Roatan - Day 7

What a GREAT day!  Loved seeing more of the island today!  J and I slept in – that girl can sleep way longer than I can, which is really saying something.  We went out exploring to find beach access close to our apartment so we won’t always have to take the taxi all the time.  So I pushed her up the steep hill to the main road, then walked a treacherous 100 yards to the next side road (continue reading for my explanation of treacherous…), which turned out to be paved all the way to the beach.  Not very far, and we found ourselves a nice little dock to camp out on – to study and/or soak up the sun.  Next time we will for sure be in our swimsuits.  There are even some steps down to the water from the dock to take a little dip and cool off.  Unfortunately the water is too shallow and the coral too high for any sort of snorkeling or swimming.  Good to know it’s so close though, mission accomplished.

Then J and I met up with 3 other girls that are also volunteering at the clinic and we drove out to a tiny native town in Flowers Bay for a health fair.  We spent three hours inside a church passing out medical supplies, checking blood pressures, checking glucose levels (the infamous finger stick – you know you’re scared too…), and handing out reading glasses.  It was really very rewarding.  A young group of kids took to J and so she tested all their sugar levels.  I always love meeting and talking with new people.  We got to see much of the island on the drive there and back, and even though I’ve seen a few third world countries and the different circumstances people live in (Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, even parts of China and the Caribbean), it STILL amazes me how people can live like this and how lucky I truly am in the United States.  I will always need that reminder.  I love to travel, but there is just something so rewarding and humbling about dedicating your time and working on behalf of others that even makes your travel experience that much better.

[Side note to Elise: Apparently there is a house in Flowers Bay (pretty fancy) that was featured on House Hunters International.]

I love driving on the main road that circles the west side of the island.  It’s twisty and turn-y, parallels the beach (saw a basketball court built OVER the ocean!!!), is lined with palm trees and people’s less than ideal living situations, and the tires screech around every corner.  It truly makes you feel like you are on some wild exotic racetrack, except for the people walking along the non-existent shoulder which you have to steer clear of to keep from hitting.  It’s a wild ride.

After volunteering at the health fair, we did some grocery shopping in Coxen Hole (found ourselves each a Snicker’s bar!) and then had some dinner at a 3 P’s restaurant – Pizza, Pollo, Pasta.  Since they were out of pizza, pollo, and lasagna, that didn’t leave very many options.  So I had an Italian version (margherita) of the pastelito described in my previous post.  I MUCH prefer the hondureño version.  As we were eating dinner, I looked out the window and to my utter amazement saw 4 missionaries walking up the hill.  I had given up on General Conference this weekend since I didn’t even know 1) where the church building was, 2) if they would even be broadcasting Conference, and 3) if they would be broadcasting it at the same times.  I thought about just showing up tomorrow and trying to figure it out, but all the volunteers were planning a big outing to the beach and fancy resort (Infinity Bay – we get in free every Sunday for working at the clinic).  Such a tender mercy to see them, talk to them, and ask them about Conference tomorrow.  It couldn’t have been more perfect.  I feel bad leaving J to her own devices tomorrow, but am SO GLAD I get to listen to Conference for at least one day.  Ha, I forgot to explain myself to the missionaries… I just walked around the corner to confront them and shouted, “Missionaries!”  They probably wondered where the heck I came from.  Ya, I’ll make sure to do that tomorrow.