The Rainy Season
Dear friends and family,
The rainy season is upon us. Everything feels damp to the touch a few days at a time. Drying our laundry is becoming more difficult. Clotheslines are strewn all around the house. The temperatures are noticeably cooler on the days that it rains more than not. Saturday I wore a long sleeve shirt the entire day. Today it’s back to being a scorcher. We now appreciate this kind of day. Because we walk everywhere and hand carry any food or whatever, the torrential downpours tend to keep us inside (except for Ed, he has a full rain suit). Katrina has told us a sweatshirt many be necessary in the next few months. When we go to Florida we’ll have to invest in some.
Many of you may not know, that the law here requires every visitor to leave the country every 90 days. Our entry visa is only good for 30 days, after which we must go to the local authorities, fill out paperwork, pay a fee, and obtain a re-issuance for another 30 days. They only allow for this two times, and then you must vacate the country for at least three days. The other missionaries here deal with it in different ways. The Grigg’s filed for Honduran citizenship a couple years ago, so they can stay put. We looked into this for ourselves, but the cost of doing so has greatly increased, and to begin the process it’s $2,000 a person. It’s cheaper to leave. The Engle’s send Roger with all the passports on a bus (a long, harrowing and uncomfortable trip) to just over the border of Nicaragua. He stays there a couple nights, gets their passports stamped, and then, rides the bus back here to Puerto Lempira. This doesn’t seem like a wise option for us either. We want to stay together and that bus trip is down right dangerous. As a result, back to Florida we go. Of course we’re thrilled at the thought of seeing our families. Ed’s family is all coming to the Miami area for the holidays and we’ll spend a week and a half with them. Then, we plan to go over to west coast and visit my side of the family through New Years. Our main concern is that the girls might dread returning here, after experiencing anew, all the perks of the States. We shall see.
Our ship finally came in. We were overjoyed until we realized; we don’t really have room for all of it, a few items disappeared somewhere along the way, and everything smells strongly of the substance the barrel containers are made of. Oh well, let’s not sweat the small stuff.
We had sent to Syracuse, via the medical mission group from Alabama, over 80 photos on a digital card. When it arrived, the card had been damaged, so no pictures for the blog this month. We shall try again.
Yesterday (Sunday) was a red- letter day. Not only did I encounter my first cockroach on steroids in the kitchen, but also managed to fall out of bed (the air mattress is a little over inflated). Our bed frame is quite high, so as to be even with the windows. This allows for maximum airflow. Anyhow, once I lost my balance and started to roll-off, there was no catching myself or breaking my fall due to the binding nature of the mosquito netting as I tumbled. My left knee broke my fall on ceramic tile. OUCH! Once I realized I hadn’t shattered my kneecap, I could only laugh at the ridiculousness of such a loser move.
Honduran perspective on time makes Eagan standard time look early. We invited a family to dinner. They were just a little over an hour and a half late! This is not unusual. We are often the first ones to church or any other scheduled meeting. I hope Ed doesn’t backslide into their ways.
I’ve noticed a couple of interesting mannerism among the people here. They point with their lips. I know it’s hard to envision, but they thrust the middle of both lips out then jerk their chin up in the direction of the thing they’re pointing to. Also, if you need to blow your nose, just close one nostril buy pressing your finger along one side of your nose, then let fly. They lean forward so everything heads for the ground in front of them. Whatever works. And to be fair, I’ve never seen a package of Kleenex for sale in this country.
There seems to be generally two predominate groups of people here in Puerto Lempira. The Latins (or Latinos) and the Moskitos (along with some from the Pech and Tawahka tribes). There is also a handful from the Garifuna tribe (directly from Africa). We gringos number 16 (including the children) amongst a total population of 10,000. There appears to be a distinct set of cultural rules between the main two groups. The recent murder is a good example. The murderer is out on bail, teaching at the public school. Only if the widow is willing to pursue justice will any further action be taken (her husband was Nicaraguan). She has opted not to because she fears for the lives of her children. Katrina asked one of the most influential Moskito men to rally the community to run this man (also Moskito) out of town. She said when they, as a group, decide to do something, watch out. I don’t know how this will play out, but many are upset. The fear of reprisal keeps the people silent and inactive, but this last incident, potentially, could break the cycle. If we didn’t know any other N. Americans here we would be absolutely clueless about any of this.
The Grigg’s shocked us the other night, by saying their monthly newsletter was mostly about our family! They said we’ve done more in the couple months we’ve been here than others accomplish in years. Eddie told them we are as surprised as anybody and all the praise and glory go to the Lord. They feel very encouraged and reinvigorated by our being here. Praise His Holy Name!
We visited the Hospital with the girls and prayed with and over many patients. The girls really loved this, so we will try to make it a weekly occurrence.
It’s been challenging, in light of their rigorous home schooling program, to get them out and involved in serving the community. They all want to keep teaching music lessons to the children here. That blesses my heart. The Lord is good and worthy of all praise!
We miss and love you all,
Karen
P.S. We appreciate so much all of you who have sent us e-mails. THANK YOU!
The rainy season is upon us. Everything feels damp to the touch a few days at a time. Drying our laundry is becoming more difficult. Clotheslines are strewn all around the house. The temperatures are noticeably cooler on the days that it rains more than not. Saturday I wore a long sleeve shirt the entire day. Today it’s back to being a scorcher. We now appreciate this kind of day. Because we walk everywhere and hand carry any food or whatever, the torrential downpours tend to keep us inside (except for Ed, he has a full rain suit). Katrina has told us a sweatshirt many be necessary in the next few months. When we go to Florida we’ll have to invest in some.
Many of you may not know, that the law here requires every visitor to leave the country every 90 days. Our entry visa is only good for 30 days, after which we must go to the local authorities, fill out paperwork, pay a fee, and obtain a re-issuance for another 30 days. They only allow for this two times, and then you must vacate the country for at least three days. The other missionaries here deal with it in different ways. The Grigg’s filed for Honduran citizenship a couple years ago, so they can stay put. We looked into this for ourselves, but the cost of doing so has greatly increased, and to begin the process it’s $2,000 a person. It’s cheaper to leave. The Engle’s send Roger with all the passports on a bus (a long, harrowing and uncomfortable trip) to just over the border of Nicaragua. He stays there a couple nights, gets their passports stamped, and then, rides the bus back here to Puerto Lempira. This doesn’t seem like a wise option for us either. We want to stay together and that bus trip is down right dangerous. As a result, back to Florida we go. Of course we’re thrilled at the thought of seeing our families. Ed’s family is all coming to the Miami area for the holidays and we’ll spend a week and a half with them. Then, we plan to go over to west coast and visit my side of the family through New Years. Our main concern is that the girls might dread returning here, after experiencing anew, all the perks of the States. We shall see.
Our ship finally came in. We were overjoyed until we realized; we don’t really have room for all of it, a few items disappeared somewhere along the way, and everything smells strongly of the substance the barrel containers are made of. Oh well, let’s not sweat the small stuff.
We had sent to Syracuse, via the medical mission group from Alabama, over 80 photos on a digital card. When it arrived, the card had been damaged, so no pictures for the blog this month. We shall try again.
Yesterday (Sunday) was a red- letter day. Not only did I encounter my first cockroach on steroids in the kitchen, but also managed to fall out of bed (the air mattress is a little over inflated). Our bed frame is quite high, so as to be even with the windows. This allows for maximum airflow. Anyhow, once I lost my balance and started to roll-off, there was no catching myself or breaking my fall due to the binding nature of the mosquito netting as I tumbled. My left knee broke my fall on ceramic tile. OUCH! Once I realized I hadn’t shattered my kneecap, I could only laugh at the ridiculousness of such a loser move.
Honduran perspective on time makes Eagan standard time look early. We invited a family to dinner. They were just a little over an hour and a half late! This is not unusual. We are often the first ones to church or any other scheduled meeting. I hope Ed doesn’t backslide into their ways.
I’ve noticed a couple of interesting mannerism among the people here. They point with their lips. I know it’s hard to envision, but they thrust the middle of both lips out then jerk their chin up in the direction of the thing they’re pointing to. Also, if you need to blow your nose, just close one nostril buy pressing your finger along one side of your nose, then let fly. They lean forward so everything heads for the ground in front of them. Whatever works. And to be fair, I’ve never seen a package of Kleenex for sale in this country.
There seems to be generally two predominate groups of people here in Puerto Lempira. The Latins (or Latinos) and the Moskitos (along with some from the Pech and Tawahka tribes). There is also a handful from the Garifuna tribe (directly from Africa). We gringos number 16 (including the children) amongst a total population of 10,000. There appears to be a distinct set of cultural rules between the main two groups. The recent murder is a good example. The murderer is out on bail, teaching at the public school. Only if the widow is willing to pursue justice will any further action be taken (her husband was Nicaraguan). She has opted not to because she fears for the lives of her children. Katrina asked one of the most influential Moskito men to rally the community to run this man (also Moskito) out of town. She said when they, as a group, decide to do something, watch out. I don’t know how this will play out, but many are upset. The fear of reprisal keeps the people silent and inactive, but this last incident, potentially, could break the cycle. If we didn’t know any other N. Americans here we would be absolutely clueless about any of this.
The Grigg’s shocked us the other night, by saying their monthly newsletter was mostly about our family! They said we’ve done more in the couple months we’ve been here than others accomplish in years. Eddie told them we are as surprised as anybody and all the praise and glory go to the Lord. They feel very encouraged and reinvigorated by our being here. Praise His Holy Name!
We visited the Hospital with the girls and prayed with and over many patients. The girls really loved this, so we will try to make it a weekly occurrence.
It’s been challenging, in light of their rigorous home schooling program, to get them out and involved in serving the community. They all want to keep teaching music lessons to the children here. That blesses my heart. The Lord is good and worthy of all praise!
We miss and love you all,
Karen
P.S. We appreciate so much all of you who have sent us e-mails. THANK YOU!
posted by Eric Stephens at 20:00
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