Amigos de Jesus Trip 2009

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Messages
Monday March 2
Dr. David Dinehart Hi Matt and Abby, I hope you are enjoying the snow.  It was cool here today (for Honduras).  Don't miss me too much, I'll be home soon to tell you to clean your rooms.  MM, CVC, Char-Char, and all other former Honduran alumni, thanks for the posts and keep them coming.  Jeff, I passed on your message, and will work on the photos.  I was glad to hear there will be 1 wedding in Honduras and one in NJ. Grace, don't forget the 10 smiley limit, or we'll do the pot roast party during Friday's ballet class. Helen, I'm still laughing about the placenta comment!  Mom and Dad, I'm glad you finally learned to use the internet.  Shell, I'm sure you got a lot done yesterday, I hope the weather doesn't force you to work from home again today.  All is great here.  The student group is fantastic!  The boys are having a great time with them.  The opening ceremony at school was very nice.  It ended with Pepsi and cake and in honor of the snowy weather in PA they had a half day. 
Dr. Shawn Gross Well, the topic of the day seems to be weather.  It's been cool here.  Probably in the upper 60's and we've gotten quite a bit of rain.  Sounds like that is much better than at home.  Nicholas, I hope you got a chance to play in the snow.  I assume you had fun at home today?  Of course, we wasted the overcast day since for the first time in about five years we didn't dig holes on Monday. I miss the pick axe and shovel.  I did get to go into town today and buy some plantanitas, always a favorite!  Jen, how much snow and who shoveled the driveway?  You finally got the big one while we were gone.  Evan, be good for Mommy and Grandma.  Hope you feel better soon.  Nicholas, make sure you look for Spaceman helping us upload the website.  I also got Fernando to help me give you two thumbs up.  I love you all.  MM, CVC, and JJC, thanks for the messages.  JJC, Adonis' face absolutely lit up, showing his 1.25 front teeth, when I told him you said hi!
Maggie Carragher today, i lassoed a young cow.  it was probably the coolest thing ive ever done. :)  hey all, thanks for the posts and the shout outs and all of your support.  i miss and love you all, but i also feel at home here.  the group i came with is amazing and the boys here immediately show love for all of us.  we went to the ceremony before the first day of school and we also surveyed a creek and the location of a new building that was here-putting my geometry skills to the test.  so far, i have really connected with a few boys and they have already changed me forever.  i cannot wait to come home and share all of the stories and all of the pictures.

love you all lo0o0o0o0o0o0o0ots ;)

Andy Colby Heeeeeey gaaaaang!  Yesterday was the first day of school for the boys.  They had a big opening ceremony where each grade processed separately into one classroom and then they sang the national anthem and each of the teachers, padrinos and madrinas gave a speech.  There's not much engineering work going on, but that's okay, because it gives us more opportunity to spend time with the boys.  We had a great soccer game after dinner.  It was the USA versus the World (one of the volunteers is Canadian).  We weren't expecting a victory, but we were ahead for a good part of the game.  But then, predictably, the boys came back and won.  Thanks Julie, Mom and Dad for leaving messages yesterday.  Julie, thanks for letting me know about the email to Melody.  Keep those messages coming my way. 

Love,

Andy

Maria DellaMonica Hola mi familia y  mis amigos!!  Today was the first day of school for the boys--they were so excited and looked adorable in their uniforms. Mom, how do you feel about adoption???  Bridget, another volunteer and I are going to be working with a boy with speech therapy who can't speak...we have quite the project ahead of us :)  A lot of the boys think I'm Bridget's mom which is perfectly normal...

Thanks everyone who left messages, keep em coming por favor!!  Mom and Dad...refer to Bridget's last point -- I wouldn't hate a turkey sandwich on a wheat roll from wawa. Muchos Gracias!!

Kelly Donmoyer

Hey everyone! It was fun to read about the blizzard conditions back home, and although I would like to talk about hot weather and sun down here, it’s actually been abnormally chilly (especially at night). We’ve had rain every night (and it’s the end of the dry season). Our group is getting along really well, and last night (Monday) we had an incredible soccer game with the boys. It was USA vs. The World (one of the volunteers is Canadian and played on the Honduran team), and we held our own for a while. We just aren’t as in shape and youthful as the boys, but it was so much fun. Dr. D is, as expected, mostly on the trip for comic relief. We’ve somehow convinced Dr. G to be our surrogate water resources prof down here, and some of us will be going on a hike to complete the survey of the stream that we didn’t get to finish in the fall due to the heavy rain.  Matt and Ab, I saw your Dad hiding something in the living room.  Maybe in a polka dot chair?
Miss you all, sending love, kel

Colin Doyle

 

 

Hey everybody, I hope everything is going well and you are all enjoying yourselves.  Last night we played soccer with the boys...USA vs. Honduras.  We got whooped.  They play the game the way it should be, just for the love and enjoyment they derive out of it.  Dad, Rob, Matt, you guys would have loved to been here watching and playing.  The level to which some of the younger boys understand and play the game, without ever having a proper lesson, is that which most high school players never reach.  It was awesome.  Yesterday we also spent time surveying in the field to layout the centerline of the new girls dormitory.  We were in a fenced in pen with horses fighting on the outside of the open gate, and bulls wandering around.  It was a hostile environment at times, but neat all the same.  The more time we spend with the boys and learning about their pasts the more I realize, as someone pointed out in reflection last night, that we are so lucky that we don't have to worry about food or surviving the day.  The fact that we have other problems is a blessing, so enjoy your frustrations and cherish your tribulations.

Love,

Colin

Kati Greising Hi Mom! I am glad to hear everything at home is going well, and I hope Aunt Kathy got home ok, just so I know you are still sane. And I can't believe the weather there has been so cold, I heard we got inches of snow in philly and I am so glad I am not there. Although it was chilly here today. And by chilly I mean low 70s. It rained all last night which made it cool off so much. Today was the first day of school and it was amazing, we celebrated with them in the morning and then we went and did some fun engineering things, :). I am really starting to get to know some of the boys, there stories are unreal and I can't wait to tell you about them. We then hung out with them and later after dinner we played the longest game of soccer in the world. It was great. You would love all of these boys here more than life, and there is this really really cute tiny dog which you would take home also. I miss you so much, but am having an amazing time. And also, I feel completely comfortable here, it is like a haven, therefore, you have nothing to worry about :) I love you, and I can't wait to here from you soon.

-Kati

Lauren Havener Hi Everyone!  Today was the first day of school for the boys.  It was cold today (not quite snowing though) and I went into the town with Catherine and Doctor Gross.  It was really a very bumpy ride, but it was interesting to see all of the different people and stores in the town.  We also played a very long game of soccer tonight and they beat us by a lot :(

Caroline: Don't worry.  We haven't been eaten by any snakes yet.
Grace: I'm so glad that you picked me!  Of course I will meet you... I hope you feel better soon and I look forward to more messages.  I have met Oscar but I'm not sure about the others yet!  I'll let you know if I see any teddy bears... :)
Laurie Anne: I haven't been eaten by any spiders either :)  I will see you at training weekend though and then my birthday is the week after so we should get lots of bonding time.  The week is going well, I miss you!
Dad: I hope you enjoyed the pictures there should be more soon.  The boys are crazy.  They like to play a lot and just jump all over our boys.  They also have a lot of farm animals here that really entertain the boys.  The first night they played with a pinata, it was scary to be in the same room, i was sure someone would get hurt... tonight we played soccer for about 2 hours they were so good.  I am a little sunburnt but that usually happens even though i do put on sunblock... i'll wear more next time :) I miss you and love you tell mom and brandon that I miss them too (and Andy)
Matt: Catherine isn't lazy... you're going to get in big trouble if you keep picking on her.  Your post was read outloud by Dr. Gross and Dr. Dinehart and they might be plotting against you.  Anyway, the trip is really fun.  I'm sorry that you are bored :( Tell Fluffy, Chloe, Your parents and Yiayia that I say Hi and I'm glad your mom likes fluffy... that can be her birthday present from me.  Haha..  I'm glad you kind of miss my texts, maybe by the end of the week you'll really miss them.  Anyway, I'll be sure to have lots of stories.  Miss you
I Love you

-Lauren

 

Catherine Honohan Hello again!  I had another wonderful day here in paradise.  I really appreciate the posts, so thanks Caroline, Melissa, Roth and Dad (the only one in my family to have posted so far).  Today was the first day of school for the boys here and we heard the Honduran National Anthem (it was very long).  My Spanish is slowly but surely coming back and I can't wait to tell you all stories about the experiences here so far, both amazing and sad.  Caroline - we might have to rethink the cruise for next Spring Break and come here, you would love these boys, they are incredibly endearing.  That's all for now, keep posting!  I miss you all!

   -Catherine

Bridgit Mahon Hola everyone!  Today was actually somewhat cold here, compared to how hot it was yesterday. It was the first day of school for the boys so we went to the classrooms in the morning to see them off.  They all looked so cute in their uniforms.. It's been great so far except some of the boys call me Rocky, think that Mia is my mom, and have spread the rumor that I'm dating Dr. Gross. Janie- I hope your mouth is feeling better!  Laura Stapleton- Get on a plane and join us!  Shelbs- I need to be updated on your life. Moller- "Music is my boyfriend".. even in Honduras.  Jimmy- I found your Honduran twin. Fun fact. Rach- you're wild, and yeah my new name's Bridgit. Miss you and love you all! Buenos dias!

 

Mr. and Mrs. DellaMonica, I have received word that you are coming to pick us up from Villanova and I wouldn't hate it if you had a McDonalds Number 10 with a Coke waiting for me. Just a thought!

Ramon Martinez Hola ayer fuimos a misa del pueblo y fue una tremenda experiencia. Pues todo esta muy bien y hoy comenzamos a trabajar en el dormitorio de las niñas. Hoy tambien tuvimos un partido de soccer con los niños y volvimos a perder.
Juan Murphy O'Halloran- Rodriguez Hola America! Well, we have made it into Tuesday and everything is going great.  One of the funniest things the boys love to do here is call out 'Caballo' = 'horse', then jump wildly onto your back while you carry them around.  This is the most for for them when we are wading across the river to go to church or climbing the hill.  Last night we played a futbol game with the older boys at night under the lights and the whole time i keep thinking, ' wow, we are playing soccer in Honduras, how awesome is this!?'  Everyday is a totally new experience and everyday is a learning opportunity that is so unique.  I am having such an amazing time down here, that sometimes it feels that all else has stopped: I haven't thought about money, cell phones, tv or other material things in days and i love it!  Thanks so much for the messages, i loved them.  God bless you all. Love you grandma.
Alex Rodriguez Hello, again!  You can read all about the first day of school on some of the other messages.  That was an awesome experience.

I had a very funny encounter later in the day.  One of the boys asked me to come help bring water to one of the cows.  There were four of us in all.  We got some maize and some water buckets and started making our way towards the back of the farm.  At first Christian was warding off the cows.  Before long, we were all in a sprint because the cows were charging us.  We just barely made it through the barbed wire gate...hilarious!  Love you all.

John

Matt Puchyr Today was the first day of school and we attended the opening. I learned that the Honduran national anthem is very long and that giving the boys pepsi and cake before class begins is a bad idea. In the afternoon we began surveying for the new dorm building which will be in a horse/cow field...although we are not on a farm here.... ;).  Tonite we played a bunch of the older boys in a USA v. Honduras soccer match and lost.