We Are Off  | November 27, 2011

For those of you who don’t know me, I am one of the travelers on this trip and the assigned scribe.  You will be hearing from me most days about all we are seeing and doing.
For those of you who do know me, we are back on travel mode and I will love using this as a journal of the trip.
I am sending this out early to check my email entering skills and see if I have any bounce backs so I can make corrections.  Thanks for your patience.
We are all off tonight close to midnight.  Half of us are flying through Houston and the other half through Atlanta.  However, we will all end up in Tegucigalpa, Honduras about midday tomorrow.  We would love your prayers for safe travel and my BIG one for every trip, that our luggage get there!  We are women after all and need our stuff!
Really, though, the prayers we really want are for the people we visit – that we may be encouragers, learners, friends, and the hands and feet of Jesus.  It is a high privilege to travel on these trips and we count ourselves blessed.
Thank you for your love and prayers.

The Women Have Landed  | November 28, 2011

Over the Gulf of Mexico –

I am writing this because I CAN! I have WiFi on the plane and am very excited about it. A first for me. Jan, Ria and I will be landing in Tegucigalpa in about an hour. The other three should already be there and we will meet our fearless leader, Angela Mason.  There will be much more on her as the trip progresses. An uneventful trip thus far and that is always the best kind while in the air!

More soon – I just had to take advantage of my toys. Thanks for indulging me.

 

Just a quick check in – we are all here – warm breeze and sunshine – staying at a beautiful Marriott.  We are really suffering servants!  It really seems almost too much, but we will get out of Dodge tomorrow solooking forward to that.

Logistically – our luggage all made it and there were no travel mishaps so we are grateful. All is most well. We will have a debrief with World Vision staff soon, supper, and then an early bedtime as we are off early tomorrow morning.

I will report more (hopefully!) tomorrow.  Just wanted you to know we are all here safely and grateful to have this opportunity.  Thank you for your prayers and love.

Changed Lives – Ours  | November 29, 2011

Our first evening in Tegucigalpa was delightful.  We are staying at this very plush Marriott all decked out for Christmas. We met the World Vision staff and they uphold the reputation of WV staff worldwide – excellent, competent, highly qualified, and just generally wonderful!  It is a peculiar blessing that God has lavished on this work – the excellence of its staff.  I will wax eloquent throughout the week.

Dinner was at a very lovely restaurant just across the street from the hotel – the staff joined us so it was a pleasure to start to get acquainted.  For future reference Dana is our official WV guide while we are here.  Karla and Libia are with us for translation and just fun.  Roger is our driver. He is not employed by WV but is hired to help arrange things for groups like us.  He is truly splendid.

The meal was superb!  The beef was recommended to us so we all gamely ordered that.  Well – – it was some of the best beef I’ve ever had. I am feeling slightly guilty about the true spoiling we are enjoying.  I’m sure it will pass!  After dinner we returned to our hotel, met for devotions and tucked in for an early night.

Up early this morning and after a banquet of a breakfast, we packed up and hit the road.  The drive was gorgeous – very green – many pines – hills and valleys and mountains.  Really quite Oregon like in spots.  I will also reluctantly mention, for all of you folks enjoying cool temperatures and lovely rains, we are struggling with sunny skies and warm breezy weather.

We headed out to a smaller town named Danli.  After checking into a charming hotel – think Spanish hacienda style, we met with the FUNED staff and heard about their work.  A bit of a backtrack – for those of you not in the know – our Women of Vision chapter has a micro finance project which we help support here in Honduras.  FUNED is the acronym for this World Vision organization.  In a nutshell, FUNED makes small loans to people who can not get conventional loans to start a business.  Women are the primary beneficiaries of this program.  There is much more to be said about it but that will suffice for now.

This is branch 14 of the 18 branches here.  It is also the most successful with an almost 100% return on the loans. We traveled out and visited three clients.

Our first stop was in a small town where we visited Diana and her father, Jose, who make a lovely soft caramel candy.  The raw ingredients are boiled down over a wood fire and stirred by hand.  Then it is poured out onto a table to be cooled, rolled out and cut into candies.  Our samples were yummy!  Their candy is sold in local stores and they would like to expand their business as there is the demand.

Note to travelers – the secret to Pied Piper type popularity – the iPad!  Again, I had the delight of sharing it with children today and got to see their wide-eyed amazement and joy.  Upon leaving, I was asked when I could return so they could play some more!

Next stop was a coffee plantation. We drove UP into the hills for about a mile on a one lane dirt and rock road with breathtaking views on either side.  Some of us laughed and some of us prayed but we made it to the top and came into a small village topping a ridge.  This community is called Buena Vista – beautiful view and it certainly is. Again we were blessed with stories, children, brave women, strong men and coffee!

Our final stop was to see a woman who is a true entrepreneur.  Rosa sells Avon beauty products, runs a corn mill, caters, and sells clothing and jewelry.  She is the main support for her family of 5 and has had 11 loans.  (New loans are not given until the preceding one is repaid).

I know this has gone long and I have not even had the chance to tell the stories of the amazing people we met. People who work long physically exhausting days – day after day and still greet us with joy and warmth and wearing their best clothes!  Why did God choose to bless us so?  No answer but we are forever grateful.

Time for bed.

Hasta la vista.

A Day of Happy Marriages  | November 30, 2011

Today we woke to clear blue skies and warm temperatures, at least those of us who did not set the alarm incorrectly and woke an hour early to the pitch black!  The guilty party shall remain nameless, but she is writing this note.

After a lovely breakfast (we are all enjoying the Honduran coffee) we headed out in our faithful vans. For security reasons we drive around in vans with tinted glass so no one can see in. We feel like Very Important People!  Appearances can be so deceiving.

Our first stop was up another bumpy dirt road into a little village.  It seemed rather poor and simple but then we walked into this clean impressive small factory with two huge beehive wood ovens.  The owner bakes Rosquillas – a ground corn treat sold in local markets (most of our group found them quite tasteless but we made happy smiley faces and quietly disposed of them in the bushes later).   Tina employs several women to help her make these five days a week and is doing very well with her business. She works very hard but is a true success story. Again we all so enjoyed the green and beautiful countryside – favorite flower of the day were these brilliant blue morning glories. We made our driver stop for a photo. (Obnoxious women tourists!)

Next stop was back on the main road (paved!) where we visited a young woman, Fanny, and her family.  She and her husband, Dennis, are raising watermelons and other crops as well as running a small “7/11” in the front of their home.  Their home was quite lovely – had some appliances, distinct rooms, and even a flush toilet!  Oh happy day!  Their only child, Maria, is able to attend private school so they are doing well. Baby number two is on the way.

Lunch has been on the fly – sandwiches in the van and more snacks than we can shake a stick at (if we were crazy enough to want to do that!). Back to FUNED headquarters to watch a training session for a new Support Group – 9 people banding together to get a loan and a start at a better future. The young woman who led the training, Dunia, was excellent. Very warm and well prepared. The emphasis is clearly on personal responsibility and the importance of repaying the loans on time.

Our final stop – via bumpy dirt roads – (does one sense a theme here?) led to a beautiful tomato field. A couple run this project which was in this lovely little valley surrounded by mountains – rather idyllic. Both agricultural projects we saw today have extensive drip irrigation and are very well managed.  During harvest up to 100 people are employed to handpick the tomatoes which are then either sold in Honduras or San Salvador.

Today was a day of success stories and very heartening.  Although the loans are to individuals, the number of lives impacted ripples put onto the community.  Once I heard sponsored children called channels of blessing to their villages.  This is so true of these people also.

The subject line also tells of our happiness at seeing 3 apparently healthy good marriages – not at all the norm here. We continue to be humbled by the privilege of being with these dear people and their allowing us into their lives for a brief time.  However, as we move through the roads and villages there is still dirty water, darling children in sometimes shabby clothes, and quiet stories of poverty.  The need is great but so is our joy at being here.

We blessed women returned to our charming hotel for our own personal Happy Hour and then a good supper.  God is good – all the time.

We Stand To Pray To El Senor   | December 1, 2011

First – the weather report – blue sky, light breeze, probably mid seventies. I know you all want to know.  Inquiring minds and all that.

We eat breakfast on the veranda and then head out in our Mafia vans. A word about our drivers – one is Roger, our tour guide, and the other is Dana, our incredible WV liaison. They are both intrepid and skilled and drive into places that would cause Richard Petty to blanch!

Today was ADP San Matias day – oh what joy!  I have been looking forward to this day all week. I love ADPs. They are the working arm of WV out in the communities and universally have excellent delightful staff and warm and welcoming hearts. We always feel like royalty there and today was no exception. We were greeted by Maritza, the manager with smiles and hugs. After some introductions, we headed to a large room and were enchanted by children from the arts program just started recently.  Guitars and voices serenaded us and then young people swirled in with full skirts and white outfits and delighted us with 3 Honduran dances.  A highlight for us came when some of the men came over, held out their hands and led us onto the floor for an enormously fun if much less skilled dance!  It was so much fun and yes we have pictures.

A very tender and precious time followed as we had the privilege of praying for Maritza as she continues in her challenging job.

We then walked into the town center – picture dirt streets, little houses and buildings with tile roofs, a few chickens and the occasional pig or horse.  Today is World AIDS Day and most of the town had gathered to recognize this time.  We weren’t there for it all but loved our little part which included coming up onto the stage and briefly introducing ourselves. More music and dancing and then we were off, feeling completely blessed by the people and the time.

Then our bunch took time to munch our lunch. (Sorry – a brief Dr Seuss visitation).

Next we visited another sweet maker with an actual work room and some staff but a similar process as our earlier visit.

Then more fun began!  We went to a project where the folks are beekeepers.  Well – some of us got totally suited up in our official beekeeping gear and marched off to the hives, looking for all the world like some HazMat team. As the bees swarmed around us, we watched the keepers smoke a hive and then remove the panels of honey comb.  Back to the village and saw the honey

spun out in a hand cranked centrifuge.  It was great!

Now one would think that was enough for one day but NO – we Women of Vision are intrepid so we marched on to visit a very successful cooperative of over 400 members, farming a very large area.  First was our usual inquisition as we gathered info – then off to a field to see newly planted peppers – and finally to another field to see mature plants. Now this all sounds innocent enough. However, it was getting late in the day and darkness was descending. Our final trek was in the dark on very bumpy dirt roads, over a stream, through some gates and final arriving at the field. With flashlights leading the way, we marched out to see the peppers!  It was very funny and a lovely story to have in our repertoire.

There is so much more to tell you, but I really must wrap up. The stories of the people with these businesses are so worth hearing and will be told another time.

A final note – prayer seems to bathe most all of what we have seen, from public gatherings to meetings to events. People all stand during prayer and God is called Señor, which I just love.  Today was a day of great richness as we experienced so much of God’s love shown to us through the people we met. Another occasion of asking who really is the least of these.  I think it is me.

Buenos noches.

Smiles and Hugs and Tears – Oh Joy!   | December 2, 2011

We have just arrived back in Tegucigalpa after another full but wonderful day. After our veranda breakfast, we left our lovely hotel in Danli and gradually started our trek back to town.  On the way we stopped to visit two sponsored children.  The first one, Leybi, is sponsored by someone not on the trip.  However, when we drove up, I was one of the first people out of the car.  She came running up to me with a huge smile and a great big hug!  Made my day!  She is a darling 8 year old little girl and so sweet and welcoming.  I think she thought I was her sponsor so I quickly had Dana explain that I wasn’t. I did, though, then get to read the letters and hand out the gifts from her sponsor. What a treat that was!  We met her mother and a little nephew.  There is quite a back story with her but no time now.

We chatted with Mama and had some gifts for her as well. It was a precious time for me and I would like to steal her as MY sponsored child!  Her little nephew, however, is up for sponsorship so one of us will most likely take him.  We then had a piñata for the children over in a large field – Papa Smurf!  Much bashing and diving for the fallen candy.  Such fun to witness.

The next stop was to Sandy’s little Carlitos who is a very big 4!  We were all so blessed to watch this tender and joyous meeting.  Sandy and her family have already invested a great deal into this relationship so the whole family here loves her, of course.  There are 2 parents and an older sister – a very nice family with a good home. Mama had made a pillow for Sandy and some treats.  There were precious notes from them.  Sandy had gifts are Carlitos but also for the whole family.  We took loads of pictures and enjoyed the time so every much.

Leaving a bit reluctantly, we took a brief stop at a city park where mamas and their sponsored children were gathered for check ups and meeting time.  It was a joyful time of many hugs and greetings.

I am going to call a halt to see and add more tomorrow as it is late, I am tired, and getting up at 4:15 to head to Copan to see the Mayan ruins.

Closing Words   | December 3, 2011

This is the final note to finish off the trip from the Women of Vision perspective.  Sorry this is a bit late getting out, but I have been out of town and my Internet was a bit sketchy.  Tonight I am back at the Marriott in Tegucigalpa and will be flying out tomorrow afternoon.

To backtrack to Friday – after leaving the sponsored children, we hopped into our vans for the final drive back to Tegus.  Of course a stop did have to made for us to make our final contribution to Honduras.  We shopped!  Great fun and some good buys for all. The rest of the drive was uneventful, and we arrived about dinner time.  We had hoped to be joined by some of the FUNED staff for dinner but not everyone could make it.  Dana had arranged another terrific dinner at a lovely restaurant for our final time together.  Conversation flowed, toasts were made, gifts exchanged and it was a very good way to end our time together. The rest of the evening was spent sorting luggage and trying to get everything in!

As I left so early the next morning, I wasn’t part of the final airport goodbye.  I do know the 3 who headed home arrived safely and uneventfully.

Just some final thoughts on this precious time – a beautiful green mountainous (by East Coast standards, not Oregon) country with valleys and curves and breathless vistas. The people – so warm and welcoming, even in their poverty – beautiful and affectionate children who laugh and dance and swing at piñatas and work hard and help their families.  It is a place of contrasts – poor dwellings set in extraordinarily beautiful places.  Smiles on worn, work weary faces.  Their excitement about seeing us when we were the honored ones!  Stories like Saida – the only woman in a 12 member coffee growing group who stood up to a philandering husband and now supports her children on her own as a highly valued member of her small community. And stories like Angela getting “locked” in an outhouse!  I could go on and on but won’t. Come to our trip report in January to hear more about it and see pictures.  Boy, did we take a lot!

To close – a quote from some devotional material we used – “To know poor people as persons and friends is to know that there is also joy, caring, sharing, and happiness in the midst of poverty.”  We got to do that and got to see God so clearly at work.  Thank you for allowing us to represent you.  It was a high privilege.

Copan – Cobblestones, Ruins, and God In It All  | December 4, 2011

I am sitting at the Toncontin Airport ready to board an early flight to Copan. This is the site of Mayan ruins and is another World Heritage Site. I am on my own now and will rather enjoy moving on my own schedule although the group has been very good.  I will be back in Tegucigalpa tomorrow evening. I am having an early morning Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and of course a doughnut!  Hopefully I will report on the day tonight if I haven’t gone out to party in Copan!  Great night life I’ve heard.

I am now on my own so I don’t have to slant it with the group in mind!  This will be an ongoing note today.  I got up at 4:15 after a rather broken sleep. You know how it is when you know you have set the alarm for a ridiculous time and then keep waking up to check – this was that kind of night.  I’m fine though. Headed out to the airport with our faithful and terrific guide, Roger. Got checked in and had time for a quick cuppa (been around Angela too long!) and took off for San Pedro Sula. A very quick flight and then I was met there and drove down here to Copan Ruinias with my driver, Manuel. He is lovely but speaks no English. My tiny bit of Spanish got us through and I learned about his six children and other things. That has been a very fun part of this trip for me – having just a piece of the language. It sure makes me wish I had a better ear for languages – sigh.  The drive was spectacular – green and hilly but quite different than what I have seen. The roads weren’t bad by Honduran standards, but they really don’t have to bother with speed zones as they just throw up these significant speed bumps so one grinds to halt, bumps over the hump, and then tears off until the next one.  Another favorite are the unexpected spots where the pavement just ends for a few feet and the car bangs through dirt, rocks, and holes. (I am minding the Oxford comma for you Shelbi!)

I am staying in this lovely hotel in this charming town of cobblestone streets. I haven’t really seen anything yet but just love it!  I am so glad I came here.  I did my happy dance when I got to my room.  Off to lunch now with my English speaking guide who actually lived in Michigan for 9 years!  Small world stuff.  Then we will tour the Mayan ruins.  I really can’t believe God continues to overwhelm me with all these incredible experiences. I am forever grateful.

Had a great lunch of tortilla soup – quite genuine and very good. As I was the only one at lunch in this beautiful restaurant, the waiter, Manuel (that seems to be the name of the day) and I became fast friends. He speaks English quite well but we taught each other a few new words.

Then my guide and I headed out to the ruins where I was handed off to an official ruins guide!  Everyone gets his palm greased this way!  But Marcelo was excellent – quite the wheeler dealer but very fun and excellent information.  This place is another wonder on the lines of Angkor Wat – different culture but the idea of an ancient civilization which built massive temples and monuments out of stone – beautiful carving – recovered from the forest. People are really still allowed to scramble over most of the sites so that was great fun.  It was fascinating to learn more and be grateful that I know Jesus!  There are a couple of very spacious well lit tunnels (or I would not have gone!) archeologists have dug which take you to temples which were covered by later temples. You only see bits but it really was incredible and no heebie jeebies!  Brilliant macaws brighten the rather severe landscape.  They were sacred to the Mayans and there are many carvings of them.  After my tour hour personal (!) tour I visited the museum which displays pieces and walls removed from the site for protection. It is beautifully laid out with a long winding stone tunnel leading in and then it opens to this huge room, lit by a skylight, which a brilliant red reconstruction of an inner temple.  Along the two story walls are many pieces with their stories.  What an incredible afternoon!  Again blessing upon blessing.

I will head out soon to find a lovely restaurant and do a bit of shopping. This is a very safe town, designed for the tourist so those who might be concerned for a single albeit aged woman,have no fears!

This will go off now before it turns into a book.

Good Sunday, Copan   | December 5, 2011

I got to sleep in a bit today! A first on this trip. I am sending this from my yahoo account as the other one is misbehaving.

It is a lovely morning here – I head back to San Pedro soon to catch my short flight and then will be in Tegus by supper time. After a relaxing wash in a shower large enough to fit our entire team (not that we would want to do that!) I had breakfast in the hotel. I then hit the streets to do my bit for the local economy. I had to buy a little corn husk doll from this darling little girl just selling on the street. The people here definitely bear the marks of their Mayan heritage. They are lovely but not as blood thirsty thankfully. I just strolled through the narrow cobblestone streets, loving being here and so grateful for this time. I made friends with one of the shop keepers, Marina. What a privilege.

Upon returning to the hotel, I decided to take a quick swim. The water was cool but felt so good once I started swimming. The hardest part was deciding to take this old pasty white body out in public but heh – aprovechar cada dia! A few vultures flew over, probably hoping I would drown but no such luck for them. I am now sitting at a little table on the hotel grounds having a cup of coffee. Coffee is grown here and it is excellent.

I wish I could adequately describe this place – it is exquisite. Varied levels, white stucco, tile roofs, tile and stone work . And there are all these little nooks and crannies with water and plants and places to sit. Sometimes a little cafe table and chairs but also some covered spots with sofas and furnishing like an indoor room. It may be the loveliest place I have ever stayed and that is saying much – all for $80, including breakfast. It is also decorated for Christmas and the trees and decorations are really tasteful. Some I have seen have been over the top glitzy, but I could take these home.

Oh – last evening I strolled through the night lit town, through the square and had pizza for supper at Jim’s Pizza Copan! Jim is from Houston but has lived here many years.

I am rather reluctant to return home as this has been a magical couple of days. However family, friends, and Christmas await. And of course Elliott, Emma, and Isaac always pull me home if nothing else will!

My coffee is gone now, and I need to get organized as I am taking back more than I arrived with, of course.

Last Words   | December 5, 2011

This is my final note to my favorite people who have been with me on this wonderful journey.  Thank you for all your prayers.  My last prayer request would be that I could catch an earlier flight out of Atlanta tomorrow evening and not have to spend the night there.  Just a thought – it will be good either way, I’m sure.

I left Copan very reluctantly and wished I had another night.  However, the drive went well.  I again loved the passing country, chuckled over the bumps and little human vignettes – like the boy chopping a tree with a machete or the men trying to somehow balance a telephone type pole onto a pickup truck – cherished sweet moments like exchanging a look and a smile with a little boy on the side of the road.  I haven’t mentioned all the gorgeous poinsettias that are everywhere.  They are huge and the colors are so intense. Wish I could bring some home, but I think the customs people frown on that. Got to the airport for the quick flight, was met by a driver, and got back to the Marriott. Tonight is quiet but being back in the city helps me get ready to head home. It has NONE of the charm of Copan!  I treated myself to dinner at the same restaurant we so enjoyed our first night here.  It is right next door so that made it easy.

Tomorrow I will enjoy the sumptuous breakfast here and pack up and head out.  I leave a bit of me here and take some faces and smiles and memories with me.

My sense of unworthiness, at these times, is great. Why God chose me for these things, I do not know, but I am forever grateful. They give great meaning to my truncated life, and I love the Lord so much for it.

Thank you for reading my ramblings. I return to the other people I love so very much –