3.24.08 More pictures

1. My cat Joaquin (isn't he so photogenic?)
2. The volunteers in Yoro (we had a goodbye party for 2 that are leaving in May)
3. Myself giving a workshop on measuring and weighing children to the health volunteers
4. Dead snake we found on the way to Las Crusitas
5. Laughing with my women in El Pate
6. The awesome bookshelf Shawn and I made

Same ol' same ol'

So this is way too much info...but I realized the other day that I've had diarrea more in the past year than I've ever had in my -entire- 24 years of existance. That's horrible.

Needless to say, I found myself sicker than a dog on Friday night...still not sure what caused the problem but I am definitely feeling better now...just tired and a little out of it but I am sure that will pass in the next couple of days.

I am mostly bummed that I didn't even get to enjoy my weekend...I wanted to weed my garden and wash clothes and take a trip to Progreso but instead I spent it sipping Gatorade on my couch. Boo. Thank goodness we now have amazing cable here (no seriously...Showtime, MTV, VH1, CNN!!!! (in ENGLISH!) ABC, CBS, USA, etc. etc.) and it only costs 15 bux a month! Yay Honduras. Haha.

Work is crazy busy as usual...we are still doing the health monitoring in all the communities which I help out with when I don't have another committment. I really enjoy myself when I do go, I love being out in the community and the women are always so thankful that we are giving vitamins and deparasiting pills to their kids. I think gringa = doctor to them so that is pretty funny to me. Last week this guy picked a coconut from a tree and chopped off the top so I could drink the water out of it....yummy!! :) I am also trying to get a youth group started at the high school...we had 2 informational meetings today and hopefully we will get a good turnout when we have the first actual meeting next week. Cross your fingers!!

I also seem to have inherited a cat. My neighbor left to study in Tela a few weeks ago and she left her cat with her mother-in-law but seeing as how people aren't really apt to taking care of animals, the cat found its way to my house and was crying outside my door, searching for food. Being the humanatarian that I am, I tossed him some scraps and he has since taken up residence on the plastic chair in my backyard. He is really cute, gray and white with some black stripes and green eyes...and now named Joaquin. He likes to lay on my stomach when I am in the hammock. :)

Only 3 weeks until my Mom and Jeffrey get here!!

This totally made me tear up...

How to Dance in the Rain

It was a busy morning, about 8:30 , when an elderly gentleman in his 80s arrived at the hospital to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health.He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late.

He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?' He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.' I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought,'That is the kind of love I want in my life.

'True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be. The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have. I hope you share this with someone you care about. I just did.

'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.