Monday, June 22, 2009

Everyday life - but it's so weird here!

Today we finally sold our Toyota pickup truck. We've not used it since Russell's second accident with it, in January of 2008! It was in the shop approximately forever, and when we finally got it back, although it runs okay, it was full of squeaks and rattles. Since we've been able to purchase a second Land Cruiser, we don't really need the pickup anymore, so we've had it sitting in front of our house, with a "for sale" sign on it, for several months.

Finally, this morning, we sold the thing! We're all glad to no longer be in the car selling business, but I have to admit that I was hoping a different buyer would come through to purchase the truck. This past week, Allen was negotiating a deal with a neighbor, who wanted to trade us 14 cows for the truck. I thought this was such a cool thing - and would make fun reading for the blog. Sadly, it was not to be, and we just got money for the truck, from a different purchaser. How ordinary!

But, there is something else unusual going on right now. We own a backhoe, which we allow the municipal government to use for many projects. We need to use our backhoe to dig trenches so that we can install our personal water lines for our new home. Since we hope to move onto our property around August or so, there isn't a lot of extra time to get this work done.

However, the last time the government used the backhoe, they left it parked in the town where they last used it, as it needed some repairs which needed to be completed before the job could be finished and the machine returned to Gracias. That wouldn't have been such a big problem, except that the town, Quelacasque, where the backhoe is sitting, is on the other side of a large river, with only a ford across. You see where this is going, right? The river is currently swollen, because it is the rainy season, and the water is too high for the backhoe to be driven across.

Now, I really think this kind of thing is strange, and interesting. I don't ever recall anyone offering to trade us livestock for a vehicle, when we lived in the US, and I'm sure we never lost access to any of our construction equipment for long periods of time because we couldn't cross a river.

At least it's never boring here!

5 comments:

Kelly said...

Wow, you are constantly having to rethink life..I'm sure you could share many, many other examples. It WOULD make a great book..

Beth said...

So, how long do you have to wait until the river drops?
Is this the beginning or the end of rainy season?

I used to think I wanted God to give me a "plan" for the next few years so I'd know what was coming...LOL Like I could prepare for it somehow if I knew what to expect! Now I'm glad I have to take one day at a time.
Rest in His wisdom and strength. He's prepared even if I'm not!

Theresa in WV said...

Never a dull moment, is there, Trish? I'll pray the Lord provides in some way for you to get your trenches dug.

Patty said...

14 cows...You could have meat and dairy for a long time with that herd. Plus you could have bartered them for other things, Too bad it didn't go through. You do lead an interesting life.

God Bless you and yours.

Denise said...

Thanks for your photo essays and comments on Honduran life - you are sharing so much and always have such insight. I hope your machinery gets back to your side of the river when you need it. My mother always says, "Things happen for a reason..." I hope getting into your home (with ditches dug)is reason enough!