Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

The morning was filled with excitement at going home for some of us. Although the expectation was that all of us would be here another day. Our travel agent expected the flight out of San Pedro Sula to be canceled, so we prepared the team for that should it occur. It was a flight glitch we did not know about until Ed, our travel agent tried to book Amber on our flight, and was told NO! We ended up dividing the team so Amber would not have to travel by herself, but as far as Ed was concerned, none of us were leaving on Tuesday. Alfredo was coming over to give us his testimony and the history of how La Providencia was born, and after we would stop at the office to see if we could get the team on the plane.

Alfredo came over and spent some time telling us his story. I cannot emphasize enough how powerful it was. I could not possibly do the story justice recounting it here, but suffice it to say it is a story of how a Powerful and Mighty God can do anything with any life! Alfredo’s story could be a blockbuster Hollywood movie, and may well be someday when Providence is a thriving and productive community. Right now it is still largely an untested vision that God put on his heart, and God has surrounded him with people who share his passion for that vision and an unshakeable faith. It will be years, really decades before the fruits of Providence begin to flourish, and when they do, real and significant change will come to Honduras. I hope every member of this team will be a part of this place for a long time to come, if it is God’s will, as my brother Mizael would say!

After this moving story, we headed over to the office to check in. Peggy was able to get the first four on the plane, so far all was good. We said more goodbyes, and Israel decided to come with us to the airport. If Amber and I could get out we would, otherwise, Douglas would stay with us in Siguatepeque so Providence would not have to make two, two hour trips down the hill. We left to come home.

We arrived at the airport in San Pedro Sula about 3:00PM, and the team seemed to check in just fine. There was no problems and so far no cancelled flight. We said our goodbyes to Peggy and Cliff, Rodain and Dave, and Israel and David left to go back to Providence. Douglas, Amber and I headed out to San Pedro Sula proper on a mission for Alfredo and the Leader Trek team.

Three hours later, we had not got a frantic call from Dave or Rodain saying the team got stuck at the airport, but Douglas had no luck finding accommodations for the Leader Trek team due down the hill on Thursday. We did not know it at the time, but there was no room available anywhere in San Pedro Sula that week. We had failed the mission to find a bunch of rooms for the team. Douglas had the idea that for us, instead of staying in San Pedro Sula, we drive an hour to the coast and stay on the Caribbean for the night. He had called ahead and got three rooms at a beach side inn, and we were off!

Douglas had become such a good friend to the entire team through out the week. But now, he seemed like an old friend. He was strong man of God with a huge faith and he wanted to share a part of his childhood with us by taking us to Tela for the night. This was unexpected and really quite cool.

We arrived after dark, and the smell of the ocean was in the air. A breeze was blowing through the palms, and we could catch bright bursts of lightening racing across the sky in the distance. It was hard to tell what the seaside village of Tela looked like at night, but it did seem to be somewhere Jack Sparrow would feel quite at home.

Douglas was glowing as he talked about his childhood memories here in Tela, and he took us to a restaurant where we could get some classic Honduran coastal foods. He ordered some seafood soup that rocked, and we enjoyed different seafood plates they offered. After a quick dip in the warm pool, an equally quick dip in the Caribbean, which was as warm as bath water, we retired to the sound of the waves. I made a mental note to return here with my wife and family! The kids would love all the pirate lore!