Not all Sundays are the same, but very often we get up by 5:30 in the morning to travel to a ward or branch in our mission that is outside of San Pedro Sula. We attend Sacrament Meeting, meet members and leaders--then President Dester usually interviews the missionaries while I talk to their companions. Two thirds of our missionaries are Spanish speakers, so I either have to struggle with what little Spanish I have learned or have an English speaker translate for me (if there is one). I ask the missionaries what their food is like (if they have a cocinera or if they cook for themselves), if they have been cleaning their apartment, if they have been sick or if they need any other help. I learn a lot about what is going on in their area.
I love to talk with the members (they think I can speak more Spanish than I actually do).
I especially love the children. They are not only cute, but it is fun to have some of them come up to me after the meeting and say a word or 2 in English. There are many bilingual schools in Honduras and the members are always excited to practice speaking. Almost every week I have a very funny experience with at least one or 2 of the children at church. They stare at me a lot!!!!! It is my hair. Almost no one in Honduras has blond hair. (Needless to say, I hate going to get my hair done--I'd rather have a root canal). One of our very blond new sister missionaries has had the same experience. She told me the other day that one of the children kept asking her something and she just didn't understand what the child was saying in Spanish. So, the sister missionary finally said, "Si´". Before she knew it, the little girl reached up and plucked out a few hairs from her head. Ouch!!!!
We see a lot of interesting things along the way when we travel outside of the city. The countryside is beautiful, despite the poor roads and the poverty. We love the cooler weather this week (only 75-85°). I don't know how much longer it will last so we are enjoying it while we can. Right now, it is better than living in Minnesota.
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| This could be any place in the U.S. |
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| There is usually a lot of fog in the mornings on the mountains |
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| Lake Yojoa |
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| We have a lot of coconuts |
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| Yes, we have A LOT of bananas!!!!!! |
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| Sugar cane just before harvest |
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| Sugar cane on the way to the factory |
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| A typical pickup FULL of eggs. With the terrible roads, we wonder how they all make it to market. |
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| A view from our balcony--our back yard!!!!!!! |
