To Belize and Back

one of the buses

Thank you so much for all your prayers for my safety. It was actually a twelve hour bus trip through Guatamala to Belize...and ten hours back. Most of the buses had air conditioning ..I was VERY thankful for that. I met so many wonderful people on the way that were really helpful. A few spoke some English. Except for having to pay to use the bathrooms, and some bathroom experiences I will never be able to get out of my mind...and trying to switch from Honduran money to Guatemalan money to Belize money all in one day, all in all it was a very safe, pleasant and enjoyable trip. So now I can add two more countries to my very short list of countries I´ve visited. I have to say that Honduras is most beautiful to come back home to. Oh these breath taking mountains.

some of the sights on the way

So my passport is stamped for another three months. I am really enjoying the people and the culture here. They are very kissy/huggy here, and very willing to help...especially with the language. It doesn´t feel like I´m in the murder capital of the world...so I have a hard time being warned all the time not to go here or do this or that. It´s frustrating but I´m mostly careful anyway. There are armed guards with huge guns all over the place...that helps to remind me. I guess that's comforting for some people. But Santa Barbara is a little safer than San Pedro Sula so it´s good to be back safe and sound and thankful to God.

Men with guns are everywhere in this little town. In front of banks, ATMs. all around the hospital, guarding some businesses

DREAD-FULL
One of the reasons I chose to go to Belize is because I had a place to stay there. I also heard there were lots of black people there, (it was a whole month before I saw one in Santa Barbara) meaning I could get my dreadlocks tightened and maybe washed by someone else for a little pampering. Well, after much searching. I found a little hairdresser who had the cutest little outdoor cabin. I asked if she could wash my hair..she said yes. The next question of course was do you have hot water. I think I got that spoiled American look..and she said "I´ll have hot water for you." After all this time in Central America I still didn´t catch the wording. So I go to her house for the appointment. Ready for my luxurious treat. She says, "I´m ready for you now". So I head for her house...and she says, "no, right here". I look at the two buckets on the ground and hoping against hope I say, "where?" She said.."kneel right here".  I thought ..all the way from Honduras for this? But..I smiled asked for a towel for my knees and thought...oh well another cultural experience. She had warmed some water a little...and sort of tightened the locks. After that I said these dreadlocks are coming off.

say it ain´t so!

O K!

I´ve really been tempted to cut them off., but the Lord showed me how they really have helped me. Some of the young doctors in the emergency room here love Bob Marley so much that they really like me at first sight, I know it´s because I have locks. They really let me do stuff I wouldn´t ordinarily get to do.. and also comfort, help, and pray with the people. They say I look like him and call me "Rasta woman". They were shocked I didn´t know any Bob Marley songs. It´s been a great opportunity to give my testimony to let them know I´m a Christian.

People really stare down here...I mean in a terribly rude way. But it´s not rude in this culture. And if they are standing next to me for any length of time they feel free to just start touching and handling my hair. It really has opened lots of doors and conversations for me. So I guess I´ll keep them and use them to my  advantage.

Happy Mother´s Day to all my friends who are mothers. We are going to fix gift/food bags and take them to all the poor mothers in the mountains this weekend.  Pray for us!

Please don´t envy me too much. But I´m in mango heaven right now...smooth, sweet, melt in your mouth...yum!...4 big ones for 20 limpiras ($1) yum! Everyday for breakfast I have a mango, banana, papaya, kiwi, strawberry fruit salad in my granola and little soy milk. For supper I have some crisp cold watermelon...the best I´ve ever tasted, or more mangos. Fruit heaven!...much needed in this heat (103 degrees). It just shows that God does provide everything according to our needs in our own locality. Moringa grows right here in their back yards but no one knows a thing about it´s amazing nutritional value. God does provide but we don´t often take advantage of His provisions.