home away from home

Over the past 7 years of my life, I have done quite a bit of traveling...and I love it. There are so many experiences I would never trade to have just stayed at home. However--there is something about coming home that is so comforting and refreshing, no matter how much you love where you've been.

But the other great joy of travel, is sometimes you don't have to go home to find a spot that feels like home. I have been so blessed by the MCC team here in Honduras, and the way these new friends have become so much like family to me.

Over the weekend we had a retreat with all the one year workers who came in August at Virgil and Kathy Troyers house. It was so relaxing to be in their home, surrounded by close friends, laughing and sharing about our new lives in Honduras. Our team is so diverse in so many ways, but we have become good friends and truly enjoy each other's company. Since the 5 of us spent 3 weeks straight together, and now have been separated for about 6 weeks, we had lots of catching up to do :)

Friday night we were having fun, but were very worried for Alison, who could not seem to find a bus that could make it all the way to Tegucigalpa. By 9 or 10 pm we were relieved to know that she had a safe place to sleep and that we would see her in the morning. She has the most rural placement of any of us, in La Campa, near Gracias, doing environmental work.

Noel, the lone ranger of the group, came from San Pedro Sula to visit us in Teguc for the first time. He is working for a mennonite education project there, Proyecto MAMA, and is teaching computer classes. He is really enjoying the community he has found in the Mennonite church in San Pedro.

Johanna had a shorter trip to Nueva Suyapa (where the Troyer's live) from the far side of Teguc. She works at a school/ministry for the children of families who live and work at the city dump. It's a tough place, but she is also loving the community of friends she has found there.

Elise lives 'just down the street' from me in Nueva Suyapa, and works for ASJ (Assoc. for a more Just Society). She is doing work on writing articles for donors, some work on grants, and is generally involved in various aspects of their legal work to make Honduras a better place.

Oh, what I forgot to mention is Noel is from Bolivia, and Johanna is from Columbia, so we talk in Spanish when we are together, of course. This has truly been a great thing, as we learn so much from each other, and get help from our personal tutors 24-7 ;) Another small victory to share...that I was able to have many conversations in Spanish where I didn't feel inhibited by the language, and was pretty freely able to express myself. Very exciting :)

We took some time to visit the sights of the city...a pretty sweet look-out, actually...

and we played mini-golf...

I think this course is nicer (cough, and harder) than most I've seen in the US! (note, the hole is at the top of that pyramid looking thing!)

We ate dinner on the Troyer's roof, overlooking the city (very awesome)...

and had time to share about our joys and struggles living in our new culture. It was a really good time together, and I'm so grateful that I feel so comfortable with, loved, and supported by these fellow volunteers.