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