My Move to the Mission House

Buenos Tardes!

We didn't end up moving into the mission house until yesterday afternoon.  If you haven't noticed by now, there can never really be set plans here in Honduras.  I think I'm adapting to the Honduran way of life though, and I'm doing a pretty good job at going with the flow.  We spent yesterday morning at the Mi Esperanza center helping the women in the maquila (sewing room) prepare new items for the store.  Then we traveled up to the mission house, which is located on yet another mountain!  Actually, it's the same mountain that El Picacho is on, so I'm sure I'll be going to see Jesus again soon.  Yesterday afternoon and evening we hung around here, and met some of the people in other groups.  Here are some pictures of the mission house surroundings:

The view from the deck of our cabin.

Another angle.  We're right on the edge of a rainforest, and Janet's going to take us there later this week. Janet also said something about us being in a cloud forest too...I can't remember what it is exactly, but there aren't that many in the world.  Basically, I should feel very special that I'm witnessing this!

The cliff that's right outside our cabin.

Our cabin!  Mother Goose (Janet) and her goslings (7 of us) are staying here.  The rest of the groups stay in dorm type buildings up the hill.  We're a bit secluded from everyone.  One bathroom for 8 people is a treat though.

Mother Goose's 15 passenger van!

Esperanza!  This is Lori's (Janet's partner in Mi Esperanza) dog.  She's such a sweetie!

Most people went to build houses today, but I stayed with Janet and went back to the Mi Esperanza center.  Janet is making all of these great connections for me so I'll be able to get a lot of field research in for my class.  I found out today that I'm going to get to stay with a woman in Talanga, Honduras (about an hour and a half away from Teguc) who started a program that rescues and provides aid to women and children who are victims of violence.  The woman I'll be working with is Gracie Murphree, and the organization is El Corazon de Cristo.  If you go to the "victims" tab, you'll find information about the special crimes program.  **WARNING** The first picture on that tab is a bit graphic.

The only issue is...I don't speak Spanish!  Janet is in the process of finding an interpreter to go with me, so that I can interview some of the victims, as well as some of the people that work with the organization.  If everything works out, I should be headed there next Tuesday, and I'll be there until next Thursday.  It's definitely going to be hard hearing the stories of these women - many of whom aren't even women yet.  This kind of research needs to be done though, so hopefully things work out and I can go!

Tomorrow I'm going with Janet to the place where she and Lori buy pottery for the store!  I'm really excited to see how the Honduran's throw pots, and how it differs from the way I was taught in the US.  The place is close to the El Salvadoran border, and I have a feeling it's going to be a really pretty drive.  I'll be sure to take mucho fotos!

Stay tuned!