I'm a regular kind of guy. When I was working full-time I would get up in the mornings at the same time, shower and arrive early to work. If church started at 10 a.m., I was there no later than 9:45 a.m. If I told folks I'll meet them at 9 a.m. for midweek coffee I was usually the first one there. If dinner was scheduled for 5:30 p.m.you needed to be on time.

    It has always been important to me to be punctual, even though many of those in my life have had a care-less attitude. My fixation has nothing to do with Benjamin Franklin's "time is money" advice to a young tradesman. I simply inherited the trait from my father, and then spent my career meeting deadlines as a journalist.

    But as I grow older I am becoming an adjuster; not in the sense of an insurance agent who investigates personal or property damage and makes estimates for settlements.

    I am learning to adjust my life, as necessary, but I am nowhere near the point reached by the Apostle Paul who became content regardless of his circumstances.

    Please don't misinterpret this post as a complaint about my current state of affairs. I am, in fact, generally happy and believe that I am in the place God wants me to be, doing the work He has called me to do.

    Nor is this a rant, just a simple commentary about what many of you have asked for in terms of updates, particularly what it is like to live in Honduras.

    Like anywhere, there is good and bad. Some things bring me great joy; others frustrate me, but I am starting to believe this is positive because it is teaching me more and more patience.

    The best way to describe living in Santa Rosa de Copan is that it is different than anything I have ever experienced.

     I was told months ago that people here are poor. That is correct. I was also told the people here have more time than money. Also correct, but that isn't always good thing for a regular kind of guy like me.

     I dropped Lisa off at work Friday and went to Maxi Dispensa (our version of Wal-Mart) to stock up on supplies in case the planned political demonstrations over the weekend keep us homebound.

     I arrived a few minutes before the doors were to be opened for business at 8 a.m. It was a cold and rainy day so I waited in the car. Finally, 20 minutes later the door was opened and the 20 or so workers waiting outside were allowed in. The shopping public, however, was not allowed in until after 8:30 a.m.

     In Honduras the various form of "trains" never seem to run on time. It makes a regular guy wonder why.

     Some of the other weird but interesting differences include less roadkill than I witnessed while living in the South.

     Street animals here must be smarter, especially dogs, horses and roosters/hens. I haven't seen one two-legged bird dare to cross the road to get to the other side. Dogs seem to check traffic both ways before crossing; they are mostly content with running alongside cars in the same direction in search of their next meal.

     Free-range city horses walk down and cross streets daily in search of sweet grass. They will move out of the way, if honked at, but at their own pace -- and these are not thoroughbreds. We actually have four nags living the good life around our neighborhood. It's kind of fun to see what they are up to each day, but it isn't so much fun driving over their road deposits.

     I once lived right next to a freeway. The noise was bothersome, but in time I hardly ever noticed it (call it white noise). But the sounds near our house sometimes seem like we are living in the middle of a freeway that runs through a zoo.

     The main road through town is close to our house, and we hear 18-wheelers "jake braking" down a hill at all hours. But that's not all. Roosters crow continually and the dogs feel compelled to talk back. Car horns honk for what seems no good reason, and then there are the pops and bangs of firecrackers. None of our noise is music to our ears.

     I've often thought the places I have lived had the market on bad drivers (Memphis was no different). But none compares to Santa Rosa.

     Few drivers pay attention to any safety or general driving rules. Speed is always king, especially passing the few cars on narrow roads and corners. Adding to the traffic woes are the hundreds of buses stopping and starting alongside the roads (which are infected with a pothole epidemic).

     So, I am not experiencing the season of my discontent, only living a life of a perseverance and faith, trying to always consider you 

Ephesians 4:2  "Be always humble, gentle and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another."