Saturday, Day 9

What a day! The kids slept in a little. I woke to the sound of vacumning at 8a I found myself wondering which Honduran lady had lost her mind and started cleaning so early! It was just Joyce. You see after a while you can't take it anymore....Not that the apartment is dirty, it just doesn't meet the same standards and eventually it gets you. We went over to the kids side and they got up to find presents under the Christmas tree from Joyce. Yes the tree was put up yesterday and that is not uncommon here. They ate quickly and were very joyful of all that they received. In fact they wondered why the stockings were not filled. Karen explained that this was not their Christmas yet just some gifts from Grandma Joyce. Daisy was here and fixed breakfast of cornflakes with hot milk. I passed on it. In fact my stomach has not done so well today...sorta gurling and begging for chocolate. Oh and Katty is having problems with wetting the bed and last night she wet her bed, got up changed clothes then got in Monica's bed, wet it and then got up and changed her clothes again and got in Pamela's bed, which yep, she wet also but morning came before she wet in any more beds. Watched children outside some and I sat in hammock and several children took turns sitting with me. Antonio sat with me awhile and then stood and passed a frisbee back and forth to me. When I missed he would giggle and this was the first time that Antonio was totally himself with me. He giggled belly giggles and I will post a pic if I can. I passed on lunch my stomach was still a little strange feeling. I came and lay down a little but then fixed a baked potato in microwave. It tasted alright but still didn't feel too good on stomach. The kids played outside most of day. Then five oclock came and it was shower time. I am starting to get the hang of showering the nine boys. The older ones are so modest, wrapping the towel around their waist going to the shower, but after the shower, they don't seem to care and even enjoy strutting naked. They are so funny. Antonio has only cried for me one night in the shower so I consider that a small miracle. Cindy was giving Karen a rough time today so I took over as Cindy wears you out totally. She eventually wears out and gives up. For supper we had scrambled eggs, beans and fried bologna. I opted for a small plate of eggs only. Stomach is feeling somewhat better. Then the fun began.. it was Mario's turn to wash dishes and he was not doing it well. In fact he was throwing the dishes and wouldn't wash them. Karen took him to put in el corral and he threw a fit. He and Cindy can really act out and become violent towards the disciplinarian. Well once again, because I know I can go home soon, I decided to sit with Mario he relented and agreed to go limpiar the cocina so off we went for around 1.5 minutes until he threw the clean forks on the floor not once but twice. So off we went again to sit on floor. He tried his raspy voice and yelled loud enough for anyone in Santa Ana to hear that I was hitting him. Eventually he calmed down and asked if he could go clean. Once again we got up and it was requested that he hang up some coats in the hallway that had fallen down. (the kitchen was clean by then) Then he was asked to straighten out the shoes in cubbys and he refused so it was back to the floor for the two of us. I told him that there were no more chances, it was either floor or to his bed. His two older brothers came to us at different times imploring him to be good. Mario told Yovanni that I had hit him and Yovanni just shook his head no. Marvin told me that he would tell their mother that Mario was bad for me. Eventually Mario asked to go to bed. If you know Mario, you know this does not happen often. So he went to bed and lay down while I sat beside him. Well at one point Antonio came in and needed assistance to use bathroom so I went with him and sure enough when I came back Mario was up. And I had told Mario before I left that if he got up, it was back to the hall floor for him and me. Yep so there we were for another ten minutes before he begged to be let lay in his bed. As I sat beside him I could not help but wonder how he could be so stubborn so as to not listen and not do the thing that he knows will cause consequences that he does not want. And then it hit me....how many times do I do that and how many times has my heavenly father sat there shaking his head wondering when I will get it?
After the children were in bed, we played cards. Dorian taught us a game and then we played rummy and yep I came in last but I think Karen cheated. Dorian did not want to play rummy as it is hard for him to remember, he says as he beats all of us......It is now almost midnight and Karen beat me to bed so I will close by saying buenas noches.
And please pray for us that we will have the the strength we need not to board a plane tommorrow when we are in Teguc. A previous team sent money for the children all a brand new pair of shoes so the plan is for after church to go to Teguc and eat out and get shoes for each. I have offered to stay home and clean house but it is doubtful that they will let me. Good nite...