Spending night in Miami

I just got a call from Renee. They are all spending the night in a LaQuinta hotel so they can get a good night;'s sleep. All are well. They are tired and were hungry as they did not deplane on their side trip to the Bahamas. They get a free breakfast at the hotel so they can "feast" American style.  As info comes in, I will text and post. They are on US soil and they have a comfortable bed tonight and they all are taking care of each other. All is okay.

FLIGHT DIVERTED

The flight from Honduras to Miami got diverted to the Bahamas. The flight from Miami to Boston got cancelled. Dr Haddix is talking to American Airlines. Stay tuned.

Travel / Pick up Info

Here is a flight itinerary of the team's travel home-

Carrier	Flight Number	Departing		Arriving		Booking Code
		City	Date & Time	City	Time
American Airlines	2297	BOSTON	WED 22JUN 5:30 AM	MIAMI INTERNTNL	8:40 AM	V
	Lora Anderson			Economy	Seat 25C	Food For Purchase
American Airlines	953	MIAMI INTERNTNL	WED 22JUN 10:35 AM	TEGUCIGALPA	10:55 AM	V
	Lora Anderson			Economy	Seat 21E	Food For Purchase
American Airlines	954	TEGUCIGALPA	THU 30JUN 12:05 PM	MIAMI INTERNTNL	4:35 PM	V
	Lora Anderson			Economy	Seat 22E	Food For Purchase
American Airlines	1772	MIAMI INTERNTNL	THU 30JUN 6:55 PM	BOSTON	10:05 PM	V
	Lora Anderson			Economy	Seat 21F	Food For Purchase

Keep in mind the departure time from Honduras is Honduran time.  I expect to hear from Renee after arrival in Miami. I will have her call or text me when the bus leaves Boston with  the expected arrival time at All Soul's for pick up.I will then  send out a group text of expected pick-up time at All Soul's.  
They  historically have stopped at the Kennebunk rest area for a pit stop. I believe they are also dropping off the Andersons in Falmouth or Yarmouth.
Please plan on remaining at All Soul's with your traveler until the bus is all unpacked. Many hands make light work and EVERYONE will be tired and anxious to get home. There may be a brief gathering  in the meeting hall after the bus is unloaded. I will include this info  in the group text once I talk to Renee. Check back on the blog. Renee might send some pictures once she is on U.S. soil.

To those of you who are expecting to pick up your travelers, please keep your cell phones handy for messages. If any church members without travelers want to meet the bus at church, please email me with your cell phone number and carrier (ie US cellular, verizon, etc) and I will put you in the group text.
Until later Kathy

Mission Day of June 29, 2011

Today was a glorious day with wonderful weather.  The team went to Tegucigalpa and hiked in the national park.  They felt very safe there.  A guard walked with them as is the norm and even took a picture of the full team for them.  On the way to Tegucigalpa, the bus driver told Renee, in Spanish, " Your safety and security is my # 1 priority".  They felt safe, secure and well cared for at all times.  Everywhere they went was well traveled.  They went to an old and a new cathedral as well as an upscale mall.  No one had any money to spend for items or food so they got compare and contrast life in Honduras and had a full spectrum of the country.  They just had arrived back at camp when Renee  called.  They were due for dinner, showers and a debrief/evening meeting.

They are leaving camp at 8 o'clock for their FULL day journey home.  For those of you who have to pick up your travelers in wee hours of July 1st, I will contact you via text/phone when I get details on the time that they will arrive.

Until tomorrow, Kathy

Mission day of June 28, 2011

I got a call from Renee around 7:30 pm.  Today was their last day at the village. They finished up their two houses and have completed as much of the kindergarten as the village wanted them to. The medical team had a clinic for 3 days in Cataluna and 2 days in Nuevo Sacramento. They saw over 500 people between the two villages. All teams  have amazing stories to tell. The teams   worked so well together-- it was a joy to watch. It has been extra rainy. Usually the rain holds out until their work day is over but they are soggy! A few travelers have had tummy problems but nothing severe.
Tomorrow, their last day before traveling home, they are going as a team to the National Park near them at the top of the mountain (? El Picacho National Park? Renee said it is the park that has a statue of Jesus overlooking the city.  They are also going to a basilica and then to an upscale mall in Tegucigalpa....... ....What????   Yes... you read that right. They will be going to the mall  without any money and will get a taste of the dicotomy and extremes of life in Honduras.  After having spent a week living and working among the villagers who have little material wealth, they will be walking through luxury (without any money in their pocket). The comparison between the two should be jarring and undoubtedly thought provoking and sobering. 


Renee sounds great, peppy and still full of enthusiasm and thankfullness for the oppurtunity the team has had to serve the Hondurans on this mission trip.  Our children, spouses, parents, friends will be coming home with so many stories to tell, lessons  they have learned and much to teach those of us "left behind."   We are all so blessed to live and worship in such a strong, vibrant and loving church family with such wonderful pastors and committed volunteers!!!
Until tomorrow Kathy

Mission Day of June 27, 2011

A quick update on the work day received via voice mail fromRenee  at 8 pm 6/27/11-

Today the teams were separated. The Medical Team went to Nuevo Sacremento and met many, many patients. The rest of the team remained at CataLunia, working very hard. They are getting very close to finishing their houses. Things look very, very good. The weather was great -- alot of sun for a change but clouding  over now. People are healthy. All is well.

I looked for a picture from Nuevo Sacramentoon on  Google Images to liven up the blog a  little. The first picture posted must have been  from a previous ASSIST-JC trip . All Soul's Church is credited with it!  I went back a second time to look again and the picture was buried in the middle of page 8. A God moment, as Renee would say, that it popped out as # 1 my first time through!

Pastor Silvio

Until later Kathy

Mission Day of June 26, 2011

For those of you who were not at church, Dr Haddix reported that he got an early Sunday morning call from Mrs. Garrettt. Because she reported in late Saturday night and then called early Sunday morning, there was no new news. She again discussed the amazing work the team is doing and reiterated their competent carpentry skills. One "house " team is finishing their house Monday. The other team has a bit of an engineering challenge with building around a family's living space (???), so the work is a bit slower. The medical clinic is busy and the Bible school is thriving. Mrs Garrett had borrowed someone's phone as the minutes she had purchased on her phone were down to seven. She had purchased 30 minutes before she left the states but that was minutes for U.S. service and translated into far fewer minutes for Honduras telephone calls.

I hope I reported the conversation correctly, Dr Haddix! A third hand relay of info is sometimes a bit of a challenge! (I am sure you all remember the telephone game we played as kids.)

Until later

Mission Day of June 25, 2011

A Voice Mail received from Renee at 11:15 p.m.June 25, 2011.

It was a late call tonight. They  had dinner guests, Pastor Silvio and his wife, who arrived just at the time that the bus got back to the camp from the work site. They had a wonderful renunion. After showers,dinner, and evening meeting, the power went out!
The day was great! They continued to build. The teams  have been phenomenal and their work is outstanding.  They continue to grow. Sunday, they are looking forward to a visit to  Valley of the Angels. Church is at Nuevo Sacramento and ought to be wonderful.   Everything is calm and all is going well .

It is obvious from Renee's enthusiastic voice that  they are all  having  an exceptionally  meaningful & amazing experience.
Until later,  Kathy

June 24, 2011

Call from Renee received on my voice mail around 9 pm-

Another  fantastic day! A couple of people had some stomach distress.  They were  not sure if it was  from the  food or the typical touristo problems. They were taken care of by the medical team  and are feeling better. The teams are doing things really well.  Everyone is very happy. Their work as a team is unbelievable! One fellow, who is manager of one of the house sites, said the team could finish it  in 3 days. Jimmy Riveras, the director from Mission Discovery said, “No, no, no.  They can’t finish it in 3 days. We  need them to work longer."

The teams are so well coordinated, so  positive and have such wonderful attitudes. They  are getting plenty of rest and eating very, very well. Everyone is having a great time. There has been a lot of rain but that hasn’t stopped the work.

 Per Renee,

“God is watching over us- there’s no question at all . Love from the entire team! “

Until tomorrow Kathy

6/23/11 6:50 pm EST

Telephone call from Renee:
All is well! After a good night's sleep , the Teams  headed out. and now the first work day is over. Everyone is already into the swing of things. It was a very productive day. All the teams were out to their work sites, settling in. Today was the first day of Vacation Bible School.  The children were invited in and they spent the first day playing games, jumping rope and playing baseball. They had a great first day! The weather is beautiful, although HOT. There were are few downpours and the t-storms  cut into the work a bit.although it was not impacted significantly.  Unlike Maine, the thunder storms did not clear out the muggy weather-- instead, it was like a sauna.after the storm moved on.   None one is sick (yet)-- one day at a time! Lots of pictures have already been taken and they will be shared when they return.

Call from Renee

I received a call from Renee around 6:30 pm. They were at the camp safely and the trip went well. The travelers rested, played ball , visited throughout the trip and arrived after an uneventful (LONG) night and day. The weather there is beautiful -- in the 70's.  ( http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=Tegucigalpa,%20Honduras  for a weather report!)

 The camp has been newly painted for the summer and the team feels very welcomed! They are having a "banquet" tonight- fresh flowers, good & plentiful food. Many thankful  hands must have worked hard to prepare for their arrival!  The team is  settling in and will be starting their work tomorrow. I am sure they will be glad to get a good night's sleep!

There is no internet access at the camp this year (at least not presently)  Renee plans to call late afternoon with a daily update. The call will be brief due to cost and might not happen every night although she anticipates  doing  so. I will plan on taking  quick notes and passing on the info. Hopefully, when I add details later , they will be as she reported and not embellished inaccurately!!  . This means no more photos until either they get internet access or they arrive on American soil  (Wasn't it fun to get what we got!!)

Until tomorrow

June 22, 2011 In transit

 

 Here we are travel going well!
Sent from my U.S. Cellular BlackBerry® smartphone(Renee)

Tuesday June 21, 2011

From Renee: Jume 21, 2011 11:14 pm

Here is the calm before the whirlwind began. The packing went as smoothly as one could hope. In fact, it was the easiest yet. What a team! We got off at 11:00 on the nose. Also a record! Here we go and we do trust that the Lord is going before us to guide us, beside us to guard us, above us to bless us, beneath us to uphold us and behind us to forgive us. Now and each day of our journeySent from my U.S. Cellular BlackBerry® smartphone

The Night Before the Mission Trip

We have gotten all the bags packed and the second bags are waiting for everyone to claim them tomorrow.  Special thanks to Jody McDonnell, Carol Sherman and Rick Kirkpatrick for doing all the weighing and dispersing of goods among all the bags.  Should be a surprise in every bag which the travelers will get to discover Tuesday night.  So the night before the mission trip, all is quiet and we hope all are getting a good night's sleep!

Pax et Bonum 

(Peace and All Good to You...quoting St. Francis)

Renee

Communication Information

Tomorrow is Commissioning Day at All Soul's Church for the Honduras mission travelers. Information & updates will be posted to this blog  as it comes in once the mission  trip is underway.