Proyecto Victoria mini marathon

So I knew this race was coming for a while. I did have to see Carlos at the airport to confirm they had not changed the date, and so this morning Julia and I were off to the stadium (ok...the little used baseball stadium across from the futbol stadium) to register. Fortunately or unfortunately depending on your view point, there was a 5k and 10k as well, bringing out lots of people. I was not aware just how many were running those particular races until they turned off...leaving us pretty much all alone. I do not have a firm count on the 21k (13.1 miles) runners, but our badges of #49 and 50 may not have been far off from the total.

It was somewhat cloudy (not reall over us, but they were there) and humid from the rain all night, but as a much welcome change there were plenty of water stations for us, this is the first race I have finished not dehydrated in some time here.

Partially owing to that, the fact that I was ready for the race, or that having Julia pushed me on a little...or perhaps the route was not a full 21k?...it was my personal best for such a race 1:48:56 which even included fighting through all those slow pokes, and when we had to stop to pee (as is all too common here...in some bushes on the side of the road....provoked at least for me since I had to hydrate almost 45 minutes before we actually took off). So, I was happy, rested, and felt good....which I hope would be the case if I am really going to run a full marathon in November.

Angela

I know this oufit might not be what Angela Kinsey (from The Office) might wear on the show, but I took one look at this picture I first thought of her. Oh, that and of course some kind of time mixed 20's flapper.

In other news...the first time I have spent some real, longer quality...(not working on the laptop while talking to them) time with the kids since the group onslaught came...since late May, was today. And what better activity to do than something I have not done for probably close to nine years...make cookies! I suppose people do make cookies here. Generally it seems kind of expensive, ingrediants are much easier to find than they used to be...oh, and of course it can be time consuming (or at least it is when you are teaching and having fun at the same time.)

Valerie was gone for the day to attend a women's counseling retreat, so it was good timing. Cecilia's first comment when I sprung the surprise "But daddy, you don't know how to cook!" Just because I don't...does not mean I do not know! Valerie was equally surprised...with her big heart shaped cookie, and the fact that they tasted so very, very good. What can I say?

And of course, they were low, and then the second batch, no-butter or oil cookies. Chocolate chip with cashew if you must know (the cashews an homage to my dad who never makes cookies without some kind of nut...besides himself of course.) And try this for some added flavor: buy the nestle's chips that have obviously been mistreated or banged around...1/3 of the bag was dust, so the cookies looked "chocolatey" as an added little twist. By the way...Nestle's recipe is way off (I obviously strayed in several instances from the recipe...but 12 ounces of chips? Good grief, that is way too much, even for me!)

Let us all pray this is not a one time experience...that the kids and I would have more time together especially while we can...October will fly by quickly, and then I will be gone for a month to the US. September is our last month for a while to at least get some decent amount of time together.

Also pray if you will for my grandpa Phil (where do you think I get Felipe?) who had a bout in ICU and is back at Wesley Manor (but in bed.) His life is an example of the grace of God working in one's life...at all times.

Stress

Ok, I admit...I am feeling stress. Meetings, phone calls, etc....it seems I rarely have someone who wants to talk to me unless they have a complaint, need, or big problem.

Sure, I know...part of the job. Grow up, get used to it, suck it up. I do, I try, I will. But, this is a forum to share that I am weak and God is strong.

So, today I am weak. Especially since after Oscar's return yesterday...and need for Julia to get an ultrasound (could be an emergency C-section coming...on top of everything else) this morning well before 7:00, the police and lawyers showed up at his house to take the Ford. Apparantly in the accident last year he had, one man refused to take payment from the insurance company, so the police confiscated the vehicle (yes, they can do that legally with no warning here.) So now we are scrambling to find a lawyer (yes again, this is our responsibility, the insurance people were helpful, but ultimately, they are willing to pay...this guy is now our responsibility) and get to court, and see about getting the Ford back (of course we will need to pay some kind of "bail" and yes that is legal, and yes it is common that if your car is there...it is beaten up, scratched, damaged, or ransacked by the time you get it back (wheels missing, radio gone...you name it has and does happen frequently.)

No need to go on about the negatives...the positive is that through the storms of life, I will praise Him. He deserves it all the time, no matter our surroundings because He never changes. And my situation now, and that to come? I proclaim with all the gratitude I can muster if you wonder "how are you doing?" better than I deserve!

Oscar's back

For those of you praying for Oscar...he and the family made it back to Tegucigalpa today...driving all day yesterday through to Nicaragua in the rain, and it has already rained some here today. No major problems, now he just has to hump to get everything ready for Annia to get back to school (bi-lingual school so it is on a US type schedule.)

Oh, and on the lighter side of things...here is Soren apparantly in a fog thinking this might be a good place to sleep (after we had put him to bed)...in the hallway. I do not know how long he was out like that, probably an hour or so, but apparantly it was not too uncomfortable. I would imagine it was nice and cold, but I declined to join him and instead left him there. No just kidding, I took him to bed, where he groggily followed.

So.....

I have not been posting any blog updates recently as you no doubt can see, and were surely worried and concerned. That is so nice of you!

Having no groups here definitely gives more flexibility to my schedule, but I was still very, very busy trying to get things where I needed them to be for our His Eyes board meeting yesterday. It went well, at least in my mind. Very well in fact. I think even though we were not face to face (Skype conference call) mostly it was a time for me to just share as much as possible in a "short" amount of time to many of those who are helping steer this ship, and that release was cathartic. Even though meeting gave me a whole new list of things to do, investigate, fix, etc. they were/are all good, and things for the good and future of the mission, so I have a little more renewed energy to move forward.

Odd happenings and thoughts

I love my wife. Here is just another example. Our hand soap runs low. Low enough that the pump mechanism can not suck the remaining soap. I suppose most people see that as time to put the vessel out to pasture. Not my wife. She fills the vessel with water half way, so that the soap mixes with it. It loses potency, so you have to use more, but that way you use all the soap. Ingenious.

I could not help but take a picture of this vent seen at a local venue some time ago. It occured to me that most people never look at this dirty vent. It is on the ceiling, out of reach, and for most, probably out of mind. Otherwise the restroom looked very clean, well kept, yet there was that dirty area. Further in that room, I had time to reflect on the many dirty vents in my life. The room was wiped clean, yet I keep letting a little (or much) dirt through the vent.

And then (this was quite an epiphonous moment in the bathroom I guess. I was not that long in there, I assure you) I thought about the fact that lately I have seen so much made of trying to get rid of prejudice, evil, wrongs against innocents, etc. and looking at that dirty vent, I was remidned that this is a fallen world, full of sin. Thinking that things will change, that as a world there will be peace, understanding, and 'all getting along' is just deluded, wrong and misguided. Jesus did not tell us as Christians that things would go well for us (quite the opposite) and why should we expect anything else for the rest of the world?

What a downer, right? Remembering that is actually encouraging. It helps me to understand why some of the things that happen, happen, and not to be longing for things that will not be so.

Patients and patience

Valerie and I had the rare pleasure, as of late, to sit and talk last night (ok...a date night, but first we did have to go grocery shopping) and she shared with me an interesting story of a patient.

He apparantly came a few years ago for an eye exam. Valerie noted that he was a diabetic who was not controlling his sugar levels. She noted no apparent diabetic retinopathy. He came back this week after getting hit in the eye. He assumed getting hit was the cause of his decreased vision. He actually had a nice cataract. Valerie was unable to see the retina of that eye...but could in the other, and he had diabetic retinopathy now.

Valerie "Have you been controlling your sugar?"
Patient "I have been taking herbs. You know, too many people end up taking too much medicine for that, so I have been taking herbs...much better.
Valerie "Do you know what your sugar is?"
Patient "Uh, I have not had it checked for a year"
Valerie (long conversation putting the fear of God into the patient...in terms of his vision and the threat there from the diabetes...and then asking him if he was sure where he was going after life on this world ends)
Patient "I hope to go to Heaven.....I guess I will have my blood work done right now"

Results? Blood sugar was 300. And just as a side note, tryglicerides? They were 500. Those herbs must have been past their expiration date I presume.

Levi also talked with him about his future (immediate and eternal) without knowing Valerie had also been talking to him.

The changes he needs to implement, as well as his eternal home, are out of our control. They did what they could to impact him and plant seeds. Only time will tell what happens. Hopefully he will not waste any more money on home remedies...for his diabetes, and for his sin.

Huh?

Well, I dropped Lynn and her gang off at the airport this morning, and here I sit, at the late hour of 7:41AM, typing on my computer instead of rushing out to meet a group.

Huh? What an odd feeling. I had time to eat breakfast, talk with the kids, actually give them a kiss and wave goodbye, take out the trash...all things I have not really done for quite a while.

Now here I sit, ready to tackle budgets, monthly financial statements, going to the bank and other daring, exotic activities. It may not be exciting, a bit challenging even, but a change of pace that allows for some flexible and/or free time, which should prove to be nice.

In other news, we visited Sampedrana yesterday for a clothing distribution, and the walling of the Church is complete. Now the only thing left to add are the windows, and the door. They are also talking of painting the panels as well.

Oscar called me from Costa Rica...one day of travel down, today he should be arriving in Panama.

Pueblo Nuevo...de nuevo

Lynn is here with some of her cohorts and that means going out to do some more clothing distributions. Today was re-visiting the crazy Pueblo Nuevo of July fame. This time, the promotion was kept to a minimum, and I guess there were only 200 people there or so. No one was hurt during the mad dash to get in, and in general things went much smoother.

I was threatened by a police officer however. The first officer at the check point was dealing with a car that was not fully pulled off the road. He however moved just a little, then waved me to keep coming by them. I complied, erring on the side of caution, and therefore disregard for the orange cone in the middle of the road. This apparantly angered the next officer in line, who pulled me over, and then threatened me with a ticket...for running over the cone. He had me get out, the whole schpiel. I explained the situation as I saw it...and then gave me full reign to do what he saw fit as an officer of the law, as I respect the law and its officers. Apparantly his gruff attitude was trying to provoke a reaction of me being scared, which I was, but I was only scared of the time I would lose with the hassle of the ticket, not scared of anything else. Seeing he was not going to get a bribe...he told me to be more careful with those cones (as surely there are officers standing in some instances in the same "lane" those cones occupy) and sent me on my way.

I had to chuckle...he was angry I hit the cone versus his partner.

Oscar left for Panama today....prayers for him traveling solo, that far....I can only imagine. Ugh. He left in the new vehicle the mission was able to help provide him with, a 2002 Toytoa Hilux. This replaces the Hilux he had with one that is all in one piece, not leaking several different fluids at the same time, and actually providing a comfortable ride for him...and his precious cargo he will be bringing around the first of September.

Long way down

Today was corn distribution in San Juancito. When I say the group I was with went a long way down...these pictures do not entail all the views we encountered as we went down...and down...and down. We took not quite two hours to visit four families....each one different, but definitely sharing some things in common....like a very difficult climb should the path be muddy, not an easy climb even when it is not, hunger and need for such a gift as the corn we were able to provide, and encouragement and prayer for their walk with Christ...two of the families we visited were members of the Church, but for different reasons not faithfully congregating there as of late.

We also met a woman trusting in God, and very ready to go home with him...celebrating her 80th birthday. For several months however she has been unable to leave her home due to sickness. If she does have to see the doctor of the like...someone has to carry her up to the main road, she can not walk like she used to be able to do. She was very grateful for our visit, for the corn, and for the prayers offered up for her.

Additionally, a woman was working on her home, a new home being built out of adobe. Adobe homes are still very common here, mostly in the rural areas of the country. She was working on clearing the land, as they had the adobe blocks, but were missing some materials needed to finish adding the kitchen. Until then they are living with her partner's parents (they are, unfortunately as is extremely common, not married yet) way up the hill in another area of San Juancito.














This bloke I met while the group was doing their souvenir shopping. His name is Ian Coates...you can google him (include Honda as that is the make of his bike and that will narrow the results that come up....quite a few of them there are.) I have as of late been using those two hours we set aside for such by going to the internet cafe and getting some work done. He was not quite like other people I have met while doing that....he is from Yorkshire England, taking time to ride his bike all over the world...over sixty countries so far...he has been to Africa, Australia, New Zealand, all over South America, and since March making his way from Panama to his current location in the middle of Honduras. Obviously he is not in a hurry, but taking his time. He was helpful in my continuing goal of speaking a better British accent (and quite complementary....saying I could have a future working for the BBC) and informed me that chaps named Phillip there are always referred to as "Pip," which I decided had a nice ring to it. Just the few stories we swapped were very interesting (did I mention he worked for over 30 years as a Land Rover mechanic and has three Defender type vehicles like we own?) and he certainly drew a crowd even in that small town. Definitely glad I was there to be able to meet him.

Julia

Just thought you might like to see just a little of what Julia has been doing while here. She has been helping with groups, us at home, and of course primarily in the clinic, where her language skills are constantly being tested and grown, but she is handling it all remarkably well. She arrived almost two months ago, and will be here through the beginning of December. She is working here with one of the nursing students that we currently have coming daily to the clinic.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that on Tuesday we tried to move the container that is in the way for the Church's new construction. Since the crane can not make it up to the property, or so they say, we decided with some effort to try to use the Fords, some round telephone like poles (just smaller, like eight feet long) and brute strength...the group's help. We got it about half the way in a little under four hours...what with the flat tire pictured here (Fernando helping where he can as usual.) I praise God for that flat tire....better that the screw embedded there caused the flat on the property where changing it was easy and not costing us precious time somewhere else, and where I had the spare readily available. All things considered...it could have been much worse. And from what little you can see here...there was plenty of dirt particles collecting in the tire as we tried to do our best to get that container moving, back, and forth, and back, and forth. Fun stuff....and even better the truck stood up to the abuse and work quite well.

Catch up

Well, I am a bit behind on posting, am I not?

Here we see the airport and the celebration for American airlines coming back to Toncontin for the first time since May 29th....this happened to be the plane the Pleasant View Baptist group headed back on...thus me being there to take the picture of the fire department and their showy way of saying welcome back. The co-pilot flew a Honduran flag out his window of the plane, and the captain remarked how landing there was different, but not hard (he supposedly had her down and sewn up in 700 meters....the "short" runway is 1800 meters long.)

Busy busy busy as usual. Sunday was a clothing distribution after Church (which Soren and Cecilia enjoyed....Leila and Valerie also came with us to take advantage of the trip to visit Lilian at the treatment facility where she is staying, still struggling with that by the way) and then came yesterday and today, construction mostly yesterday. You can see from the picture here that the beams are going up after a lengthy welding process to get ready for the roof. Slow and steady, as it were.

Construction for this group meant: more fill for the new clinic rooms, building the road leading up to the clinic, and some prep work for the footer on top of the pre-fab wall that still needs to be done. All these groups this summer, all the work done, and I still look around and see so much to be done. Ah, all in good time I suppose. This picture shows the before of the work they did....everything you see where they were standing was finished in concrete by the time they were done today.

Today after lunch we went to do corn distribution...this time going with the local Church's evangelism ministry team to reach out to Church members with need. The hospitality we received was humbling to say the least, and I got to see and visit in some homes that I had not seen for quite some time...including one we visited our first week here, eight years ago this week. Funny how that works out. Even the baby that we examined because they were afraid she was blind....was nine and standing in front of me when we were there (extreme right of the photo.) Also note the Meg Ryan sans blonde hair lookalike playing with the baby. Despite the baby being ready to walk out with her, Afton will have to return to the US without her and her squeeky shoes.

Well, to add to the excitement, we got the call while doing that distribution that the clothing container was finally cleared to us, so we beat foot over there before 5:00 (4:52 we arrived by my watch) and began the trip up to the property, with the very slow, and not very talented driver. Given the condition of the road to get to the clinic, we quickly decided with all the above that we would have to park the container down by the bus stop, and use both the Fords to drive the clothes up. It took less than three hours...with the group and several Hondurans working as fast as they could the entire time. Everyone's attitudes were individually and as a group...amazingly good. We even all waited until we were done (a little before 8:00 I believe) to eat supper.
(flash photography makes this looks like they could actually see what they were doing in the dark.)