Monday, September 3, 2012

A month has gone by ...

It's hard to believe that we have been home for a little over a month.

 The time has flown by.  Four days after we got home, I started with training and working in my classroom.  Daniel started right back up with his landscaping business ... before we knew it we were right back into our lives here.  We didn't have much down time or time to debrief from what we had just gone through.  The first few weeks - I was going through the motions and found myself in survival mode.  I was doing what had and needed to be done ... with little time to catch my breath.

I can not really put into words what the past month has left me feeling like.  There are days when I go throughout the day and find myself falling right back into place in my life here.  Going to get  groceries, cleaning the house, responsibilities at work piled a mile high, and going through the motions.

There are more days where I am stuck trying to search to find who I am now- because I am not the gal that left this life behind in May. 

I feel like I am different from the inside out - I process differently, I think differently, and I live differently.  Things that never crossed my mind before Honduras now flood my mind.  When I find myself wanting something that I think that I need, I realize just how centered I have been on the things of this life that do not even matter.  When I don't want to finish my food or find myself throwing food away, my mind races directly back to the faces that are engraved on my heart from the City Dump and La Roca.  The faces of those men, women, and children that I know would rejoice over what I find to be disposable.

It has been a rough transition back to everyday life for me.  I catch myself thinking about the kiddos that I left my heart with and wondering what they are doing.  I wish so badly that I could hear their voices or feel their hugs.  School just has not been the same for me the last two weeks.  I have not felt the way that I have the last 5 years in my classroom.  The pictures that I have put up of our trip help to get me through the day but I truly feel like something is missing or just not quite right.

It's been a difficult month ... but I am so thankful that it has been rough.  I would not want to return from Honduras unchanged or unmoved by what we experienced.  This month has allowed me to reflect on my two months in Honduras and realize the Lord's purpose in that trip.  It made me more like Him - and after all - that's what this life is all about. 

Friday, July 27, 2012

Home Sweet Home :)

WE ARE HOME!

On the Airplane from Houston :)

We landed in Charleston around 6pm on Thursday ... and we were overwhelmed with our greeting!  We had no idea that we would have so much love waiting on us at the airport - it was amazing :)

Our parents through the window from the plane :)

Our crew :)  
It was so awesome to get hugs from all of our friends and family!  We left the airport and enjoyed dinner at Sanno (Japanese, of course!)  Daniel was so happy - ate every bite of his meal.  He had been counting down to this meal for 2 months - and he said it was better than he expected :)

Gettingr eady for the first bite :)

After dinner we came home to greet our sweet puppies!  We were bursting with excitement to see them ... we had welcome home balloons and a banner waiting on us :) 





The pups were over the moon to see us - they couldn't stop jumping up and down!  We got our reunion on video :)   It was precious - they followed us everywhere for the rest of the night ... even as I type ... they are all under my feet :)

And the biggest surprise of all - my mom brought my sister-in-law Tasha and my two nephews to surprise us!  We had not seen them since February - they have grown so much!  We were grateful to spend time with them last night - we got to play and laugh with them at the house after dinner!

Sweet Gavin :)

Tuck spending time with Uncle Dano :)
Now the fun can begin - unpacking! UGH - I have tacked 2 bags ... but I needed a break!  I am just taking one day at a time and doing a little at a time.  For now - I am going to snuggle my pups for a while :)

It's hard to believe that we have gone and returned from Honduras - it seems like such a whirlwind since April.  We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve and experience the Lord's presence and power in Honduras.   We can not wait to see what He has in store next - it is amazing to reflect on His amazing grace and love as we look back on our journey!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Final countdown!

We finished up our time at the ruins this morning. Yesterday - we went to see the ruins, rode horses to Macaw Mountain, and spent the evening taking it easy! I would post more pictures now but our Internet is not the best here ... So I will have to wait:)

We headed back on a bus to San Pedro Sula and spent the afternoon getting our things packed and ready!

We are within 9 hours from boarding a plane and starting our journey home! We land around 5pm in Charleston - we could not be more excited!

It's hard to believe that this will be our final post from Honduras. It's been a crazy 2 months - but we feel like we are returning home so differently from who we were when we left. We have learned and grown so much - it's been a great summer!

Keeping praying - tomorrow we will be sleeping in our bed and loving on our puppies! Wow! So exciting!

Love you all - can't wait to see you.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Day Two at Copan Ruins

Monday was a day full of fun ... we started our day with a 2 hour horseback ride.  I am not a big fan of horses - but Daniel loves them ... so I decided to be a good sport and go with him on the ride.  I am so thankful that I did - it was amazing!
Crossing Copan River


We went up the mountain to a local Mayan village.  On the way, we saw the most beautiful sites.  It was amazing ... when we arrived in the village ... Hector (our guide) took us down a trail through the woods to see a part of the ruins that was found separate from the main site.  As we were walking down the trail, Daniel said, "You realize we could be walking to our death?" (Hector only spoke Spanish so he didn't understand)  I couldn't believe he said that - but he was so right!  We were so trusting to just follow this fella down a trail in the middle of nowhere ... but thank the Lord ... we were safe! :)




This is the path we followed Hector on - it was crazy!

Site of Ruins

Frog - place of sacrifices

After the trail, we went back to the village to see some of the homes there. We were bombarded with little girls - begging for us to buy dolls from them. They were as little as 3-4 years old - begging for money. One of the little girls, Reina, followed us the whole time - asking for money. It is so sad and so difficult to see.

We headed back down the mountain and finished our ride. It was such a great way to spend our morning - and I was so proud of myself ... I carried on 2 hours of conversation with Hector in Spanish! Go me! :)
COFFEE :)

Houses made from Pine Trees

Rena - following us around

Mud Huts

View from the top

Another View

Beautiful flowers - see the blue?  That is dyed corn husks drying out for the dolls


Reina still trying to sell her dolls

Woman walking up the trail with basket on her head - just a cool picture :)

Trail down the mountain

Hector told us that this is a home where 10 American Missionaries live!

Medicine from a plant - only good for sore throat :)

Almost made it back

At the end of our ride

We headed back to the hotel for a quick shower and went to get some lunch.  At 2pm - we had scheduled a bus ride to the Hot Springs.  We had heard that this was something that you have to do here - so we were super excited.  We went to get on the bus - and realized it was just a truck with two benches in the back.  We had an hour drive to the hot springs in the back of a truck ... it was so fun!  I got a little sun burnt - but we met some great people that were going there with us.

The Hot Springs were amazing!  We did a mud bath - soaked in the water and Daniel even sat under the massage waterfall - it was so neat.  If you ever get a chance to see something like this - do it!
View from the back of the truck!

First Hot Spring

Tunnel to go through to get to the rest :)

Layered pools

Part of this spring got up to 90 degrees Celsius!

Massage tower - reservations only :)

Our first mud bath!

relaxing :)


Second Mud Bath

can you see Dano? :)

View from the bridge

View of the whole bridge - very cool :)


We have one more day in Copan before heading back to San Pedro Sula on Wednesday.  Then it is back to SOUTH CAROLINA on Thursday!  We land at 5:30 at the airport - Praise the Lord!  Please continue to pray for safe travels - we are so close! :)

Day One at Copan Ruins

We arrived in Copan around 1:30 Sunday afternoon.  We were so excited to see what this part of Honduras was all about - we have heard so many great things.  We headed to the hotel and spent some time just walking around the town center - visiting little shops and found a little restaurant to get some food. 

After eating, we went to a local tour office and set up a Canopy Tour - zip lines through the mountain!  This is something that we have always wanted to do!  We headed up the mountain in the back of a truck.  About 15 minutes later, we arrived at the place for the harnesses, etc.  Of course - we had to sign our life away - just in case something happened. 

We got all harnessed up and ready to go.  We had another 10 minute ride in the back of the truck to the top of the mountain.  And from there- the fun began! :)

Ride up the Moutain


Before we took off :)

Daniel went first







Our guides took videos of us, too - they are awesome!  We had such a great time ... but I did have a near death experience!  My guide took my harness off of the zip line when I made it to the platform (after one of the zips) ... he didn't notice - but my feet were not over the platform. 

So ... when he took my hook off - I was literally hanging off of my safety harness - dangling over the forest - who knows how high up!  He went into a panic mode and scooped me up onto the platform.  Luckily - Daniel was on his way across the zip line so he didn't see it ... I'm sure he would have gone into Marine mode at that moment!  HAHA :)

Even with the scare - it was a great afternoon!  More pics to come from our other adventures!