Inside the rainbow.

The past few days, I was at Lajo Yajoa on an end-of-semester retreat. Yesterday we went to this waterfall park. I jumped off the rocky riverbank like 25 feet into the water, it was fun. So much playing around in the water and doing jumps. It was beautiful. I also kayaked with Sylvi really far on the Lake. Ate great fish. Had some great times with my fellow students, who turned out to be a pretty neat bunch.

I guess this is my last post here in Honduras. If you're still reading, thanks, and I hope we can talk when I get back stateside.

Some things I like about Honduras:

• how people point with their lips
• exchanging "buenas!" with strangers
• putting drinks in bags instead of bottles
• men dress well and wear nice shoes
• the abundance of cheese
• how oranges are peeled for you and served with salt
• fake kiss-on-the-cheek greetings
• honey "pura" on crepe-like pankekes
• public space and forced personal interaction
• doorway curtains
• crochet toilet-seat covers
• pulperias
• Spanish is a more expressive language
• how economics forces people to be easier on the environment
• public transportation
• Latino Christian music
• gringas, baleadas, licuados, Penguinos
• flavor and fat in food
• internet cafes

Cuidase.

Digame.

I forgot to mention in my last post that on Thursday, I got to drive a school bus! When we were out in the campo on a rocky dirt road with no one around, Olvin let me take the wheel. It was fun, and easier than I'd imagined.

This morning I took Ambar to Chiminike, which is the coolest children's museum I have ever visited. We played with big bubbles, climbed a huge rope structure, laid on a bed of nails, got ice cream, etc...it was terrific. I will sorely miss this little girl, my friend.

El Color de Esperanza

This past week was spent out in the campo, with our host families in Guanabano, Olancho. There's not a lot going on there, it's farm country but my family is kind of retired. Things are so laid-back. We spent a lot of time with the 7 kids, who are between 17 mos.-11 years old. They are so great, just climbing all over us all the time and making their own fun.

The 96-year-old "papito" great-granddad we met last time we visited just passed away last week, but Sylvi brought a photo she'd taken of him and they framed it and put it on the wall. That was special.

While we were there we administered a survey of the community for the National Diaconate about living conditions, needs, opinions, etc. It was really neat--when we approached a house, we would say "Buenas" and the people would pull up a chair and say "Sientense"(Have a seat) before we even explained who we were.

The man who drove our bus out there, Olvin (and his wife and baby) stayed in the same house as Sylvi and I, which was another cool part. He is such a kind, gentle person and the four of us had fun chats over meals.

Yesterday we went with our families to caves with stalagmites in a cloud forest. That wasn't even one of the highlights of the trip, but the best parts are hard to describe briefly.

It was just so great to get to know that family more and talk with them. They all got teary-eyed and the kids cried when we left this morning. What precious people. I will miss that place.

Vanessa, the 7-year-old, sang me this little song "Pintarse la cara, el color de esperanza" (paint your face the color of hope.)