ROATAN, THE JEWEL OF HONDURAS

When we announced we were going to Roatan, everyone told us it was the jewel of Honduras, their paradise.  Now we know why they say that!  It truly is beautiful!

Leaving San Pedro Sula required us to take a 3 hour drive to La Ceiba, a small coastal town, in order to catch the ferry that would take us to Roatan Island.  The ship wasn't very full, but of those that were on our level, (not 1st class) eleven got sick from the rough water.  As you head out to the island you go against the current so it is choppy but the Elders, Wayne and I did just fine.  Wayne was disappointed that we didn't see any whales!



Elder and Sister Roper from California picked us up and took us to our new home.  They have been here on the Island for about six months and  have done a great work here activating members.  He served as the Elders Quorum President and she as the Primary President.  The members loved them and they will be greatly missed.  We spent the first two days driving around the island with them, meeting members and getting to know where members live, where to shop and where the best places are to spend our P-days.





Our house is owned by Diana Dempke, a member of the church, from Kansas.  She purchased this home ten years ago as a base for humanitarian efforts on the island.  She arranges for groups of dentists to come and serve several times each year.  Our home is lovely with all of the amenities that we might need.  We have a propane oven, a lovely laundry pila, a water cooler, a microwave oven and a full sized fridge.  Awesome!

We have a yard that has mango trees, banana trees, plantain trees, a cashew tree, hybiscus bushes and other flowering bushes.












We also have our own personal resident bedroom, kitchen and porch geckos.  We love these as they keep the house free from bugs!  We have a lizard that is two feet long that we see on our wall, but he has eluded Wayne's camera so far.












Our ants are amazing!  They are biting fire ants and their hills are numerous and large.  They have literally created a pathway all the way around our yard.  The worst part of that is that their main highway was right under the clothes line!

We are loving Roatan!  So for the next six months or so we will wash our clothes at this pila, eat  bananas from our very own trees, quick step over the ants, and work our hearts out in the sunshine of this tropical paradise.  We are doing the work of the Lord and we are being blessed.  This home will be a very comfortable place to spend the next months.