At last!

Finally I have remembered my password to get into my blog!
I've been back in Honduras a week now - and it feels like I never left.  My journey back from England was relatively easy really - mainly because I had a row of 4 seats to myself so I lay down for most of it...made the 9 and a half hours a lot more bearable!
I then had a couple of days to get bills paid and the house tidied up and clean. Now it's back to school.  We're still a teacher short so not actually sure how it is going to work out.  I've just had a friend call me to ask if I know of any teachers as they are setting up a school....fat chance! I can't find my own!
OK, I will try and kee this updated properly now that I have remembered the password!

The Blog is Back!

Well, it's New Years Eve...about to turn to 2014 and as I promised people the Blog would return this year, I figured I should hunt out the password and get it started!
Soooooooo much has happened since I last blogged in 2010.  I'm actually really sad that I didn't record it all on here...but that's the past, and so we shall have to start again from here!
Happy New Year to you all...and keep checking on this page (ok..mainly when I get back to Honduras later in January!)

Prayers Needed

Lots has been happening recently, but without a computer it's proving difficult to keep this updated! I am trying to remain content without a laptop, and am still very grateful to Jaime for letting me use his - but it still gets frutrating when we both need it ..and it's his after all so I insist he gets to use it! He never argues that one!

Many things are happening, but the 2 main ones to write about need a lot of prayer...They are to do with the Bilingual School I used to teach in and the community I am involved with...

a) Yesterday a student and his aunt were kidnapped. I won't give more details on here but please pray for their release.

b) An English teacher from the school has been missing since the weekend. Bill is an older teacher - about 50? Speaks Spanish and has taught in various countries...we think he went travelling on Saturday (they have been into his apartment and seen his toothbush has gone etc) but he has not turned up to his classes and noone has any idea where he is! It's fairly horrific, cos these days here it could be anything!! He is very reliable and is loving it here, he's a part of our English Bible Study. But has just vanished. His family has been contacted, as have the police and the American Embassy (he's American). Please pray we hear news of his whereabouts - or that he just turns up!

Tough times all round generally so prayers required for everyone here in Siguatepeque....and mainly for those 3 missing people!

Never dull around here eh?

New British Contingency!

As I write this I can gunshots outside my house! I want to go and see what's going on (my walls are 8 ft and so I can't see a thing from inside). However, I'm not that foolish as to go out!!

Anyway, I have had a very interesting weekend indeed. First off....when I got my new computer at Christmas, I sold my old laptop to Jaime. I have been using his for the past few days. He has now said I can keep this laptop here until I can get a new one and he will just come and use it when he needs it, as I need it more than him!! He still has a front door key to my house as he house sits for me whilst I am away so he will just come in to work here whilst I am at work (I have internet that he comes and uses anyway). So it is amazing and means I have communication! Obviously I sold this laptop for a reason...it is soooo old and slow...but it is better than nothing so I am very pleased.

So, this weekend. Thursday - Saturday was the Annual Missionary Conference, which I was able to make this year. It is held every year in Sigua as the city is in the middle of the country. Missionaries from around the country get together. I went Thurs evening, Friday evening and Saturday (had to work on Friday) and I got to meet some wonderful people, share ideas, hear about what else is going on in the country. The highlight was meeting a lady from Scotland!!! We were both very excited to meet each other and share our own culture. Her husband wasn't able to come as he had to stay and work. They come from a town near the coast - about 6 hours away, they have a hospital and Children's centre. I am going to go and stay with them in the vaccations. There were loads of Missionaries from the same town. I got to meet all sorts of people and share ideas about the school, Providence etc. It was perfectly timed. I also realised I am lucky just to have lost my laptop - and in such an easy way. Every single person there has had their phones taken once if not more times...many at gun point, not to mention other things. At least I didn't have a gun pointed at me...and it was the first robbery in 4 years. If you don't count all the things stolen when I was house sitting!!

I got to spend more time with the Haglers and Dave and Esther, and 2 other couples from Sigua who I rarely get to see and it was hilarious. Obviously I got mocked severely for my English-ness. They're just jealous!! Time out just when I needed it.

So all in all good times. I didn't go to football today as I have a cold and bad cough and didn't think standing in the rain would be a good move. But I'm bored stupid!!! Apparently I need to go to football!!!

Well, that's it. I can't add any pictures/photos til a) I take some and b) get my own computer. This one is too slow to upload!! But I can email......

Feliz dia de los pliegos de Independencia!!

Today was my last and final visit to the poli!! I called the office 3 times and each time the officer I needed to talk to was out on a 'Mission'. Finally, when I called, he actually answered the phone himself, so I jumped in my car and went straight to the Police Station. I'm not sure what I was expecting....but this wasn't it! On Friday, when the laptop was stolen I went to the Poli, gave my story, had it all typed out and signed..this was the 'Denuncia' I was announcing that my laptop had been stolen. I didn't realise this meant nothing! They said I needed to talk to the chief of robberies and so for 4 days I have been trying to track him down. Finally tonight, when I met him, it was only to make a 'Declaracion'. I had to declare that my laptop had been stolen - and only he could do this! Same information. NOW they can start looking for it...5 days later! hahaha. It's just comical.

After, my brief trip to declare my stolen laptop (waste of time, but I have now completed my part and never have to return to the Police) I went into the town for the evenign with Lorena. Today we are celebrating the signing of the papers for the Independence! There was a night time torch-light parade. It was fab, a real carnival, family feeling celebration. The streets were packed with people, more than on Independence day. The marching bands were phenominal, it was a lot more relaxed and so they completely went to town with their routines. I had parked in the middle of town, so we had to stay for all of it...a long time considering it started 2 hours late! Despite back ache from standing so long, it was just what I needed. Relaxing, fun time. I feel a lot more peaceful now that I am finished with my part of the robbery and so it was a good end to the day.

(By the way...the 4th thing to go wrong was that my toilet broke, something went wrong in the sistern, but I've been here long enough to be able to fix things like that myself. It's amazing what you can do with the wire ties that bread packets are tied up with!!)

Things come in 3's....I've reached my quota!

Yesterday I wrote about the fact Israel lent me his old laptop. Well.....tonight it died! As I was writing an email it made a loud noise and shut down saying there is an internal error!! It won't start up again. it can't read the disk or something. So...tomorrow I shall return it to Israel! It's a bit embarrassing but genuinely not my fault. So, I'm back to being computer-less. Handily Jaime was meant to come collect his laptop last night but didn't come...so I can write it on that. I know he needs it for work tomorrow, but as ever, I'm maximising on it now.

Actually, he has suspected Dengue too - same as his brother David. Bearing in mind how much time I spend with Lorena and that family, I won't be surprised if everyone ends up with Dengue....especially judging how things are going at the moment!!

I went back to the Police Station today and the officer I need to speak to still wasn't there! I waited an hour before leaving. Whilst there I asked why I was there - apparenltly the officer is going to go back to Del Coral and talk to them about the fact the car park guards weren't there!! Not that it will make any difference. I said I will go back tomorrow, but after that I give up - whether he is there or not. Noone can do anything after 5 days anyway - you have to love this country!!

On a good note, choir practise went well this afternoon. We have started a choir at church - 4 part harmony for every song. I love it, it's been so long since I've had a chance to read music here. In fact only Norma and I can read music...apart from Don Heber who leads the choir. Makes for some interesting singing. But I love it, singing Alto to my hearts content. I'm thankful that I can read music, because it means I know what I'm singing. In choir if someone makes a mistake we repeat the song over and over until everyone has every note perfect. It makes for an amazing sound...but gets quite dull. It is also fantastic for my Spanish, reading and pronouncing...and rolling my r's. It helps me unwind from the craziness of these days!

New Day, New lock!

Well, today I realised how much people want to help me here, it was very sweet. Everyone at church was very sweet. My laptop was stolen on the day of the Men's Fellowship meeting - which meant all the men in church know what happened and are offering to help with whatever!

I also decided that the front door key that couldn't be found..really can't be found. I have searched everywhere and it trly has disappeared. Not wanting to take risks I went out today and bought a new lock - and fitted it myself. I bought the same brand lock and so just had to remove the old one and put the new one in - no new holes etc!! Done. So at least I know noone can enter my house with that old key. I feel a lot safer.

More good news is that Israel has lent me his old laptop until I can get sorted. It has no battery, so has to stay plugged in and the sound card doesn't work so well....but it means I can stay in touch and so I am in no way complaining, am entirely grateful!! It will certainly do until I can sort something out. But how I miss my computer - was just what I wanted!! haha...that'll teach me. I do, however, keep realising how much was on it that I need.
As long as I don't think about it I"m fine, as soon as I think about it..not so fine!! So, the answer is to stop thinking.

I have failed miserably in trying to find God's plan in all this, but as I am no longer thinking I am ok about it!!

I didn't go back to the Police Station today, I couldn't face it. Ovidio and Norma invited me for lunch instead. I will go tomorrow...not that it will do any good, but I shall do my part in all this.

Update!!

I have Jaime's computer until 6pm today so figured I'd update this again whilst can!!
Tropical Storm Matthew seems to have by-passed us. It hit the coast and then went North to Belize!! We have rain now, but I think it is normal rain. Hondurans tell me no this is the storm, but the fact we've had blue sky all day and the Natinal Hurricane Centre says it's already in Belize makes me think not!
I went to the police again this morning as I was told to, I didn't know why I had to go back but I dragged Jaime with me so I wasn't on my own. The chief I had to talk to wasn't there and was going to be back at lunch time so I was asked to return.

I went back on my own at 1.30pm (everyone else was busy) and he still hadn't turned up as his car had broken down in Tegus - supposedly!! I asked who it was I was supposed to see and why. Each section of crimes has a person in charge of that area. This man is in charge of robberies, he knows the gangs, the likely suspects and will ask them what they know etc. Now, had he been around yesterday I'd be more hopeful of this working, but the fact he won't be back in the Station until 2 days after it was taken...no chance!! But I still have to go back to talk to him - do my bit!
Whilst I was there, the big chief of police, who helped me yesterday, said that he thinks I need lessons in shooting firearms. Apparently as a lone Gringa here, it would be very beneficial to me. I could go to the shooting ground and they would teach me. I'd actually really like that - but just for fun! I'd NEVER be able to aim a gun at anyone for any reason.

I am feeling very sad and somewhat freaked out that someone here has my computer and can look through ALL my photos - my family, my work, my apartment. Not great news, but I"m hoping they'll just wipe it clean and not look through my entire life which is stored on my computer!

Tucked up in doors

Tropical Storm Matthew is not looking good! The worst of it is going to hit the north coast, but it will effect the whole country. 3 days of unstoppable torrential, tropical rain. They are predicting land slides..thus mortalities. My own neighbourhood is going to suffer. Lorena's house is going to suffer.

Makes me sad.

Bad day!

After work today I had to go to the supermarket, so I went straight from work. I parked in the secure cark park...security guards, cameras, and went into the store quickly. When I came out someone had broken into my car and stolen my laptop) My new one I got at Christmas. As I got to my car and realised this, the owner of the supermarket walked past so I was able to tell her. She then called people down from the office and I went with them upstairs in their office above the store. We watched the CCTV footage...but its not very good and you couldn't see anything very clearly. So they could do nothing. I gave them my details and they said I had to go to the Police Station - not somewhere a white girl goes alone! So I called all my friends and got hold of no-one!! Lorena was in Comayagua and had more luck calling people for me. As I went downstairs I saw a lady from church entering (Delmy's sister) so I asked her to come to the police with me!!

I entered the police station and they said they couldn't do anything. Then suddenly they received a phone call from the Govenor, who said they must help me immediately!!! Lorena had called a friend in church, who is a big wig in politics and she had called the chief of police for me!! Then Ovidio turned up at the Police Station..man's presence needed. Then a man from church, Manuel turned up too! I don't know him very well but he had heard I needed help so came along. Ovidio and Besie had to go so I went with MAnuel and 5 police back to the Supermarket! The chief of Police told the Supermarket man that they had to help me, I was in this country to help them etc etc!! Was very sweet. So I have to go back to the police station again tomorrow morning...with anyone I can find to help me! Not a chance I will get my laptop back. I'm so sad...I had got my external hard drive out last night so I could back everything up this weekend!! Too late. So I've lost all my photos, music, movies...and WORK!! Not good. Worst of all is that I won't have Skype so won't be able to communicate with my family. I am borrowing a friend's computer for the night (and hopefully til Sunday!). Then that is it. How I will get my vast ammounts of work done I have no idea!! God has a plan in all this...but I can't see it!!

The good thing in it all is that when they broke into my car (forced the lock) they dind't actually steal the car!! And I wasn't there at the time - so didn't get shot! I can at least appreciate that.

Destruction

I have just been sat watching the news on tv. It's truly heartbreaking. These heavy rains have destroyed sooo much. Roads, bridges, houses, businesses, farm land etc. The photos are horrific. The country is on Green alert now and the next heavy rains (Tropical storm Matthew) are due in the next few hours. Apparently, hundreds of schools across the country have collapsed and have had to be evacuated. Craziness. It truly and honestly makes me very sad to watch all this around me. Even part of the main football stadium in the capital city has collapsed! We are about to experience the heaviest rains so far....if you've seen the photos of Lorena's house and the neighbourhood in these floods this does not bode well. This rain really does stress me out - even though my house is dry...so far....apart from my laundry room which regularly floods!! I think it's the destruction it's causing that stresses me out. Horrible. The news is saying that with all this rain, it is causing more distasterous effects than Hurricane Mitch did in 1998. Not good. They (hurricane centre in USA) are predicting 18 tropical cyclones of which 10 will be hurricanes. Whether they all hit Honduras is unknown. Great. Glad I bought wellies.

On stand by...

Adelson (Lorena and Jaime's brother so part of my family!) and Velkis are about to have their 2nd child - any hour now!! I am on stand by to drive them to the hospital at any hour, day or night!! Obviously, when someone goes into labour here, the whole family goes to wait in the hospital. 2 births in 2 months for me!

Rains

We have been suffering more and more with flash flooding. The rains have been abnormally heavy. My neighbourhood floods more than most!! The roads are literally flowing rivers 15 mins after the rains start. An hour after it stops and it all disappears!! I am thankful for the blessing of my car. Without 4x4 the roads are impassable and I would never leave my house!

Lorena's house breaks my heart. Her house is a v poor house. The roof leaks somewhat and the walls don't actually meet the tin roof - you can watch mice running along the top of it, and it means there are always mosquitoes in the house - hence the dengue that her brother had. The worst is that the path to her house slopes down from the road and so with this heavy rain the water pours down. Her front path, garden, entrance turns into a river/lake. When she told me how deep it was I wan't convinced so with my wellies (rain boots) on and rain coat on, I braved it to her house in the torrential rain. The water was so deep it went over the top of my boots. I was amazed. Yet immensely saddened - this is her house and happens every day. It doesn't take long to clear after the rains, but it's shocking. They want to rent a house during these winter months, their house is just not healthy and doesn't work! Or they want to bbuild the walls up and put a new roof on. But it costs money that they don't have. Plus..they don't want to leave me alone in this neighbourhood bless them. It is so sad to see their house..it's their home - my 2nd home!!

Lorena rescuing the cat as she tried to get into her house!

The rain pouring from the road into her house!

Click here for photos of my neighbourhood

I finally had enough of the mud bath in front of my house. The dogs were continually digging holes, that then filled with water and became a mud splashing bath for them..thus caking everywhere with mud. I also couldn't keep up with all the weeds and it just looked a mess. So I gave in and bought gravel. It now looks really good - and will prevent so much mud (and dust in the dry season). It's expensive stuff but well worth it!!

September!

It's been a while since this has been updated - and so much has happened! September is a crazy month in Honduras. The country celebrates it's Independence from Spain on 15th Sept and so the whole month is a celebration. On the first of September, the children all lined up outside as we raised the National Flag, sang the anthem, prayed the National Prayer! Then, at the end of the day we had to go outside and sing the National Anthem again as the flag is taken down!! A good start to the month....except this then happens every day in September, every morning we line up outside by the flag poles and sing the Anthem, say the prayer and then every afternoon we go back outside and do it all again!! Makes for a long month!!

Click here for more photos

On the 10th Sept we had Dia del niño - Day of the Child. We kept it simple at school this year and just had a party for the school children, and the children from the orphan homes, in school. The usual games, pinatas, food etc.

Click here for more photos

Then, the major event of the month - the Independence Day Parades! This was our first official pre-school parade and as every school we went a bit to town with it! It took us a long time to arrange and to make (and get made) costumes, banners etc. But it was worth it and they did great.

Click here for more photos

What made it better was that we got the rest of the week off as a celebration - at times I really do love this country!!! So on the 15th I headed to town with friends to watch the high schools parade - always amazing! They have the big marching bands - latino style - which I love! Great community atmosphere in town. Then back to lunch at Lorena's for a big family meal. Then in the afternoon I went to watch the guys play volleyball - in the rain, but gave me something to do! The evening brought with it a concert in town but it wa high jacked by the Resistencia (the group opposed to the government, Mel Zalaya fans!) and so we clearly didn't hang around for that! All in all it was a great day.

The week was relaxing and a well needed break. I didn't get to go away anywhere, but this was a good thing as David (Lorena and Jaime's younger brother) became v ill with Rotavirus and Dengue and so I spent the week driving him to hospital, then when he was admitted visiting him with J and L. Dengue is spreading really quickly here. I have 3 friends who all have it - something I never wish to have.

Plodding on

Things have just been plodding on here really. The rains are phenominal as ever - the road by my house flooded so badly smaller cars couldn't pass. I drove down it and as I did a small 'normal' car virtually floated past me as the water was over the level of his tyres! He made it though. Friends of mine get 'streams' of water flowing through their houses as everything is on a hill. My laundry room/store room continues to flood, I now have mushrooms growing on the floor and opening my back door is nearly impossible as the wood has swollen so much. Every Honduran is confused as noone has seen it like this in Siguatepeque - especially not before November - the heavy rain season!! My landlord is sending someone to fix my roof this week so hopefully I won't be sweeping water out every time it rains!!

I have finally found an Internet provider that can install broadband into my house. They were meant to come on Friday, but because of the rain...never made it. I am hoping they will come tomorrow so I will be able to Skype again etc.

Friday night I got a phone call to go and visit a friend in hospital. So Lorena, Jaime and I got in my car and went over to the hospital. Libi lives in Santa Barbara and is a very close friend of Fredi and Belquis. Her family were in a car crash just over a year ago and her husband and son were killled and she was left seriously ill - and has had to wear/use a collostomy bag. She was finally in hospital to have her intestines 'fixed' so she wouldn't need the bags anymore. I'm not sure why Fredi called us really, she was still in the operating theatre and they had been waiting for 4 hours and I think were just bored and wanted company!! So we sat and chatted in the hospital until we knew it had been successful and she was in intensive care - then went home. Slightly random, but I'm glad she is doing well. She is such a sweet girl.

Yesterday I was meant to go with the Youth Group up to 2 communities in the mountains to build desks for some schools and some cabin type/shelter things for the schools. I decided that as much as it would have been fun, I needed a quieter day at home. So, I pottered around here in the morning and then in the afternoon Lorena and I took little Benjamin into town and pottered around getting things done there. In the evening I got bored so went to her house, only her mum was there and so chatted to her. She has the craziest, old fashioned ideas, but was good fun and nice to relax and laugh.

Today - I've done absolutely nothing! I may live to regret it, but for now it's been v pleasant!

Flooding

This is the view from the front windscreen of my car today as I was driving down the road from Providence! The road had become a river after just 2 hours of tropical rain!! It was actually quite deep as well.

Honduras is really suffering at the moment from severe rain and severe flooding. In Sigua alone rivers are bursting and flooding houses and roads. As I drove into town today I passed cars parked along by the bridge watching the raging torrent of water rising steadily, flooding the lower level houses built on the rivers edge. It was an impressive sight to see -- yet the destruction is devastating. The river by my house luckily has high river banks, thankfully.

Pray for Tegucigalpa in particular. The flooding is at it's worst and has destroyed countless homes, roads and businesses. The rain is relentless.

Praise God for my wellies and 4x4 car at the moment!! There are tropical storms and hurricanes out in the Caribbean - but none near Honduras. Yet we still suffer their effects.
As I write this the rain has started again. Lovely to be tucked up in bed when it is like this outside, but not when you think of the destruction it is causing...and not when you have to get up early for work and it's still dark and raining. A killer!!

Yay...Football!!

Finally...football on Sunday again. This was just a friendly game and it wa so wonderful to be back on the cancha watching football with my friends again. Life felt normal...I don't really know what to do with my Sundays without football!! I arrived after the start of the game and am sorry to say I missed the fight on the pitch the other side of the fence - the posh expensive pitch we've never played on! Apparently neither team agreed with the ref, so all piled on top of him beating the watsit out of him!!! Our team was hilarious, most of the normal team couldn't make it and so it was like the B team playing, actually more like the Y team! They were so bad it was wonderful to watch, and the fact that the pitch was fooded from all the rain added to the fun (to watch), then the added bonus of 2 dogs who wouldn't go away. Normally the dogs and cows wander across in the middle of the game, but these 2 dogs were having way to much fun running round in the middle of it all. All in all, a most amusing game. I love Sundays!

A highlight of the day was one of the parents from school calling me - the fact they have my number is NOT a highlight, but the fact we chatted away before she realised I wasn't Profe Luz - the Honduran teacher! Shows my Spanish is improving!! I've been told many times this weekend that I am now truly bilingual with my Spanish, and my accent is Honduran (will be more so after more time away from England). I've heard my friends say so many things about other foreigners' Spanish and accents that to hear them being positive about mine means a lot. Don't get me wrong - it's still not great and I have a very long way to go yet, but it's an encouragement to hear people being positive about it! There is hope! If only my high school German and French teachers could see me now!!

All calm!

For once a calm, quiet Saturday!! Most unusual - and needed. Since the funeral, this week has been long and tiring, but today I was able to catch up with some sleep and rest. I was also able to meet up with my friend Melodie that I've not seen in months and months! She is French Canadian and runs the children's home just out of Sigua. She is French Canadian, raised in Spain and her first language is French, 2nd Spanish and 3 rd English - yet is Canadian and you wouldn't realise English wasn't her first language! I've known her my whole time here but we barely get time to meet up. It was good to catch up properly, with someone who understands cultural differences and is vv down to earth!

After church tonight I gave Delmy's son, Ricky (14), a ride home as always and we stopped off so I could buy him something to eat for dinner. He seems to be coping really well with everything and accepting it. Seems his friends are a great help, which is good news. He's very funny so we just had a laugh really!!
All remarkably peaceful, thankfully.

Yesterday I went to a baby shower for some friends in the church, a relly great group of women there that I really get on with. Considering most of my friends are guys it's good to get to know some of this women too. One funny thing is that the Pastors wife came to tell me that someone from church had been trying to get hold of me and had asked her for my number, he had asked for 'KaTHarine' pronouncing the 'th'. She told him she didn't know anyone of that name!! Then she realised it was me - no-one here pronounces my name with a 'th'. I'm Katarin or Misska or Gringa. The th thing threw her totally!! Amused me somewhat.

In 2 weeks time I should be connected with fully working broadband internet - finally. The company who kept promising me it would be in my neighbourhood soon, finally admitted it would never be. At the same time the telephone company have started broadband via the telephone wire. So I shall at last have broadband wireless in my house and be able to upload photos on here again and use Skype! About time too.

1 more thing...

Did I mention that one of my friends was brought a big plate of food at 1am in the church last night? We all helped outselves off his plate obviously. I was enjoying my tortilla and beans when I was offered some 'meat' to try. It wasn't too bad, but not my favourite but any means.

I had just eaten 'huevos de torro'.

Bulls testicals.

That is how random the night was.

The End.

Well, at 2,30am Lorena and I went to sleep in my car!! All the corners of the church were filled with others sleeping! I was in favour of going home to sleep in my bed, but it apparently was not an option! So whilst Lorena lay and snored I lay awake! At 5.30am everyone seemed to be waking up and so I managed to convince Lorena this was a good time to go home and shower and change. I also sneaked in a quick hours sleep in bed. Then it was time for me to do a couple of church runs in my car to get people to the next service. This time it was the official funeral service. As I entered, Delmy's usually very shy older brother, gave me a huge hug and thanked me for being there to support the family, he was so sincere. I truly am a part of the community here. Thankfully the song were slightly more of a celebrationary fashion. Her sister got up to speak and left the entire congregation in tears. Delmy has many many brother and sisters, all of whom are Christian and it was only in April that Delmy herself accepted Christ. Thankfully! Blanca spoke from the heart about her sister. Then 20 cars and the church bus made it's very slow procession up to San Isidro - the MOST beautiful mountain village where all my friends grew up.

The strangest thing about the night was seeing Delmy's identical twin sister - I had to do a double take each time I saw her. When we got to the cemetary, we parked the cars in the road and walked up the long path to the cemetary her twin could not go near the actualy grave or the coffin. Heartbreaking. I couldn't look at the coffin today, knowing what she looked like as they lowered her into the ground was too much for me. Especially without sleep. So I stood and comforted my friend Patty as her husband lowered his cousin into the ground. Yet again I watched as the very same friends carried the coffin...the same friends who carried Don Tony back in November. That was what nearly broke my heart. The burial takes a while here, because you have to take your own cement and once the coffin is lowered in, everyone stands and watches as cement is poured into the hole and it is all bricked up and secured. So Marlon was there again mixing concrete. It was so hard.
So that is it. Delmy is now buried. I don't think I will forget her 2 young sons crying and hugging her coffin as they looked at her for the final time.

I found out today that Delmy had wanted to come home yesterday. I had always offered the family that I would do anything to help. Apparently they had called at 6am to ask if I would go to San Pedro to collect Delmy and her mum and sister to bring her home. I would have done con gusto. Ten minutes later she called to say she'd died. Incredible. Her death was more to do with a respiritary problem than the leaukemia. I think her organs had just had enough!

I got home at lunch time, changed and had to go out to give my English class to a little boy I tutor. I'm' not convinced it was my best class ever, but his mum knew where I had been and so made me some enchiladas and a drink!! Bless her. David has an exam tomorrow and so I couldn't cancel the class. It's now nearly 6pm, I am so desperate to sleep, but I am going to wait til bedtime now! If I can.

Lorena is going to find it so hard that Delmy has gone. It was her best friend. This could be a tough few weeks ahead.

Back to work tomorrow