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.
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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