Life Under a Mango Tree

Adios, La Ceiba!

2009-08-18T17:03:00.001-07:00

My final days in La Ceiba were spent buying souvenirs, saying goodbyes, and relishing precious quality time with the McCanns. Wednesday night was a huge soccer game between Honduras and Costa Rica. The entire McCann clan and I got decked out in our blue and white Honduras jerseys (even Ellie, a Costa Rican citizen) to watch the game and enjoy a homemade pizza dinner. Our spirit clearly enabled the Honduran 4-0 victory.

Afterwards, Lindsey and I decided to satisfy our curiosity about a certain La Ceiba post-game tradition. After any semi-significant soccer victory for Honduras, residents drive to the main drag downtown to experience "the caravan." From motocycles, truck beds, bar balconies, and sidewalks, fans cheer, wave blue and white Honduran flags, honk, and throw water at one another. The caravan was so loud that we couldn't even hear our own car horn! Lindsey and I (two white chicks in a 13-passenger van) probably stood out a little, but we didn't care. We were too busy chanting, "Hon-du-RAS! Hon-du-RAS!" to notice. We returned home pumped with adrenaline and very proud to be living in Honduras (even if only for another 24 hours).

The next morning we piled my bags (exactly the max weight limit) into the car and headed into Armenia one last time (for a while, anyway). Lindsey and I had made a big batch of snickerdoodle cookies the night before and were excited to pass them out to a few of my favorite friends. It's really amazing how many children will come running once they see the big blue van pull in, and so we didn't have to look far to visit with Vilma, Jorge, Walter, Marcos and Hacey's family, Estela and Gabby's family, and Yami. I didn't anticipate I'd have such a hard time saying goodbye. After all, these people had been complete strangers to me just a month before. When Yami told me she loved me very much and I'd always be close to her heart it nearly brought me to tears. I was also incredibly touched by Vilma, who held me close and couldn't stop crying. She told me that the gringos were her only friends and so when we leave, she has none (wow).

Our final visit was with Estela and Gabby's family. I know it's cruel to have favorites, but with Estela, it was kind of impossible not to. Just like always, we pulled up in the van and she ran to me and jumped into my arms --now THAT'S a celebrity greeting! No sooner had I handed her the bag of cookies was she ripping it open and stuffing one in her mouth. She was eager to show off her dog's newborn puppies, picking them up by the front legs and spinning them around. Before I knew it, she bolted into the house, yelling, "tenemos un gato tambien!" (we have a cat too!) As soon as she stepped out on the porch again, the poor feline went flying out of her arms and onto the ground for us to admire. As we turned to leave, I gave that sweet seven-year-old one last hug and told her for the thousandth time how pretty her long hair was. At this, she raced off to the washing basin and completely immersed herself in water to show me how long her hair REALLY was. She's sassy and I like it. The only peace I felt in saying goodbye to Yami and the kids was convincing myself that I'll be back again someday.

My street...not a bad view, huh?

My house

Where the chaos ensued each day.

What a blessing my time in La Ceiba has been, and how much I’ve learned! This past month, living under the mango tree in the McCann’s backyard, I’ve learned to say, “Taking care of children is not always pretty, but it’s real.” Parenting demands unnatural amounts of patience, cheerios, and fresh clothes, but the payoff is a lifetime of free entertainment! I’m going to miss the simplicity of life in Honduras, where frizzy hair, grubby clothes, and no make-up reign and where most problems can be solved with a pacifier and cheerios. I’ve loved every minute of my time in La Ceiba and, Lord willing, I’ll be back again. In preparing for my trip several months ago, I had a plenty of misgivings about living in a foreign country, not being able to raise enough support, and the political unrest in Honduras, but God continued to provide and made it extremely clear that I needed to go. I experienced first hand that authentic joy comes only from the Lord, and I’ve never felt so blessed.

Readjusting to home life has had it's ups and downs. I now freeze in my own home and often have trouble falling asleep because it's too quiet here...no dropping mangos, neighbors with chronic sneezing problems, crazy birds, or loud AC box next to my head at night; I can actually sit on my skirt in church now...I used to lift it up and drape it over the back of my chair in Armenia services so I wouldn't sweat through! (gross, I know, but it's true life); and it seems my sand fly bites have resurfaced and are itchier than ever!! The delicious steak dinner (God bless you, mom) and seeing family and friends once again made being home well worth it! So goes the transition from Honduras, to the States, to JMU tomorrow! Until the next adventure...

Snorkeling in Cayos Cochinos

2009-08-09T16:33:00.000-07:00

The McCanns are so good to me! On Saturday, Lindsey and I enjoyed a day off snorkeling with the team. Our adventure began at 7am at the Pettengill's, where a tour guide van picked us up. Thirty minutes later, we were boarding small motor boats led by the Garifuna people (black natives who live on the islands). After a very bumpy 50-minute boat ride, we arrived at our first island for an informational video. While this 6-minute video was not so helpful and pretty unnecessary, I did learn that turtles who migrate each year to Cayos Cochinos mate 24 hours a day for 3 months...AND that 95% of the males die in the process (the females survive because they can eat at the same time). After the guide made sure that all of us had "made snorkeling" before, we boarded the boats once again and made our way to the premium snorkeling destination. On the way, we passed starfish, crab, and volcanic rock.

On the boat, headed for Cayos!

El Arbol Solitario (the lonely tree)

Snorkeling was amazing. The clear, turquoise blue water, made it easy to see various schools of colorful fish and coral reef. Once I got the hang of breathing normally and stopped choking on saltwater, I recalled the brutal oceanography course I took fall semester. This was the first time I found this class to be remotely useful (and probably the last time too).

All decked out and lookin' goooood

Lindsey and I

After about an hour of snorkeling bliss, we hopped in the boats to check out another island. Surrounded by volcanos, huts with thatched roofs, crystal clear ocean, and white sand, we enjoyed jumping off the pier, wading in lukewarm water, lying on the beach, getting heat rash and eaten alive by sand flies. The entire time, Lindsey and I couldn't stop saying, "Can you believe we're here right now!?" Everything looked so fake, like I was trapped inside a postcard or a Corona commercial.

Just another day in Paradise

Phew, being a nanny is tough!

Next stop was lunch. We boarded our motor boats once again and headed to another small island. We stopped at the only local restaurant and ordered their specialty: a plate of fried fish, rice and beans, and fried plantains. In preparing the fish, I imagine they did little else than season it with salt and throw it on the skillet because that's exactly the way it was served: eyes, head, teeth, and tail all still intact. I felt right at home since I'd had nearly four months practice with the same kind of seafood-prep in Spain. Besides, it's amazing what one will eat if it's fried. For me, the only downside of the meal was the woman openly nursing her 3-year-old just a few feet away. I guess this is normal here too.

Delicious lunch!

Mike, Lindsey, and I

From here, we got in the boats for the last time and headed back to the mainland. In the entire one and a half of traveling, I'm not sure that more than three words were spoken between the team as a whole. Everyone was beyond exhausted from a fun-filled day in the sun.

As usual, team dinner was at 5 at the Pettengill's. Afterwards, everyone came over to the McCann's for dessert of chocolate cream cheese cookies and coconut cookies. Yum! Lindsey and I found ourselves in bed soon after the girls...around 8:30. Yikes, I'm old.

I woke up Sunday with stomach pains and a fever. Lindsey was very accommodating and let me sleep most of the day. What a useless nanny! Thankfully, I've felt a lot more like myself today. I'm praying that I continue to get better and am able to be a blessing to the McCanns during my last few days here.

Vamos al Rio!

2009-08-05T21:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my sweet, surrogate family gave me the day off. Erin Pettengill picked me up and we headed into Armenia for a team lunch of baleatas at Teresa's house. Teresa lives next door to the house Sovereign Grace Church built a few weeks ago and cooks lunch once a week for the teams. It's pretty incredible how much this woman can do in her makeshift outdoor "kitchen" (below). Some of the girls and I tried helping Teresa make tortillas. I say "tried" because in the time it took me to make just one small, deformed tortilla, Teresa made 5 or 6 large, perfect ones. She enjoyed a good laugh over our stupid gringo attempts. I am more humbled here everyday.

Teresa's kitchen

While Teresa worked, her baby slept...in a hammock on the front porch. I risked being viewed as a huge stalker because I had to get a picture. I'm pretty sure you'd get arrested for this in the States.

Waiting around for lunch

We also had fun playing with Oso's new puppies! Oso ("bear" in Spanish) is the family dog and just had 7 little ones a little over a week ago. They enjoyed a big bowl of rice and beans (apparently, even the dogs keep up with Honduran culture) and a long nap under the pick-up truck.

I guess the rice and beans were a hit!

After lunch, we piled in two truck loads of children and headed to the river to swim at a spot called "tres piedras" (3 rocks). Once again, I was blown away by my picturesque surroundings, which give beauty to even impoverished Armenia. As I spent a fabulous afternoon jumping into the river off the rocks, swimming in pouring rain with some of my favorite little Honduran friends, and soaking in the misty green mountains behind me, I had yet another "this is my life" moments. I did, however, feel pretty pathetic as I watched six-year-olds effortlessly shimmy up the tallest slippery rocks with hardly any footing to do back flips. Where were these kids' parents!? ;) Equally amazing was the 8-year-old girl who had brought her 1-year-old sister to the river to play. The way she held the baby and watched over her made it pretty apparent that this definitely wasn't a first time occurrence either.

Walter and I, riverbound in the bed of the truck

A pretty typical scene in Armenia Bonito

Oneida, Wilma, and I taking a little break from swimming (I'm the pasty white one on the right)

Wilma

No bigs.

After a fabulous day off from nannying, I headed home to enjoy a delicious jambalaya dinner (sausage, red beans, green peppers, and rice) and later, a team meeting over chocolate chip oatmeal cookies with the Pettengill's.

Today, I spent the earlier portion of the morning with the girls while Sean and Lindsey rode out to Armenia. After Ellie's morning nap, the McCann girls and I made our way into downtown La Ceiba to run some errands and take advantage of our favorite lunch special at Pizza Hut :) I marveled at all street vendors selling exactly the same things (probably not the wisest business plan), the chaos in crossing the street with two small children (where the pedestrians definitely do NOT have the right-of-way), nauseating open-air meat markets, and the fact that, to Honduran women, bras seem entirely optional. And of course, it's nearly impossible to go anywhere without countless nationals smiling, commenting, and poking at Ellie's fat white skin. Downtown La Ceiba was indeed a cultural experience :)

Back home for naps, we plan on heading downtown once again for team dinner at Masapan later this evening.

One week from today I'll be home. I feel like I've only just begun to get familiar with La Ceiba and be able to answer team member's questions. I've only just begun to establish relationships with the kids in Armenia, and I already have to go! As I think back to all the preparation it took to get me here, I can't believe I'll be turning around to leave again so soon. Please pray that I take full advantage of my final days here!

2009-08-03T20:44:00.000-07:00

Weekdays when teams are here mean waking up extra early...for everyone. Each morning, Sean leaves at 7 am to transport the team to Armenia, so I typically find myself awake and in the house around 7 too. Yesterday, we spent the morning picking up smelly, rotten, fly-infested mangos in the mango graveyard (Lindsey and Sean are REALLY ready for mango season to be over!), "playing church" led by pastor Lucy (aka "praying" in gibberish Spanish, opening our "Bibles" and chanting). Some might call this sacrilegious, but Lindsey likes to think she's just being raised a Honduran Pentecostal. And of course a morning wouldn't be complete without "walking" the sleeping babies all over the house.

"Cheese sam-mich" for Lucy's lunch and naps like clockwork (although, now that Ellie is teething, her sleeping patterns are more like a normal baby's instead of her previously narcoleptic self).

Another Monday Kid's Club, but this time it was led by the Sacramento team. This proved a huge blessing for Sean since it allowed him to stay home and rest to get over his stomach bug. Lindsey and I were also blessed by a far less stressful team dinner and bedtime this evening (except for when Lucy decided to give my chest a goodnight kiss instead of my face). Finding ourselves far too exhausted for a game of nerts, Sean, Lindsey, and I wrapped up the childless portion of the evening with Rummy Cube.

Armenia Bonito

Can you tell a small child took this picture?

Walter, always looking guapo

Making necklaces

A "captive" audience

Team during their presentation at Kid's Club

(sweet Oneida is to the left of me...mentioned in July 27th post)

Making new friends

A few of Ellie's biggest fans

Another day without the "McVan" found us walking to the mall to run some errands, eat lunch, and enjoy a few hours of air-conditioned bliss. With naps out of the way, we'll spend the afternoon enjoying the girls' new pool and baking cookies. Later, we'll meet up with the team for tacos and kebabs at a restaurant by the beach. Me parece bien (sounds good to me)!

2009-08-02T20:40:00.000-07:00

Nothing like starting off the morning a little child molestation awareness seminar, eh? Using the "Darkness to Light" guide, Mike led the adults through a very graphic, yet powerful two-hour set of video and discussion time to raise awareness of this epidemic.

The somber mood soon dissipated, however, over a big team lunch of baleatas, watermelon, and salty-sweet fried plantains. After naptime at home, the entire fam returned to the Pettengill's for gringo church and team dinner. Meals with the McCann girls are always an adventure. Lucy will ask for "lots o' drinks," which means 3 sippy cups: 1 with apple juice, 1 with milk, and 1 with lemonade zucco. Ellie needs at least 3 edible options placed in front of her, sippy cup, and sometimes even a toy, to ensure eating success. Half of her food typically ends up on the floor or on your own clothing, while the other half may make it in her mouth or smothered over her face and collar. Juggling the feeding of these 2 active eaters, while trying to eat your own meal isn't a task for the faint-hearted. You've got to plan ahead, move quickly and decisively, and position yourself near plenty of napkins. Many times, it's almost as if Lindsey and I experience shell shock syndrome post group dinners at the Pettengills. Did we even eat? I can't remember what anything tasted like.

The chaotic dinner was followed by an equally chaotic bedtime for the girls. Both exhausted and fussy, Lucy and Ellie spent much of the bedtime ritual crying. As Lindsey started the water for baths, nothing more than a few drops came out of the shower head. Lindsey rushed to heat up two big pots of water on the stove and I worked on entertaining the very upset babes. As I held naked Ellie, waiting to plop her in the tub, I was suddenly overcome with a warm, wet sensation trickling down my torso. If the baby food mush, smeared bananas, chocolate cake crumbs, dog hair, and sweat hadn't already destroyed the day's outfit, Ellie peeing on me certainly was the icing on the cake. After cleaning up her thoughtful mess, Ellie uncharacteristically screamed throughout the entire bath because the water temperature wasn't right and Lucy refused to get in altogether. Midway through Ellie's washing, Lindsey discovered that Lucy had blessed us with an accident of her own...in her bed. Stripping the sheets, reprimanding Lucy, transferring boiling water from the stove to the bathroom (and dumping sink water in to cool it down), getting Ellie out of the tub and into pajamas, nursing Ellie, and changing out of my urine-infested clothing created what may have been one of the more hectic 20-minute periods of my life. With one kid finally down to bed, I raced out the door to be picked up for church in Armenia. All Lindsey and I could do was laugh as I wished her the best of luck with cranky child number 2.

Last night, Sean and I joined the team for a church service in Armenia Bonito, different than the one we had visited with the previous group. I saw several familiar faces there, including Walter, Yami and her adorable 3-year-old Carlos. A few other children I'd never met before felt bold enough to run up to me and poke me in the sides, saying the one English word they knew, "Hi!" After the first song, I felt like my hands were on fire, having just completed clapping along to the longest song known to man. Everyone in the congregation was extremely animated as they clapped, belted out praise songs in harmonized voices, danced in the aisles, and pounded on tambourines. I now felt much more comfortable in my environment than I had last time. I only wished I knew the words so I could sing along. Pastor Andrews (from the Pettengill's church in Sacramento) gave the sermon and Ivan (a Honduran University student studying English and good friend of the Pettengills, translated). Walking outside after the service was like a punch in the face. Who knew that the Honduran outdoors could ever feel less suffocatingly stuffy than sitting under fans indoors?

This morning post ends as I'm summoned to sit outside with Queen Lucy and her "honey bunches o' boats" in the mango graveyard.

And just for fun, a picture of some sweet sisters in high spirits:

2009-08-01T12:29:00.000-07:00

The last couple of days before the team arrived involved anything we could do with our precious and unlimited car access. This meant trips to the incredible "church park" downtown for some slides and popsicles, blissful air-conditioned grocery store runs, and even Wendy's one afternoon for frosties, the play place, and of course, some powerful AC.

enjoying a little swingin' action with chunk-a-dunk at the park

To Lucy, getting drenched in green sticky slime is a very small price to pay...all for the love of popsicles.

Last night, Josh brought me along to celebrate his final evening in Honduras at the infamous Expats. Gerson and Michelle joined us once again, along with two other friends I'd never met before. Josh, the last of this year's MTW interns, left for the states around lunch time today and we're all sad to see him go (especially Ellie, who doesn't even know life without him).

All of us at Expats

Ellie had her 9-month "birthday" yesterday :) And since Lucy seems to often steal the show with all her quirky mannerisms, Ellie deserves an a little shoutout.

This baby MOVES! A professional army crawler and johnny-jumper, Nancy Elliot (aka Ellie) discovers the world around her through patting, scratching, and sucking anything she can get her hands on. She's getting into even more trouble these days as she's beginning to pull herself up to standing position. Those rolly-polly legs are ALWAYS moving. Ellie loves anything that's NOT actually a real toy (i.e. car keys, cell phones, tupperware, books, dvds, anything Lucy has at the moment, remote controls, shoes, plastic cups, and any hollow object that allows her to showcase her newly discovered voice.) When she's not sleeping, this baby can be found rearranging the ziplock bags and plastic plates in the kitchen, maintaining her perpetually sweaty head, discovering old cheerios on the floor and indulging herself, sucking on her crack pacifier, or pretending to be fussy so she'll be fed.

One of my favorite parts of the day is giving Ellie her evening bath. We call her "buddha baby" because of her incredible potbelly and overall nakedness. It's really amazing all that can be found in between her rolls of fat and underneath her chin, where a neck should be. Second only to eating, Ellie's happiest moments are in the bathtub (and that's saying a lot).

A new team from the Pettengill's church in Sacramento, California arrived yesterday safe and sound (and on a MUCH earlier flight, but everyone adjusted without any major issues). Already, the dynamic of this team of eleven compared to the previous team of fifteen is very distinct. Walking into the pancake breakfast at the Pettengill's this morning, I fully expected the same noise level and crowdedness I had experienced with the last team from Sovereign Grace Church in Charlotte. I waited for the chaos and it never came. They all seem really kind and gracious...just, quieter. This, their smaller number, and the fact that they're all good family friends of the Pettengills will surely make their nearly two week visit manageable and less stressful for everyone.

Concluding the evening by baking a chocolate cake for the team, Lindsey and I became concerned about our own personal lack of dessert. This has become something of an unofficial tradition in this household since my arrival. Between all the baking and hosting events of various kinds, I cannot remember an evening here without dessert. Tonight, however, we baked Brownie Pudding Cake and suffered our first cooking defeat. Even more embarrassing than our disgusting mushy mess was that it had been specially labeled as "easy" in the cookbook. Disheartened and still craving sugar, Lindsey and I should have stopped while we were ahead. We should have stopped with shrimp and grits.

2009-07-29T22:22:00.000-07:00

Lu playing with one of her favorite friends, "Mr. Mike"

Ponderosa

2009-07-29T22:18:00.000-07:00

My arm workout these days

Lucy lookin' fly with her pink shades and zebra floaty

cute one of mama and Ellie

"Diamonds in the Sky with Lucy!"

2009-07-29T20:16:00.000-07:00

Summertime in La Ceiba and the livin' is easy (at least until Friday when the next team arrives). The last couple days have been filled with endless swinging in Lucy's new red swing in the backyard, painting our nails with "prosh" (nail polish), smelly rotten mangos, an air-conditioned lunch at KFC (undoubtedly, the most physically comfortable 45 minutes of my day), obscene quantities of Zucco lemonade and Cheerios, relentless bug bites, "sess-me street", and profuse sweating.

Last night, Lindsey and I made a special meal for Josh in honor of his last week in Honduras. Lindsey, Sean, and I thought it only appropriate to christen the Bostonian with his first ever shrimp and grits dinner (complete with sausage, bacon, seasonings, and plenty of cheese and butter). I'm proud to say he thoroughly enjoyed the Southern cultural experience. I've truly loved all the opportunities I've gotten to help Lindsey in the kitchen and now have several new recipes to bring home. The evening was concluded with cheesecake and several more raucous rounds of nerts. I no longer believe myself to be good at card games.

Today, the McCann girls and I decided to temporarily escape the heat by spending our morning at a nearby hotel pool. By purchasing an inexpensive lunch, we got to swim free! As it approached lunchtime, Lindsey gave me the task of ordering inside. As I proceeded to open the door, however, I was greeted by nearly 20 Honduran men using computers and 20 pairs of eyes staring at me. Trying to ignore the smiles and the snickers, I made my way to the back of the room, looking for a menu. It didn't take long before one of them directed me to the front desk and restaurant next door. I feel like I should probably have been embarrassed by this experience, but I've become far too comfortable with my role as the "stupid foreigner" to really be fazed anymore.

We all left the pool feeling full, sleepy, and sunburned (perfect recipe for a beautiful naptime). Awake once again, the girls and I enjoyed a walk around the neighborhood in pursuit of some homemade popsicles. We slurped on rapidly melting coconut and strawberry "vasitos" (literal translation is "little cups" because of the molds in which they were made), each for only about 30 cents. Returning home to change wet clothes and wash sticky hands, we prepared for our next excursion: Josh's goodbye dinner at Ponderosa steakhouse with the entire team. Two chips-and-dip appetizers, two huge plates of chicken, pork, and beef filets, two heaping dishes of sweet fried plantains, and two doggie bags later, we made our way back to the McCann's house to share sentimental Josh memories and Erin's homemade cheesecake.

And so I end another day in Honduras exactly the way I start it, with a cold shower and bug spray.

2009-07-27T19:01:00.000-07:00

Pre-water fight

Estela and I :)

2009-07-27T08:16:00.000-07:00

Making smoothies at the McCann's is an extra special experience, given that the main ingredient (mango) can be found right in the backyard. Lucy is a true fan and is always thrilled about starting the day with some "smoovies." I am too :)

Yesterday morning, after our smoovies, we met up with Josh and the Pettengills and made the short trek to a nearby church (the least Pentecostal in the area). About midway through the service, the pastor asked the row of gringos to come up in front so he could pray for us (what, did we stand out or something?) Once again, we were warmly greeted by everyone. The extra tambourines offered for any desirous members of the congregation was a nice touch too. On our way out, we picked up some homemade Honduran lasagna to take home for lunch--I love this church!

After the McCann's daily siesta and the embarrassing Mexico/USA soccer game on TV, we all headed over to the Pettengill's for "gringo church," a small time of worship with the team. Back home, it was dinner, baths, and bed for the girls. Josh came over and spent the evening with Lindsey, Sean, and I playing a vicious game of nerts (a card game much like dutch blitz, so obviously, I was hooked). I immediately felt right at home with this group of gamers as they all appeared at least as competitive as I am (even sweet, soft spoken Lindsey;) )

Another Monday and another "Klid's Club" (Lucy lingo). As always, we left the house with only the bare necessities for Ellie and Lucy's daily lives: pacifiers (aka crack cocaine), toys, extra diaper, new outfit, wipes, juice box, water, and about 300 snacks. For Lucy, real meals are just overrated. She thrives on snacks and treats, namely cheese and jellybeans. Klid's Club today began with a water activity, which rapidly transformed into a full-on aquatic battle. This week, I enjoyed a mini-celebrity greeting by some of my favorite Armenia girls: Estela, Blanca, Gabby, and Oneida. Estela is the youngest sister to Blanca and Gabby, and each day is newly fascinated by all my freckles and piercings. Oneida is nearly mute and her story is a sad one. Having undergone a lot of abuse and at such a young age, it breaks my heart to see how clearly excluded she is by the other kids. Apparently, her nonverbal communication toward the gringos, however, shows major improvement. It's pretty amazing how quick the children are to grab your hand and pull you into a game, or to jump into your arms and give you a big wet kiss on the cheek. They're so hungry for attention and approval, for someone to tell them they drew a GREAT picture.

I thought I'd close this blog with a little update about the political situation here in Honduras given the various inquiries I've received about it all. I live in La Ceiba, which is a good 6 hours from the capital, Tegucigalpa, and have in no way felt endangered or stuck at any time. There have been a few teacher strikes since I've been here that have served more as inconveniences in blocking traffic than anything else. Zelaya has attempted to enter the country three times now and has been successful once...barely. For a number of reasons, it seems this is just one big publicity stunt on his part. He has very few supporters here and seems to lack any kind of plan after he reaches the border. Likely, the political unrest will remain at a stalemate until the new elections in November. Unfortunately, the USA media has really blown the entire issue out of proportion. If anything threatening were to happen, we'd be evacuated via helicopter within thirty minutes. Not bad! If you'd like to read a more detailed account of the current and previous political situation in Honduras, take a look at Sean's blog:

http://mccannsinhonduras.wordpress.com/

2009-07-25T22:21:00.000-07:00

Ready for her close-up

Lu in her special bathtub (just a head, hands, and some bubbles)

No big deal, just a herd of cows crossing through traffic

2009-07-25T22:18:00.000-07:00

Josh, Sean, and I

Everyone in the swimming hole

Mama and her babies

Walking to the river

river-swimming, thunderstorms, and too much dessert

2009-07-25T21:34:00.000-07:00

This day's events began after a pancake breakfast and Ellie's 1st nap of the day (around 10:30) when Josh, the McCanns, and I headed out to a swimming hole at the river nearby. Quickly ignoring the bottles on the bottom and the freezing water, I felt like I was swimming in the middle of a beautiful, tropical jungle. We spent the morning jumping off rocks, playing with floaties, and getting butt bites by mysterious river critters. Soon after our arrival, we were joined by a group of Honduran kids celebrating a birthday (apparently, breaking an egg over the birthday person's head is customary here). I had no reason to feel at all threatened by their presence until one of the boys decided to take my picture, without shame and without permission. No doubt the Spanish motherland passed down this kind of behavior to her colonies as this was all too familiar from last semester.

On the way home we stopped for lunch at Wendy's, leaving only after Lucy had succeeded in riding the play place slide a solid 10 times. Naps all around at the McCann residence were only enhanced by one of the loudest thunderstorms I've ever experienced (although, the tin roof might have something to do with it).

Tonight, Lindsey and I enjoyed a girls' movie night in, while Mike, Josh, and Sean took some of the Armenia boys out to dinner and a soccer game. As we lounged and enjoyed our big bowls of vanilla ice cream (complete with hard chocolate shell and reeses chips), I marveled at how quickly and effortlessly I've readapted to life abroad. Something about these extended travels cause me to drop all exercise and diet plans and become lazy and gluttonous instead. Once again, I'm thankful for the reality check and am learning a lot. I've gained new freedom by serving others instead of solely being preoccupied with trying to control everything in my own life. This passage from Philippians 2 is a great reminder:

"⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
⁶Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
⁷but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
⁸And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross!"

All I know is that I'm going to have a very tough time readjusting to JMU again after my 8-month long vacation.

2009-07-24T19:20:00.000-07:00

When 9:30 am rolled around and Lucy still wasn't up, we knew something was wrong. The poor girl was throwing up within her first waking moments. 3 towels, 2 doses of meds, and 5 outfits later, it was lunchtime. Lu finally settled down for a little Elmo entertainment, toast, and a long nap. Unbeknownst to the sleeping sickling, Ellie, Lindsey, and I headed off to a 1-year-old friend's birthday party at the beach (not bad considering she won't even remember it tomorrow!) A small group of family and friends gathered for swimming and carrot cake at a lovely resort next door to the one I'd visited last week with the team.

Even traffic here is fun, as Lindsey describes our drive as just a game of Mario Kart. We pulled back in to the McCann residence and were greeted by a sweet familiar voice that sounded as shrill and chipper as ever, "YOU'RE BACK!!!" We were back, and Lucy was back too :) Soon enough we were hanging out with Patito ("little duck") again at Kiki and Coocoo's house (new imaginary friends I had the honor of meeting today).

Tonight, Sean and Lindsey are out to dinner celebrating their fifth anniversary. Choosing a place in La Ceiba is easy when you eliminate fast food and rice-and-bean joints from the mix: very few options for fine dining remain. (Dad, this is not the city for you)!

This ends another wonderful day in the life of getting eaten alive by mosquitos, changing diapers, avoiding teacher strikes, being bossed around by a 2-year-old, and lugging a little fat human oven on my torso for hours on end. And I couldn't be happier.

2009-07-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

Lucy and her "stroller"

(these baby dolls sleep A LOT!)

2009-07-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

Ellie, always wanting whatever her big sister, Lucy, has.

(This depicts pool playtime #1 for the day...the 2nd time was sans clothes and bathing suits)

sweet Ellie Belly

Taking a "Chee-yos" break

Preparing to eat everything in her path

2009-07-22T22:25:00.000-07:00

VIDA!

2009-07-22T21:29:00.000-07:00

After a full morning of hanging out with Lolly and Toto (Lucy's top two imaginary friends), the McCann clan and I met up with some real friends for lunch: Pettengills, Josh, and the Clows (Kathy and John are potential MTW team members in Honduras). The nearly unanimous restaurant choice was one of the four local Pizza Huts in La Ceiba, where you can get a salad, personal size pizza, and drink for under $5. Back home for naps, we finished off the afternoon by helping Lindsey run errands and prep a delicious spaghetti dinner.

With the girls having been bathed and put to bed, Sean and I hailed a taxi down to the stadium where Josh, the Clows, and Mike joined us for the Vida/Olympia soccer game. Although Vida's no Real Madrid, I really enjoyed the game since I didn't get a chance to see one during my time in Spain. The stadium was filled with jumping men swinging T-shirts above their heads, whistling, cursing, throwing drinks, and in one case, a purple road flare emerged from the crowd, sending smoke and spectators in all directions. Sitting through almost an hour of a full-on thunderstorm only added to the excitement. Although Vida lost 2-1 in the second half, they'll have another chance at victory when they play Victoria (other La Ceiba team) on Saturday. Chiva!

2009-07-20T21:49:00.000-07:00

Monday means Kid's Club in Armenia. With a disappointing turn-out initially, Josh and I made the rounds in the truck, calling kids to come hang out with us (the desperation in our voices could have fooled one into thinking that we truly need a bunch of 7-year-old friends). Pulling out the jump ropes and soccer balls back at the field, however, brought the kids running from all corners of the neighborhood. Soon enough, I had little ones attacking me from all sides and little girls I'd never met grabbing me by the hands and begging me to play them in a game of marbles. One 14-year-old boy named Ariel even took it upon himself to find me a husband right then and there in Armenia. His two best options for me were a toothless 60-some-year-old man or himself. And that's when Josh and I had to break the news...that we were already happily married.

Today the Bible story was about Esther for which Josh hand-crafted a short skit where I debuted as the Queen herself. The skit, of course, wouldn't be complete without our Latino audience enjoying a few good laughs at the bunch of costumed gringos trying to speak their miserable Spanish. The craft involved a coloring sheet and GLITTER PAINT, which with one careless swipe on Josh's part soon became a full-on battle. I managed to leave relatively unaffected with only a blue arm, while Josh proudly sported his new tie-dye T.

Packing up and getting ready to make the trek back, Erin pulled out a surprise stash of clothes to give away. You'd think these second-hand items were made out of pure gold by the way the children swatted and begged for them. One small boy, with teeth rotted to the gums, was given a Mickey Mouse T-shirt, which I soon discovered was the first shirt he'd ever owned.

For the past several weeks, public school teachers have been on strike on account of Micheletti's refusal to recognize pay increases promised by Zelaya. As a result, children have been out of class for weeks (public schools here run from February to November). Many speculate that the public schools won't reopen until the initiation of the following school year. It's really a travesty how just a few people can impede on the rights and lives of so many more through jeopardizing the education of an entire generation. I'm already learning so much from getting glimpses into these small vignettes of the children's lives...a true perspective transformation.

As we headed home, sitting in the bed of a truck on a bumpy gravel road, passing aimless cows and chickens on either side, I had another one of those "this is my life" instances. Kind of like Northern VA, huh?

Back at the Pettengills, Mateo (family friend from Costa Rica) graced us with his presence while Erin and I prepped some fab falafel and hummus for dinner. Afterwards, Josh was determined to show me his favorite restaurant/bar in La Ceiba (Expatriados) and introduce me to a few friends. Meeting his Latino amigos made me miss my Spanish amigos and my own favorite bars in Spain. This having been said, I did enjoy the tiki-bar atmosphere and learning some new Honduran slang. My personal favorite phrase was "que pedo?" (their equivalent to "what's up?", but literally translates as "what fart?") HA! A little surprised to be leaving at 10pm, I had to remember myself--where I was, and on a Monday. I guess I'll never fully be able to shake that Spanish siesta-fiesta syndrome from my system ;)

2009-07-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

Beautiful mountains

Ben being victimized

Not bad, huh?

Canadian and Honduran flags

2009-07-17T21:39:00.000-07:00

"Cooling off" in the pool

Ghost town paradise

Clinic set-up

Construction site

Wrapping up a Fantastic First Week!

2009-07-17T18:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the day's activities began around 10 AM when we made our way into Armenia, first to check up on the construction site and then the Clinic. This is where Erin (our certified nurse practitioner), along with all our helping gringo hands simulate a mini doctor's office once a week and admit as many members of the community as possible. People came from all over and began lining up outside well before we opened. A patient can wait up to 5 hours before his/her number is called, and many times, they have to be sent home at the end of the day without even being seen. You don't see anyone complaining though, because a trip to the public hospital downtown could mean an entire day's wait. Maybe I'll have a little more patience next I spend just 30 minutes in the waiting room before seeing the doctor in the states.

Breaking for lunch, Lindsey, the girls, and I headed next door to Yami's for some delicious baleatas. Yami runs a very prominent truck-stop restaurant in her house and has become a dear friend of the McCanns. Not surprisingly, I love this woman too. She is an incredible cook, complimented my Spanish, and speaks slowly and clearly so that we can actually understand what she's saying. After eating enough to feed a small army (and only paying about $6 for all), we headed home for naps. Around this time of day, it's often a battle to keep Ellie awake in the car, so Lindsey has given Lucy a very important job: KEEP ELLIE AWAKE until we get home. Lucy doesn't take this job lightly either. At any flutter of the eyelids, any relaxation of the body whatsoever, Ellie gets her rude awakening, "ELLIEEEE STAAY AWAAAAAKE!!!!" all the way home. That screechy little voice may have kept everyone within the region awake, but there was no stopping Ellie. We had already lost her.

The team regrouped for dinner at Masapan, where we loaded our plates from a vast Honduran buffet. Rather than enjoying the food, however, Lucy preferred dancing to tacky 80's music videos on the television and Ellie was determined to suck the disgusting table. This made Lucy's infamous request for a snack on the ride home even less surprising than usual. After dinner, the adults headed back to the McCann's for fellowship and black bottom cupcakes.

This morning began with "playing chapstick." Playing chapstick involves a ziplock bag of Lucy's personal collection and the two of us sampling each of the 25 different flavors. This is followed by "making a rainbow" where we have to line up the tubes in order, which, like everything she does, has to be done just...the..right..way. The fact that Lucy has even concocted a game out of tubes of chapstick is proof enough of her ability to make anything hilarious and fun.

And just when you thought the chapstick fun couldn't be topped, it was (!) with a walk to the bank to exchange cash, the bakery for Lu's banana bread fix, and to a very neglected neighborhood park.

After a full week of babies and baking, Sean and Lindsey were kind enough to allow me the rest of the day off to enjoy a team trip to the beach. About a 20-minute's drive out, we arrived at a semi-abandoned paradise resort with a beach front view. The place was built by a group of Canadians a while back, hoping to make a small fortune on their grand investment. This never happened, however, and they've been trying to sell the place ever since. I honestly don't know how this place stays in business as we were the only customers on the entire grounds (and Mike says this is normal). In a strange way, the whole ghost town aspect of the place kind of creeped me out. This having been said, I really couldn't complain about my tropical getaway. We enjoyed lunch under cabanas and playing in the water, which was approaching jacuzzi temperature. My personal favorite part was reading by the pool, mostly because it was the first time I could remember sitting for more than ten minutes without sweating profusely (a little breeze goes a long way down here). As I drifted in and out of a poolside nap, sandwiched between the mountains and the shore, I was reminded of my mantra in Spain: "this is my life." Already this week, I have been overwhelmed to the point of tears at how blessed I am to be here. "The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands" (Ps. 138:8).

The entire McCann clan leaves for Mexico tomorrow to renew their visas. I'll stay behind in La Ceiba (sleeping at the Pettengills), awaiting their return Tuesday evening. We're praying all goes smoothly with their flights as there are rumors that Zeyala will be attempting to re-enter the country again tomorrow (and it wouldn't be the first time this dude has halted their travel plans).

Winner of the Losers' Circle

2009-07-14T21:32:00.000-07:00

Another early start this morning, Laura, Donnette, and Elizabeth (a few of this week's team members) came over to help Lindsey and I make casseroles for future teams. A trip to the grocery store, the cutting and browning of the chicken, cooking the rice, grating the cheese, sautéing the onions and celery, chopping the bread crumbs, and baking the five completed casseroles kept us busy until lunch. Meanwhile, Lucy spent the majority of the morning feeling threatened and annoyed by her playmate for the day, a sweet 4-yr-old boy named Jude. She had initiated the invite, however, as soon as he showed interest in playing with her mini bottle of febreeze she calls "bug spray," Jude was immediately and permanently on her bad side. Even as a male, Jude didn't have to use much intuition to sense Lucy's opinion of him. When his dad came to pick him up, he confessed that he did have fun, but that Lucy didn't want to play with him much. While, I confess, I found this both hilarious and heartbreaking to behold, Lucy seems to have a similar effect on most children. They are all naturally drawn to her (especially the kids of Armenia who constantly poke and prod her and squeal her name), but she is easily overwhelmed by the attention and can be pretty selective with whom she chooses to give her heart. No doubt Sean will cherish this quality when she begins dating ;)

Afterwards, Lindsey treated us to homemade guacamole, sandwiches, apples, coke zero, and ICE for lunch! I know these women were truly overjoyed with their day off from construction. Around 2:30, we piled in the big blue van (both girls on seatbelt-less laps as always...wow this is the 3rd world) and made our way to the ESL class in Armenia. Today, the kids had warmed up to me more and were willing to hold real conversations instead of just making me feel awkward by responding with a smile alone. According to Lindsey, I even have a few secret admirers within the group haha.

Leaving Armenia once again around 5, the group headed over to dinner at a local Honduran restaurant with a beach front view. Their specialty dishes were tacos cachrachitos (like bigger tacitos) and kebabs...neither of which left anyone disappointed. Honduras seems to have inherited their mother country's sense of time, which was made plain by the extremely slow service. It was a completely new and cultural experience for many of the team members and I was further reminded of how good it is for us (especially as Americans) to be forced to wait sometimes.

Lindsey and I left the restaurant early, taking a taxi home to get the girls bathed and in bed and to begin prepping dessert for Kids Night at the McCanns. All nine children in the group enjoyed a raucous night of brownies, ice-cream, and of course, some very intense Wii Mario Cart Tournament. After my rapid elimination from the winner's bracket, I took pride in earning the title as "winner of the loser's bracket." Maybe one day, with a little faith, hard work, and determination, I could become "loser of the winner's bracket." Just maybe.

Each day as I sweat my weight in water, watch my clothes get Cheetoh fingers and drooling mouths wiped on them, sport no make-up and frizzy hair, and allow 8-year-old Honduran kids to make fun of me, I'm semi-amazed at how much joy I could have found in such an environment. I've laughed to the point of an aching belly, been moved to the brink of tears, and fallen in love with a family and a country in a matter of days. After a semi-tumultuous process of getting to where I am now, this finally feels right. How could I have ever guessed that God would plan this for me all along?

2009-07-14T12:26:00.000-07:00

Life is just so exciting, isn't it!?

Banana trees in the backyard

2009-07-14T12:23:00.000-07:00

My guest house under the mango tree

Lucy's pool

Lucy playing playdough with her friend Jude

My room

2009-07-13T21:43:00.000-07:00

A concerned Lucy and I hanging out at Kids Club

Streets of Armenia

2009-07-13T21:41:00.000-07:00

Kids Club Skit

Playing games with the children of Armenia Bonita

My first view of Honduras

Kids Club

2009-07-13T19:57:00.001-07:00

Today began at 6:30 am (really haven't trained very well for this part of the job description so far during the summer). Ellie and I spent the morning together while Lucy, Lindsey, and Sean hung out with the team at the construction site. Ellie's sleep schedule is really amazing. After waking up at 6:30, she then naps again at 8 for over an hour and then again at 12 for 2 hours. Not a bad lifestyle if you ask me.

Lucy and Lindsey returned home to pick us up for a special lunch at KFC (where they call coleslaw a "salad" by the way). La Ceiba offers a wide variety of American fine dining, ranging from Pizza Hut to Applebees, basically everything besides McDonalds. Back home, we all settled in for naps --for me, it just wouldn't be traveling abroad without it.

At 2:30, we headed out to Armenia for Kid's Club, a time for games, skits, songs, and crafts for kids of all ages in the community. It's amazing to see how quickly the kids latch onto us and how genuinely happy they are. Once again, I love practicing my Spanish with the little ones because I feel like we're more or less on the same level.

Ellie and I spent the evening together as Sean, Lindsey, and Lucy ate dinner at the Pettengills. It was definitely a first being paid for babysitting with a plate of rice, beans, tortilla, and watermelon, but I can't say I'm complaining. In fact, I wouldn't have it any other way :)

My New Adventure

2009-07-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

At first, I considered merging this new blog with my old Spain blog, but ultimately decided against it given the dramatically different natures of the two trips. Really the only similarity between my experience in Spain and the one in Honduras is that I live with a family other than my own in a Spanish-speaking country. Allow me to explain.

Waking up Saturday at 2:30 am, I made my way for Dulles airport to catch my 5:30 am flight to San Salvador, which would eventually take me to La Ceiba, Honduras. Two wrong gates, a mistake through customs in San Pedro Sula where I thought I'd lost my bag, and a ridiculously rickety La Ceiba landing, I made it to my final destination in one piece. Thankfully, I recognized Sean at the airport because he definitely did not recognize me (maybe it was the 3-year-old family picture I had sent him?) As soon as I stepped outside I knew Lindsey (Sean's wife) had been right. Honduras is definitely HOT and muggy. After living on the 8th floor of Eagle without AC and in madre's boiling house for 4 months, I'm fairly confident I've had sufficient training.

During the brief drive from the airport to the McCann's (family I'm living with) house, Sean filled me in on a few La Ceiba facts. Here's what I know thus far:

-Driving the width of the city only takes about 5 minutes.

-We live 1 mile from a very polluted beach and about a 15 minute drive from a relatively clean beach.

-We live in between mountains and the beach (mountains to the south, beach to the north)

-La Ceiba is a kind of huge tree (originally found around the Dole banana port that once made this place famous)

-The city was almost entirely built by the Dole Banana Company about a hundred years ago

-The currency is Lempiras and 18.8 Lempiras amount to $1

-I can't drink the water

-Toilet paper goes in the trash can (yikes).

Now for a bit about my living conditions, new family, and nature of work. I live with Sean and Lindsey McCann (both 27) and their two young girls Lucy (2 1/2) and Ellie (8 mo.). I live in a guest house behind the main house and conveniently enjoy the only air-conditioning unit :) Already Lucy wants me to do everything for her, at times preferring me even to mommy (apparently being allowed to bath her the first night was a pretty big deal). She has a contagious smile and extremely expressive face, almost cartoonish. With a head full of blonde curls, sweet blue eyes, constant impromptu songs and dances, and her pure excitement for anything and everything, she really had me at the get-go. I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship J

Ellie, a woman of few words (zero, to be exact), is basically just fat and happy.

My first day basically consisted of me getting settled into my new home. I enjoyed a typical Honduran lunch of baleatas (modified with pulled pork, cheese, tomatoes, and avocado all wrapped in a tortilla) with Lindsey and Sean, unpacked, and took a much-needed nap. Later, we headed over to the Pettengills (Mike and Erin are also MTW team leaders with Sean and Lindsey) to help with dinner and wait for the arrival of the new weekly team. With the team's flight delayed, dinner was relocated at a Chinese restaurant (apparently, Honduran food isn't something to get too excited about). As Sean, Lindsey, Josh (18-yr-old intern who will be at Elon in the fall), the girls, and I pulled into the parking lot, I was reminded that I was definitely far from home. Twelve or so loitering men greeted us and then dashed at the snap of one man's fingers. No doubt some big drug deal was going down...just a day in the life I guess.

Back home it was baths and bedtime for the girls, Wii for adults. I think they just made me play to boost some self-esteem. I mean, SOMEBODY'S got to lose. Josh saved the day and came over to babysit while Lindsey and Sean left to meet the team (for real this time) and I caught up on sleep. I enjoyed a cold shower, blasted the oscillating fan, and fell asleep beneath a tin roof and mango tree. Chiva! ("Cool" in Honduras--I think it will be a while before my first instinct isn't to say "SUPERGUAY!")

Sunday 7/12/09

The day began with a big pancake breakfast at the McCann's. All 15 new team members, plus the Pettengill and McCann families piled in to enjoy classic, sludgy Honduran coffee, eggs, pancakes, and cultural debriefing.

After playtime and lunch with the girls, it was nap time (for everyone). At 3, we headed off to "gringo church," which is just another name for team worship at the Pettengills. After dinner, we made our way into Armenia Bonita, the very poor community in which MTW does most of its ministry, to attend a Pentecostal church service. Between the ear-blasting music, children dancing in the aisles, arms waving, the "alleluias!" and "amens!", a man pounding a tortoise shell for percussion, and the pastor yelling the sermon in Spanish, I had more than a few "pinch me" moments. How could I have been running errands in Falls Church just two days earlier?

Among other things, I was really struck by how welcoming they all were. Throughout the entire service, the pastor repeatedly said how grateful they were to have us, that God is so good for blessing them with people like us to help them, etc. Several members of the congregation made it a point to go around and shake each one of our hands before choosing a seat for him/herself (in the back of the room too since they had reserved the front section for us). Their extreme kindness and hospitality were almost embarrassing. After the service, I was talking to a man holding a beautiful baby girl. I told him I thought she was cute and asked if she was his. He nodded and said her name was Naomi, and plopped her into my arms. I have since found this to be completely commonplace here as people seem to find no problem with grabbing Ellie out of my arms without saying a word.

The night came to a close as we made the trek home, being pulled over by 2 different cops on the way. I guess a huge blue van without license plates crammed with 13 gringos was cause for interrogation. Apparently, these random cop stops are fairly normal too.