The first of the big rains started last night taking out first the cable (no gymnastics for us) and then the electricity (at about midnight) which also means no running water. The dog next door started barking non-stop at about 3AM. Eli left at 5AM - we were sorry to see her go. Still no electricity (no showers of course) so off we went to Flor del Campo to visit the school, CAP, and La Cantera.
We got to El Cordero just in time for the weekly assembly. The character trait for the week is helping others. The entire program was about that complete with the weekly Bible verse to memorize (Hebrews 13:16), a sermonette with flannel board props (Good Samaritan), prayers, and songs. The children are adorable in their green plaid uniforms with yellow shirts and socks! Hunter and I were introduced and Hunter explained his leg to the children. At the end of the program, several of the boys gave Hunter a high five and then surreptitiously reached down to touch it!
Next we met up with RoseAngel, head of the Community Assistance Program (CAP), and David, and another fellow whose name I can neither pronounce or spell! We headed off to La Cantera, the extremely poor barrio next to Flor. RoseAngel had organized a meeting with several of the women who receive help from CAP. We met at Sonya's house. First let me report that her mother, Iris, looks so much better! She was near death in April but has made an amazing recovery. She still has difficulty breathing sometimes and needs oxygen which they haven't been able to arrange. But - what a difference! Thanks be to God! There were approximately 20 women and assorted children assembled to share with us how the Beans in the Bag campaign has helped them. There is no way I can express the depth of this experience by keying in a few words in a blog. These women are desperately poor, have no education, no support structure save CAP and each other. Yet, to a woman, the strength, faith, and determination was immeasurable. Several of them spoke, each thanking us (the larger us - all the people who participated in the campaign)for the help and explaining what it meant. One woman said that the help came just in time, she had no food at all. Several said they were able now to take the money they earn selling tortillas (a good estimate is about $5-7 per day as total income for a family) and use it to buy books for their children to go to school. (There is free public school but books and uniforms must be purchased.) Others said they were able to buy medicine for their ill elderly relatives. One woman said that our support enables them to have hope. Many expressed amazement that we would support them even though we are not Honduran! They were surprised that North Americans knew that they existed. I was especially moved when one woman told us that we are in their prayers every day. A 16 yr old boy was sent by his mother in her stead to thank us for our support. These are beautiful people, warm, generous in spirit, hard working, faithful. Their first concern when they get anything at all is the welfare of their children and their elderly relatives. What a joy and blessing it was to be with them today.
Reluctantly we left there to go visit the hut that was about to fall off the cliff, for which we raised sufficient monies to rebuild. The path up to the hut was treacherous, straight up the side of a cliff. They are building the new hut around the old one so the family still has a place to live. Once the new hut is finished they will remove the remnants of the old one. The walls are up and the roof is about to go on. It will change the lives of this family - just in the nick of time because the rains are just beginning.
On our way back out of La Cantera we passed several "huts" - not even huts, just scraps of stuff, often old sheets strung between trees. I was almost out of camera batteries and thought I would take a picture of the most desperate one. The problem is, just when you think you have seen the worst, you see another... So much to do here.
CAP has been able to increase both the amount of food in the semi-monthly bags and the number of families receiving them. They carefully interview the families to ensure the ones who are selected to join the program will make best use of the largesse. The families must be working to help themselves, must participate in the workshops, be upstanding people, and help each other out (see character trait of the week!) People looking simply for handouts are not accepted. There are now 38 families receiving food, up from 21. Each family is typically a single mother, several children, and an elderly relative or two. So 38 families represents alot of people. They also have about 10 sewing machines and are teaching the women to sew as a means of generating income. CAP holds a range of "life skills" workshops as well. It is an amazing program that dramatically changes lives - saves lives.
From there we went with Suzy to her home in San Vicente for lunch. All the kids were there and all are thriving in the great place in the country. Lucy (2) is so cute - talking a blue streak and charging around. Of course, all the rest are terrific. Aaron Joshue (8 months) is smiling, cutting his first tooth and looks much stronger. He can't move his legs but Tomasa has taught him to hold his own bottle! We had picked them up from his physical therapy session on the way home.
Suzy took us to Valle of the Angels so I could do my part for the economy, which I did. (Remember, just about everything goes into the silent auction to raise more money for LAMB!) It was a terrific day.
We returned to Erika's around 5:30 - still no electricity! We milled around thinking about the prospect of no electricity or water for the rest of the day. The electricity was out in a wide area in this part of town. Danillo had called all day to find out when the electricity would come back on but no one would even answer the phone. I went into my bathroom and decided to put my hairdryer away. It was doing no good and taking up precious counter space. Within a minute of unplugging it, the electricity came on. HMMMM. Naturally, I took credit for solving the crisis which Wheeler readily agreed with. Hunter started down the "cause and effect" path but was shouted down by our celebratory shouts of joy.
Tomorrow is back to SBV to work on the playground. There was a lot of work done today so I am anxious to see how much progress has been made.
Dave S. - if you are reading this I want you to know you and your family have been in my prayers especially today, a terribly difficult one for you. I wanted to let you know early this AM but couldn't for obvious reasons. I hope there is a measure of relief that this day is over and I pray for peace and comfort for you all.
Love,
Amanda
Hut before:
Hut in progess - note the original wall inside:
Hut looking from above:
Sewing class:
Iris, Sonya, Sonya's grandmother:
Group picture of the meeting at Sonya's house!
So much more to do...
The assembly - ready to start!
Learning the Bible verse of the week:
Suzy and Aaron Joshue:
