Understanding CEPUDO...

So there are now at least 2 (not one) six foot long snakes inhabiting the overgrown fields of the training center we call home. The offensive has already begun, with 4 machete-weilding muskateers (Hector, Carlos, Antonio, and Ricardo - the four awesome gentlemen that work here) demolishing the fields poco a poco. It is outside of my normal inclination to resist the temptation to pick up a machete myself and join the party, but I have recently discovered I really don´t like snakes very much - go figure- and the idea of one sneaking up behind me is about the worst thing I can imagine....

How´s that for a nice little intro....

HELLO!!! So other than snakes, which have really not affected us at all but are just fun to joke about with the guys at the center, life in Pimienta is great. The first two weeks we pretty much kept to the center, getting our bearings around the little town we live in, and learning as much as we can about Tilapia, Sheep, and Greenhouses. Our days were pretty rutinely rising at 6 or 7, working til lunch, food and a midday card game in the house, more work til four, soccer or trips to the store in the little remaining sunlight, dinner, more cards (probably not healthy), prayer, reading, and in bed by about 9. Through in a periodic guitar session, washing clothes, and keeping the ants out of our food - and that´s life in Pimienta!

This has come with its own joys and struggles. I´ve felt a sense of joy at returning to physical labor. It is humbling experience, as I battle my own impatience and frustrations at inefficient systems. I enjoy being a student again, and learning how to tend the habichuela plants, the process of raising the tilapia, and even just the Honduran vocabulary which is eluding my Ecuadorian habits. I´ve really enjoyed slowing down - sharing the simple daily tasks at home with Matt, having time to read and to pray, and sitting in conversations with Carlos and Ricardo in the shade for an uninterupted period of time. This hasn´t been without its frustrations, however - and I find myself yearning for more action and responsibility (luxuries I am used to perhaps). The isolation is hard, having to be in by 6 because of sundown and being mindful of safety concerns. It´s been a slow process of getting to know the neighbors too, as we are somewhat set apart (both by being gringos as well as living at the center). Such a different process than as a volunteer in Ecuador, where your identification as a catholic volunteer with an orgnization the town is already familiar with allows you to get to know people very quickly. Here, it is slow work. Daily trips to the store go far, as well as soccer games with the kids whenever we can. We´re beginning to get to know a few families, but if it wasn´t for the US-Honduras soccer game (and subsequent games), we´d be a lot worse off. God Bless Futbol! Best relationship builder I´ve witnessed thus far.

This week we´ve finally broken out of our Pimienta shell and have been in San Pedro getting to know the other projects CEPUDO works with. Some of the best days we´ve had by far! (Matt might be better at updating that part) I myself am excited at the possibility of helping out at the Maternity Hospitals a couple days, and beginning to work at the clinic here in Pimienta while they finish up the women´s center. Things are kind of just beginning to fall into place, so the next week or so might dictate a lot...

Before I end, just some highlights thus far:

- our weekend in OMOA on the North Coast, including my first swim in the Caribbean and an awesome hike up through a river to a waterfall
- making my first tortillas (not very pretty, but tasted good!)
- watching the US-Honduras futbol game at Lucio´s
- the children in the neighborhood, and being sought out to play soccer daily
- my impressive cribbage record
- spending time tith Carlos and his wife Nora who also live at the center
- jumping in the tilapia ponds to larvear and weed, a great escape from the heat
- the awesome castaño (chestnut?) tree off off the end of the property. it breathtaking.
- the sunsets
- the garden! (greenhouse)
- The daily reminders of Ecuador - power outages, women loudly disciplining their children, sketchy buses, cat calls, corner stores, the catholic vs. evangelical faceoff, soccer jerseys, etc...
- nightly prayer and guitar time
- the sheep will be birthing any day now..BABIES!

Love to you all - we´ll try to update more often!

Con un fuerte abrazo,
Jessie