2023 Team

2023 Team
The 2023 Team

Monday, March 19, 2018

Are We Caught Up Yet?


It is already 10 PM as I start writing today’s blog, which means it’s 11 at home. I hope no one is waiting up for it. With all the chaos of today, I am enjoying the quiet in our room. Everyone else is in bed for the night, including my roommates, who have their ear plugs inserted and eye covers on so my light doesn’t bother them.

Why chaotic, you ask? Well, I’ll try to explain as best I can. One group of missioners went to the house site. They worked on trimming the doors, installing the door hardware, painting the doors, installing the wiring and the various things that go with that – light switches, outlets, and more. It took all of the day for them to finish.

Another crew stayed on the grounds. Tom had to finish setting up one of the vertical gardens so that the students are able to plant and maintain it. Once he finished that, he joined Dave’s crew, building the rest of the picnic tables and bunk beds. Except for the time to play with the children during recess, they worked on that most of this day.

One group took off with Juan and me to deliver the final batch of gift bags. Today was the first day that we saw a house with a dirt floor. Eight people lived in that house. The children loved taking the items out of the gift bag.

When we returned to the compound, our student missioners joined either the bunk bed crew or headed into the library to begin fitting the pillow case dresses (most of which were made by Sr. Juanita) onto the little girls who were led to the library. That made the hallway outside the library noisy and congested, since only 12 girls were allowed inside at a time, while the others had to wait outside. As soon as they finished giving away the dresses, they began fitting on “The Shoe That Grows,” donated by Joan & Mike Driscoll, to the students sent in by the principal. The girls struggled to make sure that every student who received shoes understood how to adjust them and also made sure the shoes fit properly before the children left.

Linda, Julio, and I picked up Frank in Tegucigalpa and headed to a Wal-Mart in order to purchase the groceries and supplies (donated by the Brad Dirksen family) for the three families who will receive the homes. Julio knew all the types of items that are needed to make meals in a Honduran home – rice, beans, tortilla flour, as well as items that we take for granted that they may not have – trash can, broom, and dust pan.
In between all of that, there were various things that had to be taken care of – too numerous to mention. Before we realized it, supper was ready to be served, and it was delicious, as usual.

Since many of our group have mentioned being fairly tired today, we decided to send them to bed a bit earlier than normal and to let them sleep until 6:30 instead of 6. We need to make sure everyone returns home healthy. We just are not used to the dust, climate, always having lots of people around, crowing roosters who can’t tell time, horns blasting, different environment, well, you get the picture.

I, also, would like to crawl into bed soon, so I’m wrapping it up. My final blog will be sometime tomorrow. I hope to blog partway through the day and then add a little more at the end. In order to do that, no missioners will be writing messages on our final night so I won’t need to stay up late to do the blog. Buenos noches.

Children excitedly removed items from a gift bag

Gift bag crew with famiily

Working on the last bunks

Tom works with a Honduran friend

Krista helps a little girl try on her pillow case dress

Beautiful girls wearing their beautiful new dresses

Some of the girls show off their new dresses

47 pairs of shoes were given away

Making sure it's a perfect fit

Students show off their "Shoes That Grow"

Carlos & his wife drove from San Pedro Sula to spend the day with Dave

Working on the bunk bed ladder while sitting on our picnic tables

Working on the team mural

Even though tired, missioners are ready to give rides

The guys are ready to eat

Under observation while working on a project

Food & supplies for 3 families

Doing a bunk bed demo for recipients

Working on the door trim 



Watching the action at the entrance to the compound

Fitting the "Shoe That Grows"

Taking a break


Delanee Nilles - Hello everyone! I want to let you know that this trip is more than I could have ever expected. I love it here, and I’m sorry Derek, but I might never come home. I miss you, Mom, Dad, Derek, Grandma and Noah! But more than anything, I MISS LILY!!!!!Mom- I wanted to let you know that I am eating everything given to me. The food here is amazing! I love hearing from you on the blog. I also wanted to let you know that I may or may not be bringing three more siblings home with me (lol). I now have a sister named Kimberly and another sister named Lexi, and also a new brother named Nelson! I love you all and am very happy you are keeping up with all my work here! Thank you all for the thoughts and prayers! (also s/o Xavier, the best streak keeper and another s/o to English 4 and Accounting I - miss you all!!)

Kayla Mayer - Mom and Dad, I would say keep me updated on how my bracket is doing, but I already know that it’s busted. L I love and miss you both. Hug Kylee for me, even though she’s completely abandoned me at bed time. Also, don’t worry. I haven’t gotten sunburned, am staying hydrated, and eating everything I’m given (which shouldn’t be surprising). Sara, thanks for keeping my streaks. Glad to know they’re doing okay. Love you and can’t wait to fill you in when I get back. Katelyn, thanks for filling us in on track and giving us the good news about the Snickers. Tell my hurdle girls hi and that I’m excited to get back on the track with you guys. Everyone, I love and miss you and am excited to see what the rest of the trip has in store!

Kathryn Ripley - Hello all! I am really loving it here in Honduras and experiencing so many new things. I can’t wait to come back and tell stories. Mom and Dad, I miss you guys a lot! I love hearing from you every day. I just want to let you know that I did hammer my finger, but it’s all good! I’m fine! To all my sisters, I really want to hear from you all. I’m missing you guys a little extra now. Kara, hi and say hello to Julius and Alex. Katrina, say hi to Peter and your Clinician Nexus team (free advertising lol J). And Kaleigh, how did I know that you’d become the boss of the house when I’m gone…. ;) I love you all and miss you!

Jordan and Steve Larson - HOLA!!! Sorry I had to, we, I mean, I have been speaking a lot of Spanish and had to start it off that way. I am having a blast here in Honduras and am not ready to come home. Mom- Yes I can work without my phone. I do not need it all the time. I hope the girls are not giving you too much trouble. Dad says he loves you, but he is a little busy right now so I am passing along his message. Kevin and Lynn- Thank you for the messages. They mean a lot to Dad and me while we listen to them during our junta meetings. I hope everything is good for you guys up there. Uncle Kevin, I cannot wait to exchange stories with you when we get home. I am super excited to hear about your hiking trip!!! Dad is having a blast and is actually doing work…for once lol. I know you two like to joke around with each other about that all of the time. Thank you all for your prayers!! They are greatly appreciated! Dad and I are having so much fun and have so many stories for all of you when we return. We love you all and cannot wait to see you once we return!!

Rebecca Johnson- Hi everyone! I miss you all so much, but I’m having fun. I’m doing well, and I’m sure Mom will be proud because I haven’t gotten burnt yet. I hope Beau is enjoying his week without me, and Brittany is keeping my streaks! I really hope Ethan is doing okay. I wish I could’ve watched his concert. I miss that kid so much! Hi Wyatt! I miss you too, and I can’t wait to see you and Britt in the play. I have so many stories to tell you all! I love you all, tootles!

Caden Kneip – Hi everyone! It’s amazing here; the kids are the best. Alec, thanks for all the sports updates. They’re very appreciated by me, but everyone else complains. So keep them coming! Bryan, don’t break that record without me there. You’re going to need my encouragement. Hope everything is going well at home. Miss you all and can’t wait to be back home. 

Carlyn Bretey- Hello everyone! Thanks for all the thoughts, prayers, and birthday wishes! Having my birthday in Honduras was such a blessing, complete with cake and a piñata for those whose birthdays happen while we’re down here! I miss everyone back home. This experience has been so amazing. There are a few kids that I absolutely cannot imagine parting with in just two days. The food has been mostly good, Mom, but you don’t need to worry too much. This morning we had hot ham and cheese sandwiches with mayo for breakfast. Hopefully, Jackson isn’t tearing up too much land. I’ll see ya soon!

Jared - Hey everyone, Just thought I would finally blog and let everyone know I am doing great. The food is fantastic, and I hope the fridge is stocked for when I get home. Every day we wake up to Juan’s megaphone, which is a lot different than your little wake up song, Mom. The best part about this trip is the wonderful kids. Every day when we walk outside the kids give us many hugs, which is great. Also I have been drinking plenty of water, Mom. (Don’t worry) Dad, I am ready to see you and tell stories about my trip. There are many. Josie, I have been missing you, and I’m ready to get back and see you as well as everyone else. Finally, I’d like to say thanks to everyone that supported me and made it possible for me to go on this trip. It is way more than what I expected, and I am forever changed because of it. I will see you all soon, and I can’t wait. Love, Jared
P.S. Mom I would like some pizza for the ride home from the airport. Any kind you get will be great. :)  

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