Yesterday worked out almost better than expected. We met James Wycoff at the church at 4 am and got to the airport al little before 5 am. All six pieces of our luggage cleared the scans, and we were through security very quickly. There were less than ten people in line to go through security, with the other six bags – carry-ons and personal items - so there was little for the ten workers to do other than clear us through the scanners. When we arrived in Houston, we went to Chick-fill-A on our way to the terminal we needed for the flight to Honduras. We had plenty of time and our luggage was checked through to Honduras. It will be on the way back that we have to deplane, collect our bags and recheck-in for our flight to Dallas.
When we got to San Pedro Sula, we made it through customs very quickly. The flight was not full, so we were able to reseat ourselves to give us more room during the flight. However, as the bags came out, we ended up short one bag. I took a lot of time to file a claim for the bag, but I do not have high expectations. There were mostly personal items in the bag as well as out bathroom stuff, so if we cannot recover the bag, we will have to replace all those items during our time here. The important stuff made it here, all the Christmas presents, all our regular cloths and all the items we were bringing specifically to answer special requests made by Nate, Cori and their team. We are still waiting news on the suitcase, but I do not have high hopes because the suitcase made it to Honduras with us. Someone picked it up by mistake – we hope – and left their bag at the airport. After all, our stuff may be better to keep than to recover their items. We have prayed about it and are leaving it in God’s hands.
I got out of the airport last since I filed the claim on the bag. Nate was waiting for me to lead me to the vehicles where the grandkids were already chowing down on their chicken minis from Chick-fil-A in Houston. Hugs all around. It was a welcome arrival. On the drive home from the airport, I got to see some of the damage and mug left from the flooding from the two recent hurricanes. I also go to see the ramshackle hovels built by families displaced by the flooding. To see poverty like that is sobering. To consider that those living in those conditions may have actually improved their past living conditions by a considerable amount in the “new” structures built on higher ground. The fact that all that “housing” was on the very side of the highway, was a tragic thing to see. At specifically staged areas potable water was provided in a variety of temporary stations. Three were no bathroom or cooking facilities that I could see, but somehow, they are getting by in a very minimal fashion.
Shortly after we got to Nate and Cori’s house, while Mama and Cori unloaded the bags to extract all the presents and get them arranged for this morning. Nate and I went to the surgical center to deliver their evening meal. In that delivery, which was not hurried, I go to meet several members of the team. I could have hoped for more interaction, but that may come as Nate and I run the remainder of the team to the airport tomorrow afternoon. I am praying we also get the opportunity to retrieve our suitcase on that trip as well.
On the way home from meeting the MMO team and delivering their meal, we stopped to get baliadas. The Honduran equivalent of tacos or what Mama calls fold-overs. While I waited on the food order, Nate went to get gas for his truck. I got to talk with the kitchen help as they made the tortillas. It was a fun evening.
This morning, helped Nate repair the waterline to the house. That was fun.
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