Sunday Nov 19, 2023

We had the primary program in our sacrament meeting today and they all posed for a picture after the meeting. They did so great, it was really nice.  They have been practicing every Saturday afternoon for about 5 weeks, and after the program today one of the mothers said that this makes all that effort and sacrifice getting them to practice every week worth it. 

One Saturday evening after the practice we had 11 people in the care to take them all home.  11 people in the Nissan Kicks,  We would probably not do that in Utah. We played a game counting off how many were in the car, the children had a lot of fun staying in order trying to get the count correct, needless to say we had to start over many times to get to 11 successfully! What an adventure we are having. 

It has been challenging but so worth it to hear them present their talks and sing the primary songs today.  Colleen was so touched by the songs. The primary songs are the first love of her gospel journey. They are simple but teach such strong beautiful principles to start any Child of God on the covenant path.  The messages are beautiful and  of course she cried through most of the program.  I believe this sacrament meeting is the favorite of any meeting each year. 

The two sister missionaries that are here in Tela had to be out of their apartment this week for several days while they replaced the tile in their house so they have been living with us, which has been really nice.  Their Sister leaders came this week for exchanges and so they spent the night with us.

We have had the Zone leaders here several times to stay with us but this is the first time that we have had the sisters stay with us.  It reminded me of the difference there is between scout camps and girls camp.  Oh wow, what a difference, I enjoyed both but in a way the girls camps were funner because they just know how to have fun and laugh and be so happy.  That is how it was here this week with the sisters here, they laugh and talk on and on.  It was fun to have them here in our home.  Fun but tiring at the same time.  Hermana Chappell has had to make a lot of meals this week that has been way more than normal.  When it is just her and I we don't fix things very fancy, only on Sunday's usually.  But she has fixed wonderful meals every night for the Hermana's and it has been fun to have them laugh and talk, since just the two of us are usually way too quiet.  The only bad thing is that all for of these missionaries are from Latin America and they don't speak that much English.  Colleen has fun talking with them anyway.  The one sister leader that spent the night is from Colombia, her name is Hermana Parra.  She said that the climate here in Honduras is not that different from her home in Colombia, but that the food was quite different, and the way they speak spanish here is different.  I feel like every Latin America country has a slightly different way of speaking and their traditional foods are different as well for some reason.  You never see taco's or enchiladas here,  once in a while you see a place that has pupusas, which are really popular in San Salvador, which is right next to Honduras.  And the same for Guatemala, they all say that the food here is really different for them.  I thought it was so nice of Hermana Parra, when she was getting ready to leave she told Colleen that she was so glad the she, (Hermana Chappell) is here on this mission, she said "Thanks for coming."  It was so sweet of her to thank Hermana Chappell for being here. She really does spend a lot of time helping everyone to stay well and then when they need help, they know that Hermana Chappell is just a message or a phone call away and always ready and willing to do whatever she can to help them.  There is another missionary in the hospital this weekend with Dengue, it has been very challenging this past week to keep up with all the issues that there always are here.  

There are three bridges that cross "Highland Creek" a river that runs east of Tela. It divides the city of Tela from the other communities on the other side of the river.  There is a huge financial difference between the two communities.  In Tela there are cement and paved roads, very broken up and in need of repair everywhere, but out on the other side of the river they are all dirt/ mud roads and the houses out there are so extremely poor.  There are a lot of the members of the branch who live out there and are such good sweet people.  This is Paula with her daughter Ariana, she just turned one last week.  

Her husband is the first counselor in our Branch Presidency and they are both just great people.  They are both returned missionaries and add so much to the Branch.  Anyway this is a picture of the "Hammock" bridge which is for walking and bicycles only.  Notice the missing boards"?  As you walk across it it moves but there is the chain link on both sides so it feels relatively safe.   Then there is this other bridge called "The cement bridge". 

It has nothing on either side and is very narrow.  It is sturdy to walk across but when a motorcycle comes along it makes me just a little bit nervous, we stand close to the edge and let them pass, then move back to the center to keep walking.  The people who cross them every day of course think nothing of it, it is just how it is to get in to town and back.  It has been interesting to learn more about the area.  Then the third bridge is the one where there is the main highway.  Where all the cars go, which is where we go most all the time, since we drive when we go out there.  

On Wednesday after District Council we all had lunch together at this restaurant in Tela called "Cafe del Mar"  they have good food, but it takes f-o-r---------------e-v-e-r  to get the food, and then pay for it afterward.  Colleen's plate hasn't arrived yet, she got waffles and chicken, and I have a very traditional Honduras lunch, grilled chicken, fried banana slices, red beans, a slice of cheese and avocado. The Elders purchased Cheesecake for dessert! They were so happy, especially our gringo Elder, He said "my mouth is doing a happy dance."