Como Esta Honduras

Hi Everybody. You may have heard about the recent political disturbances here. We're OK. Things were a little tense Friday thru Sunday. What we would have considered a reasonable referendum on relaxing term limits was worrisome to many who were concerned about vote buying ( outcomes are often contested here). Lately a lot of fuss was made by the legal powers over the constitutionality of such a referendum. When the military wouldn't cooperate to get the ballots from the legal branch, the president got his people to get them, provoking legal reaction which led to the military sacking the president. His popularity had been sagging. The legislature then endorsed the action and appointed the president of the congress ( cf Speaker of the House) as temporary head. The problem now is that this looks like a military coup. They say it's not, but most other countries say it is. Anyway life seems to be going on like normal. We've been staying home ( we live 10 miles south of Tegucigalpa) for the past couple of days.

I started a chess club for the kids up at the children's home. What a riot, teaching a crowd of 7 and 8 year old boys that no you can't move the pieces around like toy soldiers and knock the other guys down while making gunfire noise. I guess it would be the same if I was teaching a bunch of politicians. Happily they started catching on and seemed to enjoy themselves. We're going to need a few more chess sets now.

Jane was sick for several days...diarrhea which led to dehydration. We got excellent medical care by the Honduran doctors. Not expensive either. She's OK now. We have to be really be careful about food. Washing, peeling, etc. You can't assume always that kitchen and serving staff are trained and practicing good hygiene. Sometimes it's good to watch for a while before you order. It's time for another training for the children's home cooks. I was happy to see that some of my suggestions to improve the facilities are being implemented. Thet're getting a new tile floor and there's a new work table.

Jane was able to team up with a psychiatrist to review some of the kids who are on medication or need to be. Building fairness and accountability into the system is very important to us. Pray that this will be a learning and a healing community.

I finally got my bike tire fixed. I'm on wheels again! I identified the hummingbird that hangs around our house as a "White Eared Hummingbird". We've got "Yucatan Jays" as well as "Social Flycatchers", "Streakbacked Flycatchers, "Altamira Oriels","Great-tailed Grackles", and Wagler's Oriels" . I'm still trying to figure out the others. Like one who says "Did you pray?".

I've been reading how many of Jesus disciples didn't recognize him right off when he appeared to them after his resurrection. I'm wondering how often I miss him because I'm too caught up in my concerns, too distracted by all the noise the world's making, or just not looking? Time to clean out my ears. Hope you're all well. We miss you. Gil.