Getting Down to Business

Our day began at six again. Breakfast was pancakes and fruit. After breakfast there was a mad scramble to wash dishes, brush teeth, fill water bottles, organize tools, etc.  Each group was delivered to their work site and the building continued.

Javier watches Molly nailing on a board

Pat’s house progressed quickly and painting began right after lunch. Almost all interior walls are done. Our hopes are to finish painting the interior walls shortly after we start on Monday and then get the outside painted while Dennis is doing the wiring. Pat will also get the doors in place.

Dave's crew with their house

Dave’s house is also in pretty good shape. No houses have roofs on them yet. All walls are up. One window is in place and the other has been cut out. The door openings are also cut out. On Monday they’ll put the roof on. Painting will hopefully begin on Monday.

J.D. prepares a board for their house

Bruce’s house has all walls up. The interior walls are 80% complete. Both doors have been cut out. Thanks to the help of all the neighborhood boys much progress was made. The crew is looking forward to getting back to work on Monday.

Pulling down the warped board

Tomorrow we’re going to church in Santa Lucia and spending some time in Marta’s brother’s “oasis.” Her mother is making Honduran sandwiches for us. Marta is bringing Honduran rice pudding. We’ll walk the trails on his property, which has a fountain, benches, and hammocks that can be utilized to enjoy the surroundings. Then it’ll be off to Valle de Angeles for our souvenir shopping.

Mass in the compound

We had an outdoor Mass for the missioners tonight. Supper was enchiladas, one of Linda’s favorites. We had a couple of entertaining moments toward the end of tonight’s junta. DJ entertained us with his song and dance from math class that he usually does with Carli Bollin. Carter Davis read the following poem, which he said I can share with all of you.

Carter reads his first rap about DJ

Coming on this trip
Has made my stomach do a real flip.
Coming to this country has really changed my life,
As I look at Honduras and see of it its strife.
This whole situation has got me gassed up
‘Cause they don’t got clean water to put into their cup.
Their houses are all run-down
In this giant poverty-filled town.
These people greatly need our help.
How do I get your attention? Do I yelp?
No one realizes
How bad these people live.
When they come and see for themselves
All they want to do is give.
I can sense all of the love,
Despite their grievous situation.
That’s why I put on my gloves,
So I can help this stricken nation.

Playin’ soccer at night
To forget what we heard and saw,
For example, the gangs controlling the transit buses
And how people don’t care about the law.
As I watch them play this game,
I can tell it keeps them sane.

I wrote this rap for my mother
‘Cause she believed in me and I miss her like no other,
‘Cause it’s her that keeps me goin’,
So the rhymes I rap keep on flowin’.

Thanks to Carter for sharing this with all of us!

Sharing at nightly junta

 Miranda, good to hear from you. Thanks for keeping me posted with what is happening back home.

Brittany and Caroline show off their window