I was supposed to be back in Honduras by now. Unfortunately, I went to the airport on Monday night through a crazy storm. When I got there the line at customer service was already insanely long and people were settled in for the long-haul, stretched out along the walls of the concourse. My flight was set to leave at 10 pm, take me to Houston by 1:16 a.m., and leave for Honduras at 9 a.m.
The cable went out at about 9 p.m. Then the flight to St Louis that was leaving out of the same gate as mine got pushed back from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Then my flight got pushed back to 11:17. I knew I was going to be waiting in that customer service line too. It was getting later and later. One friend offered to come and get me, but his voice sounded exhausted on the phone and it would be a long drive for him.
I purposely left the phone I use in North America at my Mother's house so I had no phone. Several people were nice and let me borrow theirs. One by one their flights were cancelled. Finally mine was too.
The lady at customer service convinced me that the forecast was the same for the next three days. My Mom had been talking about it too, I recalled. I was advised to get to Houston ASAP or wait out the storm. The problem was if I went to Houston on the flight she suggested the next morning, I would get there one minute before the last flight to Honduras. Obviously I would not make the connection for the Honduras flight and I would be stuck in Houston with no luggage for 24 hours.
When I originally moved to Honduras my luggage was lost for 8 days. Not taking a chance on that happening again. If I didn't re-claim my baggage immediately it would go to Honduras and sit there until I arrived. Which meant if I did ever see my luggage, it could be empty suitcases.
The weather report on the customer service lady's phone looked consistently bad for 2 more days, so I decided rather than trying to find another ride to the airport just to have another flight cancelled, I claim my luggage and stay until the storm passed.
So here I am. Day 30 in the US. When I made plans to be in the US for 28 days, it felt like too much. But those first 28 went by quickly. Now I am anxious to get back to my home and my cat and my day to day life. The good thing about these extra three days is that I finally have time to relax. I was running around literally until I left to get on the plane. Yesterday I napped and watched soccer on tv. Today I may go to the pool and nap some more. Tonight I get to babysit my nephews again - fun! Tomorrow night at 10 p.m. I hope to get on the plane for Houston and head back to Honduras.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Wow!
Wow! Speaking at church went even better than I ever hoped!!
Some people said they were crying as I talked about the kids. People were handing out tissues in the audience. In the end the 4 minutes and 30 seconds wasn't so difficult to stick to. We only went over in the last service.
I was shocked at how many people asked for my link to support me as a missionary. We will see what comes of that. I feel very hopeful. The opposite of the way I was feeling a week ago when I thought I might have to pack up my belongings and move to the US. I knew that was not God's plan for me, but it is hard to imagine so many strangers being so supportive. Well, I guess they are really not strangers. They are my church family. I have just never met them before.
Another really cool thing is that a lot of people are now interested in a mission trip to Honduras. They want to come and meet the kids in person and see for themselves what is going on. I love that God moved their hearts that way!
Mary Goldring was exhausted after a really tough week, but she did a great job interviewing me. And the band even played my absolute favorite song, plus another one that I really love, so worshiping in all four services was nice.
I wish everyone could feel God's love the way I do today. It is still hard to digest, but I am doing a better job receiving than I ever did before.
Some people said they were crying as I talked about the kids. People were handing out tissues in the audience. In the end the 4 minutes and 30 seconds wasn't so difficult to stick to. We only went over in the last service.
I was shocked at how many people asked for my link to support me as a missionary. We will see what comes of that. I feel very hopeful. The opposite of the way I was feeling a week ago when I thought I might have to pack up my belongings and move to the US. I knew that was not God's plan for me, but it is hard to imagine so many strangers being so supportive. Well, I guess they are really not strangers. They are my church family. I have just never met them before.
Another really cool thing is that a lot of people are now interested in a mission trip to Honduras. They want to come and meet the kids in person and see for themselves what is going on. I love that God moved their hearts that way!
Mary Goldring was exhausted after a really tough week, but she did a great job interviewing me. And the band even played my absolute favorite song, plus another one that I really love, so worshiping in all four services was nice.
I wish everyone could feel God's love the way I do today. It is still hard to digest, but I am doing a better job receiving than I ever did before.
 |
| Mary Goldring interviewing me at K2 |
 |
| Praying |
 |
| Worshiping in the red box |
 |
| Worship in the white box |
 |
| Feels great to come back home |
4:30
Today I speak at church. I am not nervous about speaking in front of all of the people as much as I am nervous about getting my point across in four minutes and 30 seconds. But God will help me say what I am supposed to.
Four minutes and 30 seconds is so funny to me, coming from Honduras where if you have anything to say all you have to do is stand up and say it. Sometimes people randomly talk for 10-20 minutes at my church in Honduras, sharing what God did in their life that week or something that is on their heart.
I have four minutes and 30 seconds. I will be grateful for every second and even more grateful when I am done.
Four minutes and 30 seconds is so funny to me, coming from Honduras where if you have anything to say all you have to do is stand up and say it. Sometimes people randomly talk for 10-20 minutes at my church in Honduras, sharing what God did in their life that week or something that is on their heart.
I have four minutes and 30 seconds. I will be grateful for every second and even more grateful when I am done.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Mid-trip check in
My flight back to the US was uneventful (good!).
I spent my first two days in the US gathering up all my camping gear, then piled it all into my friend's truck and headed out to Telluride. We set up camp at 1 a.m., but at least it wasn't snowing. It has snowed as we set up camp in the past. There was a gorgeous full moon that night. I tried to take pictures of the moon over the snow capped mountains, but for some reason moon shots never turn out for me.
The music festival was good. I discovered 2 new bands I really liked. My favorite was called Lone Bellow, as in the bellow of an elk. I got to see them twice, which was cool, and got my picture taken with them.
All of my photos are on my Mom's computer so I can't post them right now. My computer was stolen on the Saturday before I left. Thus the long blog silence. It was a situation which I don't want to discuss. Suffice it to say that my safety was never at risk.
After Telluride I had a day to wash and air out all of my camping gear, then headed for Salt Lake. My friend Jody and I took care of some banking, which has still not been resolved. Then she and her husband grilled sliders with tons of different toppings. She said she had tried to think of an all American dinner for me :)
The next morning we watched the US lose to Germany in World Cup fútbol. Honduras is already eliminated, so it's nice to have one team still in the running. Although even the US coach admits, we really don't have much of a chance to win it all.
Yesterday I attended a "Huddle" (meeting of the core members) for K2. They welcomed me back and I spoke for a couple minutes there. It was good to see everyone. I also had a meeting with the woman who is now in charge of outreach (missions) for K2. Two friends who are strong advocates for our church's relationship with Honduras were there. I think it was a good meeting and will be helpful moving forward as we try to rebuild a K2/Iglesia en Transformación connection.
Tomorrow I will speak at the services - all four. I am a little nervous, but will be interviewed by a good friend who has known me longer than anyone else at K2. I believe we will be effective at conveying whatever message God wants the people to hear.
I have been getting FB messages from friends in Honduras, which is nice. Yesterday at the huddle a picture of one of the girls from my swim classes kept flashing up on the screen with a notice about a meeting to organize a team to visit us in Honduras. Seeing Kenia's pretty face made me homesick. I miss the kids.
On the other hand I have had the opportunity to catch up with friends which has been wonderful. Yesterday I had coffee with a friend. When it was time for her to go pick up her kids we decided we still weren't finished talking so we went to a bookstore and set the kids free to read while we finished catching up about all of the good things going on in both of our lives. That was really nice.
Right now I am staying with another friend because Jody had to head out of town. I basically have a whole basement apartment to myself. We have done a lot of catching up too. It is so much better talking in person than emails and short phone calls!
Being in Salt Lake always confirms that if I were to ever live in the US, this is my home. I love this place almost as much as I love Honduras. It is great to be here and super to see all of the people I love and miss.
Tuesday I head back to Denver where I will finish off my visit in the US with my mother and my brother and his family. My nephews and I had a great time together in Telluride so I am looking forward to building more memories with them over the 4th of July before I head back to Honduras.
I spent my first two days in the US gathering up all my camping gear, then piled it all into my friend's truck and headed out to Telluride. We set up camp at 1 a.m., but at least it wasn't snowing. It has snowed as we set up camp in the past. There was a gorgeous full moon that night. I tried to take pictures of the moon over the snow capped mountains, but for some reason moon shots never turn out for me.
The music festival was good. I discovered 2 new bands I really liked. My favorite was called Lone Bellow, as in the bellow of an elk. I got to see them twice, which was cool, and got my picture taken with them.
All of my photos are on my Mom's computer so I can't post them right now. My computer was stolen on the Saturday before I left. Thus the long blog silence. It was a situation which I don't want to discuss. Suffice it to say that my safety was never at risk.
After Telluride I had a day to wash and air out all of my camping gear, then headed for Salt Lake. My friend Jody and I took care of some banking, which has still not been resolved. Then she and her husband grilled sliders with tons of different toppings. She said she had tried to think of an all American dinner for me :)
The next morning we watched the US lose to Germany in World Cup fútbol. Honduras is already eliminated, so it's nice to have one team still in the running. Although even the US coach admits, we really don't have much of a chance to win it all.
Yesterday I attended a "Huddle" (meeting of the core members) for K2. They welcomed me back and I spoke for a couple minutes there. It was good to see everyone. I also had a meeting with the woman who is now in charge of outreach (missions) for K2. Two friends who are strong advocates for our church's relationship with Honduras were there. I think it was a good meeting and will be helpful moving forward as we try to rebuild a K2/Iglesia en Transformación connection.
Tomorrow I will speak at the services - all four. I am a little nervous, but will be interviewed by a good friend who has known me longer than anyone else at K2. I believe we will be effective at conveying whatever message God wants the people to hear.
I have been getting FB messages from friends in Honduras, which is nice. Yesterday at the huddle a picture of one of the girls from my swim classes kept flashing up on the screen with a notice about a meeting to organize a team to visit us in Honduras. Seeing Kenia's pretty face made me homesick. I miss the kids.
On the other hand I have had the opportunity to catch up with friends which has been wonderful. Yesterday I had coffee with a friend. When it was time for her to go pick up her kids we decided we still weren't finished talking so we went to a bookstore and set the kids free to read while we finished catching up about all of the good things going on in both of our lives. That was really nice.
Right now I am staying with another friend because Jody had to head out of town. I basically have a whole basement apartment to myself. We have done a lot of catching up too. It is so much better talking in person than emails and short phone calls!
Being in Salt Lake always confirms that if I were to ever live in the US, this is my home. I love this place almost as much as I love Honduras. It is great to be here and super to see all of the people I love and miss.
Tuesday I head back to Denver where I will finish off my visit in the US with my mother and my brother and his family. My nephews and I had a great time together in Telluride so I am looking forward to building more memories with them over the 4th of July before I head back to Honduras.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Standing up
I had a Wonder Woman sort of day. Not that I did anything spectacular - it was more about what I stopped doing.
This morning someone asked me to do something that I really couldn't do. They tried to push me into it, but I didn't give in. I had prior commitments and it was not something I could cancel or change. I know the person thought I should have backed out of my prior commitment to do what they wanted me to do, but I also know that I was right to stand my ground.
This afternoon we had Pilates class. One of the ladies kept talking and talking when we were ready to start class. I invited her twice to begin with us and finally started class without her. I think she was a little surprised, but we have to leave the church by 3 p.m. and it is not fair to the others if everyone had a shorter class because one person was standing and talking.
Tonight I got home and was disappointed. The lady who cleans my house didn't even do the basics. Again.
In Honduras if you have enough money to feed yourself (and in many cases even if you don't) you help someone else by hiring them to clean your house. When I first moved here I was shocked to see that everyone had cleaning ladies. Some even had live in help, when they could barely pay their own rent and put food on the table. It's kind of a "hand me down" system. I have a little, so I can give a little to you is the mentality.
I was shocked when I moved into my house in the mountains. Part of the lease said I would pay for my own cleaning lady. Did my landlords think I was rich? In my North American mind if a person hired someone else to clean for them that meant they had at least a little extra money.
Soon after I learned that a young girl from the church just had a baby and needed a job. She lives nearby and is trustworthy, so I hired her to clean my house for $5 per day - the going rate. I really liked her. We made Christmas cookies together and did other little things together to give her an occasional break from cleaning. She worked with me for almost a year, but then her schedule got too busy. That was fine. I can clean my own house.
As soon as my neighbors heard that Cindy was not coming anymore they said they knew someone who needed work and was reliable. This lady's husband left her and their 2 kids because the lady decided to go to school. Her husband did not want her to get an education. That story tugged on my heartstrings, so I said sure. I will hire her and help her afford to go to school. (We are talking high school here, not university.)
Well, this lady did not work out as well. I wrote notes, I left lists, I talked to her and even tried once to fire her but she asked for one more chance. Today was the end of "one more chance". I had to let her go. It was not fun. I did not like a second of it. She tried to argue. But afterward it felt empowering.
So today I stood up for myself. Three times. And it felt good.
Oscar Daniel's bruised belly is all better and Milagro didn't mention anything about her tooth hurting. Kebelin is studying for an English test. She said, "What will I do while you are gone?????!!!" That made me feel really good. She seems to understand her English homework for the first time. She says she is the only one in her class who understands. I hope she won't fall behind while I am gone.
All of the ladies continue to improve at Pilates. Ana can do a sit up now. Veronica learned how to roll like a ball today. Delia can do jackknife without me propping up her butt anymore. And Ada is a power house. She is the athlete of the group. I am proud of Ana for sticking with it. She is the only one who has come to every class. I know it is really hard for her. She can't do a lot of what the others do. But she doesn't give up. She stays positive. She says it is getting easier and I can see the improvement. They are sad that I will be gone and they will miss out on their class over the next few weeks. They even jokingly suggested that we try a class over Skype. Instead I will write down a workout plan for them to do at home while I am gone. I will be curious to see if they follow through without the classes. It's a lot harder to work out on your own.
This morning someone asked me to do something that I really couldn't do. They tried to push me into it, but I didn't give in. I had prior commitments and it was not something I could cancel or change. I know the person thought I should have backed out of my prior commitment to do what they wanted me to do, but I also know that I was right to stand my ground.
This afternoon we had Pilates class. One of the ladies kept talking and talking when we were ready to start class. I invited her twice to begin with us and finally started class without her. I think she was a little surprised, but we have to leave the church by 3 p.m. and it is not fair to the others if everyone had a shorter class because one person was standing and talking.
Tonight I got home and was disappointed. The lady who cleans my house didn't even do the basics. Again.
In Honduras if you have enough money to feed yourself (and in many cases even if you don't) you help someone else by hiring them to clean your house. When I first moved here I was shocked to see that everyone had cleaning ladies. Some even had live in help, when they could barely pay their own rent and put food on the table. It's kind of a "hand me down" system. I have a little, so I can give a little to you is the mentality.
I was shocked when I moved into my house in the mountains. Part of the lease said I would pay for my own cleaning lady. Did my landlords think I was rich? In my North American mind if a person hired someone else to clean for them that meant they had at least a little extra money.
Soon after I learned that a young girl from the church just had a baby and needed a job. She lives nearby and is trustworthy, so I hired her to clean my house for $5 per day - the going rate. I really liked her. We made Christmas cookies together and did other little things together to give her an occasional break from cleaning. She worked with me for almost a year, but then her schedule got too busy. That was fine. I can clean my own house.
As soon as my neighbors heard that Cindy was not coming anymore they said they knew someone who needed work and was reliable. This lady's husband left her and their 2 kids because the lady decided to go to school. Her husband did not want her to get an education. That story tugged on my heartstrings, so I said sure. I will hire her and help her afford to go to school. (We are talking high school here, not university.)
Well, this lady did not work out as well. I wrote notes, I left lists, I talked to her and even tried once to fire her but she asked for one more chance. Today was the end of "one more chance". I had to let her go. It was not fun. I did not like a second of it. She tried to argue. But afterward it felt empowering.
So today I stood up for myself. Three times. And it felt good.
Oscar Daniel's bruised belly is all better and Milagro didn't mention anything about her tooth hurting. Kebelin is studying for an English test. She said, "What will I do while you are gone?????!!!" That made me feel really good. She seems to understand her English homework for the first time. She says she is the only one in her class who understands. I hope she won't fall behind while I am gone.
All of the ladies continue to improve at Pilates. Ana can do a sit up now. Veronica learned how to roll like a ball today. Delia can do jackknife without me propping up her butt anymore. And Ada is a power house. She is the athlete of the group. I am proud of Ana for sticking with it. She is the only one who has come to every class. I know it is really hard for her. She can't do a lot of what the others do. But she doesn't give up. She stays positive. She says it is getting easier and I can see the improvement. They are sad that I will be gone and they will miss out on their class over the next few weeks. They even jokingly suggested that we try a class over Skype. Instead I will write down a workout plan for them to do at home while I am gone. I will be curious to see if they follow through without the classes. It's a lot harder to work out on your own.
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.
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.
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| Jose enjoying the afternoon in La Tigra |
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| Anai resting in the sun |
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| A swinging game I had never seen before |
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| Luis swinging Anai and Jose's Mom |
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| Horseback ride |
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| Ethel, president of the church, with my friends Lucy and Hermida |
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| Walter wearing his K2 shirt |
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| Ana, Isabela, Me and Delia Delia also serves at Buen Provecho |
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| The staff of Buen Provecho Ada, Ana, Isabela, Eunice, Samuel, Delia, Me and Don Juan |
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| Don Juan is going to transplant flowers from La Tigra to the churc |
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| Isa |
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| Samuel and David at my house |
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| Homemade Pizza! |
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| Samuel eating pizza |
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| David was exhausted, but hungry |
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| Jired |
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| Ana and Isa enjoying their pizza |
Friday, May 30, 2014
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.
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.
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| All smiles. Except one. |
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
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.”
Monday, May 26, 2014
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.
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.
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.
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| Samuel is mad |
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| 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.
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| Misael earned a sticker for memorizing scripture |
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| Violet is concentrating - check out the tongue And Misael's tongue in the background too! |
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| Milagro |
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| There was an animal under the table, touching my knee - Oh wait! It's Misael!! |
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| Violet is proud of her sticker (under her fingers) |
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| We took a break to play outside |
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| Big girls like their picture taken too |
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Saturday Swimming with the kids - Week 6
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| Saul! |
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| Paola and Jose Little Jose is in the big kids' group - he's only 7! |
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| Maykol always dazes out on the bus |
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| Guillermo leads the kids in stretching |
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| Saul working on breast stroke |
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| I adore this photo of beautiful Maria Angelica |
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| Today was Johanna's first day. She did great! |
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| Paola is so excited to learn to swim! |
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| I don't know this little boy, but it's such a cute photo! |
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| The older group making a star |
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| Michell worked really hard today! |
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| Michell worked so hard she got a cramp. But the coach helped her work it out. |
Friday, May 23, 2014
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.
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!
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.
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| Maria Angelica in a bathing suit for the first time. |
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| Taking the leap and leading the less brave So proud of this girl! |
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!
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