Thursday, September 27, 2007

The Things That Slow Me Down

September 26, 2007
So perhaps it is not just the culture that slows my pace of life down. I am thinking that my mistakes contribute to why I sometimes do not get much done. First, of all the power outages continue to follow me. Last night at a Bible Study a transformer down the street blew. The house I was staying at did not have electric either and theirs was the house that I escaped to last week when the electric went off somewhere else. Then today, many things slowed my pace down. The first major one was when I went to the post office. I took out my keys and inserted a key into the box, turned it, and it did not open. Looking down at the key, I realized with horror that I had inserted the wrong one (and the two keys are clearly different, but beside each other on the key ring). Try as I might I could not remove the key. I sheepishly went to the counter and asked for help. A man came and gave a try but left again to get pliers. He finally removed the key but had pulled with such force that he fell backwards on the ground (thankfully he was only kneeling and I think he was being dramatic). I did have mail which was a good thing considering all of the trouble I went to to get it. As it turns out the fee for replacing the lock and key was not much so next week all should be well. Typically I only go there once a week anyway because it is out of the way and usually I do not have much mail.

The second event was with the vehicle I was driving – as usual. I was leaving a Coffee shop and when I went to start the car, I could not turn the key. Somehow I had locked the steering wheel in place when I parked it and though I tried, I was not figuring out how to turn the steering wheel and key at the same time or with the right force. And of course this all set the alarm off so I had to silence it every few seconds. A friend was nearby and drove over and unlocked the wheel for me, but I need to figure out how not to do what I did again. By the close of the day I have realized that I cannot blame the culture for its slow pace when I have a knack for creating situations that slow my life down considerably. Maybe I need to consciously choose to slow down and then I will not have to find unplanned ways to slow down. Just a thought.

Monday, September 24, 2007

A Live, Venemous Snake in the Hand







September 24, 2007

I do not really think I have gotten any braver (nor less wise, though some may contest that) since coming to Latin America, but yes I did have a poisonous snake in my hand. The catch though is that it was in a 2-liter Pepsi bottle. There is something a little disconcerting about having a poisonous snake at eye level, inches from your face with only a thin layer of plastic between the two. I have yet to identify what kind it is because all of my books are at camp. And no, the snake was not from camp. A friend found it at the Institute where he works and captured it. I now have it in my possession, but it is dead. I will probably add it to my collection of critters (all insects up until now) preserved in formaldahyde. I need to move them from my house though because they really are not my taste for decorations. They were tolerable at Kensinger's Retreat during the youth group retreats, but I only had to endure them for 3 days.

Yesterday was a long day, in that I rode the bus from camp to the city with the 12-14 year olds from the church retreat and then waited around until it was time to go with the Williamsons to the airport at 10:00pm. It ended up being a really good day though. While standing on the sidewalk waiting for all of the youth to be picked up, one of the girls from the ropes course group I had observed, came over to talk with me. She thanked me for my involvement and began to share some of what she had learned from the experience. For a little background, the group was really tough. In reality about four of them should have been removed but that would have been over a 3rd of the group. The boys paid no attention to the girls' suggestions which actually contained many of the solutions. In the end the group did not complete any of the challenges that they were given. With such an ending it is hard to know how to bring a reflection time around to the place where the participants can walk away having learned something, thereby redeeming what would appear to be a failure. We talked about failure and success and learning from mistakes. We also talked about evaluating our hearts and attitudes and seeing what God wants to change. During the discussion time not too many shared anything of depth but a couple were able to express frustrations and what they had learned.

As I chatted with this girl yesterday, I realized that yes, once again God had redeemed an experience that seemed to be "unsuccessful" and that at least one young lady had learned from it. And actually the new facilitators who were faced with a very tough first group walked away from the experience wiser and stronger from it. As for me, as I mentioned before, I need to review and practice Spanish more and more and yet I have to remember that God can work through my weaknesses. The girl had mentioned pride during the one debrief and I realized it is partially because of my pride that I never want anyone to translate my questions into Spanish. I want to do it myself but I think that there are times when I should admit that translation would help the situation and then allow someone else to help me out. We will see what happens this next weekend.

The Slow Death of a Light

September 22, 2007
I sit down to write at the end of a long week but a new one is around the bend. This afternoon I observed another ropes course group and their leaders and was able to give some feedback. My involvement in the debriefs reminded me once again that I need to reviewing and attempting to use some of the more difficult rules of Spanish. Partly because of this need to keep using my Spanish more and more, I am planning to housesit for some missionaries who are on furlough until January. Their housekeeper actually stays at the house too but my presence there will allow her to go home and be with her family some. And I will have someone to speak in Spanish with on a regular basis when I am in the city. The house itself is a bit like a resort in comparison to where I live so I think I should be quite comfortable. The biggest challenge will be that it is not a place to call my own or arrange how I want (but if it was my own I would not have all the furniture and such that is there).

Because of several readings in books, I have decided to study darkness and light in the Bible and the other day I had an interesting realization. For weeks I had been walking around camp with my headlamp and batteries that were almost dead. I could hardly distinguish anything on the ground in front of me even with its light, but I wanted to wait until the batteries were completely dead before I recharged them. That is not so easy to do with a light because at some point the light loses its usefulness. A MP3 player or walkman will play and then suddenly shut off. Not so a flashlight. A light dies slowly.

I then got to thinking about my life and communication with Jesus. Lately I have had a lot of decisions to make and some big things on my plate. I have prayed asking for guidance , but it had been a while since I really stopped and listened and was fully recharged. I do not often have intense, focused time when I put my thoughts, ears, and eyes completely on the Lord. Too often I talk more than I listen. And yet to be recharged, I need quality and a good quantity of time or else I will continue on with only a dim light to illuminate my path and reveal the best place to step. The other week I finally changed the batteries in my headlamp and recharged the old ones. What I can see now is so much clearer and of greater distance. If something dangerous is in my path, I should actually be able to see it now. The past few days have been a time to “recharge” my heart by listening with my whole being once again. And how necessary it has been because I have had a few obstacles to step over.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Holding loosely to time

September 20, 2007
Life with its ups and downs. Here I sit in San Pedro with a list of things to do and laundry sitting half washed in the washing machine and there is no electric. Everyone says that San Pedro always has electric but I seem to be in the city every time that the electric goes out. Perhaps it is me. I head back to camp this afternoon and if I cannot get on-line before then, I will probably be unable to do anything till Sunday. I guess that it could be a way of God answering a few of my prayers about what to do with my visa running out next month. Maybe I am just to wait and see and not jump on the current opportunity for a cheap ticket to the States.

I am wondering how much I am to learn to plan ahead and be prepared for power outages at any moment even in the city or whether the lesson is to just relax and go with the flow. I am learning to hold time more loosely and wait, not knowing when or if intended plans will actually happen. As of yesterday morning the plan was to get together with a Honduran friend in the evening. We had not set a definite time though and the plan was for her to call me after work. But it was 7:00 till she called because it was the one day where she had to work late. By that time it was too late to do anything since neither of us had a car. And so the time in the city has passed without any time with Honduran friends.

It just seems to be one of those weeks. Thankfully I have transferred locations to another home where there is still electric. I will be able to make the phone calls and do the things I need to. It took several hours to reach this point though because the couple whose house I was staying at could not open their gate to get their truck out because of the power outage. Even the generator would not work well enough to open the electric gate. These are the situations that make it so difficult to get things done. And I am challenged to learn as Paul did, the secret of being content in any and every situation.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

From one day to the next




September 16, 2007
I find it amazing how the way things are going can change so rapidly. Up until Friday, I was having a great week. Thursday afternoon I was in the city and found an apartment I really like – except for the price so I doubt it will actually work for me. I met up with a guy I knew from the camp I volunteered at in Costa Rica and was able to honestly say that things were going well. His family had moved to Honduras several years ago and they admitted that the transition was hard. And that was only from one Latin country to another so I felt a little better about the fact that it has been a hard transition for me too.

I have been reminded that seeing familiar faces is so good. Last weekend another LAM missionary family visited us at camp. I had been in Language school with them and not seen them since April. On Wednesday I finally got together with one of my Honduran friends. I think it had been at least a month since we last chatted in person. I am discovering too that it would probably be cheaper for me to call the States with my cell phone than it is to call many phone numbers within the country of Honduras. It does not make phone conversations with friends here very appealing, especially when they are also in Spanish and I struggle to follow Spanish on the phone.

Anyway, I got back to camp on Thursday evening and Friday by lunch time I had a terrible headache. I thought briefly (and with horror) that it might be from lack of caffeine. For the past week I drank either tea or coffee everyday and though I did not think an addiction could happen that quickly, it was my one hypothesis. An attempted nap did not really alleviate the pain or tiredness and sleep was elusive since the electric was off and the house was extraordinarily hot. Thankfully I woke up Saturday feeling better. Because the Williamson children have been sick off and on the past couple of days, I think I may have had a virus and not an addiction to caffeine. Yeah!

September 15th is the Independence Day of Central America and one of the children from camp was in the local parade so a bunch of us were planning to go down and watch her. But the car would not start. Finally we pushed it to where it was facing downhill and then I had my first opportunity to clutch start a car and it worked. We made it to town an hour later than planned but no worries because the parade apparently did not start on time either. Saturday afternoon I went along with a ropes course group to observe the leader who still does not have sufficient hours to lead alone. In the evening I discovered how to substitute regular sugar for powdered sugar by using the blender.

This morning I awoke to no electric and a gentle rainfall. The rain has continued all day and gotten heavier. It actually reminds me of the other week when the Tropical Depression was in the area. Tonight we are having a farewell dinner along with the worship time since it is the Williamson’s last time here for many months. I think that the combination of sicknesses, power outages, and seeing all that the Williamson’s have to do in such a short time (while feeling helpless as far as really aiding them) have created a more stressful atmosphere over the past few days. But I know that it could be much worse and I am just praying that things go smoothly at camp as the Williamsons pack up this week.

Friday, September 07, 2007

Do I really need a car?

September 7, 2007
For the most part the effects of the Tropical depression are past here in Honduras though I am hearing of lots of flooding in the capital, 4 hours from me. Some of the rivers along the main road to the city were very high but the roads were quite passable. This afternoon I arrived in the city with hopes of getting together with a woman I was supposed to meet with last week and had to cancel on because of transportation problems. Of course I could not actually reach her by telephone until I got to the city, but thankfully she readily invited me to her house, even at the last minute. I appreciate that about the Latin culture – ability to change plans last minute and graciously.

So I said that we had electric throughout the storm. That was true until Wednesday night when suddenly the power went off around 7:00PM. I was on the phone with Cindy in the city and I learned that they lost power at the same moment and I figured the problem must be pretty big and might take a long time to fix (the whole country I later learned). But by midnight the electric was back. It did hinder the plans that I had to bake cookies with the two Honduran women and one of their daughters. But even with electric we probably could not have made them because we could not get the oven to work without giving off gas. We sat on the kitchen floor around a candle instead, ate a few chocolate chips, and chatted. Quality moments.

The excitement of this morning was checking out the snake that the dogs had killed the other night. A boa, about 4 feet long. Enjoy the photos! It was quite comforting to hear that the night watchman thought he saw it on the roof of the cabin next to mine shortly before its death. Perhaps the wildlife on camp is a little too prolific. I had to evacuate my house Weds. night for fumigation against the many unwanted insects. When I return on Friday, I will have to do lots of washing of everything that is now contaminated by the spray. The car issues were supposedly a defective oil filter that exploded so once it was replaced the mechanic said that it should be fine for me to drive to the city. But this evening I noticed oil on the floor beneath the car so I am not so sure it is fixed. At least it has not lost all its oil like last time though. I am considering taking up the recommendation of the one night watchman and buying a horse for my transportation instead. The benefits – 4WD in any type of weather, no mechanical issues to deal with, and if I use my big backpack, I could carry my groceries. Of course the drawbacks are too numerous to mention.

Thursday, September 06, 2007

In the Midst of The Storm






September 5, 2007
And the rains have come! Since Tuesday around 1:30PM it has been raining almost constantly. Not always heavy showers but a steady rain. It is hard to imagine what the weather would be like if Felix had not downgraded to a Tropical Depression and instead came upon us as a hurricane. This morning I went down to the creek with some of the other staff and it was definitely a different creek than what I have seen previously in my time here. Last evening just before dusk I took a stroll to the woods in between rain showers and with each walk, I have been reminded that I find this weather enchanting and delightful (in small doses – everyday and I would have a different opinion). To walk in a world where green life is all around and the raindrops tumble gently from the drenched branches above. To have the opportunity to wear a long-sleeved shirt all day and not be hot! That is paradise (Okay, not really but delightful just the same).

I have so much to b thankful for at the moment. The power has stayed on all through the rains except for an hour or so last night, just as I was headed to bed. My roof has not leaked yet though I know that the leak is not really repaired. One of the families stayed on camp rather than going to visit their family on the other side of town and the creek. Had they done so, there is a good chance that they would not have made it back. I am not quite ready to be on camp overnight by myself. I am not even attempting to go anywhere since the price of mototaxis make a trip to town not worth it and they probably could not even make it up the hill. And so I work, eat, and read in the midst of a rain-soaked world that occasionally beckons me to venture out and explore.

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

In the Calm

September 4,

Today is a day of waiting -- waiting to see if Hurricane Felix will hit Honduras and effect my area, waiting to see if the Montero will be fixed so that I can leave camp if I want to, and waiting for who knows what else but I am sure that there is something. At the moment, all is calm. Since last evening there has hardly been any wind and we have had sunshine. And yet there is the threat of lots of rain and heavy winds in less than 24 hours. It does not seem like the people of Pinalejo are panicking because of the Hurricane. Eversince Hurricane Mitch in 1998 which destroyed so much of the country, there is much fear associated with the word "hurricane". The Williamsons are in the city and they have said that the supermarkets are emptied of food and yet jammed with people. The threat is being taken seriously. Here at camp we may have to gather in the storage rooms under the dining hall because none of the buildings have very strong roofs. I bought plenty of food when I was in the city over the weekend, but I am realizing that it was probably too much if the electric goes off because some of it will spoil. Because of flooding and mudslides the roads to the city will probably be impassible so my intended trip to the city tomorrow will not happen.

Not that I could have gone anyway because yesterday as I returned from town the oil light came on in the dashboard of the Montero. Since it "devours" oil I figured that it just needed refilled. But as it turns out something exploded and the oil was everywhere except where it should be. The night watchman saw oil all along the road up to camp. I am thankful that it happened when and where it did because I was not on the road to the city or even stuck in town. The mechanic came up to camp this morning and thinks the oil filter is defective and needs replaced. Since the part is probably not found here in the town, the car will not be fixed until he can get to the city. It would seem that God wants me to hang out at camp for a while. I doubt that I will even come to town for a few days after today. I hitched a ride down to town with the mechanic and then I plan to call my first "mototaxi" (I´ll have to include a picture sometime.) and get back up to camp. The adventures continue!

Over the weekend I met a girl from Kentucky, Mary, who is traveling Latin America for several months. It is neat how my life can be enriched from random contacts with people. She has a heart for ministering and is obediently following God without really knowing where she will end up. She studied Environmental Geography in college and so having an interest in camps, she returned to camp with me on Sunday to see the place. We did a little exploring and went for a run in the morning. (It was quite nice to have a running partner other than the dogs which tend to be more of a hindrance than a help most of the time) We also stayed up chatting until 11:30PM (something I have not done for ages), having deep conversations about life and faith. I was blessed by the brief encounter. I love how God can use even people who pass through our lives for such a short moment, to encourage, challenge us, and remind us of just how big He is. Her life and testimony were a challenge to me to consider what affect my life has on other people in similar brief encounters.

And so as I continue to wait to see what happens next in Pinalejo, in Honduras, I am at peace knowing that as I read in Psalm 46 this morning, "God is my refuge and my strength an ever present help in times of trouble..." And then the verse that I need to remember if the storm does hit, "Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations..." I think that the next few days could be a great time to get to know the Honduran staff better and to minister to them. Probably there will be an adventure or 2 thrown in there too. We will see.