3 days in

Tomorrow will be my third day here, and already I feel I have been here for weeks. The Sorianos, Efrain's family are very open to me and have shown me such care that I feel I have been here forever. My plane ride over was very good. It was full of new friends at each leg of the trip. I met a Costa Rican woman who needed help getting a camera for her son. In Miami, I tried to help her, which led to her buying me breakfast and inviting me to Costa Rica to meet her family. Dangit! now I have to go to Costa Rica!

I also met a girl from San Pedro who is in charge of her youth group and is looking for projects for it. She heard me talk about Cocal Gracias, and is excited about the idea of helping us. She was very kind.

After two days here, It feels like I have done nothing but sleep. I think it is a combination of the all carb diet of rice and pasta, and also the insanely comfortable bed I have at Efrain's. Just let it get to 100 degrees in the house, and me laying on the bed, and I am gone. I don't even notice the mosquitoes.

I am really having fun with the family and am looking forward to heading to Puerto Cortes. Unbeknownst to me, there was a problem with my ride. No one can afford gas for the half hour drive, so they have all been calling around to see who can take me. I figured it out and told them I would be happy to pay for the gas. The relief was apparent on their faces. haha. Anyway, keep them all in your prayers.

quick note: Ciro and I were kicking the soccer ball around, and within two minutes of starting, he kicked my foot and I rolled it, spraining it pretty bad. Now the joke of the day is the gringo who only lasted two minutes. Ciro leaves out the part about kicking me. But when my foot gets better, I'm gonna kick him good.

Brian

Well, it is official. I have just moved out of my apartment and photo studio. Everything that has remained in my possession is sitting in a box somewhere, not to be seen again until 2007. It is so exciting to be in the last few weeks leading to departure (October 24). I feel like there is so much to do, so many people to see, and no time. Haha. But I feel so peaceful about everything.

Thank you to all of you who have helped me move and have been good friends and kept up with me even though I am running around. I know I am going to miss everyone.

I don't know if I have told my plans to anyone thus far, or even why I am going down to Honduras. So maybe, as a first letter to you all, I should set the record straight and do that.

I have been going to Honduras with San Diego First Church for several years now, and because of this, started a documentary project with Joel McGinty, making a movie about the people living in the city dump. We hope to show the film to everyone we know and everyone they know, and raise funds to build a school for the adults and children. (Movie to come out soon....) I was feeling each trip, that there was something good about this place. I would ask questions about living and working down there, dreaming of staying, but never really thinking or believing I would. Then, in February, late one night around 3am, I woke up with a migraine and could not sleep. I was talking with my cousin when I admitted that I thought God wanted me to volunteer in Honduras, but I had been fighting him on going for a year now. Prodded by my cousin, I told God that if he wanted me, I would go. I have since started making preparations to go.

People ask me what I am going to do down there and the truth is that I have no idea. But I am ok with this. I trust that God has many things for me to help out in. I do know that pastor Ephrain will be picking me up from the airport, and I will be staying with Pastor Alex until I find an apartment to rent. My plan is to help and support Alex and his church in any way that I can. I know I will be helping the orphan girls get settled and transition into University, and I will be helping out in Cocal Gracias.

My prayers for this trip are that I learn to trust God more, that I see his work done, and that I am changed for the better because of it. IF I can somehow be a bridge from people in the States, looking for people to help, to people in Honduras in need of help, I cannot think of any better cause for going. I hope that this blog and emails and letters to you my friends, are encouraging to you and give you hope. Have a great day, and see you all at the going away party.

Brian