Our Work Continues

First of all, all of us here in Honduras want to tell everyone who helped support our trip with money donations, product donations, purchasing raffle tickets, or in any other way – THANK YOU! At our junta tonight and last night we all expressed our gratitude, knowing that without your support, we would not be able to be here on our mission trip.

Our third day in Honduras began with a breakfast of cereal. It took a little adjustment on our part because the milk was warm. It’s not refrigerated until after it’s opened. We also had fruit, juice, and coffee. Then it was off to work.

We were a bit more organized today so everyone got off to work shortly after breakfast. There was no paint crew today, so the students were split into two building crews and a teaching crew. There were a few moments of anxiety when we thought we’d misplaced Caroline. I searched for her on the closer work site, but she wasn’t there. That’s when I began panicking until I returned to the school to find she’d been doing the dishes with Alex. I guess no one noticed that Alex was missing.

Once again everyone pitched right in and did whatever was asked of them. It’s unbelievable how cooperative, hard-working, and pleasant the students have been. What wonderful kids you all have! I’ve not heard a single complaint, nor has anyone tried to be lazy or hold back on the job. They try to talk with the children here and use their limited Spanish. I heard one student say he should have paid attention in Spanish last year. The Honduran students are constantly surrounding us with hugs and greeting us both with words and smiles. I believe 90 students were taught their English lessons today. All of the third graders and part of the fourth received English lessons. Both houses have the outside walls up and some of the inside walls. Tomorrow the roofs will go up and the painting will begin.

Lunch consisted of tuna noodle casserole and tortillas and fruit. The first order of business after that was to unpack all the donated items. Everyone sorted items according to the signs posted by Linda and Janet in the library. After all the items were sorted, we prepared gift bags for 36 families, which we’ll distribute on Wednesday and Thursday. We also gave a couple bags of items to a lady named Andrea who works with street children in Tegucigalpa. She does amazing work and is quite the woman!

Supper was balleadas and watermelon. Believe me, everyone was stuffed! Another great junta gave us the opportunity to share all we’d experienced for the day. As I type the blog, the students have walked up the mountainside inside the compound with some chaperones to see the lights of Tegucigalpa. It’s a gorgeous site. And now I hear them spending a little time unwinding by playing some games together. I don’t think they’re missing their electronic devices very much. It gives them lots of time to TALK to each, laugh with each other, work with each other, and enjoy each other.

We’re all anxious to get back to work in the morning. Last night we had a little better rest. Only some of us heard the roosters crowing all night, the dogs serenading the surrounding area, but I think everyone heard the bus’s horns early this morning. A couple took cold showers tonight, but none are anxious to take any shower longer than 60 seconds.

Thanks for your comments. Please keep them and your prayers coming our way. Know that everyone is healthy and greatly enjoying their mission trip. Missioners’ blogs follow:

Corey Sitzmann: Mom, Dad, Friends, and Family,  I am working very hard, mostly at playing soccer to beat the Hondurans. Ask anyone here.  Dad, you’d better be doing my chores. I don’t want my heifers dead when I get back. Miss you, mother! I will continue to work hard and see you all on Friday or Saturday. Bill Sitzmann, Adam sends a heartfelt Happy Birthday your way.

Emily Pratt: Hey everyone. The experience down here has been great. It is lots of playing and talking with the little kids. Building the houses has been work, but it pays off when you see how far you can get in one day. Mom and Dad: Tell Sally she is a really spoiled dog, and that I miss her greatly. I miss you guys too.  The weather down here has been nice, and I can say I haven’t gotten burnt very badly yet. See you guys soon. J

Jim and Michelle Klein: Hi Mary/Mom, Matt, Nathan, and Emily. We are doing very well. I (Michelle) have had a lot of fun painting and building houses. I (Jim) have worked both days at one of the houses. It was pretty neat meeting the families we are building the houses for. The kids at the school are very friendly and full of energy. It has been a fun challenge to talk with them. It is also very difficult to get them to stop touching the walls with wet paint because they want to see if it is dry or not. We love and miss you all (especially Emily, from Michelle).

P.S.: Happy Birthday, Keith from all the Kleins!!!