Dearest Rachel – Douglas, the local head of operations here at Just One International, tells me that they have a saying here in Honduras (and bear in mind, I’m paraphrasing here) that “when you break a L500, the pieces scatter to the winds.” The gist of it is that, once you reduce the equivalent ofContinue reading “Serious Cash”
Monthly Archives: January 2026
Ankle Deep in the Big Muddy
Dearest Rachel – I mentioned yesterday morning about how there was a threat of rain for the day that I would be on pila duty. The morning dawned grey and something beyond overcast, although as breakfast progressed, the sun slowly made its presence known, in defiance of the weather predictions. There was this brief thoughtContinue reading “Ankle Deep in the Big Muddy”
It’s Easier In Minecraft
Dearest Rachel – Yesterday was a day of trying to figure out what I’m supposed to be doing here. I’m scheduled to work on building pilas – those concrete water basins that hold something like a hundred gallons or so that Just One is trying to supply to as many homes in El Socorro asContinue reading “It’s Easier In Minecraft”
El Mismo, Pero No
Dearest Rachel – We’re basically settled in here now in Siguatepeque. It’s the same place that we’ve stayed at before (and I dare say that we always will; Just One seems to have some sort of relationship with the folks running this place. I want to say it’s a family-owned business, but I could beContinue reading “El Mismo, Pero No”
The Hardest Part is Getting There
Dearest Rachel – I think I’ve heard this phrase about travel but, apart from leisure trip, where once you arrive, it’s nothing but rest and relaxation, I’m not sure I agree. If nothing else, flights tend to be boring and nondescript; once they’re over and done with, they almost manage to escape memory instantly (forContinue reading “The Hardest Part is Getting There”
from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part four)
In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.“If you at the moment are not experiencing this warfare, do not be lulled into complacency… His goal is to break your fellowship with your God and render youContinue reading “from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part four)”
Leaving You Behind, Taking You With
Dearest Rachel – As we’re preparing to head out to the Just One headquarters in Honduras, we’ve been advised not to bring along anything that would announce that it (or we) are worth money. To be sure, there’s no preventing me from taking my computer; if nothing else, I need it to conduct my lessonContinue reading “Leaving You Behind, Taking You With”
Five Years On
Dearest Rachel – There’s a certain point at which it feels like commemorating the day of the year in which you suddenly had to go home is like picking at a longstanding, grievous wound. It’s not going to heal if I keep at it like this – although one would think that, if it’s onlyContinue reading “Five Years On”
The Last ‘Warm’ Day
Dearest Rachel – So, yesterday was the last ‘warm’ day before I leave town. From here on out, the highs – the highs, mind you – will be in the single digits Fahrenheit, if not at or below zero. I’ve heard talk about schools closing, despite the fact that it’s actually going to be tooContinue reading “The Last ‘Warm’ Day”
Trivial Pursuit
Dearest Rachel – I suppose I should have written you about this last Saturday, as opposed to waiting until now. Still, do I get partial credit for bringing it up at all, despite this being so late? It is significant, as it’s the first time all six of us had been able to get togetherContinue reading “Trivial Pursuit”
Could It Have Been You?
Dearest Rachel – For all that you into the color purple for most of our life together (for a while while you were at college, it seemed that you favored unicorns and rainbows, but somewhere along the line – I can’t recall when or why – you centered on the one single color, for someContinue reading “Could It Have Been You?”
Where It’s Warm and Comfortable
Dearest Rachel – After having folded it up to allow Kris room to work in the bedroom when she came over to clean on Friday, I finally got around to reassembling the treadmill last night upon our return home from Sparks. I figured I would wake up early this morning, like I usually do, andContinue reading “Where It’s Warm and Comfortable”
The Shoe Finally Dropped
Dearest Rachel – There are days when I find myself wondering why I bother filling you in on the details of what’s going on here on the planet that you left behind. Whether it’s finances or the house or what could laughingly be referred to as my love life, what does any of it matterContinue reading “The Shoe Finally Dropped”
from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part three)
In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.“The Devil did not tempt Adam and Eve to steal, to lie, to kill, to commit adultery; he tempted them to live independent of God – this is soContinue reading “from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part three)”
Uninstalling the Plan
Dearest Rachel – It was a week and a half ago when Lars and I wrapped up our usual walk through the woods with lunch at our favorite gyro place (they make their own in-house – and you can really tell the difference from one of those places that use the commercial providers like KronosContinue reading “Uninstalling the Plan”
Piled High
Dearest Rachel – It’s been so long, and I’ve had to do this for myself for these past five years, that I can’t remember what, if any, system you had regarding laundry. I know you separated colors from whites – every college-bound male is warned about mixing them and winding up with pink socks fromContinue reading “Piled High”
How’d He Raise Such a Cynic?
Dearest Rachel – When I go in to the ‘office’ these days, especially on days like this when I don’t have anything pressing in terms of actual ‘work,’ half my job, if you can call it that, is to simply hang around with and chat up my folks for a while (as well as movingContinue reading “How’d He Raise Such a Cynic?”
Topless in the Snow
Dearest Rachel – I’ve discovered something curious about the treadmill I’ve bought to use here at home on days when it’s too cold or I’m otherwise unmotivated to make my way to the gym in the morning: the thing is apparently an energy vampire. Over the course of the last week, I’ve blown a fuseContinue reading “Topless in the Snow”
The ‘Dragon Face’
Dearest Rachel – It was one of those weird dreams that came to me last night. I’m not sure if it can be fleshed out for you in the limited time between waking up and its dissipation, but I’ll try. The story seemed to center on a girl born in either China or Indochina; whileContinue reading “The ‘Dragon Face’”
Money-day Morning
Dearest Rachel – It’s Monday morning; the day and time that seems to bring dread to all. The restful period of the weekend is over, and we have to get back to school or work or whatever our weekly routine looks like, whether we’re ready for it or not. Despite having gone to bed beforeContinue reading “Money-day Morning”
from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part two)
In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.“A parent’s own inconsistency, anger, moodiness, materialism, sensuality, or deception can be a far more serious stumbling block to the teen’s life than whatever problems … the parent isContinue reading “from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part two)”
Before Common Days Become Legend
Dearest Rachel – There are times when I’ve been told that things will eventually work out in life; and to be fair, I’ve little to complain about, when compared to the general human condition. As discussed so many times before with you, I’ve got what I would consider to be “enough” in terms of theContinue reading “Before Common Days Become Legend”
AC-DC and the Beach Boys
Dearest Rachel – No, I didn’t wake up with either of these groups’ (and doesn’t the combination sound like an interesting band name in and of itself?) music in my head this morning, like a proper earworm. But I realized that I’d started off the day – ended last night, in fact – by givingContinue reading “AC-DC and the Beach Boys”
Confiding in Copilot
Dearest Rachel – After putting in ten miles plus of walking yesterday, between the treadmill at home and the walk in the woods with Lars, I probably should have just said goodnight to the boys and let myself drift off to sleep once I got home yesterday evening, so I could wake up first thingContinue reading “Confiding in Copilot”
Christmas Cake
Dearest Rachel – Over the weekend leading up to Christmas, I needed to go out to get various ingredients for the cooking assignments I’d taken upon myself for both the family party on the Sunday prior and Christmas brunch itself. As is my wont, I can never go through a grocery store and only getContinue reading “Christmas Cake”
So There’s This Girl…
Dearest Rachel – For a moment, I actually thought this could be a possibility, too. I mean, it made sense in the moment. So there’s this girl who was essentially working as a greeter at church this weekend. We’ve spoken before – in fact, she’s come up to me, rather than the other way aroundContinue reading “So There’s This Girl…”
Healthy at Home
Dearest Rachel – I think part of the problem with this past weekend was that, when I previously would attempt to fast for the entire length of a given Sunday, I would grab a reasonable lunch on Saturday before showing up at church for rehearsal. This time around, I basically had breakfast – a bowlContinue reading “Healthy at Home”
from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part one)
In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.“…we still possess a residual effect of that ‘old man’ even after salvation. We still have an indwelling principle of sin in us that corrupts every part of us.Continue reading “from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part one)”
Getting Back to Fasting
Dearest Rachel – I’ve mentioned before – and you remember from the twisted Christmas carols we used to listen to, particularly on our way to and from your parents’, back in the day – how the past couple of weeks’ holidays do a number on one’s resolve toward keeping fit. Bad enough that the weekendContinue reading “Getting Back to Fasting”
Double Header
Dearest Rachel – To address the question you wouldn’t have to ask if you were actually present – since conversation with a live person doesn’t require adding titles to one’s topics – yes, this is about sports in general, but no, this doesn’t have to do with baseball, from whence the term itself hails. You’dContinue reading “Double Header”
“See You Next Year!”
Dearest Rachel – It’s the jocular expression used of a New Year’s Eve when departing a place and taking your leave of some people you expect to see soon enough, but not until at least the next morning; the joke, of course, being that the following day will be part of the the following year.Continue reading ““See You Next Year!””
Letters to Rachel 