First post

Hi guys-- maybe this will make it easier to post updates. Please check back here often. For now, I'll just paste my most recent e-mail update.


*** these updates that I am senidng now and the "Honduras" updates I send will be posted on my blog, facebook, and will be sent to a mailing list. Therefore, I will sometimes direct different parts of an update to a certain person, place, group, or church. If you know someone who would like to be on my mailing list, please ask them to e-mail jthonduras@hotmail.com
Also, here are the addresses I will have while I am there… please feel free to send a card, letter, donation, or even a care package. PLEASE note the correct address for each type of mailing.
This is only for envelopes, cards, and small shoebox size packages...
Jesse Tiner
World Gospel Outreach
TGU 144
P.O. Box 02-5387
Miami, FL 33102-5387

Anything bigger than a shoe box should be sent to...
Jesse Tiner
World Gospel Outreach
C/O F. Lynn Clough
18728 Hurley Lane
Conroe, TX 77384

And as always, ANY donation is wonderfully appreciated. You can give online at http://www.wgoreach.org/ or by mailing your donation to…
World Gospel Outreach
Jesse Tiner Fund
PO Box 14348
Humble, TX 77347-4348
***
**UPDATE**
SOOO, Happy 4th of July first of all. I am currently at my great aunt and uncle's in Medford, Oregon.
This past Friday, my aunt in Texas drove me to the airport and I caught my light to Sacramento to meet my mother and brother who were flying from Birmingham. After a LONG situation dealing with the rental car place, we had our little car and were on our way on our "family adventure."
Our first stop was San Francisco. We hae a cousin that has lived there for the past 3 years or so. He lives right in downtown and has a good job so he treated us to a night at THE HILTON----- THE HILTON. It was very nice. He met us there and checked us in, then took us to Union Square where ALL of the really nice shopping places are. We then caught a taxi (MY FIRST TAXI RIDE EVER) to a local Italian place called Calzone's where we dined before catching a ride back to THE HILTON. Being our first night after a day of delayed flights, we were ready for bed, and to bed we went. I was most surprised that San Francisco and most of the areas out here DO NOT hae chain businesses. The most frequent chain we saw was ofcourse Starbuck's.
Saturday morning we woke up and took off. Our first stop was Golden Gate Park, VERY near to the Golden Gate Bridge. So ofcourse our next task was to drie across the Golden Gate Bridge.... and we did. It was beautiful-- covered in clouds, with just enough of the bridge visible to make for AMAZING pictures, which you can find in the albums.
The rest of the day was on HWY 1 up the West Coast. I tell ya, when you forget how great God is and how "creative" He is with nature, the west coast is the place to go. We stopped at a little "side of the road" place and ate clam chowder and oysters. Our stop for the night was in a place called Eureka, CA.
Sunday was our Redwood day. Just about the entire day was driving through Redwood National Park and the numerous state parks surrounding and within. Again, WOW at what God can do. If you ever want to feel small, stand next to a giant Redwood tree. Sunday evening we managed to find our way on in To Medford Oregon where my great aunt and uncle live.
Monday was a short day out. We went to a little place called Jacksonville, OR, which is an old western town. It's ironic because it had the same kind of character and smallness that I loved about Jacksonville, AL. We saw LOTS of neat shops with antiques and wild wild west stuff. I can't believe I haven't mentioned how great of a cook my aunt is, but WOW. She fixed spaghetti and it was wonderful.
Yesterday was our day at Crater Lake. I'm gonna let the pictures do most of the talking, but WOW WOW WOW. I got to go there about 7 years ago when I came to visit, but I guess I didn't remember it to be soooo beautiful. There wasn't AS much snow this time, but there was still some places where there were good banks of snow and a few covered fields. Of course, this was way up in the mountains.
Today is not only a holiday, but a birthday here. My great uncle is turning 71 today. His health is pretty good, but there are some complications.
As for the days to come, we will be leaving here on Friday heading back to Sacramento. I have an early flight out Saturday morning back to Birmingham. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday I will be in Geneva getting the last of my things together preparing for Honduras. Wednesday, mom and dad and I will go on to Mobile and get an idea where the airport is, and go out for a nice "last evening" out. I will leave early Thursday morning for Honduras. I am incredibly excited and scared at the same time. The reality of it all is much closer, but at the same time I wish it was tomorrow I was leaving.
Please pray for all of us as we prepare to go. There are several new teachers getting ready for this transition in our lives and I know it will touch every emotion we have.
I love you all! God Bless!
Love,
Jesse