giving and giving

...simple joys...

Christmas Eve wasn't marked with last minute shopping and running around or wrapping presents this year.   I was asked by Roberto, who works for Channel 4 to come along to take photos and give out gifts to the poor people of the island.

It was classic Roatan time:  they said we'd leave at 10:00 and they showed up at 12:30, but that's okay we eventually got there.  I am not sure my words can convey what I saw.  I have been up to the Colonia before here on the island.  But I hadn't been up as high on the hill as we went.  Let me tell you this:  in some places the higher up you go the more exclusive it is but here the higher you go the POORER you are!  I wasn't prepared for what I saw.  I really wasn't.  We drove for about 15 minutes up until the road was too washed out and undriveable!  Then we began to walk UP.   The poverty up there was too much for me.

  it's hard to imagine living this way isn't it?

A couple of times I was racked with pain and sobbed out loud.   The conditions up there are deplorable.  The people don't have electricity, so they cook on open fires in a lean to type "room" with a tarp and then a one room area where 8 kids (at least) and the parents stay.   It broke my heart.

   I saw a women cooking and I asked if she was making tamales which is the tradition food for Christmas.   And she smiled a toothless grin and shook her head as she rubbed her thumb and forefinger together (no money)

The donations that Roberto had were mostly second clothing and toys but they were still thrilled to receive them.  The Chinese restaurant donated some fried rice and we shared that with the people.   At one point we gave a little boy some coke and in order for him to hold it the girl took his plate (which looked empty to us) but he fussed and wanted to finish every single grain of rice!!  (that was another sad moment for me..)

 you can click on this and it will be larger so you can see the photos

After we left there we went to another area down closer to the centre of the Colonia and saw people handing out packages of food (which I helped package up the day before: rice, sugar, beans and flour).   We asked if we could have about 20 bags to take up to the area where we just were.   There is a family from Montreal visiting the island and they followed us up in their truck and we proceeded to TREK up again with the food.   Since I am still recovering:  no I didn't carry any food bags up the hill and just prayed that I wouldn't strain anything in the second climb up.

1. boys so excited to get an apple

2. NEW shoes.. oh my goodness

3. later we went down to the truck and just began handing out things

4. the 'team'

The people were surprised and delighted to see us again!  Of course!   After giving out the food we headed down to the truck and proceeded to distribute the rest of the clothing to the people there.   There was a lady who had many children and she was obviously really grateful so I said to her (in broken spanish and mime) that the love is from Jesus, from Him to me, through me to her.   She nodded slowly, smiled and said  "Mucho gratis Senor"  I had to walk away and I just sobbed because here was this woman thanking God for rice, and beans, and simple things like second hand clothes. No tree, no wrapped presents, for fancy meal, no festivities but it was HER day to receive and she was blessed.

 this is the lady I spoke with.  her daughter was thrilled to get a barney (even though it was 2nd hand)

I talked to Emily on skype on Christmas day (which was wonderful!!!) and I told her that this Christmas has changed me forever.  I will never again forget the poor among us.   I can't come back to Canada someday and pretend they don't exist.  They do exist.  I confess that in the past I used to look at people on the streets and sometimes I would judge them for their bad choices that led them up to being there.   Well I have to say that is so wrong.  I realized this Christmas up in the dusty, hillside that Christ loves the poor.  He was born poor and He served and fed the poor.  I was hot, sweaty,dusty and smelly from being out in the heat and climbing but it didn't matter because the fragrance of Christ was stronger then anything!  I am not sure what this means practically or what it will look like.. but I am trusting He will lead me and direct me to make sure the poor are not overlooked...


 

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: 'He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.'"  2 Cor. 9:8-9

firecracker blessings

We don't have doorbells in Roatan.
If someone comes they either beep, holler, or the dog starts barking madly!

While I was inside baking cookies I heard a beep so I went outside to see who was outside the fence.
There is a man sitting on his motorcycle.   I thought he said, "Carne" which means meat.  I am rather fascinated .. I don't want any meat but for some reason I open the gate and I see that he has about 4 large bags strapped to his motorcycle.

He takes out a firecracker!  I laugh and say.. ahhhh.. boomm boommmm boommm!!   He said, 'si boom boom boom!

It is tradition on the island to light many firecrackers, sizzlers and sparklers at Christmas.The kind man had noises for each one so I would know which ones were sizzlers, sparklers or boom boom booms!  Being a kid at heart I decide to join in the festivities and make my own noise!!   We are having Marco and Zenola over on the 24th so that would be just perfect!! 

So after making my selection I said adios!  And he said "Dios te Bendiga"  (which means God Bless You) so I took his hand, looked him in the eye and said "Oh si Dios te Bendiga!!" I MEANT IT!   I guess he felt the sincerity because  he proceeded to say he was a Christian, a child of God!  Spanish people are so wonderful, so expressive, so enthusiastic!!  I kept agreeing with him and then he said that Jesus was his peace.  I said muy paz!!  (great peace!) We exchanged several hallelujahs and glory to God's...it was real worship on a sunny afternoon in the driveway.

It was amazing to have this wonderful little moment of praise out in the yard!!!  You just never know what is going to happen when you hear a beep outside but I was truly blessed!!

God bless you today!

Christmas Dinner Roatan Style

 

Christmas

I remember once as a teenager writing radically about the consumerism of christmas and how people seemed to have lost the 'real meaning' of Christmas.   At that point in my life seriously I didn't know what the 'real meaning' was but I was very clear about not wanting it to be simply about gifting, drinking madly, partying, rushing around doing things that weren't really essential.  I remember one of my Mom's friends dropped by the house and brought her a little gift.   It was a sweet gesture but she said, Oh no, now I will have to go out and buy something for her!!   That stayed with me and even as a young girl I determined to not make Christmas either obligatory and reciprocal.

As you know it was a very difficult decision to stay here for Christmas.  I am a memory maker at Christmas ...we have many traditions we hold to year after year that generate a sense of realness, and connection.   So what I am saying is that I ache to see my kids and being able to share with them around the advent wreath, have shepherd's pie one night to remember how God choose to herald His coming to the ordinary of the world, stand around the piano and sing carols (thanks David for spontaneously playing and loving carols), make gifts or cookies to give away to friends and people who are less fortunate than us, play games loudly, give toasts with glasses full of eggnog, and have our door open for friends to come to a 'Cowan Christmas Party' and celebrate together.   I would light all my Christmas candles, and white lights and think the ambience was beautiful and in that stillness I would experience  the Presence of the Holy One within.

That is Christmas for me.

So this year is different.

Being in another culture changes things.

At first I was worried that since most Islanders that I talked to don't make a big 'deal' of Christmas that we would miss out in some way and being that it is tropical it wouldn't 'feel' like Christmas.  Well oddly enough since we don't have alot of shopping to do here, not alot of christmas concerts to attend, banquets to go to, or church obligation  there is space in our lives for just living and giving.

signs of christmas in west end?

On Friday night we had Canadian Christmas dinner for our 'staff' here. We had it early since Carlos and his Dad are going to the coast on Tuesday. Marco, Liliana and their three children live on the property and manage it.  Maria has been helping clean since my surgery and she has been such a blessing.

Carlos takes care of the property and we invited his dad, Enrique to come too.It was so special.

These people are in our world, they work hard and selflessly. They deserved to be spoiled and blessed!

For some of them, it was the first time having turkey or as they called it 'grande de pollo'  (very big chicken) It is heartwarming to share with others who have so little.

 ever try cooking a turkey in an oven that is mini size? it just wouldn't cook!!

we were an hour late in eating and still it wasn't cooked through but they didn't mind waiting.  

"no problema!"

you can see everyone joined in 'helping' in the kitchen!

It is a blessing in fact to be able to give knowing they won't be able to return the blessings except with their gratitude, hugs and smiles. A few highlights:

~Enrique singing spanish songs and me and the kids dancing in the kitchen.

~Having a white elephant gift exchange and seeing the guys pick obvious girl presents (the hair clip on the top of the present was their first clue) to give to their sisters or wives since they don't have alot of money for that sort of thing. Selflessness at it's best.

~Little Edwardo thanking me over a dozen times for the 'cool hair gel'

~Sitting around the advent wreath listening to the Christmas story in Spanish

~Watching Carlos eat more then I thought humanly possible!!

~Seeing Bob shoosh Maria out of the kitchen and shocking her by doing the dishes himself (Honduran men don't hang out in the kitchen!!!)

I could go on and on.

Carlos with his SECOND  plate of food!

all week long he was waiting and kept saying..

'mucho comida!' well he ate alot!

the kids had so much fun!

Enrique entertained us.

Maria's smile in this photo came from the depths of her soul.   She told us at dinner that this was the 

first meal with friends she has had since she came to Roatan 8 months ago.

Bob and Marco 'hamming' it up!

You can see everyone was enjoying the Christmas hats!

So please let Him open your eyes to people in your world who are less fortunate, who might be blessed with a bag of groceries, a coffee, some spare change.   The poor are among us everywhere and to consider them makes Him smile.  Of this I am certain. After all the Lord spent His first night on the earth laying on dirty hay, visited by common , smelly shepherds, and held by a rough handed carpenter.

Please don't allow the mayhem of 'what  we think we should do' keep you from doing what you should.

silent night

Holy night

L.O.V.E with reckless abandon,

GIVE from your heart to those you know,

and to those you don't.

xo

Merry Early Christmas!

We are enjoying leftovers already!!

a few stories

The other day Bob was driving and the police stopped him.  They asked to see his driver's license (we have hondurans driver's licenses now!)  so the police looked at it, turned it over and said, "pastor?"    and bob said,  "si, pastor"   the police smiled, patted him on the shoulder gently and said, "es bueno" (it is good) and let him go!  (most people who get stopped get fined for some reason.. especially at this time of year)

It is good!   Serving Him here is so rewarding and full of many blessings!

I love how things often 'just work out'.  On Thursday Melissa and I went out 'christmas tree searching' and I must say I was a little shocked at how expensive trees are here.   It isn't uncommon to pay anywhere from $100 - $300 for a tree. (or even more then that!)   Well no thanks.    I am used to having a live tree and there was NO WAY I was going to spend that much on a dumb artificial!! (oops sorry)  So I had a brainwave:   my friend Myra was in the states and if none of her family were borrowing the tree then maybe I could just borrow hers for this year.   So we drove into French Harbour and managed to explain in spanish that we wanted to use Myra's "arbor de navidad".   It was a 'no go' since the house was locked and only the cleaner had the key.   I did get a phone number to call Myra in the states.   Okay that was a good start.   So we headed home (with turkeys in the car.. yahooo!!) and within the hour my cell phone rang and guess who it was:  yes it was Myra!!!   I thought her daughter in law had said that I had come by but she said, No girl, I just wanna hear your voice that's all!!"  (in loud island style!!)  After chatting it up for awhile I asked about the tree and of course she was happy for me to use it.   So we went over there on Sunday and picked it up.   "buenos tardes, um... arbor de navidad por favor?"   "si si si"     I guess Myra told her to watch for a gringo to come on Sunday because I barely was able to say that to her when she came out with the tree in a box.   Tree in a box??!!   Oh well I am grateful.. although I do miss having a live tree!

 I have never put together a tree.

  Bob said, well where were you at all those ladies Christmas teas?

doing something else i guess!!!  (talking...)

So tonight we are going to 'construct the tree' and decorate it!   We are having an early Christmas  dinner on Friday so want to get everything ready for that.  (I will write about that later)

we have this poinsetta outside on the front porch.. i must say it is sweet to have one outside!

It is beginning to look a little like Christmas on the island with christmas lights, decorations, christmas trees.  We haven't heard a single Christmas carol in any of the stores though.  But more then that we are hoping that LOVE will be seen and shared more and more in  small and simple ways.   We are doing our part and hoping that it will become contagious.  I talked to a young man today and he said, "well it is good that you can give back to the island"  I laughed and said, "Anyone can give... because there will always be someone with less then you.  So if you give a little of what you have then they'll be happy!"

Well the sun is setting, a close to another beautiful day here so that means it is time to start supper for my love and I.

  I hope that whatever you are doing it will be marked with PEACE from above.   Don't stress the Christmas stuff..... just think of a young girl saying yes to Him, think about Love coming down on Christmas in a lowly manger, think of angels breaking out in song, (they didn't get to do that very often), think about wise men travelling along ways to see the One who was to redeem the world not only with His life but His death.

still say yes, still give of yourself, still sing, still seek Him, still give yourself away....

xo

open for business

Bob standing outside the 'Made in Roatan' shop

you can see me in the reflection of the left window

The day finally arrived for the Made in Roatan shop to open!   We are grateful to be able to help islanders in this way.   Presently we have 6 different people featured in the shop and are happy that it will mean income for them.   We have wood work, carvings, jewelry, a natural remedy book, island made dresses, paintings, and my photography in there presently.   It feels good to be supporting people in this way.  It is different from most shops since we have made it more like a gallery and we wrote bios of each person.  I think it is good for people to 'see' who are are buying from.

some of Yourgins stone jewelry.  very popular!! 

But I tell you, selling stuff is hard work!!   People on the cruise ship just don't seem to be buying like they used to.  Times are tough.  Fortunately though our shop is more then just selling: it is a vision of being helpful and having an "other then me" focus.

The Honduran wood cutting boards are made by an islander named Enrique...excellent work and our prices are reasonable!

I have been going down there to help out.   Usually I just stand in the doorway and 'chat'.   People are intrigued about a Canadian living on Roatan and they want to know what brought us here.  I invite them in to stand by the fan (yaaaaaa fans!!!) and then I am able to share about our desire to help islanders to help themselves.   Most people are rather blown away.   Once they catch the vision that they will actually be helping a family to 'eat something' tonight they are more inclined not to shop but to help.

another view of the shop

We are on the 'sunny side of the street' which is unfortunate because most tourists walk in the shade.  It isn't easy to get them to come in on our side.   Bob is going to make a sandwich board and a 'made in roatan' sign which I think will help.    In the meantime I just keep 'hailin' them over' (to quote the islanders) Once we get the store 'wired' it will be great to have ceiling fans, but presently we are running a cord from Marco's house to provide the coolness from a fan.   Tourists like things to be comfortable... we will do all we can to make it just that for them!!  :-)

bob happy to have a 'project complete and  a dream realized!'

I thought sales were slow, but apparently Zenola said that other vendors are happy if they make 10 dollars a day.(i can't believe that!?)  We have brought in close to 200.00 in two days.

So thanks for praying!!

It makes a difference.

have you ever wondered?

look ma!  i can stand on one foot!!

you ever wondered where

 hummingbirds

sleep

at night?

check out this link

watch this!

click on that and allow video to load up

who would have guessed the God would

put them into a deep sleep.

remarkable!!

carlos alfredo

meet carlos alfredo. 
he is our young enthusiastic gardener.

today he showed up at our door in the pouring rain to plant the plants that we had been gathering throughout the week.

i looked at him and said no no no.. mucho lluvia!!
but he wouldn't be deterred.   i said i wasn't going out in the rain ( i mean it was really pouring, plus i was still in my PJ's)

he looked at me and said, mui frio (sooo cold)   all he had on was a thin tshirt so bob showed up holding his rainjacket for him to use.  he was thrilled!!

so here is a photo of carlos posing in the garden.  he did a great job.  the plants are a little too linear for my liking but that is what i get for not going out to help i guess!!  once i am able to bend and lift i will probably rearrange some of the plants as i really don't like the look of a straight line type of garden.  i like it to be like a jungle and hey i am in the right place for that!!  most gardeners in roatan are really merely 'rakers' unless someone teaches them.  i have chosen to teach carlos everything i know about gardening.  he is a very quick learner. 

yesterday he showed up with a bucket full of plants and when i questioned where he got them he just smiled sheepishly.   lesson #2:  teach him not to steal!!   but alas, i admit.. we used them in the garden!

most of the plants we gathered from the adjacent property (owned by the same people we rent from but no house is on there so it has become quite overgrown).  i went for a walk with him yesterday pointing out plants that i thought would be good for the garden.  it is interesting here in roatan because you can just put the cutting right in the ground (no roots) and amazingly enough it grows!!!

every friday afternoon i teach carlos english.  it is a treat for him to come indoors.  i offered to feed him lunch which he resisted but i presisted and guess who won?  now we both enjoy sharing  a meal together before we start the lessons.   it is funny because i am not really very organized and i never imagined myself teaching english but it seems natural to do with him.  for now we are working on nouns, common phrases and the alphabet.  there are certain sounds that are almost impossible for him to make:  the 'th' sound is really hard for him.  he always says 's'.  but he is determined and i know that he will get it over time.  i told him to not worry about it but just to be a 'parrot' and mimic me.  that seemed to help alot.  i have trouble with the double r sound, and the double ll sound. so we are both learning equally.

as he was leaving for the day he came by to give bob his jacket and to say goodbye.  i meandered through the garden and admired his work then i said, 'okey dokey  hasta manana'   he laughed and said, como (what?!)   then i realized that okey dokey probably isn't a good thing to teach him. i said it was another word for okay. but i just couldn't resist  and said "okey dokey smokey" and in that beautiful accent that i love he haltingly said, "okey dokey smokey"  too funny.  i heard him muttering it to himself.  i think of all that i taught him today that perhaps that was his favorite expression!! 

i can just imagine him using that expression tonight with his friends in the colonia.

never a dull moment around here.

difficult decisions

some decisions are so hard to make. we have been struggling about what to do about christmas. the kids are scattered across canada. after many months we decided to stay in roatan. it will be first time we won't be together as a family. at first i was very very upset about this. i am kinda the queen of christmas. i love traditions, candles, special food, baking cookies, making memories with the kids so the idea of not being with them this christmas was eating at my heart.

then i did something i should done weeks ago.

i prayed.

i asked for His insight. immediately, and i mean pronto i was enveloped in a peace. the kind of peace that passes all understanding. and i knew. stay. it isn't the outer stuff that makes christmas .. it is His presence that makes it. and like a gift wrapped in love He appeared to my soul and calmed me. and assured me. and blessed me.

i know that He will be with my kids in the same way. when i finally wrote them (writing things down makes it final and bob was still trying to find a way to get us back there.. but it isn't meant to be) they were understanding and realized it is a new 'life experience'. i just hope it isn't a regular life experience!!! :-)

yesterday bob and i went to get groceries and took a drive into coxen hole. i am including a slide show i made of some photos i took of that time.

http://www.picnik.com/show/id/6230597300_wJLwN/t/a-walk-and-a-drive

have a good day!

the people in our world....

Here are a few photos of some of the people we see on a regular basis... I have mentioned them but now you can see them. they are a tremendous blessing in our lives everyday. We thank God for them. Please pray for them as you feel led. Thanks.

zenola
is one of the first people we met on the island 3 years ago.
she remains a true friend.
she came over the other day and i taught her to make chocolate chip cookies.

marco
is married to zenola.
he has been invaluable in helping bob build
the shop!!
we spend many many hours on their deck
if you ever come to the island and want a tour:
marco gives great tours!!

marco, liliana and their family
live on the same property as we do. marco is dutch liliana is honduran. their kids speak english, spanish and dutch!! they manage the place for the owners who are living in the states. we enjoy spending time with them. wonderful friends!

melissa and her husband jeremy (and twin boys) are pastoring a church here on the island we enjoy them! melissa and i get together every thursday to encourage each other.

enrique
the gardener
he moved to roatan from the mainland to provide for his family.
his wife and children live there and he sends money over.

maria
since my surgery she has been helping to clean, do laundry, wash windows.
she is a wonderful spanish lady.
she is expecting her first baby.
on her own.
pray for her.
she is so precious.

carlos alfredo
this is enrique's son
he is now the new gardener
since enrique has work elsewhere
carlos is 17 years old.
i am teaching him english.

lessons from a hummer

as you know i have a hummingbird feeder on our deck. i usually get around 6 birds but there is one who comes and stays for most of the day. i put a branch near the feeder so i could watch them and photograph them. mr. fluffybutt (yes that is his name) comes and sits for long periods of time. you may say, 'how do i know it is him?' i can tell. he is comfortable with me. he doesn't stir when stand near him and like any pet you get to know them.

so this morning it was raining and there he was. sitting on the branch soaking wet. singing quietly. i went out with my camera. i stood about 6 feet away and greeted him. yes i do that. i say, 'good morning mr. fluffybutt. good morning little friend '

he stopped singing for a moment and just stared at me. then he began again. i slowly walked near him. he flew to the feeder and then back to the branch.

i said, 'my word, you are getting very wet'.
and i too was getting wet.
my camera was getting wet.

he is cold,
he is wet,
yet i can hear him sing
he keeps his head UP in the storm
his beak upturned.
the elements will not threaten his song.

so what is the lesson from mr. fluffybutt today:

don't let the storm stop your song.
keep singing no matter what.
keep your head up towards the heavens

Psalm 121

cabin fever!!!

a common occurance:
palm branches on the windshield
after parking the car.
i love it!

my recovery is coming along very nicely. i seem to be able to move with minimal pain which is wonderful. the toilet seat is still a long ways down but that is getting easier too and i am thankful for that.

i read somewhere that we really heal best 'laying down'. so i have been trying to do that alot. i have one challenge though: boredom!! i have been watching alot of movies. well actually i have been watching the special features of movies because i am one of these kinds of people that doesnt really like to see a movie twice. lately i have been watching the Lord of the Rings appendices and it is fascinating to learn how they chose the actors, made the sets, were able to make the hobbits looks like hobbits, how they made the monsters, chose the music.. etc. etc. etc. so fascinating and interesting!!

but yesterday afternoon i was at the height of going 'stir crazy' and i looked at bob and said,

'do you want to go for an icecream?'
pleading.. begging.. desperate!
*smile*

we have a favorite place to go in west end (cream of the trop) but it was closed. in fact alot of places are closed due to things being so slow on the island. So we opted to just go to a little grocery store in west end and buy a fudgiscle. We sat out on the dock and ate our icecream and enjoyed the ending of another beautiful day.

it was delightful to be out. it was beautiful beautiful afternoon. the best time of day (other then early morning) is late afternoon because the sun is low in the sky and sits so warm, and golden on everything. it so beautiful!! and short walks and visit by the sea are excellent for healing too!

here are some photos.

this boy was having a blast playing on this broken surf board!

it was such a gorgeous afternoon. we are sitting on a dock like this but not two story

as i was eating my icecream i watched this guy playing football in the water then later he came and sat on this post on the wharf. great silhouette.
his name is stephen.

the kids enjoyed playing in the water. i under exposed this it was really sunny and bright.

and this was the icing on the cake that made the drive so worth while:
HOW GLORIOUS IS THAT??

simple things

like a walk in the yard .. slowly recovering and enjoying the beauty




like getting up close and personal with my hummers.. once again... and never tiring of it. (look at that butt.. made me laugh.. bob entitled this: cute as a BUTTon)

like the view from our deck.. even beautiful on a rainy day





like watching bob read while the power is out, and being content to lay there and look at him.


simple things. they well up inside me. for awhile i struggled with being thankful. really it was an awful time. i was kinda 'complainy' all the time. but now for reason, i am so grateful for the simple-est things.

even you.
yes you.
xo

can you feel the l.o.v.e?

for those of you who know bob you would know that he isn't proficient in the kitchen. has never had a desire to learn and frankly i don't mind because i love to cook.

well since my surgery he has been doing stellar in that department. i almost cried when he brought this omelet to me with a heart etched in ketchup. how creative. how loving.



sometimes things happen to force us to grow. let's try not to fight it.


i am learning to rest more then i thought possible for a go getter type like myself. but daily i am seeing my body heal and strengthen so it is worth it. it amazed me. the Lord keeps bringing a scripture to my mind and it is this: "I am the Lord that heals you" Okay, then I will do what I need to do so You can do what You need to do.

what is happening in your life that is stretching you?
don't fight it.
learn from it.
let Him be a part of it.

you'll find yourself cooking, or baking a cake (yes he just made me a chocolate cake), or resting, or reaching out, or developing a skill, or loving against all odds.

take hold of it carefully and no matter what.. show the love.

xoxo