Update!

Hello everyone!
Things are going pretty well here, very busy, but well. The beginning of the week we went into Tegucigalpa and met the Cardinal! There was a big mass at a beautiful cathedral there, then we met with the Cardinal. He speaks English, which only made the encounter that much more enjoyable, and was very honest and happy to talk with us even though there were many people demanding his time and attention. It was a great experience!
The teachers are on strike again, and so we haven’t gone to school in quite a while. School certainly isn’t my favorite part of the week, but I’m glad to do it and I’m glad to help the kiddos learn. Its challenging at times, and certainly trying, but a good part of what we do. I really feel badly that the kids have to miss out on school when the teachers strike. Although this isn’t the first time that they have striked since we have been here, this time was for three days in a row, and obviously the kids are the ones that pay with poor educations when they keep missing school. The teachers aren’t getting payed, and this is why they are striking. I completely agree that this is great grounds for a strike, but I wish there was another way to settle this without missing school days. The education system here isn’t the greatest, although I think for what they are given they are very resourceful. It’s a very memorize and recite type education, and you can’t really hold them accountable, because this is how the teachers were taught when they were in school. Its also even tougher to try and teach because of this, we are taught to create and imagine, to dream and achieve. Its something else new here to add to the list!
We went to corralitos, one of the aldeas. There we participated in the celebration of the word, which is just a mass minus the communion part, and then visited for a bit with one of the families there. It is a really great and very energetic family, that just happens to include three generations and about twenty people. Its tough to try and imagine such a family living in the states, in a large house with ample beds, food and clothing, but throw in the house they live in and the conditions that endure, and it’s a wonder they are all such great people. I suppose there is no sense in being in low spirits in any circumstances, it wont make anything better, but my goodness. They are inspiring! Every time we go they make us feel right at home, the kids play with us, sign, dance, color, etc, and we always are able to chat about something with the women there, they are so warm! They live simple lives, do their laundry in the river, eat what they have for food, and just simply chat and visit to pass the time in between.
We had baseball this week again, got to love the kids for trying. It’s hard for them to really understand the concepts and get the game as a whole, but they love to just play. It’s a great outlet for them, and hopefully it will help them understand discipline and rules. If not, at least it’s a lot of fun!
Melissa and I are also in the very beginning stages of planning a group for elderly people. When we go on sick visits on Sundays we visit for a bit, say some prayers, and then move on. Melissa and I both have a bit of a soft spot in our hearts for the elderly, and because of this, once a week is not enough for us! Our original idea was just to visit them more often, go to their homes another day of two a week, and if they needed help with anything do it. With my background in nursing and Melissa being a nurse also that was a home health aide, we both thought this would be a great avenue to share our gifts and also accompany people in their daily struggles. We could work towards helping with one struggle that is very easily addressed, loneliness. We met with Prof. Daniel, one of the people we work with very closely here, and also someone that is very active in the community and church. He seemed almost more enthusiastic than us! He thought is was a great idea, and there was definite need here for more attention for seniors. Culturally the elderly are kept in homes here, and when they are sick they have care by their families, but if they are doing alright, and just slowing down a bit, not as productive as they used to be and whatnot, they are just kept in a separate room in their homes and not payed a lot of attention to. It’s a tough concept to understand in a place where family is valued so much, but this is amongst many mysteries in this culture I’m curious about. Prof. thinks we should start by visiting them in the home, building relationships, then try and get them to meet as a group at a different location, to get them moving, bring them out, and give them something to look forward to.
Who knows what will happen, but it’s an idea in the works, and something I’m very excited about!
Well, that’s life around here. We keep on hacking with the language and hope its getting better little by little. We keep visiting, participating in church groups and going to meetings, going to the AIDS hospice, and being inspired daily.
Thanks again for all of your support!