lockdown.

The last two days were spent in the house because of a toca de quedo, a government mandate to stay in one's house, something of a permanent curfew. Mel Zelaya returned to Honduras a few days ago, so the country's been on lockdown. It was nice to have a couple days off school. Sleeping in feels good (When I say "sleeping in," I mean sleeping until 7:00 or so.).

You can read more about the situation here.

that which i did not expect.

I didn’t expect to fall head over heels in love with these kids. I am so in love with my children. They light up my life. They make my every day worthwhile. There are so many things that I love about my life in Honduras, but more than anything I love twenty-three little faces. I have learned a new love. I never knew I had the capacity to love in this way. I didn’t expect that.

I surely did not expect to bear their grief. I did not expect my heart to break over their heartbreak. I never expected to be so wrapped up in love that I would find myself in tears grieving over their life’s circumstances. I only wish I could bear their burdens for them. I wish I could take the brunt in their stead.

The Lord has blessed me abundantly, twenty-three times over.

fausto.

I'm in love with this boy.

traveling in honduras.

This weekend we traveled eight hours in bus to Tela, a beach on Honduras’ north coast. I got pinkeye, and because of my allergy to penicillin, I had to buy drops that are prohibited in the United States because four out of every 1,000,000 that use them die from anemia or something (Thanks for the info, Uncle John.). I hope I don’t die.

Traveling is always an adventure. There’s no telling what will happen. Maybe smelly clowns will want to make you destroy half of your senses so as not to see, hear or smell them anymore. Maybe a handsome stranger will make eyes at you. Maybe the police will stop your bus and demand to see the birth certificates of all the males. Maybe the bus attendant will try to flirt with you. Maybe your bus will break down. Maybe you’ll nearly melt in the heat of the bus when you’re seated by an emergency exit without a window. Maybe you’ll nearly pee your pants. Maybe some lady’s huge butt will knock you in the head. Maybe all these things will happen to you in one trip.

sick.

I got sick this week. It was not pleasant. Might as well be specific, right? It started with diarrhea. Then I got a consistent pressure headache. That was accompanied by a stomachache and the chills. And then my diarrhea turned into explosive, uncontrollable diarrhea. Yep. Needless to say I missed the following day of school.

Today I went back to school. I sprained my ankle on the walk to school. Great day.

football.

We went to a World Cup qualifying match in San Pedro Sula on Saturday - Honduras vs. Trinidad & Tobago. I have to admit - the game was a lot of fun, but waiting to go through the gate into the stadium was not. The crowd was so tight and so impatient. They had their hands in our pockets and wherever else they felt like putting them. They were pushing and shoving and yelling. The pressure I felt from the pushing could have easily caused an injury, but I walked away only having had a panic attack.

Apparently there was an error, and each ticket was printed twice. The police were present with pressured water and tear gas, and tickets weren't even being checked at the door.

I don't want to give the impression that I had an awful weekend. I had a great time in San Pedro, but I would never want to go through that again.

abigail.

This is Abigail.

She is three years old. She is the sweetest little girl. Every day when we're walking home from school, she spots us and runs down the mountain with arms wide open and greets us with hugs and kisses. She visits our house every day.

Her family wants her to start school at Vida Abundante next year when she's four, but she needs a scholarship. Jacki, Laura Beth, Rachel, and I have decided that if Vida Abundante doesn't provide her with a scholarship (which amounts to about $150 a month), we will gladly support this little girl. Want to help?