Hello All!
So much has happened since my last update, and the time is flying by far too quickly. Here is a quick rundown of where we’ve been, who we’ve seen, and what we’ve been up to:
Visiting with My Grandmom
We drove up to see my grandmother and spend some time with her. Raúl, ever eager to be of service, managed to do all kinds of things around the house and yard like putting in fence posts and mulching a flower bed. I think he overwhelms everyone with his work ethic. On the way back, we stopped at Blackwater Falls, which Raúl loved.
My Alma Mater
Our first side trip while being Stateside was to Shepherdstown, where I went to college. It was fun to get to show Raúl around to a town that was home and holds so many memories for me. It was meaningful to me that I was able to give Raúl some physical mental images for many of the places that I’ve included in my recounting of stories. So much of Shepherd University has changed, but many things have stayed the same. It’s still a place that carries an essence of home, but many of the people who made it home for me are spread out in lots of faraway places. Because Washington, DC was relatively close by, we took a day trip, seeing the National Mall and monuments, some of the Smithsonian Museum of American History, and meeting up with a dear cousin for a quick hello. As part of that side trip, we also stayed with a precious family who treated us like one of their own from day one. Raúl felt so at home seeing their cows and chickens, painting with their daughter, and talking about hunting and soccer. We were so blessed by their hospitality and our great conversations with them. And, we had the opportunity to share a bit with their Sunday school class at their church. We also shared meals with some of my friends from college and spent a special lunch with some of the students from my student teaching and both of my facilitating teachers.
Family Reunion
After celebrating our birthdays back at home base with my parents and siblings, we headed to Lewisburg for a family reunion. Raúl got the chance to meet many relatives that I hadn’t seen in years and even some relatives that I’d never met. While Raúl may not speak the language, he generally wins people over with his cheerful personality and his eager seeking to serve.
Chicago and Indiana Trip
After some down time at home with my family, we headed north. We had planned on visiting my missionary friend, Stephen, who has been in the US since January as he receives treatment for colon cancer. Since Stephen lives two hours from Chicago, I figured that we’d take advantage of the proximity to show Raúl another taste of the big city. The drive was LOOOOONNNNGGGG, which was a stretch for my hyperactive husband. But, we enjoyed some sightseeing—checking out the views from Skydeck at Willis Tower, visiting Millennium Park and Grant Park, eating deep dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs, and visiting the Shedd Aquarium. From Chicago, we headed to South Bend, Indiana, to meet up with Lindsey, another missionary friend, whose family graciously opened their home to us. I had never spent any time with missionary friends on US soil, so it was worlds colliding in the best possible way. It was such a privilege to be able to participate in her world. Raúl especially enjoyed getting to play Aggravation with them—playful smack talk translates across languages. He felt so at home with her and her family. Lindsey also accompanied us in visiting with Stephen. It was so special to have some time to hear his heart and get to hug his neck and spend some quality time with him as we walked around Notre Dame’s campus. I love the people that God has brought into my life who understand me and share many of the same heart’s desires and values. Stephen continues to be in my prayers as he undergoes more chemo and also clings to Jesus amidst his deep desire to return to Honduras to continue the work that he started.
Family Camping
We got back from that trip just in time to unpack, wash laundry, re-pack, and head out the following day for a camping trip with my family. Unfortunately, it rained a lot of the time which put a damper on some of our usual plans. But Raúl still did get to experience kayaking in the river, a four-mile hike, and catching his first fish with a fishing pole (that he then fried up to eat the next day). He and my brother also bonded over catching snakes at the river—including a copperhead (which they didn’t know at the time). Not my cup of tea to say the least.
Visiting My Nannie
From camping, we went straight back to Lewisburg to spend some time with my other grandmother. She took us to see The Greenbrier Resort, where Raúl marveled over the preservation of history and the grandeur of the décor. And we also got to spend some time with a couple we’d met in church that adopted my family when I was around 10-years-old. They’re some of my most faithful supporters, and it was such a joy to see them and share that part of my life with Raúl. We had dinner with my grandmother and my uncle and his family and saw some live music with my aunt.
Now, we’re back for some down time at home base. I truly love getting to see people and places that I hadn’t seen for a long time, but I have tried to space out our side trips some just because, as an introvert, I need some time to recharge and because I so enjoy being with my family.
Overall, Raúl’s favorites so far have been:
Favorite Food—Waffles, broccoli salad, hobo packets when camping, chili
Favorite DC Sight—the World War II Monument and the transportation exhibit in the Smithsonian Museum of American History
Favorite Chicago Sight—the Shedd Aquarium and the view from Willis Tower
Favorite Part about Camping—Hiking, kayaking, and fishing
Honduras Update
In the meantime, Honduras continues to experience upheaval in the form of protests, road blockages, canceled school days and university classes, as well as limited access to public healthcare due to the political unrest that centers on a bill that would affect the educational and healthcare sectors of the work force. In many ways, it’s been worse than expected as looting and property damage has begun. The Tegucigalpa airport shut down flights for a day and experienced some scary circumstances when rioters infiltrated the building. And, rioters (people who use peaceful protests to start chaos) set fire to the US embassy entrance. Overall, it would seem that anyone who has issues with any previous political situation is taking advantage of the mob mentality to send the message that no one is happy. For missionaries, it’s more inconvenient than dangerous, but in general, Honduras needs prayer.
We will continue to be Stateside for the coming month, and we are still processing all that God is showing us and teaching us during this time. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Raúl so rested, and while the language barrier can be overwhelming at times, he has been able to connected with the people around him. Thank you to all of you who have supported us, prayed for us, and welcomed us into your homes or for a meal. We feel truly blessed by all of the generosity and hospitality.
