surgery today

Hi everyone...

Just writing to let you know that I am going in for surgery today at 5:00 pm. I have had alot of trouble with fibroids and after much thought have decided to have a hysterectomy here in Le Ceiba. Dr Raymond, our local island doctor has found an excellent gynecologist and I am thankful for his thorough ways, the testing he has done and the way he has gone out of his way to assure me. He kept saying... so what are your worries? It is interesting because in Canada doctors say do you have any concerns or questions whereas he called it what it was: a worry. He wants to do an epidural on me.. I'd say that would be my only 'worry'.

He has a private clinic here where both Bob and I will be staying for the next few days after my surgery. I will be taken good care of.

I have a peace about it for the most part. I know that He has gone before me, will be with me and will surround me. I do appreciate your prayers for wisdom for the surgeon. We know that my fibroids have grown considerably and I trust that there won't be any complications in getting all of them out. Pray that I will heal up quickly and that there won't be any risk of hemorraging.

Thanks for standing with me at this time.

I am in His capable hands.

this picture is in our hotel room... i thought there was an abstract sort of resemblance.

hummer heaven

bob called me and said there were about 40 birds at the feeder. i couldn't believe it!!
he was right

These were taken at Michele's, the place we are housesitting. I am not sure why she gets so many birds.I know she has been feeding them for years. There weren't usually that many at the feeder during the day (maybe a dozen) but the last feed of the day usually draws alot of birds but I have never seen this many!!!

INCREDIBLE!!!
needless to say.. I was in heaven! So to speak.



Hummer heaven... :-)

Today Melissa came by for our weekly time together and I decided to take some photos of her by the feeder.

We were having a great time together taking photos of Michele when Bob hollered saying "Um Debi, you better close the door because there about a whole bunch of hummers in the screened deck!!" Oh NO! I had left the door open with an empty feeder on the counter inside and I guess they saw it and thought.. lunch!! It took us quite awhile to get all the hummers back out. We used pillows to try to shoo them down towards the door but even then they would fly back to the back of the deck. I managed to catch one and that was pretty exciting. The last hummer put up quite the fight. I felt awful because he was really frightened, breathing heavy and panting (yes they pant.. his little beak was open and he was breathing hard) We just couldn't get him to the door but I remembered that often in pet stores they will use a towel to catch a bird so when he was by the screen I put the towel up against it. Then Melissa held it in place until I was able to take the frightened little thing gently in my hand and release him into the great outdoors again!

We can add that to 'things we have now done" list!

You can check out more pictures on my facebook...I'd say they are some of the most amazing hummingbird photos I have
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=163029&id=742125548&l=bd28d5639d

strange things happen when the power goes out!!

Yesterday the power was out for most of the day. Not sure why... maybe the heavy rain had knocked some trees down or.. who knows? The place we are house sitting has a generator so we had back up power in the kitchen and the livingroom. Cooking and watching TV... not too shabby!

At supper time I got a call from our neighbor.
It went like this:

"Oh Debi, es Bob dere?"
"Yes he is here beside me"
"Oh that is not good at all. Dere is someone in your house. I can see a flash light in there!"
"Well could it be Marco?"
"No Marco with his Mother"
"Liliana, please call the police for us okay?"
"Okay, and I pray."
"Yes we will pray too"

I stood in the kitchen and my head began to spin: oh no...we were getting broken into on a night with no power!!! When I told Bob he said he was going over there to check it out. I didn't want him to go... what if they shot him?!!! I decided to stay here and he ran out the door into the dark night and the pouring rain!

The moment he left the generator began to die. I ran around the house looking for a flashlight. I found candles but no matches. I thought... oh my.. this isn't good at all. A funny thing happens during times like this: it's called unreasonable thought. I will share my "unreasonable thought" with you. I thought... "oh no, the power is going out and now I am going to get broken into here and Bob isn't here!!" Crazy I know but that was my very first thought.

I managed to find the BBQ lighter, lit some candles then I called Jeremy and asked for prayer. He asked what he could do. My first thought (selfish) is "you can come over here"... OR "you could go and make sure Bob is okay. Whatever you feel right about doing."

After I hung up I grabbed my Bible and read Psalm 91 OUTLOUD! :-) There is real power in His truth. If you haven't read that Psalm in a while then I recommend you read it. The one line that deeply ministered to me is "because he loves me, no harm will befall him" Okay I believed that for Bob. A peace came upon my shaky little soul. It is hard to explain but I knew everything would be okay.

I sat in the candle light with the dogs beside me praying. Melissa called and she prayed with me on the phone. So good to have support here!! Thanks guys!!! I had talked to Bob a couple of times. He was at the house in the car. Apparently the police had come before he got there but since no one was available to open up the house, they checked the grounds, didn't see any evidence of a break in and left.

Bob told me later that Jeremy, Melissa and the boys, came over to the house (bless their hearts!!!) They decided to go in and see what was going on. Bob went to go in and said to Jeremy "back me up Dano" and just as he did I called him (loud phone ringing...kinda wrong timing!!!) so Jeremy went in ahead making all sorts of noise. He is a big guy and I can imagine him hollering and stomping about!

As it turns out no one was in the house. It wasn't broken into at all. I think the light that Liliana saw was from a car going by on the road. When there isn't any power here things are pitch black and it is hard to tell.

Needless to say, when Bob called I was soooooooooo relieved with the news.
Within minutes of him arriving back at this house the power went back on. We were so glad that things turned out the way they did. We went to bed with very grateful hearts for this false alarm!

But hey please continue to pray for us. Thanks.

a change of residence

No we aren't going far.. just about 15 minutes down the road to house sit for our friends who are going back to the states for a week.
Marco, our neighbor will be looking after this place while we are gone. It is a sad reality that it is rather unsafe to leave a house unattended on the island since it will likely get broken into. Some people have a 'watchie'. that is someone that they hire who watches their place while they are away. Once we left our place unattended and I was a little concerned but I love how the Lord assures us from the Word. I had read in Psalm 121 how the Lord never slumbers or sleeps but He WATCHES over you. So I trusted in the greatest WATCHIE of all and no one broke into our place.

the barbed wire fence around our place.. taken last night at sunset

On Friday night I taught Zenola how to make pizza. She was thrilled!! She kept saying "this ain't hard!" And it tasted great too! I had to laugh though because she said, "You can put anything on pizza can't you?" I said yes. Then she looked at me with great joy and said, "I could put hotdogs on it couldn't I??!" I almost died laughing. You have to understand that islanders love these little mini hotdogs that come in a can. I managed to simply say... "Oh yes Zenola you could put hotdogs on it if you want to!" Big grin! Heck, I might even try that next time.. um... not.


I want to share a beautiful way God took care of a matter that was upsetting me. It's quite remarkable and I have had an excited butterfly feeling in my stomach all night just thinking about it. As I mentioned we are housesitting and the lady asked if I wouldn't mind minding her store on cruise ship days. I have worked in retail many times so I didn't think it would be a problem. I went in on Wednesday and went home feeling really overwhelmed. It wasn't dealing with the cash that was the issue. It was needing to remember that independent tour guides get a free cookie/drink, other tour guides pay 15 Limpera for a drink, the boat driver's need to pay a dollar. Don't forget to check all 20's. I had to write down (by hand) the price, a description of what sold, the wrist band they were wearing. All was needed for her books. At one point there was such a long line up that it went half way around the store.

So.. I went home thinking.. how do I get myself into this stuff??! Plus my mind, doesn't seem to retain things as well as it used to and I kept forgetting everything. I began to dread saying yes. But I did pray that He would help me. He says He will never give us more then we
can bear so I was banking on that. Well yesterday Zenola told me that the Wednesday cruise ship was canceled!! As much as I hate to see people not have that business I was thrilled
beyond words because that meant I wouldn't be manning the store and having to deal with up to 15 tour buses coming through!! Then today Michele, who owns the store told me that she just found out that one of her friends who usually does the store for her arrived on the Island yesterday and she would be coming in on Friday to help me!!!!!

He takes care of the lilies of the field,
how much more will He take care of us!

Truly He doesn't give us more then we can bear!! I am so grateful! I think living on this island has spoiled me in the 'stress level department'. I have none. So when I have some my poor body goes into shock!!!

On a weather note, I am happy to say that today the rains began. Usually the rainy season starts around the end of Sept. so we need rain desperately. It was beautiful today to hear the sound of the rain and enjoy the coolness in the breezes that blew. I went out and planted some seeds in the garden knowing the rain will help them germinate.

look at those clouds!! i went out back to the beach last evening and got this photo!

the kids were happy to still swim in the rain!
this was taken from our deck.
you can't really tell but it was pouring out!

Today after church we are hoping to take a boat out to either St. Helene or Cayos Cachinos. I am looking forward to being out on the water. I will post pictures soon. I hope you have a wonderful Sunday!

*a post note: we didn't go out in the boat due to a nor'easter then blew in. it has been raining hard off and on throughout the day. the wind on our side of the island was really blowing hard but over in dixon cove it is pretty calm. the dogs have been fed, the cat came to say a shy hello, i am getting eaten alive by sand flies (they say that after awhile the sand flies in your yard get used to you and leave you alone but to these guys I am fresh meat. well you know what i mean!)

Blessings!!
xo

Lunch Out

I want to share a different kind of lunch experience.
We know a lady who goes to our church who has a little restaurant in Coxen Hole so since we were out running errands Bob said, "let's go to Lola's for lunch"

So we walked down a tiny alley, to the end and walked into her tiny little shop. There are a few tables inside, the windows and doors are all open hoping for a breeze to enter in. The windows were barred with no screens so although no breeze found it's way in the flies did.

Lola was pleased to see us. After the customary kissing on the cheek and light hug, and 'how is your family?' I asked what is for lunch?

Here is the conversation:

"I got no food left"
"What? Nothing left at all?"
"Well I gots some oxtail, you want dat?"

Now I need to say that I have had oxtail before and if I have a choice it really isn't my favorite thing to eat.. so I said:

"Um no thanks Lola"
"Well I got some soup"
"What kinda soup you got?"

Then she told me a typical island soup (i can't remember what it is called) but it has tough beef in it and veggies.

So I shook my head.
Then she said, "Debi come back here"

So I go back into the kitchen. Yes she takes me back into her tiny little kitchen and there I stand perusing "lunch" I see a big pan with 3 pieces of chicken, a small pan with plaintain and a pot with a bit of rice and beans. I smile. That is what I was looking for.

"Lola what about some chicken, plaintain, and rice and beans"
"Nah, that ain't enough for you and Bob for lunch"
"Yes it is.. we don't eat alot"

She shakes her head in disbelief. I say.. really .. it's okay.

So she gives me two pieces of chicken and Bob gets a huge chicken breast and 4 pieces of pork (not sure where she got that from!) She adds some rice and beans, some plaintain and some cole slaw. It is like a feast!! Nothing to eat??! HA!

It was good.
And it was about 8 dollars for both of us including a gatorade and a juice. Can't beat that!!

Oh by the way, Bob couldn't eat everything and brought back the huge chicken breast which I will put in our salad for lunch today!!! :-)

that is Lola standing beside me. taken last June when we were singing at a conference together.

Thanksgiving Island Style

this is what our "fall colors" look like!!

I have always loved Thanksgiving. I love to savor the smells of turkey, sweet potato and spicy pumpkin pie cooking in the afternoon. I love the crispness in the air and the beauty of the many changing colored leaves. I would often go out for an afternoon walk and gather leaves and use them to decorate the house. I love to gather family and friends around the table and be grateful for the things we have gone through and to share what we are thankful for around the table. I love to pray to the One from whom all such blessings flow.

This year was a different Thanksgiving. It is hard to explain but I will try my best. Every day is the same here: sunny, humid and hot. The skies are blue. We don't have the same seasons as back home. No spring, no fall (well sort of a type of fall but not what I am used to) Lately the weather has changed a little.



It is starting to get a little cooler (but not much), we have had a little rain (but not much) so it doesn't 'feel' like Thanksgiving. In fact, each day often just blends into the next and I wouldn't have known it was Thanksgiving except friends and family were talking about it on facebook. But who am I kidding often I am caught off guard by holidays... "what? it's thanksgiving this weekend?" I rarely look at a calendar even back home! :-) But I never miss birthdays and of course, Christmas!

I had contemplated making a turkey dinner for some of our island friends. They don't eat typical turkey dinners here so I thought it would be a real treat for them. But a few days ago I came down with a terrible sinus infection and I wasn't up to doing anything at all.

I was thrilled yesterday when I heard that the Blue Bahai restaurant was hosting a Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner!! MMMMM! I was also thankful I was feeling good enough to go out!! So Bob and I went and had a great time. It was delicious: turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes slathered in gravy (good gravy too), green beans, sweet potato, and cranberry sauce. Yum! It was fun night because they handed out canadian ties for the guys, canadian scarves for the ladies (we didn't get any because we were 'late'.. ha.. what about island time.. oh yeah these were all north american.. shucks) They had a quiz about canadian trivia which was great. Thanks to Jaqueline for helping to organize this and for Kent for cooking and for wearing that Canadian toque all evening!!! :-)



Later we went to Paradise Beach to help celebrate our friend Marco's birthday. His mother and her friend were visiting from Holland and it was wonderful to get to know them. We really had a great night.

marco is at the back to the right of bob

Here are a few things I am thankful for: His unfailing love, Bob's commitment to me, for our 3 wonderful kids, for beauty that takes my breath away, for dear friends that stay in touch over the years, for fresh water to drink, for a renewed heart, for good health over the years, and for this opportunity to experience what living in paradise is really like.


these are winter birds.. they arrived a few days ago in the yard. they migrate here. what a treat. hey.. just thought of something.. YOU should migrate here! We'd love to have you in the yard too!!

People matter (or Bob's alternative title: make love not war!)

follow me, I'm not lost

Yesterday I went to the clinic to volunteer again and Miss Peggy mentioned that they had blankets and pillows to distribute (given from the Cruise Ship Line) and wondered if I'd like to take some to give out to people we know. Definitely! It was fortunate that Bob came by around that time because we were able to load up our car.

We went home for lunch and as we were sitting out on the deck I saw our gardener (not that we hired him.. the people who own this house that we are renting from hire him) out working. He is so poor and is here on Roatan supporting his family who are still living on the Mainland. I decided to take him to the car to get some pillows for his family. He has 5 in family but he only took 3 pillows and 3 blankets. I said, No take five. But he wouldn't. Later when he was putting them in a box to send to his family he looked at me and said with tears in his eyes, "Gloria a Dios!!" That means glory to God. He was choked up and so grateful. I stood there with him in the yard with tears rolling down my cheeks thanking God for this simple provision. The needs are so great here but the people are so grateful! Think about this next time you go shoppping... just stop in the aisle and say "glory to God".. we have soooooo much to be thankful for!

Amen.

We took the rest of the pillows and blankets to an area of the island that is really needy called Hottest Sparrow. There are many colonia's (poor areas) here but alot gringos are providing to them but it seems that not many make it out to Hottest Sparrow so it is always a joy to go and give to them. In fact not many people here even know where that area is. Several of our island friends have family up there and that how we discovered that little area.

Bob with a few people at the school

We also had some school supplies so we went to the school but unfortunately no one was there in the afternoon. Siesta!! But this sweet boy said he would show us where the maestra lived. He was on his bike and rode ahead of us along a dusty dirt road. I was surprised and overjoyed to see how much this part of Roatan reminds me of Africa.. the dirt roads, the red dirt, the small simple like homes/huts, the cows on the road. It is a wonderful part of the island.



Anyways, we had stopped at the lady's house who has 11 children (I have blogged about her before) and she was delighted to see us again. Her children are as dirty as usual but they looked healthier then before. They have coming into the clinic quite regularly. Our spanish is still pretty limited but we get by. We were grateful that a young island boy was there to translate for us. We told him that we needed to see the teacher and he said he lives nearby him. "just down the road and over the hill" haha.. okay! We thought the best way to do it was to give him a ride. The car was literally overflowing with boxes but he and his brother managed to squeeze inside. They go to school in Mud Hole and have to walk over an hour each day! Can you imagine.... walking in the hot sun??! Needless to say they were thrilled to get a ride!! Their other brother drove by on a bicycle and they waved so enthusiastically as if to say "Look at us in the gringos car!!"

oh happy day!!

The people were so grateful that we would drive all the way so they could have new pillows and blankets! It isn't that far (takes about half hour) but the road is bad and not many people find themselves out that way.

We left with an empty car and a full heart!

Next we went to the cruise ship dock to see our friend Luma. He is an artist here on the island who is going to be putting some of his work in the new "Made in Roatan" shop.


Bob came up with the idea to have a write up and picture beside each artist so we could highlight them. We had a great time listening to his story and taking photos. At one point there was a gentleman from the cruise ship who stopped to look at this work. I told him what we were doing. He thought it was wonderful but didn't buy anything. Within a short time though he came back with his wife and they ended up buying 5 little paintings of fish!! Luma was thrilled as he hadn't sold anything that day. At the same time another couple came up and I introduced them to Luma as ' a local artist' on the island and they also bought two of his paintings. When they left Luma was so overjoyed that he cried. It is hard to explain but these people live pretty much day to day. If he makes money he eats, if not then.. he doesn't. So that was a very good afternoon for him. That is why we are so interested in getting our Made in Roatan shop up and running because it really will help local people here on the island.

the "MADE IN ROATAN" shop.. almost done!
just waiting for the door to be built!
sorry it is such a weird angle but it was cruise ship day yesterday and lots of traffic so I couldn't stand on the middle of the road.

We visited with two more people who are going to be have their work in the shop. Visiting takes time on the island but that is one thing that we want to have. I enjoy volunteering and helping out but I want to make sure that I always have time set aside to 'just be with people'. They are so friendly and relational. They love to chat and visit. I believe that the time we have invested into listening, caring and praying for them is the best work that we have done. We went to see Ivis, a lady who sews beautiful beach cover ups and dresses here. She has become a dear friend of mine and we had a wonderful time visiting with her. As we were leaving I saw a skirt that I wanted to buy and she wouldn't let me pay for it. I tried! She kept saying "No you are my friend. No money. You are my friend." I really tried. But she wouldn't take my money. She said she got enough money from the tourists she didn't want mine. So generous. It blows me away. I need to think of some other way of helping her. Taking over some fruit (she makes the best fruit smoothies) or some food. I know she needs that money but she wouldn't dream of taking it from me.

Please keep remembering these people in your prayers. Times are hard on the island. It is a slow time for the next month or so with not many tourists coming. I know of several resorts that have shut down til Christmas and many restaurants aren't open either. That means that alot of the local people don't have any work for the next couple of months. But God does take care of them.. He does. They live so simply, so beautifully .... like the birds of the air.. God takes care of them.. how much will He take care of you.


Since we both had been out since 8 am and it was now dark and dinner time we decided to stop at the Oasis for a light dinner. I was thrilled to see they had 'canadian poutine' on the menu! What a treat. I love poutine! It was a perfect way to end the day for me! I always think of my Mom when I have fries and gravy. It was one of her favorite 'snacks' when we were out shopping. I miss my Mom so much but I realized today as I was out and about loving people, laughing, engaging with them that I have been blessed with my Mom's 'young at heart' character.

If you have someone near you that you appreciate and love. Tell them that today. They deserve to know that! :-)

pssst... I love and appreciate YOU! xo

under the sea/above the sea.... :-)

every sunday afternoon we go to west bay to visit with friends and go for a snorkel. i found this picture on the internet to show you where we actually snorkel. all that looks like 'land' is actually coral. we usually go out to the left of the dock, go over the light blue patch (sandy bottom) and then through a narrow channel which leads us out to the deeper area. the narrow channnel is "full" of fish swimming through the coral, eating off it and it is my favorite part of the whole snorkel. it is simply amazing. i can't wait til we get our underwater camera fixed in order to take some photos of the beauty under the sea.

in the meantime here are some pictures that I took off the internet to show you the 'other world' that we so enjoy!! the last time we went out I was practicing diving down. Bob can go down 35 feet free diving which is so awesome. I can't seem to do it. I am happy if I manage to get down 6 to 8 feet. I seem to run out of air, or panic thinking I will run out of air. When Matt was here he dove down over 50 feet.. his lung capacity was astounding!!!

if you click on this photo it will enlarge the photos

top row: squirrel fish, bone fish (these swim in the shallow water) parrot fish
middle row: sargeant majors (these are sooo plentiful. they follow us around almost the whole time), some beautiful coral, a baby angel fish
bottom row: trunk fish, bluehead wrasse, sea turtle (one of our favorite things to find)

Bob has been extremely busy with the "made in roatan" shop. The windows are in, it has been stained, the trim is going on, we are waiting for the door to be made. We want to get photos and provide a biography of each person that will be having their art in the shop. This afternoon we went to visit Yourgin and his family to hear his story and take some pictures. Little by little it is all getting done. We were expecting to have help from a team to build it but they didn't come to Roatan due to the political upheaval on the Mainland so we are thankful for everyone who has been willing to help out.

i love this photo of Bob so much. He didn't know I had taken this. It captures the essence of a man who is at ease... we were waiting for our friends but he isn't stressed out, just patiently waiting. I thank God for his patience....

I have been busy at the clinic volunteering. I am getting the hang of it there and have been working in pharmacy. Tomorrow I am going to be speaking at the woman's breakfast in French Harbour. I am looking forward to it as I love to speak about the truths in His Word. I have been taking a bit of a break from flickr as the commitment and time it took to photograph daily and comment on photos was just taking up too much of my time but I do still get out there to take photos.



The other morning I woke up at 5:00 am and as I walked in the kitchen to get some water I saw the most amazing full moon. Needless to say, I didn't go right back to bed right away until I had taken a photo of the moon.! I didn't have time to set up my tripod (the moon drops quickly into the horizon just like the sun) so I managed to hold my camera against a post on the deck. The terrible part was that bats, yes bats, were flying all around me... was very challenging to not freak out. I was happy with the picture of the moon.. isn't it incredible. I find it interesting that the moon just reflects the sun. How like us.. we aren't so special or great but are simply called to reflect the Son who really gets the glory.




When we got home this afternoon I could see the sky was a blaze of color. I went out on the deck to take a photo but I realized that the trees were blocking the display so I went down to the beach and got this photo. How is that for a backyard??!!

truly the sky declares the glory of God

birthday fun!

Birthdays have always been special days in our family.W hen the kids were small they would get breakfast in bed, whatever they wanted (including the sweetest and grossiest cereal they liked!) and presents first thing (like Christmas morning) The tradition of breakfast in bed has changed a bit for Bob and I since we don't really like eating in bed. But this morning Bob did make me a wonderful omelet. A nice way to start the day. Later on we went to the Carambola Gardens to buy myself a plant. I decided on getting a large bougainvillea tree which you can see in the collage below. I love flowers and I think getting a plant on a special day is a great way to enjoy them all year round!

breakfast made by bob, bouganvillea now planted in our garden!

We went to West End to have lunch with our friends. We had planned on meeting at Rocket Burger but it was closed because it is so slow on the island. It wasn't worth it for them to open. We went to Eagle Ray and it is closed too! We ended up going to Pura Vida which was nice because they could put the tables together so we could all sit together. It was great to meet another missionary family that just arrived on the island the day before: Emily and Travis and their four beautiful girls.



After lunch we went snorkeling at West Bay with Jeremy and Meghan. It was a great swim. A little murky but very refreshing. I still marvel at the beauty under the sea: the many colored fish, the coral of so many shapes, sizes and colors, and the incredible peace and quiet on that environment. I love it! Just as we were coming in a young Italian man was trying to ask us something but the language barrier got in the way. Fortunately Bob could speak french and found out that the young man was wondering if we would take him out to the reef wall as he didn't know the way. Bob was kind enough to take him (the rest of us were too tired). Later I went out with them again and we swam around some shallow coral and saw lots of fish and even a baby turtle. It was a great time. Bob said it was surprising how much french he knew!! But the interesting thing is he found himself thinking of the word in spanish and then going to french. I knew I should have listened more in french class!!! :-)







After our snorkel we rushed home for a shower (there is nothing worse then being covered in sea salt...well I guess there are alot of worse things than that!!) We had arranged to meet with our friends Marco and Zenola for dinner at the chinese food place. They are one of the first couples we met on this island and they have become like family to us. We had a great time together and as if always the case with chinese food, we ate too much.

Zenola had made me a nice home made cake but said she was too full so they went home and we had our neighbors over for cake.

cake with our neighbors: marco, liliana, ricardo, rebecca, and edwardo

What a day! Surrounded by people I love and care for, beauty above the sea and under the sea and spoiled rotten all day!


Thanks for the many emails, and birthday wishes from all of you!
I wish you could have been apart of my day here.. that would have made it extra special!