Like this:

Honestly, I was a little (ok, very) discouraged when I started out the week. First, I hit a point in my Spanish where I just feel like I will NEVER be fluent. Smh. Second, I had contacted several organizations about helping out at orphanages, schools, and churches. When I heard back from NO ONE, I thought I’d use this week to take more Spanish classes. I contacted various language schools in San Pedro Sula & La Ceiba (where my family lives) and heard back from NO ONE. So I thought I would use the week to visit my family in La Ceiba and just hang out on the beach for the week. However, after contacting my family in La Ceiba, I heard back from NO ONE. I left Nicaragua with NO plans and NO prospects for what I wanted to do while I was in Honduras (All I knew was that my family in SPS said I could stay with them). However, the Lord makes better plans than I do (you think I would have learned this by now, right?). Toward the end of my time in Nicaragua, I started to feel pretty sick. This week was exactly what I need to feel better.

I am staying with my family in San Pedro Sula. I have had so much down time. I have slept SOO much, spent a LOT of time to be in the Word, and have spent a good amount of time journaling and reading. Physically, I needed this down time to just recover. Spiritually, I needed this time to just reflect and prepare my heart for this next year. I didn’t think I would need a mini-retreat while I was already on vacation, but I am SOO grateful that that is how it worked out. :) Despite all of the downtime… I have done some pretty incredible things & have lots on my mind…

• My Tio Victor is probablly one the nicest people in the world. It has been great spending time with him and his family. He was raised by his grandfather (my great-grandpa/my grandpa’s dad), so it’s been really cool hearing stories about him… (especially since he raised my grandpa, who is one of the most important men in my life).
• There really is such a drastic gap between the rich and poor in Honduras… the poverty here is incredible…
• My Tio Mario (the brother of my Tio Victor – the uncle I’m staying with) was murdered last month. The family is obviously still grieving. There is a very noticeable difference in the safety in this region since the last time I was here (2009). Apparently, the drug trafficking has increased dramatically and they are still recovering from the corruption under Zelaya. Many people seem to be living in fear and you really cannot do the same things that you used to be able to…
• My cousin, Viki, is in med school here in San Pedro Sula. She took me to her hospital. It was unlike anything I’ve seen. Most of the hospital was not air-conditioned, the halls were full of people because they do not have enough rooms, only 1 of 3 elevators kind of worked, there was definitely a lack of equipment, and the pediatrics department was so small, definitely not close to big enough to accommodating all the children. It made me grateful for the health care we have (despite all of the problems we think we have, we do have access to the world’s best health care) and it also made me very aware of the need third-world countries have for medical supplies (I KNEW this, but it is different to actually see it).
• My family here has land up on a mountain. They are growing EVERYTHING. My favorite has been the avocados… mmmm. I have no problem eating them (and guacamole) three times a day! The land has an INCREDIBLE view.
• I went to the AGAS (Asociación de Ganaderos y Agricultores de Sura) festival. There were lots of cows, lots of people, lots of Honduran food, and lots of music & punta dancing (a Honduran dance).
• I went fishing for the firt time (at least that I can remember). We went to a beach close to Puerto Cortes (northern/Atlantic coast). I caught a couple tiny fish and I really enjoyed how relaxing it was. We also went for a brief swim in the river.
• I went swimming in the pool during a rain storm (until the lightning started) and the water was definitely warmer than the rain, although the rain was still pretty warm. I’ve really enjoyed all the rain storms, it’s so relaxing.

Tomorrow I leave for Guatemala. I will be traveling most of the day and meeting up with Amber and Carolyn (Amber’s friend from college) in Antigua. After that… I don’t really have it planned. I just know I’ll be back in Honduras at SOME point, since that is where my flight leaves from. I’m hoping that during ‘‘Honduras (Part 2)’’ I will be able to see my family in La Ceiba or get to the islands. Until then, here are pictures from my time in Honduras.

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