After I was finished, we rode back and I was impressed with how good it looked after it was all cut down.  I think that if it stays cut down this year and next and maybe reseed this fall, next fall it will be ready to be cut for hay, or grazed.  Oh, this is field #5 of 5 and the hardest one to get to.  I’ll start refering to the fields by number since that’s the only real way to keep it clear in my head.  Beginning next week, the rest of the fields will get cut.  I can also see a 10′ bush hog in my future to cut down on the time necessary to cut all this stuff!  Pictures coming soon!

I am glad it’s Christmas time.  I like the sights, sounds and smells of it all, not only that but spending time with family and friends is the best.  I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

On the trip down, we made it to Miami with no problem, but we got on the plane to depart from there and just sat there for quite a while. The captain came on and said that someone who checked their bags didn’t get on the plane, therefore their luggage had to be removed. This involved unloading almost all of the luggage looking for these 2 bags. After they found them, someone noticed a leak in one of the wings. After waiting 30 more minutes or so waiting for the maintenance crew to arrive, they told us it would take too long to fix, so they found another plane. We all piled back into the terminal to wait for another hour before boarding the new plane, then finally took off to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. One of the things we were a little worried about was getting through customs in Tegucigalpa, since we had a ton of computer equipment, like internal and external hard drives, a complete computer tower, routers and a really cool little Linksys device that is a network attached storage solution. Anyway, the customs line was long and slow and several of the folks in line were getting frustrated, so there was a guy came out from the back and looked at us and asked if we had our form, which wasn’t the one we had, so he just looked a little disgusted and told us to “pass”! No customs check for us! Chad was there waiting to pick us up and we went across the street and ate at the Burger King (yes, third world countries have fast food garbage too), and took off on the three hour drive to San Marcos de Colon, which thankfully was incident free. Friday we started in on all the machines and by Saturday evening, had the bulk of everything done with only a very few loose ends to finish up, which we took care of on Monday morning.

Sunday we went to the ranch/farm and saddled up and rode horses around a bit of the ranch where they had been clearing for planting. Clearing consisted of a bunch of guys with machetes cutting grass and scrub and piling it all up out of the way on the sides. No mechanical help, all manual labor. We got to see some of the new cows, pigs and turkeys on a new 100 acre farm that was just purchased on the back side of the property. They have also acquired a coffee plantation not far from the back side of the ranch where they have already been harvesting some beans. They have a contact in Houston, TX, who is going to let them try selling their stuff at a Publix grocery. After puttering around at the ranch we went to Jarrod’s house and ate a thanksgiving meal, then went to church. On the way to church we rode in a 12 passenger van with 17 people in it! I took some pictures of the kids outside after the service was over.

Monday morning we got up early and drove to another part on the back of the ranch where the Shine Missions group built two suspension bridges this past summer. The bridges allow the children to be able to cross the creek that becomes a river during the rainy season so they can go to school. Before, they just didn’t go because they couldn’t. On a different note, Honduras is the only place I’ve ever seen pine, mesquite and palm trees growing wild in the same field, totally weird.

The local food was awesome, just like I remember. The tortillas are all corn since there is no flour there, or very little. The tacos were quite different than what passes for tacos around here. They take steak and roll it in a tortilla, fry it, put it on a plate, then cover it with the sauce, cheese and lettuce. It’s really good, just not like here. One night I ordered a steak with onions, and when it came out it was a huge steak with what looked to be an entire onion piled on top that was still dripping butter from being sauted. Man it was some really good stuff.

Tuesday, we stopped by their offices on our way out of town and answered a few questions, bought some of the coffee from the plantation, and made the trek back to the big city. We stopped by a grocery store before we got to the airport and I bought six big bottles of clear vanilla for less than $1 each. Landon bought some cookies and crackers and soft drinks too. We made it home on time and with all of our stuff and I can confidently say we had a successful trip!

Pictures will be coming soon, I forgot to bring my card reader home with me this weekend, so hopefully by mid-week I’ll have some photos for everyone to be bored with