an impromptu trip

by Alanna

My husband and I just got back last night from an impromptu trip to Tegucigalpa (the capital city, about a 3 1/2 hour bus drive from our home in Catacamas). In Honduran style, we didn't find out we were leaving until the night before. The purpose of the trip was to get our permanent residency status here (we've already overstayed our 3-month visa by quite a while).

We drove to Tegucigalpa with one of the teachers from school.  Made a stop at his house to drop things off, and then at a Pulperia for Yonas and I to get food for the drive. We pulled just off the highway twice more, for the teacher to buy beans and then milk and cheese in bag (to carry as gifts to his sister in the capital). We were only slightly slowed down by the normal Honduran things- potholes, a herd of cows, the police barricades. Off the highway twice more for coffee- first unsuccessfully as they were out, and second at a small red table by the roadside. There we enjoyed sweet coffee and bread, and Yonas tried a greenish-gray drink in a bag called Jugo de Cana (Cane Juice). The drive through this country is so incredibly beautiful- all mountainous and green.

In Tegucigalpa the traffic is crazy! Stoplights might help with the general chaos, but one unreversable problem is that there seems to have been no planning involved when the city was built. The word "haphazard" doesn't do justice in describing the "layout" of the streets. In our one night and day there, we had Wendy's, Subway, and Pizza Hut- all rare treats that don't exist in Catacamas. We also got a free night's hotel stay, free breakfast, and a TV to watch a soccer game. Getting our residency status was fast, although they did question about our visas being so over expired. In Honduras, fast is incredible and efficiency seems to be rare.

Sometimes I'm tempted to complain here, and it's so foolish. Here is so much beauty. This country we live in, the love we have for each other, the kids and coworkers at school. The fact that we hold U.S. passports. The mercy of Jesus who makes all things new. Every day is beauty because everyday is a gift from Him, each breath grace. I'm thankful to recognize that grace these past few days in a different place. It helps me to be thankful for what we have.