Triathlon 2011 Roatan

Alexander and Laura - pre race

A week ago today our little island was the host of the 2011 Triathlon.  

It was very exciting to host this event.
Many of our island friends had trained diligently for months to be ready for the big day!
As the day of the race approached we saw more olympic atheletes
that came from all over the world to participate in this event

Here is a quote from Laura's facebook status referring to the athletes

They are everywhere! This morning I swam with the sharks, then a gazelle ran by my house on the race route, and the bees on bikes are all over the roads...the olympic triathaletes are here! So exciting! Cannot wait to actually have a conversation with one of these mythical creatures tomorrow at the opening ceremonies

I was so thrilled when Alexander asked me to do a photo shoot of the event!
This was exciting because I had never done a sports event before and I am very grateful for Bob's help in capturing the biking and swimming part of the race!
I was so proud of Alex and Laura for finishing the Olympic race!
They also had a Sprint race which of course is shorter then the Olympic race.

In case you aren't familiar there are three parts to a triathlon:
swim, bike and run

Everyone was so excited for the race to begin, but due to high winds and waves
the night before they had to wait because the buoys needed to be set up before the race could begin
So yes.. the race began.. Island time.. about a half hour late!

powered by Christ ~ amen!

Many of us were praying that the hurling waves would settle down and
so as the early light came across the caribbean sea and we saw much calmer waters
we were grateful.

I am not sure if they were praying but I know I sure was!!

Yes we prayed!
The swim part of the race was 1,500 meters, and it is challenging to swim
anytime but especially difficult in croppy seas.
The swim started in front of Henry Morgan hotel on West Bay Beach.
It was always so exciting to hear the 'horn' blow and see the athletes
gliding through the waters with such strength and ease.
It was doubly exciting for us to 'know' many of them and to be able to cheer for
Team Roatan!!

not everyone can look good in bathing caps, but they did!

Swim course map

the olympic men heading in for the swim!

the girls are off!

 Bob was able to get some fantastic shots of Alexander and Laura finishing the
swim part and running up through the water.  For those of you who know Laura you will see that she is 'true to form' by being so engaging and connecting with the crowd ..
She is one of the most loving and thoughtful people I know and even though she is tired
you can see her smiling and waving at her students.

lovely Laura spreading JOY around!

I headed over quickly to the transition area where they would arrive dripping wet and
put on their helmets, gloves, biking shoes etc and begin the second part of the race.
I was nervous that I would miss them transitioning but little did I know that Laura
had said she was here to 'enjoy this day' and we all joke about the fact that she
was in transition for 6 MINUTES!
No wonder she was smiling... she wasn't going to get stressed out about the race!
We all had a good laugh about that, and I got some great photos of her
while she was 'preparing' to go to the next leg of the race:
eating power bars, hydrating herself, changing into dry clothes,
talking to people, and smiling for my camera.


Bless her heart!

Bike course Map

Once they left the transition area on their bikes Bob and I
took a water taxi over to West End so we could photograph them at the turn around
point by Banco LaFise.
I was so happy that Bob was willing to stay longer
to get photos of them under the Triathlon sign by West End


After that he snagged a ride in a medic truck to go back to West Bay.
The only problem was the truck realized that there was still one more person
biking so it turned around half way and Bob got out at the zip line
by Gumbalimba Park.
He managed to flag down a van and although they stopped
they were FULL of people!
In true Honduran kindness though, the guy in the front seat literally
dove into the back on top of everyone and gave Bob the front seat
and he was able to get a ride to Infinity Bay and capture
them running in the last leg of the journey.



The run course was 10 km long with many steep uphills running out
towards the Lighthouse and turning around at Turtle Crossing.
The view up there is spectacular but I assume that by this time they were so
tired that they barely noticed.


Run Course Map



The cool thing about Alex and Laura is that before the race
they had agreed to finish no matter what, even if it meant doing it alone
but they stayed together the whole race.
It was beautiful to see them running across the finish line together holding
hands and it brought tears to my eyes.

I am so very proud of them!
When Alex finished he said,
"well I can check another thing off my list!"
what an accomplishment!
I do believe Laura is going to do another triathlon though..
maybe this time she will shave down her transition times!!
:-)

alexander, me and laura  - post race

would you gargle pee?

yes you read that title right!!  that is what an island lady i know told me to do for a sore throat.   bob was in the bank and so i wandered across the street when i saw ida selling food on the street.   the moment she heard my raspy voice she said, oh girl you be sick!!   i said yeah i sure am.  everyone has their ideas about what will work for a sore throat but when ida told me to gargle my own pee i almost died laughing and said, well ida i ain't THAT sick!!  then she said, " listen girl, it came from you and it won't hurt you and it works!  it really does!  but you gotta remember it gots to be your own pee and not somebody else's pee."

  at this point i am thinking NO PEE.. NEVER!


have you ever heard such a thing???   well i decided to google 'pee and sore throats' and i was actually surprised at the number of people who say it works!!

this site is rather hard core because it says not only to gargle for a sore throat but to actually drink it as it has all the nutrients your body needs!!!  what??!!

in this blog the girl was traveling and someone told her about the pee remedy .  you will have to read it to see if it worked or not.

i am giving it a couple more days before i attempt this radical solution.  in the mean time i am gargling with warm water, salt and pepper (yes try the pepper it is better then just the salt)  i am going to try to gargle with vinegar, cayenne pepper and honey before bed tonight.  i have lots of throat lozenges, drink nice teas. i have been taking mucinex to loosen the mucus on the back of my throat and ibuprofen for the pain and to help reduce any swelling in my throat and bronchial area.

taken today by jeanette.. see i look sick!  pasty hair, wrinkled clothes!

we are staying at don and jeanette's place and i am sorry to say that i gave jeanette the same cough and sore throat.  she is gracious about it.  we are hanging out together trying to get better.  today we played scrabble and i lost.  boy sick and a loser!!!  good thing i have a good self image!!!   :-)

oh and of course, i am praying like crazy!  a part of me, the crazy, zany, off the wall part of me is tempted to try gargling with pee?  but fear not,  i will let you know when i do and the results!

so would you gargle with pee?

News from Puerta Trasera

Hi!  I am writing this from Jeanette and Don's place.   They live up on the hill up from the brick oven place in Sandy Bay.   We came here on Saturday because the owners of our place are visiting with friends.  It has been great to spend time with our friends Jeanette and Don.  It is unfortunate that I have a sinus cold and laryngitis which makes visiting a little more difficult.

the sunset last night.... the heavens declare His glory!!

Last week we had a great week visiting with Pat and Nancy, the owners of the place we are renting.  It was good to get to know them a bit better.  Usually we go to Seadancer while they are down but for the first week we stayed in the house together.  It was good to visit, to share meals together, Bob and Nancy did a puzzle together, and today he has gone diving with them.   They are really happy with the property and I think Carlos deserves a big pat on the back for that!!

bob finished the puzzle his Mom gave him for Christmas!

We also were able to take Jamie and Ron, our missionary friends from Arizona on a tour of the East Side of the island.   That was the first day I started to feel sick with a sore throat but I pushed through and still managed to have a good time taking them through the mangroves, visiting our friends Stephanie and Carlos in Jonesville, and enjoying visiting the Garifuna Village in Punta Gorda.

jamie and ron enjoying the mangroves

this is the view from Punta Blanca.. um.. nice!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob, and our boat driver Melvin

me:  chillaxing!!

We took a day off from the shop to just relax with our friends and it was wonderful to get 'away'.
On Saturday after we were settled in to Don and Jeanette we went over to West Bay to help celebrate Sebastian's first Birthday party!   I still wasn't feeling too good and hesitated going but really wanted to go even for a little while and I am glad I did.  It was good to see everyone and join in the festivities.  Laura is a wonderful hostess and we really enjoyed her Tres Leche Cake (3 milk cake which is a classic island cake!)

Laura cutting the Tres Leche cake!  it was delicious!!!

Today being Monday, we have enjoyed a quiet day of reading, resting, and getting ready for another busy week ahead.  Bob went to the bank and then we went through the market looking at prices for black shoes for the kids who will be returning to school in a couple of weeks.  Last year Bob was able to get a good deal on the shoes since we bought so many but this year the lowest they would go was 10.00 a pair!  I think we need to send a local into the market because when they see our white skin they think:  MONEY!!!   We still have some money left over from the Christmas funds and we want to help out in that way but we want to make it go as far as possible and get good deals.  We have been working with Joan in French Harbour and she has sent us the sizes of children who otherwise couldn't afford shoes.  Can you imagine not being able to even afford shoes?  It is a different world here!!

   We are also going to be getting uniforms from Nichita, a new store here at a good discount price.  We want to thank those of you who sent money at Christmas.   We are going to be using some of that for helping kids get outfitted for school.  Do you know that if parents can't afford the uniforms, shoes and books then they just don't send the kids to school??  It is a sad but present reality for many families here so yes.. thanks again!

buddy says hi.. he is enjoying the sunsets up here!

please pray

Cedric, the man in the photo, is one of our worship leaders in church.

He is one of the most happy, kindhearted and enthusiastic people i know here on the island.  He often makes me laugh and has an authentic walk with God.

Yesterday at church he said,I have a testimony to share.

   He told us he is alive today because God kept him alive!!!   Here is his testimony:

"I am so glad that I am standing here with you all today because yesterday while at work two men came in and put a knife to my throat and stole all the money in the office.   It was amazing the peace that God gave me!!  I was very calm.  When they asked for the money I was able to tell them that there wasn't any money in any of the other drawers but they could look.   They sat me in a chair, put my head between my legs and told me if I moved they would shoot me.  The whole time I felt the presence of God.  Truly I am alive today because He kept me!"

Then he began to sing this song:

 I'm here today because God kept me.
I'm alive today,
only because of His grace.
Oh, He Kept me,
God Kept me,
He kept me,
So I wouldn't let go

I almost gave up.
I was right at the edge of a breakthrough but couldn't see it
The devil really had me;
but Jesus came and grabbed me,
And He held me close,
So I wouldn't let go.
God's mercy kept me,
so I wouldn't let go.

I almost let go.
I felt like I just couldn't take life anymore.
My problems had me bound
Depression weighed me down.
But God held me close, so I wouldn't let go.
God's mercy kept me, so I wouldn't let go.

So I'm here today because God kept me.
I'm alive today,
only because of His grace.
Oh, He Kept me,
God Kept me,
He kept me,
So I wouldn't let go.

a video you can watch of a lady singing the song 

I am so glad that Cedric was able to remain

calm in the midst of a very difficult situation.   I know it was HIS presence keeping him calm.

I just spoke to him on the phone asking for permission to post this blog and he agreed

saying anything that will help people to PRAY for our island.

And so i implore you, please pray for protection here!

Pray for Cedric and his dear family too.

He told me that earlier today while at work he broke down and cried

realizing that he could have died the other day. 

It is very traumatic to go through something like that.

I thank you for your prayers

I thank God for His mercy that keeps us all.

blessings...

xo

busy days

happy to be able to share the gospel and give out food

since Christmas we hit the floor running and often don't stop til dusk. yesterday i got up at 5:30, went out with a mission team in the morning handing out food and sharing the gospel, went to the shop in the afternoon, went to an appreciation dinner for the volunteers who helped with the island food drive and walked in the door at  7:00 pm.   i was out for over 11 hours.

bob talking with nidia who headed up the food drive on the island

i long for the quieter, more 'island-ish days' and yet we are grateful to be able to be used by Him here.  yesterday i read this quote and it was so appropriate for me.

There is nothing wrong with being busy if we are doing God's work in His way and by His power

- L. Oligvie

we are happy that it is high season here on roatan because it is good to have so many cruise ships coming which means income for a lot of people.  whether they are tour guides, restaurants workers, resort workers, people who sell in shops.  we are just happy that people are leaving their money on the island.

the shop has been busy.  we continue to have fun though!

the weather is changing.  the sun is 'fuerte' (strong) these days and i fear that perhaps the rainy season is  behind us.  i love living on a caribbean island but 9 months of constant hot sunshine can be draining.  i was hoping for perhaps another month of cooler, rainy weather but it doesn't look that way.

we still take time to lay on the dock and try to count the stars....

bob and i at a marshmallow roast last sunday night in sandy bay

look at this poor puppy.... so skinny!  (yes i fed him!)

 

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

the coolest santa claus ever!!

christmas morning in roatan didn't hold snow but there was enough of a chill 

in the air that it felt like a winter day

and when we lit the lights on the tree it felt so festive

we were happy to be able to skype with the kids and open up

stockings and gifts together

i am sooo thankful for that kind of technology!

 the kids opening up stockings

 truly friends are such a beautiful gift.  and i thank God for my dear friends/sisters:  

Karen and Marsha

 when i stuffed the turkey i decided to boil the giblets for moto.  needless to say he was so happy to have such a wonderful christmas treat!!

throughout the afternoon the wonderful aroma of turkey

filled the house and we were thrilled to be able to have

some of the volunteers from clinica esperanza over for christmas dinner

and then later for games

it isn't easy to not have family around at Christmas

but i am thankful for the family of God that is all around the world.

i was thrilled when i heard that our kids were invited to our friends house

in  Dartmouth, NS.

for Christmas dinner.

this photo was sent to us by rosemary of a beautiful christmas dinner!

if we all did our part in taking care of those around us imagine what the 

world would be like?

a beautiful beautiful place.

Lord bless you and keep you 

i am writing this on New Years Day

1/1/11

may you determine what is the ONE main thing 

that is the most important this year and do it.

for me:

it is to love the Lord my God with all my 

heart, soul, mind and strength

and love my neighbor as myself

if we all did that imagine what the world would be like!!!

:-)

our darlings:  matt, david and emily xoxox