Friday, November 19, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
THINGS YOU MAYBE DIDN´T KNOW ABOUT HONDURAS!
Hi friends!
Here are some things you perhaps did not know about Honduras:
You can always tell a true Honduran because they point with their lips.
Women still nurse their babies in public.
Most Hondurans live day to day and hand to mouth. I have witness women buying
three diapers at a time.
The cost of beans is higher than the cost of chicken. Their has been flooding and I
guess they lost a lot of their bean crop.
Younger people favor more liberal causes and leaders and the older folks seem to
favor conservatives. (I´ve been conducting my own personal poll down here).
People still carry things on their heads.
Friday my deaf friend, Bralin, and his mother and I will travel to San Padro Sula to see
a specialist. She was recommended by the church and also by his school. The parents
and grandmother and I all met with the director at the school he just completed. It
was very interesting. No computer and they don´t use American Sign Language,
which I am so sorry for. He would need that if he were ever going to go on a mission.
They sign with something that is specific to Honduras. The alphabet for both of them,
however, look the very same to me. He currently does not sign with any depth only
very basic signs. How sad.
It should cost $30 to see the specialist. He has not been checked since he was 4 when
he was fitted for hearing aids. At four, he did not like them. Anyway it will be interesting
to see what she has to say. Next week I will fill you in on the rest of the story
Here are some things you perhaps did not know about Honduras:
You can always tell a true Honduran because they point with their lips.
Women still nurse their babies in public.
Most Hondurans live day to day and hand to mouth. I have witness women buying
three diapers at a time.
The cost of beans is higher than the cost of chicken. Their has been flooding and I
guess they lost a lot of their bean crop.
Younger people favor more liberal causes and leaders and the older folks seem to
favor conservatives. (I´ve been conducting my own personal poll down here).
People still carry things on their heads.
Friday my deaf friend, Bralin, and his mother and I will travel to San Padro Sula to see
a specialist. She was recommended by the church and also by his school. The parents
and grandmother and I all met with the director at the school he just completed. It
was very interesting. No computer and they don´t use American Sign Language,
which I am so sorry for. He would need that if he were ever going to go on a mission.
They sign with something that is specific to Honduras. The alphabet for both of them,
however, look the very same to me. He currently does not sign with any depth only
very basic signs. How sad.
It should cost $30 to see the specialist. He has not been checked since he was 4 when
he was fitted for hearing aids. At four, he did not like them. Anyway it will be interesting
to see what she has to say. Next week I will fill you in on the rest of the story
Monday, November 8, 2010
TWO WEEKS LEFT IN POTRERILLOS
Just wanted to get you all updated on my latest activities. Finally the weather
has turned a little cooler. It´s soooooo nice. It´s probably around 65 degrees
and everyone is bundled up. If they only knew.
Last week was a busy week for Mentors. The guy I live and work with really
works hard to keep up. More and more people are coming for these small
micro loans. Hopefully he will start to earn more or maybe get a small bonus
or something. I finally found a dustpan to purchase here in one of the stores.
They dont own things like paper plates, and cups, napkins, paper towels, and
a rag is even very hard to find. They pick up their piles of dirt with their hands
and not sure what they do with the last few crumbs!!? Anyway I picked one up
at the store for them. Isn´t it the little things in life that make it worth living.
Most everyone walking around looks very nice and well groomed, but they live
in little hovels of gargage and dirt. It´s just amazing to me. I really don´t know
how they can stand it. For this reason I will be glad to get back to the old U.S.A.
Visited Henry´s parents, (the family I am staying with). He is a former bishop
and for the past 9 years he and his wife live way up on the mountainside. It took
about an hour to get there half by motor taxi (a little three-wheeled contraption
not much more powerful than a lawn mower). We hiked the rest of the way, and
it was all on switch-backs and small paths. It was steep and went on forever.
His parents live there and one son with his wife and two children. They have no
electricity and no water. They catch rain water. They live outside. Their kitchen,
and cement stove, and all of their kitchen supplies are outside along with a table
and a couple of chairs, with a tin roof over their heads. They eat in shifts too.
Inside were two cinderblock rooms
with Two double beds and a hammock. They live very simply and retire for bed around
7:00 p.m. It get´s dark about 6:00. They showed me that they had candles. No
tv, radio, nothing. It was actually very peaceful. They were surrounded by their
property and extremely proud of it. The father waved his arm and said, Äll of this
land is mind¨. He farms the land along with his son. They have very little but they
seemed pretty happy. I think they look like they are in great physical shape because
they walk everywhere. The father, gregorio, put me on his horse, bareback, and I
Went for a short ride. It was fun. They have bananas, nd other fruits growing
around them. They raise their own corn and beans. When they get too old to work
their is no government help. The children will have to step in. They are not happy
with the government. All they talk about is how they government lines their pockets,
drive big cars, and have many big homes around. (Sound familiar)? Accept they are
way less fortunate than we are by a long shot.
I am still obsessed by this young guy 15 years old who is ¨sordomuto¨, deaf and dumb.
He is so adorable! He is very smart. His name is Braelin. He loves soccer and can even referee the games
he knows the game and the rules so well. He can´t talk but he can blow a whistle. I
want to talk to he and his parents again. I don´t think he knows the American Sign
Language system. I think he can just sign basic things, nothing too complicated.
I am going to try and visit his school. I don´t think they even have a computer but
he is familar with the computer and loved it. I want to see if I can arrange for him to
spend time on the internet down here. It would really change his life. Of course my
dream is for him to have his own computer. He is pretty locked in. He really dosen´t
attend much church because he just doesn´t understand it but he loves the activiites
and the social outlet. He was bapized by a missionary from Guatamala that knew some
sign language. Anyway, I can´t get him off my mind. He is being raised by his father
and stepmother, but you can tell she loves him a lot and has raised him from a baby.
By the way, some of you have asked how you can contribute to Tom´s foundation,
Nino´s de Carlos. It has been set up at wells fargo bank. It should be under my name,
Bonnie Whitaker as well as ¨Nino´s de Carlos¨.
Listened in on three missionary discussions last week all held right at the house.
It´s been most rewarding. The missionaries are great. One young man from El Salvador,
who acts 20 inbetween lessons etc. Those kids have to horse around a little bit . The
other missionary is a steller 27 year old college graduate. He´s navajo indian. Very
impressive.
Love to everyone. And thanks for your love and support.
Bonnie
has turned a little cooler. It´s soooooo nice. It´s probably around 65 degrees
and everyone is bundled up. If they only knew.
Last week was a busy week for Mentors. The guy I live and work with really
works hard to keep up. More and more people are coming for these small
micro loans. Hopefully he will start to earn more or maybe get a small bonus
or something. I finally found a dustpan to purchase here in one of the stores.
They dont own things like paper plates, and cups, napkins, paper towels, and
a rag is even very hard to find. They pick up their piles of dirt with their hands
and not sure what they do with the last few crumbs!!? Anyway I picked one up
at the store for them. Isn´t it the little things in life that make it worth living.
Most everyone walking around looks very nice and well groomed, but they live
in little hovels of gargage and dirt. It´s just amazing to me. I really don´t know
how they can stand it. For this reason I will be glad to get back to the old U.S.A.
Visited Henry´s parents, (the family I am staying with). He is a former bishop
and for the past 9 years he and his wife live way up on the mountainside. It took
about an hour to get there half by motor taxi (a little three-wheeled contraption
not much more powerful than a lawn mower). We hiked the rest of the way, and
it was all on switch-backs and small paths. It was steep and went on forever.
His parents live there and one son with his wife and two children. They have no
electricity and no water. They catch rain water. They live outside. Their kitchen,
and cement stove, and all of their kitchen supplies are outside along with a table
and a couple of chairs, with a tin roof over their heads. They eat in shifts too.
Inside were two cinderblock rooms
with Two double beds and a hammock. They live very simply and retire for bed around
7:00 p.m. It get´s dark about 6:00. They showed me that they had candles. No
tv, radio, nothing. It was actually very peaceful. They were surrounded by their
property and extremely proud of it. The father waved his arm and said, Äll of this
land is mind¨. He farms the land along with his son. They have very little but they
seemed pretty happy. I think they look like they are in great physical shape because
they walk everywhere. The father, gregorio, put me on his horse, bareback, and I
Went for a short ride. It was fun. They have bananas, nd other fruits growing
around them. They raise their own corn and beans. When they get too old to work
their is no government help. The children will have to step in. They are not happy
with the government. All they talk about is how they government lines their pockets,
drive big cars, and have many big homes around. (Sound familiar)? Accept they are
way less fortunate than we are by a long shot.
I am still obsessed by this young guy 15 years old who is ¨sordomuto¨, deaf and dumb.
He is so adorable! He is very smart. His name is Braelin. He loves soccer and can even referee the games
he knows the game and the rules so well. He can´t talk but he can blow a whistle. I
want to talk to he and his parents again. I don´t think he knows the American Sign
Language system. I think he can just sign basic things, nothing too complicated.
I am going to try and visit his school. I don´t think they even have a computer but
he is familar with the computer and loved it. I want to see if I can arrange for him to
spend time on the internet down here. It would really change his life. Of course my
dream is for him to have his own computer. He is pretty locked in. He really dosen´t
attend much church because he just doesn´t understand it but he loves the activiites
and the social outlet. He was bapized by a missionary from Guatamala that knew some
sign language. Anyway, I can´t get him off my mind. He is being raised by his father
and stepmother, but you can tell she loves him a lot and has raised him from a baby.
By the way, some of you have asked how you can contribute to Tom´s foundation,
Nino´s de Carlos. It has been set up at wells fargo bank. It should be under my name,
Bonnie Whitaker as well as ¨Nino´s de Carlos¨.
Listened in on three missionary discussions last week all held right at the house.
It´s been most rewarding. The missionaries are great. One young man from El Salvador,
who acts 20 inbetween lessons etc. Those kids have to horse around a little bit . The
other missionary is a steller 27 year old college graduate. He´s navajo indian. Very
impressive.
Love to everyone. And thanks for your love and support.
Bonnie
Monday, November 1, 2010
Hola from Honduras, yes I am still here!
Just returned from a two day job fair in San Pedro Sule. It was church
sponsored. It seemed to be very well organized. Lot´s of food to buy, a
couple of florists were there, both fresh and silk, and many many others
selling everything from 72 hour kits in clorox bottles to furniture to
copy machines. There was alot of entertainment and it was alot of fun.
I think people were hoping to sell more but then they are in an economic
crisis here too. It didn´t cost them anything to be there so hopefully it
should build up every year.
I invited the 10 year old girl, Dyann to stay with me at the Holiday Inn
for one night. She couldn´t believe it. She went swimming that night
and then again in the morning. She didn´t know what the sugared cereals
were in the little cardboard boxes, fruit loops, etc., but she soon found out.
I think she had a ball. It turned out to be a great hotel, and it wasn´t
cheap as it turned out.
I also met a darling boy at the job fair. A returned missionary from
for you for the Ensign and maybe the Liahona). He and his girlfriend both
went on missions. They bought ctr rings before they left and both wore
them on their missions. When they got back he said they were so in love
and wanted to get married but didn´t have any money for rings. They
had a friend who was a jeweler. They had him melt down there ctr rings
along with another piece of silver jewely and had them made into two
wedding bands. I am going to get their pictures to go along with the story.
I thought it was sweet.
Met a young man in our ward. He is 17, and the only member of the church
in his family. He has brown curly, curly hair and doesn´t look hispanic. He
is so smiley and darling
but he is totally deaf and dumb since birth. I have been
talking to the bishop and Henry the guy I live with about the missions in the
church for the deft and dumb. He signs and I think his parents sign. He
must read lips a little bit too. I am not sure. Anyway, a mission may be his
ticket out of here with lots of new opportunities. I will keep you all posted.
Henry and I are going to go by his house tonight and talk to him, sort of.
The family is having me teach them English every night. The kids are very
interested. Even Lehi, the four year old shows up with a notebook and a
pencil to take notes. He can´t even write. It´s so cute. There school system
is terrible. They hardly even go. One half a day here and there but not on
a regular basis. You need to be in private school if you want to attend on a
regular basis. They don´t know what a fire extinguisher is so I am assuming
they don´t have those either. Nor do they have libraries in the schools or
books. One member of the church thinks the government does it on purpose
to keep the people in the dark. I guess knowledge is power. I have told Dyann
she needs to get an education anyway that she can. I told her she needs to
study English so she can get a job at the Holiday Inn. She loved that idea of
course. I am going to find out how much it is for the public school vs. the
private schools.
All is well. I do have diaherra again but it´s not hideous! Caught a glimps
of myself in the mirror and I am definitly going to have some work to do.
I don´t know what it is about this diet but everything goes to the middle.
Oh great !!! Had a bad cold but am on the mend. Went to a chiropractor,
he is a stake president in San Padro. Turns out he was really a physical
therapist. It still felt good. I think I was aching bad because of the bug
I caught. I didn´t really need a chiropractor at all. Just thought I did.
sponsored. It seemed to be very well organized. Lot´s of food to buy, a
couple of florists were there, both fresh and silk, and many many others
selling everything from 72 hour kits in clorox bottles to furniture to
copy machines. There was alot of entertainment and it was alot of fun.
I think people were hoping to sell more but then they are in an economic
crisis here too. It didn´t cost them anything to be there so hopefully it
should build up every year.
I invited the 10 year old girl, Dyann to stay with me at the Holiday Inn
for one night. She couldn´t believe it. She went swimming that night
and then again in the morning. She didn´t know what the sugared cereals
were in the little cardboard boxes, fruit loops, etc., but she soon found out.
I think she had a ball. It turned out to be a great hotel, and it wasn´t
cheap as it turned out.
I also met a darling boy at the job fair. A returned missionary from
for you for the Ensign and maybe the Liahona). He and his girlfriend both
went on missions. They bought ctr rings before they left and both wore
them on their missions. When they got back he said they were so in love
and wanted to get married but didn´t have any money for rings. They
had a friend who was a jeweler. They had him melt down there ctr rings
along with another piece of silver jewely and had them made into two
wedding bands. I am going to get their pictures to go along with the story.
I thought it was sweet.
Met a young man in our ward. He is 17, and the only member of the church
in his family. He has brown curly, curly hair and doesn´t look hispanic. He
is so smiley and darling
but he is totally deaf and dumb since birth. I have been
talking to the bishop and Henry the guy I live with about the missions in the
church for the deft and dumb. He signs and I think his parents sign. He
must read lips a little bit too. I am not sure. Anyway, a mission may be his
ticket out of here with lots of new opportunities. I will keep you all posted.
Henry and I are going to go by his house tonight and talk to him, sort of.
The family is having me teach them English every night. The kids are very
interested. Even Lehi, the four year old shows up with a notebook and a
pencil to take notes. He can´t even write. It´s so cute. There school system
is terrible. They hardly even go. One half a day here and there but not on
a regular basis. You need to be in private school if you want to attend on a
regular basis. They don´t know what a fire extinguisher is so I am assuming
they don´t have those either. Nor do they have libraries in the schools or
books. One member of the church thinks the government does it on purpose
to keep the people in the dark. I guess knowledge is power. I have told Dyann
she needs to get an education anyway that she can. I told her she needs to
study English so she can get a job at the Holiday Inn. She loved that idea of
course. I am going to find out how much it is for the public school vs. the
private schools.
All is well. I do have diaherra again but it´s not hideous! Caught a glimps
of myself in the mirror and I am definitly going to have some work to do.
I don´t know what it is about this diet but everything goes to the middle.
Oh great !!! Had a bad cold but am on the mend. Went to a chiropractor,
he is a stake president in San Padro. Turns out he was really a physical
therapist. It still felt good. I think I was aching bad because of the bug
I caught. I didn´t really need a chiropractor at all. Just thought I did.
Monday, October 25, 2010
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