Vamos a la playa

If you read my last post, you know how much it's been raining here. Well today we woke up to a blue sky and SUNSHINE!!! So incredibly beautiful to have the fog clear and see all the mountains and jungle landscape on every side. After dragging everyone out of bed (they would sleep until 11am if I let them...) we grabbed our stuff (as in my sunglasses and bug spray) and started the trek down the mountainside. You can see the ocean from Lisa's house, but the water was so choppy we decided to go to a nicer beach over by where they used to live. This beach was about 3 miles away and we were hoping to catch a moto taxi but none passed us as we walked so we ended up walking all the way there through mostly muddy goop from the storm the night before.

Vamos a la playa

^Video of mom attempting to walk around the mud hahaha...^

Jeremias loves having his picture taken....

My mom & I treated the boys to cokes and chips, and by the time we got to the beach it started raining again...Bummed that we didn't get there in time to enjoy the beach in the sunshine, but naturally we ended up playing soccer at one of their favorite soccer fields on the way home. It's funny--we were at the beach where we could've played soccer but they wanted to leave because it was raining. On our way home walking in the rain though, the opportunity to play soccer in a muddy field was too good to pass up. I guess playing soccer in mud is more fun than in wet sand? Either way, the boys ended up being covered from head to toe in mud and sopping wet, oh! and my mom too.

Ebert's orange slice smile

Soccer in the mud with mom

Luckily a moto taxi passed us on our way home and gave us a lift. Since there weren't many taxis in sight, we all squished into the same one. Yes--somehow mom, myself, the 5 boys, and the taxi driver fit!

Moto taxi home

Yesterday, Lisa, my mom, myself and Jeremias went to La Ceiba (nearest city) to run some errands. Going to the city is a big undertaking because it takes about 2 hours to get there when the roads are bad during rainy season...and that is, if the roads don't collapse or bridges flood over. We went grocery shopping, Lisa ran some errands regarding the house, and most importantly...we ran into Jose. :) Jose's story is a complex one, but the short version is he is one of the original boys that Lisa first had in her home in the beginning of Bethesda Home for Boys. He comes from a very violent & abusive home, struggles with drug addiction, and also has a huge heart for God. A reminder that we are all a work in progress. Lisa's house rules are: you have to do your part (chores, helping around the house, etc), showing love & respect to others, no porn, no drugs, and overall trying to live in a godly way. Granted, no one is expected to be perfect. And Bethesda Home for Boys is based on a "prodigal son" type of principle...if you run away from home (as most boys do several times for a while when first living in the home) you're welcome to come back if you decide to live by the house rules. For Jose, he's currently living on the street / with his parents, but by choice. We drove by his usual hangout spot, where he happened to be, and invited him to come along with us to run errands & eat lunch. Even though he's not living in the house right now, it was so good to see him & spend the day with him!!! It still amazes me how much everyone has grown in just one year of being away from them. Jose will always have a special place in my heart, and I know God has big plans for his life--especially seeing all that he's already survived (literally) and overcome. Please continue to pray for him and his family!

Jeremias, Jose y yo

Jose y yo making bracelets