Carol in Honduras

Matt & Rachel from Urban Promise

It’s my last day in Copan and a day of tying up loose ends. Juan O’Hara (the window and door maker) has his deposit, the budget for the classroom is reviewed and confirmed, desk prices are estimated, the sign for Los Arcos is planned, transportation for the Optometric group is booked and rooms at the Posada de Belssy are reserved. Tomorrow, all I have left to do is buy the supplies for the Los Arcos school that I’ll have World Vision drop off on their next visit.

First thing this morning I visited the “Urban Promise” office and dropped off the tent and balls toy that I brought to Copan with me. They run a community based after school program focusing on academics, and quality learning experiences that are fun. They are an “off shoot” of Urban Promise in Vancouver and I chatted with Matt (originally from Saskatchewan) and Rachel (from the US) for awhile today about their program and long term goals.

From left: Brayan, Me, Abuela

I’m trying to prepare for the quiet at home again. The roosters and trucks and mototaxis in the streets making noise outside my window, the sounds of the family downstairs and people in and out of my room are a huge contrast to home. Quiet will take getting used to once again.

Abuelita (Telma’s mom) lives next door and is in and out of the Posada de Belssy. She is a charming lady and yet one more person who tolerates my poor Spanish and makes every effort to understand it.

Valentines Day Surprises

Today is El dia de amor y amistad (the day of love and friendship) here in Honduras. First thing this morning I had a knock on my door and Telma greeted me with a perfect yellow friendship rose and a fabulous tasting heart shaped candy. Later, Abuelita (little grandmother) brought me a gorgeous red rose in a little arrangement. I am touched by their thoughtfulness. This family has been so good to me and I always feel so at home with them.

I had little toys and heart shaped chocolates that we put together in little bags for the children and it amazed me how much fun they had with the little gifts. I love celebrations and Hondurans really do it up right.

BBQ at Telma's

This afternoon Telma hosted a big barbeque at their new, beautiful home on the hill. It has a swimming pool so the kids were kept busy for the whole time- lamb was cooked and served with tortillas and beans (always), fresh avocado, Honduran cheese and radishes. It was quite the feast.

Tomorrow I had better start focusing on the last tasks that need to be done while I am here. I need to talk to the Doctora about the upcoming eye clinics, and make the transportation arrangemens as well see about translators.

Joel, Telma's nephew

This is Joel. He is Telma’s nephew and has been living with Telma and her family since he was three. He is one of the lucky kids. He had his mother leave when he was a baby and his dad lives in the States. If he didn’t have family to take him in, he could well have been one of the children at the “kids home”. With Telma and Murillo’s love and nurturing Joel has a chance to have a good life.

Progress at Los Arcos

WOW!   I leave in three days.  I have a huge wad of cash in my room so first thing this morning I will taxi down to the Ferreteria  to pay them for the materials for Los Arcos.  I’m a little nervous having all this cash and there is no such thing as paying with a credit card or a cheque here in Copan.   Saul e-mailed last night to show us pictures of what the folks had accomplished in the two days since our visit and I was amazed at how things were progressing.   Everything is done by hand – with “special”tools like shovels.

Ellen and I had a planning meeting yesterday looking at long and short term goals.   At the top of the list I think is furnishing the new classroom in Los Arcos when it is done.    Good desks will cost about USD$30 a piece and they would need about 30 of them and I am hoping that we can find enough money to provide those to the school.

Christiane left this morning and I’ll miss having her here to bounce ideas off of and help me with translations.   It’s been great to have her here for her input and perspective – and she is fun and great company too.    Safe travels dear daughter and hope you have a great time diving on Utila.

I need to get serious about contracting a sign for the first classroom and firm up transportation plans for the Amigos Optometry group that is coming in March.   Still need to locate translators also.    That should keep me busy enough for the day.

Planning meeting with Ellen

Celeste and Christiane making a friend

It rained……and rained.     The roads in the mountains were slippery masses of clay.   But- Christiane and I made it up to Los Arcos for their very first day of construction, spent time at the school, met some of the local men working on the construction as well as the foreman.

The classroom is jam-packed with students

The existing school consists of one classroom for 90 or more students and one young male teacher (who seemed quite marvelous).   The class was jam packed with tables and desks when we arrived and they were expecting another twenty students mid-morning.    We’ll buy some school supplies for them before we leave as we had the young teacher make a list of  the things he needs.

We brought packets of toothbrushes and soap to give to the men working on the construction and although their initial reaction seemed to be “what the heck is this”, a few minutes after I left them, I saw them all at the ledge where the packets were, examining them and trading colors of toothbrushes.

The World Vision folks have been absolutely fabulous- they do the organizing and the driving.   Antonio and Saul are my new heroes after getting us down from the mountain.   It was an incredible job and at one point they, and the workers from the school had to do some considerable figuring of how to get us down the hill without the truck sliding sideways into the ditch or off down the slope.

Be careful on the slippery roads

Me meeting the foreman

Kitchen at Los Arcos school

They were right – El Tessorito was at least a three hour drive and there were a few occasions when we wondered if we would get through the wet clay road especially when it was uphill.

Saving the calf

Our real reason for going was to check out the school but my most memorable moment was saving this little calf from two dogs attacking it.   All four “gringa’s” in the truck started shouting at poor Saul to STOP THE TRUCK.   We threw water on the dogs to chase them away but the poor calf was so scared it kept trying to crawl under or in the truck.   We loaded him up and took him back to his mom (which took a little detective work) and finally carried on our way.   Another life saved.

On to Tessorito where we spent time at the school which consists of one classroom 80+ students.  There are so many students that the Grade 3’s weren’t there today.   They rotate days when one of the grades stays home.  They also have only one teacher and we are told if there were to be another classroom, they would be supplied with a second teacher.   The kids were thrilled with Ellen’s antics and she taught them how to use grass between their thumbs to make a horn type noise.  They were dubbed the World Vision band.

It was a full day and tomorrow will be as well as we head the other way to Los Arcos to see what progress is being made on the new classroom now that the materials have been delivered.

Right-to-left: Christiane, Celeste, and Saul at a community meeting

The kids have to sit 3 per desk