November 10, 2008 Jose

In the afternoon we went to visit our night guard, Jose, at his house. He has been very sick and we have been taking him some Ensure to drink. His wife told us he has not eaten solid food for two months. When we got to his house his wife told us they had taken him to the hospital in San Pedro Sula yesterday and she was going to go visit him tonight. So, we volunteered to drive her and we would go visit Jose also. We were going to pick her up at 5:00 that night for 30 - 40 minute drive to San Pedro Sula because visiting hours were only from 5:30 - 7:00. We asked Saul to go with us to help with that language issue thing and for help in finding the hospital.

We arrive at 5:00 to pick up Jose's wife and his wife, her sister, and her mother come out to get in the truck. We already have three people in the truck and it really only seats five. No problem, this is Honduras. Cindy will just sit in the middle of the front seat and Saul will ride with us in the front seat and the three women can ride in the back. Saul and the three women tell us we can't go like this because the truck is only designed for 5 and they will give us a ticket. They are acting very worried. So, we decide to go back to Faith Home and get the van. On the way back to Faith Home we are behind a pickup truck that has a young man riding in the bed of truck. He is sitting on the tailgate with one leg in the bed of the truck and one leg on the back bumper. We ask Saul if that is ok and he says yes because they are not in the truck. We are confused but do change to the van.

After an hour of driving from Faith Home we finally make it to the hospital. Now driving around here can be pretty crazy but tonight was just plain scary. From the taxi stopping in the left lane of the highway with traffic doing about 80 kph and us almost hitting the vehicle in front of us because we couldn't stop in time, to the girl who tried to cross the two lanes of traffic on our side of the rode and then just stopped in our lane causing to take some drastic action not to hit her, to the vehicles with not tail lights, to the crazy guy intentionally trying and trying again to hit our side mirror with his side mirror. He tried several times before he did and then after he did it he stops beside us and yells at us. After several other very close calls we were ready to get to the hospital.

After we were there Cindy said "I know why it was so difficult to get here tonight." Saul had just shared the gospel with Jose and Jose had become a believer. For those that have been around when Saul shares the gospel you know he is very straight forward. Guess the crazy nerve racking drive was worth it.