That's All Folks!

 Today has been a wonderful way to wrap up our journey.  We spent the morning starting to sort donations and finishing gift bag deliveries. Several classrooms were blessed with donations from back home, including hand-made skirts, bracelets, and jump ropes. Our student missioners are soaking up every last minute with their new friends.

This afternoon, we took one final walk up to the worksite.  It was warm and we are pretty sure the mountain grew since we last walked up it…it was a difficult climb.  We met the families at the new homes for a ceremony.  The new home owners received the keys to their homes, and Father Doug said a beautiful blessing over each new house. The team gathered for a photo with those we have been working with side-by-side for the past 10 days, along with the beaming families.

Once back in the compound, inventory began for the adults while the students played soccer and other games with the new friends they will miss so much.

We have plans to wrap up the evening with supper, a closing mass and junta.  The next 15 hours will be a mix of tears of joy and sorrow.  We would like to thank you all for all your visits to our site, and your thoughts and prayers.  You truly carried us through on this mission, we felt your love!  We are signing off, leaving a piece of our hearts here in Honduras, but looking forward to seeing our loved ones soon.

That’s A Wrap!

 

Wow! We have completed the homes and are so happy with how they have turned out! Father Doug pointed out at junta tonight that we spent 5 days at the worksite.  They were long and difficult, but this amazing group of students and chaperones were determined! To have 3 houses completed in such a short amount is nothing short of amazing.

We spent the day finishing wiring, doors, painting, and filling the house with groceries for the families. As we type, another night of cards and games are being played in the library. The kids are also spending some more time outside playing with the school kids that are still hanging around.

Today was filled with lots of other excitement as well. The group experienced a prank with a fake bat in the library during lunch. Then during junta we were joined by a live scorpion and the biggest roach we have ever seen. Tomorrow will be another day packed with activities to make the most of it. We look forward to seeing you all soon!

And we are back at it again

 

This morning we started off early again to try and beat the heat. Most went to the work site while a few went to deliver more gift bags. At the work site, doors are being hung, electrical is going in, windows are being added, and the roofs are going on. The painting is mostly done and just finishing up on the doors and touch ups. Many water breaks were needed as it’s a warm one today. The high is supposed to be 86 degrees, thank goodness for a little breeze and now shade from the roofs.

We were able to deliver 10 bags today to families and see some more homes of the third grade class that was selected for donations. Some students also got to go visit classrooms to hand out bracelets and jump ropes. After that some girls did more laundry by hand on the pila and helped clean up our rooms. Then they helped our cooks in the kitchen prep for supper.

Another day full of good food, laughs, a tire change and the occasional scare from a pigeon. Final touches should be added to the house to get them ready for the families so early night tonight. Time is winding down fast and we love hearing your comments every night so keep them coming!

A Well Deserved Day Off

  

The team is rested and refreshed for the push that is coming to finish the houses and complete our mission here in Honduras.  We have a busy couple days ahead of us, so we soaked in the day off.

We woke early to be ready for our buses that were late to pick us up (we were prepared for that).

We traveled to Tegucigalpa for mass at the Basilica de Suyapa. Prior to mass, we were able to tour the grounds, visiting the original church, built in the mid-1700’s. We took time to light candles and pray for our loved ones and friends.  A short walk later landed us in the chapel of miracles.  People who have experienced a miracle in their life visit the chapel and give thanks by placing a token representing the miracle. It is a wonderful sight!

We were lucky enough to watch Fr Doug celebrate mass, it was so neat to watch him in this setting.  We were warmly welcomed by all.  After mass, we continued looking around and then boarded the buses to head to a delicious lunch of hamburguesas y papas fritas (french fries).  It was a welcome reminder of home! 

We walked to Valle de Angeles for shopping and ice cream and then back to Nueva Capital.  The bus ride back was full of singing and laughs.

We are going to continue our day of relaxation with supper, junta and fierce card games.  We will be back tomorrow with updates and pics at the work sites.

We miss you all, thanks for checking in on us…we are loving your comments.  As much as we look forward to seeing you all, we are trying to soak up our last days of this amazing adventure!

 

 

Anyone Need a Nap?

 Today we took a break from the worksite to assemble beds and prep for doors to be installed.  We are very grateful that we had the nice weather yesterday for painting, because today was quite warm.  The kids worked hard assembling approximately 8 beds an hour.

Most here thought today’s lunch meal of chicken tacos was one of the best we had so far!  We then relaxed a bit and either enjoyed a siesta, or played some soccer.  After finishing beds, we took a short walk to the brand new park for a coca cola and a snack. 

We returned for supper, junta, and a wonderful bilingual mass with the Populorum boys and some of the ladies who have been helping us through the week.  Tomorrow we adventure to the city, check back for more!  This is a short blog due to the many student comments below.  Thanks so much for sending notes, they are so enjoyed!

Thank you for making sure Valentino is being feed. My main meal has been pb and j, but they still taste good. Please make sure that Dawson washes my car if he is going to park in my garage spot. Also, tell Dawson that he should get up at 5 in the morning with dad because I am sure he is missing me not there. Miss you all yes even Dawson and Dylan, love Jayden.

 

Mom, there are no pictures of  me doing the house because I was doing gift bags for half a day and there were no hammers left when I was there. Hello Tessa, Kenzi, and Jasmine (the morning breakfast table) I miss you. Sincerely Brynn

 

Hello ya’ll thanks for the continued support and prayers for us; we are working very hard and efficient. Please continue to pray for us and give us strength to help everyone we can down here. Quade you are dead to me that was my prized achievement, I am kidding of course I miss your goofy and annoying self and can’t wait to see you again. Ava if you crash my truck I crash your car but I also miss you very much. Jossy run fast not slow. Love and miss you all, Zayne.

 

Aloha mama, missin you so much down here in Mexico. Gettin kinda cold down here, in mexico. Wish you would say you love me on the blog so I don’t feel left out. Progress down here is pretty fast. Figured I’d report since you have no idea. I’m known as the “Collora Azul” down here. CORY BERG, ICE BERG, BIG B IRG, 6’6 POWERHOUSE, how are the dogs I miss them. I thought of a new quote about bacon for ya, “don’t go bacon my heart, I couldn’t if I FRIED” jajajajajajaja (that’s the laughing sound in espanol). Spanish is my new first language. Soy es muy espanol. Love you all, Elliot….. eat rocks. Yours truly, your favorite son, the smart one, the handsome, THE PROJECT MANAGER/SUPORVISOR…..riley. JajaJ.

 

Hey mom! I miss you so much its crazy. I love reading your blogs and I wish to be hanging with you so bad! Blue is missed too and I would take his hot body over the noises here. Tell dad and drake that I love them and think about them so much! Please please tell landen that I cant wait to come home and hangout with him, I think about him non-stop. So excited to see you on Thursday…I miss you and love you tons, see you soon! All my love, Vaeh

 

 

 

Hey everyone! Miss you all, especially Hudson can’t wait to see him and play with him. Dad still haven’t updated me on what I asked. Thanks Sami for updating me. Mom and Bob miss you guys and I want pizza when I get home. Brother Jared miss you a lot can’t wait to talk to you and hear from you. Rachel miss you and the boys can’t wait to see you and hear from you guys. Laine and Dwurth can’t wait to hear from you guys hopefully and  can’t wait to see you all have something fun planned when I get back. Friend Jared miss you and cant wait to hear from you Make sure you got something fun planned for me when I get back. Hannah miss you a lot and can’t wait to hear and talk to you hope you are keeping my streaks. Love you all and can’t wait to see you all. From Trevor

Hey all, glad everything is going well. I’ve been meeting some really great people here, and the other missioners are great too. I’m glad I had the opportunity to go. Emma, hope school is going well for you. I miss you too. Sarah, hope you haven’t been too sad without me. The days till I see you again are winding down, so you have something to look forward to. Dad, it sure sounds busy out at the farm. Hope to see the house is in one piece when I get back. I’m excited to play catch with you when I get back. Tessah, I hope you’ve been keeping mom company during school days. Can’t wait to see you either. Mom, Hope you haven’t missed me too much. Love you all, See you soon. Love, David

Hey mom! Glad to hear that you don’t have to take care of so many dogs anymore and that Michael is doing well. Please give updates on Milo, seeing the dogs here make me appreciate our crazy puppy. Tell Marcus that track is good for him and too keep drinking water. The food here is soooooo good, better than your cooking, I’ll try to get the recipes. Tell the volleyball team good luck at Regional’s and that I miss them very much, I also taught some kids the griddy which they seem to like. I would really like dad to say something but its ok I guess. Tell Preston I miss him very much and that he’d be proud of how much I’m lifting and building. Also tell him that the kids are so much fun and he would love them. I hope Nora and Gabi aren’t missing me to much, I’ve also been nicknamed cupcake which is cool. Love your favorite, most cool, and smart daughter. Miyah

 

Hi Dad, Mom, and Micah. I miss you like crazy (when I think about you guys lol) We’ve been kept very busy so there isn’t much time to dwell on things which I love. I knew I was going to love it here, but I didn’t realize I would love it this much. It is so peaceful and beautiful out here I don’t think I ever want to leave. It’s crazy how silly the things I worry about at home seem now. The people here are great and I feel like this is my second home (sorry grandma!) Don’t worry I’m eating ( the food here is actually a slay) Mom and Dad, I hope work is great and you’re not sick of just dealing with Micah. Micah, I hope you are having fun doing all the chores ( don’t worry I somehow still have to do the dishes here some days.) I also hope you’re having fun driving yourself in every single day. Micah, tell all my friends I miss them like crazy. Mom and dad, I guess you guys can tell everyone that too if you want. I love the letters and am reading one or two every day. I love you all and will see you soon. And remember to keep……SLAYING. –Much love from your favorite child, grandchild, and person- McKenna Mary