Going Bananas

One of the small surprises that we have enjoyed since coming to Honduras are the bananas. Now bananas are fairly consistently available in the States so we have long been banana consumers. But the bananas here are better. I know that you're probably thinking: "A banana is a banana. How much better could it really be?" Well, I wouldn't say that they are wildly better but we have both commented that the fresh banana flavor of Honduran bananas is more intense than the bananas we're used to. They don't taste different than what we're used to, just more so.

I've been thinking about this because it is a pretty good description of how life has felt of late, not different, just more intense. In ministry there has been an increase in the number and depth of discipleship/counselling opportunities. We are becoming more keenly aware of the regular, ongoing needs of the congregation, needs that deserve greater attention. From dabbling in Spanish, Debbie has begun working more intently on making progress in the language. Parenting could fall in this category as well.

This intensification is not unwelcome (please note double negative). It is a part of life, and indeed, a sign of greater kingdom potential. But it has certainly made us more aware of our need for a vibrant personal prayer life and the blessing of prayer partners elsewhere.

Thank you for how you partner with us.

Piñata ponderings

Piñatas are extremely popular party items here. Ellyn has been to a couple of parties lately and has taken her whacks as well as enjoyed the resultant candy cascade. At the most recent party we attended (a wonderful affair, thanks for the invite!), the piñata of choice was the disembodied head of Cookie Monster. That was fine up until the point that it was hung on the gallows rope for its whacking. That was a little creepy looking.

But apart from that I still have some reservations about the whole piñata thing.

First, I have seen enough episodes of America's Funniest Home Videos to know that where there is a piñata, invariably somebody's going to get whacked, and it is usually the adults.

Second, I wonder about the long term personal and cultural consequences of the implicit message that if you beat someone enough times with a stick, candy will come out.

Some snapshots of recent daily life

Just some random bits from life of late.

First, elsewhere I have commented on the cheese situation around here. This was a felicitous find!

Though we don't think we need 2 vehicles full time right now, a friend who is in and out of the country has generously offered to let us use his truck when he's not around. Given that it's a truck and standard (or mecanico as they say around here), only Stephen drives this one.

Here's proof of the mirror replacement.

Bougainvillea blooming in the tree at the end of our cul-de-sac. (The picture doesn't do it justice).

Our doorbell and the delivery of our electric bill.

Denominational Differences

We are an inter-denominational church which means we make an effort to get along and the pastor takes turns offending people in his messages.

But even for us there are limits.

This evening a young boy came to Bible Study dressed in the white uniform of the Real Madrid Futbol Club, something like this:

After study I casually mentioned his attire and commented, "Soy de Barça," indicating my preference for Real Madrid's arch rival, Barcelona. The astonished, wordless, and withering gaze this youngster offered me upon hearing my profession of futbol faith was a sight to behold.

I think I'd get a warmer reception from my Baptist mother if I converted to Hare Krishna.

I guess I'm good either way

As far as cultural icons go one slight difference between Honduras and the US is that this...

...is a far more common sight than this:

For the uninitiated, the former is the crest of the Fútbol Club Barcelona or, more crassly the Barcelona soccer team. One hopes the latter needs no similar explanation.

As it turns out, I happen to be a fan of both clubs so the iconographic eclipse of the one by the other is of no great moment to me.

Looking back...a follow up

Lest you were worried after the last post that we might decide to drive indefinitely without side mirrors, I wanted to let you know that I had them replaced yesterday. We have learned several things in this little experience.
1) People steal things that seem to have little value.
2) Driving without mirrors is annoying.
3) Removing the entire mirror from our car is easy and only involves three small bolts.
4) Replacing the mirrors is cheap.

Now, it has only been about 24 hours so I cannot yet testify to the quality of the craftsmanship, but I left the mirror assembly at a shop yesterday morning and picked them up again around noon. The shop custom cut pieces of mirror and glued them onto the mirror adjustment mount so we can still use the motorized mirror adjustment controls in the car.

The charge? 140 lempiras or about $7.00. For both, not apiece. No kidding. I thought it was ridiculously cheap so I gave the guy $10 and told him to keep the change. He looked at me like I was crazy, but said, "Whatever."

So the downside to living in Honduras? You're likely to get your mirrors stolen.

The upside? It only cost $7 to replace them.

No looking back

Recently I received word from two different graduate school buddies of their experience in the job search. One was just recently hired after years and dozens of rejections. The other is at a very encouraging step in the process with a reputable institution after himself having experienced his share of dismissive replies to applications.

I must admit that mixed with my happiness for them is a tinge of wistfulness, even jealousy. You see, that was the path that I was on, or thought I was at least, until almost a year ago when a different and unexpected calling was revealed. And yet, though we have embraced our life and ministry here, there is still a part of me that hasn't completely bid farewell to those earlier aspirations.

Yet--and especially if anyone from the congregation is reading this--we are not looking back. We have no end date in mind. We do not chafe against this calling. We are trying to call this "home" instead of constantly thinking of the states that way. We have no doubt that God has placed us here for this time and for His purposes. With that confidence, we are not looking back.

Well, that and somebody stole both side mirrors off our car.

A little cultural oddity

Growing up in a church that used the King James Version there were many an archaic phrase that my young mind struggled to understand.

One in particular came to my mind the other day upon observing a cultural oddity here in Honduras. The verse is Psalm 22:7.

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip...

 That phrase "shoot out the lip" always struck me as odd.

I was thinking about this the other day because Hondurans point with their lips. I'm sure that sounds strange but they do, even in the middle of a sentence. In the case in question, a sales lady at an electronics store indicated a stack of inkjet printers in answer to a customer's question by "shoot(ing) out the lip" while speaking. It's the sort of thing that is kind of hard to imagine until you see it.

No, it doesn't have anything to do with Psalm 22, and no, I don't intend to take up the practice.