Thursday

The embassy emailed us (not personally) and said we should try not to fly out of San Pedro as it is not safe. They suggested La Ceiba. So we called the airlines, knowing there might be a lot of fees. To change our flights to La Ceiba will cost thousands of dollars---but Continental is currently reviewing their policy in Hoduras and is considering allowing people whose flights fall within a certain window to make one city of departure change or one date change for free. The former President has moved his retun to Saturday and some of the international community, including Obama, are backing off from supporting him. But I suspect this was all the work of Chavez to begin with. So we wait. Meanwhile, we got word tonight that the bus is running between La Ceiba and San Pedro again and some brave friends are flying into San Pedro tomorrow to come and help Mama and Papa, so they will know more when they get here.

This morning was the first time I woke up a bit panicked. I had to bring it in check and remember what I know about God being in control. That lesson came through so loudly in my study the last two years of the OT, I guess God wants me to walk in it. Because I know my parents and grandma will wonder---I have plenty of medicine and insulin to get past the end of July!

Some daily life details if you are interested. Kassy and I started the morning with a shell walk, and wanted to swim, but the wind is high today so the ocean is wild. Oh and those earthquakes, tremors have been felt here, but never by me.

Because the sun sets about 7:30 pm and rises about 4:30 am, we tend to wake up early 5 am or so. We go to bed early, for us, 10 pm at the latest. We shower every night. We have to. Every day we are a sticky mess of sweat, bug spray and sun block. We share a bathroom with Pam and Chris (my in-laws). I was so delighted to have working toilets and a private shower--it beats our experience in China with troughs and public showers! We don't have hot or cold water, but believe me we never would take a hot shower if we could. And we can't throw toilet paper down the toilet, which is a very hard habit to break. We brush our teeth with bottled water. And also drink only bottled water. The food has been delicious--lots of beans and tortillas. Everyday we have some kind of fresh juice: watermelon, mango, pineapple, some I've never heard of. The food is prepared by tias, what they call the local women who work here when there are extra volunteers.

The girls are loving having dogs, a cat, and parrots as pets. They've caught salamanders, chased the giant toads that come out at night, and enjoy the geckos running up and down the walls (yes in the house) at night.

Despite the turmoil in the seemingly far away land of the capital city, we love it here. We love the simplicity of life. We love the depend -on- the -Lord lifestyle. We love these people who simply love the children, depend on the Lord to survive, and reach out to all the people around them. If someone knocks on the gate and wants work, they provide some if they can. If someone needs clothes or food, they share as they can. If someone is hanging out by the old railroad tracks aimlessly, they share Christ. There is so much to do but the pace is relaxed, the expectation is that plan B will usually be needed and that's okay.

More next time....Amanda, I tried to upload more pictures, but the connection is too slow. After ten minutes on one photo, I gave up.