Things have been going really well here. Monday we had our domestic violence group, and all of the women seemed to be in good spirits. We started the group with the question “How was your new years and Christmas?” Virtually all of the women had the same response, that they didn’t have anything and didn’t eat anything, but they were with their families and had their health, so it was a great new years and Christmas. They continue reaffirm my belief in the power of being grateful and thankful. It’s a beautiful thing, and I am really lucky to have this group so that I can be reminded of just how good we have it, and important it is to be appreciative. Its just so refreshing!
Tuesday the provincial of the Passionist Order came to Honduras and we spent the day with him and a few of his assistants. The provincial is the head hauncho basically, kind of an important guy. It was really ncie to spend time with him, and see their interpretations of what we do and waht projects we have going on. Its good to look at things with fresh eyes at times, and they certianly were insightful. We met them at their hotel, then all went to see a clinic the Passionists have in Tegucigalpa. It was a really cool operation, and they recieve a lot of aide from the states. One of the people we went with was a doctor from the states that is really instrumental in bringing down supplies, getting funding for the clinic, and getting improvements for the clinic.Up Until a couple of years ago they didn´t even have bathrooms there, and he helped fundraise to get them. Oh the simple things in life! After that we went to the casa (the AIDS hospice we go to) that is owned by the Passionists as well, and had a nice mass and a nice lunch with the residents, the director and some others. The food was great, and it was a nice change of pace to spend time with people with different perspectives and see their takes on things.

Wednesday brought a day at the clinic, and a good one at that. Although it wasn´t particulary busy, we spoke with a nursing instructor that will be bringing nursing students down over the next 6 or so weeks. Melissa and I are going to help them learn different things about public health, and translate for them. Although I would like to think that i´m going to be able to teach something, i´m sure that the nursing students will definetly teach me much more, and raise some good questions for me. We will be taking them to the health center in town as well, and that will be a new experience for all of us.

Thursday we went to Terrero, my favorite aldea. We walked up because the car was being used, and just had a really nice day. We met some nice people on the walk up, and talked to them for a while before they invited us into their homes to visit! People are so welcoming here! We went about our rounds, and just had a lot of fun. Its really nice to go up there. I know it will always be a good day when I visit them, and I think they do a lot more for me than i do for them! Regardless I had a ball!

Friday brought some meetings and business type stuff since our boss just came back from Jamaica, and Saturday was a good day for laundry, reading, a nice long walk, etc. It was a really nice week, and i´m excited about the week to come as well.