Honduras - Day 9

I woke up bright and early for our trip out to the Mayan ruins. We want to get out as early as we can to try and beat the tourist rush. It's also one of he better times to take pictures because the light isn't as harsh.

The breakfast served at the B&B is fantastic. They have fresh bread every morning, omelets, fresh fruit, and this papaya pineapple drink that is lovely. Their coffee is really good too. A lot of flavor and a lot of character.

We were all eager to head out to the ruins. Even though they aren't that far from the B&B, it was still a good 30 minute walk. We figured that it would be better if we drove.

As we suspected, we had pretty much beat most of the tourists. An old man named Antonio came over and offered his services as a tour. He spoke a little bit of Chinese which was pleasant. We weren't so sure if we needed a guide, but his rate was fairly cheap, so we figured, why not.

We started off down the trail and saw some macaw's sitting on the entrance fense. We took a few pictures, but we didn't want to waste too much time out here.

The map of the ruins made the place seem huge. There were massive fields and these large structures kind of breaking the surface of that flat open expanse. Our first destination was the area of the upper class. Linshuang and I were just picture crazy, snapping away at everything we could. I think we ended up with a lot of similar shots.

As we got to the main area of the upper class, the sun was starting to come out. The temperature in the shade was fine, but once out in the sun, you began to really sweat.

Throughout this time, the guide did his best to share about the various things. We were so trigger happy with our cameras that we pretty much ignored him. It wasn't until after the upper class that we started listening to him more.

Linshuang and I actually had a really odd experience where two "local" girls asked to have their picture taken with us. At first, I thought they wanted us to take a picture of them. Little did I realize that we were such a novelty that people would want us in their photographs.

We got to the main temple area where the steps that you see on all Mayan or Aztec or Inca temples are. The area was covered in a shrowd. There happened to be a large contingent from one of the local schools out to visit the ruins. Our guide used us as one of the little factoids about the Mayans. He explained how a lot of the language in the Mayan culture was very similar to Chinese. The whole group would alternately look at Anotonio and Linshuang and I as we tried to mind our own business and feel like such a show.

I actualy learned a lot and started talking with our guide more. As we approached the field where they played their games of death, we were just unloading on him with questions about the culture and a lot of other stuff.

It's interesting to see the cultural influences in the art. We saw this one statue who's face looked very similar to that of the faces on chinese statues. I don't know if it was the power of suggestion, but I could definately see it.

It made me wonder about the whole flood and how people expanded from that one insident in history to the various parts of the world. I know the whole theory about the land bridge, but what I've read recently is that scientists are thinking that people got over here through other routes. Maybe by boat or something.

The sun had risen pretty high and the kids were getting tired. We headed back to the town square to go to the museum but the kids wanted to go to the butterfly garden. I was in need of swim trunks or shorts for the hot springs later in the day. Linshuang and I opted out of the museum and went shopping instead.

On the way back from the ruins, I introduced Linshuang and Grace to Black Magic. Grace was just utterly consumed by the game and took every chance she had to pick my brain and try and figure it out. She actually did a fair job of piecing a lot of it together. She just had a really hard time making the logical connection for the final piece.

We seperated and I found my shorts rather quickly. The first two shops that we hit up actually didn't have anything. But the third one was the charm. Not only did they have shorts, they had them in my size too. Rock.

With our quest complete, Linshuang and I decided to adventure through the streets of Copan. We just meandered up and down random streets chatting away and just having a good time. A lot about Copan reminds me of San Francisco. You have these ultra hilly streets made of rock or cobblestone. They're not as wide, but they have that same feel.

We came back to the B&B to change and head out. We were going to go to the macaw park, but decided against it and decided to just go out to the hot springs instead.

On the ride, I kept Grace occupied with Black Magic. Joy started getting really annoyed I think partly due to the fact that she couldn't get it. Either that or that her kids were being so incessant about this stupid little game.

The clues that I had been giving out made the game pretty obvious and Linsuang picked it up. we started teasing the kids by having them choose an object and having her guess if it was it. This just made their heads spin even more.

It wasn't long before Joy actually figured out the rule and blabbed it to the whole car. Grace was satisfied and content to sit the rest of the ride. I, however, was not. I began introducing a bevy of new games such as, Snaps, Is this a moon, and Can you play this game. They seem to like Snaps, but again, I was making it fairly simple. Linshuang actually was able to pick it up fairly well.

We got to the hot springs and was kind of underwhelmed. The place looked kind of rickety and almost run down. Delapidated my be used for the facilities. The ground was very muddy making it harrowing journey whenver I ventured off any of the concrete islands.

Our first course of action was to go up to the source of the springs which can reach up to 82*C. We made the 250 M trek out there and passed right by the source. We stopped, but wasn't particularly impressed, so moved on. It wasn't until we reached the beginning that we realized that that, was it. We went back, obligated to take more pictures. We kind of looked at it and just left it for what it was. To the river.

We came down to the river and saw a nice cluster of people sitting in a small cove on the other bank. We slowly made our way across the raging current and sharp rocks to the outlet of the hot springs. The water was cold, but there were parts that were also burning hot right next to the outlet. Inside the cove, it was a little better.

There were waves of icy cold mixed with waves of burning hot that made the whole experience really unique. There were also points where your top body would be warm but your lower body cold. It was an amazing sensation.

There was this little girl, not two years old, that was intent on spashing water on me. Apparently, I looked like her dad. Interesting, considering early in the day, we had talked about the connection between Mayans and Chinese culture.

We got into a nice rythm with the water between bouts of burning hot and frigid cold. But after awhile, the sensation becomes normalized and you just get bored. The smell of sulfer starts getting to you too.

We headed out of the river and jumped in one of the pools that was warmed with the hot spring. It was pleasant, but nothing like being in the river.

It was getting late, so we started heading back down the mountain. Linshuang and I were stuck in the back with our wet swim gear and popped on the iPod. For a good thirty minutes or so, we just sang together and worshipped our God. Even though we couldn't hear each other or ourselves, it was still a great time.

I think worshipping with someone is one of the most intimate things you can do. No where else is someone so vulnerable, authentic, or real. This is where you really present yourself before God in a deliberate fashion. It was a great time.

We got back to the hotel and I promptly jumped in the shower. The river, or the hot springs had left some decidedly gross things on my body which I was eager to leave behind. Even though the water was warm and clean and soothing, it didn't really compare to the sensation from the hot spring.

After the shower, I went up to the terrace to watch the impending rain. Looking at the sky, you could see the remnants of a beautiful day being run away by the angry rain clouds.

Somehow, through the various games we had played in the car, I really bonded with Grace. For most of the trip, we didn't talk much or at all. Now, sitting out on the terrace, she was very eager to talk about stuff. Pretty much anything. It was nice experiencing God answering prayers. I didn't really have to change anything about me and here I was, connecting in different ways that I didn't think I could connect.

Just as it started raining, we were off to dinner. Howard recommended this grill that offered both fish and beef. Linshuang and I were dying for seafood after being trapped under the rock hard beef and overdone chicken. This place was amazing. There was this nice big grill with real charcoal, not briquettes or propane, but real carbon. They also had a thing to pump air in to the charcoal to make it really hot. The fact that the grill was cast iron helped too. I knew instantly that the food here was going to be amazing.

Not so amazing, but still mildly amusing, is the waiteresses carry everything on their heads. Drinks, anafre bowls, plates, you name it, one is on their head if they can.

Linshuang and I, of course, ordered the fish. We both had a hankering for other meat as well. Conveniently, there was an appetizer that offered the other animals for your consumption. we got a small sampling of beef, chicken, and pork. The grill added so much flavor and sealed in so many of the animals' juices (yes, it doesn't really "seal" the juice in, but they sure were tasty) and so much character from the searing.

When the fish came, we were just amazed at how tender the fish was. It was grilled to perfection. The taste of the fish was fantastic as well. It's so hard to describe the taste of it, you just have to come down here and have it sometime.

Linshuang and I have become pretty chummy in the last few days. It's pretty natural for the two of us to just ramble on and chat with each other for hours. When we sat down at the restaurant, we couldn't sit together. Instead of breaking up the family, we offered to sit by ourselves.

Ishmael, our driver and Mario's older brother, who drove us around to the various schools for childrens minstry, was pretty quiet most of the time. I would like to communicate, but I can't even formulate good small talk to carry on anything meaningful. But we took it upon ourselves to make the effort. Linshuang would be the main communicator translating between us. It's hard participating in translated conversation, but I was content with my fish.

We wrapped up and went back to our hotel. Just as I was typing this up, the power went out. Again. Howard came by and knocked on our window, offering us candles. Nothing like writing by candlelight.

It's been a really lovely day. I got to experience things that were just gorgeous and amazing. I keep thinking about God and all the things that He's made for us to enjoy. Even if we didn't enjoy it, the sheer creation of it is enjoyment for him.

I was able to connect with Grace in a completely unexpected way hopefully leading to something lasting. Linshuang and I have grown rather tight over the last few days and I don't think that would happen in other circumstances. God has also brushed under the rug a lot of the personality clash between Ernesto and I. God has also planted the seeds for greater things to come that I can't even concieve.

Addendum:
I was sitting outside on the terrace just enjoying God and his creation. It was a little cold, but nothing I couldn't handle. I listened to the rain drops as they splattered off of leaves and the roof. Then slowly and yet suddenly, it stopped. There were light droplets from leaf runoff or roof runoff, but the rain had stopped. The wind stopped but the windchime kept singing.

As I sat there longer, I could hear the water still running off in the far distance. I could hear dogs barking. I could hear gecko's croking and insects buzzing. As I listened closer, I heard God speak. Not a booming voice. Not even a whisper. Just gentley, "Come here".

At that moment, I was staring out in to one of the valleys. I don't know which direction I was facing, but in my heart, it was out to the field. I was being called to full-time missions. It scared me.

I kept looking out at the sky fighting it. I thought about all the things that I had, the toys, the clothes, the friends. Then I thought about all that I was working on, Forward, Drama ministry, College ministry. Then I thought about all the things that I wanted for my life. To be financially secure, to have a family, to settle down. And I thought, "No, God, I can't".

As I said that over and over in my mind, I knew it wasn't because I couldn't but because I didn't want to. As that change happened I could barely take it. The feeling was so true, so real, so loud, I couldn't ignore it. I kneeled and prayed that He would confirm it. That He would open and close doors for me if this were his will. For my heart to change.

If I claim to worship the God of creation, then I will do as he says, no matter how great the personal loss. I may not like it, but I have to.

I knelt down fighting with God, thinking about everything that I would have to leave behind. And the thing that I realized that would be hardest for me, was giving up M. It would be unfair of me to ask her to come out to the field with me. She didn't know that this was something that was going to happen to me when she got in a relationship with me. At the same time, this may not be what God wants for her. And for me to realize that I had to be willing to even give her up for God was really hard. I might go to some forsaken country and never see her again. But this is the God of all that is.

I wept quietly to myself, unsure of how to proceed. I don't even know where I'm supposed to go, let alone how to get there. If this is really God speaking to me and not just spur of the moment feeling, then He will confirm it. He will make it unbearably clear that this is what I have to do. He will change my life and mold it in such a way that I will fulfill His will. Rather than being forced in to this, I want to be a part of it. If this is really God's will for me, than so be it.

It was hard to come to this conclusion, to be willing to give up everything. But the God of creation is worth it.

Keep me in your prayers. Pray that God may reveal himself to me and confirm his calling. Pray that I will be obedient to listen and die to myself. Pray that God may be glorified through my obedience or disobedience. Pray for M, as this will be hard for her.