No Luz

(okay so this isn't Roatan, but La Ceiba but it still amazes me and power poles all over Honduras look like this 

or worse)

So we've been on Roatan since Monday around lunch time and every day the power has been out.  Monday and Tuesday it was all day.  It went off in the middle of the night Monday night and was out til after dinner time.  Today the cruise ships were in port so we hoped it might have it today and sure enough we did...til late afternoon and it's still out.   Already the beaches are desolate compared to last year.  the resorts and hotels are offering amazing deals to try to get people here and try to just keep their doors open.  So why why WHY would they decide that this is the time to do "maintenance" on the power system???? Having come from the mainland honestly it doesn't bother us too much.  Of course it's inconvenient and a little hotter. But what I say is it's still SOOOOO worth it!!  Roatan is amazing....just amazing.  And I've done none of the paid tour type things yet (maybe later in the week...we can't decide) just snorkeled and enjoyed the beauty of God's creation!!  And let me tell you....the lack of power does not matter!!  If you are looking for an amazing vacation and aren't looking to spend a fortune...I encourage you to check out coming to the bay islands!  You can fly directly here from the states...generally on Saturdays and truly there are some amazing deals on all inclusive lodging and such to be had right now!!  And at least for us, we don't care about the lack of power so much at all (plus it's only supposed to last a few days) we have hammocks and endless fruit and a nice breeze coming off the water.  We have enjoyed every single second.  Plus, our host at Keifitos has a generator.....and that's what I am using to type this right now.

MaryKyle and John Mark hanging out just after coming in from a day of snorkeling on the reef!!  A GREAT day yesterday (even though all of us but John Mark...of course... got a bit toasted)

We are enjoying a lazy day on Roatan Island (The cruise ships are in port.  So might as well enjoy a lazy day and not get into that madness) So I took just a min and went back and added a very few pictures.  Others are waiting to use the modem so I will try to add some more later.  but wanted to let you all know that I will be trying to work on it over the next day or so!  

Adios to Trujillo

(evening from our balcony looking out over Trujillo)

Last night we said all of our final good-byes to our friends in Trujillo. Emilson came with his wife, children, and two of Eda's sisters and their children. They prepared baleadas (tortillas with beans and cheese folded inside), chimol (a type of chunky salsa), and some sort of fried tortilla that was filled with cheese. It was really nice to have someone cook for us, as we were busy washing clothes, packing, and taking care of other last-minute items on the to-do list.

We also had Angelina and four of her children in the house with us. It was really great to have so many people there to say farewell. And to top it all off, they washed all of the dishes after dinner, cleaned out the fridge, and completely packed up all of our kitchen supplies for us. We plan to store all of those things in Trujillo, so we won't have to set up house every time we go for an extended stay. 

After everyone left, we were up late into the night finishing laundry and packing. We had heard that the campesinos would be blocking the road in Guadalupe Carney this morning, so we decided to get up really early to leave, in hopes of beating the protesters. We rolled out of Trujillo at about 4:30 am and were blesssed to have smooth sailing all the way to La Ceiba. We even arrived early enough to eat at Emilson's favorite pastalito restaurant before heading to the ferry. 

Again, we were blessed with a good trip on the ferry. Nobody got seasick and the weather was great. We arrived in Roatan at about 11:30, went to the grocery store, and came to the place where we are staying. The place is called Keifito's Plantation and it's a fabulous place. We are staying in little cabins up on a cliff overlooking the ocean. There is some really good snorkeling just at the bottom of the cliff. We enjoyed that for a couple of hours this afternoon. Tonight, we are going to walk to West End to eat out. I think I'll have a hamburger. Trujillo has great seafood, but Honduras in general isn't known for it's beef, and definitely not for hamburgers. Even though Roatan is Honduras, it's very different here. The islanders speak English (it's a former British territory) and there is much more money here due to the tourism.

We are looking forward to a few days here before heading back to the states on Saturday. As always, it was difficult to say good-bye to Trujillo. We miss our friends there so much when we are away. Of course, we are anxious to get home and see all of our loved ones there as well. Please pray for our continued safety and especially for the school and church in Trujillo that we serve.

So long farewell....

MK couldn't keep her hands off of their baby puppy.  She named it for them "Run to" (it's from some book she read....of course...and was an Indian name meaning "fox eyes")

it's our last day in Trujillo.....

We aren't ready for it.  

We need to be packing but who has time for that?

We worshipped with the Eduardo Castillo congregation this morning.  John Mark invited 3 friends that came along too.   Then we headed to Dago's house to eat lunch.  It was great (of course!) and amazingly not fried.  Dago's blood pressure is high so they have changed their eating habits and such which was neat to see!  

now some friends of the kids are over to finish a sewing project and play (and eat popcorn)!  

Thad and Chad are about to run some errands including taking some pictures of the school's other property in another part of town. 

Then some of my friends are insisting on coming by to say goodbye and paint my nails ....they said they wanted them to look good for Roatan and for the states :-)  Honduras does a number on your toes for sure...walking on dirt roads in flip flops....and they want to make sure I'm 'presentable'   What wonderful friends I have...

then after that even more friends are coming with a cake...and the recipe for it so I can make it for my Daddy as he loves it (the pineapple upside down one Juanita made for the group a couple of years ago).  So Daddy....get ready hopefully I'll be able to recreate it for you :-)  

That's just the friends who have mentioned they are coming by....so it looks like we will be up most of the night packing.  

We just rec'd a call that the plan is that the roads might be blocked starting at 4am.  We'll see what happens.  If that is the campesinos plan we will have to leave earlier than that to beat the roadblock.  Our plan was already to leave at 5am....so we'll just see what comes.  Perhaps if we leave super early we'll be so sleepy on the ferry we won't get sick like last year....that would be nice!!!  

UPDATE on baby Rosa can be seen at Brian and Sara's blog:

www.bilodeaufamily.blogspot.com

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

Please look at Brian and Sara's blog for more details, but we ask that you please pray for little Rosa.  I snuggled with her Wednesday.  She is a beautiful precious little one.  

Please pray for baby Rosa & her Mommy Vanessa.  But also for Brian and Jeffrey (directors of Little Hands Big Hearts) as they try to communicate with the Drs and see how they can care for little Rosa.  They just got home from the hospital a few minutes ago and someone will be heading back soon to take food to Vanessa.  The Doctors are limiting who is with her, but it seems to be serious and lots of medical attention is being given to her.  

THANK YOU For your prayers

The other day we were invited to be guests at a party that was to be Saturday night.  They weren't sure where yet, but would let us know.  The party was to be a combined baby shower/retirement party for 2 of the school's staff members.  

The Honduran gov't will no longer allow teachers to have contracts with a private school if they have already retired from the public school system.  So Maria Teresa is retiring.  

Angelina is expecting a baby in Sept.  So it was to be a celebration honoring both.  Apparently they liked my cupcakes and mini-cakes I made for the food sale and I was asked to make the cakes.  No problem I'd have plenty of time to scour the city for the right ingredients.  

Yesterday I worked in the school all morning. We were working to finish the art projects and then I helped haul the lumber from the ceiling project back inside after being sprayed with diesel and bleach to ward off pests.   So I was getting pretty icky.  

One of the girls from the school came up to me and asked me if I was going to the dinner at Maria Teresa's house later and I told her I didn't know what she was talking about....we had been told one of 2 other teacher's homes...I figured this was a private gathering not the same so I kept working.

then a teacher came up and said 'do you know that the celebration is tonight?'  WHAT???   NO!!!   aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

And I realized how insanely thankful I am for my 'things' in the states I take for granted....

* mixers

* sifters

* grocery stores less than 5 min away

* when I go to a grocery store I know that I will find what I need and it will be well organized

* cake pans

* BOWLS!!  (I only have 1 here)

* my oven (my oven here is small, doesn't have a center rack and during baking the rack must        be shifted and the bake good shifted so that it cooks evenly and you have no way of knowing   

   the temperature)

* drawers filled with kitchen utensils

* food coloring, cake decorating tips

* water....when you don't have any it means you can't wash the dishes and that means......FRUIT    FLIES 

* and more....you just don't realize when you're dreaming of that double oven or you are wishing for the nicest kitchen aide....that you have it SOOOO good already.  Well I don't always anyway!  

But you know what, even without all the conveniences I have in the states, the cakes turned out fine.  I put a ducky with bubbles on one and an apple on the other.  The party was fantastic...food amazing (grilled chicken, sausage, chimole, refried beans, enchiladas, tortillas).  So as much as I wish I had some things like a mixer, I don't really HAVE to have one.  Life is simpler and I learn to appreciate so much more the many LUXURIES  I have in the states!!    

I'm waiting up for Nadine to let her know there is another person sharing her room tonight.  

A mother of Alfonso's friend is here.  She came into Trujillo for some tests tomorrow at the hospital but wasn't able to get the early morning bus (I think because of the roadblocks) so she was on the bench of the hospital prepared to spend the night there.  I've sat on those benches and that was uncomfortable enough...can't imagine sleeping there.  So she is tucked in fast asleep upstairs.  We had an extra bed afterall.  MaryKyle whose Honduran name is "Maria" is thrilled that her name is Maria also!!  

When I went to take her a towel and washcloth, she was on her knees by the bed praying.  It was a humbling sight!!