Happy Birthday, Richard.... and it´s good to see my church.

My church arrived all safe and sound yesterday. It took us a while to find them in the airport, because it took them an hour to go through customs, but we arrived in La Entrada, Copan yesterday around 4. After dropping our luggage off in the hotel, we went to a school where they were all waiting for us with balloons and cards that they had made for us. It has been 2 years since I have seen some of the kids, and it´s amazing how big they get! For those of you who went before, I saw Kevin, his brother Roberto... Esther´s son Josue, and then Freddy´s kids Karina and Arnold. After that, we headed to Copante, which is the name of the barrio (neighborhood) where we are going to work this week. They had a welcome sign for us that said "Welcome to our Westmister Brothers". Yet another way to misspell our church`s name : ) But, the decorated and layed down pine needles (a welcoming for royalty) and had balloons and streamers. I am excited to get to know the people down there.

I´m roomming with Kelsey and Anne, and it is so good to see Kels again... since we spent all summer together last year with church stuff, and I haven´t seen her in 6 weeks. I´m getting to know Anne, and she is an amazing girl... I wish I had gotten to know her before I´m going off to school. For her Girl Scout Gold project, she decided to start the first library in La Entrada, and promised to financially support it for 3 years, and donate 1000 Spanish books, and then the mayor promised to integrate the operating costs of the library into the town budget in 3 years. The dedication service is Friday afternoon at 3.

Everyone is filling me in on things that I have missed at church and in West Chester. The weather here in La Entrada is a welcoming change from West Chester weather. Mom, those brownies that you made were delivered to me, and they are amazing! My roommates and I have been eating them nonstop.... I think I had 5 yesterday and just as many today... whoops! I didn´t realize how much I missed chocolate and walnuts these past 37 days.

Our group is pretty ecclectic, but all together, we work well. Rose (the missionary who is staying with the Erazos for a year starting yesterday) and her sister Desirae are here, then there are 19 people from my church, the Erazos, and 13 translators from 2 different towns. (Jeremiah, Ana Luisa, and Abraham, Lauren are translating again for our group)

The food is amazing as usual, and it was fun to go swimming this evening after going to church this morning, and going to Rancho Vida this afternoon for lunch and to unpack supplies and play soccer against the indios (Hondurans). Michel and I are killing an hour before dinner at 7.

I cannot believe that my trip is almost over. I´m excited to spend this next week with my church and help the people living in Copante.

Richard, I hope you´re having a great birthday... I´m going to try and call you later, but apparently someone is using the line right now, and I might have to go to dinner before I can call you. But, I´ve been thinking about you all day! Love you!