Finds in Valle

What a great day we had in Valle de Angeles. It didn't start out so good with a broken bus. Alan called Jason early yesterday morning to ask him to bring him the keys to the bus. It seems he had left early that morning to bring the mechanic to the bus and had forgotten the keys. The trip to San Buenaventura (where the bus was) is a 45 minute drive. Jason drove him the keys and supposedly they had the problem fixed. Well, when they go the keys and took it for a test drive the other brake line burst. They had only brought one extra brake line with them so they had to go to another town 15 minutes away and look in their junk yard for one off of a junked vehicle. They found one and got it replaced, but had it put on wrong. Finally they called it quits and rented a van. We took the 15 passenger van and two trucks and fit everyone. We had a great time. These are some things that we were able to get for our display. The dresses are authentic Honduran dresses for Barbies.

The group is from a Baptist Church in Oxford, Alabama. I forgot the name of the church as it was only told to me once at the beginning of the week. They had 18 teens and adults. They were such a blessing. We only got to be with them for a few days, but it was as if God sent them to us just to encourage us. Audrey developed a special friendship with Paige. Paige's son is about to be married and she told me that this time was just making her long that much more for grandchildren.

Jordan started running a fever when we were in Valle de Angeles so he stayed with Daddy in the van and slept while Mommy, Audrey, Joey, and the group shopped. Daddy did not seem to mind either.

After shopping we went to El Patio a very good restaurant here. El Patio is an outdoor restaurant that is covered by a metal roof and has pillars for walls. It is very typical. The lights that they do have are very dim to make it seem like it was before there was electricity. It was so much fun. Everyone loved it. We also found out that you can buy paintings there. Elaine and Jeff Smith, the youth pastor and his wife, bought a gorgeous painting for around $50. After they sold to them the young men trying to sell them when and got more. They brought back one gorgeous one of an old pueblo seen through a door. They started the price for that at $80, but when no one had it they ended up selling it to one of ladies of the group named Kim for $30. I was in love with that painting, but Jason had just borrowed all of my money to exchange for dollars with Bro. Jeff Smith. I am so glad that Kim was able to get the painting for such a good price. I now know what I want and where I will get it when we come back here. Bro Alan Jackson hired a mariachi band to sing a few songs for the group and it was so much fun. Everyone was clapping with them and then they saw that Joey was dancing by stomping his feet in time and clapping his hands. Everyone just about lost it then. It was so cute. We all had a really great time and were tired, but sad to see it end.

Today most of the group left. Three were left behind as one of the young teenage girls passport and ticket were stolen just before she boarded. We all went to Pizza Hut for lunch while we were waiting for the plane as Pizza Hut is just across the street from the airport. It was while she was there that it was stolen. Thankfully her mom came with her to Honduras as she would not be allowed to fly international by herself.

Tonight we went out with them and the Jacksons for Chinese food. While we were there Jason lost my retainer. I had put it in his pocket as I forgot to take it out before we left the house and I did not have any pockets in my clothes. I am just sick over it. I will have to see if I can reach of my orthodontist tomorrow by her cell phone. It will cost me almost $100 to have a new retainer made if she can do it as she is leaving on vacation next week. If not, I will have to try to find a orthodontist in the states to make me a new one. That should be fun to try and find. I am still holding out hope that the Jackson's might find it at their house.

Our day

We had a fun day today. We started out by going to hunt for boxes. God blessed our search and we found some great boxes at Pricemart. We have gone to Pricemart many times in the past few months, but never found many boxes. It seems that today we found the motherload. They will not let you take the boxes unless you buy something, so I bought eggs. I am going to make the kids a big pot of hard boiled eggs. We, meaning everyone but Jason who is slightly odd in his tastes, love hard boiled eggs and do not get a lot of them because they are costly. It will make a nice treat for the kids and me too. :-) Anyway, we packed our backseat with all the boxes it could hold. We decided to finish the packing before we started painting, so today we packed the master bathroom, what was left of the master bedroom, the office (huge task), and the boys room. We only have to pack up the kids toys and books and the kids dishes from the kitchen. We cannot do these things for a while though.

We had plans to go with the Jackson's and their group to Pizza Hut after church for dinner, but the bus had other plans. They were still in San Buenaventura when the brakes went out on the bus. They were able to rent another bus to get the people home with, but that got stuck in the mud and they had to get it out. Pizza Hut closed at 10:00 pm and they got home at 11:15. Thankfully we were able to make some Tuna Casserole for the hungry travelers. It wasn't pizza, but everyone was glad to be home. It is just after midnight and we are just getting home. It was a fun night and we are looking forward to getting a good nights sleep and then helping them go shopping at Valle de Angeles (Valley of the Angels) tomorrow. We are on the lookout for things for our display table and if it is available in Honduras, you will find it there.

Busy bees

We have been busy, busy, busy for the past few days. I was able to get my list for the school done just before Jason was to leave for the school to sign our part of the contract. We were able to turn it in and everything went fine. Monday night we were supposed to have dinner with the Jacksons and all their guests. I made Spaghetti sauce, Broccoli, Salad, and a cake and Becky was supposed to make the noodles and garlic bread. When we got there we found out that many of the group had the throwing up sickness that Jordan had on Friday. They asked us not to stay because they did not want us and especially the kids to get sick. It was a huge disappointment. Jason took me to dinner at Popeys instead as the group was eating the dinner I had worked on all day and I didn't have anything else ready to cook at home.

Yesterday we went to the church to pick up some leftover paint we had to paint our house before we leave. We found a lot of water inside the church when we got there. Jason thought it had come over the doorjam, but upon further investigation we realized that someone had turned on the water and not turned it off. Water only comes twice a week in Ojojona, but one of those days was Monday. Praise the Lord the only thing that was ruined was two boxes and some tracts. We were able to save over half of the tracts. PTL!

As we were getting back in the truck to leave, Esperanza came out. She looked done in. She said that she couldn't make it much longer living in a house full of fornication and adultery. It has taken a toll on her emotionally and financially. Renting a house or apartment would be too expensive. Her only option that we can see is for her to voluntarily place her children in an orphanage. She would then be free to find a job as a live in housecleaner to support herself. She asked us to help her find a good orphanage and arrange the governmental aspects for her. This is one of the hardest things a mother has to do is turn away her children. But we are praising the Lord that if this is what she does, there is a good Baptist orphanage where we can have them sent.

After we got back from that we went to Larach (the hardware store) and bought paint and other things we needed to get the house ready for us to leave. I can't believe how quickly time is passing. It still doesn't seem real to us that we are to be leaving two weeks from yesterday. We are still waiting on the papers from our truck to sign and send back. They were received by our courier last week, but they seem to be taking thier own sweet time getting it to us. We will have to try and look again to day to see if they came in.

Today we are going to hunt for some boxes to finish packing Jason's office, pack, and start painting the house. Fun, fun, fun.

Baptism Sunday

Yesterday we had a great blessing to be able to have a joint baptismal service with the people from Iglesia Bautista Betel in San Buenaventura. The Alan Jackson family are the missionaries who started and are pastoring that church. They brought their church and a group of 18 teens and workers from a church in Alabama who are visiting them. We brought three truckloads of people from Ojojona. Our normal baptism site was overflowing because of our recent rains. We looked for a new site and found one in a park in nearby Santa Ana. They let us come in free and baptize in the river, but when the kids played on the toys they charged us 15 Lempira (75 cents). Thankfully none of our kids tried to play as we haven't been to the bank yet this month and did not have any cash on hand.

We were able to see Esperanza baptised and with her a couple named Rueben and Xiomara. Junior, the little boy of Rueben and Xiomara, cried so hard when his mom got baptized. He was just yelling "mommy, mommy, mommy" and tears were running down his face. He was sitting with all his aunts and uncles, but he still was very concerned about his mom. It was very cute to see.

Esperanza was very nervous about getting baptized because she didn't have a skirt to wear. I knew she always wore pants, but I didn't know she didn't own a skirt. I wish I could give her one of mine, but there is no way she would fit it. She is a lot smaller than me.

Today is going to be very full. We have to go to the bank and then the store. Tonight I get to make dinner for the group that is staying with Alan and Becky. There will be 29 of us and I am going to make a big pot of Spaghetti. I am trying to use up all of the food in my freezer before we leave in 15 days. Today I must also finish the inventory of our house for the school. It makes me think of the song "So Little Time, And So Much To Do".

Poodee

Ok, you may be thinking I have lost my mind, but I just had to tell everyone about Joey's newest word. He has been saying, "Poodee" for a few weeks now. A short time ago we finally realized what he was saying. He was saying, "Excuse me". I guess he has heard me tell Audrey and Jordan enough times that we should say excuse me when asking someone to move or when you need to interrupt somene, and now he is doing it. Joey is doing really good on his talking. I know that only parents of other two year olds would be able to understand him, but we are excited. He has learned many words in English and Spanish. I think it is especially cute when he uses "polite words" such as please, thank you, excuse me, ect. Joey also has learned two songs in Spanish. He can sing "He is Able" and "Ti-ti-ta" which is a Sunday school song in Spanish. He only knows the spanish version of "He is Able". It is so cute to hear him singing.

As you can see from the picture he has also developed a strong photographer bug. I found this picture and several more just like it when I was downloading some pictures. If he sees a camera he will immediately pose and say "cheese" until you take his picture. If you are not getting the camera out to take a picture of him he will continue to say, "cheese" louder each time until you either break down and take his picture or end up spanking him for not obeying when you tell him to hush.

pipe cleaner glasses

Have you ever had an abundance of pipe cleaners? Well, that is the dilemma that I am faced with. I had to buy a huge packet to use with a craft for Ladies Meeting. Yesterday I made the kids glasses and rings with pipe cleaners. They loved them. Joey did not get a pair. Only Audrey, Jordan, and Julianna who is Audrey's friend got ones.

Julianna and Audrey put them on when Julianna's mom came to pick her up. She told Audrey that it was so her mom wouldn't recognize her.

Please pray for Audrey and me as we are sick. We are going to the doctor tomorrow to see if there is anything we can take to help us get better before we leave.

Today the Jacksons group came in and we got to help them. I stood in line at the bank with them to help them change money (you can only do it with an account) for over an hour. I was so tired after that. I am just glad that the bank teller let me exchange so many transactions. I had to exchange money for 10 people. They had to do each person separately so that the money did not get mixed up.

Just as I got home tonight I got a call from Becky. She needed to borrow my crockpot and coffee pot. I wasn't to excited about going out again, but now I am home and my bed has never looked more inviting. It has been a long day for us. We are so glad to have the opportunity to help other missionaries and groups from the states, but we are sure tired. :-) We can't wait until we have groups of our own come to Honduras.

House rental

We finally have word on the status of the International School renting our house fully furnished. The answer is yes!!! We were told that they did not want it for the price we were paying, but because they had not let us know and we were between a rock and a hard place, they are going to honor what they first told us. They told Jason that we are paying way to much for this house. They do not seem to understand that we are from the states. When you are from the states people automatically charge you more than they do others. Most Hondurans are so suprized when they go somewhere with us and find out what we have to pay for things.

Anyway, I have so much to do now. I had originally planned to go through the house and write a detailed list of what we were leaving. I had planned to do this before we left, but now I have to have it done on Monday. That just pushes everything on the front burner.

The Jacksons have a group coming in today. We spent this morning helping them get ready for 19 people. They have borrowed every bed they could find. We sold them the kids bunk beds and let them borrow the queen bed Audrey slept on. Our kids are excited that they get to sleep on the cots. We will see if they are still excited when we get the beds back. Jordan does not want to sell his "up bed" as he calls it. We told him that we were going to get some better ones made when we get back, but he is still not sure if he likes that idea. For the next nine days the Jacksons house is a hodgepodge of the Tate and Jackson houses. They have borrowed half of my plates, bowls, cups, sheets, ect. It is great for me because I will just have them pack them up for me and it is less work for me.