Top Ten Things I'm (Pretty Much) Accustomed To Now:

Although my 'journey of adjustment' in our new culture has taken longer and been more difficult than I'd imagined, I'm finally feeling more comfortable and able to re-define what "normal" is in everyday life.  So - here it is - after almost 13 months in Honduras, the Top Ten list of things I'm (pretty much) accustomed to now:


#10 - Geckos in the house.


#9 - Seeing women breastfeeding as they walk around the mall.


#8 - (Let's be honest), seeing women breastfeeding everywhere!


#7 - Delicious avocado - for pennies on the dollar - throughout the year.


#6 - Pulling up to an intersection beside a family of 4 on a motorcycle.  (If you're wondering how that goes, it's: younger child in front, followed by Dad, then older kid, and finally Mom in the back.)


#5 - Being the only female with light skin, light hair, and light eyes as far as the eye can see.


#4 - Buying cartons of eggs off the regular grocery store shelves...not from the refrigerated section!


#3 - Getting home and finding those eggs still 'embellished' with feathers & chicken poop.


#2 - Living with the windows open year-round.  (The climate here really is amazing.)


#1 - Almost-daily getting the chance to observe different aspects of God's character through the people of this culture!


md 

My Super Sweet 15

Yesterday we had the pleasure to experience our first 'quinceañera.' In Latin America, when a girl turns 15, there a many traditions that surround the celebration.  Sometimes there's a shoe ritual, where the birthday girl changes from flats to high-heels.  And at times there are formal dances with dozens of family and friends.  Yesterday's festivities included a sit-down lunch in the front yard of the family's home, and - honestly - it reminded us more of a wedding than a birthday!
And, of course, something to add to our very-Honduran experience was the pouring rain and the fact that there are no roads to this family's home.  So arriving at the party meant a mile trek down a mountain 'trail,' which had quickly become a small river.  The party-throwers tied tarps onto all the tree limbs (hence the blue glow in the photo below) in an effort to keep the rain off the tables, and were continually wiping rain drops off the guests' chairs.  Despite this, everyone was giving thanks for the downpour, because "it's God's will," and "will be good for the fruit in the valley."  Again, very Honduran.  And one more thing we'll never forget about this place.     

md