The Macdonald files

Written Quickly by Rachel

Posted by admin on 03 Jul 2007 | Tagged as: Honduras

Well so much has happened since last posted something, I will try and keep it brief. Our apologies for not responding to every email. We don’t have internet access here in the village. or should I say its so slow, or unreliable. its too frustrating to bother! Will try and post this from

Tegucigalpa ( the capital city. its slightly more civilized!)We have been working hard. Hamish getting up early to.. sort out boys before school then it’s a day of hard graft mixing cement. and helping build houses which are going up fast. it’s a change from the classroom. he is building his muscles. and has a great tan…he also has aching shoulders. and wants plenty TLC off me! he dropped a concrete slab on his thumb today. .splatted !!his nail is black and I think it will come off! Hamish tucks the lads in at night and prays with them .!I teach our kids in the morning( hats off to all the teachers at linnaker!)then do whatever is needed around today I have been playing with the toddlers and delicing them..I have headlice at the moment..gross..but occupational hazard..Hamish wants me in quarantine!We have all had a couple of days of getting intimate with the toilet..but in general our health has been good!I have been singing with a group of girls in the afternoons..they are great..doing really well.and we have done lots of presentations around different churches.The presentations have consited of the girls singing group..the kids doing a brilliant puppet show..which is hilarious..me singing…and they love me playing the clarinet…the jazz version of the old rugged cross is a hit!we are also helping with the worship in the church..etc.The kids come round to our place in the evenings weve had some fun playing cards and just having a laugh with them or watching a film.Our kids have been great..the get fed up of the attention sometimes..but have had so many fab experiences..making tortillas in the kitchen..speaking Spanish..they have found it hard but communicating well now..wish we had a few months more..cos they pick it up really quick!Seth and flora have been bricklaying..Seth has worked very hard..its been great for him actually helping build a house….needless to say the health and safety laws in Honduras are nearly non existent..the kids have had fun.They love riding in the back of a pickup truck down unpaved mountain roads.No seatbelts in cars delighted seth who said “cool.. I love the laws in thiscountry” to which his sister replied..” what laws?” which about sums it up!!!We went to an English service in Teguc which was fab..it has 6 services on Sunday…amazing place very international but has Spanish speaking church also…great set up.We have been so encouraged to meet an Englishwoman..who lives about 10 mins walk awy from us in Valle de angeles!!she is called Leonni and is from Hull..it was so lovely to hear a northern accent!she is a missionary here on her own..she is one brave lady..she is white and blonde..which is not easy here..and she is adopting a most gorgeous boy Joshua!we discovered we know a few of the same people..its so weird!we have had a laugh with her..and had dinner with her..and prayed together….feels like God is in complete control( as of course he is)Leonni is a midwife..and is involved in various ministries..largely with the pregnant kind!!she is completely mad and lovely please when you guys pray for us remember leonni too..( ps she is currently praying for a husband..only drop dead gorgeous millionaires need apply!!!!!)I do love the Spanish songs..some are cheesy but lots have the most beautifully written melodies that are moving even without the words..Alex Grannum..get translating Spanish worship songs!!We have been so blessed here been great to work with the kids..today been practising the song..oh no you never let go..in a roughly translated way..but one of the older girls phoned the radio to ask if they could play it in Spanish..and they did..and they taped it!! Wonderful to see them all singing in fantastic Honduran form..lord you never let go of me…and made me smile that a Matt Redmand song gets airplay in Honduras!Well that’s about it we will be leaving to travel back to guatamala next Tuesday…meeting my parants there..please pray they get there safely they are taking the bus from cancun..Mexico..down through belize and into guatamala too meet us in a place called flores its not that easy when you don’t speak any of the language please pray for a hitch free(not hitch hiking!!) ans safe trip..it should be quite an adventure for them…cant wait to see them..sure we`ll have some interesting posts..of our travel round central America with them!Miss you all love to you God bless Rachel Hamish Seth Darcy and Flora.

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Central america

Posted by admin on 13 Jun 2007 | Tagged as: Central America

Hi we made it safely trecking on crazy buses..forgotten how mad it is here!! very sticky hot.with very stormy nights..it is the rainy season.The kids seem to be enjoying it here it certainly feels like another world.I am in an internet cafe and the electricity is unreliable so we wont be able to write as frequently.We are at the orphanage and it has been very emotional and great to see our freinds here..also the kids.who have grown so much!we are getting stuck into life here..Hamish already has blisters from doing cement for the foundations of a house..and I have been playing clarinet and singing in the church already..and getting a choir together every pm…the kids are fantastic singers..its inspirational to hear them..we plan to do some presentations with dance also.Our kids are loving having loads of kids to play with..they run around all day and flop into bed about 8…they also enjoy killing huge cochroaches!We are home schooling them each morning for a couple of hours..its going really well…they get a lot done in a short amount of time.The place has much improved since we were last here the house where we stayed is unrecognizable..totally redone..it has a veranda!its beautiful..taking Seth around it was weird…we kept telling him it looked differenr when we lived in it!The kids all look well and happy and they have built new accomodation and plan to build 5 more houses..which will be great for the kids..to live in smaller groups with house parents..Alonso and Michelle have worked very hard..along with all the team.We visited Josie the amazing woman who started and built this place.she has given most of her life to these kids and now she has retired and looking really well ..it was good to catch up with her and her family.It is stormy here lots of rain!!particularly through the night.The photos are of our travels through guatamala..and the copan ruins in honduras..and a rain storm floating seed pods !..I got collared for a tourism survey on the honduran border!!I wont put photos of the kids here on the net I really need to get permission it might not be appropriate…but will send some of the area etc.The older girls have braided our girls hair they look really cute..show you soon..for now bye….keep praying for us..God bless Rachel Hamish and Kids.Cant seem to upload photos..iff they dont work will try later!

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Photos

Posted by admin on 02 Jun 2007 | Tagged as: On the road

Amarrillo Zoo

Flora just shook a can of lemonade…all over!

One of Seths nature shots!

New Mexico

Ice cave Mew Mexico

Kids let loose in the painted desert!!

sat on petrified wood!!

the Grand Canyon

Steep paths..