Happy Lempira Day!

Girls in their costumes at school

Yesterday was National Lempira Day in Honduras.  I'm still not exactly sure what the day celebrated.  I think we decided it's like our Columbus Day - not really important, but you have a party at school!  The Lempira is the national currency named after an important man in Honduran history.  We cut our English class short to walk down to the elementary school to see the festivities.  Everyone was dressed up in traditional outfits from each region of the country.  It was precious!  They had a band playing drums and dancing Punta (the traditional dance).  We saw some of our friends from the church, and one of our students was in the performance.  After we left the school, we had a traditional meal for lunch.  (PS, Jennifer and I really wanted coffee after lunch, so we all risked our lives to walk a couple blocks down to a gas station on a busy road.  We got instructions not to smile or talk and to keep moving.  Mom and Dad, I figured you would laugh since it was all in the pursuit of coffee.)  

The orphanage is having their party this morning, but we will not be there.  Sad.  However, we did get to watch them practice their traditional dances in costume yesterday afternoon.  Back at the hotel, Karla taught us how to dance Punta and Salsa.  It was a great day filled with alot of dancing, so I'm not complaining!