Monday, December 31, 2007

Christmas in Honduras (in phases)

December 31, 2007

I think that this will be the last entry of the year -- a year that passed by very quickly. I will at least begin the stories of the Christmas travels. My cousin, Mel, arrived in Honduras on Wednesday the 19th and I found her at the airport with no troubles. I thought that I was going to be late and she would get a taste of waiting around (for which I also felt bad because who wants to be standing alone in an airport with no phone number to call, no phone to call from, and no Spanish to communicate with) because I tried to be the usual me and do some research at a store I drove past, forgetting that comparing prices on fridges would not be a quick task. Thankfully I got to the airport before she cleared customs and all was well.

The next day we headed off to Tela, one of the northern towns on the Caribbian coast. Relaxing would be the word I would use to characterize the first few days of our trip. We were not in a hurry. We even took our time leaving the city, not worrying about the fac that it meant less time on the beach. Our hotel was a neat pink building that boasted the highest roof in the town from which you could watch the sunrise and sunset. The last morning I got up for the sunrise and enjoyed the tranquility of the moment until the morning traffic got underway. Mel and I spent a lot of time just relaxing in the hammocks. Another friend of mine met up with us later that day and joined in the adventures of the next few days.

Friday morning we got up and had breakfast at the hotel on the porch that overlooked the water. We then hopped on the tour "van" that took us to Triunfo de la Cruz, a Garifuna Village not too far away. There we ordered our lunch and then headed to Punto Izopo and a mangrove swamp where we were to kayak for the next few hours. Though the tour lasted from 8:00-3:30 we soon discovered that the kayaking was only to last about 2 hours which from our North American perspective did not seem sufficient forr the money we were paying. But in the end the guide's times were off and we kayaked for almost 2 1/2 hours. Weaving in among the mangrove trees, fighting the current, and attempting not to run into the hanging branches (a great place for poisonous snakes to hang out) was quite fun. Upon occasion Mel and I were reminded of "The Swiss Family Robinson." I had never been in such a setting so I loved it. We saw a few crocodiles but only from a distance. Towards the end of the time on the water we came upon a large family of white-faced monkeys and spent some time observing how they jump with such agility from one tree to the next, creating lots of noise while traveling.

After the kayking we returned to the Garifuna village and had our lunch. (Chicken for me of course, but I was excited about the Caribbean rice and beans). We then headed into the water and jumped the waves. I had to abandon Mel though when I saw some of the rest of the group throwing a frisbee around. We even managed to play a short game of Ultimate Frisbee.

When the tour ended, I headed into Tela to print pictures while Mel and Mark relaxed in hammocks or on the roof. I made my way back to the hotel via the beach and took some time to just sit by the water. Later we played a game of Settler's which was nice to add to the activities of the vacation since I always play that with famil around Christmas (and whenever we get together). That evening we tried out another restaurant near the beach. The night before we had been entertained by flame throwers but this evening was a little more tranquil.

Saturday morning we took our time in leaving and on our way out of town (in reality our way back into town since I missed the turn on th way out) we stopped at the Lancetilla Botanical Gardens, one of the largest botanical gardens in the world. I could have spent a lot more time there and will have to go back another time. I am amazed at the number of poisonous trees that they have in the gardens with very little warning to keep people from touching them. The strychnine tree can kill you if you just touch it (I was so tempted to touch it because it is hard to believe you could die from touching it, but I stayed away except for the picture). When the tree is flowering, it is dangerous to be anywhere near it because of inhaling the pollen. Yet the only thing designating the tree as poisonous is the black sign. Definitely not a place to let children walk around unsupervised. The Melaleuca tree was another highlight because of the reminder of my mom and how she stands behind almost all melaleuca products.

The day culminated with a very wild soccer game. On our way back to the city some of Mark's friends called him and invited him to a soccer game (the Honduran Cup game we later discovered). He then invited us and though it was last minute, we said sure. After a quick dinner and getting rid of our bags, we headed to the stadium. I had not been thinking right and so I drove to the game only to find myself in horrendous traffic and no parking. We ended up parking alongside a road across a field from the stadium. I was not too excited about the location because I could just imagine the car disappearing while we were inside. That thought was in the back of my mind all evening. (I of course need to stop worrying). Much to my surprise we were able to find the other people and squeezed our way into the bleacher like seats. I was at a soccer game in Costa Rica but I think we must have had good seats or the crowds are calmer there because this game was wild. Everytime the team Marathon scored, a shower of beer, or whatever other liquid was in the hands of the fans, would fall around us. I began to wish for a very large hat. The game itself was good but I could have done without some of the excitement of the fans.

Thankfully when we left and made it across the field without getting mugged my car was still there. Traffic leaving the area was not bad at all and we made it home safely. I think it will be a while till I go to another game though.

Although I will try to put more pictures on this blog, a place to go and see more of the photos is:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=34079&l=e1a1e&id=678836347

Sunday, December 30, 2007

And still I do not write ....

December 30, 2007

Over the past week I have had lots of adventures in my travels with my cousin, my first Christmas abroad, car issues, and other such circumstances. I have much to write about but I still have not been motivated to sit down and write. My lack of sleep is catching up with me too, and I know that New Year's will not be of help. I already said "yes" to going to a 4 hour church service (I think that part of it is a prayer time) and then a very late night, early morning dinner at someone's house. I do not expect to be home before 3:00AM. I am beginning to wish that I had opted instead for a quiet New Year's Eve. I should at least try to get back to camp on New Year's Day so that I can have some quiet moments there. Almost every year I have found some body of water to sit beside and reflect on the year, journal, and pray. I definitely need that after the last few days and camp holds the only accessible, safe place for me to sit in solutide by water(within reasonable driving distance).

At the same time my travels to new parts of Honduras instilled in me the desire to do more traveling and exploring. That and I have several friends doing some traveling right now. Now is not the time, but it has been harder to transition back to work than I thought. I actually might have to travel in two weeks for my visa but my lawyer is not getting back to me with any information on my residency status. Most likely whatever I do will be very last minute.

It is ironic that life was so calm and tranquil up until Christmas but afterwards the busyness set in. Usually busyness happens the other way around. All of this to say that I do hope to write my stories in the next few days, but we will see.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

And We're Off




December 20, 2007

Last Saturday, immediately after a basketball game, I made the trip out to camp arriving just before dark. As I drove the sun was setting in front of me which is never good for seeing the road, but it can make a pretty sight from time to time. Such was the case as I neared camp and the sun was setting behind the mountains. At one place the road crosses a river that winds off to the right and disappears between two mountains. As I passed this spot on Saturday, I noticed two boys standing in the water with the backdrop of the mountains behind them. It made me think of the movie A River Runs Through It which I think I saw in high school (or at least some of it before I fell asleep). I loved the beauty and the tranquility of the sight and in reality I wanted to be in the river rather than on a hurried drive so as to beat the darkness.

As the sun set behind the mountains it had the appearance of an orange ball of flame which cast a pinkish-orange shadow across the sky just above the mountaintops. Another beautiful sight except that I knew daylight was being chased away and I did not have much time for getting home.

At camp this week we have had a group of about 250 youth from a program called Icthus. Icthus is an international ministry that works with youth from schools and churches, many of whom are not Christians. I found out the end of last week that the group needed help with the ropes course so I helped out on Tuesday. It meant cancelling a meeting and changing plans that I had in the city, which I do not like doing but it was necessary. I still have cultural adjustments to make for sure. Being content to go with the flow and not know what is going on more than a few hours (or minutes) ahead of time. I think that there are instances when more planning needs to be brought to the programs and preparation of the groups, but there are also times when I need to learn to just relax. A give and a take.

I reached the city yesterday morning and tried to get everything ready before taking a vacation. My cousin arrived last night and today we are off on what I hope will be fun, yet relaxing, adventures.
*Photo: me holding a Motmot that was found trapped in the dorms

Thursday, December 13, 2007

More than a Basketball Game

December 13, 2007

This past weekend I had my first basketball game with the women's team I am a part of. Let me just say that we lost miserably. The first quarter we actually had the lead, but after that things went downhill. A big part of the problem was that hardly anyone on our team had ever played together before which does make strategy and plays difficult. By the 4th quarter the score was hopeless and almost every trip down the court was a fastbreak for the other team because we did not know how to guard on man-to-man defense. I was sitting on the bench at this point and really wanted to go back in and try to make a difference (not that I had made much of one the first 3 quarters).

While I was watching the game, one of my teammates began chatting with me and asking if I could help her daughter. From what I understood her daughter (6 years old) is struggling in school and perhaps having some behavior issues. Her parents have her in an Evangelical school and seem to be hoping that she will follow some of the teaching that she receives. But the mother admitted that her daughter sees very different behavior at home and so is mimicking her parents more than following what she learns at school. I did not have answers for the mother at that moment because I know that I need to be praying about what to say but I did express that it is difficult for children if they are seeing and hearing different things at home and school. As she shared with me and asked for help, I sensed that the woman sees Christianity as following rigid rules and living up to certain standards more than it being a love relationship with Christ.

At some point during our conversation I realized that my time of sitting on the bench was definitely more valuable and eternal than had I been running down the court scoring lots of points. I was where God wanted me. I am not sure when I will be able to pick up the conversation again -- hopefully this weekend if we both make it to the next game. I will definitely be needing the words in Spanish from the Lord to be able to effectively communicate what He wants, but He is more than capable of helping me out in that.

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Machetes and Making Chocolate

December 5, 2007

Such delicious evenings this week! I love the fact that I have to be bundled up (okay, bundled up these days equals, one long sleeve shirt) to sit outside. I spent a good portion of the evening sitting outside in my hammock writing Christmas cards. An ironic combination for northerners for a December evening. I heard that they were getting snow in PA today which always makes me a little envious, but I am thankful for the beautiful evening I had at camp to remind me, that yes, there is much natural beauty here too. I saw Orion for the first time tonight and once again the Seven Sisters were twinkling overhead.

My adventure of the day was an attempt to make chocolate. Thanksgiving week I had picked up a cacao which they can get chocolate from. You can suck on the bitter fruit around the seeds and then you dry the seeds to make the chocolate. I had already dried the seeds so this morning I put them in the toaster oven and for a short while I could smell the wonderful aroma of chocolate. At first I was startled by the explosions taking place in the oven but decided it was okay. It was just the shell separating from the rest of the seed. I went outside to do something else and when I re-entered the house and looked at the cacao seeds, I realized that they seemed a little over done (and on the verge of burnt). I proceeded with what I thought was the chocolate making process, though I really was not sure. I crushed the seeds in the blender and then added some milk, sugar, and water and boiled it all on the stove. Sadly the burnt taste was too much and very little chocolate flavor actually made its presence known. It would have been great to have made chocolate straight from the bean but I cannot really claim success this time.

The other even of the day – I now own a machete. I need to get lessons on how to safely use it though. A machete is an all purpose tool here in Honduras. You can use it as a trowel for planting flowers. It is great for cracking open coconuts. You can even “mow” with a machete. My uses will be mostly limited to whacking a coconut here and there and clearing paths from time to time.

Monday, December 03, 2007

A Glimpse of the "If"

December 3, 2007

This afternoon I had a glimpse of what could have happened to me had I moved my car out into the intersection faster than I did. I was the first car in one of 3 lanes of cars at a red light and when the light turned green, the cars behind us began honking, but I did not move because I noticed the car coming from the left had yet to slow down. Sure enough as the car to my right pulled out into the intersetion the other car was continuing through the light on red. It slammed on its brakes and stopped inches before striking the other car which had also stopped. Where the car (that had been running the red light) stopped was exactly where I would have been had I pulled out immediately when the light turned green. I probably would have been sandwiched between the two cars, and I can only guess what condition I would have been in. And so I sat in my spot, watching the scene and thanking the Lord that for once in my life I had been taking my time. The car to the left backed out of the intersection and I was able to move forward, being just about the only car to make it through the light. Yes, slowing down can be good and I will continue to try and do so more often.

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Seeing the Stars from Center City


December 2, 2007

Last evening I went to my first concert in many years. It was the concert of Jesus Adrian Romero, a Latin Worship leader from Mexico. The concert took place downtown San Pedro Sula in an open stadium. Thousands of people packed into the stadium and as night fell I noticed that I could see a few stars overhead, including Pleiades (or the 7 Sisters). I thought of my family who I knew was together in a cabin in northen PA, perhaps looking up at the stars on a crisp snowy winter evening. And although I did know I would love being with them, I was content to be where I was at. I thought about too how an outdoor concert in PA would not be an option on a December 1. As I sat there I realized that I am thankful that I have the opportunity to be both in the city and in the country. Earlier in the day I had gone on a 2 hour birdwatching hike on some property just adjacent to camp. It is an area that I never had ventured to before and loved the beauty of the area from the coffee trees to the sauntering creek. The only sad part is that it was not recommended that I go there alone so my trips to the area will be few and far between.

The concert was good and actually a time for some reflection, worship and prayer. That morning I had been with God for some solo time in my hammock and been challenged and in the evening He spoke to me while I was amongst a crowd of thousands. God is amazing and His ability to meet us where we are at.

This morning as I went to leave for church, I discovered that my car would not start. So much for days for too many consecutive days without car issues. I took a taxi to the Spanish church I go to and from there another taxi to an International, English-speaking church. I had lunch with people from the latter church and got to spend the time chatting in Spanish with a new friend from Costa Rica. The missionary couple that seems to always rescue me when I have car trouble checked out my vehicle and it seems to be the battery, not the starter which is a good thing. I do not understand why but my dad said he won't deliver a battery to me (I do still endorse Interstate Batteries though) so I will have to head to the local version of Sam's Club, BJ's or Coscos tomorrow morning. Then it is back to camp -- I think, but I do have a lot of errands to run and to unfamiliar stores such as hardware stores and electric stores so who knows what will actually happen. I guess that it is good my basketball game for this afternoon had been cancelled since I would have had trouble getting there on time.