goggle eye fish

 

Yesterday I was inside when I suddenly heard Moto, our dog, barking

which to us is equilelant to a doorbell because when anyone

comes to the gate he lets us know.

I went outside to see our neighbour's son, O'Neil

standing at the gate with a plastic container in his hand.

I will be honest:  my first thought was CAKE???!

But it wasn't cake it was fish.

Goggle eye fish.  

6 whole little fish ... cleaned

but with their heads and tails and scales still on.

Now I am going to be honest again:

I can't stand to eat fish that is looking back at me

Especially one named 'goggle eye' because truly they 

have the BIGGEST eyes I have ever seen on a fish.

So I asked O'Neil to come inside and cut the heads off.

He did.

Later I went over to take some money over to my neighbour

to pay for the fish.

I know that they don't have alot of money so I thought that I should pay.

When I walked up her steps, and into her house they were all gathered around

frying up fish, and eating it happily.

I handed her the money and she said,

Oh Miss Debi, don't be insultin' me.  I don't wan yor money. 

At times I think... boy I still have so much to learn.

They may be poor but they are so giving, and I can't embarrass them

by paying for our friendship.

I think to myself.. if one of my friends brought me over a cake 

(yeah yeah.. I want cake!)

I wouldn't PAY them for it.  

That would be ridiculous so why do I do that here?

Because I know they need it.

But they are still my friends and Carol is right:

it is insultin'

Living and learning.

So ...  goggle eye fish are a very very special treat!!

They are only available for a short time every year.

They are only found out Punta Gorda way and they come through

the reef in HUGE schools and are caught with a net.

Apparently islanders LOVE goggle eye fish.

Carol gave me the low down on how to cook them:

heat the oil good and hot,

put on some salt and pepper

and lots of lime and fry em up.

Then she looked at me and smiled saying,

"I remember when you told me that you liked little fish,

well the goggle eye she be little!"

Delicious.

Lots of bones but delicious!!!

I am blessed.

I had said to Bob that I wanted some fish and then

the following day it comes to my door.

A coincidence?

No

God~ is ~ good!!!

touring and photographing

 

One of the things I enjoy is to be able to take people out and show off the island.

My friend Teresa had emailed me saying that her friends from Brussels were coming to Roatan on a cruise.

It was such a JOY to meet them.

We had a great time:  we stopped at the View, Punta Gorda,

took a dory ride through several bights around Oakridge,

visited some friends inFrench Harbour, 

stopped at our house in Sandy Bay, 

had lunch at Hungry Munkey, snorkeled at West Bay

and then went to the Made in Roatan shop.

It was a glorious day ... a perfect Caribbean day.

We are now officially into our 'high season' and this week there were 10 ships that came into two

different ports here in Roatan. 

That is ALOT of tourists.

This past week was busy, almost TOO BUSY!

We are happy that the online shop for Made In Roatan is up and running.

But it means alot more work for us:  for me my main job is photographing all the jewelry,

resizing, writing descriptions on line and posting them.

Bob handles the shipping and also makes all sales are recorded and that

people get paid. 

It all takes time.

We are grateful that we can serve in this way but we need BALANCE

We are going to try to order our days so we have time to help the local artists, 

but also have time to visit with people, meet people's spiritual needs

and also have some down time just to be together.

Please pray for us that we would be able to give but not to the point of exhaustion.

It is a very fine line!

I had a bit of a scare this past week with chest pains. 

I went to the Dr. and got all sorts of tests and an EKG.   

We thought it was my heart.   

There is nothing scarier then thinking you  are having a heart attack 

but I am happy to say that it wasn't my heart but it was Costochondritis

This morning I made an appointment with Claudia, a physiotherapist on the island

and she really helped me.  

I will be seeing her regularly for the next couple of weeks.

I am thankful to those of you who prayed for me.

Thank YOU!

Renewed Vision

I saw this sign while driving to French Harbour on our way to church.

Do you ever wish for a sign that says:

Go this way!

  Turn Here!

Go Right!

He leads me beside still waters

Sometimes His direction is clear and other times it isn't.

But I have come to know that through it all He is there to help, to guide, to teach

and to strengthen.

One day in early October I was waiting for Bob at Infinity Bay while he had a meeting.

I was standing looking at the beautiful sea, and I was talking to Jesus.

Jesus works there.  Oh not the Jesus in heaven but the man who lives in the Colonia

and who is trying to learn English.

We were having a wonderful chat together when another man began asking

me about my life here, what I did etc and within a very short time had offered

me a JOB!

At first I laughed and thought he was joking but he was serious.

He asked me to be the Activities Director at Mayan Princess Resort.

At first I said, No because I didn't have time for that with all the ministry opportunities here.

  I went home, prayed about, talked with some mentors about it 

and decided to try it.

After all.. how bad could it be ... working on the beach, talking to tourists all day 

about how much I love the island and selling them tours.

But here is the catch:  I love people, I love the island, but I don't love selling!

Plus I found that after working I didn't have any energy to visit with people,

I didn't want to talk to another person at the Made in Roatan shop because I had just 

'sold all day' prior.  

(I would work for 9-2 then go to the shop from 2-4)

I was torn up inside because I felt that I didn't have energy for what I 

had a passion about:  helping people practically and spiritually.

One day I was crying (literally) out to the Lord for direction

and while I was reading John 4 this verse literally jumped out at me:

"My food", Jesus said, "is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work"

My heart clamped down, my tears fell, my spirit agreed:

Yes... I was called to do His will and I need to finish it.

He didn't call me to work at a resort.

Now you might be wondering WHY would I do it in the first place.

Well we have been having some problems with our investment and instead of

living off the interest as we had been, we have been

eating away at our principal.   Every month we lose more and more money, so I thought

I could help out in this way.

But it is not possible. 

I am thankful for the experience because, not only did I 

get to meet some awesome people who work at the resort

(Avi, Grace, Sophia, Orlando, Ivis, Maria,Charley, Sandra, LoLo, Jorge... to name a few)

but it confirmed to me what I amreally ALL about: 

I am about the Father's business!!

This painting was given to me as a gift:  it reminds me of my island people!

I believe He will take care of us financially!

He has in the past and He will now.

It also renewed my passion and my desire to do His will.

Renewed vision is worth a million dollars in my books!

Thanks to those of you who practically helped me through this 

with prayers, advise and council.

Please pray for us that we will continue to 

do HIS will and finish HIS work.

Love you all

xoxo