Road Trips 'R' Us....

Well - it's January. 2009. Oh my, how did that happen. :)

This month has been and will be filled with several new things for our family.

One - Our kids have started attending the local bi-lingual school here in Gracias. We've felt for a time that more interaction would be good for them and with the move and general craziness our lives have resembled in the last few months, I needed some help. :) They've been going almost two weeks now and while it isn't perfect (wasn't expecting it to be...) they've done remarkably well. They are making some local friends, gaining more Honduran Spanish and are enjoying the routine. The girls especially like the outfits - and taking their lunch. Riley is enjoying the futbol and the Math. Yesssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two - there were some visitors here! THAT was fun. They are a family I first 'met' on a homeschooling forum. The international section to be exact. They came to work and play with the Sowers family (who they also 'met' on the international forum) and we got to be in on some of the fun! We had a great time getting to know them and they are missed!!!

Three - Natalie turns 7 on Friday! She is inviting any and all who will listen to come and play with us at the local hot springs on Saturday. She has announced there will be brownies so I'm sure there will be a crowd. I hope I've stashed enough mix. She has officially lived outside US borders longer than inside them. Hmmm...that is a strange feeling.

Four - the reason for the title. We have to leave the country already for visas. 90 day ones are the longest option you can get here. Blech. I feel like we JUST GOT HERE!!!!!!!!! We're just now getting into the groove of life and bills and house and living and working; and we have to leave for 3 days minimum. Sooooo....we are planning our trip. It looks like we'll be leaving the early part of next week (the kids' school has mid-term testing which the Hayes', having just started, won't be taking) and are planning on coming back by Saturday the 24th.

I would covet your prayers for this. It feels like a big process.

We're heading to Belize. Doesn't that sound exotic? I used to think so too. Actually, it will involve a very long arduous truck trip (with the trailer for added entertainment, er...I mean new visas for them too) and a border crossing between Honduras and Guatemala then Guatemala and Belize. As with ANY border crossing there are potentials. Potentials for favor, for bribes, and for denial. We would ask that you pray for the first option. :) We've heard tell of a hotel about one hour in on the Belize side and we're planning on camping out there for those 3 days then turning around and reversing the process. CON EL FAVOR DE DIOS, we'll be granted another 90 day visas for all of us; 7 including the truck and trailer.

I have to remind myself that this is just a part of the process and cost of living here and being available to work, but it feels like a rather long 'row to hoe' today. Maybe I need to take some advice from God's word and look back at his faithfulness. To us through this journey we've been on, to taking care of the details for our daily needs, and for our protection. That evidence is all over our experiences.

Wow - I feel encouraged already.

Que Dios les bendiga hermanos!

Holidays and Culture Shock

Sometimes I wonder exactly how to communicate our lives and the way we live down here. Why is it so hard you ask? Because unless you've struck out and done something COMPLETELY different from the way you were raised (or where you were raised) it's very difficult to communicate the vast differences in e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. I hope you don't look at our blog as my personal whining spot. I am trying to give sight, sound, and touch to how we live. And of course, eyes to see the work we try and do in the process. Forgive me please if I come across as whining. It is NOT my intent.

This is a funny story, really it is. Please don't feel sorry for us. We are fine. Now. :)

Some background -

We were in Santa Rosa doing a bijillion errands, trying to get the truck fixed (yes, it is having issues....these roads, ya know; we were told my the Honduran mechanic, "you REALLY need to get this fixed. You KNOW it's serious then...), and doing some last minute shopping. (stuff is coming on a shipment - it just won't be here 'till next month...)

I have a little one who has developed a thing for cherry pie. It's the main thing she's been asking for for our Christmas dinner. Not much else is registering on her radar (even presents) but cherry pie is a 'want'. I'd found (and spent a ridiculous amount of money on) chocolate, real butter, brown sugar (or at least the closest thing we've seen in 3 years) and powdered sugar for our cookie baking. Tradition ya know. So we've had the baking day although the cookies waited in the fridge to cook during a not so hot time. Okay, on to dinner and desert.

I went to one of the bigger shopping stores in town and was picking up a few things to finish our 'dinner'. First 'lose it' moment. Well - the turkey was over $2.50 USD per pound. The smallest one I could find was going to cost us over $30 USD and I wasn't sure I could even fit the thing into my oven. I have a small oven. I seriously sat there numb as to what to do about the turkey and my son is just looking at me wondering why I have a blank look on my face. Logistically, I'm telling myself 'this is NOT worth having a moment over' but there I was, having a moment. My dh came over and said it's not a big deal - we'll have something special and cheaper like steak. Fine. (NOT REALLY - I just needed him to tell me no I guess...)

So we go to the check out line. "OH MY GOODNESS - I forgot to grab the cans of cherry pie filling! Honey, run and grab me two cans." "Sure. Be right back." I get the rest of the groceries, make chit chat with the checker guy and just as he's totaling things up, Alan comes up with the pie filling. "Great! Add those in please." The guy runs the total and asks for the money and I sit there wondering WHY he wants so much. I hand it to him then as I'm looking at the receipt I see..........................................Second lose it moment coming...


245.00 for pie filling.

Now granted, this is in Lempiras, but GOOD GRIEF. That equates to like $12 USD in pie filling - 2 CANS, small ones at that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My breathing becomes very shallow and the room starts to look small. I'm just standing there, looking every bit like a fool. The checker guy is looking at me and asking what the matter is. I'm staring at the receipt and then look at my husband, then ask the guy if that's a mistake. "Let's check. No - look here. The price tag reads..................................

122.25 PER CAN."

NO JOKE.

My breathing becomes even shallower as I see what is happening. I CAN'T pay that much for a can of pie filling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - no WAIT, my Janelle has only asked for cherry pie for Christmas. I HAVE to make cherry pie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I seriously can't move at this point. Alan is grabbing the bags and saying 'let's go'. I'm still standing there with the receipt in my hand and a 'deer in the headlights' look. Alan finally steers me out of there.

I don't think I breathed normally until THE NEXT MORNING.

This is such a dumb thing to be so worked up over but I seriously had an eye twitch for two days remembering it. How can I be a good missionary and spend $12 on PIE FILLING?????????

As I sit here remembering this episode, I'm struck by a few things. One is that as Janelle's mom, I wanted and needed to provide that special something for her no matter what the cost. Interesting and shocking as I think of the correlation of God to me. Two, I hope and pray that our kids see that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and loves on us in so many big and small ways; I WANT us to have eyes that see and focus on the blessings that are surrounding us because they are here. Three, as we share what we have, we are provided for - even some of those 'wants'. It is not possible to out-give God. That is my new year's resolution of sorts - to be renewed in my mind for this purpose. To give and share out of complete devotion and realize that God will turn it into what he wants it to be. Can he use my culture shock moments? I don't know, but as I have them I do my best to retain my sense of humor, no matter how belated, and turn it into an object lesson for stretching our faith.

Our Christmas dinner was wonderful. Steak, vegetables, AND cherry pie. Plus the acute vision that it was a gift -albeit an expensive one. But then it is fitting because God's Christmas gift to us was an expensive one too.

I hope your Christmas was filled with the joy of knowing that you are provided for and watched over. And that you are filled with the peace that comes with knowing that he is with us every step of the way each and every day of the year. I know that is what sustains us.