There is a comfort that comes from predictability and routine. The SBV team entered into that zone of serenity this morning when we arrived at SBV for our first real workday. We stood around while John and the Hondurans examined the work site. Karen and I went into Sala Cuna (the toddler’s cottage) to see Yolany. Yolany as you recall is 16 mos old and blind from birth. Her mother scornfully said, “No one will want this dog.” Guess what. We do, we want this precious little lamb. Toyita was with her and loves her so much. All the children and caretakers do. I have the cutest video of Yolany “dancing” as Toyita sang a little song. Yolany is just about ready to walk!
We lounged so more as El Jefe (the boss) counted up the tools available to see if we had enough. “We have 3 trowels, 5 shovels, 6 wheelbarrows, only one paint brush…” Then there was the discussion about whether we would haul the many bags of concrete all the way from the farthest work shed to our worksite way below the cottages or whether we would use El Jefe’s truck. Seems like a no brainer, right? Not so fast. El Jefe said he didn’t have enough gas. OK, we’ll buy him some gas. Next, do we hand mix the mortar (a back breaking job) or do we get the cement mixer running? Well, it doesn’t work. Why not? It needs gas. OK. And oil. OK. So, we finally have our shopping list – 5 paintbrushes, gas and oil. Finally we are ready to start work – a typical Monday morning at SBV. We really wouldn’t know how to behave if Mondays were organized ahead of time.
We began the day hauling wheelbarrows of sand down the hill to the future location of the cement mixer. We had a nice rhythm going with a couple of people shoveling and the rest of us wheeling up and down the hill. When Jesus said that, with enough faith, we can move mountains, we didn’t realize this is what He meant. But, as good servants, move that mountain we did. (If you are dying to ask why they didn’t unload the sand where the cement mixer would be, don’t bother. It is an enigma wrapped in a paradox… We always are moving a mountain of sand or gravel from one place to another.) Soon, the cement mixer arrived and, natch, the rip cord (what you start it with) broke. No problem, you can tie it back together. But first, we need to find the tools to open the compartment. Off went Jefe to find it. We continued hauling until lunch.
We sat on the porch of cottage 2 to eat our lunch. Soon the children got out of school and joined us. We are strictly forbidden to share our food with the kids. So, I want you all to know I DID NOT sneak cookies and melon to the little boys. When I was done eating I joined some of the 9 and 10 year olds on the playground. When I was little my family and I ALWAYS played 3 Billy Goats Gruff anytime we were near a foot bridge. So the playground has a crawl tube as part of it. I decided it was time to play Tres Cabritos Malo. I explained (in espanol!) how to play and announced I would be the troll. I got in the tube as the first billy goat came across the top of the tube. “Quien es?” I roared. (Who is that?) A falsetto voice answered, “Estoy la cabritto bebe!” (I am the baby billy goat.) “Voy a comerle!” I shouted. “No, estoy muy pequeno. Espere para mi mama!” (No, I am too small. Wait for my mother.) “OK,” I answered. We repeated this with the mother goat and then came the father goat who challenged me to a fight. Out I burst to fight Alex on the tube. Just like the wrestling channel we had it out until he “hit” the fatal blow and fell to my death on the platform. Gales of laughter as the triumphant Billy Goat finished crossing the tube. It was lovely reliving this special memory of my childhood with my father and my mother, in whose memory our family built the playground.
Back to work. The cement mixer was working now and we alternated between hauling sand to the mixing spot and hauling the mescla (mortar) to the trench. Oh. I forgot to describe what we are doing. We are building a huge fence around the whole septic system and the pit that collects nasty water during the rainy season. I think it is “gray water.” Anyway, the Hondurans had dug a trench all around the area and now we were to fill it with rocks and mescla as a foundation for the fence. Some of our group painted the fence poles with rustoleum. It was hard work, very hot, but so much fun.
Other members of our team did other projects. At SBV, until about 2:45, Marilyn and Anne R. (known as young Anne vs. short Anne Patrick) worked in the school helping to assess math skills and handwriting. In first grade it was M day. Then they took them to the library where Marilyn read Goodnight Moon in Spanish. Anne was entranced but not so much the children. Tomorrow, they will be back in the classroom. Marilyn has an assignment to teach 4th tomorrow.
Several ladies went to Flor to work with the CAP ladies. They were joined by some women from the Sumter team. They had several sewing projects going and Joey was doing a bead project with them. A very cool project they did was part of the preparation for the Ladies Night Out dinner that has become an annual event, and one we all look forward to as a highlight of the week. Part of the event is creating an ambiance that the CAP ladies (extreme poverty) have no way of experiencing otherwise. We endeavor to have candlelight as part of it. The first year we used little tea lights which were impossible to keep lit because it is quite breezy in the evening in Flor. The next year we put the tea lights in plastic cups with a little water in them. It was virtually impossible to light them (didn’t have long matches) and then very hard to keep lit. So this year, in the spirit of continuous improvement, we will use luminaria. Anne (short Anne) was inspired to have the ladies think about their hopes and dreams and express them artistically by decorating the white luminaria bags. Then she had them interpret their drawings and she wrote their interpretations on the bottom of the bags. When they come to the dinner Thursday night they will see their dreams illuminated! Isn’t that cool? The things they drew and expressed are beautiful… Can’t wait till Thursday night.
Wheeler, his son Phillip and I had a lovely chat tonight. It was great getting to know another of his five children. All I can say is, Wheeler has good genes!
Honduras is wonderful, all is well here. I hope the same is true wherever you are.
Va con Dios. (Go with God.)
Yolany, 16 mos and blind
Maria Mercedes, 16 mos
Young Anne and Kenneth
Sergio
All I have to do is get close to pink paint...
'Nuff said...
