For most of us the technology bug has bitten most Americans to the point that patience is not a virtue but simply a metaphorical afterthought… Our society… so smitten and reliant on techno buzz… it is inconceivable for some if not all that simply performing a math problem without the use of a technological device is possible. How could I reach the thousands upon thousands of viewers in the Blogsphere without the aid of this computer… Internet… or electricity for heavens sake. Now for those who came here to read about the daily mission team events from Honduras… to which I will get to in a short matter of time… remember to have a little patience, for that all you need. I offer these words as a precursor to make you think of how all of the gadgets… gizmos and other devices actually control your lives rather than only assisting you on your daily walkabout. Some of the team members paid to have an international plan added to their cell phone service so they could stay connected to the outside world… friends and family or worse Facebook status updates. I myself included… added such plan to my phone as well. My wife likes live updates throughout the day and most of the time I can stop and chat with her for a few minutes while living large in Shade Squattersville. None the less, when we lose the ability to communicate so freely… we almost feel powerless, even helpless. As it is we have been working in a community where the cell phone service is spotty at best and non existent is the norm…
Having been on a mission team in Honduras for many years I am amazed at the labor intensive yet time honored traditions the Honduras people use in the construction process. Mixing Mook on the ground… rather than using a cement mixer. Hewing a piece of lumber out of a fallen tree… rather than buying one at lumber yard. Using the item available from a stick to a piece of paper is the norm, not the exception. Certainly poverty can and possibly does contribute to this, but I also think that tradition, craftsmanship and even a little rage against the machine factors this mind set.
Over the years my cohorts and I have learned that you cannot simply go to the local hardware store and pick up something to the job, some times you need a little patience and craft it from whatever you can find lying around. The team has bought into this concept over time… Things such as mixing mook would cause us to grumble because it is hard, sweaty and tiring work… and now we relish at the opportunity to grab a shovel to lift, sift, turn and make the key ingredient for all Honduran construction. Today we used our knowledge and these traditions to continue to build the kitchen at the school. The walls arose another 3 layers of block and by Monday we should start to form the upper bond beam for another concrete pour.
We had planned on a short work day at the job site in order that we travel over to La Montinita community and visit our friends and serve ice cream to the children. Thanks to Maynor for arranging that for us. It was a smash hit with the kids and adults alike. They scarfed down all of the ice cream down in about 20 minutes and the smiles abundantly flowed every where. Following the candy induced mosh pit we visited Swanna’s home and dined on some traditional Honduran food and sipped coffee in the sitting room. She spoke to the group at length with the aid of Daniela translating about the needs of the community and a future construction project at the school. We finished our visit in the community with a stop at our adopted family’s home… Ms. Rosa. Hondo presented a couple of new books to the children and gave some gifts to Rosa as well. I showed the newbie’s, Body Pump and Selfie, around the home and talked about the improvements that was made to her. The thing that gets to me is that when we began working on her home 5 years ago, she looked as if the world had beaten her down, and in truth it had. She had basically nothing to her name except the clothes on her back. The community had built her a small adobe home, but her and her children slept on the floor. She was living in a hopeless situation at best. Thru our efforts and support of others as well, today she is beaming full of life… that is what hope can do. We came to build a pilla and bathroom at her house but what we brought… not knowing was hope for her and her family. She has become a vital and accepted part of the community now. That is our purpose on these trips… bringing hope to a people that have been forgotten by most of the world and yet valuable in the sight of God.
Our evening was completed as we returned to the compound and dined on some tilapia and celebrated Senor Mater and Hondo’s birthday. Tonight we rest for tomorrow we venture off to the beach for a day of fun and sun. Until then stay tuned in for another adventure.
Marco Francisco Valle Valle
Honduras Agape 