These are just some of the reasons I love market days... Some other reasons include fresh pineapple, limes, onions, and more. Apparently grapefruit are delicious, and I've been missing out all these years. And I love the prices. I got 7 grapefruit for about fifty cents. I got all those green beans for about fifty cents. I got lettuce for twenty-five cents, and broccoli for the same price. The corn was a dollar. The most expensive items were the tomatoes and the strawberries. Both were $1.50 for the amounts that I selected. The peppers were five cents each, and the cucumbers were 3 for fifty cents. I'm not really sure yet what I will do with the carrots, but I got all of them and two onions for a dollar. Wow... I will miss this when it's not available to me anymore. (If these prices are the same as those back home - please don't burst my bubble... I have never exactly been a produce connoisseur.)
I also got to see my favorite market lady again today, and she remembered me! She asked how my birthday was and if I had cake. I finally remembered to ask her name. Unfortunately, I'm not very good at understanding Spanish names yet. I think she said her name is Juanita, so I'll just go with that until I find out something different. haha... I love visiting her and supporting her. I'm excited to build a familiarity there.
This week has been pretty reflective for me. On Tuesday afternoon, Sarah and I spontaneously ventured into the city to a coffee shop called Espresso Americana. I, of course, got something other than coffee, and then we walked around El Centro and looked around in some second-hand shops. I love the moments like that when I look around and say, "I live in Honduras." And the thing is, I absolutely love it. I'm still a little unsure about my love for this school or for my job in general - but I LOVE this country. I love seeing the mountains and the tropical trees and flowers. I love hearing the language and walking through the streets on the crazy or nonexistant sidewalks. I think the people are beautiful. Tomorrow is the three-month anniversary of the day when I got on that plane by myself and ventured into the unknown. It's so different from home, but I think it's wonderful.
I wish I could say that I knew why the Lord wanted me to spend time here, but I'm not completely sure. The ministry to and love for my class here feels pretty equivalent to what I had at Vincent. Actually, it was easier to love the kids at home. I've struggled a lot already with my class. On days when they're driving me nuts, I would describe them as loud, rude, disrespectful, and selfish. On the good days, I try to say they're fun or entertaining. I'm learning that my love for others is often extremely conditional - but it's not supposed to be...
So in that way, I'm learning about unconditional love - like the love that my heavenly Father has for me... He doesn't love me more on a day when I follow the rules and am well-behaved. And He doesn't love me less when I'm particularly selfish or defiant.
He just loves me.
It's so humbling to realize you're receiving something every single day of your life that you do not deserve.
I'm learning about grace.
And I think that when you become so highly aware of receiving it, it makes it easier to give.
I'm seeing that in my relationships. When someone else sees past your weaknesses and faults and imperfections and they still want to be with you - it's humbling. And when you become increasingly more aware of the grace being given to you, there's this natural response of grace given in return that stems from such an overflow of gratitude. I've been observing the marriages around me, and I think it's just one more (major) way that marriage reflects the relationship of Christ and the church.
Anyway... That's enough deep-thinking for one post. I've got Skype conversations to have and fruits and veggies to put away. Goodnight! :)
