A little update!

This frist pic is an absolutely rediculous one of sean, myself, melissa and mike (fellow volunteers minus joe the photographer) with the tarantula we captured and kept for a pet for a while.

Next to that is me and some kiddos at the group´street kids. Here we spend time every sunday with a group of kids that are especially unruly and undisciplined, and try and make it through without killting them! They are great kids, and with some time and energy are learning a lot!

Lately we have been doing lots of meetings, visiting, etc etc. Its been nice to finally meet with one of the padres from the church and a retired teacher who is very active in the community, and just be able to pick their brains. They had a lot of valuable info for us about the town and the surrounding aldeas, and i think the priest will be taking us up to other aldeas asap, as long as we don´t get too much rain. when we gt a lot of rain, after all it is the rainy season, its hard to access a lot of places, especially those places that need the most help! But all in due time....

We also met with the head of the AIDS hopsice we will be spending time at, and visited with the internos for a while. It is a great palce that was founded on great priniciples, and i am excited to be able to spend more time there in the future.

Thanks to those who have spend time to post comments, send letter and packages. Although I love what i´m doing down ehre and it is very rewarding, I love the support from home, it really helps me through the tough days!
Love to all!

Thoughts

I am glad that I took an ethics class in college before coming here. So much of what we do is beautiful, the people incredible, the children loving, but its hard to stop and think about why sometimes. We go up to aldeas to visit people that are more welcoming and accepting then anyone else we have met. They bring us into the simple homes, give us whatever food they have, and just visit with us. Give us their time and energy that they could use for other things. But what other things would these be? They have relatively no education, they generally have no trade or skills to offer, no transportation to get anywhere, and there are really are no jobs to be had in this town anyways. Many people live without electricity, and simply go to bed when it’s dark and wake up when it’s light out. At what point is it beautiful, and at what point is it sad. They will never aspire to be a doctor or a lawyer, or even a firefighter. They will never value education because their parents didn’t have one and they survived, and it won’t pay the bills or put food on the table to study now. They have no concept of delayed gratification, only doing what is necessary at the moment. I love the spontaneity, the laid back lifestyle, the lack of necessity when it comes to scheduling meetings or being on time. They are happy with what they have when they have it, but have no idea what they could be capable of if they put their efforts into other things. They also don’t’ expect much from us, just being there, which I think they can appreciate like no other group of people I have encountered.
There is a group of kids we lovingly refer to as the ‘street kids’. They don’t have supportive parents, to say the least, and come here to play most days, sometimes more than once a day. There are about 6 or 7 that consistently come, and we play, color, just visit with them as well. They are kids and are wonderfully universal, regardless or cultural and language barriers. They are fun, and funny, and give the best hugs! It is hard at the same time to have them here, its our house, and our only territory where we can shut off our brains for a bit, relax, put on my grubby gym shirt and old boxers and read in English, or play cards or whatnot. It’s easy to loose patience with them, they are a handful, and in such a large quantity can definitely overwhelm people. Some days, I want to tell them to just go home. I want to tell them that I am tired and sick of hearing Spanish, and honestly don’t want to play anymore today. They have never been disciplined, don’t understand rules, and have no idea what the significance of the word no is, in any language! You want to be mad at them, but they haven’t been taught the way we were, and getting mad won’t help them learn. I know if we turn them away they either go to the street to do who knows what, or go to their houses, where they aren’t particularly welcomed, and I can’t begin to imagine how they are treated. Where is the line with giving and accompanying, and trying to protect these kids from harm, and looking out for your own peace of mind?
I have no idea what the answer to these questions are, and don’t think I ever will be able to know for sure. It’s a learning process.
Thanks again for everyone’s support. I love the comments!

Hike!

So today we had part of the day free, so the local peace corps volunteer and I went to a National park that is about a half hour away, called La Tigra. It was absolutely beautiful, and I will try and attach some pictures below. It was a pretty breathtaking day, and it was a good release for me to get some fresh air and exercise! At one point I turned to the other volunteer and said, “It seems like we are in the jungle”, and she responded, “that’s because we are!”.

All kinds of Beauty

So yesterday Mike, one of the other volunteers, and I walked to Terrero, one of the Aldeas. It was about an hour and a half walk, and worth every minute of it. We arrived pretty early in the day, ten or so, and spend some time just walking around exploring. We started our venture for many reasons, and by the time we came back, we had a whole different set of reasons for wanting to go back again next week.
Part of our mission was just to explore the aldea, get used to the lay of the land, meet some new people, hopefully learn a bit of Spanish, and just make the Passionists presence known in this particular aldea. Part of the problem with the turnover of the volunteers is that we need to make people aware of the new volunteers, what we are here to do, and create new relationships. We walked out there, and even on the road to the aldea we knew our journey would be a rewarding one. We met several people who not only extended their kind wishes (vaya bien) but also people offering us fruit and other foods for our walk. As we approached the village we ran into some people we had met previously during our time there on other occasions. They were astonished that the gringos (white people) were walking, and again offered to accompany us, give us help, and food. They were willing to make their day harder just to make ours easier… and I thought I was coming down here to help them!
Mike and I proceeded to go visit some people at different houses, being poured on throughout the day. We met with some people we had already known, who fixed us lunch after our ‘long trip’ and gave us coffee (even though it was about 90 degrees out and were we warm and sweaty from our treck… but it’s the thought that counts, of course). Then one of the children we had met brought us to another house, where we had not previously been, nor had the previous volunteers. It was a beautifully simple home, well kept in its sole bedoom/diningroom/living room, with a kitchen off the back that encompassed its simple fire heated stovetop. The people were wonderful peaceful and happy just to visit with us. I really enjoyed spending time there. It was a place that the silence we shared was comfortable, instead of awkward with anticipation of what was next to come.
Later we shared the celebration of the word with the people, where it is custom to offer the sign of peace to everyone in attendance, and then walked home. During our walk back we took the time to really look around, see the scenery that otherwise we might have missed during our crazy drive over the ugly and weather beaten roads. It was a beautiful and fully rejuvenating day, and I was glad I elected to walk there rather than drive to another aldea with some of our counterparts.
I think for me this was the best day I have spent in Honduras yet. Although there have been many touching moments and experiences, interactions and exchanges, I think this day sums up what I came here to do. I walked out to the aldea, just like the people here do whenever they need to get into or out of town, we shared time and energy, without needed to spend money or give gifts, we learned for the people, and hopefully taught the people, if only about ourselves. We started to lay a solid foundation for the work that is to come. We shared what is important to the people, solely by being present in their lives, just listening, going to the celebration of the word, and meeting their families. It was a beautiful day, I only hope that I have done justice in its account it!!

Sigh...

Just a sigh of relief here. I write shortly after returning to Talanga. Last night we went into Tegucigalpa for the night. We stayed at a hotel. A real life hotel with running water, a TV and a pool. About four minutes after check in my swimsuit was on and I was completly submerged in the pool. After, time for a shower. for those of you who don´t know, we don´t have running water which means, cold bucket showers. A bucket shower consists of taking water from the pila (the basin outside that contains all of our drinking and bathing water) and bringing it into what looks like a standard shower. Then taking a bowl and pouring it over your body, lathering up, rinse and repeat. So last night I took a real live warm shower. I feel like a new woman! We then indulged in Pizza Hut pizza (yes, they have pizza hut in the capital here) and watched the olympics for a while. It was very refreshing to sleep in a nice big bed without the sounds of Geckos, roosters and dogs all nights, and without a misquito net over my bed! Sweet relief! I am very grateful for this break in teh action, and although I know better than to get used to it, I am definetly looking forward to returning (I think thats where we will be for our thanksgiving treat).
Other than that its back to the daily grind. We have been going out to the aldeas a good amount, and waiting on supplies so we can commence our Latrine project. I guess its a kind of ´Honduran´thing to have everything in order, and just wait. Well, we are getting used to this custom. One of the aldeas that has 86 houses has already dug the holes and is just waiting for the toilet seats.... only time will tell!

Tomorrow will bring a trip to one of the more impoverished Aldeas. I am excited to go up because I think there is the most work there to be done. There is already a child malnutrition project that has been started, and they are going to be the recipients of a shipment of beans from another orginizatoin (once they arrive.. see a theme?) I think there is also a lot to do up there healthwise becuase they are the poorest and have the worst access to the community, meaning... poorest health. I will try and get some more pics up as soon as they feel like loading. Thanks for all the support!

mas

Hello all! Sorry í´ve been a bit slow about new posts... its busy down here! Lately we have just been working on language, and trying to get into the flow of things. We have so many great ideas every day, we just have to wait to execute them once we build the relationships necessary. Here its all about relationships first, then work. Its a hard concept for us to grasp, with the way we conduct business at home, with work being the priority, but here, it allows us to really have better realtionships, something I think I could get used to! Also, it allows us to better learn the language and the customs before we have to really get cracking on projects, so we are actually able to get things done!

A few days ago we went to one of the aldeas to just visit with some of the families there. It was awkward at first, picking up where the old volunteers had left off, but in no time at all we were visiting like pros. Its funny to think that you ahve to learn to just visit, something so simple, but its a foreign concept to me to just talk, for hours, with pretty much perfect strangers! I love it. The kids were very welcoming, and we ended up playing with them for hours. Although the language was a bit difficult at times, we sang and danced and just played, without toys, or nintendos, or any other props than our voices and our bodies. It was an incredible feeling to be able to have such a good time with literally nothing.

We have also been working in the schools a good amount. Today at recess, I hung out with a group of girls and we played a game called Lima (I think thats how you spell it). Which consisted of either me chasing all of them, or all of them chasing me. I honestly don´t know how the rules work, but i know they had fun, and apparenlty without knowing it i told them i would play again tomorrow! Eh, its a good time, and it could always be worse!

We are currently prepping for a weekend long campaign against domestic violence, which is a real issue here. All of the different church related groups are getting together to organize a march, a rally, and different events throughout the weekend. Im excited that the community is allowing us to help them. It should be a great time for us to meet other people, and it will be thrilling to be in the middle of the events.

I also have been helping one of the girls in town with her english homework. It has helped me a lot to learn spanish by focusing on the gramatical aspects of the english language and having to translate them. I look forward to spending more time with the girl and her family. They made me lots of food to thank me for helping, although obviously no thanks were necessary. They invited me over to dinner on wednesday also, as more thanks, and are really taking me in. It feels great to be so welcomed!

Thanks for all your posts in reponse! Keep ém coming!

Love to all!

Do one thing every day that scares you!

Sorry about the lack of pictures. I forgot my camera cord at home, and need to wait until mom and dad send one, hopefully it will arrive sooner rather than later. One of the people here with me has some pics up on their blog, and if you are interested the link is
seanmichaelmgarvey.blospot.com
Melissa, my new roomie also has a blog
hawkeyeinhonduras.blogspot.com

Things have been going really well. We dropped off the old volunteers and finally have our entire team together. The first night we were all alone together in our house we had a big of a surprise... a giant tarantula! It was right above mikes bed when he went to go to sleep. The boys then proceded to catch it, and are trying to keep it as a pet. I´m sure it goes without saying that Melissa and i are opposed to this, but majority rules!
We have been working on familiarizing ourselves with the projects the previous volunteer had been working on, and trying to see where we fit intop this whole picture. Monday Melissa and I ran a domestic abuse support group, and it was pretty much a flop. There were only three women that showed up, and the meeting was about a half hour shorter than usual. Being that neither Melissa nor I are profecient in spanish yet, we had a hard time communicating with the women, and this is the point of a support group! Although we had put a lot of time into prep, we built in several activities that needed further explaining to the women once we were at the group, and this was certianly a task! We talked to them a bit and they were happy we were there, and wanted very much to continue the group. I will report back and let everyone know if next week is more of a success! The little that these women did communicate left me feeling helpess. One woman spoke of her chronically ill child and the lack of healthcare, another of the lack of work for her and her new husband, and all spoke of past trauma and their struggles with forgiveness. I think more than anything I have a lot to learn from them!
I have also been working with the peace corps volunteer in town on a baseball team at one of the aldeas. The plan is to do a bunch of funcraising in town, and get them to go play another team new the copan ruins, and spend the day after the games learning about their history. It is crazy to me that they live only hours away from the source of their culture, and none of them have been to see it! They are great kids, and just happy to ahve something to do afterschool, so any addition to this joy only makes coaching them even more rewarding. They are fresh, but lovable!
Today we went to one of the aldeas to visit. I love passing the time in the countryside, just talking. Although it was a bit of a challenge, it also seems as though the concept of just visiting will be one of my favorite pastimes here!
Thats all for now. Please check out the other pages from some other perspectives!
Lots of love!