Friday, December 30, 2011

The New Craziness

So It Begins. Today is the last day of peace I will have before it starts getting really busy, right up to the move. Technically, I don't even have peace today because I have to clean the house in expectation of Zach's parents visiting this weekend. It's gonna be a lot of fun, girls night out on saturday and a party on sunday after meeting.
Hey- I didn't say busy meant boring.
We leave on Wednesday for California, and come back on the 9th. After that, it's doctor appt this, dentist appt that, then another party. The CO Visit is in early February. We really need to get cracking on our time so we aren't doing 150 hours in the middle of a hot muggy summer in La Ceiba. I WILL make my hours this year.

On the bright side, I slept last night, even if that means waking up early, I think its a sign that i'm not so stressed out anymore. Everything is starting to come together,


54 days!!!

Monday, December 26, 2011

Service Day

Today was an awesome day in service. We worked with a full car group of seven people doing calls. It was really nice to work with everyone, especially Dustin, since we have never worked with him before. Here's a picture of the boys.


On the right is Dustin Zink, then Zach and William Zink, all with their early morning beverage of choice. William is my sorta pioneer partner, when Zach isn't available. He's 17, and this is his first year pioneering too. The boys' mom Cindy is pioneering as well.

Their family hopes to go to Costa Rica next year for a couple months, which would be so amazing. I really want to go with them, but since we will have just gotten back from Honduras, there is no way it would work. So I'm hoping the boys can come visit us for a couple weeks, just to get a taste before they move.

Literally JUST got some exciting news! Brother Woodrow emailed us from Honduras- we have a place to live! There is a small apartment in a gated complex where a bunch of other Witnesses live. It's only $135/mo and it is completely furnished! That is just amazing, because when I was looking for furnished apartments they were quite a bit more. I was so worried about how we were going to have to buy a bed, and a fridge, and pots and pans and all those little things that make up a household. Now we don't have to do any of that. I can really see Jehovah's hand in this.

And, even more exciting- Bro Woodrow said he can get us on the next ministry school schedule! So we can start giving talks in the hall right away. I am just so excited about this!!!!!!

Til next time...

Friday, December 23, 2011

8.5 weeks

Seems like just yesterday there was 9.5 weeks left, now a whole week has gone by and we haven't gotten anything accomplished.
Well, that's not completely true. We bought a new suitcase, which is a big duffel bag on wheels. It's really nice because everything that we had in two suitcases now fits in the one, so we have two left to pack our clothes and things in. That weight limit is going to be REALLY close.

We've also being working on a little shindig before we leave, so we can hang out with the friends one last time. I get kinda sad when I think about it, but it's not like we will never come back so....

We also have been emailing the brother down in Honduras. Found out the hotel we are going to book is actually most likely no where near the Kindgom Hall, so you know, good job there Robynn. He is still looking for a place for us to stay, which is really nice of him, and we get to call him for help when we get down there.

So mildly productive, but because I can't cross anything off the To Do List, it feels like the week has been wasted.

I think it probably doesn't help that I've been sick so I haven't gotten out in service all week. Feeling guilty about that. The pioneer meeting is tomorrow though, and that should be encouraging. I've never been to one of those.

Zach's parents are coming to visit next week, then we go back to California with them for a week, so we are gonna be busy here soon. Time is just flying by and it's going to get even faster.

I'm starting to get a little scared about going, just because third world countires are dangerous places and you never know what might happen. I'm still really excited, but somewhat paranoid about it. I'm sure that'll pass once we get down there. Or it'll get worse. One of the two.

So we've had a lot of new readers judging by the stats. If y'all want to become followers or comment so we can see who you are, that'd be awesome.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Good Morning

We had a good morning out in service today. I did early morning service for only the second time ever. It's actually fun, once I wake up fully.

I think the best part must be the car group and the coffee, because we sure don't find a lot of people out in the am. We drive around apartment complexes and parking lots looking for people, but instead find a lot of cars ready to be stolen- they are on, warming up, and no one is around.

The few people we do find are really receptive though, and friendly, even if they aren't interested.

It's been encouraging working a different kind of service and getting a good response.

I've been thinking about how we will do service in Honduras, being the foreign language group and all. I can't imagine we will go door to door like we do here; I think we will probably do more like the language groups here do, walking around town speaking the language, asking around, and instead of driving from this one house here to this other house there, we will probably do a LOT of walking. It'll be like rural territory in the city!

Should be fun!!!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

American Airlines is the Devil

I called American Airlines this morning, just to verify how much baggage we can bring, and sure enough the weight limit is 50 lbs. I remember the good old days when it was 70 lbs...O how nice that would be. I was already pretty sure it was only 50 lbs, but I had hope, which was very quickly dashed to pieces.

This is a really good chance for us to simplify, so I was thinking the 50 lbs per bag wouldn't be a problem. However, we keep having to add items to the list, so the weight keeps going up and up and up.... Guess we aren't taking the PS3.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Shopping Trip

Today I went to Ikea to pick up things I think we'll need on our trip. I got some cool stuff, mostly for clothing storage, since I doubt we will have a dresser.

It's so hard not to start packing everything right now. I'm going through it all, trying to figure out what I won't need for two months. We can only take four suitcases at 50lbs each, so this could be difficult. I didn't think we'd be taking that much, but since I just used up one suitcase on household items, I'm a little worried.

I found the cutest suitcase online last night. It makes me want to be a kid again.
.Melissa and Doug Trunki Sunny Suitcase

Good News

We talked to the brother in Honduras tonight. He said February was a good time to come, so I'm trying to book the flight right now but the British Airways website isn't cooperating. We leave February 22. 75 days feels like forever.

He gave us some information about the city, mainly that it is safe to ride bikes around, and some of the brothers actually do that. The congregation is small- 28 publishers- and they are assigned the entire city. There are parts they have yet to work. There is a family from Canada down there right now, and another is coming in on Monday. Plus two other families will be down there for 2 weeks here soon. It will be fun to meet other people doing need great work. I love Canadians, eh? :)

Their circuit is 3 countries- little surprise when there are only four English congregations in Honduras. The English started up about 2 years ago.

Side Note- there is a fly dying somewhere in my bedroom right now. At 3 am, it's really LOUD!

Apparently, there is a brother down there who manages (owns?) an apartment building. It might be full up but Bro Woodrow said he would check around for us, and that with our budget we will have no trouble getting something. I wasn't worried exactly, but it was nice to hear that we'll be good in that aspect.

We will still be arranging our own ride from the airport (which is actually more like 2.5 hours), and will still stay at a hotel initially, just while we get acclimated. I've already got a tentative reservation with the hotel. Once I book the flight, I will confirm it with them.

Got the pioneer school issue figured out. They probably won't be having one in Honduras, since there's not really any new English pioneers. So I'll have to go here. Just need to talk to the CO to confirm that he won't take me off the list.

Arg, the British Airways website STILL isn't working. Guess I'll have to call in the morning.


****Update**** It's 6:15am and I finally got the flight booked. It's official, no turning back now!!!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Research

So now that we have a plan sorta in place, I feel like lots of things are coming together for us.
I found a bunch of apartments we can afford, emailed an agent to work with on finding a place, and discovered that Honduras does, in fact, have a form of Walmart.

I also found a hotel we can stay at while looking for our home. They will pick us up at the airport, even though it's over an hour away. And the best part, it's located less than a mile from the Kingdom Hall. Hope we find an apartment that close.

The bank is being a little difficult, but it's just paperwork.

We're getting in to the doctor to work on the immunizations we need, not looking forward to that so much. Most everything we need is a series of shots.

I'd had a doctor appointment on Feb 29, which only caused a slight problem with the idea of leaving mid-February. Thankfully, I was able to move it up to the week of the CO visit, so now we are free to leave when we want. We were planning on waiting until after the CO visit to go anyway.

The one thing we don't know about is pioneer school. We plan to be back here in time for me to go, but if we are gone long enough, they might forget to put me on the list. So I have to make sure I won't get forgotten, or I'll have to try to go in Honduras. That would require a visa extension, which we might not get. So it's a slightly precarious position to be in, because I really don't want to miss out on that privledge, and who knows where we will be the next year.

I'm sure it'll all work out. Everything else has.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Patience is not our Virtue

So in the letter we received from the Mexico branch, there was information for the COBE of the congregation we were assigned to. The letter reccomended that we contact him with intentions and questions and so forth.
Funny story- we don't know how to dial out of country. The brother has a number with a New York area code (apparently they use magicjack to keep in touch with the branch) and he has a number that appears to be local to La Ceiba. However, the Honduran country code is the same as the New York area code, so it's kinda confusing. I think we finally figured it out, but the New York number won't go through and the Honduras number goes to a generic voicemail- and we haven't gotten a call back. So, not really sure we did that right.
So yesterday afternoon we sent him an email, to a really weird email address- it was all numbers. So not really sure we got that right either. I know the branch wouldn't give us wrong info; I just don't think Zach and I know what we are doing. At any rate, now we are waiting for a call or an email. I mean, I've given the brother almost 24 hours, why hasn't he responded? (whine whine whine)
The waiting is the hardest part. First we waited until Honduras called us, and we got excited, then we waited til we got the approval letter, and we got more excited, now we have to wait for the brother- and yes, I know it'll take a couple days, I wasn't really expecting a response so soon- but it's so HARD!!! We want to plan and buy tickets and pack our stuff and go!

And this is why I need to learn patience.

Weird fact of the day:
I've been looking at apartments down there, and although they look really nice, I don't think they include basics- like a refrigerator. All the apartments have pictures of the kitchen, and I don't see any fridges. So I'm really hoping they have rent-a-centers down there, cause I don't particularly want to live without a fridge. Also- if we don't get a furnished place, what are we going to do about pots and pans and dishes and, you know...a bed?
Hmm, maybe they have walmarts too.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Heard from the Branch

We heard from the Mexico branch today. Guess who is going to Honduras? Well, actually it's kinda obvious I suppose.

Super excited!!!! But a little nervous. We still have to visit and make sure we like the place and they like us and all that. I'm sure it will be fine though.

So, who's coming to visit???