I'm back

I really did not go anywhere but have not been writing lately. Our internet service here really stinks and is out frequently so I have not been on the computer much. I have been occupied with kids, homework and helping them study for exams the past couple of weeks.
It has become full summer again here. It really never got cool, but was cooler when we had cloudy days and rain during the "winter" but it is as hot as mid-summer now. The kids all had off the entire week before Easter for Semana Santa which they enjoyed.
Everyone's health is good at this point. A cold/flu bug along with an eye infection went around and got most of us for awhile.
Milton celebrated his 16th birthday yesterday. He got to go to Masbey's house and work most of the day with Jonathan and Jaime. Punishment for the boys who don't like to do homework when they are supposed to.
The bad news to report is the brand new van recently donated to the casa was stolen. The old 15 passenger van had been in service for 10 years and was costing more and more with routine and expensive repairs after its numerous break-downs. 10 years here is probably the equivalent of 20 years in U.S. driving because here it is constantly on dirt roads filled with deep pot holes and lots of water and mud it regularly goes through, along with the constant heat. A generous donon paid for a brand new Nissan 15 passenger van that easily carried 25 children. These vans are very common here and are used in their local bus systems. Masbely was in the van when she was car-jacked and had the van stolen. Fortunately she was not hurt and survived with only the emotional scar of being robbed. The casa bought insurance when they got the van last month, but unfortunately the insurance industry here is nothing like that in the U.S. and it is not uncommon for insurance companies not to pay. Too bad my former employer, GEICO, does not write policies for Honduras, so they are stuck with some local company who said they will wait 3 months to see if the van is found and then decide what to do. Since the van was new and they only made one insurance payment, they are not holding out much hope that this company is going to pay for a new replacement van.