Raising Team Robinson: We are in Honduras

I can’t believe we are here in Honduras!!! In my very best dreams, today couldn’t have gone better. So many people teamed up to make today as smooth as possible, and we are beyond thankful. Everyone woke up at 3:00 in a good mood and cooperative. My precious friend Andrea had picked up our luggage yesterday, so when 4:30 rolled around we just prayed, loaded up, and left. We had first class transportation to the airport via our County Line Church bus, with Pastor Bill in the driver’s seat and dear friends who got up before the crack of dawn to ride with us to Atlanta. Our church family has loved us so well and it was awesome to see them just before leaving the country.

Our friends, Andrea and Kent, got to the airport with our luggage a few minutes before we did. They had already notified Delta of the pending onslaught of people and stuff when we pulled up to the curb behind them.

All the stuff was moved inside and tearful goodbyes were said, and then Dee Dee and Tree, our Delta check-in angels, did their thing. They were amazing, and we were finished in no time.

The kids all sat on the floor like angel babies, weighing their things on an unused scale while we waited. I kept glancing over there and thinking, “This is like a dream.” (I know that sounds like shameless bragging, and I’m sorta sorry, but I had so much anxiety about the potential chaos, and God was truly merciful, so I had to share in run-on sentence fashion.)

Delta gave us gate passes for my parents and Blake, which was a tremendous blessing. Not only did we get to enjoy them longer, the extra hands made everything go smoothly. I think all the other passengers were a little overwhelmed when the announcement was made that those who need extra time could board first. It was a bit of a spectacle and not exactly comfortable, especially when people started taking pictures. Fortunately all my people were well-behaved throughout the process.

The kids were so cute on the plane. Only one little person yelled out, “Mommy, I spilled my drink all in my lap.” Of course. I'm thankful the cups are small and sprite is colorless. We all watched movies and napped, and I praise God for traveling mercies.

Our flight landed here just after noon. We stayed put until everyone had exited the plane and then made our way with all our stuff to passport control. It was a little chaotic getting through with all the little people. We sent Dean and the big kids through first so they could grab our luggage and boxes from baggage claim. You should’ve seen the pile of personal items, pillows, carryons, suitcases, and boxes!!

Customs went well. I think they just wanted us to get our stuff and get out of the way. We were getting excited about our quick and easy exit and then they approached us about Max. It seems that there’s an inspection required by the agriculture department for dogs coming into country. The kids were beginning to look droopy so we set the little kids against the wall and stood Olivia over them as a guard, while I went with Max to the agriculture office and Dean went with the luggage to the van.

An hour later we were finally cleared to go. It wouldn’t have taken so long but it seems that Max brought a plague of fleas into Honduras. They found a flea on him. One flea. A plague, indeed. We paid the plague of fleas fee of $35 and made our way through the crowd to the van, happy and excited to finally be here!

Our new friends Mike and Mark picked us up and carried us home to Siguatepeque. We arrived at our new home around 5:30 and headed out to the grocery and to Pizza Hut to pick up dinner. The kids ran around this place for hours – literally running circles around the outside of our house – and are finally asleep on their pallets on the floor. Tomorrow is set-up the house and find beds for all these kids day!