The big thing that happened this week was on November 14th. Yes, it was my 22nd birthday, but that took a back seat because it was also confirmation is our parish. 120 kids getting confirmed. Carol and Rudy were both sponsors of 2 kids which meant that we were inviting their families over for dinner after the Mass. We were told to prepare for 35 people. Oh my gosh. How do I cook for 35 Hondurans when I can't use frozen fish sticks, mac and cheese, and french fries. Aidan and I were on for dinner which meant we couldn't go to the Mass (Sorry God, I was happy, I didn't think I could sit in a church for 3 hours while the Bishop talked in Spanish for at least an hour. I just couldn't do it.), Aidan and I knew that we wouldn't be able to do it alone, so Hannah and Roger stayed home to help us too. Our first though, what are we going to make? Our second though, HOW?! Aidan wanted to cook something with pasta or something, well Carol said no because we should probably cook them something that they know and will be able to eat and enjoy. Okay we were told to cook Arroz con Pollo (rice with chicken), a typical meal in Honduras for important occasions. One problem. Not only did we not know how to make arroz con pollo, but we didn't even know what it was suppose to look like, or what we were suppose to put in it.
To the supermarket we went! In the veggie aisle, we asked a family what we needed and they were so helpful! We got all the stuff we needed and headed back to the house. Time: 12:00
After sitting, eating lunch, and relaxing and 2:00pm we began to cook. Everyone left for the confirmation, and we were chopping veggies for the rice, and for a pico de gallo. sort of like a salsa, with lime and vinegar.
3 and a half hours later. We had two huge tubs of arroz con pollo, a bowl of pico de gallo, 2 cakes, and a table ready to eat dinner. We waited for our results from the panel of judges.
They liked it. They loved it! We were even told that this was better than the Hondurans make it, by a Honduran, who is a prettttyyy good cook! Whew. Fine, I'll take it as a birthday gift that we made a dinner that was loved by the Hondurans. I'll keep this recipe in my back pocket for when I come home so I can impress people with how much I know!
Recently, we have had Charice from the states here working with the Becas program. We have been showing her around and filling her in on the program, what is going on, and what students are doing what. It has been very interesting to be a translator. I sometimes have a lot of doubts in my Spanish, but at last, I have been feeling pretty competent when I am needed for someone else. We took her to CasAyuda which I have talked about before, and we worked with Oscar and Daniel. Oscar use to be stuck in his wheelchair for his whole life. When we walked into the room, we saw a happy 13 year old boy walking around and smiling from ear to ear. We could tell that he loved to walk, because he didn't want to sit down to have therapy! This kid hasn't been able to walk, and now he knows how to, he needs to make up for lost time!
This is so much going on, and much work to be done. This weekend we have the retreat for all the students in the Becas program. It is in La Florida. YEAH! GOING TO FLORIDA, oh man, in the mountains, where it is cold! Should be beautiful though! I am looking forward to getting to spend the weekend with the kids, they are a great bunch and I should remember to work out a little before I go, because I know there will be some soccer playing, and I am not so sure that I can do a full game yet. Playing around, fine, but full out sprinting back and forth should be interesting, oh well, vamos a ver! (We are going to see!)
Okay, Enough for now, hopefully I will be able to do small updates here and there, but I have been slacking on the writing!!
Love to everyone!
