Our day for most of us as we started towards the airport from our homes loaded with heavy bags filled with work clothes and gifts from Operation Honduras, toothbrushes from local dentists, stuffed animals from the outgrown toy baskets, and other useful items for our Honduran brothers and sisters here in Choluteca. When we left, it was a blustery 20 degrees with wind chill (warm compared to what I hear it is right now!), and we arrived in Choluteca 14 hours later (five and a half hours of flight, three hours of driving, waiting, etc), at about 3:30 pm DC time where the temperature was a dry 93 degrees. Wow, what a difference! No one lost their passports, boarding passes, wallets, or other important items, and we arrived safely and very tired.

We had a quick lunch and took some down time to get settled in our rooms before the evening service at the Choluteca church. We were feeling more refreshed as we rode in the bus with the windows open to the church, and the dry early-evening air had the faint aroma of Honduran food being prepared in the homes we were driving by. Pulling in to the church parking area, we were very impressed by the recently completed expansion which at least doubled the area of the worship center and gave it a modern look. We enjoyed praise and worship in Spanish and a message that was translated for us about changing the way we think in the new year. We each have 365 days of new opportunity to serve God and His purpose for us. It was a very encouraging message.

After that, we came back and had dinner with the other church team who is here and wrapped up the night with a planning meeting and prayer time. As I write, Alec, Jacob, Becca, Kelsi, and Reina with the translators are down there playing Nertz! We have a big day tomorrow, and we thank you for so many of your faithful prayers and support leading up to the trip.

-Tom