El Dia Tipico at SJBS!

Music at Santa Monica :-)

BECA started out with just one school, SJBS, where I spend most of my time.  This year, BECA opened a second school in Vida Nueva, Santa Monica PreK-2nd grade.  I help out at SMBS every Friday morning.  This past Friday, William (Columbian Missionary) came with me to perform music for our students.  What a fun morning!

February is almost over?!

I haven't taken too many pictures this semester.  The group has made some changes due to the previously mentioned safety concerns: carry my camera less, travel less, etc.  I received word yesterday that Doctors Without Borders has pulled out of Honduras.  Very sad for a country in desperate need.  However, we are feeling safe in our little town, full of community support.  I have settled into life here.  While there is news, things happening everyday, they are simply that for us now- everyday occurrences.  Instead of taking pictures, writing, and blogging, I am spending more time with the locals, trying to enjoy every last minute I have down here because it is really starting to fly on by.
Old man Eduardo (accordion), his brother (harmonica) and I (banjo) are still playing music on the street corner.  People come and go, seeming to enjoy the music almost as much as we do.  Eduardo's face lights up when I give him five after a great tune and he splits me an orange at the end of our sessions.  We smile at each other in the sunshine and look forward to the next time.  Denis and Jorge slip me fruit some days, when I pass their truck looking tired and worn from the days work.  Benjamin keeps me laughing.  We met in a soccer game a few weeks ago.  He bruised me up pretty bad after I scored 3 goals on him- friends ever since!  The mothers in our parent group give me lots of love and kisses.  The Columbian missionaries have agreed to write music for my poetry.  After playing a collection of instruments for 3 hours last Sunday night, they prayed for us and shared friendship bracelets, while pointing out that the entire continent was represented in their home that night- South, Central and North America.  Pretty amazing experiences, but one!  We are sad to be missing one of our volunteers who has returned to the states to fight a prolonged illness.  We wish her a thorough recovery and think of her daily.
Other than this, counseling groups are in full swing and going great.  I can't explain what it is like to see students supporting their peers through the most significant grief/loss, realizing they are not alone in the process.  I continue to learn incredible amounts and am thankful for the way this community continues to embrace all of us.
I hear great news from home- of snow, birthdays, of my new little nephew, Rowan, Georgia (niece) waiting for high school news, Anna (cousin) getting her drivers license, etc.  My friends and family remain in my daily thoughts and prayers.  I LOVE receiving your news and knowing what is happening in your lives.  I miss and love all of you so very much.  Again, I thank you for supporting this journey, and for your continued involvement from afar.

HUGS

Back in Honduras... with mixed feelings.

Christmas was fantastic!  What a blessing to spend every second with much missed family and friends.  I waited 2.5 weeks in RIC for the arrival of my new nephew.  I missed Rowan's delivery by 24 hours :-(  Between this and Peace Corps pulling (due to safety concerns) all 158 volunteers out of Honduras over break, it was difficult returning so soon... under strict new guidelines, without running water, 3 week old dirty pila water, a broken refrigerator, and white mold/fungus/mystery stuff growing on my shed/bedroom floor.  WOW- to look around and see some human beings living on the streets, no differently than stray animals...  Very difficult times in this country for a variety of reasons.  Please keep us in your prayers, as we wish everyone a very Happy New Year!  We are blessed to be healthy, to return to complete our work this year.  These smiling children keep us energized and remembering the important things in life!  Thank you, again, to all who filled my luggage with books and toothbrushes to share!  Your contributions will be enjoyed, used, needed, present for many years to come!!!  Your support and generosity have touched many lives, including my own.

Christmas in Honduras

Santa's package came all the way to Honduras!!  Mom, thanks for giving him our address ;-))))  We had a blast with this one!!!!!!!!!!!!  Very, very thoughtful and enjoyed by everyone!

We invited ourselves to Danelia's house to make Christmas cookies!  This is an amazing family and it has been nice to share their home during the holidays!  It makes us feel not so far away!

Grandma Simpson taught me well!

Doesn't your oven look just like this?!

There's snow in Honduras!

Awwwww, our bros treat us well!

Great having a Christmas tree in school this year!

My summer host family at our school event- Cena Navidena :-)