06/24/95: It's our third day here [at our worksite], and we just got some water. We had to drink chlorinated water last night. Before that we didn't have any. It's really beautiful here. Our sleeping quarters are rat, snake and hornet infested, but we may be moving. Things were really scary at first....most of us were sobbing and hysterical. We rode up here in the back of a cattle truck on muddy dirt roads past cliff sides in the rain. I was lucky enough to go in the back of a jeep with four-wheel drive. We got a flat tire when a bus almost hit us. Our spare was flat also so we had to go to a gas station to get air. The electricity wasn't working in the city, so we couldn't get it. We finally pulled over in front of two houses when a man in a truck said he happened to have an air pump. We got out and realized there were five families on the porch watching us. We ended up talking to them and singing Spanish songs. It was amazing.

Now for my adventure! Upon arrival at about 7:45 pm, we walked into a pitch black kitchen with large rats. It was just me and five other girls. Two were leaders. We sat there and cried and prayed. My luggage didn't make it here, but it might be here by tomorrow. It's really interesting borrowing underwear...

07/05/95: It's about 7 am and I just finished breakfast. Last night about 25 people woke up throwing up. They're going to the hospital today. We think Sarah has malaria. I'm one of about five that didn't get sick. About our work project: I've been busy digging holes for latrines, and trenches around our bungalows to keep them from flooding. I've also been building a wall around one of the future bathrooms. We laid a cement foundation for the septic tank, and now we're digging holes for the pipes to go through. Once they're done we'll install the pipes. If we ever get done, there will be four real bathrooms, three latrines and a whole septic system. The trenches for the pipes are about six feet deep now. We keep falling into them in the middle of the night when we try to go to the latrine. It's awful. I fell in one the other night when I was all sleepy, and it was so deep I had a hard time climbing out.

One thing that was fun was when our team went to the waterfall. It was cold and really high. We had to climb the whole mountain to get there, and it looked like a tropical rain forest. Actually, I guess it was a tropical rain forest! The water was ICE cold. I swam around in it, then sat down under the falls and let the water beat on my back. It felt great, like a hard massage.

I'm doing pretty well here, I guess, but home sounds just about wonderful, especially the toilet part. I'm okay with having my birthday out here. It'll certainly be the biggest slumber party I've ever had.

07/07/95: Last night was SO cool! They kept [my birthday] envelope until my birthday because they knew I'd open it. The day had been awful, and darn close to everybody got sick. At dinner they brought out the best chocolate cake with sixteen candles, icing and all. I was so surprised!

07/15/95: Today we went to the Mayan Ruins on horseback and to a little restaurant that had cornflakes on the menu. We're staying in a hotel that has two beds in my room and--sit down--a mirror! I'm at the restaurant now waiting for my hamburguesa con papas (hamburger with fries), which will be a welcome change from rice. I've learned some fabulous recipes for rice. When I say we've been served seven courses of rice-in-disguise in one day I'm not kidding. It's not funny anymore. I'll choke if I see another grain.

The horses here are so funny looking! They all look like skinny donkeys that cry. I've seen so many people here from around the world. I met a guy from Denmark, a girl from Japan, a guy from Minnesota, a girl from Australia, and right now there are two very good looking guys eating lunch next to me from France, I believe. Copan is the city of life! I like it!

07/16/95: This weekend has been SO cool! Yesterday I went freestyle riding and boy, was my horse fast! I was running that thing as fast as it would go. Emily and I (us devils) ran away from the pokey group and dashed up and down the streets with our hair blowing in the wind, singing the "Three Amigos" song. I'll never do something that free in my life again. It was awesome! Finally I slowed to a trot down the scenic cobblestone streets and greeted the natives in the quaint little shops. THIS is a bit more like the descriptions in the brochures!

This morning (Sunday) we started singing on a platform in the park in Copan. Everybody stopped and sat down to listen. Before we knew it a big crowd had gathered, and we were getting into it. When I sat down for a minute, a little girl ran up with two beautiful pink flowers and picked Kris and I out of the group and handed one to each of us. It was so sweet! Right now I'm at the Mayan ruins taking a rest. It's funny to think I'll be going home soon...