Mission work in Honduras: Conga lines, pinkers, twinkers, and more

Monday, June 21

Our first day of work! Jan headed off by herself bravely in a taxi (David carefully arranged for the "LAMB taxi driver" so she was perfectly safe.) to Flor to begin working with the ladies on sewing projects. When the rest of us got to SBV, Leamarie headed off for the school and Anne and Donna started a sewing project with the girls. The rest of us headed to the building site. Our first task was a...CONGA LINE! We had to move rocks from a pile outside the foundation to piles inside the foundation. We were really going at it when Pamm, who was acting as photo historian, returned announcing, "Tengo HOMBRES!" and meant it! Behind her trooped 6 or 7 hale and hearty manly men working with us for the day from another team. Our own manly men (Bruce, Alex, and Geoff) were thrilled to see them. The new guys hauled the really big rocks and we conga lined the more manageable rocks, many of which we either named or identified as looking like a meer cat, a pizza slice, massachusetts, etc.

Mario, el jefe, sent many of us down to make pinkers and twinkers. (rough translation from Spanish!) We use those to manufacture rebar. Pinkers are pieces of thin rod and twinkers (see pix) are triangles made of thick rod. Carolyn, Geoff, Bruce, Courtney, Mary were expert at making them. Once we had enough we started assembling the rebar - long rods of thick steel threaded through the twinkers and wired on using pinkers. Then we twisted and tightened and trimmed the twinkers. We were cookin' with gas!

Meanwhile, Anne and Donna were making great progress with the teen girls making denim bags to hang on the back of the chairs in the school to hold books, pencils, rulers, etc. Reina and Astrid really got the hang of it quickly!

At about 3 we called a work stoppage to play with the kids. Pamm and I spent alot of time with Yolani. She is bright as a button and just adorable. The other children love her and are so affectionate with her. They will often stop what they are doing to run over and give her a hug or play with her. Yolani loves the breeze. Whenever a breeze comes up she stops, holds her little arms up and gets the most serene look on her face. Beautiful. Oh, that we all may find such joy from God's creation. Pamm and I took her on the slides. When they got to the bottom, Dunia came up and said, "Yolani" in this funny deep raspy voice. Yolani burst out into a belly laugh! Such a sweet sound that was! Later Pamm and Yolani were hitting the side of the slide. Pamm realized that Yolani would repeat the pattern that she was hitting! Amazing. She is only 18 mos old, blind from birth and has so much potential. Thanks be to God she is with us instead of the biological mother who gave away "this dog."

Pamm and Leamarie have been raving about the quality of the education at SBV. Pamm was looking at the projects the 6th graders had posted in the hall outside their room. She was truly blown away. Valerie said she could take them back with her to show her students next year. Pamm said her students don't do any better work and many not as good. Leamarie reports that the teachers are so enthusiastic to learn new techniques and how to use the materials she has brought. The school exudes joy and peace. What a gift this school is. Thanks Discovery Services Project, and all the people who have worked on it. (Renee, I remember the hall everytime I go in. It remains nice and clean.)

After a delish dinner, Anne, Leamarie, Jan and I squeezed into Danilo's truck with Erika and Andrea in the front. We drove a long way to go to the HN equivalent to Sam's Club. We bought alot of non-perishables to give to Carla and her baby. Her situation is grim. Valerie suggested that food would be better than money so we are loading her up for awhile.

Everyone was exhausted and fell into bed very early!

So off we go to a new day!