Could YOU do that?

I'm in the comfort of my own home, watching the snow fall, as I reflect on my week in Honduras.  What a week it was...with a rough ending of getting sick on my flight home.  I don't know if it was my last meal at the airport in Honduras that did me in, or what, but I was down for the count all day yesterday.  I'm up and about a bit today, so I think I'm getting past whatever it was.  In all of my travels, I have been fortunate enough to never get sick on the plane.  I guess there is a first for everything--hopefully it's the last time that happens!

My week with the STEP team and Jim and Sonia in Honduras was a great time for reflection.  You know, at first thought, thinking about all of them going to Honduras for an "adventure" (the STEP team for 6 months...Jim and Sonia for at least 3 years), it sounds pretty exciting!  But, when it actually comes down to it, do you think YOU could do it?  Sacrificing all the comforts of home?  Learning to do normal, daily activities in a new way?  I'd like to say I could do it, but I don't know.  Doing it for a week or two is one thing, but longer?

I was reminded that water and power are not always accessible--take advantage of both while you have it.  Something as easy as paying our bills here in the states, takes hours in Honduras.  They have to take a trip to the bank to transfer funds.  Sometimes tasks planned for a day go smoothly; other days they do not.  It's the little things we take for granted in the States.

Even the girls in the STEP program have some big adjustments to make.  Being uprooted from all the comforts of home and their families and friends at home, to be placed in a new culture, in a new family that lives very differently from what they are accustomed to.  Unfortunately, some host families are more welcoming than others.  That makes for some lonely experiences for these girls.

All in all, it comes down to one thing.  You can't always count on things or circumstances, but you can always count on God.  Jesus is with each of them on their journey in Honduras.  He is their comfort.  He is their strength.  He is steadfast.  He is the one constant in their ever-changing circumstances.  The same is true for us here in the States.  We tend to forget that sometimes.

On my last morning in Honduras, the team was practicing with puppets for their ministry next week in Choluteca.  We enjoyed some fresh mango together before we left for the airport.  Please continue to pray for them as they continue to serve in Honduras.  The team comes back to the states in mid-May.  You can follow their journey on their blog at www.stephonduras2013.blogspot.com.

Connections...

Each morning, I have had the privilege of being able to run or exercise in some way.  That has been a huge blessing to me.  I always enjoy doing that in other countries.  It’s nice to have a change of scenery. 

Thursday morning, I planned to do a 45 minute run.  Well, that small dirt track around the soccer field was going to be pretty boring for 45 minutes.  So, thankfully, Katlyn wanted to join me for part of my run.  So, I met her in her “development” and we ran together for about 25 minutes and then I didn’t have as much time to run on my own in that tiny park.  It was a tough workout, though.  These hills here are brutal! 

Sonia has joined me the past few mornings for her walk.  There are quite a few neighborhood ladies that walk in that park in the mornings, too.  So, Sonia will begin to build some relationships.  They were funny…they told Sonia they wanted to put my running pants and T-shirt up somewhere in the park as a “memorial” for inspiration for them.  Haha! 

I spent some time chatting with Kristen this morning.  She’s doing well here and really enjoying her time.  However, like all of the girls, they are each struggling with some challenges, in just adjusting to the culture and the environment.  Kristen is a country girl from Texas.  Living in the city has been a challenge for her.  Kristen has such a servant heart…sometimes it’s hard for her to receive service from others.  It’s something she is trying to work on.  I’m proud of her and happy to see God working in her life.

We had plans to join a friend of mine that I had met here 2 years ago.  Kathie is 19 and lives here in Honduras.  When I visited the STEP team here 2 years ago, we partnered with Kathie’s church to do evangelism.  Kathie is a college med student.  I thought it would be fun to connect her with our current STEP team of girls while they are here.  They can connect with other people their age.  We had a fun time connecting at lunch, and then even some shopping together.  I saw some questionable cheetah running pants…the girls thought I needed to get them.  I passed on that one.

At one point, Kathie’s friend, Valeria, joined us.  Quite a bit of connections were made that afternoon.  Both Kathie and Valeria speak English, but have agreed to continue to help the girls practice their Spanish as well.  It was fun to see them all connecting so well immediately and having fun laughing together.

I spent some time chatting with Brynne in the afternoon, hanging out at Dunkin Donuts.  Brynne is such a vibrant, full-of-life, young woman.  She wants to soak up as much of the culture and experience everything!  Sometimes she struggles with the limitations that are put on the team here, just for safety reasons.  She’s learning things about herself and definitely sees positive things happening here.  Her and Katlyn are quite the crazy pair! 

We ended the day with a delicious meal at Jim and Sonia’s, followed by a Wendy’s frosty stop as we drove the girls home.  It was a great day of connections!

I’m only here for a few hours this morning before heading to the airport to fly back to the cold.   It’s always nice to go home, but I must say—not looking forward to the snow and ice! 

Tourist Day

We were tourists for the day on Wednesday.  We started by going to a lake in Santa Lucia, about an hour from where we are.  It was a cute little town.  We’ve noticed in a few places they have these “Little Free Library”—you can take and leave books there!  Kind of cool!  

After leaving the lake, we went to the Valle de Angeles.  This is definitely a tourist town—lots of shops.  I remember this town from my trip here two years ago.  At one of the shops, Kristen was looking at some wooden bowls.  The shop owner spoke English very well and offered to show us where the things were carved by hand on the 2^nd floor of the shop.  That was cool to see their intricate work.  What talent! 

We went to a fun restaurant for lunch.  It felt like a tropical island.  There were several outdoor rooms to choose from.  It was a beautiful setting--gorgeous sunshine and nice cool breezes.  Quite a treat!

(rather than The North Face)  haha!

This mural is made out of recycled bottles and plastics

a barber shop

Once we finished lunch, we travelled up the mountain to the Academia Los Pinares, a school where Kathy (another one of our global workers) is the principal.  She gave us a tour of the school.   We met one of the science teachers there and he showed us a project his class had done.  They created a radio out of wood, wire and plastic cap.  He picked up a station on it while we were there! 

We traveled back down the mountain, through a MESS of traffic!  Jim has only been here for around 4 months, and he drives like a true Honduran.  It’s great!  Pushing his way through traffic, correct use of the horn…he does it all.

We went to the church service on Wednesday night at Kennedy.  Two hours later (to those of us who don’t understand enough of the language it felt like MUCH longer than two hours)…we took the girls home for the night.  It was definitely a long day, but a fun one!

Coffee, anyone?

As part of our day yesterday, we visited Nathan and Kathy and the school where Kathy is principal.  We stopped by their house after our visit to the school and Nathan showed us how he grows and process coffee.  Enjoy the photos!

Shelling the bean

the coffee plant

the bean after fermenting for a night

de-shelling the bean

separating the shell and beans (using the fan)

roasting the beans 

beans ready to store and use