Here we are in Honduras. We left Texas on Monday flying into Nicaragua's capital city, Managua. The flights went well with only one incident towards the end of the last flight when all three kids had fallen asleep. As we started the descent, they all three at once started screaming. Daniel tried to get the boys to wake up to tell them to make big yawns, chew the gum he stuffed in their mouths, or drink from their sippy cups. Eventually they were able to get their ears “popped” and slept the remaining time of the flight. Maria Victoria felt better after nursing. We probably woke the whole plane, but we were soon deboarding. :)
Fr. John Anthony picked us up at the airport at 8PM Nicaragua time, 9PM Texas time. He took us to friends of theirs whose one son is in seminary up in NY where many friar seminarians are. Two of their other sons went to Texas A&M in the early 90's. They were very hospitable and we slept well that night. In the morning, we headed off to Matagalpa, a two hour drive from Managua. Once there we drove up to the retreat center where we would stay. They fed us lunch with yummy freshly made corn tortillas. Mmm. I really need to learn how to make them.
Our goals for Matagalpa were to check out the place the diocese is giving us to live and try to open bank accounts...both the friars and us. It seems you need a lot of paper work for the latter which neither of us had. So that would wait for when we all move there on the 17th of October.
The housing situation was a bit stressful. We saw a few options, one being a huge, as in once was 3 or 4 small houses that the diocese opened up and made into one large office. It had no kitchen and wasn't in the greatest condition, yet the bishop's secretary was asking what we would need, like a kitchen sink, and such.
Another woman who works for the diocese was asked to look around for housing for us, but was not told we were coming this soon. So she had not done much research but immediately got on the phone and started calling around. We went with her and a friend to see the friend's house out of town 10 minutes or so. It was beautiful, with wonderful gardens and other end of the spectrum from the old office building. She would rent a room in her house to us and we should make ourselves at home in the place. She is a widow and just lives with her maid. She told us that it was unfortunate that she had already rented out the apartment on the bottom floor to a single man and she had recently rented the house in town she owned. But she was used to renting to families with children she said. She had many nice things, many breakable in children's reach so I'm not sure how recently she had done this or how old those kids were, because she'd have to do a lot of rearranging if we were to live there.
They showed us two other options in town, but neither would work for us. One was a small room in a lady's house who made pottery there. I can imagine her productivity level going down as my kids run around the house bumping into shelves of freshly baked pottery.
Another was a room in an overcrowded small apartment building with no outside area for the kids to play. Needless to say, getting in and out of the car and going all over with the kids was added stress. Please pray that something suitable comes up.
Interestingly, while we were in town we saw on the mountainside across the river many people grouped together. We found out that they were “staging an invasion.” They had no homes and though the city says it is not safe since mudslides are probable, they were desperate enough to stay on the land 24/7 and start building a “home.” So though we were feeling a bit homeless, we realized we weren't really so.
On Wednesday, we left after lunch for our 6 and a half hour car ride to Comayagua, Honduras, where we lived from Oct. 2003 to May 2007. We are staying here until Oct. 17th when we'll move with 4 friars to Matagalpa. While here we'll visit friends and prepare for the move.
We came just in time to celebrate the Feast of St. Francis with the friars. For them it is another day like Christmas and Easter.
Today, Daniel and the boys went with some of the friars to Pulapanzak, a large waterfall 2 hours north of Comayagua. When they returned Daniel told me that it took them less time getting there and back than it did when we had gone other times because the roads have been improved. They had fun and didn't drown.
Maria Victoria has been sick with a cold which combined with new surroundings has made her extremely fussy and clingy which equals lots and lots of nursing. She and I had a low-key day in the apartment of Casa Guadalupe. Please pray that she gets better soon. I have been losing my patience a lot lately because of her going from a very independent, happy baby to a fussy, totally attached baby.
Juan Pablo has also had a cough, but no other symptoms so we're just giving him cough medicine. I look forward to healthy kids again. I need to be more grateful for the fact that they are healthy most of the time.
Since coming to Central America, Juan Pablo has changed his mind about his life's profession: after playing soccer with Br. Damiano and two little 10 year olds during which he had a major breakdown sobbing, “I can't make a goal,” he told me he wants to be a “soccer ball player” when he grows up. Up until this life changing game, he wanted to be a fireman.
Emmanuel still wants to be a fire juggler.
From the Mass today:
Brothers and Sisters: Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. The the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:6-9
Fr. Francis Mary reminded us that usually surrounding any sort of good work the Lord is preparing to do there is much darkness or struggle or discouragement. And so we press on.
Fr. John Anthony picked us up at the airport at 8PM Nicaragua time, 9PM Texas time. He took us to friends of theirs whose one son is in seminary up in NY where many friar seminarians are. Two of their other sons went to Texas A&M in the early 90's. They were very hospitable and we slept well that night. In the morning, we headed off to Matagalpa, a two hour drive from Managua. Once there we drove up to the retreat center where we would stay. They fed us lunch with yummy freshly made corn tortillas. Mmm. I really need to learn how to make them.
Our goals for Matagalpa were to check out the place the diocese is giving us to live and try to open bank accounts...both the friars and us. It seems you need a lot of paper work for the latter which neither of us had. So that would wait for when we all move there on the 17th of October.
The housing situation was a bit stressful. We saw a few options, one being a huge, as in once was 3 or 4 small houses that the diocese opened up and made into one large office. It had no kitchen and wasn't in the greatest condition, yet the bishop's secretary was asking what we would need, like a kitchen sink, and such.
Another woman who works for the diocese was asked to look around for housing for us, but was not told we were coming this soon. So she had not done much research but immediately got on the phone and started calling around. We went with her and a friend to see the friend's house out of town 10 minutes or so. It was beautiful, with wonderful gardens and other end of the spectrum from the old office building. She would rent a room in her house to us and we should make ourselves at home in the place. She is a widow and just lives with her maid. She told us that it was unfortunate that she had already rented out the apartment on the bottom floor to a single man and she had recently rented the house in town she owned. But she was used to renting to families with children she said. She had many nice things, many breakable in children's reach so I'm not sure how recently she had done this or how old those kids were, because she'd have to do a lot of rearranging if we were to live there.
They showed us two other options in town, but neither would work for us. One was a small room in a lady's house who made pottery there. I can imagine her productivity level going down as my kids run around the house bumping into shelves of freshly baked pottery.
Another was a room in an overcrowded small apartment building with no outside area for the kids to play. Needless to say, getting in and out of the car and going all over with the kids was added stress. Please pray that something suitable comes up.
Interestingly, while we were in town we saw on the mountainside across the river many people grouped together. We found out that they were “staging an invasion.” They had no homes and though the city says it is not safe since mudslides are probable, they were desperate enough to stay on the land 24/7 and start building a “home.” So though we were feeling a bit homeless, we realized we weren't really so.
On Wednesday, we left after lunch for our 6 and a half hour car ride to Comayagua, Honduras, where we lived from Oct. 2003 to May 2007. We are staying here until Oct. 17th when we'll move with 4 friars to Matagalpa. While here we'll visit friends and prepare for the move.
We came just in time to celebrate the Feast of St. Francis with the friars. For them it is another day like Christmas and Easter.
Today, Daniel and the boys went with some of the friars to Pulapanzak, a large waterfall 2 hours north of Comayagua. When they returned Daniel told me that it took them less time getting there and back than it did when we had gone other times because the roads have been improved. They had fun and didn't drown.
Maria Victoria has been sick with a cold which combined with new surroundings has made her extremely fussy and clingy which equals lots and lots of nursing. She and I had a low-key day in the apartment of Casa Guadalupe. Please pray that she gets better soon. I have been losing my patience a lot lately because of her going from a very independent, happy baby to a fussy, totally attached baby.
Juan Pablo has also had a cough, but no other symptoms so we're just giving him cough medicine. I look forward to healthy kids again. I need to be more grateful for the fact that they are healthy most of the time.
Since coming to Central America, Juan Pablo has changed his mind about his life's profession: after playing soccer with Br. Damiano and two little 10 year olds during which he had a major breakdown sobbing, “I can't make a goal,” he told me he wants to be a “soccer ball player” when he grows up. Up until this life changing game, he wanted to be a fireman.
Emmanuel still wants to be a fire juggler.
From the Mass today:
Brothers and Sisters: Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. The the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:6-9
Fr. Francis Mary reminded us that usually surrounding any sort of good work the Lord is preparing to do there is much darkness or struggle or discouragement. And so we press on.
Comments
I have been praying for all of you! I pray you're able to find ideal housing soon. And that your kiddos get better soon. Things are always harder when they are sick ..... and clingy. ;-)
As soon as he's old enough, you go ahead and send Emmanuel up here. I'll teach him - hehehe.
Evans, I'll let you know when I'm ready to give my child over to fire juggling.