where did it go?

I am sitting here trying to figure out where the time has gone! Only one post in September--sorry about that. The month passed by in such a whirlwind I can't believe it's October now!

September involved: a 2 week visit from my boss, a workshop with all of MCC's current partners, a team meeting with the new workers that came on board in August, partner visits in Teguc and a general assortment of reports and plans due to MCC in the US.

whew.

I get tired all over again just reading that list.

I did manage to take some pictures along the way so here is a look at the last month in more of a photo-essay style :) Oh, and the rodeo was the very last weekend of August...

the copaneco ready for the rodeo & fair, notice boots & belt buckle.
it is serious business.

the bulls for bull-riding

at our partner workshop, keeping ourselves awake :)

teaching some BIC pastors how to play dutch blitz. hilarious!

another "stay awake" activity. I promise we did do a lot of work

the participants at our partner workshop

preparing our reactions for the Honduras goal in the world cup qualifier that night.
sadly they didn't win.

oh--here is the proof we worked at the workshop...

hanging out at team meeting

our whole Honduras team (for now)

Thankful that TOMORROW I head to the capital city (once again) for a weekend of festivities for the wedding of two really great friends! Taking some vacation to enjoy the celebration, and a little beach trip on the side before I return to reality.

new and different

Every year brings new changes to our MCC team, mostly in the form of new service workers. We had to say good bye this year to the Stephens and the Troyers, but now we have been able to welcome new workers and get to know them.

Our September retreat for MCC Honduras was in the central location (central for all but me ;) of Siguatepeque. We were tucked away in a nice retreat center and were able to enjoy cooler temperatures and time together as a team.

What I was not aware of was this retreat center boasts a world-class co-op course and high ropes adventure course.

I would just like to say that in many years of liberal arts college-ing, camp counseling, admissions staff-ing and youth retreat-ing I have had my FAIR share of co-op courses. And I really really really don't need anything like high ropes. I would also like to preface this by saying that I had a bad experience my first weeks in Honduras with a tree, a hammock, and a nasty, um, tree-trapped situation.

So. Day 1, what do they want me to do?? Sit on the edge of a 8 meter high platform and "fall" off to swing and feel like I'm in a hammock. I tried to tell Kike (the guide, pronounced key-kay) that I would be much happier in a real hammock, about 2 feet off the ground, and still happy to reflect on taking risks and what we learn about trust from said situations...but he was not having it. I ALSO tried to get him to push me cuz I was too scared to throw myself off the ledge...and he told me firmly that he never pushes anyone. Ok Mr. I-eat-raw-eggs-for-breakfast-and-probably-walk-on-high-ropes-with-no-safety-ropes. You are of no help to me in my moment of need.

But since I had already climbed the 7 meter ricktey ladder that only Hondurans would tell you is completely safe, I had no choice. I wasn't going back down that thing!

So I fell off the ledge.

And I screamed.

And I was terrified.

And then I sat in a swing for a few minutes to take in the view.

And the little assistant man was like: "ok, but really...you liked it right? "

"NO!" I firmly responded, not smiling.

And it was in this moment I realized...I have spent a lot of my life pushing myself to do scary things. To step out of my comfort zone. To be brave and try something that makes me tremble inside.

But sometimes, you feel no different after you've done it. You think you will, but you don't.

And I've just decided that I'm not an adrenaline junky, and I don't like heights.

So eat that for breakfast, Kike!

Fast Forward to Day 2. Our whole team is to participate in the high ropes team building activities.

I was sick to my stomach. I was praying for rain. I wanted to do ANYTHING but that course.

Thankfully, life is not always as it is in summer camp, and you can say no. And people will respect you.
So, I calmly declined (after chatting with my supervisors) and was content to swallow my fear and watch all of my MCC colleagues from below. On terra firme. Oh, but of course I took lots of photos.

 Being brave is important. But knowing your limits can also be just as important. And I think I grew a lot in finally giving myself permission to be afraid and say "no. not this time!"

before the fall, with my newly un-afraid adrenaline junky "twin" Elise

the longest climb OF MY LIFE.

on the platform, kickin' it with with Keeks...we aren't really friends.

after the "fall" swinging around "enjoying" the view. but check that face.
 I am cosa seria!

to give you an idea of how the platform was ON THE SIDE OF A FREAKING MOUNTAIN

after the fall, had the feeling back in my hands, enjoying time with Mari,
a new MCC friend from Nicaragua

Mari's fall. It's about a 1/4 second after that you feel the ropes holding you

having fun with co-op games

the high ropes course!!

the brave ones. I am SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF YOU ALL!

they had the hardest climb to get to "starting" point. Of course, Kike was their team leader...

a fall. exactly what I didnt want to happen to me. but she pulled through. so proud of Emily!!

one small step....

repelling down to safety ;)

2 happy 2 be done... 1 wanting more....

our new MCC team for 2012-2013 :)
love you all!

to Guatemala and back

If you are following the pattern of my blog posts you might start to think that all I do is take vacation and visit other MCCers...and, you wouldn't be too far from the truth.

I just got back from another MCC retreat, but this time it was a bit different. We had the opportunity to travel to Guatemala for the MesoAmerica retreat of MCCers from the region (Mexico, Guate, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua & Costa Rica). It was a LOT of hours on buses to reach our final destination, Santiago de Atitlan on the beautiful Lake Atitlan of Guatemala, but well worth the journey.

We had time together as an MCC Honduras team, one of our last with the Stephens family who are leaving us shortly :( and we had a lot of time to meet other MCCers living and working in Central America.

The place we stayed was beautiful and provided some opportunities to do a little tourist-ing (of course mixed in with plenty of serious sessions concerning our work!)

So of course I only have pictures of the fun stuff--being touristy. But I also have some videos of our wonderfully gifted and spirited MCC Honduras team performing at the talent show. There weren't prizes, but I'm sure if there were, our rousing version of "My Favorite Things" (from the soon to be released "El Sonido de La Musica") would have been awarded first place. We are pretty clever. I'm surprised you didn't know that ;)

lake atitlan

team honduras

enjoy the video :)

 Here are the lyrics in case you can't fully understand the Spanglish...

Favorite things 

Mountains and beaches and Copan Ruinas

ceramica Lenca aves y leechas

gente amable que nos da amor, (kind people who give us love)

this is what I came to Honduras for.

Pineapple, mango and fresh avocados

frijoles, chuletas y ricos licuados  (beans, pork chops and smoothies)

baleadas abundan a diez lempiras (baleadas abound at 10 lempiras)

estas son mis cosas favoritas  (these are my favorite things)

Se fue la luz-- no viene el agua  (the lights went out! the water didn't come)

vienen ladrones ya!  (here come robbers)

I simply remember my favorite things

and then I don't feel "tan mal" (then i dont feel so bad)

¿Que onda loco?  -- Todo macizo! (what's up man, everything's cool)

Que barbaridad que no tengo pisto. (what a barbarity (?) i dont have any money)

Pucha, que basura, vaya pues, cheke leke, (dang it! what garbage! ok, it's all good)

these are a few things catrachos say.

MCM y Proyecto MAMA

donde trabajo cada mañana (where i work every morning)

ASJ, CODESO, ACDIM…

partners are some of my favorite things.

Huracanes,  inundaciones (hurricanes, floods)

team Giardia,

I simply remember my favorite things 

and then I don't feel "tan mal"

mennonite family

It's the first day of February! Less than 5 weeks til one of my favorite friends, Paula, comes to visit...less than 3 months til Easter week (which is a big holiday here) and about 6 more months left on my SALT term.

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to attend a retreat for young adults in the Mennonite church of Honduras. Lucky for me, it was just outside of Teguc, so I didn't have far to travel :) A few other MCC friends went along too, which was really fun. I wasn't sure how the whole thing would go, being that I only knew 6 other people attending the retreat...but in true Mennonite fashion, we were warmly welcomed and offered plenty of hospitality as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Friday night's worship service started around 7pm and lasted til about 11:30pm. We were instructed that devotions on Saturday morning would be before breakfast, at 6am. When this announcement was received with a round of groans, we were asked "Did we come here to sleep? Or have we come here to worship the Lord together?" ...in the rather quiet auditorium, the leader then said "Can I get an amen?!" ;) Apparently youth the world over hate getting up early. Who knew?!

So Saturday started early, which had us fighting sleep the entire day. There were devotions, breakfast, worship time and then 2 workshops. For the 2nd workshop, we (the MCCers) got to share with the country-wide leadership committee of the youth about our volunteer experience with MCC. We shared a bit about what MCC does, what service programs are available, and why we serve. It seemed like many of them were not familiar with what we shared, so it was great to be able to help connect MCC with the church in that way. Especially with the rising leaders of the Mennonite church.

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.