On Tuesday, the Americans at La Finca watched Obama’s inauguration on an English-speaking channel. Janelle called us in our school room to let us know the preliminaries were starting. Angelica, Ali, and Zack rushed to the door in anticipation and just then the electricity went off. So, we tried to focus on school work again. By the time the actual inauguration was underway, the electricity was restored.

As a school project, we planted zinnia seeds behind Andrea’s house (The Missionary House). Sam, a Philadelphia market customer, gifted Audrey with the seeds, instructing her to plant them with her school children. Angelica and Ali became excited about the idea of sowing flowers in all the available fallow flower beds. They’ve spent much of their free time working and dreaming in this area.

On Friday, we (Harlan, Janelle, Angelica, Ali, Zack, Audrey, Dwain) piled in the Horst’s truck for a trip to Zamorano, an international agricultural school about 1 ½ hrs. from La Finca. On this first school field trip there were more adults than children. Hmmm. At several places barricades directed us into the opposing lane to avoid the huge drop-offs in the pavement where ground had given way during the rainy season and part of the road had rolled down the mountain onto houses below. Although Janelle had called Zamorano in advance to make arrangements for a tour, when we arrived we learned no one had authority to admit us, and no tour guides were available. So, we swallowed our disappointment and took advantage of some nice walking paths. On the way back to La Finca, we stopped at an outdoor market in Tegucigalpa where Dwain purchased some seeds (onions, squash, watermelon, radish, spinach, red beets and cilantro), as well as some ag lime.

Friday evening Harlan and Janelle took us out to eat in Valle. Initially, we were the only diners. Within minutes, Angelica and Ali spotted two men in suit coats with headpieces. Jokingly, the girls claimed they were secret service men. Then, Harlan happened to glance at the table behind us. There sat the Honduran president with two other men. So, our first formal dining experience in Valle was with the President. After we ordered, the waitress informed us the President was going to be served first and that in addition to his meal he’d ordered 15 plates to go. We had to wait until those plates were ready before we were served.

On Saturday evening, Audrey (flute) and Andrea (clarinet) accompanied a group of La Finca singers who led worship at a nearby church. Several different groups presented songs, dance and drama at the church’s special weekend meetings. We were scheduled to leave La Finca at 4p.m., but didn’t leave until 5p.m. because the church service started late (in Honduran style). We’ve been told this would happen, but when it actually does, it still surprises us.