Restoration and some craziness

Profe Edith, my principal, came back to school this week. It's so wonderful to have her here and to know that her husband is recovering well from his surgery.

Quite a few of my students have really been improving their behavior, and I'm enjoying both 6th and 5th grade immensely. Here are some sentences my 5th graders wrote using their spelling words, which were superlative adjectives (kindest, smartest, happiest, etc.):

Miss Emily is the kindest teacher in the school.
Miss Emily is the kindest teacher in the world.
Miss Emily's class is the funniest in the world.
Miss Emily is the smartest in Honduras.
Miss Emily is nicest.
Miss Emily is the nicest of all school.
Miss Emily is the best in this world.

Oh, how I love them :o) Last night, when I was standing with some other teachers outside a parents' meeting, three of my 5th-grade girls saw me. They exclaimed, "Miss Emily!!!" and all together ran to hug me.

Election day was completely peaceful, and over 60% of Hondurans voted. Pepe Lobo was elected president in a landslide. There's no more talk about reinstating Zelaya, and some countries and organizations are recognizing the legitimacy of the Honduran government now. The changes in office will take place at the end of January. Many comparisons have been made between Lobo and Zelaya, so please pray that this president will be very different from the last and will have the Honduran people's best interest as his main concern.

On the down side, I just keep getting sick. First a virus from contaminated food, then food poisoning, and this week I had symptoms of food poisoning AGAIN. I'm almost better now, and the pain wasn't debilitating like it was last time. But this is the second morning in a row I've woken up with a migraine, and I don't doubt they're tied to all the medications I've been taking every time I get sick. Please pray for my health.

Siguatepeque is about the safest city in Honduras, but lately there have been some crazy things happening. Several weeks ago, a member of a drug gang stood outside a friend's church during choir practice and held a gun to a 9-year-old girl, taking what she had. Then he beat up two men from the church. Heather's boyfriend, Ariel, and his friend were robbed of their cell phones at gunpoint in a taxi in Tegucigalpa. Someone was robbed in the middle of the day a couple of blocks from the school. And I already told you the story about Ana being robbed in her apartment because they had mistaken it for a drug dealer's residence. I'm not thinking of leaving Honduras (except for Christmas vacation in two weeks!), but I ask you to pray for peace and safety in this country.

Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble. The Lord protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies. The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health. -Psalm 41:1-3