Introductions

So, I have had it in my head for sometime now, to collect photos of all the people in our life here and introduce you to them, but that OBVIUOSLY isn't going to happen because I will never remember to take my camera half the places I need to. So here's what we've got.

The gringos. Some of us think there are “bastante” of us in this city – others say “pocos”... but the great thing is that since we all blog we can all stock each other's lives... and now YOU can too. First there is the MTW group (the missionaries we originally stocked to get here) they consist of the Pettengills, Mcanns, Servinghauses, and Jamie, Josh and Andy. Of course I have no pictures of the Servinghause boys playing soccer over here the other night, or of the interns teaching ESL this morning, or Erin Pettengill improving her tortilla making skills over a homemade outdoor oven this afternoon, nor of Lindsy Mcann and I taking turns nursing our babes (4 and 6 mo.)... but trust me they are a great group of people and for proof you can check out this slue of blogs.
http://pettengillmissionaries.blogspot.com/
mccannsinhonduras.wordpress.com/
cosmocam.blogspot.com/
severinghausfamily.blogspot.com/
www.pettengillmissionaries.org/
laceibamissionaries.blogspot.com/

There is also this great gringo couple within a stone's throw of our house (I think I'll make sure and try to chuck a rock in their yard right after this). They are working at a Bilingual school here and are patiently awaiting the arrival of their firstborn... and you really should check out their blog... and buy a bonsia tree while you are at it (karineandtom.blogspot.com/). I have no photos of them but I do have this handy photo of our grill which we found in the garbage on their street, salvaged it, bought a refrigerator rack grate for it, and have used it four times this week...


Then there happens to be a Baptist Mid-missions couple down the road from us. He is a native to the Bay Islands and she is from Arizona... they have been here forever... and the night they came over from dinner they brought another missionary who has been working out in the jungle for 20 years... we are sure we have much to learn from these couples... but sadly the are a generation to early for the blogging thing

Beyond the gringos, yes can you believe it, there are Hondurans here! And really nice ones at that.



This is Claudia, I buy my vegetables from her almost every day. Someone said she might be a bit more expensive than a few other stands... but I don't care... she talks slow – real slow – and she shows me her calculator after she says the price, and she laughs with me – not at me- I think.

This is “Jaun or Jorge or something” Loius... I buy my tortillas and cheese from him... he's nice... he talks slow too... and his cheese is not SUPER stinky strong... and he likes me to come to his store.


This is Carla.... she has been Jarod's teacher for 2 weeks. I like her, in the afternoons she gives me full reports on how he has been doing :)... he also had Leslie... but like I said folks... the camera – it's hard to remember.


Then this is Saira and Glenda. Saira is the Garifuna, which is a people group comprised of the descendants of wrecked slave ships I believe... they have a very unique culture and she is – to say the least – a very unique woman... but she talks slow and she says she uses bad grammar so I can understand her better... she talks like an idiot in mostly present tense - so an idiot can understand– so I like her. Glenda has been my substitute teacher and she is young... fun... and she doesn't talk really slow but she has offered to take me and my family out to some island's in her grandmother's little fishing boat... I think that is what she is telling me... it sounds great... but kind of scary... small fishing boat... big ocean... really fast Spanish words... but I like her anyway.


Then there is Rafael – he runs our school. He talks to me REALLY slowly... and he always asks about my kids and what he can do to help us here in Honduras... he should be the country's head of tourism... He is exactly the kind of guy you want to meet when you get to a foreign land. He has kids... they have a “lightening McQueen” so – it's all good. And here is a photo of our school's sign...





Then there is Blanca, and her son Alejandro. We met them at a soccer field – because where else would you meet someone in Honduras? Alejandro is 6 and Blanca talks REALLY slow... and she knows some English – So I cheat a lot with her, and well, we love them... you'll hear more about them, I'm sure.

You will also be hearing more about Jude's teachers... I don't know what to say about them right now... right now they are just really worried that he can't use scissors and doesn't color from left to right...



Then I have Belky and Wilma. Belky wants to learn English so we have coffee some mornings while our kids are at school and talk ½ and ½. She says, “I can understand you because you talk slow.” And I said, “I know.”
Wilma, is another neighbor and she does NOT talk slow – I have no idea what she says to me EVER – except she really likes me, my haircut, my baby – my baby is so cute – like a doll – like a perfect something – like me – but not like me, and she loves to exercise because it keeps her young, and once she gets thin she wants to cut her hair like mine... so much so that she took me to her beauty shop to show them my hair – and I have no idea what those ladies said either – because they did NOT talk slow. But I like her – she's crazy. I know this – I know it is not just the language thing - because when she accompanied me to get vegetables and cheese, Claudia and Loius both looked at her like she was nuts – and they have never looked at me like that – and I talk like a 3 year old.

Speaking of nuts. Our landlady is Dona Petra. And well... I get the distinct impression that even if I knew this language I would not understand the woman... but she likes us and we REALLY like where we live. And pretty much I think she is just like my mom... and Jesus must know that I need someone like that in my life at all times, I don't know why – but I guess I do. Thank you Jesus, for Dona Petra.

Not just because we like our house, we like our neighborhood. Jude is surrounded by kids. To the left we have Pamela... who was easy to get a picture of because she is here every day... with Dona Petra lives her granddaughter Deborah and 2 mo. Old grandson Eli, who has Down Syndrome, and may just be the happiest little baby in the world, and then to the left we have Merci and her family... who speak really good English... so good it is annoying... and they are so nice it is unbelievable.


And then down the road we have Dona Berta, who used to be Chrissy's host mom – meaning she gets paid to take care of some gringos. But she has decided to take care of us for free. This widowed woman in her late 50's takes care of her 4 children who live in her home along with their significant others, children, friends and any dogs that they might bring home – apparently. As well as caring for any number of gringos who might live with her... oh yeah and she has time to show me all the best places to shop and DRIVE me to a laundromat after my clothes mildewed in the rain last week. Have I mentioned she is amazing? And that I don't have a picture of her?.... yet....

Of course I could go on and on all night to include the 9 mo. pregnant woman who made us lunch today over her handmade dirt BBQ, or the whole family that makes piñatas which I pass every day on my way to school, or the lady who runs a “quick-shop” type thing out of her front yard and who gives us rides when she sees us walking in the rain... but I won't...

But here is the moral of the story... befriend a foreigner today, talk slow – talk like an idiot – only using the present tense and lots of hand motions... and it will make Jesus very happy :). oh and don't give their kids UNENDING candy... that makes Jesus very sad... I think... I am not sure on that one – but just don't do it – it's not nice.


Can you believe we have been here more than month? This is how we are doing....

1 block walk

4 times a day I walk to or from Jude's school. Friday I took my camera.

Some days I see this.


Other days I see this.


I am learning that what I see is directly related to the hours of sleep I get in a night, how hard Jude is crying when I leave the school, and the one upon whom I place my focus. But this is my Honduras neighborhood...



... I have yet to chronicle the 1 mile walk to my school... but I am just wondering... what do you all want to hear about? More about the kids? about spiritual and socioeconomic conditions? or about the random military men with guns who came to make sure I didn't have any standing water in my sink to attract misquotes? seriously... I don't know what to write about anymore.

PS - you can click on the pictures to make them bigger

Time for a happy blog

So, some of your are worrying about us. Sorry I've must have been a downer lately... just trying to be honest about the struggles we do have, but I guess it was a bit much. :) Don't worry. If life gets too hard there is a Popeye's down the street and I can get in a cab and take my laundry to get washed and dried for under $15. So what if Jude doesn't like school? I never liked school but they made me go anyway and I turned out. So what if the kids are sick – kids get sick everywhere. We only lose water for a few hours at a time and the oil is keeping the misquotes off (either that or the rain is keeping them away... and it is defiantly cooling things down.) If my kids get to sick I know an American nurse and an American Dr. lives down the street. My parents are coming to visit in 2 weeks so we are guaranteed a good time!
Actually I have a feeling any struggles we may have had come more from missing PEOPLE than any amenities. Just think of any "discontent" we may be conveying as a sign that we miss and love you... and in time our missing you won't pass but our capacity to love the people of both places equally will increase (as will our fondness for skype).
So, seriously, what's the big deal? Nothing... for us. For the people here, life is hard, really hard, but no matter how much I try to live simply... I can never experience life the way they do. I'm a big wimp and my blog is a good place to vent.... but I am hoping that over time... if I start out honest and remain honest, we will all notice a CHANGE in me... and my kids... and Jarod (although he seems to be doing fine... he's good like that.) Oh, except - he officially hates Spanish – well actually, he really wants to KNOW Spanish he just doesn't want to STUDY it. THAT, my friends, is the story of his life... and it really annoys me that he is smart enough that somehow he will have better grammar than me in two weeks.
Speaking of grammar I thought I'd waste a little time on math. In 2 weeks I've worked on 120 verbs x 5 conjugations x 4 tenses = 2400 verbs... that's just to say “to go...”, etc. now we have to learn some nouns so we have places “to go”.... English is such an ugly little language but man is it easy.
Please do pray for us though, that we will be able to coordinate meetings with several missionaries that we are wanted to get to know. There are so many ways to minister here... please pray that God shows us with who and how!

Here's the purchase of the week... won out over a TV... and it is super entertaining for both of them... and semi-safe now that Jude knows Lucy really doesn't like being "dumper-car-ed" full speed into the wall.

Saturday

So 10 seconds after that photo and right before this photo:


Lucy was puking all over the place, and we did't have running water. (See how pictures fail to capture the true essence of life?) It is the 3rd time she has thrown up. Please pray for her health and that she doesn't get dehydrated...

Oh and this the shirt I have been washing for a week - literally. I washed it, it got rained on and muddy, I washed it, it got pooped on by a bird while drying, I washed it, it got used to clean up puke when only 1/2 dry, I washed it... it got rained on... it is looking so sad... and smelling like old shoes.

Between the puke and the laundry, Jarod tagged along with some missionaries to and ESL class they were teaching - he had a great time and we look forward to more opportunities to see and participate in the different works going on here. Jude said today that he wanted to go to school and that he wanted to learn Spanish and he spent the afternoon playing with neighbor kids so that was great!

Keepin' it real

So, several people have asked me if I am going to be able to blog more now... I really should. I'd love to. I am honored that you care to read it. And I probably won't. Like every 10 seconds something funny happens or shocks me and I just want to share it so bad... but then something else happens and I want to share that and by the end of the day I think I should just write a book – but instead I conjugate verbs and then NOTHING seems interesting. And I know in a month or so I will have adjusted so much I won't even think any of this (the giant ants carrying away whole pieces of bread as a team, the funny people from the government who came to replace my light bulbs for free, the really long stories about my landlady who IS my MOTHER all over again, the $3 over -the-counter antibiotics for a cough, the really long stories made longer by a language barrier the size of the great wall, and the home "improvements" they have done since we have gotten here that have current left us with large cords all over the front yard, no screens in the window, and faucets that drip when we have water, etc., etc.) is worth writing about – so I should now – but we'll see. But here is a special friday addition:

He can't be sent out alone. I have done most of the shopping here since I have a head start on the language, have some idea what groceries should cost, and for a few scheduling reasons. But the other day Jarod went out alone and now he is resting easy in the hammock he has been insisting on since day one. (hammock - $15, rope - $2, knives to cut the rope - $1, mosquito repellent coils - $1, matches to light the coils - 50 cents, flashlight - $5, clothespins - $3, coffee -$3, headphones w/ mic to turn his ipod into a phone -$15, ---- 2 hrs. shopping for random stuff and 2 hours relaxing in the personal oasis... PRICELESS... or so I hear.)


We have created a monster. Jude took this picture yesterday and it went like this,
“Ok, now I'll take a picture of you two... get together, now mom you put your face like this, dad you do this, I'll turn the flash on, just like that, GOT IT!” I think I need to teach him a little about angles... not so flattering... but he did get our heads!


It's all gonna be ok. Today Jude either started getting an ear infection or has learned the art of playing hooky in only 7 short days of school. He cried a lot this morning but did fine after I made him go to school and then this evening he played soccer in the rain with 3 of the neighbor kids. After that we went over to the home of some missionaries for dinner, had wonderful time with them and their 2 children and then on the walk home we ran into some friends from school and chatted for a bit. But the way I have it figured if we can walk less than 5 blocks and have 3 groups of people to visit with... it is all going to be ok. Oh yeah and yesterday when I was walking to my school with the kids a lady we know who sells candy near Jude's school stopped and gave us a ride... so, it's gonna be ok.

Here he is playing soccer in the rain with a cold and an ear infection... I know, I am such a good mom...



Finally, the grammar on my blog heading is wrong. It is really horrible spanish – the word “desperadO” is masculine which contradicts the feminine phrase it applies to. I should have known that. But that is where we are.... in REALLY BAD grammar land... and since it took me 5 months to add Lucy's photo I am thinking we are staying in “bad grammar land” for a while... it's apropos ... so deal with it. And thanks for reading... you're the best!

A hero and a grease ball

JUDE AT SCHOOL


Last night, thanks to Jude's great desire to have friends, we had our first Honduran guests over! It was a really nice time as he played with our 6 year old neighbor and we visited with his mother. Just another reminder, as he says to me when he kills an insect or does something helpful, “I am a hero.” And he is my hero because while I sit and fret about what we are doing here and if we will ever learn to properly conjugate these verbs he is reminding me daily that we must reach out to every opportunity presented to us. My favorite quote from him this last week is, “yes I have friends at school – I just don't know their names.” Oh and also, he goes to a bilingual school where they teach in English (which his teacher knows less of than I know of Spanish – that's bad). Anyway, he brought home this worksheet of identifying family members in English. He did fine until he got to a young girl which he called a “SEA-STAIR.” And I was like, “You mean 'sister'.” “No,” he said, “It is SEA-STAIR in Spanish.” So we may be ruining the one language he has.

All this to say that for the last 3 weeks we have prayed together every morning and every night, “Please God help us to do the hard things,” and often he openly admits he doesn't want to pray that because he doesn't like the hard things. And, well, sometimes neither do I. To prove how far the standards have fallen we had to bribe him with fast-food and play-place to get him to sit quietly through the church service yesterday, although Sunday school went great because they watched TV! And on the way home while I was actually contemplating getting a TV so he could practice his Spanish he asked, “Which play place are we going to? The one with the guy with the gun outside? That was SO NICE.” They all had guards with automatic weapons so we went to Burger King.

LIKE THE BITES?

The girl on the other hand is not having any trouble making friends – either with the people or the misquotes here. If I learn anything in Spanish it is going to be how to say my daughter is beautiful 10 different ways. And if I learn anything about healthcare it is going to be 20 different ways to keep off misquotes – right now we are slathering her with baby oil 3 times a day so she looks like a greased little piglet.
And if the guns, fast-food, TV, and misquote bites weren't enough – this morning they both came down with low-grade fevers (which Jarod is sure are just a cold and teething and I am sure is malaria)... so please be praying for their health and my anxiety.
Overall the past week has been full of school and meeting new people – both nationals and American missionaries.... and so far the people have made all the 'hard stuff' worthwhile... because even if we all do get malaria... we have learned so much in just 2 short weeks!


JUDE W/ OUR MINI FRIDGE COLLECTION



DOES EVERYONE LIKE THE NEW HEADING? THANKS JAROD

Happy FUNNY New Year

I wanted to wish you all a happy new year, but in all honesty the change in he final digit of a date has been the least drastic change in my life this week (so non-monumental in fact I attempted to sleep through it... although it turned out to be another failed attempt as the $200 worth of firecrackers outside my bedroom window sounded like repeated gunfire. But that's funny. It's funny. Because it has to be. I am continually amazed by the power of perspective. And well folks, I am pretty sure there are 10 million things about this country that cannot, from any perspective, be considered humorous... and I am sure you will be hearing plenty about those in upcoming months. So for today I want to focus on the things I need to find funny...

From the looks of my children in this photo – their lives haven't changed one bit...


Except their house is huge... so huge in fact we have 3 bathrooms!! All of them complete with toilets that cannot accommodate toilet paper …



but never fear Honduras is not short on plastic bags to accommodate. Also each bathroom has a handy-dandy shower thingy that gives some heated water through this electrical gizmo.... oh and we found out today that the one in the kids bathroom also sprays them with electric current so we are down to only 2 showers :).




They only thing bigger than our huge house is the huge insects that inhabit it... check out these 2 ordinary ants trying to haul of a Honduran ant carcass... poor little workers... I'd hate to see how many of them it takes to haul off one of our cockroaches.



To foil the mammoth house we have mini appliances. Like our fridge?



And stove?



Me too... they suit well the fact that I have to do grocery shopping on foot.... so like every 3 hours I'll be at the store. With this stash of cash, that I am guess will buy a week's worth of groceries...



not that I'll buy that at one time.. I can't even store an orange (which is green here) or a bag of milk. And when I'm not at the store I'll be doing laundry in my new laundry machine.



I love it. I can already see my biceps growing.

Let's take a trip to my front porch. Love the view. Oh and here is one of 3 locks I have to go through to leave the compound (And yes Alison- I do lock them all and I do think of you every time!)







Then, here is the view from our street. Typical Honduras, as near as I can tell – immense beauty meshed with... immense problems.... but we'll get there... I'm sure.



I read somewhere that the difference between mockery and satire is it can only be satire if you love the thing you mock.... and know this … I love my life here... I'm not complaining... just amused... but tomorrow we start school... all three of us... then I'll be tired and then my tiny fridge won't be funny at all... I can already tell...

In the meantime – check out Mr. Adventure and Ms. Lazy pants... she has still shown no interest in rolling.. or anything really other than chilling.







P.S. Here is our local park... I think it makes the one at our church back home look stelar! Oh and this is the golf course … next to the park.... notice the LOVELY fence.... I will NEVER get golf courses... EVER... what is it doing here?






PS - I wrote this Sunday and today Lucy rolled over like 10 times and we all loved school.... sort of.. we are exhausted...