Got Milk?

Everyone here (as in the other teachers) likes to get up at 6:30 am to go on adventures/runs...Allan and I, not so much. So we decided to have our own adventures at a slightly more reasonable time (until we have to get up to be at school at 6:30!). Yesterday we decided to venture up the mountain to "el parque de aves" or the bird park. It was an amazing place. We were able to get in for free because we are Mayatan teachers and we were practically the only people in the park. Walking on the trails and seeing exotic birds (toucans, parrots, macaws) was perfectly enjoyable until we started getting caught in the webs of spiders (which Allan loved...). There was even a part of the park where you could hold the macaws! (pictures below!)

On the way down the mountain, we met up with some cows and were walking down together when a baby cow ran up from the opposite direction about to die of thirst. Like nature intended, the baby cow proceeded to drink milk from its mother. but this was drinking milk like I have never seen before. This baby cow would SLAM its head up against its mom's utters, nearly knocking her over. Maybe he was trying to increase flowage?

Today was one of the coolest days we have had since being here. A few nights ago a missionary couple (the Collins!) from the states invited all the Mayatan teachers over for a good ole cookout, complete with sweet-tea (although not like my momma's!). They have been missionaries to the Chorti villages surrounding Copan Ruinas for the past 6 years. It was so awesome to hear their stories and just learn about their lives here in Copan. They felt called to the mission field when they were in their early 50's and left everything to move here to share Jesus with these people. Did I mention they knew NO Spanish when they got here? Incredible. After dinner, they invited anyone to stop by anytime and say hello. Well today Allan and I decided to take them up on that invitation, and it was AWESOME. We stopped by after breakfast today and since there are gates around every house in Copan meaning you can't ring doorbells or knock on doors, we figured the best way to see if they were home was to yell their names! After talking with them (and another couple who is here leading a mission trip from the states) for a while, they invited us to ride with them to their farm near the villages up in the mountains. They use this farmland as a place to teach the Chorti people (the Chorti natives as opposed to Latino natives) how to grow their own food (corn, cacoa, and lots of other types of food). They also raise goats on this farm land. They do this with the intent of teaching these people how to be able to get food on the table 365 days a year. The Chorti people have nothing. Literally nothing. They live in houses made of mud, not even adobe, with dirt floors. If they go to school at all, its usually only the boys and only to the 3rd grade. 85% of the people are illiterate and the chief of one of the villages just recently learned how to write his name. I take doodling my name so for granted! In addition to the farms, the missionaries also have a stove project (to make stoves to put in each house for cooking), water project (to get water to each village), seed project, and lots more I cannot remember right now because there are so many amazing things. It's incredible how these people have just given their lives away to serve these Chorti people with nothing in return. I could talk a while about how many huge things they are doing for the sake of Jesus in the villages around. There are 56 villages in the mountains and they have built farms and the other projects for 13 of those villages enabling these people to grow their own food! They have built 6 schools in villages where there were NO schools and they have also helped put a village girl through college. They know everyone around and just genuinely desire to serve and give their lives away 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The visiting couple told us their house has revolving doors because people are always coming and going from there. Mr. Collins told us that although he is 61 already, he hopes he can stay in Copan until he is at least 70 because there is so much he wants to be seen done here. Their love for this country and for the Lord is contagious and inspiring. What a HUGE blessing from the Lord to have them here! I can't wait to get to spend more time with them!

Thanks for praying! We appreciate your emails and comments! Love y'all!


This is a view from the bridge we cross over on the way to school.

A moto-taxi! :)

This is the entrance to Mayatan!


I so badly wanted to take a picture of the horses walking with sticks
that we saw walking up to school, but I was afraid. I saw these 2 boys
looking at us, so I asked and they were really excited to be able to see
their picture with their horse!

Our new friends that we walked down the mountain with!


Hungry calf!


The red bird tried to eat Allan's hair and would not stop talking to Allan!


I was a little scared but it was so cool!


God is REALLY creative! Look at that nose!