Life is Beautiful

Here are just a few pics of some of the activities that have been happening on the Ranch in the last few weeks...

Back in August we had the annual 'Olympiadas' games here on the Ranch...so fun...and my team actually won (well, duh, right?)! So this past week, a total of probably about 50 of us packed into a bus and headed to the big city for lunch at Pizza Hut...yummmm...and a movie at the cinema. It was a great experience for me...and the first time I had been to a spanish theater. The movie was the latest one with Eddy Murphy (can't remember the name), so of course it wasn't too tough to follow...haha. And it was so cute to see these kids in the big city...they don't get off of the Ranch much, so so many things are novelty for them...escalators, movie theater seats (they thought they were broken because they folded up on them...ha!), bathroom sinks with hand-sensored water, soap that looks like 'shampoo'...hilarious!! So many things we take for granted...

The past couple of weeks have also been full of random festivities...
A few of us took a trip to another city that had its annual "Corn Festival," which resembled the Minnesota State Fair, so that was a great taste of home for me! And the honey-covered apples were glorious, though incredibly sticky.:) I even went with a fellow MN volunteer, so there was plenty to reminisce about.

One of my little chiquitos turned 4 at the end of August, so 2 weeks ago we had a big Honduran-style little-kid bday party for him, which included plantains with quesio, a pinata (of COURSE! It ain't a party here without a pinata!), plenty of candy, and of course cake. So fun, but definitely crazy with about a dozen 5-and-under kids running around my house!

I've also just learned that September is the month of holidays here...Last week was El Dia del Nino (Kids' Day), which included nothing but games (with pinatas) during school and lots of sugar-coated food. This week is the Honduras Independence Day, so on Friday the kids participated in a parade close by...they were so cute in their little outfits for it! Then I guess the next week is Teacher's Day...and I've also heard that October is a big month for holidays, so it should be fun! I'll keep you all posted on the activities.

By the way, I must note that I made my first batch of flour tortillas from scratch on Friday...I felt so cool...haha. I had Fernando (my godson) over for the day, and all he requested for lunch was flour tortillas with quesio (a kind of cheese here)...it was great. Finally I was able to relax with him for a bit...there usually isn't much time for that here!

Prayer request: This week I am starting a "Bible School" for my little chiquitos...this is something I felt led to do, but I'm a bit nervous about teaching a dozen kids this much in spanish! It will be a good challenge, and I hope that kids will love it.

I hope all is well up north...I've been beginning to feel that I won't be able to make it a whole year without returning home to see y'all!