Everything's Gonna Be Alright...

Last friday after school we all piled into this big yellow school bus only to realize it was no longer in service...

 Instead of just sitting and baking in the hot bus I opted to get off and stand outside in the breeze. My first reaction was annoyance because I just wanted to get home, but then Carrie suggested that we all go hang out underneath the shade structure that Don Jose just built. I loved that idea! So we rounded everyone up and headed over. Jeff had his speakers with him and put on some Bob Marley for us...

Then we had some happy campers as we pretended we were on the beach somewhere...

I loved it :)...

I think the Hondurans dug Bob...

And then we got a ride home about twenty minutes later, so everything really was alright!

“A sense of humor is good for you. Have you ever heard of a laughing hyena with heart burn?” –Bob Hope

Día de la Paz (Parte Dos)

For the "Day of Peace" my first graders drew pictures and made a list of things they thought could help bring peace to Olancho.... 

I LOVE this picture! It's my favorite from both classes!

more people said "I love you"

for no more pushing

for beauty

for friendship 

for more love and that more people said "I love you"

Children always have the most beautiful things to say on topics like this. 

My students list included the things above and...

*God

*More churches

*No fighting

*No hitting

*No pushing

*No more violence

Seems simple...and the sad thing is it probably could be that simple. I don't think anyone would complain about hearing "I love you" a little more often, seeing more beauty in their lives,  or having more love surround them.

To end the day we held a prayer service in the gym next to the Cathedral. Here is an excerpt Padre wrote in his blog:

"Unfortunately there has been some increase in violence in Olancho as in many parts of the world. To end February, the month of friendship, the students from the Foundations four programs had a prayer service at which all pledged to work even harder to create an ambient of pèace in their homes and neighborhoods. I was so pleased that a local pastor accepted our invitation to assist as many students come from churches which are not catholic. This was something   monumental for Olancho as there are few – as in very few occasions -  that Roman Collars and ministers sit at the same table. Breaking religious prejudice, one prayer at a time."

I hope peace finds it's way to Juticalpa and the rest of the world soon!

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace" -Jimi Hendrix

Día de la Paz

On February 28th we celebrated Día de la Paz (Day of Peace) in Juticalpa. During the day we had a special "acto civico" at Santa Clara. All of the students and teachers wore white shirts and gathered out in the concha at 10a.m. Sor Maglys got things rolling with her rockin' guitar playin' as Ella (Kinder teacher) jammed on her tambourine. I love all of the joy and energy that goes into singing songs here...

Sor sung a song about peace and had all of the staff and students flap their arms up and down like birds. It was really awesome to see everyone unified like that...

After a few songs to get everyone revved up, some of my little first graders performed an interpretive dance to a song about peace. To date it is one of the sweetest things I have ever seen! I was so emotional watching them because they took it so seriously and just looked adorable standing up there. As I looked over at Profe Yohely I saw that she had tears welled up in her eyes too! Here are some of the girls before their performance...

During the dance they did these adorable spins...

Here is a video clip of them....

I wish I had taken a video of the whole thing!

After my little girls performed their song, fourth grade performed a skit on tolerance, and then the sixth graders put on a play. 

Sergio was really excited for the play :)...

Some of my girls were trying really hard to block out the sun. Hondurans hate the sun and will do anything to avoid direct sunlight.

Here are the twin girls in my class, Kimberly and Briana. I couldn't pass up getting a picture of the two of them with their "Peace" shirts. How cute!!

When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others. - Peace Pilgrim

El Río y La Boda

I have a great day at the river and a wonderful wedding to tell you about, but before I do I have to share a picture of this AMAZING pizza we had last Friday night for dinner. Typically most of us don't eat pizza because it's expensive and the best pizza in town (until now) has been at the Esso -- a gas station. Well we saw that a new place popped up towards the center of town. When one of Jeff's students said it was his favorite place to get pizza we knew we had to check it out. Lets just say Andrew and I busted out of the doors in song and dance! It was hands down the BEST pizza we've had in Juticalpa. They had a spicy chicken version, hawaiian, and a few others. They even had red pepper flakes and real parmesan cheese. Now we know there's a great place to get some food when we're having an awful week!

You're looking at some extremely happy people right here!

Saturday, Jeff and I went swimming with some of the Hondurans at Stefani's grandparents farm. It took around 45 minutes to get there and the drive was absolutely beautiful. Some of the landscapes reminded me of being out west. The place we went swimming looked like they carved part of the rock out to put a swimming hole in...

The Hondurans love to take really posed pictures! Here are some of us before we got in the water...

Stefani's friend (I can't remember her name), Stefani, Wendy, Me, and Karol

Wendy brought Alejandro with her and he loved playing with Jeff...

He is the cutest little Honduran I know

Alejandro doesn't know how to swim, so I told him I would teach him. When I tried to take him into deeper water to show him a few things he screamed "tengo miedo" (I'm scared)! So we didn't get any swimming lessons in that day, but maybe next time he'll be feeling braver. As the weather continues to warm up I'm sure we'll be going swimming frequently on the weekends.

On Sunday we were invited to Peter and Stephanie's wedding. They both came to Olancho five or six years ago with a volunteer group, reconnected as friends, and fell in love. They had known each other in high school but it wasn't until they came to Honduras that they really made a connection. Since Olancho is such a special place for them they wanted to get married here. I LOVE going to weddings, even when I don't know the people, so I was really excited to be invited!

Padre married them at the Jutiquille mass which is always high energy and filled with so many loving people. After the mass we had a reception for them in the Instituto cafeteria. Peg was the party planner and Maki was the MC. I don't know how those two do it. They both have a million responsibilities but always seem to be picking up extra jobs (always with a smile :) ). Peggy did an amazing job with the reception. It was beautiful and the food was some of the best I've had since being in Honduras. Maki rocked the music and delivered a heart felt speech that had me in tears. I told her she has a gig when I get married. I love a good speech giver. You know, someone who can just bring you right into what their saying? We actually had a discussion about it during lunch. I was telling the other volunteers how much I hate someone getting up at a wedding to read "Love is patience, love is kind..." in a monotone voice. If you're going to have someone get up at your wedding and read something so beautiful in a monotone voice you may as well just not have it read. Can you tell I feel strongly about weddings?!?!

Peter and Stephanie have such a beautiful love story and when I see two people who have found love like that I can't help but be overjoyed for them. I was so happy at the wedding Andrew said at one point that if I was any happier he thought I was just going to burst into a big ball of confetti and glitter on the spot, haha!

Here is the reception venue...

The happy couple...

Stephanie and Peter

Jackie, Me, Anne, and Carrie pre-lunch

A few people from our group in their Sunday bests...

Andrew, Anne, Mario, Carrie, Jeff, Jackie, Lacey, and Me

We had a wonderful time dancing to both American and Honduran songs. Here is a picture of us doing a tunnel dance to Chris Brown's "Forever". The dance moves were very similar to these: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

Andrew and Me

I'm missing a lot of my friends weddings in the states so I'm glad I got to go to a Honduran wedding! I have my fix for a little while :).

"Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale"

Git-R-Done

Today was Jeff's birthday and we celebrated by going out for some tajadas at the pink garage. On Saturday we will celebrate again with a Mardi Gras/Redneck party. Andrew has a had a Mardi Gras party planned for over a month now and he wants to make some traditional food and some masks for all of us to wear, but Jeff wants a redneck party for his birthday. The two have compromised -- so we'll be having a Mardi Gras themed party from 5-8 and then a redneck party afterwards.

To get everyone pumped up for the event Carrie just sent this hysterical e-mail I have to share:

and now, a lil message to git ya'll reddy fur that good ole boy's shin-dig this wikend...

Good Ole Boy*: Wiz gotta git reddy fur de kumpny that's cummin own Sattidy. Wutz we gonner fine tuh gev 'em tuh drank'sides Co-cola 'n Salvy-veeda in dis Gawd fursaykun outpos'?

Lashonda: We had sum o' 'at rum likker, but wiz plum out by golly!

Rhonda: Dayum! Yew's drankin' awl that likker agin?!

Lashonda: Wiz bin drankin' lotz less sin' YEW's bin bard it.... Rum-Rhonda!

Andrew: By God, how can you imbecils bear to hear the sound of your wretched voices?

Good Ole Boy: I cudnt unnerstand a wurd he sed ... must be from some farn contry.

Lashonda: Yeah, haze jus' ignert uh mubbee haze hod uh harin'...

tur be cuntinued...

grizzly bar hugs 'n smackaroos all 'round,

Louann

*Good ole boy: Any Southern male between age 16 and 60 who has an amiable disposition and is fond of boon companions, strong drink, hound dawgs, fishin', huntin', and good lookin' women, but not necessarily in that order. " Bubba's a good ole boy."

Have I mentioned how much I love the people I volunteer with?!?!

And in honor of Jeff's birthday...some Chuck Norris jokes:

• Chuck Norris is the reason Waldo's hiding.
• Chuck Norris does not hunt because the word hunting infers the probability of failure. Chuck Norris goes killing.
• Chuck Norris has already been to Mars, that's why there are no signs of life.
• There is no "Ctrl" button on Chuck Norris' computer. Chuck Norris is always in control.
• Chuck Norris runs until the treadmill gets tired.

***Mom I was reminiscing on the bus this morning about our old Saturday night line up:

- Early Addition

- Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman

- Walker Texas Ranger (when we could stay awake for it ;) )

Those were the days :)!

"The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships" -Anthony Robbins