Christmas lunch at the Breakfast Program

The Christmas party was AWESOME!  The food was great.  The kids were great.  The attendance was great.  It was a really good time.  Both swimming coaches came and shared the meal with us.  They told everyone how special the kids from Iglesia En Transformación are.  They even gave out special presents.

Over 100 kids

Licenciado Francisco Sanchez

Coach Ricardo

Saul earned a present for his perserverance

Ingris was recognized for her natural talent for swimming and motivation

I got to give gifts to my class.  And special gifts to those who are graduating and moving on to public school kindergarten next year.

Cessia with her special gift

Misael with his special gift

Jose is graduating too

They did a good job keeping their eyes closed while they received their gifts
(which I didn't have time to wrap).

My preschool class 2013

Misael got up and gave a speech about how much he loves me and my class.  One of the reasons is because I let him go pee pee when he needs to.  That made the whole crowd laugh and he got a little thrown off because he didn't understand why they were all in hysterics.

It was one of those beautiful, amazing days that affirms deep down in your heart that you are following God's plan.

Here are some other photos:

The kids thanking their teachers and the swim coaches -

Muy guapo David!

Saul admitting he was a "desastre" when he started.
 He never gave up and had a great coach.
Now Saul is a great swimmer.

Gloria thanking the coaches

Meylin thanking the coaches

The leadership team were all present!

Daniel, Kelin and Christian won special awards for their efforts in class

Someone snuck a candy cane!

Kenia was my Secret Santa

It was a perfect day.

I love you

I forgot to write about something important.

Today I was at the swimming program.  I have told a few people that I really enjoy getting to know the kids on a different level than I am able to at the Breakfast Program.  I have free time to focus just on them, and I think it helps that we are doing something I love and am good at - swimming.  I can teach them and give them a ton of positive feedback.  They are learning so quickly!

They spend all morning calling my name, asking me to watch the new thing they can do.  It has been a great bonding opportunity.  Today I was talking to two of the older girls at the pool when suddenly one of them threw her arms around my neck and said, "I love you!"

I replied, "I love you too!"

She said, "I hope you never leave Honduras."

I just kept hugging her.

This is a photo of us from a few months ago:

Lolita and me

Preparing for Christmas

Angie, overcoming her fears and taking a leap

This foto of Alejandra makes me laugh

Ingris.  The fish of the group.

The older kids - Fabiola, Gloria, Ingris, Olga, Kenia, Lolita, Erik, Yarely, Saul

Cristian and his sweet smile

Cristofer is learning a new way of life
as well as how to swim 

YESSSSS!

Normally the last to get in,
look who was the last to leave the pool today!

I am still LOVING swimming lessons.  My alarm woke me up for the first time this morning.  For five weeks I have woken up by myself before 6 a.m.!  Some of you know how amazing that is.  But my alarm had to work hard to get me awake today.

Part of the reason is that I have to nebeulize my cat every 8 hours.  So at 1 a.m. I was up with Jetty and that nebeulizer.  Thank God she is an easy going cat.  She mostly lies there and lets me cover her face with the pediatric mask.  It is quite a sight.

Another reason I was tired is that for some reason it took until today for me to recover from my VACATION!!!!  I went to the North Coast (Caribbean) with 11 friends for a four day weekend.  We went to the city of Tela and rented a bungalow close to the shore.  It was the first time I have ever seen the ocean in Honduras, so I was thrilled out of my mind.  Plus it was great to spend time with friends, and make some new friends too.

I don't have any pictures because I am still without a camera.  BUT...  my brother called me today to say he found the one I have been searching for at a really good price!  So I told him to go ahead and order it.  It was painful to travel to the coast and not be able to take any pictures.  I know some of you said you would like to contribute to a new camera.  Thank you!  Here is the link:

www.WorldOutreach.org/donations

Just click on my name - (Fager, Mary Lynn)

Today we cleaned the church for a Christmas party tomorrow.  The preschool class was chosen to put up the Christmas tree.

Jose and Samuel said they were mechanics

Beautiful Milagro

Proud of our tree!

Overall, things are going really well.  Getting to the pool, exercising in the gym, and a little travel has been really good for me.  I am grateful for the opportunity to do all of these fun things!  Looks like I won't make it home for Christmas this year between the sick cat and the cost of the flight, but my family is understanding and I will be able to experience my first Honduran Christmas.

Tomorrow is our Christmas party for the kids at the Breakfast Program.  The swimming coaches are invited to, so the kids are extra excited!  Marlin was hard at work in the kitchen today to prepare a special meal and the church is looking spiffy, as you can tell.  It is strange to be at the pool everyday and swimming in the ocean.  I think this will be my first Christmas without snow.  It's pretty strange.  But the kids' excitement helps get me into the spirit.

My Birthday - 2013

My birthday was everything a birthday should be and more.  I felt special and blessed and very, very loved.  We celebrated for 4 days!  Here are some highlights:

The coach from the swim team completely surprised me with a cake and Pepsi at 9 a.m.  He said that he sees how much the kids love me and think of me as a mother, so he wanted to give them the opportunity to celebrate with me.

They threw me in the pool

A hug from the most awesome coach ever

My cake!

Note the carmel fish in the corner  :)  AND it was one layer of chocolate!

Covered in frosting

Thanks girls!

My friend Ana and her baby, Isabela were there

Coach Fracisco Sanchez and me

 When we got back to the church Eunice and Walter had planned a second party for me!  So we had a second cake after the Breakfast Program was finished with the boys from El Sembrador, the ladies who work in the kitchen and their families, and everyone who works at the church.

My second cake!

Singing "Feliz Feliz Cumpleaños"

Walter said a nice prayer

Eunice praying over me.
Samuel looks so cute!

Happy Birthday to ME!

Ashley enjoying cake

Saturday we had a Thanksgiving dinner at my Carlos' brother's house. I cooked the turkey and all of the traditional side dishes.  I was surprised when Marcela came in with a birthday cake for me.  It was BLUEBERRY and very, very delicious!  We popped some sparking wine and celebrated my birthday, then moved on to Thanksgiving dinner.  It was a really fun time.

Carlos popping the cork

The birthday toast

Me with the ladies - Miljian and Hermida

Miljian hosted the party at her house 

Carlos' brother and sister-in-law 

Blowing out the candles of my blueberry cake

Sunday was election day.  It went smoothly and peacefully.  Nobody has officially been declared president yet because they are waiting for 10% of the votes still from voters in the US.  But the party who is currently in charge has the most votes and will win.  People are saying the vote was fraudulent.  I watched it on TV.  Everything I saw seemed very open and forthright.  But of course there could be things going on behind the scenes.  Personally, I think it's a case of sore losers.

There have been small protests, but nothing at the scale I saw in 2009.  Things could escalate when everything becomes official.  For now everything feels normal.

People are still wishing me a happy birthday and it feels really great to be able to say that I had a really special day.  It was definitely one of my very best so far.  Not just because of the cakes.  I truly felt special and honored.  I kept thinking, "This is how everyone should feel on their birthday!"  I'm grateful so many people care about me and take the time to say or do something to make me feel special on my birthday.  Thanks guys!