We made the same trip as yesterday… up the mountain we zigged… we zagged to the Federation outpost of Teo, with the sure and certain hope of finishing the projects for the community and school. The ruts less traveled yesterday were used today. The ride was thrilling as always! Being a nature lover, I loved looking at the flora and fauna, wishing I could stop and take pictures but if we did that we would never get to where we were going.

Senor Mater, Marco Francisco and Chris… worked on the light and electricity project for the school. Somewhere in between providing electricity for the classrooms, another project was taken on by Daniela and the band of Honduran translators and drivers. Their mission was to run a cable between the kitchen and the school so that lights could be installed there as well… How many people does it take to put two wires in a plastic pipe? I saw at least 15 shaking and beating on the pipe so the wire would travel thru it… Where was GoPro boy when you needed him? Once that was accomplished, it was buried between the buildings and tomorrow we will finish the installation. I believe that we could have completed the electrical project today, but with the additional work, we came up short on materials to finish one classroom.  I am proud of Senor Patronada Chris, he finally put in a full day’s work cutting in electrical boxes rather than barking orders while everyone ignored him… It was a good day for everyone in Teo, and tomorrow we will celebrate the lighting of the school!

Meanwhile Hodo and his hard working men from the YMCA pursued digging about 24 holes to China aka footers for the picnic table. While they were digging the holes they encountered more roots than the Jimmy Fallon Band. Never the less the footers are ready for mooking in the morning.

The girls, Que Pasa, Madster, and Larry, started the day by cutting wire and conduit to be installed in the classes. In between odd jobs throughout the day we played with the children. We are worn out from playing jump rope, climbing trees and playing chase. These kids are absolutely adorable with their bright smiles! One boy surprised us and took the jump rope and lassoed Madster, Willbur, Nico, Hunterzilla and Rosie and drug them around the school yard as the other children followed laughing and giggling.

Before lunch one of the children shimmied up the coconut tree and knocked out some coconuts. This is no small feat for the tree is about 25 feet tall. A young boy used a machete to cut an opening in the coconut about the size of a quarter for us to drink the milk. Once that was done they whacked them in half and we ate the pulp. Legend has it; from birth the boys are given a machete for their first toy and they learned to wield it with the accuracy of King Arthur and his famed sword Excalibur.

A day of hard work and fun was enjoyed by all. I have made some new friends and look forward to seeing them again next year.

Down the mountain we skated with all the fun our kidneys could stand from the rutted road… and the ruts will be conquered once again tomorrow. Back at the compound we enjoyed a wonderful meal prepared by Sandra and Gloria, the café dealers who have a new addicted fan in me.

Larry

 

 

As we awoke to a beautiful morning today, the birds say a glorious hymn of praise to the Creator while creating a harmonious alarm clock for us. Sandra and Gloria prepared a lite breakfast consisting of panqueques y mucha la fruita, (Pancakes and fruit)… I am glad it was lite because Pablo aka (Juan Pablo Montoya) cruised at a neck breaking pace, while sliding in, around and veering sharply to avoid the large ruts in the road, only to create new ones up the mountain! He must be a James Bond kinda guy, shaken not stirred. Fear not, I am living proof that we did arrived in one piece, although our mouths were parched and lungs filled with dust.

We pulled into the village and it seemed as if the entire community was awaiting our arrival. We unloaded the miles of wire and supplies needed to bring forth the light into the school there. Jefe Mater and Marco made a quick survey of the task at hand and with a piece of borrowed chalk we drew an electrical diagram on the back of the building and began the process of electrification. The first major rut to avoid was Mater stressing over perfectionism… He is the only Electrician that I know who carries a bottle of super glue… Why you may ask? I am glad you did. When he cuts in a panel the wires have to look perfect with all bends symmetrical and straight. If a wire will not cooperate, he will super glue them together to hold their shape…

A rain shower at mid-day cooled the air to a tolerable level and the local Patronada Juan Jose asked our group to take on another small task for the community and school. We were asked to construct a new picnic table in front of the school so that the children could have a large place to gather and eat their meals. The team divided into two separate sub-teams. Tom aka Hodo and his Village People assisted in digging the footings for the tables while others continued to pull conduit and wires for the lights. By the end of the day, much was accomplished on both projects; we were able to recharge the batteries for our drill from a receptacle installed in a classroom and the footings were dug and ready to be filled with mook. Tomorrow our goal is to present the gift light to the school and let our Patronada Senor Chris quote Genesis and say, “Let there be light.”

Juan Pablo gave a repeat performance coming down the mountain this evening, even bouncing Que Pasa’s head off of the roof of the van a couple of times as he jumped in some of the ruts less traveled. We arrived safely though slightly bruised to a warm meal prepared by Sandra and Gloria consisting of Pork chops, rice with all the trimmings, lest we forget the Jalapenos… Hasta Manana Amigos desde Honduras.

Marco Francisco

About 40 hours ago I awoke with a renewed and profound excitement in my heart… a joy that has not been present for several months. Tonight we gather as a team and caravan to the Asheville airport. We departed from Lakey’s aka Senor Jefe house at midnight to start our ominous trek back to my second home, Honduras.

Our team consisted of several veterans from foreign mission teams (Mater, Que Pasa, Madster, Hodo, the Driller Boyz Hunterzilla, Nico, Wilbur and Rosie, and your’s truly Marco Francisco) We have added a couple of rookies to our line-up this year (Lu Cooper aka Larry and Donnie Thorton aka Officer Donnie). Sadly though we are missing a couple of veterans from years past (B-Rad aka The Blogmaster and Laurie aka 16 Lamas), we miss your presence and hope that you can rejoin us in the near future.

After a short jump down the Appalachian mountains we arrived in Atlanta where we stumbled thru the terminal like a cast of extras from the Walking Dead… After a 4 hour layover we boarded Delta flight 575 bound for San Pedro Sula. I felt good as I passed through immigration without a hitch and carried on the entire conversation in Spanish with the officer. The only hick-up was Officer Donnie’s tub was scrutinized like a NASCAR engine during a post-race inspection… I suppose they have never seen the mask that Darth Vader wore in real life… It was in truth Officer Donnie’s C-Pap machine.

After we picked up the pieces of Officer D’s suitcase and got him calmed down from the visit to the darkroom, we were welcomed by our old friends Daniela, Maynor, and Super Mario to take us to Villa Celia de Fina aka The Federation Compound in Qumistand .

We spent the afternoon looking at different projects including repainting a room at “The Light of the Valley School” and the bathroom/pila project at Tejerias Church… Feliz, Feliz mas mook! Afterward we took a tour of the work that has been completed at Tranquilidad with Sam and Roxanna.

Through the fatigue and smelly clothes I dedicate all my Blog post to my friend and brother in Christ, Blogmaster B-Rad.

WE HAVE ARRIVED! VIVA LA HONDURAS!