Last Sunday was a very busy day, after church we came home and started to cook. We made the same meal I told you about earlier. Rice with carrots, peppers and spices; red beans, coconut chicken, and boiled bannanas that didn't taste like a banana, but a potato. It took forever to make (especially when your STARVING!) by the time it was all done it was 3:00 p.m.. We all sat down, filled our plates, and ate. After we all were done eating, we rubbed on some bug spray and sun screen, and headed out the door. A few minutes later we found ourselves off the "Main Street" and onto a much smaller one. ( this was my first time off the "Main Street" without being able to see it) we turned here and then turned there until we were on a skinny dirt road, wide enough for about two people. ( said with strong caribien accent->) there were banana trees, mango trees, and plenty of coconut trees<-. Right before we entered there was a gate, and on the gate there were words, and the words said PRIVIATE, DO NOT ENTER. but of course, we entered anyway(because we're special). Right inside there was a cute lil' papaya tree, and then another sign.DAH DAH DAHHHHHH, IT SAID IN CLEAR LETTERS Private, Traps Are Set. Well... .... THAT was real comforting! But the next thing we know Andi had stepped outside of the path, and nothing happened. She was Not in a hole, or Hanging by her big toe. She was calmly standing by a papaya tree, so took a pic. and then we continued on. About five minutes later, we ran into a water tank(ow). Once we had all climbed atop it we started taking pics, pic after pic. (by the way, I should post those) Once we were done we climbed down and walked home. We are going to review to a song: (to the tune of "There Was A Hole" )
Now on our trip,(repeat) there was some paint (R) the prettiest paint,(R) that you ever did see.(R)There was some paint on the sign, and the sign on a gate, and the gate on the way, and the way on the path, and the path to the tank, and the tank on a hill, and hill on the ground, and the trees that grew all around all around and the trees that grew all around.
Now you will be forced to remember my trip forever!!! Naw, you won't be forced too, you just will!
well that's all for now folks.
~With Thorns Come Roses~
*bonbon*
Oh, yeah,
We have been having the Most Beautiful rain the last few days! (and will be for quite some time, it's overcast you know) there is wonderful thunder, it is the loudest, the most sonic-like, and the most right Over-Your-Head kind of thunder!!! Well, now it's all for now.
love and miss y'all!
la bonbon
Friday, July 18, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Power ~by Stephanie
I'm a fan of thunderstorms. I'm a BIG fan of thunderstorms.
The rolling thunder has always captured my attention.
I see through the thunder a glimpse of my Creator's power and have always been amazed. Until last night I had never feared a thunderstorm; you see, now I'm on an island during hurricane season...
My family finally had gotten to bed at around 9:30pm. The wind howled as it swept through the lonely road and between the slats of glass in our windows, I fell asleep thankful for the breeze because the heat during the day had been so loathsome. My guess is that is was 2 or 3am when I was suddenly awakened by a crash so loud, so strong-it shook the bedroom and my reaction to it's interruption was nothing like my past reactions. Fear. Stephanie's first thought, "My Father, you have control over the wind and the rain. I must trust, so comfort me." I reached over my head to twist the slats closed so I wouldn't become drenched in the torrential downpour now making the road outside a muddy river. The lightening was nothing less than breath taking, it lit the sky and I could see the ocean through the two houses across the street. I decided to use the sheet I had not wanted at the beginning of the night merely for something else to occupy me besides lying there restless and listening to the sonic echoing quake throughout the house-and the whole island. I can't explain the sound, it was different from anything I'd ever heard before. It was louder, larger,...stronger, yes, the power behind the thunder that I'd been previously introduced to was nothing compared to this. After thirty minutes of lying awake listening to the thunder it had become altogether glorious and beautiful- I enjoyed the feeling of safety not in spite of the thunder but because of the thunder. I'd been given peace again, the thunder was just as it always had been to me, a comfort...a comfort that MY God is BIG, MY God is STRONG, and MY God, seeing my fears and tears, CARES.
Today was icky, there wasn't that delightful breeze to refresh me this morning in the hammock, there wasn't a cool wisp of air during class to keep my mind alert; so naturally we went to the beach...as a result I'm burnt since we ran out of sunscreen and haven't bought more yet... It rained once we got home, it rained hard! We stood together on our porch watching everyone run in their 'beach attire' in search of shelter. (Using their diver manuals as a sort of covering wasn't working.)
I have a lot of homework tonight, not more than usual really, about eight pages worth. It is difficult because of the difference in sentence structure; I've truly grown to like how English is more specific...I know it's not as specific as some languages...
We're having brownies tonight! I'm so happy...I miss chocolate being readily available.
Stephanie
-the natural wet and caffeine-deprived islander
The rolling thunder has always captured my attention.
I see through the thunder a glimpse of my Creator's power and have always been amazed. Until last night I had never feared a thunderstorm; you see, now I'm on an island during hurricane season...
My family finally had gotten to bed at around 9:30pm. The wind howled as it swept through the lonely road and between the slats of glass in our windows, I fell asleep thankful for the breeze because the heat during the day had been so loathsome. My guess is that is was 2 or 3am when I was suddenly awakened by a crash so loud, so strong-it shook the bedroom and my reaction to it's interruption was nothing like my past reactions. Fear. Stephanie's first thought, "My Father, you have control over the wind and the rain. I must trust, so comfort me." I reached over my head to twist the slats closed so I wouldn't become drenched in the torrential downpour now making the road outside a muddy river. The lightening was nothing less than breath taking, it lit the sky and I could see the ocean through the two houses across the street. I decided to use the sheet I had not wanted at the beginning of the night merely for something else to occupy me besides lying there restless and listening to the sonic echoing quake throughout the house-and the whole island. I can't explain the sound, it was different from anything I'd ever heard before. It was louder, larger,...stronger, yes, the power behind the thunder that I'd been previously introduced to was nothing compared to this. After thirty minutes of lying awake listening to the thunder it had become altogether glorious and beautiful- I enjoyed the feeling of safety not in spite of the thunder but because of the thunder. I'd been given peace again, the thunder was just as it always had been to me, a comfort...a comfort that MY God is BIG, MY God is STRONG, and MY God, seeing my fears and tears, CARES.
Today was icky, there wasn't that delightful breeze to refresh me this morning in the hammock, there wasn't a cool wisp of air during class to keep my mind alert; so naturally we went to the beach...as a result I'm burnt since we ran out of sunscreen and haven't bought more yet... It rained once we got home, it rained hard! We stood together on our porch watching everyone run in their 'beach attire' in search of shelter. (Using their diver manuals as a sort of covering wasn't working.)
I have a lot of homework tonight, not more than usual really, about eight pages worth. It is difficult because of the difference in sentence structure; I've truly grown to like how English is more specific...I know it's not as specific as some languages...
We're having brownies tonight! I'm so happy...I miss chocolate being readily available.
Stephanie
-the natural wet and caffeine-deprived islander
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Where do I begin? -by Andi
WHERE DO I BEGIN!!?? I've missed SO many days of writing, how do I update you on all the stuff I've been doing through my eyes?
Well, you've probably heard enough about our arrival. But I'll give you my opinion anyway. *clears throat*
Waking up at 4 a.m. was an exhausting start for me, but you know, I was so happy to get on the plane that it made up for it. Once I sat down in my seat... whatever number and letter I was, I took a deep sigh- only take two more sighs for all three planes. By the time we actually arrived in San Pedro Sula I could barley walk or even hold my head up.
It was such a God thing getting through customs, the guy who processed our visas was a Christian and happily let us stay all 90 days, and baggage checking was no problem one bit, because the lady looked at us and let us go right ahead. Just skipped us, totally, without looking at our bags. Then of course you probably heard from my sisters that we went to Wendy's, but not me. I took a little siesta at a small table in a little coffee shop... but if you're thinking something like Starbucks, it was not at all like that, it was like a lemonade stand that sold coffee. Then what did we do....
I opened my eyes outside to see the little plane that would take us to the Island called Utila!
I happily jumped into the plane, of course still feeling so heavy, I sat in my seat, and fell to sleep. On the post, I'm sure you saw the tiny picture of that... it was a very ugly picture. When we landed on the little Island we took a taxi to our place. But I have to mention the taxi ride. It was like SO not safe, like the United States- our home. You drove on either side of the street, which ever you wanted to while bikes and people went by in front of you. I was shocked to see that... rather amazed. We looked for a place to stay, and found a nice place called Rubi's Inn. We stayed just a night. Then woke up the next day and went to esquela (school). Mom found us a little hut for us to stay in, well my sisters are telling me that it's not a hut.. it's a "cozy little place" but I still believe it's a hut. Um, Now that I have gotten you updated.....
I'm going to tell you the HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS of my stay here.
Most of the days are the same. But we found a cozy little church to go to. We knew we were in the right place when we didn't understand anything that the pastor was saying :D I'm sure Amanda told you this, but I'm going to tell you what I thought about it. One church day, it was called Game night. It was when someone up front would start reading a verse from the Bible, and we would have to find the verse, and spout out loud what verse it was. Eduardo won an apple. He took a bite of the apple, and fell down dead- you probably don't remember this part from when Amanda told you, I can tell because your facial expressions look rather shocked right now.
No, let me get back to the real story. He won the apple, took a bite, ....... and threw it across the room to another man called Franklin, who took a bite and threw it to the other side of the church. During this commotion, the pastor is still talking as if nothing happened. Once the apple went through the mouths of every church member, it got back to Eduardo - a core, with a remaining one piece... a little chunk of apple.
Next highlight:
The Island is so peaceful. You don't worry about anything else. We aren't rushing here, rushing there, not rushing each and everywhere. It gets down to what really matters; God, Family, Friends! One day my family and I were walking to la playa (beach) and we stopped by our friends from church's little shed type restaurant. They asked us if one Sunday they could help us cook food. And we were SO amazed that we could actually say "ANY Sunday!" Oh well, that's just a little glimpse of how we're so relaxed here. Now to the ...
LOWLIGHTS:
TAARREEEEAAAA (Tarea-homework)
It's a huge struggle for me. Spanish is VERY VERY VERY hard! I'm struggling a lot with it. It's one of the reasons I haven't posted. My whole day is spent sitting and doing tarea, which I only half understand.
The first couple days of eating their food, I didn't do so well. My body needed to adjust to the strange food here.
It's now about time to go to our little cozy church again with our instantly connected family in Christ.
P.S. a little prayer request...
That I will understand my tarea. And not be SO exhausted everyday.
Since I can't tell you what will happen in the future, this is all I can say for this post. Till next time!
~Andi
Well, you've probably heard enough about our arrival. But I'll give you my opinion anyway. *clears throat*
Waking up at 4 a.m. was an exhausting start for me, but you know, I was so happy to get on the plane that it made up for it. Once I sat down in my seat... whatever number and letter I was, I took a deep sigh- only take two more sighs for all three planes. By the time we actually arrived in San Pedro Sula I could barley walk or even hold my head up.
It was such a God thing getting through customs, the guy who processed our visas was a Christian and happily let us stay all 90 days, and baggage checking was no problem one bit, because the lady looked at us and let us go right ahead. Just skipped us, totally, without looking at our bags. Then of course you probably heard from my sisters that we went to Wendy's, but not me. I took a little siesta at a small table in a little coffee shop... but if you're thinking something like Starbucks, it was not at all like that, it was like a lemonade stand that sold coffee. Then what did we do....
I opened my eyes outside to see the little plane that would take us to the Island called Utila!
I happily jumped into the plane, of course still feeling so heavy, I sat in my seat, and fell to sleep. On the post, I'm sure you saw the tiny picture of that... it was a very ugly picture. When we landed on the little Island we took a taxi to our place. But I have to mention the taxi ride. It was like SO not safe, like the United States- our home. You drove on either side of the street, which ever you wanted to while bikes and people went by in front of you. I was shocked to see that... rather amazed. We looked for a place to stay, and found a nice place called Rubi's Inn. We stayed just a night. Then woke up the next day and went to esquela (school). Mom found us a little hut for us to stay in, well my sisters are telling me that it's not a hut.. it's a "cozy little place" but I still believe it's a hut. Um, Now that I have gotten you updated.....
I'm going to tell you the HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS of my stay here.
Most of the days are the same. But we found a cozy little church to go to. We knew we were in the right place when we didn't understand anything that the pastor was saying :D I'm sure Amanda told you this, but I'm going to tell you what I thought about it. One church day, it was called Game night. It was when someone up front would start reading a verse from the Bible, and we would have to find the verse, and spout out loud what verse it was. Eduardo won an apple. He took a bite of the apple, and fell down dead- you probably don't remember this part from when Amanda told you, I can tell because your facial expressions look rather shocked right now.
No, let me get back to the real story. He won the apple, took a bite, ....... and threw it across the room to another man called Franklin, who took a bite and threw it to the other side of the church. During this commotion, the pastor is still talking as if nothing happened. Once the apple went through the mouths of every church member, it got back to Eduardo - a core, with a remaining one piece... a little chunk of apple.
Next highlight:
The Island is so peaceful. You don't worry about anything else. We aren't rushing here, rushing there, not rushing each and everywhere. It gets down to what really matters; God, Family, Friends! One day my family and I were walking to la playa (beach) and we stopped by our friends from church's little shed type restaurant. They asked us if one Sunday they could help us cook food. And we were SO amazed that we could actually say "ANY Sunday!" Oh well, that's just a little glimpse of how we're so relaxed here. Now to the ...
LOWLIGHTS:
TAARREEEEAAAA (Tarea-homework)
It's a huge struggle for me. Spanish is VERY VERY VERY hard! I'm struggling a lot with it. It's one of the reasons I haven't posted. My whole day is spent sitting and doing tarea, which I only half understand.
The first couple days of eating their food, I didn't do so well. My body needed to adjust to the strange food here.
It's now about time to go to our little cozy church again with our instantly connected family in Christ.
P.S. a little prayer request...
That I will understand my tarea. And not be SO exhausted everyday.
Since I can't tell you what will happen in the future, this is all I can say for this post. Till next time!
~Andi
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
If our days here were as many as the shells on the beach...
I can already tell I won't ever want to leave. This culture has completely awed me, and taken my breath away. This pace is so refreshing, the only thing that would bring me back to the states right now is speech and debate... which is never a slow pace... but worth it. (if I were to move here though I would need my violins, bass, hammered dulcimer, a guitar, piano and unicycle)
Dianna has let us cook some in her food stand. My tortilla didn't want to get big though, it felt safer being stuck to my hand. And next time I make a pastel... I'll twist the edges correctly. But man, rice and beans aren't boring if you make them right. I don't think I'll want to go back to a normal diet.... I'm not sure what that was though since our main food was a quesadilla. The only bad thing about their food here.....is that when cooking, Dianna had us buy MSG (monosodium glutomate-for those of you who think I just typed 'message') I mean in the States we are very proud of the fact that "we don't add msg" and yet I was about to put in into my food 0_0 With what little Spanish we know, mom tried to explain that in "Estados Unidos" they say it is "muy mal" and will make you "infermo" :p But she didn't understand and we didn't want to offend our new friend due to a language barrier.
They took us on the most beautiful walk, as I'm sure Stephanie told you... it was probably her favorite part of the whole trip so far. Looking over the Island, my heart was calm. It's difficult for me to truly grasp God's amazing power. The people who have grown up here their entire lives wouldn't be able to understand America... it's strayed so much from the true meaning of living. I mean I know I have said this before but it's so real here, I can't get away from that thought.
(may I be random a moment? at church I thought it was so cute how the pastors wife told me God speaks Spanish :p)
Anyway.... as we were showing Jose and his family pictures on our blog. We were commenting on the picture of the shower head (remember that pic?) and how we had never seen one like that in America. He looked shocked and stated, "But those are supposed to be American." we ALL had to laugh for a good minute or two.
Saturday nights are Bible games at church. This week was hardest since they gave you a list of words to unscramble. It was hard for the people in the church to unscramble them... imagine the difficulty we had.
The lady at the post office has offered to teach us crochet! I can't wait! I'm not art deprived here :D Yesterday I spent most of my spare time painting the front of my birthday invitations. Once I finish the back I'll put a pic up. I am enjoying my last weeks of being 15.
I would like you to pray for me, that I would be invisible to a lot of the people here. :D It's kind of draining....... WE MIGHT START DIVING NEXT WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well.... I should probably get back to uploading pics for our next picture post. Hope all is well in the States... I'm thanking God that we didn't have a hurricane last night :D
Forever and Always,
Amanda <3
Dianna has let us cook some in her food stand. My tortilla didn't want to get big though, it felt safer being stuck to my hand. And next time I make a pastel... I'll twist the edges correctly. But man, rice and beans aren't boring if you make them right. I don't think I'll want to go back to a normal diet.... I'm not sure what that was though since our main food was a quesadilla. The only bad thing about their food here.....is that when cooking, Dianna had us buy MSG (monosodium glutomate-for those of you who think I just typed 'message') I mean in the States we are very proud of the fact that "we don't add msg" and yet I was about to put in into my food 0_0 With what little Spanish we know, mom tried to explain that in "Estados Unidos" they say it is "muy mal" and will make you "infermo" :p But she didn't understand and we didn't want to offend our new friend due to a language barrier.
They took us on the most beautiful walk, as I'm sure Stephanie told you... it was probably her favorite part of the whole trip so far. Looking over the Island, my heart was calm. It's difficult for me to truly grasp God's amazing power. The people who have grown up here their entire lives wouldn't be able to understand America... it's strayed so much from the true meaning of living. I mean I know I have said this before but it's so real here, I can't get away from that thought.
(may I be random a moment? at church I thought it was so cute how the pastors wife told me God speaks Spanish :p)
Anyway.... as we were showing Jose and his family pictures on our blog. We were commenting on the picture of the shower head (remember that pic?) and how we had never seen one like that in America. He looked shocked and stated, "But those are supposed to be American." we ALL had to laugh for a good minute or two.
Saturday nights are Bible games at church. This week was hardest since they gave you a list of words to unscramble. It was hard for the people in the church to unscramble them... imagine the difficulty we had.
The lady at the post office has offered to teach us crochet! I can't wait! I'm not art deprived here :D Yesterday I spent most of my spare time painting the front of my birthday invitations. Once I finish the back I'll put a pic up. I am enjoying my last weeks of being 15.
I would like you to pray for me, that I would be invisible to a lot of the people here. :D It's kind of draining....... WE MIGHT START DIVING NEXT WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well.... I should probably get back to uploading pics for our next picture post. Hope all is well in the States... I'm thanking God that we didn't have a hurricane last night :D
Forever and Always,
Amanda <3
Monday, July 14, 2008
Taste and see that the Lord is Good! ~by Stephanie
Hello all!
How I've been longing to come back and attempt to relay the beauty I've experienced here. First, I must mention that I'm not accustomed to going to bed early; my bedroom lights hardly ever get to rest before 2am but here...uh, no one laugh...our bedtime is usually around 8pm unless we're at church than we go to bed as late as 9:30pm-none of us can move after the long days. I'm truly loving all the walking and constant activity that is rather necessary. (my sisters do bug me that twice in one day I chose to stay in the hammock while they walked to the store-I'll never live that down appartently!)
Oh! Sunday, July 6th, was the most amazing, beautiful time. The pastor had asked for us to sing some of the songs, that they knew in Spanish, in English. The result was just perfect; we sang "Come Thou Fount", verse by verse we took turns, English then Spanish. I had heard them singing twice before during the last week and was moved in knowing that my Heavenly Father knows these people as His Beloved children in the same way He knows me. He blesses them, carries them when they are broken, and understands the praise they lift to Him. That night they asked us to use our Bible stories we brought for the children's church the next week; we accepted because it'd be great practice for what we'd like to do on the beach or during the week. Jose, one of the elders, offered to interpret since we aren't fluent enough to tell a good story yet. Sunday morning I walked to church ahead of my family to organize the songs we'd sing with the children; when I entered the church my ears were instantly filled with the voices of those darling, bright-eyed children, many of whom ran to greet me with warm hugs and even warmer smiles! As a perfectionist I see many things that we could've done differently that morning to make the games flow better or the songs more in sync but when I step back I see and understand that in spite of my efforts to do He had already done; I see that God moves hearts, He's the one who opens ears, He has those children in His hands. I'm just a vessel and at this moment God has me here, with my family- and how beautiful that we can work together towards the goal of our Father's Kingdom. I'm thirlled to be in the midst of planning and organizing when we'll be showing the Jesus film; the pastor has watched it but we've not had time to sit down and plan an actual date. My family and I want to schedule in regularly showing the film at the beach in several of the languages available. Pray that we can start this as soon as possible.
During this past week we've been treated twice by our new friend Diana, Jose's wife, from the little kitchen she has on main street; her food is delicious. She let each of us make our own tortilla and then Amanda even made a pastel...or at least I think that's what it was, either way it was good! Papaya milkshakes topped the perfect Saturday only to be trumped by knowing she offered to come after morning serviceson Sunday to teach us in our own kitchen how to make the foods she had served us. So, needless to say our Sunday lunch was the GREATEST! (I would say what we ate but I've forgotten what the 'official' names were...sorry.) During lunch Jose said he'd take us around some of the island before church that night, he asked where we'd like to start. I, knowing many have requested some pictures with a view, requested someplace high; because Pumkin Hill was to far of a walk to start as late as we would we went to the next best thing...the watertower. Yes. We, the Mills family, have journeyed to the top of the Utilan watertower. Jose said to 'follow the leader' so I started to follow him but he stepped behind me saying that I would be the leader...I laughed because naturally I didn't know the way to their watertower but he wasn't joking. (He did end up helping me know where to turn by hand motions everytime I looked back at him.) As my group's official 'leader', I got to the top first for the most glorious sight; I could tell I was on an island now! The ocean surrounded my little plot, Utila...yes, a small island. Pumkin Hill was seen clearly and Jose says that next time we'll go there; I Can't Wait!!! The mountians of Le Cebia call to me; I see them in the distance every time we're at the beach. I'm hoping to go and hike them during our stay. (Our teacher might go with us and be our guide.) Anyway, we did get pictures and will be posting as soon as the computer starts letting us upload again. Our internet signal has dropped; though it could be that the weather has been acting up-we've been warned that a hurricane could be brewing...that would just ice my cake!
Spanish school is picking up a lot, the time we spend doing homework really increased when we entered our second week. My doubts and worries disolve when we're able to go off on bunny trails during class about any random subject in Spanish! I can communicate main ideas and if I desire to say anything in 'past tense', of which we haven't learned yet, I just say pasodo...my teacher just laughs at me. I'm able to understand a handful of lyrics to the songs we sing at church and many words throughout Pastor Julio's messages, mostly due to the fact that Spanish and English are so similiar, but it's been an "eye-opener" to learn a new language and believe after this I'd want to learn another. (the more the merrier! lol, Bonnie and I like German.)
What an adventure this is! I love hearing the swooshing of the street sweepers broom to mark 4am, trying to sleep at least til 6am, waking up simply because the sun is in my eyes, rolling over to see each of my family beside me (we've pushed all three queens together to make one big bed), then stumbling out of bed merely to make my way to the hammock where I'm faithfully brightened by the cool breeze. There isn't any rush since school is just a minutes walk away; I stay in my hammock and just soak it in...it's like pushing 'reset'.
Dear me, 11pm has come...I waited for the computer longer than my eyes really wanted me to. Though I can't go without telling everyone that we're taking piano lessons at the church. Three times this week, I don't know if we'll do it again but it's fun...even when we don't know what our teacher is saying. :):):) Eduardo, Erika's husband, was there to help out...he doesn't know any English but it's so much fun to try and communnicate with what we have.
I'm bad at saying good-bye. so this post is officially over.
Good night my dear family!
Stephanie
-the natural islander
How I've been longing to come back and attempt to relay the beauty I've experienced here. First, I must mention that I'm not accustomed to going to bed early; my bedroom lights hardly ever get to rest before 2am but here...uh, no one laugh...our bedtime is usually around 8pm unless we're at church than we go to bed as late as 9:30pm-none of us can move after the long days. I'm truly loving all the walking and constant activity that is rather necessary. (my sisters do bug me that twice in one day I chose to stay in the hammock while they walked to the store-I'll never live that down appartently!)
Oh! Sunday, July 6th, was the most amazing, beautiful time. The pastor had asked for us to sing some of the songs, that they knew in Spanish, in English. The result was just perfect; we sang "Come Thou Fount", verse by verse we took turns, English then Spanish. I had heard them singing twice before during the last week and was moved in knowing that my Heavenly Father knows these people as His Beloved children in the same way He knows me. He blesses them, carries them when they are broken, and understands the praise they lift to Him. That night they asked us to use our Bible stories we brought for the children's church the next week; we accepted because it'd be great practice for what we'd like to do on the beach or during the week. Jose, one of the elders, offered to interpret since we aren't fluent enough to tell a good story yet. Sunday morning I walked to church ahead of my family to organize the songs we'd sing with the children; when I entered the church my ears were instantly filled with the voices of those darling, bright-eyed children, many of whom ran to greet me with warm hugs and even warmer smiles! As a perfectionist I see many things that we could've done differently that morning to make the games flow better or the songs more in sync but when I step back I see and understand that in spite of my efforts to do He had already done; I see that God moves hearts, He's the one who opens ears, He has those children in His hands. I'm just a vessel and at this moment God has me here, with my family- and how beautiful that we can work together towards the goal of our Father's Kingdom. I'm thirlled to be in the midst of planning and organizing when we'll be showing the Jesus film; the pastor has watched it but we've not had time to sit down and plan an actual date. My family and I want to schedule in regularly showing the film at the beach in several of the languages available. Pray that we can start this as soon as possible.
During this past week we've been treated twice by our new friend Diana, Jose's wife, from the little kitchen she has on main street; her food is delicious. She let each of us make our own tortilla and then Amanda even made a pastel...or at least I think that's what it was, either way it was good! Papaya milkshakes topped the perfect Saturday only to be trumped by knowing she offered to come after morning serviceson Sunday to teach us in our own kitchen how to make the foods she had served us. So, needless to say our Sunday lunch was the GREATEST! (I would say what we ate but I've forgotten what the 'official' names were...sorry.) During lunch Jose said he'd take us around some of the island before church that night, he asked where we'd like to start. I, knowing many have requested some pictures with a view, requested someplace high; because Pumkin Hill was to far of a walk to start as late as we would we went to the next best thing...the watertower. Yes. We, the Mills family, have journeyed to the top of the Utilan watertower. Jose said to 'follow the leader' so I started to follow him but he stepped behind me saying that I would be the leader...I laughed because naturally I didn't know the way to their watertower but he wasn't joking. (He did end up helping me know where to turn by hand motions everytime I looked back at him.) As my group's official 'leader', I got to the top first for the most glorious sight; I could tell I was on an island now! The ocean surrounded my little plot, Utila...yes, a small island. Pumkin Hill was seen clearly and Jose says that next time we'll go there; I Can't Wait!!! The mountians of Le Cebia call to me; I see them in the distance every time we're at the beach. I'm hoping to go and hike them during our stay. (Our teacher might go with us and be our guide.) Anyway, we did get pictures and will be posting as soon as the computer starts letting us upload again. Our internet signal has dropped; though it could be that the weather has been acting up-we've been warned that a hurricane could be brewing...that would just ice my cake!
Spanish school is picking up a lot, the time we spend doing homework really increased when we entered our second week. My doubts and worries disolve when we're able to go off on bunny trails during class about any random subject in Spanish! I can communicate main ideas and if I desire to say anything in 'past tense', of which we haven't learned yet, I just say pasodo...my teacher just laughs at me. I'm able to understand a handful of lyrics to the songs we sing at church and many words throughout Pastor Julio's messages, mostly due to the fact that Spanish and English are so similiar, but it's been an "eye-opener" to learn a new language and believe after this I'd want to learn another. (the more the merrier! lol, Bonnie and I like German.)
What an adventure this is! I love hearing the swooshing of the street sweepers broom to mark 4am, trying to sleep at least til 6am, waking up simply because the sun is in my eyes, rolling over to see each of my family beside me (we've pushed all three queens together to make one big bed), then stumbling out of bed merely to make my way to the hammock where I'm faithfully brightened by the cool breeze. There isn't any rush since school is just a minutes walk away; I stay in my hammock and just soak it in...it's like pushing 'reset'.
Dear me, 11pm has come...I waited for the computer longer than my eyes really wanted me to. Though I can't go without telling everyone that we're taking piano lessons at the church. Three times this week, I don't know if we'll do it again but it's fun...even when we don't know what our teacher is saying. :):):) Eduardo, Erika's husband, was there to help out...he doesn't know any English but it's so much fun to try and communnicate with what we have.
I'm bad at saying good-bye. so this post is officially over.
Good night my dear family!
Stephanie
-the natural islander
Saturday, July 12, 2008
p.i.c.t.u.r.e.s. ~by Stephanie (and Amanda)
I ( Amanda ) can not take any credit for the choosing of the photos being uploaded. That was all the doing of my wonderful sister Stephanie.... but being a younger sister and appreciating any credit I can receive :p *hee hee* I am the one who stood here and uploaded all but two :D
This is where we will go snorkeling to see part of the 2nd largest living coral reef in the world :D cool, huh?
This was in a 100 year old house we looked at. Along with other amazing books!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
