The Birthday Boy

Thursday Nathanael turned one! :D The big kids and I made our little cookie monster sugar cookies instead of birthday cake. If the speed he ate them and the amount of crumbs that flew are any indication, he liked them just fine. ;) We wanted to get him something to take back to Tx, so we bought him a top...the kind with a string; now we just have to find somebody that can show us how to make it go. ;) Grandma and Pa sent him a balloon ball with a cloth cover which he thinks is amazing. Glory made him a card that he is STILL wagging around. Grandma Migl and Granny B sent cards too...Thank you, everybody! Friends here took us out to eat pupusas (a "local dish" that the experts say is really from El Salvador...though it has certainly become a favorite here in Valle.) We also bought roasted corn from the roadside vendor; Nate spent the whole time we were in the restaurant AND the whole way home gnawing corn off of that cob! After we got back, Granny B skyped us - complete with a lit birthday cake. :) Grandma and Pa called to say good night, ending a VERY full, first birthday!

Family adventure day :)

(Samuel's House)

A few weeks ago, we were planning to be in Nicaragua...when we didn't have to go, it gave us an extra Saturday! So... we took the opportunity to hike out to a neighboring community called Sauce ("sahw-seh") where several of the saints live. Since there are no house numbers, we didn't think we would actually get to visit anyone, but we wanted to explore the area - and we needed a destination. We had a great time walking together and were blessed to have one of the men from the assembly drive by just as we got to the outskirts of the community. He was headed into Valle, but took the time to drive us to his house...so that we could find it again. We gladly accepted the coke they bought for us and then their teenaged son was shanghaied to be out tour guide - Eli spent the next hour or so walking with us showing us where everyone else lived. :) We were really hot and tired by the time we walked back to the camp, just in time for a late lunch and quiet time. I was SO proud of the Glory and Levi - they walked the whole way with not so much as a grumble...
in fact, by the end, I think it was us old parent-people who were slowing up Levi's progress. ;)

Doña Paula's house

Doña Paula laughed at me for taking a pic. of her stove. :)

Eli showing us some figs

Closed Doors, Opened Doors

Pic #1: Friday's Honduran lunch, provided by friends.
Chicken, pataste, beets, tomates, tajadas, and corn tortillas.

Yet another Honduran adventure came to us last Friday as we were preparing to leave the country and renew our visas. We got all packed up, Taylor took off time from work in preparation for our travel, and we headed down to Tegucigalpa to buy tickets and stay the night, since according to the Tica Bus website, the bus for Nicaragua leaves at 9am. We met some new friends who drove us down.
Door opened!

Alesha and the kids were dropped off at the Wooler's while Esteban and I went to buy tickets. At the bus station, I found out the the bus for Esteli, Nicaragua has not been running for 3 years! Moreover, the manager of the bus station informed us, very authoritatively, that THEY KNEW THE NEW VISA RULES! and that there have been no recent changes and that we would have to go all the way to Costa Rica! I was not expecting this; I had read several articles and talked with a lady who worked in the government offices (but I was not exactly sure what she did), so I was not 100% sure what to do.
Door closed!

Esteban and I left the bus station not really sure where to head next. We ended up at the new Immigration offices. The Lord opened the door to us there when they affirmed that we only had to cross the Honduran border and return...whew!
Door opened!

There was not enough time to grab the bus to Nicaragua so, having all of the passports, I applied for a 30 day extension to our visas. However, the immigration office was currently in the process of moving. The lady we talked with pointed to a big semi-truck and basically said that the necessary forms were somewhere in there and would not be available until Wednesday or Thursday.
Door closed!

After talking with her some more, she looked at our visas and saw they they would expire on Monday. If we did not renew them soon, then we would be subject to a heavy fine. So, she wrote us some kind of ticket that would allow me to fill out the required paperwork and pay for my extensions. Then all I should have to do is return to the immigration office later the next week and hand over my forms and proof of payment.
Door opened!

And THAT is the story about why we are still in Honduras this weekend. It was a stressfully exciting time. We are still praying that this arrangement will work out next week when I have to return to the Immigration office. Thank for your prayers and concerns.

Pic #2: Victoria, the lady who made our lunch on Friday.

Enjoy!
Taylor

Road Trip!

Since we have tourist visas, every 3 months, we have to leave Honduras for at least 48 hrs. So...this weekend we plan to go to Esteli, Nicaragua, and visit the brethren there before turning around and coming back. (It should be about a 6 hr. bus ride from Tegucigalpa.) I have much to get finished this morning before we go, but I wanted to let y'all know that we would be without internet this weekend.

Because Christ paid for my pardon,
Alesha<><