Writings from Zoe

My roommate Zoe from Georgia is a great writer... and usually sees daily happenings very uniquely. Luckily for me she writes everything down. Here are some of her things that I hope to always remember. So, mainly this is for me. But, if you are bored you can enjoy too.



Gate Beggars Undo Me, September 2009
I was reading in Luke 6 the other day, and I stumbled over this uncompromising verse:Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. (v. 30, ESV)I remember this verse often, as beggars are as frequent as rainstorms here. Because of the propensity toward substance abuse (huffing glue, alcoholism, and other such maladies), it's better not to give money. But one can give food. Clothing. Water. Pineapple tarts. Today, a woman came to our gate and asked to swap beans for some of our clothes, for her to use for herself. As often happens with the people who come to our gate hawking lawn services and maid services and who-knows-what-next services, I felt more confused than anything else. Told her we'd come down with mostly just the essentials, and there was nothing to give. Not true, now that I think of it. There are two shirts I will rarely if ever wear down here. And even if I hadn't those to give, maybe it doesn't matter. Will He not clothe me?To my chagrin, I can't read hearts. Can't know who needs and who deceives (perhaps they need love all the more). And maybe that is why the imperative from my Lord is strict. I don't know the heart, but he does. He will direct what I am able to give.Give us wisdom, but moreso joy. The joy coming from not being slave to stuff in this world.

I am Terrible at Cost Negotiatons, September 2009
Yet, apparently they are my current lot because in this household I speak the most Spanish.It was a picky problem. A sketch looking guy was just standing smack in front of our house, looking around, when we came back from getting bananas (our own tree has kamikazily uprooted itself).I did not like it.Fortunately, he had a reason: that is, he wanted to cut our (badly-in-need-of-it) lawn. As if I knew the going rate for such things. $10 bucks he wanted. I looked warily at our measly front patch, thinking You're loopy.Bruin, who is way better negotiator, suggested $7.50. He appeared amenable to this, though he then started going on about having to buy what we think was a sharpener. We do not own one. We also realized he had meant to cut the front AND the yard. While he was sharpener buying, I dialed Chuck, our on-call American missionary and general Honduras information source. He informed me that a reasonable rate for our area was in the neighborhood of 40 to 80 lemps, or $2-4. He also advised against (and I agreed) letting Sketch Yard Man into our actual yard (beyond the gate).This required re-negotiation. Wince.I told him $2.50 was more our style for the front patch. He looked fairly bummed about not getting the actual yard job and asked for $5, and he'd pick up all the trash the dogs had strewn about. Making sure he wouldn't ask for anything beyond that for the sharpener (we were confused about all that - shouldn't he own one?), we settled. I'm sure this experience will profit me greatly one day. Maybe even here.

Cake Deception, Early October
Approximately a month ago, an event transpired in Casa Gringa that is now popularly known as the “cake orgy.” Indiscreet vocabulary aside, it was the thrilling devouring by the three teachers of three different kinds of cake. No one was, in fact, naked.On October 22nd, 2009, in honor of the 24th birthday of Zac Hanson, this—that is, a cake orgy—was again to take place. While Bowen was at a Spanish lesson, Bruin and Tolson were to acquire said cake, to be consumed at a later hour. And they tried, it appears. They did visit to the bakery, witnesses report, there deciding to have a pre-cake snack of pastry. While Tolson is alleged to have expressed concern that pastries might spoil their appetite for cake, Bruin is said to have remarked that sugar can never spoil sugar. Only vegetables. What evidence this assertion rests on is unknown; only this is clear: on the occasion of the scheduled cake orgy, sugar did spoil the happy event (as did, reportedly, the unstellar cake selection), and paved the way for the absurd yarn that was spun to Bowen anytime she tried to discuss the expected cake. The spiral of deception has been reconstructed as much as possible here, in all its treachery, though the ATM and funeral stories have actually been substantiated.Enter Bowen, with a package, at a crossroads; Tolson and Bruin come from the opposite way.Bowen: Is there cake?Tolson: Something ridonkulous happened!Bowen: Ridonkulous? Oh no. What?Tolson: That random ATM that I NEVER use? It ate my card AGAIN!Bowen: You’re kidding.Tolson: Oh, no. I had to go in there to Dilma again and be like, “Here’s my number again. Give me a call, kthanks.” Bowen: Crazy. But is there cake? I was going to yell “Cake Orgy!” when I walked in the door.Zoe: …Bowen: Did something happen?Bruin: Our house smells like weed!Bowen: Our house smells like weed? Bruin: Yeah, I think they were smoking some wacky weed when they came in to fix the showers.Tolson: Yes, come look. Oh, start with mine. Hey, see? Brand new widow-maker, and the water even runs!Bowen: Very nice.Tolson: And there’s Bruin’s. Again, brand spanking new, but the water won’t come out. Bowen: So we only have one working shower again?Tolson: It’s better than no working showers.Bowen: But there’s no cake?Tolson: There was a funeral!Bowen: What? Where? Tolson: In the street! You know how a Honduran funeral is different from an American funeral? Every vehicle in the procession is a pick-up truck, bed full of sad-looking people. And flowers. Lots of flowers.Bowen: But the cake?Bruin: You can’t eat cake when there’s a funeral! And you’re home early. You skip out of your lesson?Bowen: I told her my roommates were making dinner!Bruin: You could have gotten mugged on the way home for that lie!Bowen: It was a stretch, but there was supposed to be cake! Cake for dinner! That’s not a lie.Bruin: We weren’t making it!Tolson: We’re gonna make a giant cookie instead.
Variety Show-- Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 12:06amNothing to See Here, FolksSo, I queried "illegal immigrant honduras" because that's what I'll become Tuesday because of a logistics mishap. And you know what? No one cares. I mean, officials will probably fine me, but if people aren't illegals in the States it's just not Google-worthy. Nobody's desperate enough to grab the Honduran dream (if there is one) that they'd do something life-risking to live here. Except Rhonda, I suppose. Poor dame can't even get her residency started, after 10 years.Bruin Isn't My Girlfriend, She Just Plays Her on TVOn the 20th of November, Bruin and I attended a piano concert impromptu. Too impromptu. Here are my notes from the field:"[Bowen] declined the concert, saying she felt like crap. [Bruin and I] went blithely upstairs, with the sudden crashing realization that this was a dressy event. We were both in sneakers, dirty jeans, blue Destino T-shirts, and hoodies of various levels of inappropriateness. (My green plaid one isn't good for much more than a rave.)The ticket takers assured us we were fine. But we didn't believe them. I went to see if any boutiques were open, and found the one on the corner closest to the dollar store. They were clearly trying to close but humored me kindly in my breathy, rushed Spanish explanation. The dueña began shoving boxes at me, which I pawed desperately through. Everything formal was too big or bra-incompatible, as our convertibles ones were sleeping in their drawers at home. I finally dropped L240 on matching (as if we weren't already awkward enough together at a romantic piano concert), long sparkly print Ts with cap sleeves. I remain unconvinced that this was enough of an improvement to actually be called an improvement. Maybe if I'd snagged us some slutty stilettos to go with it. I tried to sound reassuring: "These would be perfectly excellent over a black skirt." Bruin mocked, "You just keep telling yourself that."Being in this room with this crowd so dressed makes me feel like I'm in the States. Just with a bunch of tanned people. Our biggest disappointment - aside from the fact that we walk around in a perpetual state of embarrassment - was that the assorted cake plate was actually an assorted hors d'oeuvres plate. I could almost hear Regina telling me to take a vinegar shot."

Tuesday Afternoon, January 12
This afternoon just happened:Bowen left her phone in a cab yesterday, but it had been calling me, so we had reason to believe it could be recovered. We got off in town, paid to re-up the post office box (unexpected expense #905, but it was 500, not 550).Luigi, the pizza man (where Bowen was before she lost the phone) said HIS taxi driver was the one who had it, but as Bowen picked up the cab down a block we have no idea how this connection was made. But it was. Luigi speaks English. Even better. The phone will be retrieved tomorrow.So, we leave, making for home. We get about halfway when we run into Carlos Emmanuel, our goofy, skinny, witchesque long-fingernailed 22 year old shoeshine boy with a sick mama somewhere (we try to give him food for her, but he always eats it because he's as skinny as my grandma). He's about the only beggar we give money to, because he has a legitimate trade, not that I ever have a legitimate need for shoe shines. I made Bowen get it this time. Anyway, he said his kit was really close, we're thinking a block or two. No, the man walks us all the way back to where we started. I sighed. Went to buy us cappuccino and a small pizza for him while Bowen got shined. His cousin had gathered by the time I got back.We begin our trek again. Run briefly into Stephen the gringo who is looking very tall and pale in his black turtleneck sweater. Probably off to eat his 5th meal for the day, that hobbity man.I buy a mantuka, which is like a tamale, which probably doesn't help you at all. It's this doughy stuff with chicken and rice in the middle, all wrapped up and steamed in a banana leaf, which is rather gross looking. I made it about three blocks before I saw a pleasant but bothered looking man, sitting in a doorway. We locked eyes. I smiled. "How are you?" He said nothing, demanded nothing, just reached out two empty hands. I gave him the mantucka.We almost made it past the bakery, but decided to celebrate the recover of Bowen's phone by buying three cupcakes, at about 50 cents each. Crossing the main road to head down our street, a flashing light bulb reminding me that I needed to ...buy a lightbulb ...appeared over my head as we passed the hardstore.Owner and employee are cowards about gringa Spanish. Fetch son from house to speak English to me. Fail. I speak both, to heal my pride.We finally head for home. And are stopped for 10 minutes, 2 blocks away, by a random old man, 60, named Noé, who lived in NJ for ten years and is going back in February to Georgia to work construction. And he son speaks English or something and blah blah lots of factories in Japan and friends and God and you have such sweet hearts, you call my number, practice, and various other irrelevancies.This is how God amuses himself when I pray that I will learn to look for him in all the people I encounter.


The Flower Children- Thursday Afternoon, January 21

When Bruin and I arrived home, there was a shabbily-garbed man sitting on a potato sack a stone's throw from our gate. He was consuming a clear liquid that, if it was not alcohol, was at least in something like a vodka bottle. I said, "Are you hungry?" He muttered a lot of interested incomprehensible gibberish that ended in "Mami," a catch-all term applied to females of both American and Honduran persuasion, and must often heard uttered by taxi drivers, bus bouncers, and the occasional beggar. I said "just a minute" in Spanish, and Bruin handed him an apple. We went outside, fixed a bottle of cold water (for it has decided to be roaring hot again), a packet of cookies, a peanut butter and pineapple jelly sandwich, an improvised bean dip with refried beans, Honduran sour cream (not the same as ours), and goat cheese, and a peppermint for later. This took perhaps five minutes. We returned outside.He was gone. Fie. We walked a block in all four cardinal directions. Nothing. "Maybe it was water," Bruin muttered."Maybe we're having a joint hallucination," I countered. "That joint hallucination has my apple," she replied.Touche.We ate the bean dip and sandwich. They were good.

Sunday Morning, January 24th

At 8 am, I was happily layered under bedsheets. Awake, but with no intention of rising for a good while. The doorbell rang. I rolled my eyes you've-gotta-be-kidding style and turned over. It rang 5 more times. I peeked out my bedroom window incredulously and saw a boy who looked 10ish. I jerked off my bedcovers and hoped he had good health insurance, because he was about to be pummeled by my sleepy fists. Clad in a T-shirt and wild-looking blue-striped pajama pants, I looked quickly around for something decenter and said screw it after a few anxious seconds.Threw open the door and shot them (it was the boy and his 11 year old sister) a ferocious look.See, we know them. They have tried to sell us a mountain of roses in the last few weeks (1 for 10 lemps, or a dozen for 50). We bought two last night, in fact. "What's up?" I said, squaffling my rage as best I could.The boy bleated out something in his typical Road Runner speed Spanish, of which I get about 10%. Something about my other roommates. You know, the nicer ones."We. Are. Sleeping," I pleaded.More run-together Spanish. I caught the word "ratito," which means "a little while." I nodded vaguely. If saying come back in a while would make then go away, I was all about it.I journaled about this incident. I prayed for compassion (especially when I caught myself trying to manufacture compassionate feelings, which must be good for about nothing, since C. S. Lewis' Screwtape is so keen on it). I started to read about Paul's ridiculous plight in Acts. A paragraph in, the doorbell rang. Sigh.I padded out, still just as absurdly dressed. Their offer was still the same offer. Though I give the kid points for style: when I reminded him that we had bought 20 lemps worth of roses from them last night, he pointed out that I could buy one as a gift for someone else.I can't win. So I said, "¿Hay algo más que puedo hacer para Uds? ¿Tienen hambre?" (Is there anything more I can do for you? Are you hungry?)No one ever says no to that. I sent them packing for 10 minutes and charged into the kitchen. An apple was halved, milk was poured, crunchy peanut butter was slathered on bagel slices, and egg was basically everywhere."You weren't lying," Bruin commented.Somewhere in there the rage dissipated. We sat with them and had a good time. They'd never had peanut butter before (or bagels probably, as Bowen observed).They're from a family of 6. One sister goes to a private school. Maybe they're helping pay for it. They walk to town every day.And they gave me two roses as a thank you gift. <3

Zoe has an ability to hear quotes... here are some that she has written or status quoted. We should get us some milk like that. Straight out of the cow. Five minutes ago.-Bruin You can pray for my classroom because it rains in there.-Marino And they never get to pray together as guys because the country's full of women!-Morrow The broccoli had a butt!-Bowen, on the veggie porn guy at a cell repair place Is that RAIN? My SHOES!-Bruin, on the futility of laundry in the rainy season I feel like I'm going to have a baby tomorrow.-Bruin, the night before school started Did anyone actually do the spiritual exercise this week?-Dave I have no idea what you're talking about. Have a cookie.-Morrow I don't even know how much I would charge to carry someone's child.-Bowen The only thing about getting a load of teachers together is it turns to school talk. School talk. I'm against it.-Morrow My egg was a parasite to your boiling water.-Bruin to Bowen Status QuotesMaybe we're having a joint hallucination.' 'Well, that joint hallucination has my apple!' (Tolson, Amanda Bruin) The famous afternoon'I cut off my chicken's head! Crap! That ain't good!' (Bruin).'Nobody killed the spiders, ladies, really?' 'They're scary.' 'They're gonna get us in our beds!' 'We'll eat 'em as we sleep.' (Bruin, Tolson, Bruin, Bowen).Zoe Tolson : 'What's D4?' 'Don't worry, just do D' (Stephen and Luis, on guitars). 'I'm pretty sure I majored in procrastination in college. With an emphasis on disorganization' (M. Diener).Zoe Tolson took two taxis last night and bought a drink and a meal out on the town. All for $3. Bet you can't do that in your country.Zoe Tolson sees the unwanted cleaning fairies have been here! Silly landlord.Zoe Tolson : 'They need robots to do that job' (Bruin on gynecology).Zoe Tolson : 'And Zoe does her autistic hands!' (spiteful Bruin).Zoe Tolson eats breakfast with Straight Gringa and Late Gringa.Zoe Tolson : 'It's so inconvenient. You have to get all naked and all wet' (M. Deiner on showering).Zoe Tolson thinks the yard looks pretty silly with its buzz cut...and that one never knows who the Sunday morning walk will bring...'Zoe, I would love you even if you were the love child of a Kinder kid and a 3rd grader. That's unconditional!' (Amanda Bowen, who just bought a pair of shorts that fit perfectly off a random young passerby with only a couple clothing items for sale in his grubby backpack).Zoe Tolson heard Bruin humming the funeral march as she went to take a shower.Zoe Tolson : 'Zoe, your toilet sounds like a man's peeing in it' (Bruin).Zoe Tolson : 'Do YOU wanna cuddle with a barn?' (Bruin to Tolson).'I should have said pop music that won't get me pregnant.' 'There's not such a thing' (Tolson, Amanda Bruin). 'America's a rip-off, I'm telling you' (Bruin to her mother on our absurdly low water and power bills).DOESN'T HAVE TO WORK ON HER BIRTHDAY! Oh, politics.
Zoe Tolson bent down to care for for the man in the gutter, and she knew then that her roommates had already passed by, because of the food parcel lying next to his barely conscious mass. ♥

Zoe Tolson had the meagerest (no, Spellcheck, I don't retract that word) Destino lunch she's ever eaten today; then, they got $10,000. So it goes.

Zoe Tolson wonders how that alarming crustacean got in the pila. Maybe he fell from the sky, like the cat.

Zoe Tolson and Bruin are grossly under-dressed at a romantic piano concert. So many wrong signals.

Zoe Tolson : 'Run to Jesus, Baby. He loves you so...' (M. Tolson).

Zoe Tolson : 'The hamburger phone? We need a baleada phone!' (Bruin).

Zoe Tolson : 'If I owned a gas station, a monkey would make my life a lot better' (Bruin).

Zoe Tolson will relish every U.S. shower she takes wherein she utilizes technology that has never, ever shocked her and likely never will. Forget cell phones, Honduras. Back up to water heater technology. I mean, water heaters that are across the house, and not right over one's head.

Zoe Tolson proposes a Bruin Drinking Game: Every time she says "floppin' around"...

Zoe Tolson : 'Can't you WAIT 15 minutes. I guess not if you're holding your-' 'Don't finish that sentence.' (Tolson to student, M. Diener).

Zoe Tolson : 'Dude, you should sniff him!' (Bowen, on my faux-hawked, cologne-wearing Destino brother Maynor).

Zoe Tolson WATER! ::frantically moves mattress::

Zoe Tolson : 'Meat! On a stick! In a cart! In the middle of the road!' (Bruin).

Zoe Tolson : 'Dear Green Beans, you did not satisfy my chocolate craving' (Amanda Bruin).

Zoe Tolson : 'Skarleth? Axel? Merlin? Are you teaching a death metal band?' (Roberson).

Zoe Tolson : 'Skarleth? Axel? Merlin? Are you teaching a death metal band?' (Roberson).

Zoe Tolson wonders why Amanda Bowen and Amanda Bruin speak in sing-song when they discuss hamburger meat.

Zoe Tolson wonders why Amanda Bowen and Amanda Bruin speak in sing-song when they discuss hamburger meat.

Zoe Tolson : 'I would never have to go home if my cat was here!' (Bruin).

Zoe Tolson : 'It's the bathroom! I can't move the place!' (Bruin on why she sprayed a mountain of brain-cell killing bug spray in her bathroom, right next to our bedrooms).

'Will I die if I eat you?' 'It's not a Magic Eight Ball, Zoe. It's just a mushy potato' (Tolson, Bruin).

Zoe Tolson : 'If I die laying in a hammock, tell my mom I said it's a good way to go' (Bruin).

Zoe Tolson : 'I'm the 'straight Amanda'' (Bruin, on how she and Bowen are differentiated by their hair).

Zoe Tolson : 'So once the inmates were playing soccer with another inmate's head.' 'Take your camera!' (Tolson, Bruin to N. Diener on his proposed jail visit).


Zoe Tolson : 'It's just because they produce English and think they're gonna get a reward for it' (Bruin on the 'Englsih vomit' of Kinder students when their maestras produce breakfast cereal).

Zoe Tolson : 'I will never be so careless as to trust you to balance yourself again' (Bowen to the cat).

Zoe Tolson : 'That's what you bought the homeless man? No wonder he ran away' (Bruin to Bowen).

Zoe Tolson : 'They're cute! All married and Bible-y' (Bruin on Dave and Esther).

Zoe Tolson & the Amandas figured out how Marvin Michiletti got in the wash bucket: he fell from the roof. Good thing I fail to dump out my dirty clothes water in a timely manner.

Zoe Tolson : 'Exercise! Walk around! Learn to live!' (Bruin to cat).

Zoe Tolson : 'Come rub your uterus on me!' (Bruin to Bowen).

Zoe Tolson If it poops on my back, you're re-showering me (Bruin to Bowen.)

This is the way I live...

Wow! So a lot has happened since November 17th!!

Lets see...

We had Thanksgiving here... forever ago. Actually I had 2 Thanksgivings here. They were delicious... and we had turkey at both.

November and December were cold. Very cold.

Then December came... and brought with it news of passport extension rejection. So we had been given 90 days when we entered the country, applied for an extension and got 30 extra days, sent them off again for another 30 days and they had changed the law (or something). So, between being illegal in Honduras, fear of airport junk, and the fee for being illegal and ticket changes- we ended up having an extra week in America.

Christsmas break was great! Busy. But very very good. I got to see a lot of people and do a lot of Americany things. We had a great Christmas Cantata at the Falmouth School Center to help raise money for me to stay down here. It has really been a blessing to live off of faith. Raising money to come live here for a year seemed so scary-- and God provided so quickly.

January....
Started off rough. Very rough. I almost couldn't board the plane because of Visa problems. They wanted me to buy a return ticket within the 90 day visa. I have to leave the country in March... and didn't have proof of it. It was horrible. But, luckily Bowen had already checked in through a kiosk. So-- we finally got me checked in through a kiosk and then the man at the baggage check wouldn't check me in because he knew what was going on. I was like SERIOUSLY. So a manager came and did it. We boarded-- and it sunk in that I was leaving again... for 7 months.

So Saturday, Jan 2 was a very bleh day. I hadn't slept in forever so I slept on both planes and most of the way in the truck (thankfully because the highways in Honduras still scare me). We got to Sigua and things were just weird. Zoe and I walked around while Bowen slept off the awkwardness.
Things quickly got better when the kids came to school Tuesday. And since then things have been pretty amazing. I have loved being back with my kids. Well... kinder is still crazy- but we did manage to have a few really good days this week.

I brought back toothbrushes and toothpaste for our prepa kids... and I have a lot more that needs to be sent down here. When I asked I never imagined how much would be donated! Again... another blessing.

Primero had a pizza with macaroni and cheese party thanks to the children and staff at Small World Daycare!

About 10 neighborhood kids showed up at our gates wanting platernas. They also want to learn English. So-- we will see if they come back!

A few awkward things happened... between then and now. But- we will fast forward to now.

Today we got to visit Destino which was awesome! We played with the kids and it was really fun to hang out with them outside of class. We finished off the day by going to eat at Las Cabanas where I ate Gringas-- pretty tastey.

So that is a very short summary of the past 3 months or so. Keep praying for Destino, the students, and the staff!

Love you all!

No, we don't have Lucaidos

Today started at a beautiful 7 am as Bowen and I walked to the Plaza to meet Mallori. We didn't know the adventures that would meet us, but we were excited none the less. Bowen had planned a trip to El Parque Nacional Cerro Azul Meambar-- we knew we needed to get a bus to La Guama, then a bus to Santa Elena, and then a Taxi to the parque... hmm yeah we should have known it would be difficult.

We did our normal long hike to the Texaco to await a random bus to stop and pick us up (which we learned almost 12 hrs later that this method is ridiculous seeing that the chicken busses actually have a bus station in town). It took a while to find a bus going all the way to San Pedro Sula-- but finally one arrived... standing room only obviously. We climb aboard to go down the road about 2 minutes and to stop for another 20 minutes so the passengers that had been riding for an hour could get food and use the bathroom. We climb back on the overly crowded bus.... and stand... and stand... until 45 minutes later we reach La Guama. This is where life got interesting.

So-- off the bus we go. To stand and look around awkwardly not knowing what to do. We grunted some Spanish at a random bus driver who told us that someone would be by at some point to pick up people to go to Santa Elena. But, we didn't have to wait long for three nice police officers to offer us a ride up the hill (interesting event #1 please see pictures). They drive us about 3 of the 7 km up the hill and then tell us to walk the rest of the way. But, we were thankful none the less because they didn't charge us so we started our long walk up a huge hill toward the place where we were planning to hike. IT TOOK FOREVER. It was hard. Very hard. We stopped at one point to have our peanut butter sandwhiches and then on we went. During the long hike not one vehicle passed us... it was strange. Finally we arrived at Panacam. The hiking was wonderful. And the views where beautiful. But, none of this compared to what was about to happen. We hiked to the highest point 1200 km or something like that... saw a beautiful view of the lake. Hiked back down expecting to meet Erick the manager who said he would take us back to La Guama. Erick was there when we got down the hill and pointed out a trail that with just a short easy 15 minute walk we would be able to see a beautiful waterfall. And well he didn't lie about that. The walk was pretty easy and the waterfall was beautiful (see picture), however he did lie about taking us down the hill. We got back to the lodge area... rested our tired legs only to notice the Panacam truck was gone. When we grunted our Spanish to the workers they told us yes, he was gone (interesting event # 2). However, they were quite sure that the random Honduran couple with the nice silver truck would take us to La Guama. Runnig through my head was pases like "seriously" "they have got to be kidding" "how do we even ask for that?" While contemplating this the couple get up... walk to their truck... and go to leave. NOOOOO... so we pitter patter after them like puppy dogs saying "permiso, permiso, lo siento." They were really nice though offered for us to ride inside the truck, but after hiking for 5 hours we figured the back of the truck would be better. So, off we go in the back of a really nice truck to the town of La Guama (interesting event # 3 see picture).

We had hopes of eating dinner by the lake-- but we couldn't get a taxi to take us 5 minutes down the road. So, we settled for a chicken bus. On this overcrowded chicken bus we were overcharged AND given the wrong change back. A very nice young man tried to argue for us, but the man would have nothing to do with it. But, once again the situation was saved! Once some people got off I was offered a seat at the front of the bus. I awkwardly sat down, but a few stops later I met a new best friend! His name is Rigo. Rigo-- is an older man, married, 2 kids... well I could tell you his whole story actually. But, I won't. His English was great from living in Austraila for 5 years. So-- I met him and we talked the rest of the way and I hope to see his piano concert in town on Friday!

And yes... the day keeps going. We get back into Sigua and we are hungry. So, we walk to the pizza place. I never want to visit this pizza place again. For the first time while being in Honduras I felt ugh-- about service... and it was because we were gringas. So, not only were they really short and impatient with us-- they also lied! They told us they didn't have Lucaidos (smoothies)... so Bowen and Mallori walked to get one from somewhere else... and then the next group of Hondurans that came in ordered some! Ya-- so we had to listen to their loud mixer thing crush up their ice and deliciousness... when we were told they didn't have any. Geesh! But, our dinner was tastey and--- Bowen and I got to see and feed Carlos Immanual and Jerson which was exciting. I looked up from the table to see Carlos (a beggar we met one sunday after church) and we had leftover peanut butter and bread from our hiking-- so we made them sandwhiches and talked with them. It pretty much made my day! And then walking home I saw my "Good morning guy." As we wait for the bus in the mornings there is one Honduran who is walking to work or something... with his backpack on and he always really cheerfully says "good morning" in a funny little accent... so this evening he also became my "good evening guy." And that was just really cool because I also saw him at like 7 that mornign as he was on a bus. Ohh yeah and!! Our laundry guy was totally working at a little store next to the pizza place. We went in to get some milk for our friends and I was like woah-- there is our laundry guy! In a big city of people we can't understand I'm finally recognizing people... and somewhat forming weird little relationships! Yay!

Wow-- okay thats all!

He's got the whole world in his hands....

He's got the whole world in his hands.... My kinder kids are starting to learn this song. Its pretty precious.

A quick update about nothing important! Life at Destino is going really well. The past few weeks have been pretty regular. Life is becoming normal I guess so I don't have as much to update on. I'm getting use to seeing oxen, roosters, and horses in the streets. And-- I'm beginning to to expect the unexpected-- FLEXIBILITY is key.
Tomorrow school lets out at 12:15 and then the parents are coming at 1. It will probably be crazy-- a lot of people on two school busses. I'll have to try to remember to take my camera.
There is a group here from Missouri or somewhere working with John and Yessy and they took us out to eat on Sunday to a place that had pet monkeys, bunnies, turkies, and random birds. That is so funny now that I think about it-- because at first I was like nope nothing new... and then I remember Oh yeah... MONKEYS!
Zoe has been sick so pray for her recovery (just some stomach stuff) and so I've got to work with third grade a little. Its been fun.
That is all for now. Thank you for your continuous prayers. I love it here... but I can't wait to visit for Christmas!

Amanda

And I'll give give give... (thank you Relient K)

Well-- it is almost November. I've had nice Saturday afternoon. We did our weekly shopping at Del Corral, ate some street food (pupusas and pastallitas or something like that), and visited the other teachers at Destino, Nathaniel and Mallori, as they moved into their new house in town.

Please continue to pray for Destino. Financially God has been blessing Destino (and huge thanks to people in the Pendleton County area). Please pray for Rhonda as she continues following God and his will with Destino. Also remember Carlos (minister, maintenece guru), Wendy (the wife of Carlos and principal), the Honduran teachers, and us Americans. Also, the school is lacking about 50 sponsors for the students. A lot of these are my kids since they are the youngest in the school. Not only do they need the money, but Rhonda is very persistant on the idea that these kids are not being prayed for by name. So please, check out the Destino del Reino website and if you can't sponsor a child every month ($60) you can sign-up to pray for one. $60 might seem like a lot-- but God will bless you. That is what I've learned a lot about being down here. Give, give give. Give time, give money, give love, give food, give forgiveness, give grace, give mercy, etc..,

Here are some of my students that do not have Padrinos (sponsors from the United States). So, if you fell led to be a sponsor for a child in anyway contact the ministry or me.

Eneyda (pic)- Kinder, very timid. Usually silent- which I've heard isn't too uncommon at this age. Hopefully in a few months she will break through and speak English!

Ingrid- New to Destino, but to old for Kinder so she went straight to Prepatoria. She is behind because of this, but she can catch-up. My biggest concern is how often she falls asleep in class- since I can't really communicate with her I can't ask her if she is sleeping at home. I've told the principal. So hopefully things will get better.

Jasmin (pic)- Precious and beautiful! She is a tiny girl in Prepa very smart. Her English is great. If she keeps going like she is she will excel in school and be a great leader.

Javier- He has come a long way in the past few weeks. I enjoy him because he is so loving- he gives us hugs daily. He is also really funny. Everyday at lunch he walks behind me and quietly whispers in Spanish (profe, if anyone doesn't want their food I'll eat it).

Jonathan- A happy Prepa kid who is further behind then the average student. He has a lot of joy and behavior wise has come a long way.

Karen- Like Ingrid she skipped Kinder, but she is doing very well. She is a fast learner, very quiet, and polite. A joy to have in class.

Andrea (pic)- A beautiful Primero student who is an excellent student. She makes me smile when we sing songs (like Amazing Grace) because she really gets into it!

David- An awesome Primero student who has changed a lot over the month. He is really maturing fast and is a lot better behaved then in September. He struggled last yer and they thought I would have to tutor him, but as for now he is doing excellent!

Karina V- Karina misses quite a bit of school because of a family situation. She needs a lot of prayer because she is falling behind in class.

Jafeth (pic)- A great kid who learns quickly and sometimes gets bored in class (oops).

Karina N- Jasmin's older sister- very polite and loving.

Katherin (pic)- A great Primero student- very smart and kind to her classmates. Respects the teachers and a great role model for her peers.

Maryuri- Likes English a lot and is really good at a few phrases. She is loving and sweet.

Rosa- A kind Primero student. She is very sweet. Sometimes easily distracted, but very precious!

Thanks all! See you in December!

Constantly being reminded and amazed of God's love

Wow! What an incredible journey this has been so far. Mainly I want to take time to say thank you to everyone who continues to support me. Your prayers mean so much to me. My 2 months in Honduras have been wonderful. God has blessed me in so many ways with this transition and I know that each of your prayers helps me every day. I e-mailed this to Bro. Harry to read to FBC, but I also want everyone who supports me to be able to read it. Please know that I will never be able to thank you enough for your love and support over these past few months.

To the congregation at First Baptist Church! ¡Buenas dias! I hope all is going well back in Kentucky. I just wanted to thank you for all of your prayer, love, and financial support over the past 3 months. You have been such a blessing to me, my roommates, and especially the school. I would have never imagined the ripple that Destino del Reino has made on my life, the students lives, the teachers lives, and even the lives of people back home. I want to also thank you for sponsoring one of my kinder students. His name is Osman Eliel and he just turned 5 years old. He is a really great kid that God is preparing to do awesome things with! He is smart and loves English. He brightens my day. The church is sponsoring him for $60 a month which provides him the transportation to the school, his two school uniforms, shoes, underclothes, a warm lunch everyday, the chance to learn Spanish and English, and to learn about God’s love everyday. I have been so inspired by God’s love since I’ve been down here. It has been a life changing experience. I have realized how important it is to focus on other people and just love people in anyway possible. People sometimes give up on themselves, so we as Christians shouldn’t. I encourage you to find ways to genuinely love people that you come into contact with; whether it be an encouraging word, a great big smile or hug, great conversation over a warm meal, or even things like paying for someone’s gas, buying someone’s groceries while shopping at Wyatts, or buying the persons food behind you in line. Random acts of kindness like this can really change people’s lives. First Baptist is the light house—so let each of your lights shine brightly. So, in closing- love random people, love people who need it, love those beside you, love those who have hurt your, and love those who are different from you. The greatest commandment is to love God and love your neighbor. Thank you again for being a blessing to my life. I can’t wait to see everyone in December.

Amanda

"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:6

Als0-- a huge thank you to Northern Elementary who raised over $1200 for Destino. I am posting a Thank You video--

Southern Elementary is beginning their change drive next week- I have started a blog for them Southern and Destino Unite as we try to incorporate a little bit of Destino into the classes at Southern. I look forward to this partnership and to the direction it may go.

I am also starting a blog for the sponsors of the Prepatoria and Primero students sponsors. Amanda is doing Kinder and I will be doing the older two grades. I hope to update them monthly and add pictures and stories and ways the sponsors can specifically pray for their kids.

Shhhhewww-- that is a lot of blogging! But, God is good!

Since I wrote last time I....

Traveled to Cuevatas. A small mountain villiage 3 1/2 hrs away from Siguatepeque (though the trip there took over 5 hrs) where I saw over 26 baptisms and one Honduran wedding. It was a really fun Sunday afternoon. The baptisms just took my breath away! It was so cool to see all kinds of people pouring over the hill to come to the small spot in the river close to a waterfall where Pastor Jon and Pastor Hector baptized people from both of their congregations.

I also made delicious Chicken and Dumplings-- watch out Mom. Mine could give yours a run for your money.

It got cold. Okay, not cold- but for Hondurans 70* means bundle up in scarves, hats, and gloves ALL DAY. It was so funny the kids were dressed like this throughout the whole day. It was chilly for about 2 days, but it has warmed back up.

The only thing that counts... Galatians 5:6

I love sand! The beach makes me so extremely happy! So- here is Mallori and me by the Caribbean.

Long time, no update. Sorry! The past few weeks have been amazing! I have now been in Honduras for 2 months- and I love it!

We missed school because of the political unrest in September, but we haven't seen anything different here in Siguatepeque. It sounds like things are still rough in Tegucigalpa, but for now life is back to normal. All of the news is so biased so I have trouble forming an opinion on the situation. I feel safe so pretty much I'm just waiting to see what happens with Zeleya. The election will be held at the end of November and the change in Presidents will happen in January.
Last week we had Friday off. Bowen, Mallori, and I traveled to La Ceiba. It was one of the best experiences of my life. We traveled 5 hours by bus, arrived in La Ceiba, taxi'd to downtown to eat at Pizza Hut. We then walked to the beach, saw the Caribbean Sea, and headed to Jungle River Lodge-- about 25 minutes outside of the city in the Rain Forest of Pico Bonito. All of this was exciting- just working through it on our own. With our little bit of Spanish skills...simple everyday life things are fun because it is a challenge. I like being challenged. It helps me grow as a person.

The Lodge was amazing. The area was beautiful. Saturday morning I got up early and had an amazing quiet time overlooking the Rio Cangrejal. I just remember thinking about all of the bad things that God has to see everyday-- but then wow, he also gets to see things like this everyday.

We then went on an adventurous river hike with two tour guides and four backpackers from Australia. We waded through water, climbed and jumped off of big rocks, and then rafted. The rafting was fun, but because of the time of the year the water was pretty low and thus no class IV or V drops. We headed back to the "chill" lodge, rested in the hammocks, read, ate lunch, and then went zip lining through the Pico Bonito Rain Forest. It was actually a cool learning experience. The two tour guides, Angel and Darwin, taught us about plants in the forest that were good for different remedies and we ate wild bananas (a little different from normal bananas because they had seeds that you couldn't eat in them) other random fruit-- oh yeah and termites. This picture is actually of me eating a termite. They taste like carrots! Dead serious. I would put them on a salad if I had the opportunity.
<-----Eating a termite

<----- Hiking during the zipline tour

This rock was really hard to climb up-- I bloodied my knee and had to tie my shoes to my lifejacket. But it was worth it.

Another really great thing about this trip was the fact that we had a 5 hr bus ride both ways. So, right before leaving I downloaded some sermons from Jon Weece at Southland Christian in Lexington-- and it was one of those things where I was just like WOW! This is exactly what God wanted me to hear. It is funny to think about the way God works. Like, I downloaded the sermons on a Wednesday when I didn't go to the Bible Study with my two roommates (I thought I just needed downtime and alone)... but it was actually so I would finally take time and look for podcasts from Southland so I could hear these amazing sermons. I challenge all of you if you can to either stream the sermons from the internet or download them for free on itunes... God is moving right now in this world. He is doing some crazy things-- and there is going to be amazing revivals in churches, towns, and hopefully even bigger than that! Southland is doing awesome things like really challenging its members to LOVE people. To SERVE people. To do crazy radical things... make people think what are these people up to... and then to point it all towards God. Jon challenged the congregation of 10,000 people to go serve (he let church out 40 minutes early... because sitting in church isn't what its all about-- I liked what he said about God not wanting our faith to be like a comfy couch that we just sit). He then talked about all of the stories he had read the next week of people who were served. Stories of a waitress searching for God who had "it" done to her twice through large tips and inspiring, but simple notes about God's love. He spoke about a man who had been driving around contemplating suicide-- pulled into a gas station and a Southland attendee filled up his car for him. And story after story was read of the people that God led others to help. Literally, changing and saving some of their lives.

http://www.southlandchristian.org/media/series/it/

It has just did crazy things for my faith. My roommates are on board and we have some great ideas about how to serve the people here. Pray that this doesn't fade like some spiritual highs do. Pray that God is really changing people.

I was a little anxious about this week because it was the first 5-day week in about three-weeks. And it was great. God is really working the lives of the students. Kinder is still a little crazy, but it is getting better. Our relationships are growing with our students and that makes it a lot better too.

Life—is good if we can rely on God and strive to be in his will. Some things he has really been teaching me lately about is: to watch out for complaining (which I fall prey to quite frequently—complaining about little things that shouldn’t matter) and instead of complaining find ways to give thanks to God in all situations; and to trust fully in God relying on him solely— I struggle with trying to plan out everything. I still want control of my life—so I continuously have to ask myself—my plan or God’s plan? I was reading in a short devotional that said our lives shouldn’t be divided into things we can do and things that we need Gods help with… EVERYTHING should rely on him. And love people (I think it was in one of Jon’s sermons that he said always LOVE people, believe in them, encourage them, and support them because a lot of times people give up on themselves).
God is good… All the time. Thanks for your continuous prayers. Love you all!

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through LOVE—Galatians 5:6

Prayer requests:
Patience with the children
Financial support for the school
Sponsors for the children at Destino (both financially—but also spiritually—the children at Destino need to be prayed for individually—even if you don’t think you can support them financially through the website you can become a prayer sponsor of a specific child).

For more info on Destino visit: http://destinodelreino.org/ddr/home

Want to sponsor a child for $60 a month check out:

http://destinodelreino.org/ddr/school_sponsor

According to the website about 55 sponsors are still needed.

Ohh I can't leave this part out about my life in the past few weeks without updates...

This is Marvin Micheletti-- He was our cat for about a week. Bowen and Zoe found him crying in our wash bucket in the backyard. We took him in, warmed him, and fed him to discover a few days later how he fell into our lives. One evening we heard another kitten in distress. We searched for him in the back and side yard with candles and flashlights. We found him-- on the roof. Crying. We were going to rescue him (we thought he had been left like Marvin) when we realized that Marvin wasn't dropped by his mother cat into the water bucket- instead he fell from the roof into the bucket. At about that time we saw the mother cat coming for its kitten (she seemed pretty ticked off at us). We tried to give her Marvin back, but she didn't want him. A few days later we had a teary goodbye to Marvin when Ariel (a teacher at school) said he was looking for a cat. So, Marvin has a better home than we could have gave him-- and he still has my surrogate sweater to lay on.