After a month and a half of living here, a description of my city and living space is more than overdue.
Tegucigalpa Municipio Distrito Central, is a city of 1.2 million located in the southern portion of Honduras in the department (equivalent of a state) Fransisco Morazan. President Profirio Lobo Sosa directs the country from the Casa Presidencial, but as is custom with all Honduran presidents, his home is located separate from the Executive office. The building for the Congreso Nacional, the legislative body of Honduras, sits in the middle of the city, just west of the central plaza characteristic of all Latin American cities. The mountainous terrain, informal city planning, and lack of resources has left the capital city with few street signs, and arranged as if someone spilled the roads out in a form resembling a pile of spaghetti noodles.
I live in a poorer neighborhood on the eastern part of the city. Water comes once a week, and the sewage system is basic, as noted in a previous post. Electricity is not a problem, though it occasionally goes out for up to an hour. While I must stay very aware of my surroundings when I walk around the various parts of my area, my immediate street is secure.
I live with a family made up of two parents in their late thirties and five kids. Four boys and a young girl, all between the ages of 8 and 15. My host father is an artist, working in an area of the dining room/kitchen space set aside as his studio. My host mother works tirelessly around the house. The younger three kids attend a private elementary school, while the older two boys attend the equivalent of a high school. I have found myself connecting most easily with the youngest two kids, playing games and joking with them in ways that the older three boys simply do not react due to their awkward entry into adolescence. Already I have had good conversations with my host father about matters of faith and politics.
I hope this family realizes how much I prize their generosity. Pray that I would find ways to show them how much their hospitality means to me.
Hey Adam it seems to me like you're having a phenomenal time in Honduras! The determination that you show through your continued perseverance in learning spanish as well as comming to terms with the new culture you're in is very motivating. You're pretty darn awesome and I continue to pray that God will reveal things to you about yourself that will help you to grow leaps & bounds in your faith. You're missed here in beautiful Colorado and you'll be missed as RA next year but I'm glad you're experiencing God's glory in Honduras!
ReplyDelete~Vaya con Dios mi amigo!!!