A memorable visit

Queridos Amigos y Querida Familia,

(Dear Friends and Family)

Here I am sitting in our sala (living room) after reading a heap of letters and cards from various friends and family members. Your words have been filled with updates, thoughtful questions, and encouragement. I am so grateful to know that I have people who love and care about me from thousands of miles away. So, thank you.

This past week I was blessed to have my family and boyfriend Alex visit here in Honduras. We spent three days staying at a condo nearby the Finca. It had a homelike feel, yummy food, space to relax, and an ambiance to create memories and spend time with those you love. These days were filled with drinking coffee together in the morning, listening to the ocean’s waves, swimming and fighting the waves, obnoxiously doing gymnastics (poorly) on the shore, snorkeling, playing games (euchre of course!), celebrating my dad’s 60th birthday, taking a boat to eat authentic Italian pizza on the pier, and simply enjoying one another’s company.

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Six-O looks good on you, Pops!

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After three days in complete paradise, we spent three days at the Finca. My family and Alex met all of the children, the missionaries, and a handful of the employees. They helped me with chores, my 2ndgrade class, random tasks in the clinic (Sarah was even doing nursing work!), making tortillas, playing fútbol, eating meals with the kids, attending spiritual events, and sharing within our missionary community. It was an exciting time for the kids too! They had been asking me about when my family and boyfriend would be coming for months. Alex and I even had an impromptu date crafted by the kids. The two youngest boys helped Alex pick beautiful pink flowers and one of the older girls cut up watermelon for us to eat together. Who knew our kids were such romantics?!

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We spent our final day in Trujillo which is about a 20-minute drive from the Finca. We went to the modern Honduran restaurant that serves baleadas for breakfast, shopped for souvenirs, and relaxed by the beach at our hotel. The missionaries came to meet us for dinner at a hotel down the road which was very special. The five of us ended the night with playing euchre, taking photos, singing and dancing, walking out on the pier to the Caribbean Sea, and laughing quite a bit.

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I want to thank all of you who donated items to the Finca for the kids. We are extremely appreciative of your generosity! It truly makes a big impact. And with that, I want to give a shout out to my mom for coordinating the donations that you all gifted. Thank you, mom! I am continuously amazed by everyone’s support and dedication to this mission from the States. Please know that I think about home and pray about many of your very often.

Thank you Mom, Dad, Sarah, and Alex for enduring a rocky, speed bump filled 7 hour car ride twice, answering my random phone calls throughout the past several months, and for loving and supporting me despite the distance. I hope and pray you have encountered Christ in one way or another in this very memorable trip. I love you!

In Christ,

Dayelle

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