“We should come home from adventures, and perils, and discoveries every day with new experience and character”

I was looking through my pictures of our travels through Honduras and Nicaragua trying to inspire myself to share a story that might be interesting or enjoyable to read.  Scanning the photos I came to realize why I felt I had no pictures that really capture the trip.  In the defining moments your either having to much fun to stop and take a picture, or on the other end of the spectrum, your far to frightened to pull your camera out.

It's been a minute I think since I've wrote about the trip, so here's a few things that are maybe defining me, and giving me strong feet.

Surfing in Nicaragua.  It was blown out, not so nice conditions, but man it felt good to be in the water.  Even though my novice skin got a killer rash and the currents and rips were a little scary; Ian stood up! So we have another surfer in the world.

Arriving in Tegucigalpa, Honduras at 11:00 PM, racing through the ghetto in the back of a taxi to our "motel" seriously hoping our taxi driver isn't going to kill us or pick up anyone else (all I see on the streets are prostitutes).  The motel in the middle of the city close to the bus stations, kind of feels like a prison.  You walk through the front gated door, down about 30 feet to the front desk, across a dingy lit courtyard, and into a room lit by a single light bulb with no windows and 3 locks on the door.  It was secure, which was a plus.  Natural light, not so much.

Walking through sketchy neighborhoods in Nicaragua to get to the Spanish meeting.  Then sitting down at the meeting and realizing how fast you were walking while simultaneously noticing that none of the fans in the hall are working and it happens to be the hottest month of the year.  I think I almost sweat through my tie that night.

Sharing in the ministry with the brothers in the different English groups in Nicaragua.  Seeing firsthand the zeal of other need greaters and locals learning foreign languages. I truly think the best way to walk the streets of a foreign city is out in service.  Not only do you get to see true life but you get to talk to the people as well.  A surprising amount of Nicaraguans are learning English.  Also you get to learn about and get to know your brothers.  The zeal infused group in Granada, 17 publishers strong, covering there entire territory, spanning Granada, in the campaign.  Scrunching in the back of there one pickup truck and giving a small helping hand was a joy.

Riding down the side of a volcano on a wooden board with a metal bottom.  I figured something for tourists wouldn't be that frightening but this wasn't just 100 foot slide.  You slid down the side of a volcano!  Good times; we just had to hike up and do it again.  Next time I'm going with one of the companies that have the boards you can stand on though.

Border crossings (sigh).  Oh we'll always remember the days with a border crossing.  Those are long tiring days.  And no I don't want to buy anything from your cart so you can quit ringing the bell.  We all see you standing right there! (Seriously this guy rang his bell continuously for minimum 20 minutes).  Playing ignorant and stubborn, the latter coming rather naturally, when border guards try to hit you with a "gringo" tax. Can't blame them for trying I guess.  They got me in Mexico.

Memorial with the Granada group with 65 in attendance. I sat next to a man who was studying named Pablo.  Pablo's been in jail in both the States and Nicaragua.  Aware it's time to change his life, he showed up at 6:30 AM for memorial.  When he realized his mistake, he came back again at 6:30 PM.  Pablo knows he needs to be there for his 9 year old daughter, 6 months ago he got beat up and stabbed.  But now he's taking a lot of positive steps in a better direction.

On our first day here we met a man who felt it was to much of a hassle to come to Mexico because he had to fill out a customs form and the people spoke Spanish.  After 3 months, here is what I think,  What an idiot!  I don't know what, if any, profound changes may have taken place in myself and Ian over the past few months.  Only time will tell.  But I can say it's been an adventure!

Ian doesn't know the birds are plotting an attack.

Ian shooting the curl! okay not quite but he's standing!

Volcano surfing, Cerro Negro

Need greaters in Leon

Spanish meeting w/English group in Granada

loading up the truck in Granada

And that is a monkey on the boat

Goodbye Belize (Sad face emoticon)

The ground swell from the ocean rolls underneath the boat with such ease and power it's better not to linger on our precariousness.  Ian and myself have once again found ourselves at sea, I suppose that makes us sea men by now.  This time out past the reef in a boat with 3 props, 3 captains, 1 customs agent, and about 25 strangers who have one thing in common with us.  Honduras.
We'll be on the boat for about 5 or 6 hours in total. I see the reflection of Belize in the water.  Like everything, like I knew it would, like I really didn't believe, Belize flew by like a warm summer day.  It's truly surreal to think that we're leaving what has became our home.  It's definitely sad to leave, even more so than I pictured it'd be at the start.
It seems as if the past few weeks has been filled with goodbyes.  Friends we made here were going home.  Ian's mom and Jodi, Keana, and Keo's visit came and went.  Not without it's highlights though (Including a beautiful picnic in the jungle, service in villages, cave tubing, zip lining, some great food, and being energized by the positive spirit of the visiting sisters).  Then we had to say goodbye to our roommate and friend Derrick who was going out preaching on the Cayes for 5 days (it's too soon to talk much about that). Then finally our last meeting came, and we said goodbyes there, not knowing when we will see some of them again.  Each goodbye had one thing in common, it came too soon.
In this entry I'd like to wrap up our experience in a neat little package that properly communicates the experience of being down here.  Unfortunately, if that is possible, I am not a good enough writer to accomplish such a feat.  So here's a pile of clippings spread across the floor of a Honduran hostel.

The people in Belize, if I had to sum up in a word, are superabundantlyfantasticallykindgenerouslovelylovely people.  We were privileged to see Alan's first part in the theocratic ministry school. Alan is the first Garifuna man from Seine Bight village to accept the truth.  We also got to go out in service with him, and another local brother Roger, their first times participating in the field ministry.  We also got to see Roger's wife Siripohn, one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet, out in service for the very first time just a few weeks ago.  We were at the baptism of two very established locals, Geno and Olga Leslie.  (Remind me to tell you about our ride to the baptism when I get back, classic Belize).  The small group in Placencia Village has had it's problems, but we were here at a time when we got to see Jehovah really blessing the group, and the locals stepping up regardless of attempts by Satan to discourage them.
We were privileged to spend time and associate with Steve and Telma, who've been in full time service in Belize for 30 years.  And yes after 30 years in Belize, they are definitely characters.  Presently Steve is the only elder in the group and they both serve as special pioneers, and I think they know about half of the people who live in Belize (that is a realistic estimate).
Tony (Big Tony) and Casey who've been in Placencia for 2 years are a huge stabilizing force to the group and have sacrificed much to come to Belize.  Losing to Tony one on four in volleyball was a humiliating experience though.  Then we even got to know our contacts from Colorado much better.  Keith who is a community staple always witnessing at his coffee cart and giving fine parts at the meeting, (just watch out for those hips when he's salsa dancing, they are dangerous).   And our buddy Derrick who I hope to serve where the need is great with again in the future.  We really couldn't of asked for a better roommate to have down here.

If the brothers and sisters were the only part of this trip it would of been more than enough. (there is so many other need greaters who I'll tell you about another time, i.e. Michigan girls, Team Oregon, the Brits, the other Brits, etc.)  But on top of that we had a productive, truly enjoyable ministry.  People here aren't in such a hurry for the next thing, they actually take the time for a real conversation and have a refreshing respect for the Bible.  Bible students and return visits that it broke my heart to tell them I wasn't going to be coming back, but one of my friends will.  Irma, a Mayan lady, who always excitedly got out two chairs for us, her books, and even when her boys came home for lunch she'd make them sit quietly until the study was over.  Rastine who always would take a break from selling jewelry to have a study and even the very first time asked me to say a prayer.  Conrad whose whole family would sit in on the study. Even his wife who understood very little English would sit and listen. 
On top of the enjoyable ministry, you can't forget about the after service and Monday afternoon volleyball games, Tommy's fried chicken with Marie Sharps and Ketchup (it's good trust me), snorkeling, spear fishing,  fish fry at Roger and Siripohn's, lunch with Geno,  fresh caught Tuna from Kevin, Gelato at Tutti Frutti, Siriphohn's Thai food Friday, Futbol with the Brits, afternoon tea with the other Brits, Snickers and Coca Cola never tasting so good, bonfires by the beach, hitching rides, riding your bike everywhere else, and etc. etc. etc.
To sum it up.  Yes man, it was real nice, for true.

I'll have more pictures soon hopefully.  My connection here is painfully slow, so it took forever just to load these three. 

Geno and Olga post baptism

Roger and Siripohn, with Roger's brother Ervin in the middle

The boys and Geno