so much to do, in so little time... that doesn't even begin to describe how I feel right now. Waves of saddness hit me throughout the days as I am coming nearer and nearer to my departure from Honduras. I am really trying to take each moment captive - and i think that by the end of the month I will be ready to sleep for a couple days!
I've been so busy these past several days - and am looking to continue to spend each day I have left here with my friends in Armenia Bonito, from my church, teachers from the Spanish school and from Brassavola, with my students, with other missionaries here... soaking up as much as I can and giving all that I have in these last 10 days. (and perhaps seeing what all the hoopla is about the Carnaval this coming Saturaday)
This past weekend was fabulous - Mary and I went out to Cayos Cochinos - some islands just off the coast of Honduras. These islands are barely inhabited paradises - full of natural beauty, amazing coral reefs, and pink boaconstricters. :) We were blessed to stay the night with a wonderful older couple who live on the largest little island - and only had a few surprise animalitos in our beds. I have so many good memories from there - swimming, snorkeling, hiking in flipflops, watching the sunset, and talking around the table...
we would have liked to stay for more than 24 hours, but we had to get back to Ceiba because we promised that we would spend the night in Armenia Bonito with my family. This was an adventure, for sure! We went played with the kids in the afternoon - jumping rope, playing volleyball... then we went to a "culto" - or a revival-type service - and finally went back home to continue our slumber-party. Walking into their house I was only surprised by a few animals - but seeing the spiders and rats made me a little nervious about what else could be crawling around... 
We ate some more food and danced around a little bit before we went to bed - with the girls sleeping in the parents' bedroom and the guys sleeping in the kids bedroom. I ended up sleeping with Jessica and Jeisy on a little twin mattress on the floor, while Mary and Angela (the mom) slept on the double bed in the room. We slept in a little room with a wood shutter covering any windows and I had two little girls snuggling up on me... I have never been so hot in my life! But it was a special time to share with their family - and I am so glad that we were able to be a part of their worship service and see their life at times when I normally wouldn't. 
this was the friend I found when walking into the kitchen... the other one apparently ran off... 
Angela is sewing the family's clothes for the culto.. 
here we are sitting on the bench before the service began...
The next morning, Mother's day, Mary and I left Armenia Bonito by 9ish to come back to Ceiba.. and I have to say I have NEVER been on a bus that full. We were grateful to be some of the first ones on - because we were able to get a seat on the bus near the front.. todo el mundo wanted to go to Ceiba for church or shopping or something - and I remember watching 10 more people try to fit on the bus that already had people hanging out the door. CRAZY. We finally made it into town in time to buy a flower for our host moms here in Ceiba - then parted ways.. I made it to the Noonan's house in time to try to call my moms and take a shower (where I scrubbed and scrubbed...) and then turned around, got back out on the bus and headed to another village, Colonia Confite. There, my friend Diana had invited me out to spend the afternoon and evening with her - as her church had a special service for the Mothers. I really enjoyed meeting her family and seeing where she lived - as we normally just hang out together in Ceiba... I hope to make it back out to her house before I leave... 
Diana's friendship has meant so much to me - as we have been about to really spur one another on in our walk with Christ.
Today I spent the day with Dania, the 16 year old daughter of Angela from Armenia Bonito. We went shopping to buy a comal (so I can make really good homemade tortillas) and a little Bible for her, took professional pictures (SO CHEAP here, and a little cheesey with school picture backdrops from the early 90s), made CDs of Spanish praise music on my computer.. and just enjoyed each other. I have loved being able to encourage her and live my life before her as a young Christian woman. (below is a picture of Dania, Mary and me)
I have found that I am STILL frustrated with Spanish - as the more I am around people and have varying conversations the more vocabulary I realize I don't know.. and that is discouraging... Pray that regardless of my frustrations, I will be able to make the most of every opportunity that the Lord brings my way in the time I have remaining in Honduras.
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