Tuesday, March 20, 2012
december 12, 2011
HI EVERYONE,
I AM DOWN TO THE LAST LEG OF MY TRIP. I LEAVE ON THURSDAY FOR A LONG
GRUELING DAY OF TRAVEL!! I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT THE COLD IS GOING TO
FEEL LIKE. SOME DAYS IT SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD TO ME. I CAN IMAGINE THAT
YOU ARE ALL TRYING TO STAY ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE CHRISTMAS MADNESS.
YOU DON'T FEEL THAT URGENCY DOWN HERE. PEOPLE HAVE ARTIFICAL TREES
BUT THEY PUT THEM UP IN NOVEMBER. THERE MAY BE A FEW GIFTS, BUT USUALLY
IT IS SOMETHING TO WEAR. THEY DO MAKE A BIG DEAL OVER THE FOOD. ALREADY
THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THE "'"TOMALES'' THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE AND THE IT
OTHER FOOD. IT DOES SOUND KIND OF FUN. (IF YOU LIKE PARTYING ALL NIGHT OF
THE 24TH AND SLEEPING ALL DAY ON CHRISTMAS).
THIS PAST SATURDAY WAS TOM's STORYTIME. IT STARTED OUT A DISASTER BUT
ENDED UP GREAT. BOTH THE BISHOP'S DAUGHTER'S FLAKED ON ME THE LAST
MINUTE. I WNT OVER TO THE PATRONADO WITH A BAG OF BOOKS AND GAMES
UNDER MY ARMS. IT TOOK ANOTHER 20 MINUTES TO ROUST UP A KEY. ONCE INSIDE,
I BEGAN SETTING UP THE 18 NEW LITTLE PLASTIC CHAIRS AND A NEW, ROUND PLASTIC
TABLE. I SET THE BOOKS OUT ON THE TABLE. THE SECOND SIGN I MADE ADVERTISING
THE STORYTIME WAS STOLEN AGAIN. SO THERE WAS NO ADVERTISING. I THEN
OPENED THE DOOR SO THAT PEOPLE PASSING BY COULD SEE ME AND THE BOOKS
INSIDE. I SPOKE TO A FEW KIDS ON MY WAY IN AND TOLD THEM TO COME TO STORYTIME.
TWO KIDS CAME, THEN THREE OR FOUR MORE. I DECIDED TO START IN AND PICKED
A STORY NOT TO DIFFICULT TO READ AND STARTED IN. THEN THE ONE DAUGHTER WHO
FLAKED CAME IN WITH HER GRANDMOTHER. I FORGOT THAT I HAD ASKED HER TO HELP
TOO. SHE IS A FORMER SCHOOL TEACHER SO SHE KNEW JUST WHAT TO DO. MEANWHILE
THE GRANDDAUTHER ONCE AGAIN LEFT. THESE TWO GIRLS ARE JUST TOO YOUNG TO
KEEP UP THE MOMENTIUM OF A WEEKLY READING GROUP. THE GRANDMOTHER WAS
GREAT AND MIXED UP THE BOOKS WITH SOME SIMPLE GAMES TO BREAK IT UP. THEN
AT THE END OUT CAME THE YOYO'S, SLINKEY'S, TWISTER, ETC. IT WAS LUCKY IT TURNED
OUT THIS WAY BECAUSE THE GRANDMOTHER WILL RUN IT AND I AM GOING TO PAY HER
A SMALL SOMETHING EVERY MONTH TO KEEP UP HER INTEREST. THE KIDS REALLY SEEMED
TO ENJOY THEMSELVES. WE HAD LESS OLDER BOYS TOO, WHICH CALMED THINGS DOWN.
I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE PROJECT AND HOPE THAT IT WILL CONTINUE.
I AM SUPPOSE TO GET TOGETHER WITH A GUY NAMED CARLOS AND HIS WIFE. HE IS
THE YOUNG MAN WHOSE STORY I AM TRYING TO GET REGARDING MELTING DOWN THEIR
CTR RINGS. THEY HAVE WEDDING PICTURES TO GIVE ME TOO. HOPE WE CAN TEAM
UP LATER ON TODAY. TOMORROW, EVA, BRALIN'S MOTHER IS TRAVELING TO TEGUCIGALPA
TO VISIT HER MOTHER. BRALIN WON'T BE WITH HER. SHE WANTS TO TRY AND SEE ME.
I JUST HAVE TO LOCATE THE DICTIONARY FOR THE DEAF FOR BRALIN. IF I CAN JUST FIND
THE RIGHT CONTACT HERE IN TEG. THEN EVA COULD TAKE IT BACK TO HIM SO HE CAN
START LEARNING SIGN LANGUAGE. HE IS GOING TO NEED THAT BOOK FOR HIS CLASSES
ANYWAY.
I'VE BEEN CALLED TO LUNCH. I THINK WE ARE HAVING BEANS AND TORTILLAS. WHAT A
SUNDAY DINNER.
LOVE TO YOU ALL,
BONNIE
EL
12/14/2011
Hi Everyone,
I know I am writing a lot. But I have the time and the opportunity and it gives me a chance to document my experiences
down here. You are welcome to delete them or just skim through them! Last Thursday at the ward the Relief Society
had planned a sort of sub for santa for the "'poor'" down here. They themselves live in cinder block houses but I guess
they are the lucky ones. Many live in stick houses with a little bit of tin on top and dirt floors, etc., etc. The sisters were
asked to donate food or used clothes. I was pretty sure they would not have much food to donate so I went to the store
and bought 22 2lb bags of rice and 22 2 lb bags of beans. Henry, the dad here, thought one pound bags would be big
enough to donate but I insisted on the bigger amounts. It all cost me about $35.00. Not sure how they would compare
to our prices for rice and beans. The beans are twice as expensive to buy as the rice. It's a lot harder to process and they are
more temperamental to grow. But do they love their beans! Anyway, the Relief Society distributed it and they told me
yesterday at church that the women were thrilled with their beans and rice.
Picked up Bralin and his mom to go to church. Unfortunately, the baby sister was sick so the mom couldn{t go. I
wondered how Bralin would entertain himself during Sacrament meeting not being able to hear any thing. I decided to get creative so I began to draw a picture of what the front of the chapel looked it and then passed the paper and pencil to Bralin and pointed at the front of the chapel for him to
draw it. Later I looked over and he had drawn a picture of Michael Jordan with a basketball in
his hand making a slam dunk. I laughed. His other love is basketball and Michael Jordan. I then
noticed a guy three rows up on our right posed with his hand under his chin. I then began to
draw him and I would point to my picture and then point to the guy I was drawing. I would have
attempted to draw one of dad's caricatures but the guy didn't have a
bad feature so it would have been hard. Bralin was beside himself when
he realized what I was doing and who I was drawing. I then handed him
the picture and he finished it up and added hair, sideburns and other
details and then snuck up and handed the guy the picture. So needless
to say we had a good time. I had to apologize to the family for acting like one of the kids during the meeting. At least Bralin wasn't too bored.
He always likes to go into the classes where all the kids his age know
him and like me. They have a lot of respect for him because of his
soccer abilities.
Came home from church and a ward member came over to make tres leches, the
cake. Believe me, it is the cake. She said it was very easy. Well it
wasn{t particularly difficult only very complicated, with many steps.
But it turned out fabulous, all topped with strawberries. Wow. I think
I will try and tackle it when I get home and see if I can impress someone, Anne, or Lara or anyone. An elder from Bountiful was having his 21st birthday. So it worked out great.
Love to you all, Bonnie
I know I am writing a lot. But I have the time and the opportunity and it gives me a chance to document my experiences
down here. You are welcome to delete them or just skim through them! Last Thursday at the ward the Relief Society
had planned a sort of sub for santa for the "'poor'" down here. They themselves live in cinder block houses but I guess
they are the lucky ones. Many live in stick houses with a little bit of tin on top and dirt floors, etc., etc. The sisters were
asked to donate food or used clothes. I was pretty sure they would not have much food to donate so I went to the store
and bought 22 2lb bags of rice and 22 2 lb bags of beans. Henry, the dad here, thought one pound bags would be big
enough to donate but I insisted on the bigger amounts. It all cost me about $35.00. Not sure how they would compare
to our prices for rice and beans. The beans are twice as expensive to buy as the rice. It's a lot harder to process and they are
more temperamental to grow. But do they love their beans! Anyway, the Relief Society distributed it and they told me
yesterday at church that the women were thrilled with their beans and rice.
Picked up Bralin and his mom to go to church. Unfortunately, the baby sister was sick so the mom couldn{t go. I
wondered how Bralin would entertain himself during Sacrament meeting not being able to hear any thing. I decided to get creative so I began to draw a picture of what the front of the chapel looked it and then passed the paper and pencil to Bralin and pointed at the front of the chapel for him to
draw it. Later I looked over and he had drawn a picture of Michael Jordan with a basketball in
his hand making a slam dunk. I laughed. His other love is basketball and Michael Jordan. I then
noticed a guy three rows up on our right posed with his hand under his chin. I then began to
draw him and I would point to my picture and then point to the guy I was drawing. I would have
attempted to draw one of dad's caricatures but the guy didn't have a
bad feature so it would have been hard. Bralin was beside himself when
he realized what I was doing and who I was drawing. I then handed him
the picture and he finished it up and added hair, sideburns and other
details and then snuck up and handed the guy the picture. So needless
to say we had a good time. I had to apologize to the family for acting like one of the kids during the meeting. At least Bralin wasn't too bored.
He always likes to go into the classes where all the kids his age know
him and like me. They have a lot of respect for him because of his
soccer abilities.
Came home from church and a ward member came over to make tres leches, the
cake. Believe me, it is the cake. She said it was very easy. Well it
wasn{t particularly difficult only very complicated, with many steps.
But it turned out fabulous, all topped with strawberries. Wow. I think
I will try and tackle it when I get home and see if I can impress someone, Anne, or Lara or anyone. An elder from Bountiful was having his 21st birthday. So it worked out great.
Love to you all, Bonnie
12/05/2011
Dear Shauna and family,
Don't think Lara has my blogged brought up to date but hopefully she will have time soon.
I am having a ball here in Honduras! Don't know if you mom has forwarded any of my e-mails
but they're probably a little too long and drawn out anyhow. The woman I am living with, Gladys,
seemed very interested in your natural soap and lotion products, etc. I should have brought one
of the books. The Relief Society has a whole would probably be interested in learning how. Are
the recipes too long and involved to send them to me? We do have some really bright mathematicians
and scientists in the ward so maybe they could pull it off. Otherwise, I will have to try and send them
the book, that is if they can get the ingredients. Let me know what you think?
I miss my little darlings roaming around in your house! Hope all is well with them. Don't let Elizabeth
get too big before I return. I do have skype here in the house. It might be fun for your kids to see
and say "Hola" to the kids here. They are pretty darn cute. Their names are Dayen, 11, Genesis, 7
and Lehi, 6 years old. Hope your life is good. I love you a lot Shauna. Aunt
Bonnie
Don't think Lara has my blogged brought up to date but hopefully she will have time soon.
I am having a ball here in Honduras! Don't know if you mom has forwarded any of my e-mails
but they're probably a little too long and drawn out anyhow. The woman I am living with, Gladys,
seemed very interested in your natural soap and lotion products, etc. I should have brought one
of the books. The Relief Society has a whole would probably be interested in learning how. Are
the recipes too long and involved to send them to me? We do have some really bright mathematicians
and scientists in the ward so maybe they could pull it off. Otherwise, I will have to try and send them
the book, that is if they can get the ingredients. Let me know what you think?
I miss my little darlings roaming around in your house! Hope all is well with them. Don't let Elizabeth
get too big before I return. I do have skype here in the house. It might be fun for your kids to see
and say "Hola" to the kids here. They are pretty darn cute. Their names are Dayen, 11, Genesis, 7
and Lehi, 6 years old. Hope your life is good. I love you a lot Shauna. Aunt
Bonnie
11/29/2011
Hi Everyone!
It's now Tuesday morning here in Potrerillos. And guess what? It's a bit chilly down here. I
thought I would never see the day when it was at all cool down here. It has been a very
nice change from my last trip down here. I hope you are not all freezing to death up north?
Went to church on Sunday. Everyone seemed to remember me. Fortunately for me I can simply
refer to them as "brother and sister. A skinny 17 year old member of the ward taught the Investigators class.
He did a superb job and will certainly make a great missionary. There was
an extremely sharp woman in attendance. Both her younger children have joined. I am not sure what her problem
is
except that she is not married to the childrens father and
I am not sure that she wants to be. When I sat down she turned to me and said, you look like Linda Hamilton!
She teaches math and science and seemed very
bright. It sounded like her husband is jealous of her and treats her bad. What a nightmare!
She is very worried because her job is ending shortly. It isnt permanent. The public
schools are closed again and I understand the teachers have not been paid for the last
six months. It is so tragic. I dont know what the solution is. I am so glad I have the
three children down here in a private school. They love it and seem to be flourishing. They
have been reading to me and showing me their work and very glowing reports from their
teachers. Its pretty rewarding.
Went to two graduations one on Saturday and the other on Sunday. Talk about a huge
production. Like nothing I have ever seen. And it was only for gradeschoolers! The one on Sunday
was in a house up high
on a hill. Two rooms, an outside toilet, and the house made out of cinder block. They had
two tents sent up outside with tons of lavender balloons and ribbons. The girl, Ruth, was
graduating from 6th grade. She wore a fancy lavender dress with only two thin straps holding
it up. She was wearing a diamond tiara, an intricate diamond necklace and earrings and a big diamond
ring. Her long hair done with massive quantities of long, long curls. Maybe they have it right down
there. That little girl could not have felt more special. Who cares that she lives in a cinder block house!!
Oh, and the food was all catered!
It still seems like everyone is in extreme poverty, fortunately they dont know how poor. Last night we baked
a cake from a Betty Crocker mix for family night. It's good I was there because they didn't have a clue.Somehow
it turned out great. It was a white cake and there is not a bit of powdered sugar in the entire town. They
did have a package of whipped creme and I bought a couple of bananas to try and jazz it up. It worked and they loved it.
My little deaf friend Bralin was at the door 5 minutes after I first arrived. It was so good to see him. Seems like
he doing well. I spoke with his mom today. She said he has learned a lot of signs and can sign with his deaf friends. She said he finally can understand the sign for (im sorry, and for I promise). Two very good signs to comprehend. She anxious for him to
learn a trade so that is what they are exploring currently. It sounds like he may be interested in carpentry. I will be
going to his graduation this coming Saturday in San Pedro Sula, about an hour away.
Love to you all,
Bonnie
)p.s. did I tell you I found a cockroach in the cake mix, yikes!!!!!
sorry for the bad punctuation. Haven't quite figured out this computer. I can hardly wait to give
him the portable play station!
It's now Tuesday morning here in Potrerillos. And guess what? It's a bit chilly down here. I
thought I would never see the day when it was at all cool down here. It has been a very
nice change from my last trip down here. I hope you are not all freezing to death up north?
Went to church on Sunday. Everyone seemed to remember me. Fortunately for me I can simply
refer to them as "brother and sister. A skinny 17 year old member of the ward taught the Investigators class.
He did a superb job and will certainly make a great missionary. There was
an extremely sharp woman in attendance. Both her younger children have joined. I am not sure what her problem
is
except that she is not married to the childrens father and
I am not sure that she wants to be. When I sat down she turned to me and said, you look like Linda Hamilton!
She teaches math and science and seemed very
bright. It sounded like her husband is jealous of her and treats her bad. What a nightmare!
She is very worried because her job is ending shortly. It isnt permanent. The public
schools are closed again and I understand the teachers have not been paid for the last
six months. It is so tragic. I dont know what the solution is. I am so glad I have the
three children down here in a private school. They love it and seem to be flourishing. They
have been reading to me and showing me their work and very glowing reports from their
teachers. Its pretty rewarding.
Went to two graduations one on Saturday and the other on Sunday. Talk about a huge
production. Like nothing I have ever seen. And it was only for gradeschoolers! The one on Sunday
was in a house up high
on a hill. Two rooms, an outside toilet, and the house made out of cinder block. They had
two tents sent up outside with tons of lavender balloons and ribbons. The girl, Ruth, was
graduating from 6th grade. She wore a fancy lavender dress with only two thin straps holding
it up. She was wearing a diamond tiara, an intricate diamond necklace and earrings and a big diamond
ring. Her long hair done with massive quantities of long, long curls. Maybe they have it right down
there. That little girl could not have felt more special. Who cares that she lives in a cinder block house!!
Oh, and the food was all catered!
It still seems like everyone is in extreme poverty, fortunately they dont know how poor. Last night we baked
a cake from a Betty Crocker mix for family night. It's good I was there because they didn't have a clue.Somehow
it turned out great. It was a white cake and there is not a bit of powdered sugar in the entire town. They
did have a package of whipped creme and I bought a couple of bananas to try and jazz it up. It worked and they loved it.
My little deaf friend Bralin was at the door 5 minutes after I first arrived. It was so good to see him. Seems like
he doing well. I spoke with his mom today. She said he has learned a lot of signs and can sign with his deaf friends. She said he finally can understand the sign for (im sorry, and for I promise). Two very good signs to comprehend. She anxious for him to
learn a trade so that is what they are exploring currently. It sounds like he may be interested in carpentry. I will be
going to his graduation this coming Saturday in San Pedro Sula, about an hour away.
Love to you all,
Bonnie
)p.s. did I tell you I found a cockroach in the cake mix, yikes!!!!!
sorry for the bad punctuation. Haven't quite figured out this computer. I can hardly wait to give
him the portable play station!
11/29/2010
it was good to hear from you. glad you had a nice time at scott's. i have a little too much time
on my hands, but somehow i manage to fill my day. the bishop was rehired yesterday and is
very much releaved. i think i will olreschedule my flight, or at least try to. i just don't know when.
gloria should be having her baby within the next two weeks. she sort of acts like she wants me
here. so i hope she has the baby soon.
went to visit tom's grave today. i took Frank with me. He lives with ritxa and i have been helping
him with school, about $30 every two months. It's been doable. i was thinking that maybe i had
cried all my tears, but not so. Frank told me that his name and the dates where already printed
on the crypt, so i knew i wouldn't have to worry about a sign. when i got there it looked really
nice. and the tears came. seeing it in writing somehow made it all more real. they had put a
marble piece over the entire front and the name was etched into the marble. there was a really
pretty vase already attached. i arranged some white silk flowers with a small american flag and a
small honduran flag. it looked nice. i can't remember how much it was to bury him there, but
i remember that lisa and i thought it was way cheap¡ everyone here keeps talking about how
expensive this cemetery is. no one from around here get's buried there except really rich or
important people. tom would be pleased about that.
i got back on thanksgiving day and the next morning i was out in the 'hood'' and found out
that ritza's husband had died in the night of cirrhosis of the liver. the funeral was the next day
which was sunday and monday at 6:30 a.m. she had to be back at work. she is over the
workers who clean the streets. they all report to her and she also collects the money and
passes out wads of toilet paper to people who use the public bathrooms there in the center
of town. unbelievable. i attended the 8;00 am mass or funeral service for him. i can't believe
how rediculous the father looks in his purple robe. i wanted to laugh. they mentioned the name
hy hiscarlos whitaker twice during the service. the first time was when he read off the names of other
people who had died this past year, and at the end i never did find out why they read his name.
don't know what you were referring to when you talked about them looking unkempt with spots on
their clothes. the bishop and his wife are a very handsome couple and always impeccably dressed.
i can''t get over how much cleaner their house is than henry and gladys in potrerillos. thank goodness.
maybe you were referring to someone else.
i got a phone call from bralin's mom. they went to the first group activity where 40 deaf teenagers
attended. in february , when school starts up again, he will be attending classes. she said he really
didn't understand anything or not much because they signed so fast. but she said there were some
cute girls and they were sure to notice him. at least maybe he sees a window where he possibly
could have friends and relationships. it sounds like he is going to have to have a little one on one to
even be able to begin to sign with them. i couldn't understand everything she told me but oto, from
mentors, speaks good english and spanish so he will be our intermediary.
i was going to do my blog tonight but someone else needs to use the computer. that's all for now.
please forward to mom and the girls.
love, bonnie
on my hands, but somehow i manage to fill my day. the bishop was rehired yesterday and is
very much releaved. i think i will olreschedule my flight, or at least try to. i just don't know when.
gloria should be having her baby within the next two weeks. she sort of acts like she wants me
here. so i hope she has the baby soon.
went to visit tom's grave today. i took Frank with me. He lives with ritxa and i have been helping
him with school, about $30 every two months. It's been doable. i was thinking that maybe i had
cried all my tears, but not so. Frank told me that his name and the dates where already printed
on the crypt, so i knew i wouldn't have to worry about a sign. when i got there it looked really
nice. and the tears came. seeing it in writing somehow made it all more real. they had put a
marble piece over the entire front and the name was etched into the marble. there was a really
pretty vase already attached. i arranged some white silk flowers with a small american flag and a
small honduran flag. it looked nice. i can't remember how much it was to bury him there, but
i remember that lisa and i thought it was way cheap¡ everyone here keeps talking about how
expensive this cemetery is. no one from around here get's buried there except really rich or
important people. tom would be pleased about that.
i got back on thanksgiving day and the next morning i was out in the 'hood'' and found out
that ritza's husband had died in the night of cirrhosis of the liver. the funeral was the next day
which was sunday and monday at 6:30 a.m. she had to be back at work. she is over the
workers who clean the streets. they all report to her and she also collects the money and
passes out wads of toilet paper to people who use the public bathrooms there in the center
of town. unbelievable. i attended the 8;00 am mass or funeral service for him. i can't believe
how rediculous the father looks in his purple robe. i wanted to laugh. they mentioned the name
hy hiscarlos whitaker twice during the service. the first time was when he read off the names of other
people who had died this past year, and at the end i never did find out why they read his name.
don't know what you were referring to when you talked about them looking unkempt with spots on
their clothes. the bishop and his wife are a very handsome couple and always impeccably dressed.
i can''t get over how much cleaner their house is than henry and gladys in potrerillos. thank goodness.
maybe you were referring to someone else.
i got a phone call from bralin's mom. they went to the first group activity where 40 deaf teenagers
attended. in february , when school starts up again, he will be attending classes. she said he really
didn't understand anything or not much because they signed so fast. but she said there were some
cute girls and they were sure to notice him. at least maybe he sees a window where he possibly
could have friends and relationships. it sounds like he is going to have to have a little one on one to
even be able to begin to sign with them. i couldn't understand everything she told me but oto, from
mentors, speaks good english and spanish so he will be our intermediary.
i was going to do my blog tonight but someone else needs to use the computer. that's all for now.
please forward to mom and the girls.
love, bonnie
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