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
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
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
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
It's Not Looking Like a White Christmas
Hi Everyone!
I keep hearing the song White Christmas, over and over down here. Don;t think they have much of a concept.
Today is Saturday. The parents are going to another graduation. They were the only ones invited. I{ll stay
home with the kids. I think I will give them one of their Christmas presents early, a game of UNO. Should be
fun if I can remember how to play it. It's been raining for 4 days. I have had laundry out on the line for 4 days.
It is still wet. I am going to have to get creative with my apparel! Fortunately I brought a lot of garmies. Hope
you are hanging in. I will write a longer email and send to everyone. Love to you all, Bonnie
- Show quoted text -
I keep hearing the song White Christmas, over and over down here. Don;t think they have much of a concept.
Today is Saturday. The parents are going to another graduation. They were the only ones invited. I{ll stay
home with the kids. I think I will give them one of their Christmas presents early, a game of UNO. Should be
fun if I can remember how to play it. It's been raining for 4 days. I have had laundry out on the line for 4 days.
It is still wet. I am going to have to get creative with my apparel! Fortunately I brought a lot of garmies. Hope
you are hanging in. I will write a longer email and send to everyone. Love to you all, Bonnie
- Show quoted text -
Hi Everyone!,
I hope I am not writing too much. But since I have more access to the internet it is kind of fun
to tag you all. There is a hot soccer game blaring in the background. Do they love their soccer!
The mom is over at the table gluing together used C:Ds in order to make a Christmas wreath.
Oh does she love her crafts. Earlier she made a felt pillow for the holidays complete with
Frosty the Snowman on the front of it. I went to Bralin's house today for the first time. It was
actually quite nice--and clean. I was a little bit jealous because it is a lot cleaner and nicer
that where I am staying. I do love the family I am staying with though. When I visited Bralin, I took
the book of Honduras Sign Language. I bought two copies last year, gave him one and
kept one for myself. I think I thought I would take that book home and master the entire
Honduran sign language system, along with Spanish and return to wow everyone. Well,
unfortunately life takes it's toll and it didn't happen. He spent a lot of time trying to teach me
the signs. Some are fairly easy and others are complicated. Anyway, we laughed a lot.
The mom brought out a copy of a play that the school put on. They performed "Cinderella[
all in sign language. The mom and videoed it with her phone and played it for me. It showed
Bralin and another cute deaf girl dancing. He wasn{t the prince but it looked like he had a
good part. The kids have been absolutely adorable. Except I do have a little Moses always
hanging off of me in the form of Lehi. I get more hugs and kisses until I think I am going to
literally have to peel him off of me! Last night the 11 year old girl, Dayen, shoved a note
under my door and told me in Spanish that I was very important to her. How sweet is that??
I guess I will close for now. Love to you all,Bonnie
I hope I am not writing too much. But since I have more access to the internet it is kind of fun
to tag you all. There is a hot soccer game blaring in the background. Do they love their soccer!
The mom is over at the table gluing together used C:Ds in order to make a Christmas wreath.
Oh does she love her crafts. Earlier she made a felt pillow for the holidays complete with
Frosty the Snowman on the front of it. I went to Bralin's house today for the first time. It was
actually quite nice--and clean. I was a little bit jealous because it is a lot cleaner and nicer
that where I am staying. I do love the family I am staying with though. When I visited Bralin, I took
the book of Honduras Sign Language. I bought two copies last year, gave him one and
kept one for myself. I think I thought I would take that book home and master the entire
Honduran sign language system, along with Spanish and return to wow everyone. Well,
unfortunately life takes it's toll and it didn't happen. He spent a lot of time trying to teach me
the signs. Some are fairly easy and others are complicated. Anyway, we laughed a lot.
The mom brought out a copy of a play that the school put on. They performed "Cinderella[
all in sign language. The mom and videoed it with her phone and played it for me. It showed
Bralin and another cute deaf girl dancing. He wasn{t the prince but it looked like he had a
good part. The kids have been absolutely adorable. Except I do have a little Moses always
hanging off of me in the form of Lehi. I get more hugs and kisses until I think I am going to
literally have to peel him off of me! Last night the 11 year old girl, Dayen, shoved a note
under my door and told me in Spanish that I was very important to her. How sweet is that??
I guess I will close for now. Love to you all,Bonnie
Making the big Adjustment November 30, 2011
Hi Everyone1
I haven't heard from anyone so I assume that none of you have heard from me???? I did hear
from Lara, however. Do you not have my e-mail address?. I wrote a really long drawn out post yesterday.
Not sure it has been forwarded to anyone yet. Things are great here. I have had trouble with my
sinuses. (they were bothering me when I left). So what else is new?! Im not letting it stop me from
having a good time, however. I am sooooo facinated by everything that goes on here. It's simply
wild. I brought a package of 8 sponges. I go to wipe off the table and they are no where in sight.
I suppose they were promptly whisked away. When I asked for something to wipe off the table
with she came up with a dirty rag. Yikes! Lunch was a bowl of fish soup. She is a good cook and
can flavor well so I was excited. When I sat down a fish complete with skin, gills, head, eyes and
tails lay across the bowl and was starring up at me. I wasn't sure I could go through with it. Below
however, were tasty potatoes, rice, and cabbage. I removed the meat from the fish as quickly as
possible and removed the carcass so I could stand to eat it. We are leaving in a few minutes.
It has something to do with the children graduation. I'm still not sure. I will write more later.
Love to you all, Bonnie
we still don't quite have skype set up. I'll let you know when.
I haven't heard from anyone so I assume that none of you have heard from me???? I did hear
from Lara, however. Do you not have my e-mail address?. I wrote a really long drawn out post yesterday.
Not sure it has been forwarded to anyone yet. Things are great here. I have had trouble with my
sinuses. (they were bothering me when I left). So what else is new?! Im not letting it stop me from
having a good time, however. I am sooooo facinated by everything that goes on here. It's simply
wild. I brought a package of 8 sponges. I go to wipe off the table and they are no where in sight.
I suppose they were promptly whisked away. When I asked for something to wipe off the table
with she came up with a dirty rag. Yikes! Lunch was a bowl of fish soup. She is a good cook and
can flavor well so I was excited. When I sat down a fish complete with skin, gills, head, eyes and
tails lay across the bowl and was starring up at me. I wasn't sure I could go through with it. Below
however, were tasty potatoes, rice, and cabbage. I removed the meat from the fish as quickly as
possible and removed the carcass so I could stand to eat it. We are leaving in a few minutes.
It has something to do with the children graduation. I'm still not sure. I will write more later.
Love to you all, Bonnie
we still don't quite have skype set up. I'll let you know when.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Raising Awareness
Ninos de Carlos is a blog dedicated to the beautiful country and people of Honduras, and to my son Carlos Thomas Whitaker. I hope to awaken people around the world to the plight of Honduran children who are not receiving a fair chance at an education.
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