Lesson #2: Don't Expect to Wake up with Electricity

For the past two days I've woken up without electricity. The electrical shortage lasted for nearly 48 hours. Life without electricity is interesting. I got ready by the light of a lamp, I was unable to make coffee in the morning, I was unable to print out the papers that I wanted to make copies of for my class, I was unable to use my computer, and I taught class with the lights off. Thankfully we were still able to cook because all stoves and ovens in Copan Ruinas are gas. On Saturday night the teachers all prepared dinner together at one of the houses. We prepared lasagna by candlelight. It reminded me of what cooking in Italy would really feel like. :) When Tiffany and I returned home Saturday night, the house was completely dark. As I flashed my flashlight in the kitchen, I saw a gigantic roach crawling across the counter! We were horrified! The house was completely dark and there were numerous giant roaches crawling around in our kitchen! I was paranoid the rest of the night.
Really, I'm learning to not expect a lot of things in Copan Ruinas. I've also learned to not expect...
1) Water (we were without water all day on Saturday)
2) Good Weather (it rains here every day...on Friday, Tiffany and I started our day walking to work in the rain, and ended our day doing the same thing)
3) A washer and dryer (I handwash my clothes in a pila and hang dry them from a clothes line every Saturday)
4) A hot shower (although we do get hot water here normally, the water sometimes fails to heat up)
5) A clean floor (I am constantly tracking dirt inside my house)

Really, living life here has taught me how little control I have over things. I don't have control of the electricity, the water, the weather, and even my students. I want my students to sit completely quietly in class, but they get so distracted by everything! I don't how to get them to be quiet. Realizing that I have so little control only makes me realize all the more how much I am dependent on God. I need to learn to give up my want of control and my expectation and leave my life up to God.