Smiling Honduran Pictures

A Country Song

“I cried all the way to Houston” sounds like the words to a country song. However it was my life today. Karen and Dorian took us to the airport after we said final good byes to the children and staff at Casa. Everything went well until it was time to go through security and leave Karen. & Dorian. No matter how prepared I think I am I still cry at goodbyes. The gentleman checking my passport just smiled and shook his head as tears streamed down my face. Then for security, which I passed fine after I remembered to take my cell phone out of my pocket. I still couldn’t see very well at this time due to my tears. Sharon got stopped in security and they searched her purse. They took her fingernail clipper set and she was just happy that she made it down there with it so she had it to use while in Honduras. We could still see Karen & Dorian through glass wall as they went down the stairs and exited the terminal. We then went clear to the end of the gate area where we watched through tinted windows as they went to their car. As they were preparing to drive out of airport, we began waving and sure enough they spotted us and returned the wave.
We settled in to wait for our flight. I visited a shop and was tempted to buy a Honduras map that had Santa Ana on it until I learned the price was $5. I figured I could get one of the internet for free.
Takeoff was fine, but I could not stop weeping. Tears fell down my face and those around me afforded me the dignity of not mentioning it. So yes I did indeed cry all or most of the way to Houston. Just couldn’t seem to get past the sadness.
While at Houston I called Brian and just the sound of hearing his voice made me weepy again. When I called Lisa she was with someone so it was a quick call and I didn't have a chance to get weepy. Later I called my Mom and she told me that Lisa had already called her to tell her that I was in USA. She was involved with activities of looking for a first time house to buy and she stopped to call Grandma........ok, Lisa had me weeping also.
God has seen fit to bless me with three fantastic children who have taken risks instead of taking the easy way out and I am so proud of them. The day I left Lisa at OU twisted my heart. I know she was scared but she stuck it out and look at her now! Karen started taking risks in ever widening circles; San Diego, Denver and then Honduras. Brian knew what he wanted and he enrolled in college in Arkansas, a long way from home, family and friends. I am so thankful for the honor and privilege of being Mom to these three exceptional adults. And as if that was not enough treasures that God blessed me with, he gave me another son in Dorian. he loves God and adores Karen, what more could you want? So as I am flying back to home, yes I am still weeping because this is what love does. It leaves marks on your heart and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Friday

Took Dorian and Karen out to dinner tonight. It was a beautiful day and beautiful restaurant. Something that I have not experienced before was the lady in pic above who brought the cart to table and made the salsa for chips right there. Food was excellent and company was awesome. It has been wonderful to spend some time here and Karen bought her and Dorian a Scrabble game tonight. We did not play scrabble any while we were here. We did play dominoes one night. We also went to a large mall with a store similar to Super Walmart. They had everything there and lots of American stuff. All that is left is packing and saying our goodbyes. Pray that we have a safe return and Dorian and Karen don't cry all week with us leaving. Dorian is a doll and always treats me with the greatest respect and courtesy. (He even told me today that I was not fat). So he is a little dishonest, he is still a really awesome guy. It is good to see them mature in marriage and in God.

Thursday

Today was an interesting day, one that tested my domestic abilities. We started out by going to Delma's house. Delma lives close to Casa and makes tortillas for Casa and she was willing to show us how she makes them. She buys huge bags (50 lbs.) of corn and takes the corn to another residence that has an electric grinder that grinds the corn kernals. She then takes the ground corn meal and mixes it with lime. No not lime juice, but lime as in put on your garden. It should be noted that only a few teaspoons are added to a huge amount of cornmeal.

Then it is kneaded until it is soft (by adding water a little at a time). Then a small amount of this is placed on a press and made into a perfect tortilla. that was then placed on a wood adobe stove heated by wood fire. Well I was trying to learn how to make them but it did not go well. I was able to "kneed" it but I could not get the hang of pressing them. They were either very big, very little, too thin or too thick. No matter how many times I tried, I could not get it right. But to make me feel better, Delma allowed one of mine to make it to the stove. I advised her that she should charge extra for that one because a gringo made it. She showed her business saviness by instantly telling Karen that she would sell the one I made to Karen for extra money. So I sorta failed at the tortilla making.

Karen has a recipie for French Onion Soup that she wanted fixed for supper as she and Dorian discovered that they like it. Well I don't even like French Onion Soup, but today I made it from scratch and guess what? They liked it!!! Go figure. So today was not a total loss.

Wednesday

Today was a quiet day and I did not do much. Karen sent one of the children to get me a little before lunch. Doris was inconsolably sobbing and kept repeating "Mami". She cried tears and moaned and was clearly in turmoil. For a while Doris let me rock her and hold her tight. I hugged her and kissed her and told her that Jesus loved her. Then she got to a point where she did not want to be touched by anyone and continued to sob. She would sporadically get up and start to play and then dissolve into moaning again. It appeared that she was having some sort of flashback maybe to times where she was abused. It was so sad to see her in such agony. She eventually calmed down but it was a long process. I was so frustrated while trying to calm Doris. She is almost impossible to communicate with and could not tell us what she was feeling.
I was struck by how God must feel when we are wailing and we fail to communicate. How many times have I been in pain and expected God to fix it and but failed to ask him or tell him what is wrong? How many times does he hold us until we get angry and lash out at Him? I got frustrated with Doris today and my inability to soothe her. Wow, I am glad that my heavenly Father has infinite patience and all knowing ability to what I need. So when I have a melt down I am blessed with a father that knows what I need even when I don't. God is good!
Went with Karen to exchange two propane cyclinders this afternoon. First, we stopped at a leather shop in ojojona to see if she could get some of the boy's school belts repaired, as they cost $5.00 new and she had 4 in need of repair. The leather shop sent us into the shop where they were actually making leather items. He fixed the belts for a little more than $1.00. He also told Karen that he could make new ones out of better leather for $4.oo each when she needs new ones. It was very interesting to watch them cut, stamp, sew and glue leather. I did think it a little odd to watch one person stamping leather with "El Salvador". Little will the person know that the souvenier from El Salvador was made in a little village in Honduras.
Next we stopped at the pulperia (store) to exchange the propane tanks. I sat in the car and waited. Nothing happens quickly in Honduras so exchaning two tanks and buying phone cards took forever........By the time we were headed back to Casa it was starting to sprinkle. Just enough to make a mess of the windshield but not enough to wipe it clear. We returned to Casa and the wind had picked up even more and it was getting colder. Karen fixed supper; a recipie from her wedding recipie book. Oh another delicacy was that we bought some red raspberries last week at market. What was left the ladies in the kitchen here, made juice from them and had added some lemon juice, sugar, and who knows what else. It was awesome. I really think I am gaining weight here, not what I wanted. Well I am off to bed......

Tuesday

Today was another beautiful day. I got to watch the children today for an hour that seemed like six days.........they were actually pretty good, with one or two exceptions. But just the responsibility of knowing that I was responsible for them, was enough. And I only had 11 not the full 13. Well just keeping an eye on them seemed hard to me. I love these children and love to hug on them and see them smile but I am definitely wanting to be grandma to them not momma. I am sure that I would starve if I had to watch children for a living. I will post a few pics of the children here at Casa.

Pics from Monday

Monday

Today was tiring. About ten of us built a house for a family here in Santa Ana. Right now the house they have has a great grandma, grandma, her three children and two grandchildren. the mother of two children and her sister will move to this new house. I pounded in more nails today than I have in probably a lifetime. I hurt now but I consider it a privilege to have had the opportunity to help. There were five of us ladies and we put up siding on three sides and laid the floor. The home is approximately 16 X 16 and since there is no electricity on building sites a chain saw is used for any cuts. In fact the door and one window is cut out using chain saw. The family was so excited that they could hardly wait for us to leave to start sweeping it out. Well I only hit my thumb once but once was enough. I have body parts sore that I did not know existed. But it is a good tired.
The really hard part of the day came after supper tonight. Dorian is going back to college and he was having trouble with a college algebra problem. Well any of you who know me know that I went into social services because I can't do math. Well this problem is a word problem, written in Spanish. I managed to write out the problem, believe it or not with x's and y's but that was as far as I could get. So I got on line and found Lisa on. She was able to get the answer (after me finally writing the problem to her in Spanish) She was a little upset that I explained it three different ways three different times and wanted the problem to dicipher herself. I was still feeling pretty smart for being able to look at a word problem in Spanish and being able to write the equation and then Lisa asked what chapter Dorian was in. Well I thought she had totally lost it. But then she wanted to know if he was in a chapter with quadratic equations? Ok not feeling quite so smart now. Anyways Lisa solved it and emailed it to Dorian.....I used parts of my brain that I have never used in years......so maybe this little exercise warded off the Alzheimers a little longer........I will post pics of today in a little while. I need to go put some water on my brain..........it is smoking...........

Sunday

I will let my pictures speak for me today


This was right before the hammock broke with me and two girls on it!


Karen and Dorian this am.
Fitto and Dorian this afternoon