Track and Field

We start track and field on Monday, September 3rd (yes, we have to work on Labor day...that is a US Holiday, not a Honduran Holiday!) I am the head track coach (because I have so much experience and everyone else is pretty recently out of college) and Mike is coaching hurdles...yes, he ran 300 M Hurdles and 110 Hurdles in high school. The track season only lasts for a month and a half, unlike the track season in the states that lasts 3 months! They also only have two meets a year and not one or two every week! We only have to practice 3 days a week and not 5 like in the states either...I won't have to take anyone home because they have an activity bus that takes them home at 4:30 in the afternoon!! Why can't they do that in the states?? Things are just so much more laid back here than in states, I am so much less stressed and it is wonderful!!! Above is a picture of the gym and soccer field area where we will be practicing...there is no track.

Out of School for Strikes

No More Strikes............................Beautiful View

Aaron and Rachel Halbert

We didn't have to to go to school on Monday, August 27th because all the public school teachers, doctors, bus drivers, and anybody that had a problem with the government was striking and they blocked the road...so no school. Some of the other missionaries' children were striking against the strike and they were shouting "No more strikes!" We hung out and I helped the neighbor, Rachel, work on some covers for her bookshelf. Then Rachel and her husband Aaron took us to dinner to this restaurant that we walked 30 minutes up hill to go to called La Cumbre. It is a German restaurant and it was wonderful. It had a beautiful view of the city and we took lots of pictures. We hope you enjoy them.

Fabric Store Visit

On Saturday, Mrs. Smith (Mary, the director's wife) took us into town to the Market and to the Fabric and Craft stores. There were tons of fabric store, but none of them had notions (thread, etc.)...they had separate stores for that. I needed some yarn for class and that was so expensive! It was 83 Limperas ($4.36) a skein! I bought drapery fabric and that was 45 Limperas ($2.37) a yard and it was 110" wide!!! So fabric is cheaper, but yarn is not. Mike was excited about taking pictures. He took some pictures at the market and some in town. There was this little girl under a table at the market playing with another girl and they were so cute! It is amazing the wealth and poverty here. There are so few middle class.

First Full Week

This was our first full week of classes. Since it was the first week, they decided that it would be Spiritual Emphasis Week. I went on a retreat with the 7th and 8th graders on Tuesday to a camp about an hour away and Mike went with the 9th and 10th graders on Wednesday. I think Mike had a better time than I did because he didn't mind having Vaseline smeared on his face with cotton balls! Yeah, that's right, the kids did a relay in which they put a cotton ball in their mouth with Vaseline on one side of it and ran and had to put the cotton ball on our face! That was terrible and I have the zits to prove it! There was no hot water or soap! About 12 hours later I got to wash my face...yuck! The rest of the time was fine and a good time to get to know the kids that were in my group. I really like the 7th graders...they are very sweet. Here are some pictures from the retreat... Enjoy... Caroline

Mike's Group

Caroline's Group

Hey, guess what? I'm teaching...

It's kind of weird changing careers like this but so far it hasn't been that bad. I'm teaching Algebra I and Geometry, both of which I did during my student teaching. Here is a view of one of the hallways. The kids are really good...a bit talkative, but not too bad. One of the neatest things is that Caroline's classroom is pretty much next to two of my classes, and less that a minute away for the other classes. I get to taunt and make fun of Caroline all day long! It's great!!!

By the way, we installed Skype so we can call over the Internet. Our connection has been intermittent at best. Every time it went out we had to shut everything down and reboot. The cable company came out today to fix it and praise the Lord (seriously) it is working now. It seems like we aren't that far away of we can pick up the phone and call or send an email.

It's almost a working vacation. Except for the bugs. And the milk. And the water. But other than that, it's great and God is blessing us daily as we realize how lucky and blessed we were (are) to have the things we have. Some here have far less than us and it's hard to see kids just come up to you out of the store begging to help you carry your bags for a nickle. Please pray for us to somehow be a witness to them.

I'll write more now that the connection seems to be working.

Caroline's Classroom

Thursday was the first day of class. We had a half day on Thursday and Friday and will have a whole day on Monday. Monday will be a shock to the system since I have taken a nap every day after lunch since I have been here. I guess I will have to wait until after 2:30Pm for my nap! These are some pictures of my classroom when I first got here. I have cleaned some since, but it is not exactly how I want it. When I get it how I want it I will post picture of it then. Notice below pictures of some tables with equipment on them...that is all the small kitchen utensils that are in the classroom. I threw more away than that in my old home ec. room! It is amazing what North American's have and what Central American's don't have!

Adios!
Caroline

About the landing

By the way, Mark Pemberton and James Milner said the landing into Tegucigalpa was a harrowing experience. I don't fly well, so I was really nervous about it. Guys, either I am getting less nervous or the pilot made it look pretty easy. I am thankful for a safe landing, and pray the return trip is just as uneventful.... That's all I want: an uneventful flight.

Mike

Our first REAL trip downtown

We went down to the "city" Tegucigalpa today on a "Rapidito" which translated means "a bus with twice as many people on it than should be" It only cost about 60 cents round trip. Once we got down there, we did a little shopping and then went for Chinese food. For about $7, we got enough food for two meals for both of us. This picture is where we went shopping for drapery fabric. We didn't find anything, but our friend did get some nice pictures of the plaza where we went shopping. Walking back to catch the Rapidito was a long walk back but better than walking up the hill. Thanks for continuing to pray for us. Please pray for Caroline especially. She has been really worn out from the packing and thinner air. They say it can really wear some folks out. Talk more to you later.

Mike

What to Send!!!!!

Some of you have been asking us what you can send. These are some things that would make our lives better:

• Damprid (or anything to remove moisture)!!!!!!!!
• Spices of any kind
• Good recipes of any kind that you have...(we have to do much more food preparation here)
• Plastic Containers of any kind
• Bulletin Board Border (for Home Economics and Math)
• Any kitchen utensils (to be used in the classroom, there are three kitchens)
• Hemguages (to be used in the classroom)
• Any sewing supplies that you don't need (to be used in the classroom)
• Paper muffin cups
• Ziploc Bags
• Powdered Gatorade
• Yarn and Thread (they are way more expensive here)
  

Just to let you know...apparently it cost between $25.00 and $30.oo to send anything here and it takes almost a month to get here even if they tell you it will take 6-10 days. Letters take that long too. If you would rather give us something to take back when we come home in December that would be great too! Thanks in advance for all of your prayers and whatever you send! We are so blessed in the states. This school is blessed as well compared to other schools here, but still has no where near what we have in the states. A lot of the stuff that we threw away in the home economics labs when we were cleaning out at North Forsyth is the type of thing that they are using here! It is amazing what you make do with when you don't have it!

Visiting the City

We have been to the city many times to get things like bug killer, groceries and ect. It has been an adventure to ride the bus down the mountain. I don't usually get car sick when I looking out the window, but there are so many curves that I have really felt nausous. Here is a picture from the bus! It is beautiful here!

Caroline

Another Busy Day

Today was a very scary day. We got our tour of the school. Caroline has a pretty nice sized room with lots of space and supplies.I'll let her tell you abouyt that later... I on the other hand, don't really have a room. Yet. My room will be in a new building they are working on and is scheduled to be finished in September. Until then, I will float around using other people's rooms which is actually a blessing since I don't really have any teaching supplies save a calculator and pencil. Here is a picture of us after the toor in front of one of the high school buildings. One prayer request: The girl in the next apartment got some kind of bug and has been hospitalized for dehydration. Please pray that she recovers in time for school ---it begins on the 16th. Also pray that I can "remember" all the math stuff I learned so long ago!

Love you all and tahnsk again for praying for us,

Mike

Unanswered Questions

We have had a lot of questions that I think that I will try to answer...if you have anymore, just let me know!

• First of all, the weather is wonderful! I am sitting outside right now connecting to someone's wireless Internet connection and have great reception...it is not so good inside. I don't think I have sweated at all since I have been here. We will be here until Decemeber 19th and then we will come back to the states for Christmas.
• Our little dog is staying with my parents at the Kapp Farm in Rural Hall if anyone wants to visit her! My mom told me that she missed us the first few days, but I think she may be better now.
• We are in orientation right now and school starts on Thursday, August 16 with two half days Thursday and Friday. The other teachers arrive on Wednesday and they will be doing training with us.
• We have not gotten our 60 cubic feet of boxes yet and probably will not get them before school starts. That is concerning because my teacher stuff is in there....so pray that they come before that!

I think ths is the craziest thing I have ever done, but it has been a fun adventure so far! God bless you and we miss you!
Caroline

Our Apartamento...

Incase you were wondering what our apartment looks like...here it is! Right now, we are still unpacking but cannot believe how much space we have and how little stuff we have! I think everyone should get rid of their stuff and then you realize how little you need. Enjoy the pictures! Please pray that we will get rid of all the bugs (ants, roaches and some kind of knat thing.)

Caroline

Super Paiz!

We just got back from "Super Paiz" which is basically a Wal-Mart....only for some reason they can't call it that. I even saw Wal-Mart boxes! Some things are cheaper like fruits and vegetables but others things cost more like prepared foods. We went to Quizzno's for lunch and my meal was about $6 which is about the same as it was in the states. There is pretty much everything you need here it's just a matter of finding it. Here is something I haven't seen in the states: Spiderman themed Taco kits. I almost bought one.

There are some things that we cannot find and would love to have...starting with family sized tea bags. Some of you wanted to know if you could send us stuff...we'll let you know...Most of all, continue to pray for us.

So far, we have enjoyed it and has been very eye opening and has made us so thankful for the basics we have taken for granted.

Mike and Caroline