates classes are also going great.  So far we have had 4 classes.  The two ladies who have come to every class are improving tremendously!  It is so fulfilling to me to watch them do things that only a few days before they couldn't.  They are now able to walk and hardly have any sore muscles so I think I need to push them a little harder.  But easy does it with this group.

I have gotten myself into pretty good shape over the past 3 weeks.  It's amazing what you can do with weights that you can't do in other ways.  I was running for months, but nothing changed my form like 3 weeks lifting weights.

My landlords gave me a going away dinner last weekend because they are busy this weekend.  Then they explained all the work they will do on my house while I am gone.  I will get a new coat of paint and one wall will be tiled with pretty tiles.  That will be nice to come home to!

Today at Buen Provecho I was part nurse.  One boy had hit his stomach so hard that he had a lump and a bruise.  He said it really hurt.  It took me a while to catch on to the fact that it wasn't his tummy that hurt.  He never did explain to anyone how he got the black and blue knot under his ribs.  We gave him pain reliever and had him lie down for a while.  Now that I think of it, maybe we should have been more concerned about internal bleeding.  But he spent most of the day with us and seemed a lot better when he left.

Milagro told me that she was having pain in her mouth.  Turned out she had a molar coming in.  More pain reliever and a bottle to go home so her mother could give it to her at home too.  Then Milagro started telling me this story that today is her birthday but she can't celebrate because her tooth hurts.  I think the story stemmed from the fact that I told her she was getting a new molar in her mouth and that is why her mouth hurt - because she is growing up.  Anyway, I never did really figure out if it was her birthday today or not because then she said her birthday is very far.  Who knows.

The younger kids are going to do a dance on Sunday at church.  They will have pom poms and everything.  I am trying to figure out how to let go of them since I won't be their teacher any more.  It will be hard for me.  They have finally learned to come to me with lumps in their armpits and bruises on their ribs, or when they have new teeth coming in.  I am the one they count on.  It will be a difficult transition for them and for me.  Hopefully whoever takes my spot will not be hurt or angry if they still come to me occasionally for things.

Last week in church Samuel and his family sat with me.  When we took communion Samuel chose a piece of bread that had the crust on it.  I looked down and he was flicking the seeds and grains from the top of the crust.  When he saw me watching he said, "Jesus' skin is dirty!"  I was not sure how to respond to that.  I never thought of the crust as Jesus' skin before.  Samuel saw the bewildered look on my face and thought we had a language barrier, so he started pointed to and pulling at his own skin on his arm, saying, "His skin. His skin.  It's dirty!"  Oh Samuel.  I learn something from him almost every day.

On Saturday we had an outing.  The whole church was invited to La Tigra.  I was so happy to see entire families from Los Pinos having the time of their lives.  It was really a fun day.  We played all sorts of traditional games like jump rope and potato sack races and Honduran Dodgeball.  We even had horseback rides for all ages.  It was a super good time.  Afterward we walked to a little place on a lake where a lady sells coffee and ended the day there.  Everyone loved it.  It was a huge success.

Ana and her kids all came to my house for dinner that night.  They were my first dinner guests ever, which is strange because I used to entertain a lot when I lived in North America.  We made pizza together and then headed back down into the city because I really should not be driving to Los Pinos in the evening.  It gets dark here so early, it was after dark when I dropped them off, but I made it back home safely.  I was really, really glad I invited them to my house.

Ana is one of my very closest friends.  I also love her kids.  Her oldest son is 14 and very, very responsible.  The next is 10 and he is the sweetest, most caring boy ever.  Then there is Samuel.  If you haven't caught on yet, he is a handful.  And Isabela is almost 16 months.  She is a doll.  Everyone remarks about how she somehow decided to attach herself to me.  I don't mind a bit.

Ana is someone who, when you talk to her often responds, "Well, as the bible says..."  I like that.  I also like that she does not fall into the common Honduran practice of criticism or gossip.  She is very positive and ALWAYS grateful.  Her family sometimes goes without food.  But she is grateful for everything they do have.  I can honestly say I don't think I have ever heard Ana complain.  I will miss Ana and her family a lot while I am in the US.  I feel blessed to know her and be her friend.

Jose enjoying the afternoon in La Tigra

Anai resting in the sun

A swinging game I had never seen before

Luis swinging Anai and Jose's Mom

Horseback ride

Ethel, president of the church, with my friends Lucy and Hermida

Walter wearing his K2 shirt

Ana, Isabela, Me and Delia
Delia also serves at Buen Provecho

The staff of Buen Provecho
Ada, Ana, Isabela, Eunice, Samuel, Delia, Me and Don Juan

Don Juan is going to transplant flowers from La Tigra to the churc

Isa

Samuel and David at my house

Homemade Pizza!

Samuel eating pizza

David was exhausted, but hungry

Jired

Ana and Isa enjoying their pizza

Carlos

Today was one of those days that confirm I am exactly where I need to be.

About 6 months ago one of the boys fell down and was crying.  He is about 5 years old.  He drops by the Breakfast Program now and then - more often when the teams from North America visit.  His name is Carlos and he is famous with the North Americans but in reality, we don't see him too often.

He was crying that day after the fall, so I picked him up.  Another time I noticed he was crying and picked him up again, without knowing what happened.  Each time he hugged me tightly until I put him down and I remember being surprised that he didn't want to be put down sooner so he could go play with the other kids.

It happened at least once more - Carlos was crying so I picked him up and held him.  Finally I caught on to the fact that Carlos was coming to the Breakfast Program and crying so that he could be held.  This morning Carlos was there.  He came up and silently tugged on my pant leg like a toddler.  I bent down and hugged him but didn't let go and I could feel that he wanted me to pick him up.  So I picked him up and held him.

He rested his head on my shoulder and put his arms tight around my neck.  I told him I love his hugs.  We stood like that, with me rotating now and then so he could watch what the other kids were up to, for at least a half hour.  I kept waiting for him to get squirmy and want to get down.  I asked a few times if he wanted to go play with the kids and felt his head shake "no" on my shoulder.  So I kept holding him.

A few adults asked if I was tired, if I needed a chair.  I explained he was too long to sit down with and then for Carlos' sake I said, "I never get tired hugging Carlos."

Don Juan walked over and ruffled Carlos' hair, checking him for lice.  He had apparently read my mind.  I had decided about 20 minutes earlier that if I got lice again, it would be well worth it.  Don Juan said Carlos was clean.  An added plus.

Finally I really did get tired, and I kept seeing all of these amazing pictures that I wanted to take of the kids while they were playing.  So I asked Carlos if he wanted to walk with me to get the camera.  He shook his head "yes".  We walked hand-in-hand to the car and got the camera.  Then I sat down and he climbed into my lap.

I was thinking recently about how the kids have learned to smile for the camera.  Even one year old Isabela grins when I have the camera aimed at her.  They used to make peace signs or bunny ears when they saw a camera two years ago.  And some of them had a dull look in their eyes, even just a year ago.  But I hardly ever see that dull look any more.

Today I was looking over all of the photos.  Carlos and I were in some of them.  Carlos' eyes were dead.  In all of the photos the look on his face was flat, like he didn't realize he was in a place where 50 other kids were playing and having fun.

I wish that Carlos would come to the Buen Provecho more often because I have seen that look disappear from other kids' faces.  Sometimes new kids come with that dead-eyed look for the first couple of weeks, but the it goes away once they feel comfortable.

I am going to pray that Carlos comes to the church more often and that we are able show him the love he so desperately needs.

All smiles.  Except one.

Phenomenal Woman

My personal goal in writing:

I was sad to hear that Maya Angelou died today.  It is normal to feel sad, even when people have lived a full life.

I first became familiar with Maya Angelou in one of her visits to The Oprah Winfrey Show.  From there I sought her out.  It was only today as I was writing this blog that I learned I wasn't the original author of  "I've learned that I still have a lot to learn".  Maya Angelou said it first.

Here are more of my favorite words of wisdom from Dr. Maya Angelou:

HOW TO LIVE:
“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style”

“If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”

“The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.”

“We need much less than we think we need.”

“You should never make someone a priority who views you as an option.”

“Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.”

“My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. Continue to allow humor to lighten the burden of your tender heart.” 



LIFE TO THE FULLEST:
 “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” 

“I want all my senses engaged. Let me absorb the world's variety and uniqueness.”

“Some people cannot see a good thing when it is right here, right now. Others can sense a good thing coming when it is days, months, or miles away.”



WITH GOD:
 “A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her.”

 “While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God's creation.”

“It is this belief in a power larger than myself and other than myself which allows me to venture into the unknown and even the unknowable.” - (If I had written this the title could be "How I moved to Honduras") 

“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.”

“Life is going to give you just what you put in it. Put your whole heart in everything you do, and pray, then you can wait.” 


POETRY:
“Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.”   SO THERE! (I added that part)
― Maya Angelou


  PHENOMENAL WOMAN
“Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.”   


“I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”


ABOUT WRITING:
“When I am writing, I am trying to find out who I am, who we are, what we're capable of, how we feel, how we lose and stand up, and go on from darkness into darkness. I'm trying for that. But I'm also trying for the language. I'm trying to see how it can really sound. I really love language. I love it for what it does for us, how it allows us to explain the pain and the glory, the nuances and delicacies of our existence. And then it allows us to laugh, allows us to show wit. Real wit is shown in language. We need language.”

“I make writing as much a part of my life as I do eating or listening to music.”

“I don't know how much longer I'll be around. I'll probably be writing when the Lord says, 'Maya, Maya Angelou, it's time.”  Today was that day.  I hope she was writing?
   
“I would like to be known as an intelligent woman, a courageous woman, a loving woman, a woman who teaches by being.”
 Maya Angelou, you will be known as all of these things and much, much more.  I feel blessed to have lived on this earth at the same time you were here.  Thank you for sharing your heart with the world.

"Peace, My Brother.  Peace, My Sister.  Peace, My Soul.”

No buses

Swimming was good with the adults yesterday.  I took tons of photos, then part way through church as I was taking more photos I realized the memory card was missing.   So no photos from yesterday.

My landlords got a new puppy!  We were down to one dog and he was very lonely.  I was surprised to be greeted by the barking of a puppy (he thinks he is a big attack dog already) when I left the house at 5 am yesterday.  After church I got to meet him.  He is cute!  His name is Luke.  He pees every time you pet him.

Which leads me to my next theme of the night.  Jetty is having some sort of urinary problem.  Last night I noticed she spent a lot of time going downstairs to her litter box.  I noticed because normally she goes to sleep and then I, in turn, can sleep after she uses her litter box.  But last night she kept going back and forth.  Today when I got home from the church she was spending a lot of time in there.  So I called the vet.  She has an appointment tomorrow morning.  In the meantime I am giving her apple cider vinegar.  The internet says it helps with bacterial infections and kidney stones, so if it is not cancer, the apple cider vinegar should help her feel better soon.

I took a lot of photos today.  Helped 2 kids with social studies homework.  Had a fun class with the preschoolers.  For some reason Samuel decided he didn't want to draw.  Instead he cried under the desk.  Oh Samuel.  He is a handful, but I love him dearly.

Samuel is mad

So he hid under the desk

Everyone is shaken up because none of the buses near the church are running.  The main hub is right at the corner by the bottom of the hill.  The director of the buses was kidnapped on Friday and found dead yesterday.  From what I hear the buses aren't running all week in protest of what happened.  All of the kids have to walk to school.  Some of the schools are very far.  The morning kids are having to leave for school earlier and the afternoon kids are coming to the church a lot later.  Some  moms are trying to come up with cab fare for their kids.  The buses are all parked on the side of the road and cabs are double parked next to them.

I know 2 people who saw the bus coordinator being kidnapped from the bottom of the hill.  They people beat him up and pulled him into a car.  They also said the police were right there and did nothing.

I am sharing some words at my church in Salt Lake when I go to the US.  I am trying to decide if I want to talk a little bit about what life is like in Honduras, as well as what we are doing in the church.  I think I might talk about some of the more striking differences to set the scene and let people know why the safety and the outreach the church offers is so essential to the people who live here.

Misael earned a sticker for memorizing scripture

Violet is concentrating - check out the tongue
And Misael's tongue in the background too!

Milagro

There was an animal under the table, touching my knee -
Oh wait!  It's Misael!!

Violet is proud of her sticker (under her fingers)

We took a break to play outside

Big girls like their picture taken too

Saturday Swimming with the kids - Week 6

Saul!

Paola and Jose
Little Jose is in the big kids' group - he's only 7!

Maykol always dazes out on the bus

Guillermo leads the kids in stretching

Saul working on breast stroke

I adore this photo of beautiful Maria Angelica

Today was Johanna's first day.  She did great!

Paola is so excited to learn to swim!

I don't know this little boy, but it's such a cute photo!

The older group making a star

Michell worked really hard today!

Michell worked so hard she got a cramp.
But the coach helped her work it out.

Things to come

Well, I knew it would happen.  I just wondered how long it would take.  This morning my laptop slipped and the top left corner broke off.  My HP computer fell like that a million times and nothing happened, but this computer is obviously not well made.  I got it online.  If I had known how flimsy it is I never would have bought it.  So, in case you ever consider buying an ASUS computer, don't.  The screen bends if you touch it and every time I tap the mouse pad the whole thing sounds like it is going to fall apart.  At least it still works.  For now.  Seems like I only have good luck with HP.  My Acer was a piece of crap too.

Buuuut otherwise, this has been a good week.  I am starting to get ready for my time in the US.  Making lists of things I need to pick up while I'm there.  Nature Made vitamins (the cheapest grocery store brand in the US) are $35 for a bottle of 30 multivitamins in Honduras.  I can find them in the US for $7.99.

Things are going to be different for me when I return to Honduras after visiting the US.  I am going to teach English and help out with different aspects of the church.  I am not sure of the details yet, but I am excited and ready for a change.

One of the coolest things about this whole change is that I know it was completely from God.  On Wednesday there was a church leadership meeting.  The same day I also had a meeting concerning the Breakfast Program.  When I left my meeting we had come to the consensus that I should pray about whether God wants me to continue working with the preschoolers or focus more on teaching English.

The logical path seemed to be teaching English.  The kids have no clue how to do their homework.  They fill in the blanks but they have no idea what anything means.  There are many people who are interested in taking an English class whom I don't currently tutor, so there was the possibility that it could be a full time thing.  But I also knew I had to follow God's will for me, and I had no idea what that might be.

I prayed and prayed.  I only slept a few hours.  I didn't feel anxious, I just felt the need to pray.  The only response I kept getting was that the decision would not be made by me.  I kept feeling that my ideas and my thoughts really didn't matter because it was all in God's hands.  That gave me a lot of peace.  I didn't have to weigh out the positives and negatives.  I didn't even have to think about my options.  I only had to pray to God and ask what He wanted me to do.

I reached out to a very few people and asked for support in prayer.  That was very helpful.  Prayer was my only recourse, but I was not alone.

I talked to my landlord and she prayed with me on Wednesday night.  She also advised me to speak with Walter, who is in charge of Buen Provecho.  It was a wise idea, because it was possible that he might not want an English class in the church.  So the next day I met with Walter.

I explained to Walter that I met with the ladies the day before and we came up with the idea that maybe I should teach English.  I told him that I was praying about it and really had no idea what I should do.  I started to ask him to join us in prayer, but he stopped me.  He said in the leadership meeting the day before they decided I will be teaching English and helping the church in other ways too as soon as I get back from the US.  He hadn't had a chance to tell me yet and the details are not finalized.

The fact that the leadership came to the same conclusion we reached in our little meeting gave me a lot of peace and made me realize that God was guiding us all in the same direction.  I am excited to see how it is all going to turn out.  It feels like I am about to enter a new phase of my life in Honduras.

Today I was reminding all of the kids to be at the church tomorrow morning at 7:15 for swimming.  Last week was a little chilly and was also the first time the instructors had some of them swim without the flotadors.  It was the biggest challenge they have faced so far.  A few of them came to me over the course of the week and said they would not be able to swim this Saturday.  I doubted their excused but never said a word

Today we all sat down and had a talk.  It wasn't planned, we just happened to be together.  We said that some weeks will be cold, and sometimes the teachers will teach things that feel scary at first.  But if they miss a week of swimming they will fall farther and farther behind.  So if they really want to learn to swim they need to come every Saturday unless they are in school.  I know they all really want to learn to swim.  I told them I am going to pray that their other obligations disappear, so they can swim tomorrow.  Suddenly they all agreed that they wanted to pray the same.  I have a strong feeling that most of them will be there tomorrow.  I don't think they really had obligations.  I think they were at a scary place and needed a little pep talk to move forward.

In the middle of our talk Maria Angelica leaned forward and whispered in my ear that she loves me.  THAT is why I am serving in Honduras.  I know she doesn't get a lot of attention at home so I have been consciously trying to spend time with Angelica and give her positive attention.  Today we looked at photos on Facebook of her and the others swimming.  She also was adjusting my earring.  Some of her friends told her not to touch my earrings, but I told her that it was fine.  So she adjusted the other side too.  And told me my dress was pretty.  It sounds like nothing - that she adjusted my earring.  But for Angelica, any form of touch and positive interaction is important and precious.

I notice since she started swimming her personal hygiene has changed dramatically.  In order to swim the kids have to bathe before they go to the pool.  Today we were talking to 3 new girls who want to join the swimming program.  I was going over the rules and she told them they have to bathe at home before class.  Since swim classes began, Angelica comes to the Breakfast Program clean every day AND with her hair combed.  (Let me tell you, that is a big deal.)  Today she looked absolutely beautiful in her school uniform.  I am constantly surprised and amazed to see the way that swimming effects so many other aspects of the kids' lives.

Last week when it was so cold several kids were shivering as soon as they got in the pool.  I asked them individually and subtly if they had breakfast.  Each of them said no, they had not eaten.  I asked if there was food in the house.  They said no.  I told them if they don't have food in the house they need to tell me on Friday and I will bring food for them on Saturday morning.  Tomorrow I am bringing breakfast for Angelica at her quiet request.  I am going to make a bagel with egg and cheese.  I hope she likes it and knows it was made with love.

Maria Angelica in a bathing suit for the first time.

Taking the leap and leading the less brave
So proud of this girl!

Yesterday I taught the first Pilates class to the ladies who volunteer at the church.  I have been wanting to do this for 2 years!  We all thought it went really well.  The ladies had a few sore muscles today, which to be honest I was hoping for.  No injuries, but sore muscles.  The ladies seemed to feel proud and happy.

Last week on Friday we had a salon day.  We will have Pilates every Tuesday and Thursday.  Today we had another salon day (that means we paint each other's finger nails after the Breakfast Program).  We also had a birthday party for Jacky.  I made a cake and we had a nice prayer before painting nails.  I really enjoy sharing my nail polish and my knowledge of how to be healthy with the ladies who want to learn.  It is fun to have lady time!

I am happy and blessed and very much looking forward to the future!

4 a.m. wake up

Last night Jetty started in with the bowl banging at 4 :30.  I jumped out of bed and stuck the food dish on the bottom rung of my nightstand, prayed it wouldn't fall off, and went back to bed.  The last thing I heard was happy lip smacking.  I got the best night's sleep I have had in months!

And the sun is out today.  It has been raining for a while - ever since I said it had started to rain.  Everything turned from dust to mud.  But today there is sun.  Yay!

Time to do some laundry and take advantage of this precious sunshine.

Hips don't lie

Today started with me sucking up my pride and thanking someone for something they did which was really thoughtful.  It would have been easier to say nothing at all, but it felt good to do what was right.

One of the high school boys had to translate a list of 20 English words to Spanish and asked for help with his homework.  I gave him my Spanish/English dictionary.  He had no clue how to use it.  I'm not even sure he understands what alphabetical order is.

The other kids kept jumping in and doing the work for him if I allowed them.  That is something about Honduras that drives me nuts.  I see parents constantly doing their child's homework for them instead of with them.  Older siblings do the same for younger siblings.  And smarter kids for slower kids.  So nobody ends up learning.  After writing out the 20 words in Spanish the boy announced, "She made me look up every single one."  I told him, "Yes.  That is how mean I am."  He laughed.

The kids were all in one big group together today, but we did have lunch as a class in the preschool room.  Today was pancakes.  I cut one of the kids pancakes because they were eating slowly.  Then all of them wanted me to cut their pancakes.  I cut pancakes until my hand hurt, which the kids found hilarious.

Violet is getting so grown up.  She is quite a character.  She keeps talking over me lately so I asked her to listen when I talk and told her I will listen when she talks.  She spent the rest of the day putting her ear directly up to my mouth every time I spoke.  At first I was confused as to why she kept sticking her head in my face.  After I figured it out, it was really funny.  After she got done eating Violet gave us a ballet show.  Violet's ballet is sticking her leg out to the side, then sticking it out to the back, then twirling around.  It was pretty darn cute.

Milagro told me a story about her little brother and her baby sister.  Milagro used to be really shy.  She is not shy anymore.  One of the class's favorite thing to do is tell stories.  Milagro joins in with the best of them.  It is hard to pay attention to all of them.  Today Milagro was so animated it was hilarious.  I could see the influence of her older siblings in the way she cocked her head and opened her eyes really big to make a point.  They are all growing up so fast!  I was laughing inside my head, but listening seriously on the outside.

Apparently Milagro has some sort of a small pool at her house.  Her two year old brother can swim in it if the water is really shallow.  Milagro swims in deeper water.  Milagro said that some days her brother can't walk because his foot hurts.  I asked why and didn't understand her answer.  I was something that happened to her brother and the story included her mother and a stick.  When she realized her older sister had appeared in the doorway she got really quiet and looked uncomfortable to be sharing the story so I didn't ask questions to clarify what happened with her mother and the stick that makes her brother frequently unable to walk.

Eunice asked me to translate a newsletter for her tomorrow.  That will be fun.  I haven't done any translation since Lourdes left and it is something I enjoy doing.

On the way home I stopped at the gym.  The treadmills and ellipticals were both all being used so I lifted weights but didn't do any cardio.  When I went downstairs there was a dance class that I have watched before from the sidelines.  I have always wanted to join in, but never had the guts.  I just don't have the hips these Latina women have.

Usually I take a kickboxing class.  Kickboxing is totally within my comfort zone because I took karate for a long time.  But there is only one kickboxing class each week.  I'd like to have more options.  There are a million dance classes, I'm just too scared to take one.  Even in the US I never dared to take a dance class to exercise at the gym.

Suddenly I had a flashback to one of the karate tournaments I competed in when I was about 16 years old.  I really thought I could win.  But I didn't even place.  I was really confused.  Afterward my mother told me I looked like I was dancing when I did karate in the competition.  In my mind what I heard my mother say was that I was flouncing around like a wimp.  I was not tough and precise like a person should be in a karate competition.

Finally I thought to myself, it's now or never.  I was on the dance floor before I had time to second guess myself.  Can't say I was great, but I didn't embarrass myself.  It was really fun and I did better than I expected.  It felt great to get out there and just move, even if I wasn't the best.  I am already looking forward to my next dance class.

4 a.m. routine

Every morning between 4:15-4:30 a.m. I am awoken by my cat.  First there are the licks.  And Jetty is not a gentle licker.  Her licks hurt!  She licks anything that is not covered by a blanket so usually arms first and then my face.

Once I am completely hidden under the covers she tries another tactic which she knows will be sure to get my attention.  She climbs on every piece of furniture and knocks everything off.  I have found ways to cat proof my night stand, but the bookshelves and tv stand are her favorite 4 a.m. stomping grounds.  If there is anything breakable there, she is sure to break it.  This means a 4 a.m. glass cleaning session for me.  I am soooo fond of those.  We've already had one this week.  She is also good at spilling juice on my bed.  I love cleaning cranberry juice off the wall, floor, bed frame and sheets at 4 a.m. in order to prevent the inevitable ant invasion which would come if I waited until a decent hour to clean.

Once everything has been knocked off the shelves and tables she moves on to her third and final favorite 4 a.m. game.  She thumps her metal food bowl on the tile floor.  Depending how deeply I am sleeping at that point I either yell at her, or lie there and hope she will stop.  But it never does.

I realized a while ago that the noise comes from her using her paw to rake at the floor around her food, as if she were in her litter box and trying to cover her food with kitty litter.  The thumping is her lifting the food dish and it clacking onto the floor as she rakes, rakes, rakes at the floor.  I've tried putting towels under the bowl.  Doesn't help.  Last night before bed I got on my hands and knees and scrubbed the floor around the cat food dish.  It was clean at 10 p.m.  At 4:22 there was the daily clack, clack, clack of the food dish.

Recently I discovered that if I get out of bed and move the dish to a different location she will usually calm down and eat.  So this morning after a couple of minutes of yelling (I don't know why I still think after months of this that yelling is going to do anything) I finally dragged myself out of bed and moved the dish 2 feet from its original location.  Then I climbed back into bed and heard her happily smacking away at the food.  Why it is inedible in the first location and fine in the second, I have no clue.

Some night I will just get up and move the food as soon as the licking begins.  Maybe tonight.  But for now I am lying here awake and Jetty is next to me, with a full belly, content and sound asleep.

Flying Man

I had to deal with a bunch of crappy things today, but I didn't let any of them get me down and I am still feeling chipper.

I had an extra long class with the preschoolers.  Got some paperwork done within a 1/2 hour of being asked for it.  Received a nice note from an unexpected source.  Did some overall organizing to set myself up for success in the future.

Followed the flying bike guy down the mountain today.  Friday he angered me because he rides down the center of the lane, no handed, with his hands in the air like he is flying and nobody can pass him.  Plus it seems for sure like he is going to kill himself.  Today I enjoyed his flight.  I think he might do it daily.

The oil in my car needs to be changed, but since the bank has all of my money "on hold" and won't let me access any cash, I am waiting.  I could pay over $50 at a place that accepts credit cards.  But I'd rather wait until this is all straightened out and pay my mechanic in cash to do it for half the price.

I also have to renew my residency card within the next ten days.  The stupid bank still can't tell me why they placed a hold on my account.  All they keep saying is maybe I tried to use the wrong password too many times.  But I don't remember ever trying to use the wrong password at all.  I can't wait until the day that USBank no longer has a penny of my money.

Here's a picture of the flying man.  It's the best I could do while driving.  Bystanders enjoy him too.  When he is not flying he is in what a skier would call "tuck position" trying to pick up speed after the sharp corners.  He also has what I call "prayer position" where he sticks both arms up in the air and centers himself with his hands palm to palm over his head.  That's the way he was riding when I first saw him.  I wonder how he gets back UP the mountain?

Adult Swim

Today I am in a much more positive mood.  Maybe it was studying that scripture more.  Maybe some of you were praying for me.  I think at least in part it was getting out to the pool and doing something I am good at - teaching swimming!  Whatever it was, I am remarkably better.  Now my prayer is to carry this with me in the week to come.



The adult class - Front Row:  Oswol, Selvin, Heber
Standing: Nicolle, Shelly, Caleb, Zeydi, Estephany, Karla, Clara, Sahory, Maritza, Jossira, Veronica

Same group with me in it and laughing

Clara and her girls.  Clara is now officially Leukemia free!

Me with my first English students from 2 years ago.
Now I am teaching them swimming!

Me with Jossira, my friend who hooks me up at the sushi restaurant.

Veronica and I took a similar picture 2 years ago

Vero and me 2 years ago

We were trying to recreate it.

The ladies from Usami sushi restaurant

We had to wait a while before the pool was clean, so we did a little photo shoot.

Swimming with the adults today was great.  I really don't like getting up at 5 a.m., but in the end it is always worth it.  Today the trainer came, but his 2 assistants didn't.  I planned on swimming today, but instead I had to teach the advanced class.  We all had a great time and they learned a lot.  We are still working on the kick.  Most of them have a good kick, but I want them to have a really good kick before we add arms.  If I let them add arms too soon they could get sloppy in their technique.  We did the kick for backstroke too, and they learned to keep their hips up and their head back.  Lastly they all learned to dive!  Every single one of them from my group can dive now.

The beginners group

My students practicing their patada (kick)

Karla doing burbujas (bubbles to practice breathing)

Everyone in my class learned to dive today!

Zeydi and Clara relaxing at the end of class

Selvin needs some rest too

We have 12 more weeks of swimming.  The trainer said he thinks I will have my group doing all four styles of swimming by the time we're done.  He was surprised how much we advanced today.  He said that he really loves they way our group is so eager to learn.

Nitty Gritty

Sometimes being a missionary in a different country, in a different culture is difficult.  You leave behind your friends and the people you really trust.  The people you can unload on.  The people you can talk to about anything and everything.

When you have something you need to talk about it's hard.  You don't want to be seen as a gossip or a trouble maker.  You don't want to spew your negativity onto innocent friends.  Who do you talk to?  Who can you trust?

When it comes to the nitty gritty, sadly, I have decided the best answer is nobody.  Yet, keeping things to yourself is tough.  Solving the problems that life throws at you, or trying to solve them all on your own sucks.  It's a difficult place to be.  It is a place I have never been until I became a missionary in Honduras.

One advantage I have is that most of the time I am not speaking in my native tongue.  That has saved me more times than I probably realize.  You see, in Spanish my tongue is not so quick.  Those "Huh oh.  Did I really just say that?" moments happen much less frequently in my second language.

I am trying my best to deal.  I am trying to make the right choices.  I am trying to treat people well.  I am trying to be a good representative of North Americans, of my church, of what a Christian person should be.

When I am angry I try to remember:

1 John 2:9 (NLT)
If anyone claims, "I am living in the light," but hates a Christian brother or sister that person is still living in darkness.

Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

And I have been trying to live by this gem:

Luke 6:27-36 (ESV)
But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.  To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.  And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Focusing on these helps most of the time.  Other times I am just plain lucky that I don't know how to tell someone off in Spanish.