February 27, 2009
So it has been over 2 weeks since I last wrote and this will probably be a quick catch up. Since that time I have mostly been at camp where I worked with a team that came from Houghton College to help us out on camp. It was lots of fun to hang out with old friends from college and camp (in PA) as well as see much progress on ropes course repairs and other projects around the camp. For some reason we were blessed with much rain so lots of the work was done during downpours. I gave in to getting completely soaked and went for a run the one evening with two of the girls. Over the weekend we hung out with a group of children who were at camp with Compassion International. It was fun to chat with them, play games, and worship with them.
After the team left, my friend Janae remained and we headed to the beach for 2 days. Unfortunately the rain continued but in between the raindrops we got in a hike, swim on a beautiful beach, walks through town, and some boat rides. We also witnessed two rainbows during our journeys across the water.
Now I am settling back into work. Tomorrow morning I head out to camp to help with a weekend group who is doing the ropes course. I am getting reaccustomed to being in the house with a crying toddler. Perhaps later I can go into more details about the work team and the progress that Lisbet is making because she is improving and crying less. At the moment it is dinner time though.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
A Peaceful Passing
February 12, 2009
Today for some reason the internet was not working at my house which always creates a challenge. I ended up going to a coffee shop to check e-mails, knowing that at this time it was important to keep in touch with family back home. Sure enough there was a note to call my mom (from last night) and then a church e-mail update that said my grandfather had passed away. It took a while till I could get to a phone to call my mom. When I did, she said that my grandfather had peacefully passed away last night. And some of the family was able to be present. I am saddened for my sake and the sake of my family but happy for him. I feel like I was able to do much of my grieving while in Florida this past week so this news was not a shock or as difficult as the initial news of his stroke. I think that when it comes time for the funeral and I am still in Honduras, it may be a little more difficult but I know that I need to be here and not there this time. Meanwhile I pray for my family who will be traveilng south tomorrow, many by way of car.
Today for some reason the internet was not working at my house which always creates a challenge. I ended up going to a coffee shop to check e-mails, knowing that at this time it was important to keep in touch with family back home. Sure enough there was a note to call my mom (from last night) and then a church e-mail update that said my grandfather had passed away. It took a while till I could get to a phone to call my mom. When I did, she said that my grandfather had peacefully passed away last night. And some of the family was able to be present. I am saddened for my sake and the sake of my family but happy for him. I feel like I was able to do much of my grieving while in Florida this past week so this news was not a shock or as difficult as the initial news of his stroke. I think that when it comes time for the funeral and I am still in Honduras, it may be a little more difficult but I know that I need to be here and not there this time. Meanwhile I pray for my family who will be traveilng south tomorrow, many by way of car.
Baby Steps
February 12, 2009
I am so excited to see progress in things with Evelin and Lisbet. Both are taking baby steps and sometimes giant steps. Today Evelin encountered a former drug dealer that she knew while taking a bus. Rather than be tempted to buy, she ended up sharing with him how Jesus has changed her life and can change his too!
As for Lisbet, last night we went to a Bible Study at church and I threw in a lot of extra toys because I knew that the atmosphere would not be conducive to her walking the aisles. Basically she would end up being very distracting and disruptive. Although I was not really able to gather much from the Bible Study because of keeping Lisbet content with sitting on the bench or standing on the floor in our aisle (and the Spanish of course), Evelin could concentrate enough to be challenged. I think that she was surprised that it was possible to keep Lisbet in one place without her crying and screaming.
This evening we taught Lisbet to put her toys away (or began the teaching because it will probably take a few times). She has been much more willing to let me pick her up and play with her which are also big steps. There is hope that she will one day let her mom entrust her to a babysitter and not scream the entire time.
I am so excited to see progress in things with Evelin and Lisbet. Both are taking baby steps and sometimes giant steps. Today Evelin encountered a former drug dealer that she knew while taking a bus. Rather than be tempted to buy, she ended up sharing with him how Jesus has changed her life and can change his too!
As for Lisbet, last night we went to a Bible Study at church and I threw in a lot of extra toys because I knew that the atmosphere would not be conducive to her walking the aisles. Basically she would end up being very distracting and disruptive. Although I was not really able to gather much from the Bible Study because of keeping Lisbet content with sitting on the bench or standing on the floor in our aisle (and the Spanish of course), Evelin could concentrate enough to be challenged. I think that she was surprised that it was possible to keep Lisbet in one place without her crying and screaming.
This evening we taught Lisbet to put her toys away (or began the teaching because it will probably take a few times). She has been much more willing to let me pick her up and play with her which are also big steps. There is hope that she will one day let her mom entrust her to a babysitter and not scream the entire time.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Heading Home
February 10, 2009
I am here in the Tampa Airport with over 2 hours yet till I fly south. I came early since my sister was also flying out, but on an earlier flight. It was fun to have a few minutes in the airport waiting with someone else since usually I travel alone. We enjoyed a Carmel Cider from Starbucks and then parted ways.
It has been a busy 4 days in many ways and yet the pace has been mostly the same each day. I arrived in FL early Saturday morning and after a full course breakfast with family (but no sleep), I headed to the airport to see my grandpa. I was disappointed that he did not respond or seem to recognize me but then as everyone else pointed out, I probably spoke too quietly. We stayed there until lunch time when we headed back to my aunt and uncle's house. I then tried to take a nap before going back to the hospital after dinner. The next two days followed a similar schedule except that little by little my relatives returned to their homes in Georgia and Pennsylvania as it became obvious that my grandfather was going to hang in there for a while yet.
I think it was Sunday morning when we gathered around my grandpa's bed in the hospital and sang hymns. He seemed to enjoy and notice the singing and it was a beautiful moment. As I looked around the room at all of my aunt's and uncle's, I could not help but shed tears. I am so thankful for my family and the love that we have for each other. I cannot imagine being in their place since it is their father and not grandfather who is nearing the moment when he will see Jesus face to face. Many of the hymns reminded me that for him this passing is a joyous moment because there will be no more suffering and he will be with Jesus. Later on my sister and I got to sing a few more hymns with him and there was another precious moment when we sang with some of younger cousins.
Val and I were able to lend a hand and cook a few of the meals to give my aunt a break which was fun. Yesterday afternoon my grandpa got moved to hospice so he is now settled into a tranquil room where his needs are met and it is a relaxing place for my grandma to stay with him. Just as my mom and other relatives experienced, it is hard to leave knowing that we will not be there with my grandpa in the end (at least I will not though the others hope to return in the next few days). I will not be back for the funeral, but I am thankful for these days that I had with him and with the family. It will give some closure that would not have been there had I not returned to the States for any part of this time. So many stories were shared as we gathered around the bedside or for meals as a family. I have learned even more about my grandfather's generosity and heart for God. I read in Acts 13 this morning that when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. My grandpa will soon have served his purpose here on earth and God is calling him home. He has left a legacy of faith and service to God. And for this I rejoice.
I am here in the Tampa Airport with over 2 hours yet till I fly south. I came early since my sister was also flying out, but on an earlier flight. It was fun to have a few minutes in the airport waiting with someone else since usually I travel alone. We enjoyed a Carmel Cider from Starbucks and then parted ways.
It has been a busy 4 days in many ways and yet the pace has been mostly the same each day. I arrived in FL early Saturday morning and after a full course breakfast with family (but no sleep), I headed to the airport to see my grandpa. I was disappointed that he did not respond or seem to recognize me but then as everyone else pointed out, I probably spoke too quietly. We stayed there until lunch time when we headed back to my aunt and uncle's house. I then tried to take a nap before going back to the hospital after dinner. The next two days followed a similar schedule except that little by little my relatives returned to their homes in Georgia and Pennsylvania as it became obvious that my grandfather was going to hang in there for a while yet.
I think it was Sunday morning when we gathered around my grandpa's bed in the hospital and sang hymns. He seemed to enjoy and notice the singing and it was a beautiful moment. As I looked around the room at all of my aunt's and uncle's, I could not help but shed tears. I am so thankful for my family and the love that we have for each other. I cannot imagine being in their place since it is their father and not grandfather who is nearing the moment when he will see Jesus face to face. Many of the hymns reminded me that for him this passing is a joyous moment because there will be no more suffering and he will be with Jesus. Later on my sister and I got to sing a few more hymns with him and there was another precious moment when we sang with some of younger cousins.
Val and I were able to lend a hand and cook a few of the meals to give my aunt a break which was fun. Yesterday afternoon my grandpa got moved to hospice so he is now settled into a tranquil room where his needs are met and it is a relaxing place for my grandma to stay with him. Just as my mom and other relatives experienced, it is hard to leave knowing that we will not be there with my grandpa in the end (at least I will not though the others hope to return in the next few days). I will not be back for the funeral, but I am thankful for these days that I had with him and with the family. It will give some closure that would not have been there had I not returned to the States for any part of this time. So many stories were shared as we gathered around the bedside or for meals as a family. I have learned even more about my grandfather's generosity and heart for God. I read in Acts 13 this morning that when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. My grandpa will soon have served his purpose here on earth and God is calling him home. He has left a legacy of faith and service to God. And for this I rejoice.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Traveling Again
February 7, 2009I am sitting in the San Pedro Sula airport as I write this entry. I shall be here until around 2:00AM which because I am not a night owl, is definitely not my preferred time of travel or wakefulness but it works every once in a while. It seems like the last few days and weeks have flown by and been one unexpected event after the other. I am currently enroute to Sarasota, Florida so that I can be with my family as my grandfather is in his last few days (or weeks) after suffering from a stroke on Wednesday. I am thankful for the time that I had to visit with him over Christmas this past year but I do hope that I will get to say good-bye when I arrive in Sarasota on Saturday morning. Being in Honduras the events that I know have been taking place these last few days often seem unreal, until I talk with my mom and hear the pain in her voice.
Last year seemed to be a year of walking with others through pain and I had hoped that this year might be different but I guess that there is always pain; sometimes it is just more noticeable than others.
The past week has been interesting for me as Evelin has settled into the apartment and I have begun interacting with her one year old daughter, Lisbet, much more. There are so many times that I want to jump in and exert some discipline or offer suggestion after suggestion. And as her crying continues day after day, I marvel that Evelin does not get more frustrated than she does. I am definitely seeing the importance of teaching children, using consistent discipline, from infancy on. By one year old, so much has already been set in place in Lisbet’s habits that it is difficult to change because it requires enduring tantrums and screaming – something that is not fun for Evelin, myself, nor the neighbors. I keep praying for wisdom about when to offer help and when to remain quiet. I also pray that Lisbet will warm up to me so that eventually I can give Evelin a break and she can go to a church service and really worship, without having to be chasing a toddler or dealing with her cries. I find myself analyzing Lisbet’s actions and reactions and wondering what kind of experiences she
has had. I wish that I had paid more attention in some of my Psychology classes, especially Child Psychology.I talked to one of my friends today and it turns out that she is not looking to move into an apartment at this point so I am praying about whether there is someone else who would want to share the apartment. Otherwise I do need to seriously start apartment hunting again.
Last weekend Evelin and I attended a young adult retreat in the camp which was a neat experience. I got to know a few of the young adults and to was a good time of teaching and worship. Since it was a retreat there was more down time, but to my dismay I had not brought any games along. I taught a few of the girls the game of Up Jenkins which we enjoyed playing the one evening. I was glad that Evelin was able to participate and get to know a few people and that her sister was willing to watch Lisbet.
I cannot remember the list of other things I was going to blog. Though rainy season is technically over, we are continuing to experience torrential downpours with frecuencia (that may only be a Spanish word, I actually cannot remember). I cannot complain too much though because the weather is still cool.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Musings on an Escalator
January 28, 2009
Today I was walking up the escalator in the mall and delighted because the person in front of me was walking, not just standing still. I have never liked escalators. It has nothing to do with fear but everything to do with being stuck. When I am on an escalator, I am at the mercy of the people in front of me. If they do not move, all that I can do is stand still and enjoy the ride. Except I rarely enjoy it. For this reason I always look to take the stairs whenever possible. They permit more freedom, exercise, and who knows what else. But as I walked up the escalator today, I had the very common passing thought, "I wonder if there is an analogy here?" And as I thought about stairs versus escalators, I had to reflect on when God is moving or at work. I want to be where God is working and active. I want to be emersed in what He is doing and go wherever He leads me. But I picture it more like stairs than an escalator. Unless God says to "wait and be still" I think my walk with God is active and moving. His path directs me and determines where I go, but action is involved in my part. I have to walk or climb the stairs. I do not just stand still and go for a ride. I have heard it said that even in "waiting" we should not just sit around and do nothing. We can wait actively pursuing Him and the things of Him.
At least those are my initial thoughts after reflecting on escalators and stairs. The escalators would not be so bad if I could keep taking steps and not be limited by the pace of the electrical units. Hmm... maybe I am simply too independent (or impatient) and it carries over to my relationship with God. I do want Him to be in control and so I am sure that from time to time that means "standing still on the escalator and moving at what I consider a very slow pace." Perhaps there should be a balance between the stairs and the escalator.
Anyway those are my ramblings and very unrefined thoughts. I would welcome any feedback or further musings on the topic.
Today I was walking up the escalator in the mall and delighted because the person in front of me was walking, not just standing still. I have never liked escalators. It has nothing to do with fear but everything to do with being stuck. When I am on an escalator, I am at the mercy of the people in front of me. If they do not move, all that I can do is stand still and enjoy the ride. Except I rarely enjoy it. For this reason I always look to take the stairs whenever possible. They permit more freedom, exercise, and who knows what else. But as I walked up the escalator today, I had the very common passing thought, "I wonder if there is an analogy here?" And as I thought about stairs versus escalators, I had to reflect on when God is moving or at work. I want to be where God is working and active. I want to be emersed in what He is doing and go wherever He leads me. But I picture it more like stairs than an escalator. Unless God says to "wait and be still" I think my walk with God is active and moving. His path directs me and determines where I go, but action is involved in my part. I have to walk or climb the stairs. I do not just stand still and go for a ride. I have heard it said that even in "waiting" we should not just sit around and do nothing. We can wait actively pursuing Him and the things of Him.
At least those are my initial thoughts after reflecting on escalators and stairs. The escalators would not be so bad if I could keep taking steps and not be limited by the pace of the electrical units. Hmm... maybe I am simply too independent (or impatient) and it carries over to my relationship with God. I do want Him to be in control and so I am sure that from time to time that means "standing still on the escalator and moving at what I consider a very slow pace." Perhaps there should be a balance between the stairs and the escalator.
Anyway those are my ramblings and very unrefined thoughts. I would welcome any feedback or further musings on the topic.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Pretending It's Winter
January 27, 2009
I am getting word that in the north there has been some snow and is chance of more although for dear Lancaster county it may change to sleet and rain. Quite sad. But it is also sad that here in Honduras I was dressed yesterday as if it was winter. Since my return from the States the weather has stayed relatively cool here and after a morning run and a mostly cold shower, I was rather chilly. And so I covered my wet head with my snowflake winter hat. Whenever it is even slightly cold, one has to dress for the occasion and pretend it is cold. Of course the beautiful orchid pictured below was blooming on the same day as the "winter" weather which goes to show just what winter is like down here.
Life will be changing for me here in Honduras, come tomorrow. Evelin and her one year old daughter are moving in with me here in the city. She could no longer stay with her sister's family and the only option she had would have led her to back down the road she is trying to leave. After much prayer, I felt like God was saying to invite her in and try to help her connect with other people so that she can grow in the Lord and begin looking for a job. Until then I will have a very clean apartment since she will be cleaning for me. This is probably my last night of peace and quiet though. I have so much to learn as I help Evelin learn. I know that God will probably be doing just as much work in me as He is in her.
As for everything else that I was going to write about, I cannot remember since it is entirely too late for me. Maybe it was to say that I finally returned to basketball practice tonight to reconnect with some of the team members. I am not planning to play since I do not have the time to commit to it, but next weekend is the National Honduras Tournament for men's and women's basketball. It is too bad I am not still playing because I could have participated in Nationals. Maybe I can still sit the bench (which really is no fun at all) or simply watch a game or two.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Good News
January 21, 2009
It has been a rather long two weeks but yesterday I got some good news. I went to the Immigration office to renew my visa well in advance because I was slightly afraid that they would deny it to me on the basis of me having a new passport number or whatever. Once there I asked the woman working if there was indeed a new law by which foriegners only receive 30 days in the country. She said no and that I should have gotten a 90 day visa. Her suggestion was to not get in the Customs line of the woman who stamped my passport ever again. She perhaps has a record of not giving the visa due a person. At least I do not have to travel to the capital for an extension nor leave the country in 60 days. My lawyer mentioned to me last week that I may still be lacking some signature or paper for my residency but at this point I am wondering if it will even be worth trying to get it. It took a year and a half to reach this moment, and I do not know much longer I will be in the country. We will see what happens I guess.
In the meantime I am still looking for an apartment and with that trying to discern what God is calling me to in regards to having Evelin and her daughter live with me. They are here in the city for a few days with me this week and it is proving to be interesting and a good test. I find myself wanting to step in and provide the one year old with some discipline though. Right now she is the one in control. What is God asking of me though, that is the question. Thankfully I did find out this morning that if I have not found another apartment by the end of the month, I can stay here a little longer.
So that is a little bit of what is up, but only a little bit. Who knows when I will catch up with writing. Oh, and included is a photo that I took with my new camera. I am so excited because I can take very close-up photos.
Friday, January 16, 2009
A Tiger or Two at Large
January 16, 2009
So I got some interesting news this afternoon. A tiger escaped from a small community circus probably about 3 miles away. And the circus has now left town, leaving the tiger... at large. Not only that but a male tiger (the first one mentioned was female) escaped from another circus, also not too far away. And I wonder where these tigers will end up. The mountain that camp is on is more highly vegetated than many of the surrounding areas. It seems like a prime hideout for a tiger or two. I am thinking twice now before my solo walks from one side of camp to the other. But not too long or hard. Tonight camp is full with a weekend group of 70 youth so there should be enough noise and commotion to keep the tigers at bay. I think I will carry my camera everywhere I go though so that I am ready if I ever do see a tiger.
As for other events of the week, I feel as if I am driving a new car. The headlights work and I have a new windshield. It took a while to reach this point though with lots of taxi rides and waiting. Today I had planned to train a group of leaders for leading on the ropes course tomorrow but they had car trouble and other complications and did not arrive until hours and hours after the planned time. So tomorrow morning there is a 6:00AM training. Fun, fun. This whole system definitely needs improved. In order to be ready for tomorrow's early training, I think I am off to sleep.
So I got some interesting news this afternoon. A tiger escaped from a small community circus probably about 3 miles away. And the circus has now left town, leaving the tiger... at large. Not only that but a male tiger (the first one mentioned was female) escaped from another circus, also not too far away. And I wonder where these tigers will end up. The mountain that camp is on is more highly vegetated than many of the surrounding areas. It seems like a prime hideout for a tiger or two. I am thinking twice now before my solo walks from one side of camp to the other. But not too long or hard. Tonight camp is full with a weekend group of 70 youth so there should be enough noise and commotion to keep the tigers at bay. I think I will carry my camera everywhere I go though so that I am ready if I ever do see a tiger.
As for other events of the week, I feel as if I am driving a new car. The headlights work and I have a new windshield. It took a while to reach this point though with lots of taxi rides and waiting. Today I had planned to train a group of leaders for leading on the ropes course tomorrow but they had car trouble and other complications and did not arrive until hours and hours after the planned time. So tomorrow morning there is a 6:00AM training. Fun, fun. This whole system definitely needs improved. In order to be ready for tomorrow's early training, I think I am off to sleep.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Feeling Trapped
January 10, 2009
If I have not mentioned it before, my car has been having troubles. (Actually I think I did refer to a few of the problems earlier today). When I first opened the car on Wednesday morning after being gone for not quite 3 weeks, I almost died because of the smell that escaped from inside. Everything was covered with mold! I could not believe how disgusting it was. Since I did not have the time nor the equipment for doing a good cleaning, I took the car to a nearby car wash. Thankfully with the coconut air freshner that I have inside, it smells much better.
But their is a greater problem that has confined me to my house on this Saturday evening when I wanted to take a drive and see how the apartments I am interested in look at night. You can getter a better glimpse of the kind of neighborhood and how well lit things are if you drive by at night. Early evening, just after dusk, I took two friends to their house and noticed that once again one of my headlights was out. Really it is not burned out, the connection just get loose when the car jostles, which is frequently on these roads. As I drove home from their house, the other headlight suddenly went out too (I think I hit a bump). I had to turn my bright lights on to make myself seen and to see the roadway myself. Once at home I wiggled the wires around and got the left light back on.
A few minutes ago I decided to leave and check out the apartments and also be ready in case my one friend called and had a little time to get together. But as soon as I pulled out of the garage, both lights went out. And I could not get the hood open (a frequent problem also this week) to do any jiggling. I think that I am about ready to turn my car in for something new with no problems. The problem free life would not last long enough to make it worth it though. I think that there are a few too many challenges happening all at the same time and so my attitude is not the best at the moment. I think that I had better take a few minutes to do some introspection and ask the Lord for help. As Evelin said to me this morning, I am feeling discouraged. And it is for her sake too that I also feel discouraged because I do no know what these next few weeks hold for her, considering her decision to move back to Progresso. The words of Isaiah 30:15 come to mind as I think of how I need to trust her life and mine (car included) to the Lord. "In repentence and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." So I will go be quiet and listen.
If I have not mentioned it before, my car has been having troubles. (Actually I think I did refer to a few of the problems earlier today). When I first opened the car on Wednesday morning after being gone for not quite 3 weeks, I almost died because of the smell that escaped from inside. Everything was covered with mold! I could not believe how disgusting it was. Since I did not have the time nor the equipment for doing a good cleaning, I took the car to a nearby car wash. Thankfully with the coconut air freshner that I have inside, it smells much better.
But their is a greater problem that has confined me to my house on this Saturday evening when I wanted to take a drive and see how the apartments I am interested in look at night. You can getter a better glimpse of the kind of neighborhood and how well lit things are if you drive by at night. Early evening, just after dusk, I took two friends to their house and noticed that once again one of my headlights was out. Really it is not burned out, the connection just get loose when the car jostles, which is frequently on these roads. As I drove home from their house, the other headlight suddenly went out too (I think I hit a bump). I had to turn my bright lights on to make myself seen and to see the roadway myself. Once at home I wiggled the wires around and got the left light back on.
A few minutes ago I decided to leave and check out the apartments and also be ready in case my one friend called and had a little time to get together. But as soon as I pulled out of the garage, both lights went out. And I could not get the hood open (a frequent problem also this week) to do any jiggling. I think that I am about ready to turn my car in for something new with no problems. The problem free life would not last long enough to make it worth it though. I think that there are a few too many challenges happening all at the same time and so my attitude is not the best at the moment. I think that I had better take a few minutes to do some introspection and ask the Lord for help. As Evelin said to me this morning, I am feeling discouraged. And it is for her sake too that I also feel discouraged because I do no know what these next few weeks hold for her, considering her decision to move back to Progresso. The words of Isaiah 30:15 come to mind as I think of how I need to trust her life and mine (car included) to the Lord. "In repentence and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." So I will go be quiet and listen.
The Fun of Police Checkpoints
January 10, 2009
This morning I journeyed from camp to the city (and tomorrow and Monday I will make the trek again). It was one of those days where traffic was moving slowly and there were no good passing zones but in general the trip was going pretty well. As I neared the city I came upon a police checkpoint and though on Thursday they let me by without stopping me, this time I was flagged over. I was pretty confident though because I have a new passport with a valid visa stamp and so until February 6, I should be good to go.
I handed the police officer my license and car registration but then he asked me if I have "triangulos." I looked at him blankly and then realized that I did not have my hazards on. That was not what he wanted though. He kept asking if I had any cones in my car, which of course I did not. I had to get out of the car and open the trunk so that he could look to see if I had "triangulos" (which turns out to be the red triangles you set up on the road if you have a problem). They were not there. I had not known it was a law to carry them but the one officer found the law for me in his little book. I would love to read that book sometime. Maybe it is something you receive when you get a Honduran driver's license. But since I do not have the latter, I do not have the book.
The policemen politely told me that I was in violation (all my claims of ignorance -- which were true -- did not help) and that they would have to take my license and I could get it back by paying about $35. Of course my license was going to end up in some little town between camp and the city and they could not give me the direction or the number for the office. And then came the offer. "You could pay the fine right now and only pay half." Ah, the bribes. I am so glad that I know more now than the first time I was fined because I politely said that I would pay it in the office and not on the road. I was hoping that as often happens, they would not even bother writing up the fine, because what they want is the bribe. The chief was even there and he asked me where I work so I explained. In doing so I mentioned the church I am associated with in the city and the pastor's name, and the chief looked down at the papers and then told me I could go. Thank you Lord! Upon reaching the city, I did buy "triangulos" so that next time things should go smoother. I am sure that there is another law that I will not be in accord with though and I will have to go through the system once again. It may be my cracked windshield but that I plan to fix next week since anything hitting it at this point could cause it to shatter. (That is thanks to the cold water at the carwash further cracking the hot glass). I definitely have had enough car issues for the month.
This morning I journeyed from camp to the city (and tomorrow and Monday I will make the trek again). It was one of those days where traffic was moving slowly and there were no good passing zones but in general the trip was going pretty well. As I neared the city I came upon a police checkpoint and though on Thursday they let me by without stopping me, this time I was flagged over. I was pretty confident though because I have a new passport with a valid visa stamp and so until February 6, I should be good to go.
I handed the police officer my license and car registration but then he asked me if I have "triangulos." I looked at him blankly and then realized that I did not have my hazards on. That was not what he wanted though. He kept asking if I had any cones in my car, which of course I did not. I had to get out of the car and open the trunk so that he could look to see if I had "triangulos" (which turns out to be the red triangles you set up on the road if you have a problem). They were not there. I had not known it was a law to carry them but the one officer found the law for me in his little book. I would love to read that book sometime. Maybe it is something you receive when you get a Honduran driver's license. But since I do not have the latter, I do not have the book.
The policemen politely told me that I was in violation (all my claims of ignorance -- which were true -- did not help) and that they would have to take my license and I could get it back by paying about $35. Of course my license was going to end up in some little town between camp and the city and they could not give me the direction or the number for the office. And then came the offer. "You could pay the fine right now and only pay half." Ah, the bribes. I am so glad that I know more now than the first time I was fined because I politely said that I would pay it in the office and not on the road. I was hoping that as often happens, they would not even bother writing up the fine, because what they want is the bribe. The chief was even there and he asked me where I work so I explained. In doing so I mentioned the church I am associated with in the city and the pastor's name, and the chief looked down at the papers and then told me I could go. Thank you Lord! Upon reaching the city, I did buy "triangulos" so that next time things should go smoother. I am sure that there is another law that I will not be in accord with though and I will have to go through the system once again. It may be my cracked windshield but that I plan to fix next week since anything hitting it at this point could cause it to shatter. (That is thanks to the cold water at the carwash further cracking the hot glass). I definitely have had enough car issues for the month.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Passports & Allergy Testing
January 1, 2009
Perhaps at some point I will do a more profound entry with thoughts on the past year or this upcoming year. For the moment though, there are stories to be told of the this past week's events.
My time in Pennsylvania has involved lots of visiting with friends, playing early morning basketball and working on necessary details for Honduras. The primary task was to get myself a new passport since I had recently discovered that I could not re-enter Honduras with my existing one. Monday, December 29th, I caught an early morning train to Philly and with the aid of a conductor and fellow passenger, found my way to the US Customs House in downtown. Other than the money it required, the process of renewal was rather painless. I had turned in my paperwork by 9:30AM and they told me to return at 11:30AM for the passport. I spent the next 2 hours wandering around the city. I stumbled upon a PA Driver’s License Center which was perfect because I needed a new photo for my new license.
When I returned to the Customs House, they handed me my new passport. As I checked it over for any mistakes, my heart sank because I saw that they had given me a new passport number. The security guard assured me that it was the common procedure. For me though it will likely pose a big obstacle because all of my paperwork in process for residency in Honduras has my old passport number. I think that even the letter which has permitted me to stay in the country past 90 days will be nullified, meaning that I have to start leaving every 3-4 months again. Ah… the joys of paperwork and red tape.
Tuesday morning I went to my Allergist and got retested to determine whether I still needed to take allergy shots against yellow jacket stings. Much to my delight, the tests showed that I was no longer allergic so no more trying to find people to give me shots in Honduras. The doctor did warn me that the allergy could return after being stung several times, but for now I rejoice in not having to worry about shots or allergic reactions to stings.
For New Year's Eve I headed to my cousin's house in Baltimore with another cousin. We spent the evening visiting and remaining indoors, away from the raging wind. The fireworks were postponed in the city due to the wind. And today I need to finalize plans for a trip to a cabin tomorrow and start the packing process for returning to Honduras. Yesterday I was blessed to see a few snow flurries as I was hiking around Black Rock Retreat with a college friend, but this weekend I hope to experience the real thing along with some ice skating. I have been in the Honduran sunshine for a little too long.
Perhaps at some point I will do a more profound entry with thoughts on the past year or this upcoming year. For the moment though, there are stories to be told of the this past week's events.
My time in Pennsylvania has involved lots of visiting with friends, playing early morning basketball and working on necessary details for Honduras. The primary task was to get myself a new passport since I had recently discovered that I could not re-enter Honduras with my existing one. Monday, December 29th, I caught an early morning train to Philly and with the aid of a conductor and fellow passenger, found my way to the US Customs House in downtown. Other than the money it required, the process of renewal was rather painless. I had turned in my paperwork by 9:30AM and they told me to return at 11:30AM for the passport. I spent the next 2 hours wandering around the city. I stumbled upon a PA Driver’s License Center which was perfect because I needed a new photo for my new license.
When I returned to the Customs House, they handed me my new passport. As I checked it over for any mistakes, my heart sank because I saw that they had given me a new passport number. The security guard assured me that it was the common procedure. For me though it will likely pose a big obstacle because all of my paperwork in process for residency in Honduras has my old passport number. I think that even the letter which has permitted me to stay in the country past 90 days will be nullified, meaning that I have to start leaving every 3-4 months again. Ah… the joys of paperwork and red tape.
Tuesday morning I went to my Allergist and got retested to determine whether I still needed to take allergy shots against yellow jacket stings. Much to my delight, the tests showed that I was no longer allergic so no more trying to find people to give me shots in Honduras. The doctor did warn me that the allergy could return after being stung several times, but for now I rejoice in not having to worry about shots or allergic reactions to stings.
For New Year's Eve I headed to my cousin's house in Baltimore with another cousin. We spent the evening visiting and remaining indoors, away from the raging wind. The fireworks were postponed in the city due to the wind. And today I need to finalize plans for a trip to a cabin tomorrow and start the packing process for returning to Honduras. Yesterday I was blessed to see a few snow flurries as I was hiking around Black Rock Retreat with a college friend, but this weekend I hope to experience the real thing along with some ice skating. I have been in the Honduran sunshine for a little too long.
Christmas in Florida (part 2)
To continue the story of December 24, 2008, after dinner my sister Val and her husband began the arduous task of organizing a trip to the movies for 17 indecisive cousins, ranging in age from 5 to 33. It was Christmas Eve so theaters closed early. Once permission was granted for going to the movies and a theater was found, two cars were loaded, and a vote was taken (including a vote with eyes closed) we found ourselves buying tickets for the “Tale of Despereaux. “A group of this size is so rare on Christmas Eve that they gave us a discount. After purchases of drinks, popcorn, and mounds of candy we settled down to watch the movie. I thought the mice were cute but it definitely was not a thrilling movie and some members of the party were disgruntled that we had not chosen “Bolt” in 3D. Nonetheless it was another memory.
Christmas Day involved the usual gift exchange were half the family loses the gift that they really wanted to another family member. Late afternoon we headed to a nearby school gym for multiple games of volleyball. I took my one cousin on in one-on-one basketball and lost sorely. His words were, had we kept playing, I would have worn him out eventually. During volleyball to live up to my hummingbird reputation, I ran in place in between plays. After dinner that night, we were made aware that there was lots of ham left and since it was the young people’s turn to cook dinner the next night, we were encouraged to somehow use it. This threw a wrench in the original plan for baleadas (a Honduran dish). For some reason, Val and I, (the main culprits in volunteering to make the dinner) decided to enlist the help of everyone else in deciding what to cook. And so it was that the young people gathered around the tables in the garage to discuss the menu options. Nathan led us in the Democratic Process, which involves first brainstorming and then eliminating options. The process took a good 40 minutes and included such suggestions as Ham-Berry Shortcake, delivered pizza with ham thrown on top (which Val and I vetoed), and Strawberry Shortcake (as the main course – as if we did not already have 10 pies to eat). Despite these amazing suggestions, we settled on hamburgers on the grill which did nothing to alleviate the abundance of ham. Before making the decision, we asked about the grill and propane and were assured that they were in working order.
Come Friday afternoon, the young people gathered in the kitchen to make hamburgers and various other foods. About 10 minutes before the estimated time for dinner, we started the grill. Within minutes we discovered that it was not really working and the flame reached only one small area of the grill at a time – basically one hamburger. We decided to do some of the burgers on the stovetop. Meanwhile my one aunt ran over to the neighbor’s house, a coworker of hers, to inquire about the availability of a grill. As it turned out, they had a state of the art grill which finished off the burgers in one shot. Dinner was delayed by no more than an hour. Our parents were glad it happened to the younger generation since we are more flexible – in their opinion. The situation reminded me of Honduras where the best laid plans often go awry. The other difficulty of the week was a septic system that could not sustain the number of people in and out of the house. I wanted to implement the Honduran way which is – all toilet paper goes in the trash can – but it was not approved and we simply tried use the bathroom less. All in all it was a good time with the family and our travel home took even less time than the trip down.
Christmas Day involved the usual gift exchange were half the family loses the gift that they really wanted to another family member. Late afternoon we headed to a nearby school gym for multiple games of volleyball. I took my one cousin on in one-on-one basketball and lost sorely. His words were, had we kept playing, I would have worn him out eventually. During volleyball to live up to my hummingbird reputation, I ran in place in between plays. After dinner that night, we were made aware that there was lots of ham left and since it was the young people’s turn to cook dinner the next night, we were encouraged to somehow use it. This threw a wrench in the original plan for baleadas (a Honduran dish). For some reason, Val and I, (the main culprits in volunteering to make the dinner) decided to enlist the help of everyone else in deciding what to cook. And so it was that the young people gathered around the tables in the garage to discuss the menu options. Nathan led us in the Democratic Process, which involves first brainstorming and then eliminating options. The process took a good 40 minutes and included such suggestions as Ham-Berry Shortcake, delivered pizza with ham thrown on top (which Val and I vetoed), and Strawberry Shortcake (as the main course – as if we did not already have 10 pies to eat). Despite these amazing suggestions, we settled on hamburgers on the grill which did nothing to alleviate the abundance of ham. Before making the decision, we asked about the grill and propane and were assured that they were in working order.
Come Friday afternoon, the young people gathered in the kitchen to make hamburgers and various other foods. About 10 minutes before the estimated time for dinner, we started the grill. Within minutes we discovered that it was not really working and the flame reached only one small area of the grill at a time – basically one hamburger. We decided to do some of the burgers on the stovetop. Meanwhile my one aunt ran over to the neighbor’s house, a coworker of hers, to inquire about the availability of a grill. As it turned out, they had a state of the art grill which finished off the burgers in one shot. Dinner was delayed by no more than an hour. Our parents were glad it happened to the younger generation since we are more flexible – in their opinion. The situation reminded me of Honduras where the best laid plans often go awry. The other difficulty of the week was a septic system that could not sustain the number of people in and out of the house. I wanted to implement the Honduran way which is – all toilet paper goes in the trash can – but it was not approved and we simply tried use the bathroom less. All in all it was a good time with the family and our travel home took even less time than the trip down.
Christmas in Florida (part 1)
So it is about time to re-cap a few of the adventures of Florida last week over Christmas. On Monday morning, December 21 at 12:00AM my sisters, their spouses, and I gathered at my parents’ house to begin the journey south in an eleven passenger van (there were seven of us). Because I had a seat to myself, I was able to sleep until almost 7:00AM which was great. My waking hours I spent stuffing and addressing my Christmas letters. We had time to play a game or two as well. Sixteen and a half hours later we arrived in Sarasota, Florida and met up with family. Less of my cousins live in Florida now so there is less space for those of us who are from out of state. This year we had to stay in a hotel, but it worked out pretty well.
My time in Florida basically consists of endless hours with about 36 other family members. During the day fewer of us were together but in the evenings we gathered for dinner at my aunt and uncle’s. This was the year of the young adults (those in their late 20’s and early 30’s) being present which always leads to a little more adventure. Two years ago we had taken all of the younger cousins to a movie which was a highlight in spite of the fact that the movie was a bit cheesy. Spilled popcorn and practically scrapping the roof of my dad’s van in the parking garage were the added bonuses that year.
Tuesday was a calm day with puzzles, strawberry-mango smoothies, board and card games, and a slow game of Kick-the-can. Wednesday proved to be more unforgettable – as childhood trauma was relived. Having grown up in Florida, I for some reason never developed a love for the beach. I hate the S’s about it – sand, salt, and sun. And until last week I forgot about the sea gulls. The beach is enjoyable if you are staying nearby and do not have to drive home with all of your sand but that is not the case in Florida. My “twin” cousin Ben feels similarly about the beach so we did not head out there right away with all of the other cousins. I did convince him to drive us out there though because I thought we could play some volleyball. Just as we were going to leave my sister called to say that they were hungry (that is 12 young people) so we stopped and picked up three pizzas. When we arrived, the beach was packed, as was the parking lot. Even the Amish were at the beach enjoying the warm sunshine the day before Christmas.
The fourteen of us gathered around the pizza and ate it while standing. Meanwhile menacing sea gulls hovered overhead. All of a sudden I was dive bombed by a bold sea gull that swooped in for the steal. I had taken maybe two bites of a slice of pizza and that sea gull yanked the rest from my fingers. It managed to draw blood with its beak as well. As soon as it lifted up, it was attacked by the rest of the sea gulls and in seconds the pizza was gone. There had been no warning or time to react. Why it singled me out, I do not know? I was probably the shortest person there, even though I was also the oldest by almost 15 years. Maybe that was the reason. As a child I lost a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in a similar manner to a similar fate. For this reason the sea gulls are also on that S list. Needless to say the next few minutes were spent guarding the remainder of the pizza and keeping the boxes tightly closed. I think that we were an amusement to the sunbathers around us.
By the time we were done eating, everyone was ready to leave so the trip to the beach for Ben and I was for pizza delivery and furthering of my dislike of the beach. It was a beautiful day though. About 75 degrees Farenheit, sunny, cloudless blue sky, and very cold (compared to Honduran waters) gulf water which a few crazy Northerners braved. I enjoyed the weather much more later that afternoon when we had our annual family Christmas soccer game. I will not recount how many goals I missed, but it was fun as usual with many laughs.
My time in Florida basically consists of endless hours with about 36 other family members. During the day fewer of us were together but in the evenings we gathered for dinner at my aunt and uncle’s. This was the year of the young adults (those in their late 20’s and early 30’s) being present which always leads to a little more adventure. Two years ago we had taken all of the younger cousins to a movie which was a highlight in spite of the fact that the movie was a bit cheesy. Spilled popcorn and practically scrapping the roof of my dad’s van in the parking garage were the added bonuses that year.
Tuesday was a calm day with puzzles, strawberry-mango smoothies, board and card games, and a slow game of Kick-the-can. Wednesday proved to be more unforgettable – as childhood trauma was relived. Having grown up in Florida, I for some reason never developed a love for the beach. I hate the S’s about it – sand, salt, and sun. And until last week I forgot about the sea gulls. The beach is enjoyable if you are staying nearby and do not have to drive home with all of your sand but that is not the case in Florida. My “twin” cousin Ben feels similarly about the beach so we did not head out there right away with all of the other cousins. I did convince him to drive us out there though because I thought we could play some volleyball. Just as we were going to leave my sister called to say that they were hungry (that is 12 young people) so we stopped and picked up three pizzas. When we arrived, the beach was packed, as was the parking lot. Even the Amish were at the beach enjoying the warm sunshine the day before Christmas.
The fourteen of us gathered around the pizza and ate it while standing. Meanwhile menacing sea gulls hovered overhead. All of a sudden I was dive bombed by a bold sea gull that swooped in for the steal. I had taken maybe two bites of a slice of pizza and that sea gull yanked the rest from my fingers. It managed to draw blood with its beak as well. As soon as it lifted up, it was attacked by the rest of the sea gulls and in seconds the pizza was gone. There had been no warning or time to react. Why it singled me out, I do not know? I was probably the shortest person there, even though I was also the oldest by almost 15 years. Maybe that was the reason. As a child I lost a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in a similar manner to a similar fate. For this reason the sea gulls are also on that S list. Needless to say the next few minutes were spent guarding the remainder of the pizza and keeping the boxes tightly closed. I think that we were an amusement to the sunbathers around us.
By the time we were done eating, everyone was ready to leave so the trip to the beach for Ben and I was for pizza delivery and furthering of my dislike of the beach. It was a beautiful day though. About 75 degrees Farenheit, sunny, cloudless blue sky, and very cold (compared to Honduran waters) gulf water which a few crazy Northerners braved. I enjoyed the weather much more later that afternoon when we had our annual family Christmas soccer game. I will not recount how many goals I missed, but it was fun as usual with many laughs.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Touching Base
December 11, 2008
This entry is basically to say that I am still alive even though I have not written for quite a while. I like to write but this past week I have been too busy. I was helping out at another camp, taking a personal retreat, and then catching up on work in the city. Tomorrow I head to camp for the weekend to set up ropes course elements for a group and probably help to lead part of the time. It will also be the moment of my farewells to the staff since I probably will not see them again before I leave for Christmas. I can hardly believe that a week from now I will be in PA! I am excited and ready for some time with family and friends.
So someday I will probably blog more about the adventures of the last little while but for now I need some sleep. I hope that the rain will have ended by tomorrow morning so that I can at least return to running. Vamos a ver.
This entry is basically to say that I am still alive even though I have not written for quite a while. I like to write but this past week I have been too busy. I was helping out at another camp, taking a personal retreat, and then catching up on work in the city. Tomorrow I head to camp for the weekend to set up ropes course elements for a group and probably help to lead part of the time. It will also be the moment of my farewells to the staff since I probably will not see them again before I leave for Christmas. I can hardly believe that a week from now I will be in PA! I am excited and ready for some time with family and friends.
So someday I will probably blog more about the adventures of the last little while but for now I need some sleep. I hope that the rain will have ended by tomorrow morning so that I can at least return to running. Vamos a ver.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
The Weave
December 3, 2008
There are days when I feel that is what my life is like – one big pattern of weaving. Mostly I am referring to the driving. Nearly every road, including those in the city, requires weaving. When I do it, I remember soccer dribbling drills when you have to take the ball around the cones. Here one weaves around the potholes and the oncoming cars as you are trying to avoid the potholes. The problem is that the potholes are not just a small dip in the road. Some are more like caverns (slightly exaggerated). To hit one means you may not come back out or at least the tire and axle may not.
I also end up weaving when running in order avoid cow patties, dogs, and puddles when in camp and potholes, cars, and trash when in the city. And so I weave, weave, and weave again. All of this weaving reminds me of the old poem I know about the Lord weaving patterns into our life that we cannot see at the time. In the end there is a beautiful handiwork though we someties miss His perspective because we are so caught up in the day to day moments of individual threads.
There are days when I feel that is what my life is like – one big pattern of weaving. Mostly I am referring to the driving. Nearly every road, including those in the city, requires weaving. When I do it, I remember soccer dribbling drills when you have to take the ball around the cones. Here one weaves around the potholes and the oncoming cars as you are trying to avoid the potholes. The problem is that the potholes are not just a small dip in the road. Some are more like caverns (slightly exaggerated). To hit one means you may not come back out or at least the tire and axle may not.
I also end up weaving when running in order avoid cow patties, dogs, and puddles when in camp and potholes, cars, and trash when in the city. And so I weave, weave, and weave again. All of this weaving reminds me of the old poem I know about the Lord weaving patterns into our life that we cannot see at the time. In the end there is a beautiful handiwork though we someties miss His perspective because we are so caught up in the day to day moments of individual threads.
The Trouble with Passports
December 2, 2008
Sometimes I wonder how I get myself into such scrapes. How can I know all of the things that I need to know to prevent making bad decisions? I do not really have answers to my questions yet. On Monday morning I headed to the US Embassy in San Pedro Sula to ask about renewing my passport. I thought that maybe I could get the necessary paperwork here to expedite the process while in the States. The Embassy was closed. It does not open until 1:00PM, something that I did not know. I returned in the afternoon and was delighted to find that there was no line and I could go straight to the desk.
As I told the man about my travel plans and my passport which expires in March, he told me that Honduras will not let me back in the country in January unless I have a new passport. They close off entry to those whose passport will expire within the next 3 months. The US does the same to Hondurans only our requirement for them is six months. Well, I discovered that the renewal process through the San Pedro office takes three weeks – time that I do not have since I leave in two and a half weeks. If I were to go to the capital, Tegucigalpa, the passport should be ready within two weeks. The capital is about four hours away and I do not really trust that two weeks actually means two weeks. During the renewal process, the government takes the old passport which means no traveling whatsoever outside of the country. Hence I decided the Tegucigalpa route would not really work.
The other option is to get the renewal done in the US – a process that takes several weeks or more. After some searching on-line I found out that there are passport centers throughout the country where one can get an appointment and passport renewal, but only within two weeks of one’s flight out of the country. Amazingly one of these centers is in Philadelphia. The problem is that you cannot make an appointment until two weeks before the date and I will be in Florida for one week which puts me going to the center, one week before my intended departure. I never knew traveling or passports could be so complicated. All I wanted was to be in the States for Christmas but it looks as if I have created a fiasco. I suppose it will all work out but I think that I will be seeing a lot more of Philly than I had wanted to.
Sometimes I wonder how I get myself into such scrapes. How can I know all of the things that I need to know to prevent making bad decisions? I do not really have answers to my questions yet. On Monday morning I headed to the US Embassy in San Pedro Sula to ask about renewing my passport. I thought that maybe I could get the necessary paperwork here to expedite the process while in the States. The Embassy was closed. It does not open until 1:00PM, something that I did not know. I returned in the afternoon and was delighted to find that there was no line and I could go straight to the desk.
As I told the man about my travel plans and my passport which expires in March, he told me that Honduras will not let me back in the country in January unless I have a new passport. They close off entry to those whose passport will expire within the next 3 months. The US does the same to Hondurans only our requirement for them is six months. Well, I discovered that the renewal process through the San Pedro office takes three weeks – time that I do not have since I leave in two and a half weeks. If I were to go to the capital, Tegucigalpa, the passport should be ready within two weeks. The capital is about four hours away and I do not really trust that two weeks actually means two weeks. During the renewal process, the government takes the old passport which means no traveling whatsoever outside of the country. Hence I decided the Tegucigalpa route would not really work.
The other option is to get the renewal done in the US – a process that takes several weeks or more. After some searching on-line I found out that there are passport centers throughout the country where one can get an appointment and passport renewal, but only within two weeks of one’s flight out of the country. Amazingly one of these centers is in Philadelphia. The problem is that you cannot make an appointment until two weeks before the date and I will be in Florida for one week which puts me going to the center, one week before my intended departure. I never knew traveling or passports could be so complicated. All I wanted was to be in the States for Christmas but it looks as if I have created a fiasco. I suppose it will all work out but I think that I will be seeing a lot more of Philly than I had wanted to.
Friday, November 28, 2008
One of a Kind Thanksgiving
November 28, 2008
Thanksgiving is over and I am a bit more tired because of it. For Thanksgiving in the States I never really had to make much as far as the food went. But this week I made up for a few of those years. The Williamsons (with them doing the majority of the work) and I prepared food for a noon dinner with English speakers in Pinalejo and then the camp staff in the evening. I did most of my cooking on Tuesday evening -- homemade oatmeal rolls, pumpkin pie dessert, zucchini bread, and a raspberry jello. By the end of the evening I was done baking for a while, though I do have a little pumpkin left to use in some kind of recipe.
Thursday morning I made one last run to the grocery store for the Williamsons and then headed out to camp. On the way I noted some men in the electric poles along the highway and I briefly thought, "I hope that the power is not off." I arrived at camp to the sound of a generator and realized that yes, there was no power. The power had gone off just after the corn pudding got warmed up in the crockpot. Because of the occasion and the need for the refrigerator, Wes had hooked up the generator to the house. What had started as a dinner for the staff kept growing because family of the staff kept arriving on camp, having heard there was a party. That is cultural and very different from the North American way of doing things. We were worrying about whether there would be enough food and yet knew that culturally we could give everyone a little and everyone go away hungry and it would be okay. But to us, that was not the way to do things.
The other random events of the morning. Cows, bulls in fact, had wandered onto camp once again and this time they did not want to move out of the driveway. I could have taken one out with the car though in fact it might have taken me out. I did not have the heart nor the time to chase them off of camp this time. Mid-morning the gas for the oven ran out and the new gas tank did not fit with the current valve. I had to drive around camp looking for one that would work. Meanwhile the turkey sat in the oven, half cooked.
For the noon meal we were not sure if the nurse from Pinalejo was coming so in the end we started eating. She arrived around 3:00PM, just after all the food was put away except for her plate. In the meantime the electric remained off and Wes had to siphon gas from the lawn mower to keep the generator going. Several times we did the "quick open the fridge and grab everything you'll need for the next hour." We had been told that the power would come back on at 3:00PM. Jokingly we commented that if it came on by 4:00PM the report would be accurate. We have noticed that 3:00 can be anything between 3:00 and 3:59. All that matters is the first number and hence what we think of as late arrival to a meeting is still "on-time."
At 3:56PM according to my watch, the power returned much to our delight. It would mean lights by which eat and a fridge for storing the leftovers. The evening meal went well and we had more than enough food in the end. And of course that is how Thanksgiving usually is. For the Honduran staff the dishes of apple pie, pumpkin dessert, sweet potato casserole, and turkey were new and exciting foods. It was a fun day but a little draining. Thankfully between the two meals there was not much new food preparation that needed to be done. But even so we had to compensate all day for the lack of electricity with lots of problem solving and improvisions.
Usually Thanksgiving for me includes some games and down time -- both of which did not happen yesterday. At the same time it was fun to see the Hondurans excitement at experiencing a day that is so important in the North American culture. And I celebrated Thanksgiving with my family from Honduras -- all of those at camp. So it was a good day but I am glad there is a year between now and the next Thanksgiving. In the meantime I look forward to Christmas in the States with family.
*For a Williamson perspective on the day and photos go to: www.mdvida.wordpress.com
Thanksgiving is over and I am a bit more tired because of it. For Thanksgiving in the States I never really had to make much as far as the food went. But this week I made up for a few of those years. The Williamsons (with them doing the majority of the work) and I prepared food for a noon dinner with English speakers in Pinalejo and then the camp staff in the evening. I did most of my cooking on Tuesday evening -- homemade oatmeal rolls, pumpkin pie dessert, zucchini bread, and a raspberry jello. By the end of the evening I was done baking for a while, though I do have a little pumpkin left to use in some kind of recipe.
Thursday morning I made one last run to the grocery store for the Williamsons and then headed out to camp. On the way I noted some men in the electric poles along the highway and I briefly thought, "I hope that the power is not off." I arrived at camp to the sound of a generator and realized that yes, there was no power. The power had gone off just after the corn pudding got warmed up in the crockpot. Because of the occasion and the need for the refrigerator, Wes had hooked up the generator to the house. What had started as a dinner for the staff kept growing because family of the staff kept arriving on camp, having heard there was a party. That is cultural and very different from the North American way of doing things. We were worrying about whether there would be enough food and yet knew that culturally we could give everyone a little and everyone go away hungry and it would be okay. But to us, that was not the way to do things.
The other random events of the morning. Cows, bulls in fact, had wandered onto camp once again and this time they did not want to move out of the driveway. I could have taken one out with the car though in fact it might have taken me out. I did not have the heart nor the time to chase them off of camp this time. Mid-morning the gas for the oven ran out and the new gas tank did not fit with the current valve. I had to drive around camp looking for one that would work. Meanwhile the turkey sat in the oven, half cooked.
For the noon meal we were not sure if the nurse from Pinalejo was coming so in the end we started eating. She arrived around 3:00PM, just after all the food was put away except for her plate. In the meantime the electric remained off and Wes had to siphon gas from the lawn mower to keep the generator going. Several times we did the "quick open the fridge and grab everything you'll need for the next hour." We had been told that the power would come back on at 3:00PM. Jokingly we commented that if it came on by 4:00PM the report would be accurate. We have noticed that 3:00 can be anything between 3:00 and 3:59. All that matters is the first number and hence what we think of as late arrival to a meeting is still "on-time."
At 3:56PM according to my watch, the power returned much to our delight. It would mean lights by which eat and a fridge for storing the leftovers. The evening meal went well and we had more than enough food in the end. And of course that is how Thanksgiving usually is. For the Honduran staff the dishes of apple pie, pumpkin dessert, sweet potato casserole, and turkey were new and exciting foods. It was a fun day but a little draining. Thankfully between the two meals there was not much new food preparation that needed to be done. But even so we had to compensate all day for the lack of electricity with lots of problem solving and improvisions.
Usually Thanksgiving for me includes some games and down time -- both of which did not happen yesterday. At the same time it was fun to see the Hondurans excitement at experiencing a day that is so important in the North American culture. And I celebrated Thanksgiving with my family from Honduras -- all of those at camp. So it was a good day but I am glad there is a year between now and the next Thanksgiving. In the meantime I look forward to Christmas in the States with family.
*For a Williamson perspective on the day and photos go to: www.mdvida.wordpress.com
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Letting Go
November 19, 2008
I discovered today that it is hard to let go and watch someone walk in a direction that could cause them lots of pain. I have been discipling a young woman, who for the last 3 months has been in the refuge of camp and away from the temptations of drugs where she use to live. Today she returned to her home area for a funeral. I gave her a ride as far as the city and from there she took a bus to the town of Progresso. I watched her go with some fear and reservation knowing that the temptations would be great and not knowing if she was ready. And yet I knew that at some point she would have to take such a step. I have to trust her into God’s loving arms because I will not always be around to watch over her. Although I still have not received the phone call telling me she is back at camp, she seems to have made it into and out of Progresso without problem. (Just got the call and she is safely back) Perhaps it has been a lesson in trust for me as well. She is growing in the Lord and seeking Him and I need to let her grow and learn on her own.
Since Sunday we have had a delightful cold, though rainy spell. I would have been comfortable in my lightweight fleece all day. And yet I get word that PA has had snow of which I am envious. If only there could be snow a month from now!
Tonight is the big Honduras versus Mexico soccer game. I have several friends going but the weather and the fact that I just saw a soccer game (only on the national level though) have helped me decide to stay put. I may not even find a TV to watch the game on. We will see. A part of me needs some time to myself to relax and catch up on things. At camp (where I have been since Sunday) I am always trying to connect with the various staff families which means that I am busy every evening until at least 9:00PM. I ended up staying an extra day because Wes and I tried to make contact with a local high school. The director was not in but we hope to have a meeting with him next week to discuss a new partnership idea.
I secured my visa extension this morning which means I am legal in the country for another month. And as far as driving, I have not had any police tell me that I need extra documents (aka. the Honduran driver’s license). While downtown today, I discovered that there is a new parking law in effect. You cannot park along most of the streets without a parking sticker which is only about 25 cents an hour, except that you can never use is for less than an hour. Thankfully the policeman explained the whole process to me before I got a ticket and perhaps something put on my tire so that I could not drive off. Of course I am not so excited about parking downtown anymore.
Thanksgiving preparations are underway and I am excited about getting to do some extra baking and cooking. The Williamsons and I (and perhaps a missionary nurse) will have a noon day Thanksgiving meal and then in the evening all of the staff will come and share in the rest of the food and festivities. I have yet to figure out how to watch cholesterol and participate in the wonderful foods of Thanksgiving and Christmas. We will see.
I discovered today that it is hard to let go and watch someone walk in a direction that could cause them lots of pain. I have been discipling a young woman, who for the last 3 months has been in the refuge of camp and away from the temptations of drugs where she use to live. Today she returned to her home area for a funeral. I gave her a ride as far as the city and from there she took a bus to the town of Progresso. I watched her go with some fear and reservation knowing that the temptations would be great and not knowing if she was ready. And yet I knew that at some point she would have to take such a step. I have to trust her into God’s loving arms because I will not always be around to watch over her. Although I still have not received the phone call telling me she is back at camp, she seems to have made it into and out of Progresso without problem. (Just got the call and she is safely back) Perhaps it has been a lesson in trust for me as well. She is growing in the Lord and seeking Him and I need to let her grow and learn on her own.
Since Sunday we have had a delightful cold, though rainy spell. I would have been comfortable in my lightweight fleece all day. And yet I get word that PA has had snow of which I am envious. If only there could be snow a month from now!
Tonight is the big Honduras versus Mexico soccer game. I have several friends going but the weather and the fact that I just saw a soccer game (only on the national level though) have helped me decide to stay put. I may not even find a TV to watch the game on. We will see. A part of me needs some time to myself to relax and catch up on things. At camp (where I have been since Sunday) I am always trying to connect with the various staff families which means that I am busy every evening until at least 9:00PM. I ended up staying an extra day because Wes and I tried to make contact with a local high school. The director was not in but we hope to have a meeting with him next week to discuss a new partnership idea.
I secured my visa extension this morning which means I am legal in the country for another month. And as far as driving, I have not had any police tell me that I need extra documents (aka. the Honduran driver’s license). While downtown today, I discovered that there is a new parking law in effect. You cannot park along most of the streets without a parking sticker which is only about 25 cents an hour, except that you can never use is for less than an hour. Thankfully the policeman explained the whole process to me before I got a ticket and perhaps something put on my tire so that I could not drive off. Of course I am not so excited about parking downtown anymore.
Thanksgiving preparations are underway and I am excited about getting to do some extra baking and cooking. The Williamsons and I (and perhaps a missionary nurse) will have a noon day Thanksgiving meal and then in the evening all of the staff will come and share in the rest of the food and festivities. I have yet to figure out how to watch cholesterol and participate in the wonderful foods of Thanksgiving and Christmas. We will see.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Climbing the Peaks
November 13, 2008
Sadly my time with my sister is coming to a close. Tomorrow we return to the city and then she flies out on Saturday morning. Today a dream was partially fulfilled in that I reached the National Park Celanque in Gracias, Honduras. Someday I want to do the 2-3 day hike and reach the cloud forest but today we hiked one of the peaks, 2700m. It was all uphill and considering I have not been doing mountains recently, it was challenging at moments. But I was glad I could climb still without too much difficulty. I loved the beautiful flowers, bromeliads, and vistas that looked over to the cloud forest. We tried several new fruits in route which was fun.
It was a rather typical day in that our 7:00AM departure according to the hotel was actually more like 7:30 because of some difficulty with transportation. Then the guide was unclear as to where we had planned to hike and in the end we had to come back the same way we went in instead of doing the circuit. Our guide saved 3 Israeli guys from wandering for days in the forest and they followed us to the peak with the intention to continue from there and camp out. I hope that they find their way back. Instead of being a 8 hour hike, we clocked more like 6 hours but being sufficiently tired by the
end of the day, it was not a big deal to end early.
This evening over dinner we watched a glorious rising of what I think was a full moon over the mountain and Gracias. Such beauty! I am glad to be in the mountains again and ever so thankful for the beautiful weather that we have had. We spent a few days at the beach with the Williamsons and staff members from my Spanish church at the beginning of the week. I had expected to be involved in the meetings the staff were having but in the end the pastor told me it was not necessary and I should just enjoy the time with my sister. And so that is what I did.
Last Sunday was a good day in that it was the birthday celebration for Evelyn and her daughter out at camp. Val was able to meet my camp "family" and we were able to celebrate with them. I think Evelyn was excited and thankful that the party went well and it could be memorable for her and Lisbet (although Lisbet is too young to really remember much). Lots of memories have been created over the past week from the Honduran soccer game to birthdays to the intense hike.
Sadly my time with my sister is coming to a close. Tomorrow we return to the city and then she flies out on Saturday morning. Today a dream was partially fulfilled in that I reached the National Park Celanque in Gracias, Honduras. Someday I want to do the 2-3 day hike and reach the cloud forest but today we hiked one of the peaks, 2700m. It was all uphill and considering I have not been doing mountains recently, it was challenging at moments. But I was glad I could climb still without too much difficulty. I loved the beautiful flowers, bromeliads, and vistas that looked over to the cloud forest. We tried several new fruits in route which was fun.
It was a rather typical day in that our 7:00AM departure according to the hotel was actually more like 7:30 because of some difficulty with transportation. Then the guide was unclear as to where we had planned to hike and in the end we had to come back the same way we went in instead of doing the circuit. Our guide saved 3 Israeli guys from wandering for days in the forest and they followed us to the peak with the intention to continue from there and camp out. I hope that they find their way back. Instead of being a 8 hour hike, we clocked more like 6 hours but being sufficiently tired by the
end of the day, it was not a big deal to end early.This evening over dinner we watched a glorious rising of what I think was a full moon over the mountain and Gracias. Such beauty! I am glad to be in the mountains again and ever so thankful for the beautiful weather that we have had. We spent a few days at the beach with the Williamsons and staff members from my Spanish church at the beginning of the week. I had expected to be involved in the meetings the staff were having but in the end the pastor told me it was not necessary and I should just enjoy the time with my sister. And so that is what I did.
Last Sunday was a good day in that it was the birthday celebration for Evelyn and her daughter out at camp. Val was able to meet my camp "family" and we were able to celebrate with them. I think Evelyn was excited and thankful that the party went well and it could be memorable for her and Lisbet (although Lisbet is too young to really remember much). Lots of memories have been created over the past week from the Honduran soccer game to birthdays to the intense hike.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
