I Am Either Going to Throw Up or Pass Out

Dedication Day for the water system. It's always a wonderful day when we can officially turn the system over to the community. We told the folks at Proteccion that we would have the dedication at 9:00 knowing that we wouldn't start until 10. We had to buy more cups for the toast. Katherine had to buy more medical supplies for the lady with the hurt knee. And, we wanted to buy a fan for the water building so the operators wouldn't be so hot. 

Needless to say, we didn't get to Proteccion on time ourselves. Plus, when we got there, we had to sign the certificates for the educators and the operators. I sat in the mayor's chair in her office for this. 

We held the dedication at the community center. When I walked in, my mouth almost dropped at how they had decorated the place. The mayor spoke, I spoke, the president of the water committee spoke and several others. We gave certificates to the educators and operators. 

The mayor, Teresa Sarmiento, gave gifts to each of us - a basket with breads and coffee from her coffee farm. 

Following the dedication, we hurried I've to the comador of the man who had been cooking our wonderful lunches. After lunch Katherine was going to clean Natalia's leg and give her first aid supplies to take home. We went to the back of the house. Katherine finished and said, "I am either going to throw up or pass out." Probably a minute after that, her face turned white and her eyes rolled back in head. I knew she was out. I started yelling for plates to fan her and for some water for her face. She was out for a few seconds. My thought was not that we are in a foreign country but we are at the top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere in a foreign country. A little frightening but I stayed extremely calm. 

After Katherine could stand, we loaded her in the van where it was cool and headed down the mountain. 

We were not going to back to the hotel but to Nueva Frontera to talk to the folks there where we put a system in last year. That was another trip up and over a mountain. 

It was a very long day especially with all the driving over the very rough roads over the mountains. 

Beautiful way to end the day!

Poor Manuel

What a day! The guys got the system up and running today! That is always incredibly exciting. 

The story behind poor Manuel is that there is a man in the group who might have some sort of limited cognitive ability. Very nice but comes up with crazy things to say sometimes. This morning we acted out Moses striking the rock and water coming out. This afternoon the folks we taught this morning became the teachers. Though he was in the morning session, Manuel wanted to be the water again (paper streamers tied to a child's plastic bracelet). Someone called his name and he gave away his "water" to leave the room. He came back into the room quickly and discovered that he didn't have any "water" so he grabbed some steamers off the table and ran to where the water was flowing (steamers are being raised up and down). Just as Manuel got in the circle the story was over, and poor Manuel was left standing in the circle looking around like a child who has had the red licked off his candy. 

Here is poor Manuel as we are putting our hand prints on a banner. 

We have had an engaged, fun, energizing, inquisitive group of people to teach. 

Katherine had to use some of medical skills at helping a lady who had fallen and scrapped her knee very badly. Beside our hotel is a pharmacy so we bought some extra first aid supplies this morning for her. 

Dinner today was at a Chinese restaurant, Hong Kong. Unbelievable amount of food - 8 people and enough to feed an army for $54. We have so many leftovers that we are taking them to Proteccion tomorrow. 

Tomorrow is the dedication. The afternoon will be traveling to Nueva Frontera where we put in a system last year. Lots of mountains to travel!

A Great Day at Proteccion

We had a good day at Proteccion Saturday as Katherine, Sherri, and I began teaching about how to use the purified water, had an activity about creation, and talked about washing hands. We had 13 students (adults) in the morning. Several were young men who were quite bright and asked good questions. 

Lunch was an incredible meal of chicken, rice, and green beans. 

After lunch the students from the morning taught the same lessons we taught in the morning. It always makes me so proud when they are able to do that after hearing the lesson only one time. It reminds me that intellect is not totally about a good education. I wonder what some of these guys could be doing with more, quality education. 

The men in our team basically put the system together today. 

Around 4:30 or 5:00 we headed back down the mountain - 40-45 minutes. It is a long trip when you are tired. 

We had arranged with the hotel for dinner at 7:00. By that time I wasn't feeing too well. I skipped dinner and spent time in the bathroom or in the bed. As the trip leader, I began worrying about what was going to happen if I couldn't go tomorrow. 

Sunday 

Woke up feeling well. Was careful about not eating too much breakfast. 

The trip up the mountain included some spinning of tires occasionally as the dirt was so slick after all the rain. 

When we arrived at the municipal building where we teach, there were lots of people all around with music playing and someone talking over a loud speaker. Didn't know what that was about. 

Most of our folks came back for the morning session. My favorite story to act out is Crossing of the Red Sea. A fun time was had by all!

Yes, those are grown men lying on the floor as the Red Sea closed in over them. 

At lunch time, we met with the mayor who has been very supportive of the system. We also found out at lunch why so many people were by the municipal building. A local church was having a raffle for a used Toyota pickup truck. 

Another good afternoon session with the teachers teaching. 

A beautiful drive back down the mountain. 

Ate at a restaurant on the way back to the hotel. Delicious food, sat under a thatched roof, and saw cages with toucans and monkeys. Tourist trap, I guess, but food is good enough to go back. 

Katherine has been our nurse for bandaging cuts. Tomorrow she will be looking at a very nasty cut on a lady's knee. So, we go to the pharmacy next door to the hotel first thing in the morning to buy more medical supplies. 

Ruston to La Entrada, Copan, Honduras

The day started early for Lane Adger, Lemar and Sherri Bullard, Katherine Hill, and me. Our flight left Shreveport at 7AM. We each had a checked bag plus we had 4 boxes with the water system and a suitcase with teaching supplies. 

We flew to Houston where we met Tom Caldwell who had flown in from Baltimore to meet us. Plane was full. A little bumpy at times but good.

We were met in San Pedro Sula by Melvin who is the Living Waters in-country director, Olvin who is in charge of the installation, and Nineth who will translate for those of us who teach. 

Went to lunch at Power Chicken which has great food - chicken, pork, beef, rice, plantains, rolls, French fries, tortillas. We stuffed ourselves like we were never going to eat again. 

Then on the road for the 2 1/2 hour ride to La Entrada. I don't remember it taking that long last year (actually we were about 30-45 minutes closer last year) and that the road had so many potholes. We did stop at a coffee shop. I think 6 people had coffee or Frappucinos. Bill was just over $7. 

Got checked into the hotel, El San Carlos. Had dinner around 7:30. Headed to room for bed. Exhausted!

Living Waters 2016 - Honduras

Suitcase packed for teaching materials. There are 6 of us heading to Honduras to install a water purification system for the town of Proteccion in Copan, Honduras. Tom Caldwell, Lemar and Sherri Bullard, Lane Adger, Katherine Hill, and I will leave Friday morning from Shreveport. We will stay in La Entrada and drive each day up the mountain to Proteccion. 

The boxes are packed with the system. The suitcase is packed with the teaching materials. Now I need to pack my own bag. I try to keep a running list from trip to trip to remind myself what I need to take, but it always seems that I forget something or need something I never thought of. The last several trips I didn't remember to take a crown for Pharaoh to wear when we act out Crossing the Red Sea. We always figure out something, but this trip I have a gold paper crown. So, I'm wondering what I forgot since I  remembered the crown. 

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we go to share Living Waters!

Last Day in Honduras - Not

We had a rocky start to the morning. Went to pay our hotel bill after we had breakfast at the restaurant where we ate all week, and the credit card system for the hotel was not working correctly. The night watchman, Marco, was helping us, but it never would work. He called the owner of the hotel who said that she would be there in 15 minutes (that could really mean an hour). She was convinced it our cars was bad, but it wasn't because we had just used it like we had all week. We finally had to leave for our 1 1/2 hour trip to the airport. We will use Western Union to send money to a Living Waters employee here who can pay our bill. 

Arrived at the airport with no problem. Checked in, went through customs, went through a souvenir shop, and sat to wait for our flight. As I sat, I thought I heard my name being called over the intercom. I went to the gate and was told that they found something suspicious in my bag and that I needed to go with them. 

Another lady and I were given the official orange vests to wear and off we went with a United employee. We went down the ramp that the folks who had just landed were coming up. That was our plane. We were lead under the airport building where all the luggage is sorted to a little locked room. In there was a man sitting at a screen looking at baggage going through the screening process. There was another man with a big baseball ball looking piece of wood pushing the luggage along the rollers. The third man was the one who would go through our luggage. He went through the other lady's first. He opened some cigarettes that she had, but didn't find anything else. 

I start feeling a little nervous wondering what he thinks he is going to find in my bag. I was given some homeopathic ointment from a lady but that was all I could think of. He kept digging in my suitcase and didn't find anything. 

So back upstairs we go. Soon after we heard that our flight was delayed. 

Sherri and I were visiting with 2 Canadians that we met on the way down when we heard our flight was cancelled. 

Had to go pick up our luggage and the luggage  carousel was broken. I stood on the carousel looking for our luggage as they brought it in and placed it one the floor. Then to the United counter to get vouchers for hotel and food. 

We were in line for over 2 hours. Part of the reason was that when the lunch break time came all the United counter people left and went to lunch. They were gone for more than 30 minutes while we stood in line. 

Got vouchers, taxis were provided, and off we went to central San Pedro Sula to our hotel. Sherri and I ended up in a taxi with a Honduran who lives in New Orleans. 

By far the most exhausting day! Wish us luck for tomorrow!!

Visit to Proteccion, Honduras

Today we went to visit a different town on another mountain about an hour away from where we are staying in Sula. Town has about 1000 homes so that means maybe 5000 people or more. They are excited about the possibility of a water system. We ended by signing a covenant with them to come back and put in a system probably in the first quarter of next year. 

On the way to the town there is a lot of coffee being grown. It's not harvest time. Also learned that coffee is grown under other trees. 

It was a good day but quite hot. 

Thinking about re-entry. Looking forward to seeing my family!

Dedication Day

Our education team taught more this morning with the folks who will continue educating after we leave. For some reason I didn't feel so well when we first got to Nueva Frontera. Maybe it was the bumpy 45 minute ride up the dusty road! After a while I felt better. 

The folks who had participated in the Crossing of the Red Sea story came back today with their own props. Aluminum foil to put on the soldiers arms and on the spears, sheets and other material for Moses to wear. It is great fun to see them get excited. They knew we wanted them to act out the story at the dedication so they wanted to do it right. 

We had lunch with Edwin Ramos' family at their house. Chicken soup, chicken, tortillas. Very good!

But the highlight of the day was clearly the dedication celebration. I have never experienced one like this! Mayor and water committee president, Danny Logan and a local pastor spoke. Certificates were given to the operators and the education folks. We acted out the crossing of the Red Sea. There was a toast using the purified water. Wow! It was great. 

Very tired tonight but feel that we have had a most productive week!

Second Day at Nueva Frontera

Another great day. We taught some new lessons with the teachers. They seem to catch on quickly to the material. We did two of my favorite lessons - Crossing the Red Sea and Take a Risk. The Red Sea story was a blast like it always is. The teachers prepared the props with materials that we brought along. They were so much more creative than I am. 

The best part was that they had a great time. After it was over, they had suggestions on how to make it better. 

In the afternoon a group of school teenagers came. They ranged in age from about 15-18. They were quite attentive to the local teachers who were teaching. They asked good questions about germs, the system, etc. 

In particular guy seemed very bright, asked good questions, spoke to us in English, and just appeared to be above the rest. His name is Joseph. 

They say they have the best coffee so some ladies had a coffee break for us in the afternoon with our teachers and the young people. Yes, me who doesn't like coffee drank some. It was pretty good - I guess because it was loaded with sugar. 

Always have to have some fun. Out for a taxi ride in Sula for the evening. A little guy thought I was someone from another LWW group and jumped in my arms. 

First Day at Nueva Frontera

Today was quite a day. Started with breakfast at 6:45. Before we were finished 4 tour buses of children and chaperones came with about 200 people. We finished eating quickly and left. 

Off from Sula to Nueva Frontera at 8:00. It is a 45 minute drive up the mountain. It was interesting to see pine trees. Was not expecting that. Over 30 minutes of the drive was on dirt road. In some places it was rough. But it was beautiful. 

Karen, Sherri and I began teaching a group of about 12 women and men about hygiene, spiritual stories, and the importance and use of this purified water. 

At around 11:45 we went to the elementary school to talk to them about the system. We went into just one room to do some activities. 

During the afternoon, some of the folks from the morning came back and taught the same lessons and activities that we had done in the morning to the new folks in the afternoon. There were maybe 15 or 18 new folks. 

We finished the day around 3:00. Then a 45 minute trek back down the mountain. Very satisfying but tiring day!

Early to bed tonight!

Lunch

Need I say more! Great food. 

Travel Day

Just arrived at the Shreveport airport at 5:50AM for our 7:00 flight to San Pedro Sula, Honduras. One of our team members was sick this morning and will not be joining us. That's a shame to prepare for a trip and then not be able to travel. 

Here we are. Ready for the day!

We fly to Houston with a short layover there. Once in Honduras we travel to Sula where our hotel is. Each day we will drive to Nueva Frontera - about an hour into the mountains. 

Living Waters for the World - Honduras

Spending the evening packing for my next Living Waters for the World mission trip. This trip takes me to Honduras to a small town in the northern part in the mountains. 

Danny and Karen Logan are leading this trip. Sherri Bullard from Winnsboro who gone to Haiti once with us is going. Two men from the Belcher Presbyterian Church are going - Lane Adger and Bill McColgan. 

We leave from Shreveport at 7am Thursday going to Houston before arriving in San Pedro Sula. If what I saw on The Weather Channel can be trusted, it is supposed to be about 95 degrees. Not looking forward to that!

Keep us in your prayers. 

More Sunday Pictures

Our group in front of the system.

Leaving the Miskito Moravian Church for the last time today. I have a mixture of feelings - a sense of sadness because I don't know when I will see these people again AND a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Sunday Worship and Dedication

What a great but long day.

Walking to church this morning

Pastor Vanagas preaching

Dedication 

The church had a love fest of beans and rice and chicken. There was potatoes in it. The big vegetable is cassava - very starchy. Good food. They fed all the youth following their 2:00 worship.

More Tour Pictures

Jim, Gail, Rachel, Edith, Willoughby

Having a little fun at the playground. Notice concrete slide.

Nothing like a sunset to end the day.