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11月27日 The Long and Winding RoadGreetings from Helene,
If tomorrow had a theme song, perhaps it would be "The Long and Winding Road", or maybe "Leaving on a Jet Plane". This should be my final posting from Honduras. I will be steaming down island tomorrow morning and then boarding a plane to fly home on Saturday morning. Our list of to-do's dwindles, our personal things packed, and our farewells nearly all bid.
I wish each of you a happy Thanksgiving; may your gatherings be blessed by the Father, your company embraced in the loving arms of Jesus Christ, and your cups overflowing with the Holy Spirit. Please pray for travel mercies for myself, Brandy, Camas, Deirdre, and Emily as we take to the sea, road, and air for our long days of travel ahead. Please also remember in your prayers the many missionaries who will not be "home" for the holidays as they answer the call to God's Great Commission.
I intend to continue posting upon my return to Wisconsin, so I hope you continue to follow my adventures, whether foreign or domestic. Thank you for being a part of this journey. Some of you I will see soon enough, and others, sooner still. In parting, I'd like to share some verses that I've often reflected on during my time on Helene:
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our savior Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." Romans 5:1-5
This passage warms my heart every time I read it. I pray that this message has found a special place in yours today.
Be well and God bless
11月26日 Three Days and a Wake-up?Greetings from Honduras,
In my military days, as you approached your end of term of service (ETS) you began a countdown until that much anticipated date. This count started when you were less than 365 days away; from that point on you were considered a "short-timer". As that day became more immenent one might further amplify this countdown by saying "three days and a wake-up". This inferred that being in the military was akin to being in a dream-like state; somewhere between being awake and being asleep. For some, this dream-like state can be best-described as a nightmare. My military experiences during the 1990's pale in comparison to the hardships our present servicemen and women endure in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan. For them, three days and a wake-up is much more a statement of hope and deliverance as they endure the limbo between high-danger and utter boredom; certainty and uncertainty; life and death.
While I look forward in sure anticipation of my return to the states in three days, it is not to be compared to "waking-up" such as a soldier. If anything, I should say "three days and a rise-up" as I face the challenge of not falling asleep once I return to an atmosphere in which I historically allowed myself to be less dependant, less connected, and ultimately more distant from God. I hope that I can "rise-up" to the challenge of facing old temptations with a new mind, Christ in my heart, and my heart in Christ. For it is written, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV).
On the eve of Thanksgiving, I ask for your prayers for our soldiers overseas who live in harm's way. If you know them by name, pray for them by name...even if it takes an hour, even if it takes more. Pray for their safety and pray for binding upon the darkness that attacks them physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Above all, have faith and pray in the name of Jesus Christ for "You may ask for anything in my name, and I will do it" (John 14:14). Throughout this holiday season, let us not forget to pray in thanksgiving, as it is written "always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20).
Be well and God bless 11月24日 Thanksgiving Part IIGreetings from Helene,
Our Thanksgiving celebration was a true blessing. The meal was awesome and the fellowship memorable; reminding me that God is faithful and free to be generous. Emily started our evening by leading a devotion in which we each started with three kernels of corn on our plates, representative of the actual struggles of pilgrims many years ago. We talked about the first "Thanksgiving" in Plymouth in 1621 and the pilgrims' very humble beginings. We then took turns dropping a kernel into a glass as we shared something we were thankful for. I used to do this same thing with pebbles years ago while working summer camps at the Ozark Natural Science Center. This new twist brought back many fond memories of my summer days in Arkansas and ONSC.
As mentioned earlier, the food was great. Turkey, stuffing, real mashed potatoes (not boxed!), yams, green jello, pumpkin pie, and apple pie made for a gut-splitting, tripda-phantastic time. My eggnog tasted something remotely like eggnog...but was good, although perhaps not as rich and creamy as the usual recipe. I also made puppy chow, or a variant thereof, using a random mishmash of ingredients that ultimately came together to be sweet and satisfying.
We concluded our dinner with a spirited game of Starwars Monopoly in which I learned the true nature of the darkside in my missionary team members. I did not win.
As you approach your own Thanksgiving, I pray that we each remember our own unique family traditions; embrace the relationships within the gathering, and ultimately praise God for being so good, so faithful, and so generous in his providing.
Be well and God bless 11月22日 Happy ThanksgivingGreetings from Honduras,
Since our team will be busy with final travel preparations on Thursday, we've decided to have our Thanksgiving meal tomorrow. Our menu will include turkey, potatoes, yams, pumpkin pie, stuffing, coconut bread, and a casserole. I made some Honduran eggnog for the meal as well (I had to substitute heavy cream with condensed milk and box milk for regular milk). Hopefully it is palatable...it is definitely more a gentle carmel in color rather than a mellow yellow. If the recipe succeeds it will be the first in my book of "Cookin' it 3rd World".
I conducted a test packing for my return flight to determine if I could make it home with just a carry-on. Although my modest camelback will be bursting at the seams and approaching the max allotment of 49 lbs, I was succesful. I've decided to leave most of my clothing and toiletries here in Honduras, regardless if I return in March. If I do return, it's less to have to bring back, and if I don't, it can be given away to those in greater need than I.
Be well and God bless
11月21日 Cave Trip 11/19/2008Greetings from Helene, On Wednesday I hiked to a couple of Helene’s caves with my islander cave guide, Willis. Getting there entailed scrambling through and over exposed coral deposits intertwined with jungle and the occasional rusty barbed-wire fence. As a seasoned caver, I was reminded that often half the adventure of caving is getting there. Our first cave was inconspicuous, with a small opening in coral that dropped into a twisted room with a “karst window” up above. We dropped down through some small openings passing by numerous roosting bats and one fast-moving tarantula. In fact, he was a little-too fast, and all too moving for my comfort in the tight confines of the cave. Although the cave was small, especially compared to the many Ozark caves I’ve explored, it was a unique experience as “cave coral” (aka cave popcorn) deposits formed atop ocean coral. There were also some clean calcite deposits of flowstone and stalactites in the cave’s “showroom”. This room also held some human bone fragments, including what I thought was a rib and a skull fragment (Willis informed me that on a previous trip to the cave the group discovered a fully intact human skull). Our second nearby cave was more like a cavern or bluff shelter, and was the same cave that islanders used as refuge from Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Our exploration of this cave was cut short as Willis grew concerned about a strange shape on a ledge that looked like a large boa (turned out it was a mottled tire but the mood for exploration was distinctly lost). The experience cost 200 Lempira (about $10 USD) and an hour and a half, but now I can say I’ve been caving in two countries! Be well and God bless Romans 10:9Greetings from Helene, This week has been like a ship upon high seas; full of ups and downs. The early week was draught with the burdens of an unsettled and restless mind. The latter days have been physically attacked by illness in the form of fever and an ailing back. Sleepless nights and sleepy days. However, I do think I am through the worst of it. Today is a significant day. It was three years ago to this day that I took my last drink. My journey of sobriety has only been possible by faith in our savior Jesus Christ, without whom, I’d still be hopelessly lost in addiction and its many dark and detrimental counterparts. What I’ve come to realize may be obvious. That in my walk, the further I was from Christ, the more God used life and circumstances to create clarity of dependency upon Him. The closer I am to Christ, the more God uses me as a witness to His mercy, grace, and love. I was the sick and lonely sheep who wandered from the fold, yet by His mercy, God never gave up on me. He sent a Sheppard that I might be saved from myself…He sent His Son, and I am found; forever thankful and indebted. What a mystery it is, that God would do this for me and you. He is so big and so beyond our understanding. He created us with a free will so that we would choose to love and glorify Him. Yet so many still wander apart from Him. So many choose to reject His love. If you wander in the darkness, feeling half asleep and incomplete, then invite Him into your heart. He’s waiting. Be well and God bless 11月17日 Rain ReturnsGreetings from Helene,
My previous entry seemed to quickly prompt a wet and windy response from "old-man winter" as chilling north winds have ushered in heavy rains after a two-week dry spell. It started with our boat ride down island to IWC this past Sunday as we steamed through scattered showers. Last night the crescendo culminated in an all-night-long, door slamming, and window rattling deluge. While precipitation is now intermittent, winds are still thrashing the palm trees about. Unofficial temperatures hover around 66 degrees...which is downright freezing by Honduran standards. Temperatures were around 60 degrees in Ridgway, Colorado this morning...to think we're separated by nearly 2,000 miles and 24 degrees of latitude, but only 6 degrees Fahrenheit. That gives new meaning to "six degrees of separation".
Be well and God bless 11月13日 Weekly UpdateGreetings from Helene, Honduras It hasn't rained in nearly two weeks, which from my limited in-country experience seems obviously atypical for a Bay Islands' rainy season. Two more of our Alternative Missions Team Helene teammates have left the island for the states. Prayers for safe travel and renewal follow in their boat's wake as they go home to take part in the birth of their first grandchild. With only five of us remaining, it seems there should be only a couple more episodes remaining of our rendition of "Survivor- Helene". In two weeks we too will be mounting up and steaming down island to catch our big planes back to "civilization". The last few days have been busy with school graduations and their ensuing celebrations. Our evenings have been monopolized by season three of "Lost" and random games of Cricket, 501, and Scorpion (a dart game of skill and courage as we hurl steel tip darts at near vertical distances of 20 feet at our housemate scorpions). Grrr...scorpions. The most recent nights have had a full moon wash the ocean in sparkling silver and Orion has now joined the night sky's medley. This weekend we travel down island to West End for IWC (International Worship Center). It's enjoyable to occasionally get off the island and fellowship with other Christians. I ask for your prayers for travel mercies as we take to the boat (it's about a 30 to 45 minute ride). We are very vulnerable to the distemper of sea and storm during these journeys. On our return from IWC two weeks ago, the last ten minutes of our journey were amidst a near zero visibility deluge that even challenged our sea-savvy boat handlers. I'm not even going to mention the high adventure of Roatan roads and motorists... I'm hoping to get some snorkeling in before we leave, although the water has been a bit choppy and cloudy of late. I'm also hoping to check out Helene's "caw-ay" (that's Helenish for cave, as the letter "v" is often pronounced with a "w" instead!). It is apparently crawling with tarantulas, (Grrr...tarantulas) so I must admit I'm a bit hesitant, but it can't be that much more dangerous than the caves I used to scramble about in the Ozarks! Hopefully I can get some photos to post. That’s all for now, be well and God bless
11月8日 Weekly UpdateAnother week has come and gone and our focus has shifted to leaving Helene and returning to the states. These are busy times with checklists and deadlines; people to see and farewells to bid. It seems like I've just arrived, and I suppose I have. In island time, I've been little more than a grain of sand upon the beach. Several of our team will not be returning to Helene and this fast-approaching certainty is likely weighing heavy. For me, I haven't formed the relationships that they have nurtured through the years so I can only imagine the heartache and emptiness they are preparing to contend with, not to mention the challenge of reacclimating to a culture and society that is very different from Helene, Honduras.
Speaking of culture, I thought I'd share some "Helene Speak" with readers. Although the islanders here speak English it is often very much like a foreign language as I struggle to pick up the dialect and unique terms. Juxtaposed to this is how spanish is often interwoven into the language as well. At times, I truly do not understand a single word that is being spoken to me! The following are a few excerpts from a document that's circulated with staff. I'd give a citation/source but it's not known.
all mash up Broken/wrecked "That boat is all mash up."
bad bahong Overwhelming hunger "I got bad bahong."
blinkies Lightning bugs
Boy nah Expression of surprise "What a load of fish! Boy nah?"
College Equivalent of American High School
Duppies Ghosts
Fin foot flippers (snorkelling/diving)
fresco soda, pop
gee some Expression of surprise/disbelief "We gotta do that? Gee some..."
good night a greeting, said when first entering the room
magga very thin "Girl you've gotten so magga."
molest to bother "Quit molesting me."
Operating Diarrhea
Shit boy common expression, not considered a bad word, like saying "Darn" or "Gosh" in the states
tacos futbol cleats
wexed Upset "I'm really wexed at him."
what's clickin' bra What's up, how are you doing?
Yaba-ding-ding Indian artifacts made of clay, jade or stone
That's just a few! Be well and God bless! Journal Excerpt from November 6, 2008Pink salmon skies fade to lavender pools over a still and deepening ocean. A bright star winks and the moon peeks through clouds heavy with weather's intent. Crickets chirp, dogs howl, and the moan of another tired day recedes. The darkness grabs us and we cling to faith. 11月5日 Exam WeekGreetings from Honduras, This week at the Helene English-Christian (HEC) School we have been administering final exams. In light of the season I thought I'd give a little more information about the HEC and the Honduran school system before this chapter closes for the winter. Honduran Schools are Spanish-speaking schools, however here on Helene and the other Bay Islands (such as Roatan) the English language is a big part of everyday language. On Helene there is also a Spanish school, funded by the Honduran government. Spanish school lasts a half day and takes place on weekday mornings from about 8 am until 12 pm. English school is Monday through Thursday, from 1 pm until 5 pm. The HEC is not funded by the Honduran government. HEC support comes from the islanders who have children enrolled in addition to generous supporters back in the states. Unlike the U.S., education is not stressed as important to the development of Honduran children and young adults. The HEC currently teaches K through sixth grades. At the conclusion and successful completion of 6th grade students graduate. For most this will culminate their formal education, however many drop out prior to graduation as the lures of work, friends, and family divert their attention from academics. On Helene it's typical that girls have their own children by age 20 and "marriages" may take place as young as 15 or 16 years of age. Obviously the aims and goals of an education of this magnitude and duration are much different than the expectations of American schools. Most of our teachers are islanders who often lack formal education themselves but have a passion for teaching and working with children. Subjects focus on the core areas of reading, writing, and mathematics, but we also delve into other subjects. My favorite topic to teach has been bible studies and scripture. All other subjects pale in comparison to the importance of "passing the examination" of our hearts as our faith relates to our savior Jesus Christ. 11月1日 Weekly UpdateGreetings from Honduras, Another week has flown by, quite literally on the wings of aggressive northern winds.Yesterday we finished the desalinator plant relocation project. That was quite a task involving immense, careful planning. The project was finished just in time as one of our key team members and resident electrician departed home for the states after 4 years of service to the Lord here on Helene. Paul is moving to Vegas where he can be a full-time grandpa and family man. Please pray for Paul as the adjustments from life here...to life there will be challenging. Last night I was able to call home using Skype and briefly visit with my sisters and parents who are gathered in Jefferson, WI for their annual sisters' weekend. It was a blessing of encouragement to chat with them, albeit briefly. I can feel your prayers of support moment by moment and each of you are dearly missed. I also want to give thanks for the financial support I've received. I know how difficult these times are as they pertain to our stumbling economy (is that an understatement?) but I truly appreciate your kind generosity to support God's great commission here on Helene. I imagine people are wondering what my long term plans are for my involvement here in Honduras. In response, I can say "me too". I am taking each day one at a time and trying to take all direction from Christ as to what I'll do next, and I've been praying in earnest to this matter. I decided before arriving that I would not make a firm decision about next year until I returned to the states so I could reflect upon my experiences and pray with family members. I am still holding to that conviction...however, I do feel that God is tugging me to stay. Uncertainties still exist, but I am fast realizing that a life with and in Christ is a life in adventure...an adventure safely grounded in His certain love. Uncertainties help us become more dependant on our Savior, and require us to let go of self-dependency and seize complete dependency on God. I do know that if and when I decide to return to Helene, it would not be until at least March, 2009. The Alternative Missions leadership have decided that the island needs to "take care of some issues" prior to the team's return. I ask for your prayers that God may reveal His plan for his island children and Team Helene. With only school exams remaining, our tasks here will soon shift to "closing shop" for the holidays. It will be a busy and stressful endeavor, especially for those dealing with the anxiety of returning home after several years of service here. Your prayers for Camas, Brandy, and Emily are needed as they contend with a new adventure apart from Helene, Honduras. Be well and God bless Dominic |
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