Tegucigalpa

We ended our vacation with the thing that brought us all out here.  The Tegucigalpa Honduras temple was built and we wanted to see it. We left Copan and headed south to the capitol city.  It was quite the experience.  Tegus is huge and crowded and intimidating.  We got lost on the way to the temple and I think it was the first time on the trip I felt uneasy.  OK, maybe the car ride to Copan got me first but Tegus will not be on our list of places we need to see again.  However, once we got out of the mess of the city and started climbing the surrounding hills toward the temple there was no more crazy, no more fear, no more busy.  It was beautiful and peaceful and amazing.  

Before this temple, the members in honduras would travel by bus to Guatemala.  It would take many hours and was a great sacrifice.  One of Ronnie's friends we met at the temple told us she remembers her parents having to go to Mexico City before Guatemala had a temple.  But the thing was, they did it.  They packed what little they had into their bags and spent their hard earned money and they went.  These people are so strong in faith.  They are humble and incredibly generous.  And you better believe not a single one of them takes that Temple for granted.  

When Ronnie served his mission in Honduras he was in an area called Potrerillos.  It wasn't the nicest area or the prettiest.  It wasn't the easiest area he served in or the most successful.  But Potrerillos always tops the list with his most favorite memories, people, and experiences.  He was there for quite some time and was able to form strong relationships with members there.  One in particular was a guy named Alex.  Alex had a rough life as many of the people there do.  He lost his brother who was his best friend and wasn't sure where to turn.  That is when he met Ronnie.  He fell in love with the Gospel and hasn't looked back since.  Ronnie was able to baptize Alex and later learned that he served a mission, was married in the temple, and now has a new baby girl.  Ronnie and Alex still keep in touch and remain close.  We laugh because every time they talk Alex refers to Ronnie as Ammon.  You can tell Alex is eternally grateful that Ronnie chose to serve a mission and found him.  But we know that Alex would have found the Gospel either way.  He is going to do great things.

Alex took a bus to meet us at the temple.  We were able to go through a session together and it was my most favorite day of the whole trip.  It wasn't the most relaxing or luxurious, it wasn't the most adventurous or serene.  But it was definitely the most rewarding and amazing experience I will never forget.  

Stopping for some fresh pineapple and a much needed break from the death trap that was our car.  We purchased our pineapple from a young lady and her little brother who was Beckham's age and quite the little artist.  

After a late dinner which may or may not have involved some awesome karaoke... we said goodbye to Alex and headed to our hotel.  The next day was Sunday and we would be driving through Potrerillos so we got up early to make it in time for church.  We weren't sure what to expect and when we arrived Ronnie was surprised and sad to know that many members were no longer there.  The ward was tiny.  We recognized a few faces and were greeted warmly with flowers which we later realized were for Mother's Day and not just because we were visiting.  

Part way through the meeting a family walked in and Ronnie told me it was the family who fed him his whole time in that area.  It was a single mom and her kids, one of which has Down Syndrom and another who thought Ronnie was going to be her boyfriend.  When they sat down Ronnie wasn't sure if they would remember him.  It had been 12 years after all.  But sure enough, when he walked over, sweet little Evelyn exclaimed "Mily!"  Nobody knows why but she always referred to Ronnie as "Mily".  Her mom said that they were sitting in Sacrament meeting and she kept saying "Mily!  Mily!" and trying to get her moms attention.  She had no idea what Evelyn was talking about until she saw Ronnie and called out to him.  It was just about the sweetest thing.  And then there was Karla who could not stop smiling and oogling over Ronnie.  It was if he had never left.  She was adorable and couldn't stop holding Ronnie's arm and giggling.  We went to their house after the meeting to talk a little more with Hermana Hernandez.  It was so great to be able to see them again but also hard to hear of all the struggles and heart ache they go through.  We left feeling quite humbled and grateful again for what we have back at home.

On our way out of town we passed the most bizzare scene.  We were stuck in traffic which never happens outside of the big cities.  Cars were backed up and we noticed a lot of people getting out of their cars and walking along the highway.  We started getting really confused when we noticed many of them running back with arm loads of drinks.  They were coming back with all the beverages they could carry.  Once we came upon the scene we realized a delivery truck had overturned in the ditch spilling most of its load which happened to be a variety of beverages.  It was quite the site and after staring in amazement at the pile of people in the middle of the highway getting their months supply of soda, we laughed pretty long and hard about what we had witnessed.

 And before heading home we had to take a visit to the amazing waterfall of Pulapansack.  When Ronnie and I went in 2001 it was a totally different experience though.  You could walk all the way down and swim under and behind the falls.  We were even convinced by some local boys to jump off a pretty crazy high rock into the pools below.  Not this time though.  It was all fenced off and there was no access without a guide.  It was still beautiful and a pretty amazing sight.  

And thus ends our journey as the MoleChaps take Honduras.  It was such a great trip that we will always remember.  I have to thank our vacation buddies for tagging along on this crazy adventure and to Matt for the always beautiful photography.  It wouldn't have been the same without you two.  We love you.  And we promise... no more 3rd world countries ;)