La Tigra

We’re still having a great time in our new house, though we still don’t have a house fone. In Honduras you’re lucky if you get one in two weeks after applying, or asking, for one. Our connector cables were oh so graciously flung over the balcony of the apt. next door by our neighbor. So as soon as we can get those hooked to something that works, we’ll be considered civilized again. Our landlords actually live in Virginia, we learned, but the mediator between us, she’s nice. Her brother was supposed to come last week but I guess he forgot. Maybe trying to get his fone hooked up too.
My class is eagerly learning Psalm 118:24, their verse of this month, “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” They seem to enjoy it, which for some students is a surprise. Thursday, January 26, the whole school went on a field trip to the national park, La Tigra, about a 90 minute drive from the city. As we sat in the minivan like clowns in a Volkswagen beetle, I thought, “Are we almost to Guatemala?!” I had heard it was far, but by the time we arrived, the city was no where in sight. I didn’t expect that. It was incredibly beautiful and the air was so crisp and clear. Like being in the mountains. Well, we were in mountains. The drive up in some parts reminded me of the drive to King’s Kamp. The kids were amazingly well-behaved for having to hike in a high-altitude cloud forest, wet and very cold. Not a complaining voice was heard over the course of the nearly 3 hour “walk.” My legs were weak and shaky by the end from having walked downhill so much the last half, and my ears were sore from hearing another teacher shouting, “Be careful! Don’t run! Don’t shout, you’ll scare the animals! Don’t…” whatever she could think of. I had a good conversation with her in Spanish to keep her from focusing so much on the kids for awhile.
We had this trip and then the next day, Friday, January 27, we didn’t have school because we finished the second quarter. We had conferences with parents and report cards two days before. Those went surprisingly smoothly. Of course, as usual, the parents that I really needed to talk to, those of the students I have the most problems with, didn’t show up. I decided to do a new thing also with my kids the same day as the field trip, just before we left. Each one got an award for a certain subject that they did really well in, and for a certain skill: organization, responsibility, perseverance, class work skills, most improved, and best effort. Thanks for your prayers. Things are going better there and I think I have less stress because I live in a better area closer to school.
Friday, my day off, I slept in after waking up at 7:30, 8:30, and then 9:30. My body, even though exhausted from hiking for about 3 miles, is so used to getting up early. Amber and I did some errands and took advantage of the “Executive” weekday lunch special at Tony Roma’s. Now, I’m not a huge fan of that place. Haven’t been there in years, and that was only once, but this was great. A drink, nonalcoholic, of course, an appetizer, a plate of lots of food, a premeal soup or salad, and dessert for only 317 lempira, or about $16 total. Wow!
When we came home I made a cake and we had a little birthday party for a little girl from church, just her mom and sister. They are our good friends and Amber’s known them for a long time.
Thanks for your time! !Que le vaya bien!

Christmas in Honduras...in January

Here we are celebrating Christmas in our new house with some boys that Amber works with. The first is "Cachete", or dimple, then all of us in front of the treeeee, and getting dinner, buffet style, which they're totally not used to. It was a great time had by all and Amber blessed me with a stocking and a coffee maker!!! yea!

Christmas in Honduras...in January

Here we are celebrating Christmas in our new house with some boys that Amber works with. The first is "Cachete", or dimple, then all of us in front of the treeeee, and getting dinner, buffet style, which they're totally not used to. It was a great time had by all and Amber blessed me with a stocking and a coffee maker!!! yea!

And finally...

Did I mention there are Taco Bell's in Guate? Well, there are 2 that I know of, and we went to one and let's just say that that's the day I started with my sickness. You can't say you're surprised! I don't have any great pictures of that, of our excursion to Taco Bell, that is, not that you'd want to see them.

The first pic is of pretty much the whole of Beto's family just before I left to return to Honduras. He has 7 brothers and sister, 3 of which are married with kids.

There's me enjoying ice cream after being sick and hardly eating anything fun for 5 days. And the funky looking church I like where Beto graduated from High School.

Well, thank you all for your support and prayers. I am doing much better since I went to Baxter's free clinic and got some meds. I still havn't been brave enough to have coffee, my favorite drink, but I see that special day of my first sip again on the horizon. yippee!!!

Tomorrow completes the first week back to school and it went really well, and fast. I feel less stress because of the better living situation and only having to walk 5 minutes to school. Everyday we pray in class, and starting Monday I'm going to introduce memorizing a Bible verse each month. Pray that the kids will "hide God's word in their hearts" and let it grow them spiritually throughout their lifetimes.

Please pray for guidance as I search for another avenue of ministry come Summer. I am excited about the possibilities.

Much love and prayers to you all! and Happy New Year!

Christmas Eve 2005

This is one of the only pictures I have of Christmas Eve...Beto helping the neighboors wash the sidewalks. They do it every year, only to totally trash the streets worse than before a few house later with fireworks lasting all day and into the wee morning hours. We ate our "Christmas dinner" at midnight. They celebrate Christmas the 24th instead of the 25th. Very different. Let's just say it was the loudest Christmas Eve I've ever had.
The building is of the National Palace in the city center which I don't think is home to anyone now, except some art merchants during the day. And the beautiful fountain across the street.

Gotta go, Gotta go!

I love this, an outdoor urinal. Sorry, ladies. A far view and extreme closeup. Don't worry, no "pee-ers" were embarassed in the taking of the foto. The inscription, which I've never known there to be one on a urinal, reads..."Pee happy, pee content, but please, pee inside!"

Gotta go, Gotta go!

I love this, an outdoor urinal. Sorry, ladies. I mean, why do men need this anyways? They can go whenever, wherever. Maybe the laws are different from Honduras and they're not allowed to pee anywhere, I don't know.
A far view and extreme closeup. Don't worry, no "pee-ers" were embarassed in the taking of the foto. The inscription, which I've never known there to be one on a urinal, reads..."Pee happy, pee content, but please, pee inside!"

Guatemala

After about 12 hours over 2 days, we finally made it to Guatemala, or Guate, and waited about an hour and a half for Beto's brother to come pick us up. Luckily, we had yummy snacks sent to me from the States.

The next day we happened along Herbie. I havn't seen the new version but love the old one. Boy is he cute!

Beto loves his family. These are 4 of his 7 nieces and nephews, with another on the way! Cristalita, Kenneth, and Alessandro(the baby).



Another day, we visited Beto's sister who works at McDonalds and enjoyed lunch on her, well, we didnt actually eat on her like a table, well, you know. But the McDonalds there are so much nicer, and the workers friendlier. When I asked for more ketchup, two guys almost tripped and fell over each other to help me, and the ladies were like that too. They also have a "McCafe" on another wing complete with couches, like Starbucks. I don't know why the states hasn't plugged into that scene yet! It was a nice change, even if it was McDonalds.



And the Christmas tree in Guatemala City is HUGE! of course, it is sponsored by the national beer company of the country.

This is not my beautiful house! What have I done?!

So the new year has begun and school has started again. The first two days weren't bad, especially the first since not many kids showed up. it was actually quite relaxing and peaceful. But that won't last long, i'm afraid. I've learned I can't make my self feel that way no matter how hard i try, but that's just the thing, trying hard at it isn't the thing that needs to be done. But putting it in God's hands and realizing that He's in control, His timing is perfect,and He never makes a mistake.
Take my living situation for example. I'd been wanting to move out for quite sometime, but with all my searching didn't find a place that I felt was quite right for me, either because it was too small, too big, too expensive, or too far from school. But as I walked to school this morning, I thought again...and I always need lots of reminders, at how God's timing is always perfect, even when I feel like life is chaos. Here I have this new really nice 3-bed, 2bath house, not coutning the "servants quarters" outside, that is 5 minutes walking distance from school, in a quiet, safe neighborhood with "vigilancia", and since I'm sharing it with a great friend, it's a nice price. I'm so happy. We're so excited. Whenever we get home or sit on the couches I bought...Ijust have to add that because it makes me feel so independant, we get all giddy and say, "Hey, we have couches!" or i say "Hey, amber, we have a house!" and we laugh as if we're at a 4th grade slumber party.
But this morning as I walked to school, I thought, "It's not our house. We're renting. But then again, it is ours because of just that, because we're renting. We are the one's paying to stay there." Like, hey, this is my hotel room, not anyone else's, because I'm paying for it and it's in my name."
And at night, when I'm laying in bed looking up at the stars through my window, I just thank God for helping me to wait to rent a place, for placing a great friend with whom to share this house, and that everything has worked out really well, well, for us. I know that sounds selfish, but it says a lot more about God. that He really has even our little, material interests in mind, for our best. DUH!
So moving in was a lot of fun. We got furniture pretty quickly and I bought a beautiful, lovely, navy blue sofa/2 chair set at the cheapest place in town, supposedly. The cheapest at that store.
and we have cable. Now let me tell you. I'm not much of a TV watcher, or at least I thought I wasnt. But with over 100 channels, including ABC, CBS, Cinemax, HBO, and NBC, I just may have to become one! The most exciting channels are the States ones, ABC, NBC and CBS. Last night we enjoyed watching Vanna on The Wheel while we ate homemade lasagna...another story, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Even during the commercials we flipped to a channel that had "Everybody loves Raymond", and while we love that show, we opted for The Wheel. I know, go ahead and say it..."You're a nerd!" Or in spanish, nerd is nerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd. Roll that "R"!!
So about that lasagna, I made it for the first time in my life and it wasnt half bad. Neither of us had seconds, but we did eat our rather large first portions.
To conclude, I will say that I'm very excited to have a Christmas party this Friday at "our house" with some boys from the church that Amber works with. She's going to cook a turkey and we'll have a tree. I'm excited because they don't celebrate in Guatemala at all like inthe States.
MOre to come with pictures.

Back home

Well, in Teguc., home. Got back safely, yet sick with something I picked up in Guate., after a 14 hour bus ride yesterday. At least we had some snacks and watched¨Undercover Brother¨. A true classic. More news later with lots of pictures. Happy New Year!

Feliz Navidad de Guatemala

Well, we arrived safely, Beto and I, with our Guatemalan friends who also study at Baxter.
After 2 days, or 12 hours total, in a bus, we finally made it and are staying with Beto´s family. I love it here, so simple and his family is so loving and fun. His mom reminds me of the mom in the movie, ¨My Big Fat Greek Wedding¨because if she asks you if you´re hungry and you say, ¨Not really,¨, she says, ¨Good, come eat!¨
Last night I serioulsy woke up with a stomach ache we´d eaten so much yesterday. I´m just going to have to learn to be honest and slip some food to the dogs.
So we´re here 3 weeks just kicken it and i won´t be doing much blogging, so Merry Christmas and Feliz Año Nuevo to todos! I´ll have a lot of fotos to post in January.
May God fill you with His Spirit and peace this year and may we all be more in love with Him!

Much love to all,
Laura

Feliz Cumpleanos!

All right, here are some fotos from Beto's birthday night out. We went to a really nice steak restaurant where we at like royalty. this queen even had leftover steak for 2 days, and she shared with the king! I could go on and on , but i won't bore you about food. But listen, it really wasnt that expensive, and we got salad! oh how i miss those! being from Cali, I was spoiled with the freshest of the fresh, knowudimsayin???
tambien, garlic bread! mami!
So afterwards, i surprised him by taking him to the marriott, where i heard there was live jazz with wine, cheese, and such on WEd. nights. But when we got there the door man said there was an art expo instead. I told him I called and the man on the phone told me Wed. night jazz, but Beto's an artist so he liked it better anyways. Then we had fun taking pictures in the lobby, drinking coffee, which we both LOVE! mmmmmmm....and by the beautiful Christmas tree. How pagan of us...it was a great night.
by the way, i didnt realize until a week later that we went to the hotel on TUESDAY night, so of course there wasn't the wed. night jazz concert. No wonder the man smiled at me funny. He thought i WAS "funny", but not funny "ha-ha".

Random update

All right, four are from a friend's wedding we went to December 2. The bride, groom, and their wedding party. Here it's more traditional to have girls from the church in the wedding than for the bride's friends. Beto and I with some awesome boys from the youth group that Amber works with mostly everyday. Beto comforting a sad boy, and us outside the church. Amazing view, not so great in the foto. It was a fun time, but of course it started late so as we waited, we got bored and took some pictures to share with the world.
The picture of my students was taken one day during a short break between classes. If you've seen the movie, "Legally Blonde", you'll recognize the "bend and snap." Too hilarious!

Thanksgiving at school

Here are some pix from our thanksgiving celebration. Xavier was our excellent narrator. We had some help from some 5th and 6th graders for the act. They did well even though they were really nervous. yes, that boy doesnt have no shirt! he's in my class and i thought it was the best costume for an indian. at least he DID wear pants! yikes!
And my small cute class, minus one, eating a typical Thanksgiving feast! They pulled through and brought all the things I asked them too! it was a lot of fun!

Panqueqes y Elecciones...ole!

Aren't those the most beautiful pancakes you've ever seen? And I made them!( Well, with a little help from Aunt Jamima herself). they look just like the one's on the box, just what i've always wanted. I had time to fix them finally on a day off for Thanksgiving.
The other picture is from my balcony of the street during elections. A lot of people were lined up on the left all day to vote. The red party, Mel, won. He's who I would've voted for if I could've, but I don't know why. Red is my favorite color, though.

Soccer and Thanksgiving

We went to a real FUTBOL game in Tegucigalpa the day after Thanksgiving. The red lights are the flares held by the crazy people who had their own section. there were'nt any other crazy people in any other section.
Thanksgiving was wonderful this year with all the trimmings made by Jeanne on the far left. Her husband is president of Baxter and she made everything and invited americans living and visiting here, and a couple of girls who are married to students here (one on the far right).

Another bathroom

But this is from the hotel in San Salvador, El Salvador where we went for our little vacation. Read the blog below for more info. You can see the lock on the OUTSIDE of the door, and the shower pipe going up the wall, with the nice invisible separator between it and the toilet. nice.

The Bucket Brigade

A typical scene once one enters the bathroom. Pick a bucket, any bucket, to wash yourself!!! The possibilities of ugly buckets are nearly endless, unfortunately. but fortunately, at least one can be found now adays!