Hola amigos and familia!
Estamos en Honduras! We have been here at Orphanage Emmanuel
for about two weeks now and finally have a somewhat stable
internet connection, as long as we use it before six a.m. We are so very happy
to say that our travel went well and that we are all healthy and settling in to
our new routines. Yes, we are all in one room. It is… cozy. We are learning a
lot about personal space. Joey announced the other day that his ears needed a
break. Yes Joey, I know.
But we are quite thankful for our beds and blankets and hot
and clean water. My favorite item that we brought was an electric kettle. And
at night I don’t even have to walk to the kitchen, but instead just heat up
water for some tea and it feels luxurious. Electricity! We are thankful for
electricity. Except on Thursday because the government shuts it off Thursday
evenings. But I guess it makes us that much more thankful on Fridays.
I am officially at work in the toddler house and am learning
how to navigate the very confusing waters. The house has about 30 some tots,
but also 16 teenage moms who are living here with their children. It has been
quite the process trying to figure out who is related to whom and who is
responsible for which child and when I should (or should not!) help redirect
children. There are many familiar faces in this house and so I smile a lot and
spend a lot of time spoon feeding little ones and saying phrases “abre su boca”
to instruct a little one to open their mouth. (for food, or for a toothbrush or
to fish out a toy or stick or bead or whatever else they happen to have in
there). Luckily, the toddler years are not that far behind me and I am learning
that toddlers have a basic universal rule of insane cuteness mixed with
mischievousness. However, I remind
myself during bath time or bedtime or mealtime, that these young ones have
suffered deep aches, and immense loss. And the anger and intensity of emotions
reveal their raw hearts, which have aged too fast.
I have been so proud of Joey Guy and Elena. 15 days ago they
were in the states celebrating Christmas and today they are sitting in a
comedor with 500 other children, all talking in Spanish, and having to eat
whatever is in their bowl. They are learning a lot too and fall SOUND asleep
every day by 7:30 or 8, but are ready to go by 6:30am. I can see Joey’s brain processing
on a deeper level than last year and already we have had lots of conversations
about the moms that are here, the moms that aren’t here, the town we drove
through. He doesn’t ask why
questions, but just observes more. Right now this is fine with me. Because it
is what it is, and honestly I don’t have many good answers for why.
We are loving the weather and loving the people and are very
thankful to be here.
Thank you for your emails! I love having a few to read
sometimes at 4am!
And thank you for your prayers. It is 6:05 here and I can hear all the
children waking up. There is shouting and yelling in Spanish, laughing too and
sounds of splashing water and many chickens. It is time for the day!
Much love,
Kate
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