I'm an AUNT!!!!

Out one of my best friends in the world, Christi Matanick, just had her baby, Miss Layla Elizabeth Matanick. She and Than (her husband) are going to raise the most Jesus-loving child in the world, and I'm really excited to get to meet her and watch her grow up.

I think somewhere deep down inside I'm bummed I missed her being born, but right now I'm too excited to be sad. I actually did meet Layla last summer, but she couldn't even hear yet, she was so little. Anyway, I just wanted to share the greatest joy of my life right now. :o)

Lago de Yojoa

To celebrate the end of the first partial (quarter), a bunch of us went to Lago de Yojoa to relax. For me it was a beautiful weekend of spiritual reflection and study. I intentionally left my reading books at home to encourage myself to seek my quiet time with Jesus, and it felt amazing to rest in Him.

We also hiked under a GIANT waterfall, and it was probably one of the most intense water-related experiences I've ever had. And that's saying something. The waterfalls were pounding so hard over us we had to wear t-shirts over our bathing suits to keep them on and hold hands in a line to stay together. It was CRAZY and such a thrill. We did a little cliff jumping while we were there, too, but that was nothing compare to the falls.

Three friends and I decided to extend our trip another night and went to a hostel nearby. We read and played cards and told stories and got to know each other better. I live for this stuff.

Before I say anything further, let me clarify that hitch-hiking is a very acceptable, common, and safe means of transportation in Honduras. Any guide book will testify to that. That said...we hitched home. Maybe a hundred, hundred-fifty miles. The road home is the same highway the whole way. We hopped in the bed of trucks and hopped out when the trucks stopped. It took us 3 trucks to get the whole way, and we only had to wait about 20 minutes at the longest between rides.

Personally, I'd take riding in the open air of the back of a truck over a bus any day.

Accidents and Providence

Today (Saturday) we had school to make up for some of our missed school. Two of my closest friends and I decided to go out for a movie and sushi to celebrate our survival of the Week That Would Not End. I figured I wouldn't need to bring my cell phone because I was with these two and anyone else who might call could leave a message. Besides, one of my friends had her phone, so we wouldn't need both hers and mine. (We try to roll without purses as much as possible.) We invited another friend, but he opted out.

On the taxi ride to the movie we got into a minor accident. We hit the car in front of us at maybe 45 mph. It was pretty bizarre because we all realized we were about to hit, and then a split second later I thought "Ooh, this is going to be bad..." I turned my face into my friend and began to burrow/hide when we crashed into/under the car in front of us. We heard the windshield shatter and then fumes started filling the car.

We all got out fine and some very sweet, concerned Hondurans on the side of the road were asking us if we were ok. We all got little bumps and bruises and I messed my thumb up somehow, but nothing serious.

There was so much that evidenced God's protection and sovereignty over this situation. Firstly, we had no seatbelts to be wearing. I was in the middle backseat and, according to Newton's First Law of Motion (inertia--I just taught a unit about it), I should have been thrown forward. But I wasn't. Also, none of us were in the front passenger seat. If our friend has joined us, he would have sat up front and could have seriously injured his long legs against the dashboard. (Not to mention the lack of an airbag.) There was also no car that crashed into us from behind, and given our speed, we all walked away in good shape.

Here's the best part: As we were collecting ourselves on the side of the road, an IST employee pulled up just moments later and picked us up. It turns out my friend hadn't brought her phone either, but this woman had hers and knew the numbers we had to call. We debated going to the hospital but decided to give it some time, and it turns out this woman was going to the same mall we were. We weren't even that much of an inconvenience! We went ahead with our plans for dinner and a movie to give ourselves some time to relax and unwind a little. Given the circumstances, the three of us are very aware of the depth of God's protection over us.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

**Just found out Leslie's (my roommate who was also in the accident) pastor felt the need to pray for her yesterday afternoon...

WORLD CUP 2010, BABY!!!!!!

Tonight's win depended both on Honduras beating El Salvador AND the US beating or tying Costa Rica. Honduras won 1-0 but the US was down 2-1 for most of their game. At the VERY last possible moment, the US scored a goal TYING the game and sending Honduras to the World Cup!!!!!!!!! If only you could hear the cheers and fireworks erupting right now. Honduras is finally united again in celebration. As my friends and I walked home, we were greeted by cheers, shouts of thanks, and declarations of love for the USA. But this was all Honduras. They've earned this victory.

And now Micheletti has declared tomorrow a national holiday so we can all celebrate safely. Beautiful.

(For the record, My heart does still feel for Costa Rica and am hoping they'll pull through against Uruguay. Then life would be absolutely perfect.)

Mom and Pops

I began this evening feeling really overwhelmed and frustrated with certain circumstances in my life, but now, thanks to my parents' logical practicality and youthful sense of humor, I am smiling again and back to work. (We've got a 6-day week this week as we struggle to make up for lost time. That's what I get for bragging about all our unexpected time off!)

Though I'll be the first to admit my history of frustration and irritability at my parents' teasing, I think I can appreciate it a little more as I get older. (Though they will probably be the first to tell you I still don't "appreciate" it enough...)

Mom and Dad, I miss you. Please don't ever stop teasing me.

And don't quote that back to me any time soon. :o)

Community

School went well today but I've started to feel frustrated with our inconsistent school schedule and the effect it is having on my class. I have students of all abilities and it's been incredibly difficult trying to catch everyone up to the same page, given many manditory and voluntary student absences.

Anyway, today I processed with a friend, and it really helped me to give voice to my deeper thoughts. Then after my roommate and I caught each other up on the day, she got me a treat from our local panaderia (bakery) as a day-brightener. I also got a very sweet, encouraging email from the friend I processed with. Finally, I just got a call from the mother of our Honduran family who live below us. She excitedly asked if I was home and told me she had something for me. I went down to meet her and she handed me a warm and delicious surprise gift of yucca frita. She remembered it's one of my favorites.

This has been the BEST bad day ever. :o)

Suspension of Rights

An email I received today:

U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa
Avenida La Paz
Tegucigalpa, Honduras

To: All American Citizens
From: American Citizens Services Unit, Consular
Section
Date: September 28, 2009
Subject: Warden Message - State of Exception Imposed

The Embassy advises citizens residing in and visiting Honduras that the
de facto regime issued a decree suspending certain rights under the
Honduran constitution on Sunday, September 27, 2009. This decree
affects all people in Honduras, including non-Hondurans. Specifically,
the following articles of the Honduran Constitution have been suspended
for the next 45 days (until November 11, 2009):

Article 69: The right to personal freedom
Article 72: Freedom of Speech
Article 78: Freedom of Association
Article 81: Freedom of Movement
Article 84: The right to due process _

For the next 45 days, the defacto regime has stated that the local and
national police, at times to be assisted by the military, will arrest
individuals for the following reasons:

* Disobeying announced curfew, or appearing to engage in
suspicious activities
* Gathering in public without prior approval from police and
military forces
* Carrying out media announcements violating the law or government
resolutions , or offending human dignity or any public official

The de facto regime has also stated the following:

* Individuals that are arrested for violating the above listed
restrictions will be detained
* All public installations which are occupied by demonstrators or
which are occupied by persons carrying out activities prohibited by law
will be cleared

The U.S. Department of State continues to strongly recommend that
American citizens defer all non-essential travel to Honduras as these
new restrictions will be in effect throughout Honduras, and may be
extended beyond the 45 days originally announced.

The de facto regime has been imposing a curfew of varying time periods
affecting various cities throughout Honduras since Monday, September 21.
It is expected that this practice will continue for the foreseeable
future. The Embassy recommends American citizens monitor local
television and radio for
updates to constitutional and travel restrictions and other security
measures. The Embassy strongly recommends that American citizens abide
by these restrictions.

Barring a change in the security situation or the imposition of a
daytime curfew, the Embassy and the Consular Agency in San Pedro Sula
will remain open to the public. Non-immigrant visa services remain
suspended for all but emergency medical cases.

Honduran airports re-opened September 24 for domestic passenger flights
and international cargo and mail flights. Most International passenger
flights resumed on Friday, September 25. Those whose flights were
cancelled due to the curfew should contact their airlines for further
information.