Back at it

After two days of travel, which could have been three with false hopes of being able to volunteer for a $400 vouture ticket, nonetheless, yes, I have safely arrived back here in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Where do I begin?

Let me start with Christmas break. It was great. It was a blessing to finally be able to be in the arms of my family again and finally make side by side memories with friends again. I've missed you all dearly. It was stretching and very challenging to realize things have changed and things will not be the same when I return again. I found myself really hurting because of this and it will continue to be a process. Change is hard, and it is a process. Thus, the process continues here. I've included some great pictures of the amazing times I had at home. They are just some of the many memories I had. Granted I didn't take a picture at every meal I met up with friends for, many times multiple meals a day, but those too were also enjoyed. So smile with me as we take a quick glance of what occured over my time on American soil. :)

Dinner at our favorite place EL Arriero


Dance! DANCE! oh...and there are videos to proove it! Love you girls.


SNOW! No, 23 is not too old to still make snow angels.


Jenn, Rachel, and I together, as it should be :)


FRIENDS!


Couple of the ladies at the Christmas Kristi party. Thanks so much friends!


My adorable nephew Kyle on Christmas


My incredibly intelligent niece Julia. It was great to have all of the family together, especially the siblings.


A lady that means so much to me, the famous Jeni. Now many of you can have a face to the infamous Jeni that I used to clean for! She's a friend and a lot like another sister. Can't say enough about her.


Las chicas divinas


My New Years date and I ;)


Braving the beach in the winter


BRRRRRR!


Check out the ice!


My dear Betty girl


Naya crew after a night of dancing. I miss it already!


Jason, Mom, and I


Me with my beloved Grandparents


Returning back was a challenge, one only to be done with God's assistance. I was home for enough time to get used to it again and then have to leave. Now I have to get used to this place all over again. It's hard to not really know where home is. I guess it's where the heart is and lately I'm searching for that. The adjustment here is not as hard this time as I knew where I was going, I had people I knew to welcome me with open arms, and a home to walk into that was ironically full of my stuff! I knew how to arrive to my home. I knew to ignore the guys that want to help with your luggage in the airport because then you have to dig out a tip for them, and I knew that I'd be ok. I have had many God sitings that I'd like to share along with culture shock moments. We'll start with the fact that unfortunatly it took Christmas break for me to break down to my lowest, most broken hurting point. However, it is now that God can finally work. I spent the trip back journaling over 20 pages in my journal. God got an ear full finally. :) That alone time was a blessing and needed. I also saw God when I was seated next to a man on the trip into Teguc who has a missions organization here in HN. He was a joy to talk to and felt quite fatherly in fact. I look forward to hopefully joining up with them to help translate some weekend. It was also a blessing to receive my luggage, have a safe landing in Tegucigalpa, be welcomed by friends, and have loving friends who are there to ask boldly and honestly listen to what I've been through and where I'm at which is in a place of building upward slowly. I'm thankful for them and that's an honest answer to prayer. I also randomly got to meet one of my neighbor's finally and have made the move to finally redo my room. I've gone on shopping sprees the past two nights to buy a new shower curtain, rugs, curtains, pictures to decorate, a shelf, etc. Why not make it more homey? It's well over due.

The culture shock moments have consisted of poor customer service again (but I'm not keeping my mouth shut anymore), cat calls, stares, and trying to be picked up by men (so funny sometimes), and not having hot water. My body isn't quite sure what to do with 84 degree weather and dust again. I'm fighting to stay healthy.

So here we are after one full day at school already of in-service. Tomorrow the kiddos come, and I'm ready for their hugs...maybe nothing more. :) It's only two days. I know I can do it.

So, I close by thanking and apolgoizing at the same time to my loved ones at home who were patient with me and there for me as I processed the many things I needed to. It's one day at a time and it's still not easy so I appreciate your prayers and continued support.

One step at a time....