For various reasons, today I to bring twelve of the kids home from school in the trooper. It was doable, but I sure don't want to go very far with that many kids in one car.
Pamela and Katty were in the front seat with me, the other five girls were in the back seat and the five boys were in the back. As soon as all the boys were in, I got out of the car and shut the door. I did not want anyone to get out for any reason. Then when the five girls were in the back seat, we shut another door.
When everyone was in the car, it was very cozy in there. It as hot and all the windows were down. As we came through down, the kids had to say hello and good-bye to everyone we passed. I am sure we could be heard from one end of town to the other. Then they made good and sure Dilma heard us as we passed her house.
We were in really close quarters and there was a couple of little scuffles, but nothing serious. By the time we got home, even with the windows down, all of us were sweating. The kids baled out of that car and went running for the house. One of the employees thought I was insane for having them all in one car. But I really did not have a choice.
Terri
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Tears, Tears, And More Tears
Today Karen and Dorian left for a month in the States. This is a much needed break for them. Karen is mommy. She has left several times and always, always comes back.
All the kids were hugging her bye and Cindy started crying. Then Sisi. Then Ana. Pamela had the tears at the edge of her eyes and was fighting to keep them from spilling over. Cindy, Sisi, and Ana were all hugging Karen and the crying was getting more intense. I began to hug them and try to move them toward the church building. I took Cindy's hand. She took Sisi's hand and Sisi took Ana's hand and we started to church. With all the sobbing and weeping, one would have thought we were going to a funeral.
We got to church and there was Dorian. The girls broke from me and went to hug Dorian. That only resulted in more tears. I got them seated and was trying to comfort all three of them. Things were settling down when Alex said he would be preaching for the next few weeks because Karen and Dorian were gone. With that little cue, the girls began weeping again. About twenty minutes later, Katy walked up to me and she started crying. I picked her up and put her in my lap.
And if I thought Karen was not coming back, I would be crying that hard, too. Or harder.
When the kids left for class, I thought they would be horrible this morning. Kelin said they all behaved very well. I guess they depressed themselves right into good behavior.
Karen is a good mommy and I know they will miss her. I know they were sad. But this got to the point of almost being funny this morning.
Karen, we will miss you. Don't worry about us and enjoy this much needed time with family and friends.
Terri
All the kids were hugging her bye and Cindy started crying. Then Sisi. Then Ana. Pamela had the tears at the edge of her eyes and was fighting to keep them from spilling over. Cindy, Sisi, and Ana were all hugging Karen and the crying was getting more intense. I began to hug them and try to move them toward the church building. I took Cindy's hand. She took Sisi's hand and Sisi took Ana's hand and we started to church. With all the sobbing and weeping, one would have thought we were going to a funeral.
We got to church and there was Dorian. The girls broke from me and went to hug Dorian. That only resulted in more tears. I got them seated and was trying to comfort all three of them. Things were settling down when Alex said he would be preaching for the next few weeks because Karen and Dorian were gone. With that little cue, the girls began weeping again. About twenty minutes later, Katy walked up to me and she started crying. I picked her up and put her in my lap.
And if I thought Karen was not coming back, I would be crying that hard, too. Or harder.
When the kids left for class, I thought they would be horrible this morning. Kelin said they all behaved very well. I guess they depressed themselves right into good behavior.
Karen is a good mommy and I know they will miss her. I know they were sad. But this got to the point of almost being funny this morning.
Karen, we will miss you. Don't worry about us and enjoy this much needed time with family and friends.
Terri
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Party
Yesterday I found out we were having guests today. And we like to have guests. A ladies' group from a church in Tegucigalpa came out this morning. They brought a party with them.
They began the morning with a prayer. Then we sang a few songs and played some games.
They began the morning with a prayer. Then we sang a few songs and played some games.
Singing
Playing a game called "Change your house"
After a couple of games there was a popsicle for everyone. I was glad to have that popsicle as it was hot today. The kids played musical chairs, had relays, and other games. In addition to popsicles, they also had marshmallows and candy. Notice a pattern here, sugar.
As fun as all this was, there was a bulldozer in the alley and the boys had to keep running over to watch the bulldozer. It is hard for boys not to watch that bulldozer. After a few games, there was a pinata. The kids always love a pinata.
The mighty Lupe at the bat.
Lupe looked like she was playing baseball. Maryuri tried to beat the pinata to death and Nohemi finally broke it. She kept hitting the pinata after it broke, while everyone else was diving for candy. When she realized she didn't get any candy, she cried. Several shared with her and then everyone received a whole bag of candy.
After popsicles, marshmallows, and candy, a lunch of chicken hamburgers was served, complete with lots and lots of soda. Followed by cake.
Eating hamburgers
Sometimes it is hard to get all the cake in your mouth and it ends up other places.
When it was time for the ladies to leave, our children stood and sang "We Love You With The Love Of The Lord". Then another prayer was said. The lady prayed for the children and the staff. It was so sweet. There might have been a tear in my eye. But I noticed some of the other ladies might have had a tear or two as well.
It was a wonderful morning. I was sure glad I was not on nap duty this afternoon.
Terri
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Yay Sisi
March 9, 2009, just a little over two years ago we started Sisi in Teleton. At the time, Sisi was in first grade. It was obvious Sisi was just not getting it. She wasn't getting anything, not math, not reading, not writing. March is still early in the school year and we kept hoping and praying that something would click. It didn't.
Even with the Teleton classes, Karen decided Sisi should repeat first grade. Last year Sisi had a much better year and when it was all said and done, she had the second highest average in the class. And we continued to take her to Teleton.
This year Sisi is in second grade and doing well. I watch her at homework time. She gets her books and does the homework. She does it neatly and usually quickly.
Today, we had an appointment at Teleton. Instead of a 30 minute appointment, it was a little over an hour. The teacher was testing her. When the teacher called me in, she said Sisi could listen well, read well, write well, and copy well. The teacher also said there was no need to bring her to Teleton any more. I was happy.
Sisi likes to go to Teleton. I was not sure Sisi would be as happy as I was. I told her she did not have to come any more and she smiled a great big smile.
Since we were in town, I explained to Sisi we were going to Larach and buy a couple of things some of the kids needed for school. She said "I like Larach." Whether or not Sisi has ever been to Larach is unknown. She was excited to be in there and look. She was good and did not touch a thing.
I explained to her that I usually do not buy something every time we go to Tegucigalpa but today was a very special day. She knows I don't buy every time we go to town because she asks almost every time we go to town. She began to smile before I even finished telling this story. She knew exactly what I was saying.
I bought her a pepsi and some cookies. She gave me one cookie. She ate a few and then said she wanted to save the others for Lupe and Adonis. How sweet is that.
Let's pray that Sisi continues to do well in school. Yay Sisi for a job well done.
Terri
Even with the Teleton classes, Karen decided Sisi should repeat first grade. Last year Sisi had a much better year and when it was all said and done, she had the second highest average in the class. And we continued to take her to Teleton.
This year Sisi is in second grade and doing well. I watch her at homework time. She gets her books and does the homework. She does it neatly and usually quickly.
Today, we had an appointment at Teleton. Instead of a 30 minute appointment, it was a little over an hour. The teacher was testing her. When the teacher called me in, she said Sisi could listen well, read well, write well, and copy well. The teacher also said there was no need to bring her to Teleton any more. I was happy.
Sisi likes to go to Teleton. I was not sure Sisi would be as happy as I was. I told her she did not have to come any more and she smiled a great big smile.
Since we were in town, I explained to Sisi we were going to Larach and buy a couple of things some of the kids needed for school. She said "I like Larach." Whether or not Sisi has ever been to Larach is unknown. She was excited to be in there and look. She was good and did not touch a thing.
I explained to her that I usually do not buy something every time we go to Tegucigalpa but today was a very special day. She knows I don't buy every time we go to town because she asks almost every time we go to town. She began to smile before I even finished telling this story. She knew exactly what I was saying.
I bought her a pepsi and some cookies. She gave me one cookie. She ate a few and then said she wanted to save the others for Lupe and Adonis. How sweet is that.
Let's pray that Sisi continues to do well in school. Yay Sisi for a job well done.
Terri
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Luxuries
Everyone of us has some thing or things we call luxuries. Since water is a valuable resource in Honduras, for me it is soaking in a hot bath. I get to do that when I am in the States. There are a few items I can't get in Honduras that are luxuries when I am in the States.
For most of us, our necessities are luxuries for most of the world.
Marc met two young ladies, ages 18 and 20. One of them has a baby and the two of them are trying to take care of this baby. They have nothing. We like to help people and we do not like to just hand out money. Marc took these two young ladies to the grocery store and let them get what they needed. Before they put anything in the basket they asked if it would be ok first.
They chose staples like beans, rice and sugar. They were extremely happy about the sugar. To me sugar is not a luxury. It is a necessity. I would give up coffee and tea without it. They also chose some spaghetti and spaghetti sauce. Then the things they chose should make us all stop and count our blessings. They asked if they could buy some toothpaste. And soap to wash their clothes on the pila. And some white bread. To me white bread, is neither a luxury or a necessity. I can take or leave it, but to them this was luxury. All they wanted to put on the white bread was mayonnaise. Marc asked if they would like some bologna, too. They said said that was more than they were expecting. They would have been really happy with white bread and mayonnaise. Can any one of us say the same thing? Not me. I think I would be pretty cranky if that is all I had to eat.
I know it is only the first week of April, not the time of the year we think about being thankful, but perhaps it is time to stop and thank God that we have toothpaste and white bread and a pantry full of food. And for all the other necessities we have that most of the world thinks of as luxuries. Very luxorious luxuries.
Terri
For most of us, our necessities are luxuries for most of the world.
Marc met two young ladies, ages 18 and 20. One of them has a baby and the two of them are trying to take care of this baby. They have nothing. We like to help people and we do not like to just hand out money. Marc took these two young ladies to the grocery store and let them get what they needed. Before they put anything in the basket they asked if it would be ok first.
They chose staples like beans, rice and sugar. They were extremely happy about the sugar. To me sugar is not a luxury. It is a necessity. I would give up coffee and tea without it. They also chose some spaghetti and spaghetti sauce. Then the things they chose should make us all stop and count our blessings. They asked if they could buy some toothpaste. And soap to wash their clothes on the pila. And some white bread. To me white bread, is neither a luxury or a necessity. I can take or leave it, but to them this was luxury. All they wanted to put on the white bread was mayonnaise. Marc asked if they would like some bologna, too. They said said that was more than they were expecting. They would have been really happy with white bread and mayonnaise. Can any one of us say the same thing? Not me. I think I would be pretty cranky if that is all I had to eat.
I know it is only the first week of April, not the time of the year we think about being thankful, but perhaps it is time to stop and thank God that we have toothpaste and white bread and a pantry full of food. And for all the other necessities we have that most of the world thinks of as luxuries. Very luxorious luxuries.
Terri
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The State Of This Nation
The headline news in Honduras these days is not very rosy.
The nation is in the dry season which began in October last year. The dry season will last another 4-6 weeks. We hope that is all it lasts. There are fifteen villages near Tegucigalpa that are out of water. They have none, not a drop. People that can find and/or afford water are having to haul it long distances. They haul it whatever containers they can find, in buckets on their heads, milk jugs. Whatever. And it may or may not be clean water. But desperate people do desperate things. That fifteen villages are the ones near Tegucigalpa only. Many more villages in this country are also without water. People are thirsty and dirty.
We, at Casa de Esperanza, have seen some days without water. Usually a day here or day there. It could get worse before it gets better.
In other news, the price of beans is high. The price of rice is high. Other staples are high also. Gasoline is $4.35 a gallon and going up every week. Electricity rates are going up 24%. Ouch. Mandatory health insurance is going up for both the employee and the employer. And minimum wage is going up by about 10%. People in this country need to make more money. No argument here. But minimum wage cannot go up 10% at one time, retroactive to January 1. In a country where there is already 30% unemployment, hundreds, thousands, or maybe even tens of thousands will lose their jobs because employers cannot afford that much increase at once. We are already seeing more street vendors and beggars. This increase will be great for those who get to keep their job and devastating for those who don't.
The never ending news concerns the never ending teachers' strikes. Our children have missed more days of school that they have attended this year. The minimum wage for teachers is already higher than it is for other employees. Over the last ten years, the teachers have worked an average of 140 days a year. They are now asking parents to support them. I am thinking that people that make huge sacrifices to buy a school uniform and school supplies are not going to support the people that are not educating their children.
The strikes have become more than just protests or blocking traffic. On more than one occasion, the teachers have become violent. Three years ago during the political crisis, there was grafitti everywhere. That is nearly cleaned up and the teachers have started grafitting again. And throwing molotov cocktails. They tried to set fire to a gas station last week. The water truck that was being used to put out the fire was also used to give some teachers a nice bath.
On the days the teachers strike, there is huge traffic jams and problems in town. Last week, there was an ultimatum that if the teachers missed more than 10 days of school, the would be suspended. Of course, they didn't miss 10. They taught Monday and Tuesday and missed Wednesday, with strikes all over town. Our kids went to school 3 days last week, which is one of the better weeks.
There is suppose to be a huge strike and mess in town tomorrow. Another ulitmatum was issued: if the teachers don't teach tomorrow, they will be suspended without pay for a year. Guess what, there is school tomorrow, but I would be surprised if there is Tuesday without another ulitmatum.
This is so sad. They cycle of poverty will never be broken without educating the children.
I am sorry this is so bleak, but this is the world in which we live.
Terri
The nation is in the dry season which began in October last year. The dry season will last another 4-6 weeks. We hope that is all it lasts. There are fifteen villages near Tegucigalpa that are out of water. They have none, not a drop. People that can find and/or afford water are having to haul it long distances. They haul it whatever containers they can find, in buckets on their heads, milk jugs. Whatever. And it may or may not be clean water. But desperate people do desperate things. That fifteen villages are the ones near Tegucigalpa only. Many more villages in this country are also without water. People are thirsty and dirty.
We, at Casa de Esperanza, have seen some days without water. Usually a day here or day there. It could get worse before it gets better.
In other news, the price of beans is high. The price of rice is high. Other staples are high also. Gasoline is $4.35 a gallon and going up every week. Electricity rates are going up 24%. Ouch. Mandatory health insurance is going up for both the employee and the employer. And minimum wage is going up by about 10%. People in this country need to make more money. No argument here. But minimum wage cannot go up 10% at one time, retroactive to January 1. In a country where there is already 30% unemployment, hundreds, thousands, or maybe even tens of thousands will lose their jobs because employers cannot afford that much increase at once. We are already seeing more street vendors and beggars. This increase will be great for those who get to keep their job and devastating for those who don't.
The never ending news concerns the never ending teachers' strikes. Our children have missed more days of school that they have attended this year. The minimum wage for teachers is already higher than it is for other employees. Over the last ten years, the teachers have worked an average of 140 days a year. They are now asking parents to support them. I am thinking that people that make huge sacrifices to buy a school uniform and school supplies are not going to support the people that are not educating their children.
The strikes have become more than just protests or blocking traffic. On more than one occasion, the teachers have become violent. Three years ago during the political crisis, there was grafitti everywhere. That is nearly cleaned up and the teachers have started grafitting again. And throwing molotov cocktails. They tried to set fire to a gas station last week. The water truck that was being used to put out the fire was also used to give some teachers a nice bath.
On the days the teachers strike, there is huge traffic jams and problems in town. Last week, there was an ultimatum that if the teachers missed more than 10 days of school, the would be suspended. Of course, they didn't miss 10. They taught Monday and Tuesday and missed Wednesday, with strikes all over town. Our kids went to school 3 days last week, which is one of the better weeks.
There is suppose to be a huge strike and mess in town tomorrow. Another ulitmatum was issued: if the teachers don't teach tomorrow, they will be suspended without pay for a year. Guess what, there is school tomorrow, but I would be surprised if there is Tuesday without another ulitmatum.
This is so sad. They cycle of poverty will never be broken without educating the children.
I am sorry this is so bleak, but this is the world in which we live.
Terri
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Cindy
All of the children need a lot of love and a lot of prayer, but some need more than others. We pray without ceasing over this one.
We have seen so much change in Cindy. May God alone be praised for that.
Most Saturday mornings I do devo and breakfast. First thing this morning, even before devo, I was in the boys' room and heard the most awful racket coming from the girls' room. I dashed in there. Cindy and Sisi were going at it for all it was worth. The girls told me that Sisi was hitting Maryuri, Cindy's little sister. And Cindy was defending Maryuri. Someone recently described Cindy as "I might be little, but I am loud and I am might and no one steps one me." An accurate description. "And no one steps on my little sister either."
Sisi and Cindy were pulling hair and hitting. I grabbed one of Cindy's arms and she grabbed a handful of Sisi hair with the other hand. I was pulling on both girls and finally got them separated. Fire was coming from Cindy's eyes and she would have hit me just as easily as she had been hitting Sisi. Sisi was saying it wasn't me, it wasn't me. Well, I could see better than that.
I removed Sisi from the room. I gently took Cindy by the hand and led her out of the room. I said Cindy, I love you and I love the way you try to protect your sister. Sisi was very wrong for hitting Maryuri and you did not make that right by fighting. When someone hits Maryuri you come get an adult. Do not hit that person. That is wrong. And now you are in trouble, too. Cindy stood there and listened to me and said she understood. I saw the fire leave her eyes and a much softer expression began to replace that angry look. I told her to go to the wall until I told her she could leave. She went to the wall, without argument. She stood there until I told her to leave. I would have never imagined we would see the day that would happen.
God is good. All the time. Love and prayer is making a difference in that one.
Terri
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