I see that Francis is doing a great job of keeping you posted in the morning, for which I’m thankful. I can never get to the blog until the afternoon. He is generally the first to rise in the morning; thus, he can let you know what’s happening before the rest of us crawl out of bed.

Our second full day in Honduras began with a breakfast of French toast and fruit. Many of us enjoy the Honduran coffee. I noticed that the cooks make two full urns that usually make it through breakfast.

Wait, I should go back to yesterday, since I blogged fairly early in the day. Most of the crew worked on the houses in the afternoon. Bruce was very happy with the progress made and allowed the crew to return to the compound at 4. That’s good for a couple reasons. First, it means that we will probably finish the homes in plenty of time for the students to decorate them. And, second, it lessens the chances of dehydration because of the heat. Some of us also worked on the gift bags that are here at the compound.

At 4:30 we all gathered in the library to celebrate our first Mass together. It was a nice time to center ourselves.

Supper consisted of chicken tacos, shredded cabbage, and fruit. We then got to surprise Melinda with a little birthday party. We’d had a large Honduran cake made especially for her and were fortunate to find a birthday candle. It was for a first birthday, but it truly was her first birthday celebrated in Honduras. We had plenty of cake for all who wanted to try it. Of course, no birthday in Honduras is complete without a piñata! After all that excitement, it was hard to get everyone into quiet mode for our junta.

Now, back to Friday – today. A sizable work crew headed for the house site, but we pulled out a group of four to deliver the first of our gift bags. Not only are the families who receive these gift bags extremely grateful for the items, it gives our missioners a chance to see how the people in Nueva Capital live. I’ll be including some of those photos in tomorrow’s blog.

As I draw to a close on today’s blog, I want everyone to know how much we enjoy reading your comments on the blog. Please keep them coming and encourage others to read the blog. Later today I’ll give the missioners a chance to write their own messages to you. I’ll post those before I head for bed tonight, so please check back later for that.

Mary’s friend – she said YES, you can share with her students. Hello to Miss Peters 2^nd graders. I want you to know that Miss Peters was one of my junior high students many years ago. I’ll bet she’s a great teacher!

We are glad to hear the flooding is not growing worse back there. You are definitely in our thoughts and prayers.

Until later when I post the missioners’ blogs! (Yes, I know I got carried away with pictures today.)

Missioner Blogs – Friday

Carolyn –

Hi, Mya. It was nice to hear from you. I hope you’re enjoying your long weekend break. How are Max, Chunk, and your parents? And tell your mom that I am following the doctor’s orders MOST of the time. I love you, buddy!

Hi, Cayden. Thanks for writing to me. I hope it gets warm enough for you to play basketball outside. I love you, too, buddy!

Hi, Paige. I hear you’re living at my house for a while. It’s just like when you were little. Are you sleeping in the room with all my missioner crosses on the wall? When I come home, I’ll add the next one. I love you, buddy! You can tell Marshall too.

I’m sending a big Grandma Bickford hug to all of you! Be good!   ~ Love, Grandma

To all my family and friends in Northwest Iowa, I am doing quite well and amazed at what we have accomplished in just three days.  I have mastered the 30 second shower, and I have eaten some foods I have never had before.  I am sending lots of love from here to all of you and be sure to give Ollie, Rae and Sylvia extra hugs and kisses from Grandma Mary.

Katie-

Hi everyone! I am having a fantastic time in Honduras. As many of you know, I am a picky eater, but I am figuring out how to eat the food here.

Mom, you should be proud of me; I have NOT gotten burnt. I miss you and Taylor a lot, but I’m not sure I’m going to want to come home.

Grandma Jo, I miss you and grandpa and our pre-work talks. I can’t wait to get back and tell you all about this trip.

Marsha, your shoes are getting good use. Thank you for sharing the pictures with your class. The dimensions of the houses are 20 feet by 20 feet. Inside, the house is divided in half, making two rooms 10x20, and one half is divided by half for bedrooms that are 10x10.

Thanks, everyone, for the prayers. Dad told me to say hello from him to everyone! Love and miss you all, don’t drown!

Hello Stacey and Deven,

This is Dad. First of all, it is hot. On Friday morning I developed a blister on two of my toes but am still working. This whole adventure is hard to imagine. I have been able to eat everything that they have given us. After seeing what they get to eat, we are lucky. I do hope all is good back home and I miss both of you, Buddy too. I will see you in a week. Keep blogging, it makes everyone happy.   Love Dad!

PS: Drew is doing well also.

__________________________________________________

Hello Tom Schuch and all!

What a blessing to be here! I have heard the stories for years and now it is the real thing! Parents – you would be so proud to watch your children work. They are working hard, pitching in, learning how to use the tools and do whatever they are told. It is quite impressive. The houses go up so quickly! The 7 adult women are sleeping in one tiny room, and it is like a sorority. We also have 2 geckos rooming with us.  One has been named Charlie. I really wish that I could speak Spanish. But the smiles are universal. When we arrived, the kids just came running to follow the buses into the compound. They know what our arrival means. To the Bretey Family – I met Dilcia, Paola and Javier the first night. It was quite a reunion when I gave them your gifts. Paola was wearing the necklace the next day. Adam and I are doing great!  Such an amazing experience.  Thanks for taking care of everything while we are here.

Go. Do. Love.
Love, Lori (and Adam too!)

Hi Jenna, Family and Friends,

Thank you Jenna for the sweet message. Jenna, it was nice to hear from you. Miss you guys so much!  I am doing well.  I am having a good time here. I am trying new foods here, believe it or not. I have helped build the houses and have helped packed the bags for the kids.  Sending lots of love back home.  Thanks, Bob, for taking care of all the construction and mess back home.  Sorry to leave you with all of that.  Love you guys…Lisa

Hey, everybody, just wanted to give you a little update from down here. It is very warm in the afternoon but nice in the morning. The food is great, like usual. The homes have been going up quickly. Also thanks Jenna for the message. I miss scaring you haha. Trevor I hope you are lifting like you have been and helping everyone out; miss you lots, bud. Dad, I hope the water mess isn’t causing too much trouble for you. Miss you as well. Love you all, Jared

Hi everyone! I absolutely love hearing all the replies on the blog!! Please keep posting a lotJ. Leah-HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You’re lucky. I was almost too late to post tonight. I’m so thankful I got it in. I miss you all so much at home, but this place is amazing. Dad-You would be so proud of me. I used a hammer drill! Mom-Your posts are uplifting and inspirational I think everyone enjoys them a lot. Also, I look forward to your notes every night, THANK YOU so much. Alec, Rachel, and Aden, I hope you are all doing well. Give Leah an extra birthday hug for me. And everyone who helped me get here-I cannot thank you enough. Somehow even though it is so poor, it is also beautiful. Luckily, I have not gotten sick yet. Please pray for the health of all of us missioners. See you all soon.

Go do love,

Katelyn

Morning From Francis

15 March 2019

Colonia Nueva Capital, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

0445 hrs

As this new day begins I find myself alone in the cocina (kitchen) with only 1 of the 2 cats that call this home.  All others are still sleeping (gringos) but the local Honduran youth that stay here and study are starting to rouse.  Coffee is on, but the light is still green meaning it is not ready yet.  It will be soon. 

Once again the usual cast played out the quiet of the night.  I just wish those roosters would stake out their turf earlier in the day as opposed to all night.  Same story with the dogs.  Buses are already starting their day to carry workers down into the city of Tegucigalpa for work.  Many of the local Honduran boys will enjoy the very, and I mean very typical morning meal of tortilla’s and whatever is left over from yesterday.  Thankfully they are able to enjoy some of the food the team has daily.

Not much other movement from the GMH group.  The excitement of the first day has worn off and the group will probably have a much slower start today than yesterday.  Carolyn will bring you up to date on the activities of yesterday and the junta last evening.  I’m sure she will send more photos.

Current temperature in Tegucigalpa, (Tegus) is 56 F, heading to another warm day of 87 F.  Like I mentioned yesterday not much wind here during the day and since we are about 1400-1500 meters of altitude it might be a couple degrees cooler.  But, the sun is overhead.  Honduras is at 14 degrees N latitude.  So for most this is a hot sun after being in Iowa during the cold months.

Much more action now in the cocina (kitchen) so I need to check out the coffee.  The team will enjoy another hard day of work.  Carolyn will have the report later this afternoon.

Francis aka Poncho

Excited To Work!

Our day began with a breakfast of pancake and fruit. I have to admit, the coffee was very welcome. I needed that jolt of Honduran coffee after yesterday’s LONG day, the chaos of unpacking and setting up, and sleeping on a strange mattress with lots of unfamiliar noises. From the morning comments, there were plenty who felt the same way.

Even though we had a few groggy people this morning, everyone was ready and willing to dig in and go to work. Step one was to load the wood needed onto the military transport truck. Along with the wood, we took two generators, most of the power tools, the miter saw – a very welcome addition from Mark VonArb, hammers, batteries, and all tools necessary to build the homes. A large group of missioners then set out on the walk up to our home sites.

By lunch time they had the frames for two houses done and more than two walls sided. We’ve also met the mothers of the homes we are building. The three women kept saying “Gracias a Dios” that they were receiving new homes. They clapped and smiled – you could see the gratitude in their eyes and smiles, and, of course, with their words.

House 1 will belong to Raquel. She has a husband and 5 children. The children’s ages range from 12 – 21. Raquel works as a cleaning lady to help support her family. Her husband also works. They actually have a child in college, so education is important for them.

House 2 is for Roxana. Roxana sells candy outside the bus station to make a living. She is a single mother of 5 children, ranging in age from 4 – 20.

House 3 will be occupied by Belkis and her five boys. They range in age from 1 – 15. Belkis makes tortillas to support her family.

Back at the compound, two different crews were working. Tom Kellen headed a crew, working on vertical gardens. They tore apart the pallets from Then Feed Just One, and put them together into the shape of a cube. Tomorrow the agricultural branch of the military will bring fertilized soil and seedlings; together we’ll use 2-liter pop bottles that are cut in half to plant the seeds and seedlings. They’ll also be shown how to water the plants so they’ll be harvesting their first crop in a couple weeks.

The final work crew at the compound continued working in the library, where they finished sorting all the supplies carried in our black duffles. Linda then had them create the gift bags for certain special people who work with us here. Right now they are in the process of making gift bags for various families, which we’ll start delivering tomorrow.

We ate a delicious lunch of chicken and rice with small carrots and bits of corn, tortillas, watermelon, cantaloupe, and bananas. We had a mandatory siesta for 20 minutes to keep everyone out of the sun, I read some blog comments (keep those coming), and now everyone is out working on the various jobs. We try to be sure everyone gets to the house sites so they can all experience that. Hopefully, we’ll also get everyone to work on gift bags and the vertical gardens.

We are celebrating our first Mass at 4:30 (5:30 for you). We’ll pray that it stops raining there so you get relief from the flooding. I see we’re having shredded beef tacos for supper, always a group favorite. I’m hoping that the missioners can have a little “down” time tonight so they don’t get overwhelmed by this experience and truly can let it wash over them, absorbing it all.

Tomorrow we plan to continue working on the homes, plant the gardens, and begin our home deliveries of the gift bags. It’s an eye-opener for our students to see the conditions under which these children live and what they have to go through to get to school for a basic education. If at all possible, I’ll try to get the blogs up before late at night. Since I’m limited by my arm, I most likely will not be doing much work on our projects, and that gives me time for the blog.

Until Friday!

Morning Message from Francis

14 March 2019

Colonia Nueva Capital, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

0550 hours

Greetings from a very quiet Santa Teresa Jesus school in Colonia Nueva Capital.  Not much movement last night and so far this morning.  I’m sure all members of the team are fast asleep after a hard and emotional day of traveling and then getting here to the school.  Much excitement as Carolyn said in her blog report last night.

Currently 62 F in Tegucigalpa heading to a paltry high of 88 F in the capital city.  Santa Teresa school is at about 1300-1400 meters so the temps will be a little different but still warmer than these team members have seen for a long time.

I have been joined in the kitchen area drinking coffee by 2 of the Hondurans that stay at the school and travel to the city to study.  I also had 2 other guests.  The 2 cats running around looking for a handout.  Cute, clean and friendly.  I think they get plenty of attention.

Usual cast of characters during the night…roosters crowing, dogs barking, a few trucks and people walking to catch a bus to go into the city.  This is more towards morning.  The cooks are starting to prepare breakfast and I’m sure now that there is more movement and some of the gringos like Bruce and others will be joining this small cast of kitchen characters for coffee.

Today work will begin.  Carolyn, Linda, Bruce and Pat have the day planned.  The military truck will be here around 0630 – 0700 hrs to starting the process of hauling the wood and other materiel to the work site.  The team will see it is rough terrain.  Challenges, yes, but they too will be overcome.  I’m sure the team will be more tired tonight than last. 

I will quit for now but will try and blog each morning about this time about the weather and other general tidbits.  Carolyn will be the main blogger about the day’s activities and pictures.  Now 0505 hrs and still no gringos looking for coffee.  Time will tell.

Mr. Francis P. Seivert aka Poncho

WE'RE HERE!

Tonight's blog will be short due to the lateness of the day.

Everyone arrived safe and sound. In fact, we were through customs, had collected our 80 bags, and were waiting in front of the airport before our buses and military transport truck had arrived.

Our first day in Nueva Capital is generally chaotic. We have to carry everything into our rooms, set up the beds, unpack our bags, located the tools and sort them, grab a quick lunch, stop for lots of hugs from the Honduran children, get our water bottles labeled, prepare Gatorade bottles, learn the ropes about using the facilities, and the list goes on.

We ended the day with our first junta and at this moment everyone is preparing for bed. AND, just now I hear Juan playing bedtime music so the girls can settle in for the night. He's pretty creative about the bedtime and wake-up calls.

I promise that I'll have more information and photos tomorrow. I will work to have that up during the day so you can see what we're up to. Thanks for following our blog!

Through Customs and Immigration Early

Just spoke with both Mrs. Bickford and Francis and the entire team went through immigration, customs, and baggage claim with no holdups. They got through early.
All 80 bags did come through and they are in the possession of the team and awaiting the army trucks to pick them up.
They should be on their way to Nueva Capital and the school of Santa Teresa de Jesus soon.

Mrs. Bickford will attempt to blog each night from the school. If for some reason she is unable to do so I will speak with her by phone and relate and information and message to you via this blog.

R. Seivert

Packed and Ready To Go

On Sunday, March 10, with the help of family and friends, the missioners grabbed their black duffle bags, partially packed with their own clothes, and topped them off with donated materials. They then filled a second duffle bag with only donated materials, making sure each bag weighed 49 pounds (or as close as they could get them). These 80 bags, and the missioners who will be carrying them into Honduras, will soon be in Honduras.

Bags are packed and ready for transport

Pat packs his bag

Missioner Drew gets help from his mom

80-49 pound bags are carried into storage to await the trip

Tuesday, all missioners will participate in the Send-Off Prayer Service at Gehlen Catholic School before departing for the airport. The Send-Off is a wonderful way to start the mission trip to Honduras. It gives every person who has donated materials, prayed for the mission team, or given money to pay for the projects a chance to bless the bags of materials before they are carried into Honduras. The missioners also have a chance to say farewell to family and friends before embarking on their life-changing experience.

We invite all of our followers to check the blog each day so you can be a part of our mission trip. We look forward to your messages, which will be read at the nightly "juntas," our chance to discuss and process everything that is happening during our mission. Please continue to pray for those of us on the mission trip, as well as the Hondurans we are serving. God said to love one another, and we will make every attempt to carry out that command.