Tegucigalpa and More

It´s been awhile... there is a lot to share. So here we go...

Last Saturday we traveled to Tegucigalpa, Honduras´ capital. We spent our first two nights at a retreat center called the Shalom Center. Then next two nights we were with host families, and then the following two nights at a hotel. We did a lot of traveling with MCC so there is a lot to share.

Our first two days at the Shalom Center we spent doing some touristy stuff. We just hung out when we got there on Saturday then on Sunday we went to see a statue of Jesus looking over the city. It was pretty cool. We ate there and stuff then went to the zoo. It was relaxing.

On Monday we learned about ASJ, or Association for a more Just Society. Basically this organization works in Teguc to help those who may not be able to help themselves. There is a lot of crime that goes on in Taguc. There are robberies, gangs, hold ups, rape, etc. ASJ works to bring justice for those who are victims without putting their families in danger. It´s hard because a lot of victims are afraid that if they turn their victimizer in, they are going to go after their family. It´s really an unfortunate cycle. Monday evening we met our host families. Mine was really sweet. They had three girls: Karen, Dayana, and Alison. Karen is 21, Dayana is 25 and has a 2 year old daughter Stephanie, and Alison is 17. It was really cool getting to know them. Karen was so funny, she LOVED my hair style and took pictures of it so she could cut her hair like mine. It made me smile.

On Tuesday we went around to see the Christian school and all it was doing for the community. They school through high school. The high school is a little different than what we have in the states. Students choose a focus instead of having a rounded education. So a student might choose to focus in business and they actually get what is called a bachelors for it. It´s interesting. That night was hard. We were actually located in one of the more dangerous neighborhoods of Teguc. Riccia and I were a little freaked out. There were gun shots fired on Tuesday night. It was really nerve wracking. Our room at the houe we were at had outside windows. The windows had bars on them but still, our imaginations went wild. It was a rough night.

We left for the hotel on Wednesday. This was actually outside of Teguc. It was this little tourist town. It was cute. We had Wednesday and Thursday to just relax. On Thursday we went shopping. I finally found a dress. It made me happy. Thursday night was very interesting. Megan was staying in our room, Megan is from MCC, she was traveling with us. She found a Cockroach in her bag... so she started pulling things out to try to refind it because she lost it. So we started moving the furniture around trying to find this things to kill it. It disappeared. Sleeping was difficult.

On Friday we traveled to San Fransico where we are staying at the MAMMA House. MAMMA Project does medical brigades and what not. We will be doing that on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Today we did things around the MAMMA House and in the community. A group went and poured cement, a group stayed and packed medicine, and a group (my group) stayed and painted the windows. I painted all morning... it was a long tedious job, but it was okay. We basically had to paint the bars over the windows. Good times.

I´m looking forward to this week. I´m having a hard time because I am getting to that point where I´m ready to be home. I know that my heart needs to be in this week and this service we are doing. I need to focus on the here and now, and that is difficult for me to do when going home is so close. So prayer that I will stay focused on MAMMA project would be great. We have had some downtime so it has given me some time to think about home and missing home and missing Luke. It´s hard but we´re almost done.

On Thursday we will leave for Roatan. It will be fun. A few days on the beach... I will try not to burn.

Hopefully I can update sometime before Roatan, just to let you all knwo how the medical bridgade is going. If not, maybe in Roatan if I´m not too busy on the beach or in the water... Thanks for the prayers!

Oh! You can see pictures of us on the EMU website! http://emu.edu/now/crosscultural/. Scroll down a little. On the right you will see Photo Albums -- There are two, Honduras 1 and Honduras 2. Check them out!

Kelley