I had written this weeks ago and just realized I hadn’t posted it.  

12. January. 2010.  Earthquake.  I have been glued to my internet.  My heart hurts and my stomach aches for the people.  I have been moved to tears at the images of the destruction and all the stories.  I feel lost.  I feel helpless.  It brings up so many questions for me, why Haiti? Why the poorest nation in the western hemisphere?  Why a country that just recently became optimistic of being able to rebuild?  ”For even on its best day, Haiti is a public-health disaster.  No Haitian city has a public sewage system; nearly 200,000 people live with HIV/AIDS and just half of Haitian children are vaccinated against basic diseases like diphtheria and measles.  The quake will make things unimaginably worse.” (TIME)  Why does tragedy always find the places that can’t handle it?

Today, I read this quote that brings some answer to my questions…..

“The real disaster that has plagued Haiti is not the earthquake. It simply exposed it. The real disaster is its poverty. Poverty created the lack of infrastructure. Poverty provided the breeding ground for corruption that works to keep Haiti poor. Poverty keeps children from going to school. Poverty places people into a cycle of dependency. Poverty strips away dignity and crushes dreams.”

Poverty.  So true.  It’s a basic concept, that these nations (regions) that get hit with tragedy are the exact nations (regions) that are covered with poverty.  The lack of education and as the quote says, a “breeding ground for corruption.”  It makes me think, what would happen here, in Honduras, if an earthquake of this magnitude hit?  Honduras is the 3rd poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, that’s not far down the list from Haiti.  Living here, an earthquake doesn’t need to expose the poverty of this corrupt nation for me.  I see the corruption everyday and I see the power of the country apathetic for the poverty of their nation.

So, what do I do? I will continue to pray for Haiti (maybe I will go someday, I hope).  I will also attempt to let God use me here, in Honduras, as hopeless as it may feel.

“For the needy will not be forgotten forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed.” -Psalm 9:1

“To believe in a child is to believe in the future. Through their aspirations they will save the world. With their combined knowledge the turbulent seas of hate & injustice will be changed. They will supply humanity with music & beauty it has never known. They will endure. To these ends I pledge my life’s work.”
-Henry James

2 out of 3 ain’t bad

It’s been a big year of history in this little country that I have grown to love.  Let’s take a little recap…

- In June, the government stood up to corruption by removing President Mel Zelaya as he was attempting to change the constitution of Honduras so he could remain president forever.

- Roberto Mitcheletti became the interim president of the “defacto government”.

- Many nations, including the US and United Nations refused to recognize Honduras as a nation and stopped sending aid, which adds up to billions of dollars.

- There were demonstrations, both violent and peaceful, government enforced curfews, border closings.  Hondurans became fearful and hopeless.  Peaceful people were becoming violent.

- Zelaya decided to re-enter the country, believing that he was still president.  He is still in the Brazilian Embassy.

- South Africa 2010.  La Selecion de Honduras made it to the WORLD CUP!!!  This is a BIG deal and united Hondurans once again.

- ELECTIONS.  Pepe Lobo elected as the new President of Honduras.  He will be sworn in, January 27.  He doesn’t provide Hondurans with much hope of making Honduras a better place but maybe all the craziness can be put to rest.

- The Senate and Congress held a vote on whether to re-instate Zelaya, they voted ‘NO’.

Being an outsider who just happened to make Honduras her home this past year, it has been an adventure.  Nothing seems to be predictable in this country and yet, that might be how it is always is but this past year will go down in history.

On Thursday, a little note of history will go down in my book,  the current president, Roberto Mitcheletti, came to our school.  No reason, just a promise, just a visit.  I happened to be in the Administration building when he came in, so I got to personally meet him, with a Honduran greeting and all.  He went to all the elementary classes, took class pictures with them, hugged them, spoke English with them, and signed autographs.  He also made an appearance to the high school students on the soccer field, ending with encouragement before he left.  He told the students that they are the future of Honduras, the future President is in this crowd today, and they will be the ones to meet the needs of the poor.  Mitcheletti will be leaving the country of Honduras, some say and never returning, once Pepe is sworn in for safety reasons.  However, if he comes back the Honduran government will provide secret service for him for the rest of his life, the only Honduran President to receive that service.  All politics aside, meeting the current President of Honduras, who will go down in history for putting an end to Mel Zelaya, that’s pretty legit.

one of his military guards hiding in the trees by the playgroundone of the 4th grade classes. he was super great with the little ones.

the high schoolers as they wait for Mitcheletti.

he attempted to shake all the kids’ hands
my 7th graders made him a sign….”Viva Mitcheletti”Guilianna the girl whose father worked for Mitcheletti and was murdered.

So here I am.  I have now met the current President and the future Presidents of Honduras.  The only one that I have yet to meet is Mel Zelaya and he is holed up in the Brazilian Embassy and a bit crazy.  So I guess I will settle for meeting 2 out of the 3 Honduran titled “Presidents” of 2009.  Two out of three ain’t bad, right?

VIVA HONDURAS!!!!

2010.

Well its a new year, a new decade.  2010.  Love it.  It’s destined to be a super great year with that number, it’s my favorite.  The beginning of the new year always brings up resolutions, I’m not really into that but I am into getting to be with my family to start the new year.  I was very blessed to be able to go home for Christmas break, it was perfect timing.

my sister graduated from nursing school

i was super excited for christmas and SNOW

i guess you could say, i got what i wanted….LOTS of snow

and LOTS of time with two of my favorite people.

the elite.

The past couple of weeks I have been reminded, educated, enlightened, I’m not really sure what the word is for this but it is definitely a new reality on what kinds of students I am actually working with.  Everyone is always talking how our students are the wealthiest and most esteemed children in all of Honduras but interacting with them everyday, I forget that sometimes, with the exception that they are very lazy, have maids, drivers, the highest technology, etc.

Here are a couple of experiences within the past two weeks:

- Met the new President of Honduras, Pepe, at some student’s art exhibit.

- A senior girls’ father was murdered last week.  He was the head of “drug control” in the Honduran military.  He was very good at his job and had produced reports of Honduras having the most private airstrips for transporting drugs in all of Central America.  Here are a couple of articles, one from the BBC and the other from CNN.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8402521.stm

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/12/08/honduras.drug.chief.slain/index.html

The girl was an only child.  They were planning on moving to Canada in the next month for safety purposes.  On the car ride up the mountain that morning, they talked about the possibility of him being killed or something happening to their family because of the position that he was in.  She has returned to school this week.

- Went to the ballet of some of our students.  The parents that gave us the tickets tells us that he will give a ride back up the mountain.  They send us with their driver in a brand new car while they waited to go with their other driver and body guards.

Not your average, typical Honduran families.  Continue to pray for the influence that maybe I can have in the lives of these children that will one day be the leaders of this corrupt nation.

Christmas Concert

11 December 2009.  Christmas Concert.  Pretty much all of my students with the exception of 50, sing in the choir, play in the band, play guitar or play bells.  I went as a proud “mom” to support my students.  From what other teachers say, I was entertaining enough, snapping pictures and cheering, including a couple standing ovations.   I am very proud of all my kids.  Here are some pictures:

7th grade guitars

the choir

9th grade students, ana flores and kevin sanchez

9th grade “bells”

BEAUTIFUL 7th grade girls

9th grade boys.

some of my favorite 8th graders

a weekend.

One of the most anticipated weekends I have had in months….

Friday Night – NEW MOON – This was a movie that I was looking forward to seeing for over a year.  I was excited to know that my love for the Twilight saga was greatly embraced by my students.  When it was released in the US and not in Honduras it was pretty heartbreaking.  The movie finally premiered Thursday night, December 3.  The next day, we had at least a 15 minute New Moon discussion in each one of my classes.  I had debates between 9th grade boys over who was better “Team Jacob” or “Team Edward.”  Let’s just say, we didn’t get much Art done on Friday, I was too excited to go see the movie.  We went with three senior girls.  The movie was better than I thought it could have been.  Super great day!!

Saturday Morning – Soccer Practice – 85 degrees in December

Saturday Afternoon – Feeding Center We haven’t been able to go to the Feeding Center for the past couple of weeks, so we were really excited about going this weekend.  When we pulled up all the kids were walking away because it had been canceled for a birthday party at another church.  When they saw the car pull, they started running over.  We played games, sang songs, and had story time.  Even though we weren’t able to serve food we still had a great time.

praying before we start. precious.

christian. i would like to steal him & take him home.

too little to play the games.

Saturday Night – Big 12 Championship Game I have been looking forward to this game since before Thanksgiving.  I have been watching highlight videos, reading articles, talking/teaching people about the Huskers and sacrificing sleep in anticipation for this one game.  This game that had the potential of being a huge game in Husker history, a game I would have loved to be at but instead I had to make the best of it.  I got a couple of girls (other teachers) on board, gave them my husker apparel and got a guy to find a location with cable and a big screen for this occasion.  It was one of the best games that I have ever watched and yet for people that don’t understand, love or have passion for Husker football the game was a little boring for them, oh well.  It was one of the most heartbreaking games EVER but it was probably good that I was around people that don’t really understand how important the game really was because they moved right on after the game.

stacy, me, cara, kirsten.  GO BIG RED!!

a Honduran Husker party or something like that

The fact that there were four American girls super into an American football game, one of them a little out of control, these boys and the family at the birthday party that we crashed saw something that is very rare in their culture.  Sports, unless it is soccer, occasionally, are not usually enjoyed by girls. 

Sunday – Micheal Jackson Dance Recital It’s that time of year for dance recitals.  In honor of Micheal Jackson, this studio did the first half of their Christmas dance recital to Micheal Jackson music.  I didn’t have any students in the recital but I went with other teachers because of my love for Micheal.

The Christmas half was VERY Honduran.

Monday Night – Art Exhibit – The majority of ALP students are involved in all kinds of extracurricular activities.  Many parents do not get home until later in the evening, so our students will ride the bus home and then have a driver take them to other activities.  Some students are busy every day after school with a different lesson.  Here are some examples:  French, German or Italian lessons; Music lessons (vocal or instrumental); Tennis, Swimming, or other athletics at the Collesium; and Art classes.  Six of my students go to the same Art studio on Saturday mornings.  On Monday night they had their end of the semester Art Exhibit.  Each student in the studio was allowed to display one piece of art.  The exhibition was held at Hotel Plaza San Martin.

Ricky is one of my 12th grade students

Mariangela (center), one of my 11th grade students, spoke at the ceremony

We also met the NEW PRESIDENT of Honduras.

We were talking to a student’s family, when in walks the new president, are you serious?!?  The father asks us if we want to meet the president, so he takes us over there.  He introduces us as teachers from Academia Los Pinares, which he knows of course.  Then he asks us where we are from.  I told him I was from Nebraska and here is the best part, his response….”The Huskers, right?! I watched that game the other night.  Tough loss, I was pulling for the Huskers.”  Seriously?!?

Douglas (10th grader), Stacy, me, Pepe Lobo (new President), Cara, Kirsten

Election Day

Today (Nov. 29) is Election Day here in Honduras.  The voting started at 7 am this morning and will continue for another 6 hours.  The people of Honduras are either optimistic that this election will bring peace or this election will strike more fear and chaos within the country.  It’s hard to tell what will actually happen and who or what the international community will actually recognize.  Last weekend, I learned that Honduras is the 5th most corrupt country is all the Americas, after observing the people and culture while being, I can definitely see where that is true.  The sad thing is both Presidential candidates provide little hope for Hondurans, one being the candidate (Pepe) that lost in the last election and the other (Elvin) being the former Vice-President for Zelaya (the President that was removed).  They have already closed the borders, cautioned people flying as there has been rumors of attack on American airlines and have 30,000 troops in place at the voting places.  PRAY for PEACE.

thanksgiving

Another holiday that Hondurans do not celebrate but luckily enough we teach at an American run school so we get to have a Thanksgiving vacation.  We had school on Monday, Tuesday and a half day on Wednesday, which we are lucky to even have this time off as we are short on days because of the days we have had to cancel due to swine flu, political issues and soccer.  We had an annual Thanksgiving dinner as a whole staff, Hondurans and North Americans included, not something that I think the school should have spent their money on but that is probably an issue I should discuss later.

With the long vacation we were really excited to go traveling, our destination, Amapala.  Amapala is a dormant volcano on the west coast of Honduras, super sweet.  Anyway, with Sunday (today) being the elections and being the way elections work in Honduras, many people traveling to go vote where they were born, and the rumors of crazy stuff happening, we were advised to not travel.  So we made a couple of days of it in the city, exploring.

preparing our vegetarian thanksgiving meal.

potatoes may not look like mom’s but they tasted good.  still figuring out that magic touch.

thankful for new friends & their love for twilight.

t-4 days until elections.

As of today, we, the country of Honduras, have no president.  Mitcheletti has stepped down until December 2 so the elections could be “peaceful and transparent and would rule out any interference”, really?!  Does that make any sense? No, but honestly nothing politics in this country does.

As of right now, the Honduran elections will take place this upcoming Sunday, November 29, with the US and Panama being the only American (North and South) countries backing the elections.  The Obama administration had originally said that they would not recognize the elections unless President Zelaya was re-stored into power but as of this week the State Department has now changed their minds and have decided to recognize the elections.  There have been rumors, threats, explosions and heavy upping of police and military all over the city.  The polling sites already have stepped up security as they are guarding the ballots already inside.  There is LOTS of tension, uncertainty and fear all over the country right now.  PRAY.

“With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds… to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.” – Abraham Lincoln