MEXICO CITY
We planned a day and night in Mexico City on our way to Honduras. I fell in love with Mexico City. After finding an iffy hotel that ruffled of Former Glory, we explored the historic part of the city. History screamed from the ancient stone buildings and edifices.
We were dazzled by the performance of The Nutcracker Ballet in the evening. Stepping from our little green taxi bug into the gorgeous theatre, we felt hugged by God. I sunk into reverie as we watched the ballet and slept that night dreaming of sugar plum fairies.
The next morning, we went to the airport to fly to Honduras. With holiday travels and overbooked flights, only Linda got on our plane. Joy and I were given two rooms at a lovely hotel and a promise to go the next day. We weren’t too disappointed: another whole day in Mexico City. The highlights were tackling the metro system, enjoying the plush hotel, listening to street musicians, peeking into courtyards, and only spending four dollars the whole day.
Joy and I finally were reunited with Linda, our luggage and Honduras the next day. We spent Christmas in Pena Blanca and New Year’s in Erandique.
HONDURAS
I enjoyed being in Honduras, connecting again with my old friends the Brechbills. While in Pena Blanca, I tagged along with Joy and Linda, meeting their old friends and getting a peek into a country so close to their hearts. I also got to meet “for real” the Junior Troyer family. They are amazing, and I loved being with them at their home in the mountains. It was a full two weeks of wonderful and interesting people. I enjoyed every minute.
Every culture puts their own unique stamp on holiday festivities. On Christmas Eve, we ate tamales, watched firecrackers, and caroled into the wee hours on the back of a pick-up truck. On Christmas Day, we enjoyed a smorgasbord of friends and cookies. On New Year’s Eve, we watched the Old Man (a dummy stuffed with firecrackers) explode at midnight and got thoroughly hugged and kissed by fellow revelers.
God gave me a new definition of travel while in Honduras: travel is God taking me by the hand and showing me His world. I felt so loved and honored that God wanted to show me His mountains and flowers and skies and buildings and cobblestone streets and lovely people. To think that He actually enjoys taking me on travels, just to charm me with His creativity!
But, even in that fresh revelation, I couldn’t help realizing that somehow The Wonder is quickly ebbing from me. The world has a painful way of making things grow dimmer and dimmer. On Christmas Eve, swinging in a hammock, I felt like Scrooge. Where was my childhood wonder? Somewhere it was lost between my fears, disappointments and tears of this past year. How does a person grow up, squarely face the aches, experience the pain and not lose the delight of life? The question is haunting me.
