Mountaineering

So having made lots of videos it's now not letting me put them on here...typical! So I shall say what's been going on and maybe this week I'll be able to upload them.

On Thursday I take my little class of Grade 1's for P.E. My Spanish co-teacher suggested we take them for a walk in the mountains behind the school (owned by the project) and so off we went. She said she knew the way! Hmmm I beg to differ. We found a path and followed it and then the path stopped! Luz was sure that we were about to come across another path.....we didn't. We were pushing our way through thick mountain undergrowth. The kids thought it was great, although there was no disguising that we were lost!!

Eventually we turned round and headed back in the rough direction that we came from...hard to tell exact direction when all the trees look the same!! We eventually made it back and the kids were full of energy and so ran up the hill in front of us. I thank God we didn't ome across any of the cobras or other snakes that are abundant around here!!

Happy Easter!!

As you have probably noticed I haven't been updating this! Sorry, what with lack of speedy internet at times, lack of time and lack of motivation! But a new start....

Here's a very quick overview of what has happened the past 2 months...

Well my friend Jenny (was Grove) from Mayfield (CYFA camp) days was working for Tearfund in Latin America so managed to fit in 3 days in Honduras!! She came and stayed with me and interviewed someone from my church for her Tearfund work and it was lovely to have someone who knows me and my culture stay a while. A true blessing - and a right laugh!


Work plods on, has it ups and downs, hard times and fun times.


It has been a bit tough at times still settling down again after time at home cos I know I'm coming back in July for 2 weeks so am thinking about home...as much as I desperately love coming home it doesn't help me feel settled here!


This week has been Semana Santa - Holy Week. We only get this week off school..agghhh...but it has been wonderful. I chose not to go on the Youth Group camp...a decision which upset a lot of people! Instead I went to Belize with Sue and her family. They had to go to renew their visas and asked me along. It was just exaclty what I needed to relax and unwind. Beautiful beaches and just getting away. The weather here is just plain weird...why is it raining in the hottest month of the year???? So we had some rain but nothing terrible and was still fun. The amazing news is that the Vissers pretty much paid everything for me - talk about an amazing gift at just the right time!!


Here is a link to the photos....(click on it!)


Belize photos


So, after I got back from Belize on Wednesday night all my friends went off to camp on Thursday morning - til Tonight (Sunday). It was actually really nice to have time at home to read my books and relax. I spent time with the Haglers (lovely Missinoary family here) and went for lunch with the Vissers. I am trying to work out the balance between spending time with my friends (all Honduran) and spending time with friends and people from my own culture - to help keep the balance. Is a tough line to follow but I'm trying!


Today, being Easter Sunday, I went to the Sunrise service that is held as a united services for all the Evangelical churches in town. Had to be there at 5am! Luckily round the corner. I do love singing all the old hymns! I videoed some for you - I clearly have to work on my camera skills and next time not sit in front of a loud singing lady!! But it gives you an idea of what it's like...screachy and all!!


..Because He lives....

I couldn't upload the others on my super-slow internet!! But you can see 1!

Here are some photos I took today of Sheba who is looking more like the lioness Nala from Lion King every day!!! She is getting enormous and is only 3 months! She got stung by a wasp today and so is sporting a fat lip on her already too-big-for-her-body head!

Now I have this little flip video thing (bought down for me from the States I can start posting videos of my life here..I promise to work on my camera skills!)

Life is full of surprises!

I think most of you know that whilst I was in England my 2 dogs escaped. Gumersindo upstairs left the gate open and they shot out - most likely looking for me! Anyway, Jaime and seemingly half of Sigua spent the next 2 days searching all day for them. But not to be found. This was just after Christmas, nearly 2 months ago! 2 nice looking black labradors would have been taken off the streets straight away so I'm guessing someone has them!

Anyway, today is the 14th year since mum died. I've been wishing I were at home with the family all day and feeling a long way away from family and friends. Suddenly G knocked on my door and he had a puppy for me! He had bought it to replace the dogs! How sweet. It is gorgeous, a German Shepherd cross. About 2 months and v cute. Her name is Sheba cos that was the name of the family dog we had when I was growing up. Will remind me a bit of mum. Now I haven't puppy proofed my house or garden so have no idea what to do with the thing - but it's cute!! Very thoughtful of him too. She is one of 9 puppies in her litter and so is very thin and you can feel her ribs but she'll fill out soon enough!

Ok.....so I wrote all that last night and then the internet crashed!! Last night this dog cried sooooo loudly the ENTIRE night. In the end I had her cage in my bedroom so she had company. Tonight, she will be like every other Honduran dog...outside!! This dog can cry!! When I go tback from football today my neighbours little boy (who had helped searched for Jezabel and Delilah) came out to tell me my dog was crying! The whole neighbourhood can hear it! Let's hope that stops soon enough!

I'm back!!!

OK, I'v not fallen off the face of the earth! Soooo sorry I haven't been writing this! I went home for Christmas and have been back in Honduras a month now. With Vacation Bible School up in the mountains, catching up with friends etc it was good to be back!
Cool started again this week. Apart from ridiculously early starts (I am not designed to wake up at 5,30am! it is good to be back at work again)
I promise I will start updating this properly from now on!! Please keep reading...

comin home for Christmas...

Tomorrow I leave the blue skies and blazing sunshine and head to cold, wet and windy England to have Christmas with the family....first time in what seems like years. I am soooo looking foward to eating roast beef and yorkshire puddings on Sunday... I hope you read this Dad!!

I'm so exhausted right now, here's hoping I sleep on the plane, I've been cleaning my house so much I almost want to stay as it's never been so clean! And this leaving lark is expensive, I've had to pay all my bills in advance, fill the house with food (unwritten rule for house sitters is you leave them with food!) and get everything washed and ready this end for Jaime to come and live here for a month - can't leave the place empty, and someone has to look after the dogs. It's not me house sitting for a change, I'm actually the one leaving!

So, that's it for now....tomorrow I start the epic journey back (with sweaters, coat, hat, scarf and gloves in my hand luggage!!)

Talent Show 2009

The day of the Talent Show finally arrived. Despite the fact 4 of the bigger churches in town couldn't come, we still had 300 young people turn up!! An amazing answer to prayer!!! It was a fantastic night, enjoyed by all. Everything went smoothly and it was excellent - and we managed to raise funds for the mission trip - the purpose for the whole thing! I was there for 14 hours making sure everything was ok, and we all had to tidy up afterwards!
When I finally got home at 11.30pm I then had to work on the Directory for church so I could hand everything over to Boris. By 1am it was done!!

So now all my commitments are completed. I spent today sorting my apartment out and tidying up, so tomorrow I can clean it all properly.

I am truly exhausted - but maybe it will mean I will sleep on the plane. I've had 3 different people offering to drive me to the airport....how lovely! In church, the Pastor thanked me for all my hard work on the Directory and prayed for my journey adn time at home - I really am a part of it all here now. I'm kind of sad to leave my friends, but looking forward to seeing everyone in UK. (I am still dreading the cold, it is sooooooo hot here!)

2 v different days!

On Wednesday to celebrate end of school, I went on a day trip to the beach with my fellow teachers. In less than 3 hours I drove to the Caribbean Sea, where upon I spent the entire day in the sea, then got back in my car and we drove home!! It's getting hot here again...I love the fact I can just drive to the Caribbean coast - not looking forward to English weather!

Today, however, I spent 12 hours in the Bible Seminary decorating and getting ready for the Talent Show tomorrow night - the thing I've been planning for months for the churches. Tomorrow will be another long day there and then it will be finally over!! Yay!