It's 74 degrees!!

I have had a day of firsts. I have never left for an airport at 2am in the morning. I have never run out of gas on the way to the airport (but was then able to find a switch to utilize another tank on the van in which we were traveling). I have never been on a plane in which the whole cabin applauded for the captain subsequent to a safe landing. I have never been on a plane where as people left not only did they thank the pilot upon exiting, but congratulated him on a landing well done. If you're wondering why this is the case, Toncontín International (Tegucigalpa airport) is one of the shortest international runways in the world and is located between two sierras. Most everyone who has flown into the airport on a large aircraft will smile in agreement if you mention the dramatic landing. And finally, I have never (to my knowledge) experienced 74 degree weather o November 28. Altogether, this was a great day that has left me very tired.

I am currently at the STEP directors house relaxing this afternoon, using English for one final day. Traveling was quick as we arrived about seven and half hours after leaving Baltimore, MD (which includes a one and half hour layover in Houston, TX); however, traveling was also exhausting and the changes we have experienced as a team seem to be wearing slightly on our energy levels. It is great that Rachel Bowman (our director) knew it would be this way and planned a "day of rest" for us.

Thank you for your diligent prayers and for the interest and support you have all shown. More updates will follow, but I am about to walk to the grocery store and then take a short nap before eating my first real Honduran meal. For those of you who are wondering, I will be staying at Rachel's house with my team and then moving in to my host families house on Saturday. There is so much to take in and I am ready to get going, after my nap.

Home... sweet home.

I'm at home in Dalton with family for Thanksgiving. Training finished strong and well and I think I can say with total assurance that everyone was ready for the break. The staff had a "Love Feast" on Monday night to send us out with a bang. This was a Thanksgiving meal in the dining room that was much nicer than a typical cafeteria meal. The staff were very willing to serve us and it was truly a blessing.

My uncle Dave and Aunt Bonnie Hershberger picked me up from HDC and allowed me to spend the night at their nice home. Thank you.

I will be home with my family until the beginning of next week (either Monday or Tuesday) when I will travel back to Harrisburg and fly to Honduras on Wednesday morning. My flight leaves from Baltimore at 6:00am and I should be in Tegucigalpa, Honduras by 2:00pm EST - it will be 1:00pm local time in Tegucigalpa.

It seems somewhat surreal but I am ready to go - but only after a refreshing Thanksgiving break with my family and some turkey.

5 more days left.

Boy has this time gone fast! I had the opportunity to have breakfast with my Uncle Dave on Tuesday and made the same comment that, "We have had experiences and know that things always fly by, but when they do and your in the midst of it it never ceases to amaze me how true it is."

The last two days have been great as we had Gustavo Ramirez speak again. If you remember from an earlier post he is one that has had a great impact on my life - it was great to see him again and be able to continue that relationship. Late last week we have Steve Shenk speak on "Mission Vision". Steve is an individual with a lot of experience and a ton of stories, he gave that "grandfather" persona of to the rest of training and we really enjoyed having him. It was nice to have someone with experience that was just willing to share with us and provide what I felt was excellent teaching.

As far as I go, things are going smoothly and I am ready to be done and headed to Honduras. This training has been a good and stretching experience for me and I will definitely miss the people and great friendships I have made here; but nonetheless, I stand by my comment of being ready to leave.

I gave my testimony (or SP for "Spiritual Pilgrimage" as they call it here) to the group on Tuesday morning. That was stretching as I shared some that I haven't told other people, but it was good and I am still growing in being vulnerable and open with others, it was tough in a large audience setting.

Well, I just wanted to give a quick update, I need to be going now because we are having a final time that we call "community outreach". Each group develops an outreach for the community and completes the goals and tasks we assign ourselves. My group, STEP Honduras team, chose to reach out to the state reps and senators with personal notes of prayer, affirmation, and encouragement. It was a big job to take on and we are finishing and hand delivering the last of the 250 or so cards.

Thanks for all your prayers and dedication to supporting this ministry

John heads home and I'm in the Bronx

Well, a few things have happened so I'll toss out an update. I have gone from living in S Allison Hill in Harrisburg (where we heard gunshots yet again last night from our home) to living in the Bronx, NYC - where we have barred windows and are 2 blocks from the most active drug exchange blocks in the Bronx - thrilling eh? Actually, it hasn't been a big deal, I just walk in peace and carry myself confidentially and respect others. I've been able to engage in some lengthy conversations on the street and really enjoy the time - but I never underestimate the need for a cloaking of safety from the Lord.

Tonight the group (about 20 of us) served at a shelter. This was different than past experiences because we had to cook at the house and transport food for 150. While several people served, the rest of us made conversation with the men in the shelter. They were almost all in drug rehab and wanted to talk after taking a few minutes to warm up. I was able to use my baseball knowledge and New Yorks passion for baseball to break the ice and have several good, lengthy conversations and prayer with some men at the shelter. I would love to do this again and am starting to be able to understand this urban culture and the problems and lifestyles.

John Mutisya was an HDC guest for a little over a month and left for Kenya today. It was truly a blessing to get to know John - he is a leader of a discipleship training center in Kenya and was here to observe. It was his first time in the states and I pray he was refreshed through it. John and I were able to connect well and discuss much about leadership and discipleship. John offered to host me for a while after STEP if I feel led to Kenya and could assist in the their training program - who knows!!?

Here are a few pictures of John and I (we are pointing to the future in one in case you are wondering).