Blown away!  That’s what we were this morning when we joined the ceremony opening the new school year at the White Dove School in Santa Clara.  More than 60 students were there in their uniforms and eager countenances.  One of the teachers served as emcee, speaking both in Spanish and English for the standing-room-only crowd in the multipurpose room.  Following an opening prayer in unison by the students and the school director, the student body led the audience in singing the Honduran national anthem and the pledge of allegiance to the Honduran flag. 
     The school director explained the purpose and principles of the bilingual Christian education offered at White Dove, where the motto is “The White Dove kids are high level leaders that will transform Honduras . . . .” 
     Then Allen described how the “Santa Clara miracle” has developed from six little kids sitting around a little rickety table on Lencho’s porch, to what is now a trilingual school (Spanish, English, and French) of 65 students in pre-kindergarten through 4th grade–and adding another grade level each year.
     It was an emotional recollection of how he has watched the development of both the student capabilities and the physical facilities at White Dove.
     The teachers were then introduced, including Melanie M., who arrived last week with her husband Richard to teach second grade for the first three weeks of school.  The point was made that the school still needs an additional teacher, and a second one after Melanie returns to Starkville. 
     At the completion of the school-opening ceremonies, the team wrapped up our morning by manning our routine hygiene stations–handwashing instruction, anti-parasite treatment, toothbrushing, and fluoride rinsing.

In the afternoon, we visited the Agape Promise children (50) who were joined by 30 others from the community. The younger children met in the private kindergarten classroom and the older ones were in the shade of the tree in the yard. After a Bible study, a meal was served and birthday cake was enjoyed for Maynor’s birthday! Members of our team were able to meet with the children whom they sponsor. Gifts ‘n hugs were exchanged and school grades discussed. We were able to see the swings in use which HAF built and see the wall that was constructed. Following our visit, we strolled along the main street past the one traffic light, through the park, and to the cafe’ where we cooled off with ice cream! We walked to see Maynor’s office, which is equipped adequately. A room next to his is used by Dr. Tino, who sees diabetic patients.
      Sheila

The team visited Los Panales, which is about 10-12 miles SW of Quimistan. Maynor and Dr. Tino recommended this trip based on a recent medical visit. We used the HAF “Community Development Assessment Tool” for our discussions to collect baseline information on the village and their needs. We met with the community leaders for about 2 hours. The village has about 280 residents–about ½ children and ½ adults, living in about 50 houses. They have about 20 kindergarten students, who meet in the local Catholic church, and about 45 students in grades 1 through 6. About 15 students attend the post-6th grade school in San Marcos, which is 5-6 miles away. Their most important health problems are asthma, high blood pressure, and diarrhea. Their most important project needs are a new kindergarten building and a new water system. They said that a new water system had been approved by the government, but they still had some concerns that local politics might interfere with the implementation of the project.

Most of their cooking stoves are not vented to the outside, so they would need about 50 Justa stoves. About half of the 50 houses have latrines. We were very impressed with these community leaders, which include a young female president of the patronato. The male community leaders in this meeting showed her high respect. Allen will present our findings to the HAF BOD to determine the path forward.

Sunday morning: visit to Tejeras: a village along a very busy highway where the trucks fly by toward San Pedro Sula…. This year the feeding area has been moved across the road and has a fence so the children are not in as much danger as before. When we arrived, the children were sitting in rows in plastic chairs and one of our sweet cooks was sharing the story of David, Samuel, and King Saul with them. Luckily, we knew the story and thus were able to follow her teaching. We had 65 children and each brought a bowl and cup and we were able to feed them a meal. (Rice with vegetables which they ate with a tortilla instead of a spoon). We were impressed at the way they behaved – thanks to the ability of the teacher. The older kids took care of the younger ones. A minister, one of the teachers, had been bitten by a family pet dog the night before and needed help from our first aid kit instead of the lemon juice he had used the night before. Allen turned medic and we left the gentleman some of the first aid medications that we brought with us for emergencies…. Catherine

We began the day by sharing our memories of Phil Cozad. We traveled back to Nueva Esparanza to take additional varnish stain for the tables, and to accept teacher Sonia’s invitation to lunch with her and other villagers. It was inspirational to see the joy and appreciation on Sonia’s face as she thanked HAF for everything that we have done for her school. Sonia had cooked lunch for everyone and we all ate on the new tables.We used eight of the new tables while the villagers were painting the other seven in another classroom. On the 1.5 hour trip there and back, we again had overheating problems with the same vehicle that overheated yesterday. We just stopped at a small village and at a creek to cool and refill the radiator. This seems to be a routine process and the driver was not bothered by the problem. P.S. Catherine taught teacher Sonia how to crochet a lace necklace as we made the trip back home.

     Excitement was electric just before dinner today. In drove a pickup loaded with folks from Texoxingales (“Teo”). They were on the way back home from Santa Barbara and wanted to stop here to tell us the news of their day’s visit. There’s a long and interesting backstory to tell, but not here. The exciting thing for us was to see that the Teo leadership team is working together to help themselves attain what they need for their children’s education. This is the group: The president and the secretary of the Teo Patronato (sort of like a City Council in the U.S.), the president and the secretary of the Teo school parents association, the presently overloaded teacher/principal of the Teo elementary school, and a teacher of the Teo kindergarten–who, incidentally, just happens to be a very bright and articulate ninth-grader who is one of the students that HAF donors are helping to attend school. Today that group traveled to Santa Barbara, to the office of the head of the Education Department, before whom they presented their case for a new teacher. And it was not to be a teacher who could be assigned and then removed at the municipality level. No, they insisted that they receive a Department-licensed teacher, more highly qualified than the other. One persuasive item of their argument was that IF the school receives one of the highly qualified teachers, THEN HAF will provide funds for a new classroom. That had been agreed to in discussions we had with that group yesterday in Teo.

     It worked. The Teo leadership team experienced success through their unified approach to the authorities who previously had seemed so far away and powerful. The group was so excited with their success, they just had to stop by where we are staying to share their victory with us. They had a letter stating that a teacher of the requested qualifications will be assigned in Teo in accordance with the proposal. We shared handshakes, hugs, lots of smiles, and much encouragement. It was dinnertime, so we asked them to join us for dinner, which they did. I think it’s fair to say “A good time was had by all.” It was a victory celebration that closed with a “Vaya con Dios” as they drove away.

     Allen

Today’s events can only be called a series of adventures.

     Other words come to mind as well, but adventure describes the day best. The schedule sent us to a mountain village called Nueva Esperanza. The name, which means “new hope” is an apt one, as the village has found new hope in the visits of the HAF teams in the past few years. A few years ago an HAF group from Wilkesboro, N.C. provided a new roof for the schoolhouse, and in this trip we took the makings for 15 picnic tables to be used as desks for the students. We found a very delightful school–students and teachers as well. We don’t know much Spanish, and they know no English, but you’d be surprised how well we communicated with our charade skills, our smiles and gestures, and hugs.
    While the team guys and some Honduran guys built the desks, the women in our team busied ourselves with deworming, hand washing, tooth brushing, and fluoride treatments. After the “work” was done, we had fun with the children with games, crafts, blowing bubbles, and frisbee. The boys in the classes played a game of soccer, demonstrating well that that game must be part of the Honduran DNA. (And don’t you know that our translators have given us untold grief about the recent World Cup soccer game in which Honduras players defeated the USA.)
    We have described already the beauty of the Honduran countryside with its mountains, lush vegetation, and bubbling brooks. But never believe that it is easy to travel the winding roads up to the mountain villages. I can only tell you that the “adventure” involves slowly driving along, avoiding ruts in the road, swerving around huge rocks, and driving through enough water that one might think that a bridge would be called for. Our most dramatic happening came when the pickup truck that some of us were riding in came to a screeching halt and announced that it could go no further up the next steep incline. If you look at the pictures, you will see that the problem was solved when all riders except the driver got out and struggled up the steep road for about 1/2 mile to the next flat space where the pickup was awaiting us. We have noticed many contrasts in Honduras, from houses with thatched roofs and no electricity to nice homes with TV dishes. We’ve also seen not only young professionals in the towns wearing modern outfits, but also children with no shoes. Whatever else is going on in the culture, one thing is for sure: God is busy in Honduras, transforming lives and hearts…not only among the Honduran people, whom we have come to love, but also among nine motley Presbyterian missionaries from South Carolina.

    Martha

P.S. As we worked on the tables, we were very surprised to hear loud music coming from a small truck. We were even more surprised to learn that in was an old-fashioned ice cream truck. The ice cream break was great!

Greetings from Quimistan! We had a wonderful day in Teo, a remote,mountainous village ninety minutes from Q’town via mostly rocky, dirt roads. The scenery was breathtaking with the mountains and lush green trees. The welcome we received was so wonderful. You will see the photo with the children lined up on either side of the road. How special the signs, paper flowers, and smiles made us feel. Several of us played “no,no,si” (duck, duck,goose) with the kids followed by the “Hokey Pokey.” Then, it was time for the classes to come fifteen children at a time to the stations set up for fluoride treatments, handwashing, toothbrushing, and de-worming medication. We saw 120 students. Many moms observed so reinforcements can be made at home. A delicious lunch was served at the volunteer medical worker’s home. Such generosity and hospitality. The people truly appreciate the presence and help of the missionaries. As we all work togther (natives and missionaries), we feel “the ties that bind our hearts in Christian love.” And we are assured that “in Christ there is no east or west, in Him no north or south, but one great fellowship of love throughout the wholewide world.” Sheila

We went to La Montanita today. On the way, I was struck by two things. The natural beauty of the country which stood in sharpe contrast to a level of poverty not seen in the USA. There is poverty; but, in La Montanite, I sensed a spirit of community confidence and, if I may say, a “practical” sense of hope. By “practical”, I mean hope founded not on dreams and magic, but on the untapped potential each human was endowed with at Creation. This community spirit is reflected in the efforts to improve their lives. For example, we were invited to the bakery which the HAF helped start a few years ago. We enjoyed coffee and baked goods. This is a point of pride in the village. A moderate success in the efforts of the community to improve. Later, in a meeting with the women regarding handicrafts, I saw their work and their receptiveness to sugestions to expand their wares. One woman said that others have come before, but we, the HAF, come with ideas that they can use. Later, we visited the local school. A real tiny one room affair like our forefathers used. During this meeting, there was give and take regarding the opportunities for the future eduation of the children of this village. There was passion and concern for their children. While for us in the USA, such care for one’s children is expected, this is nearly unique in Honduras. In some way, maybe through our efforts, God’s presence was felt and a real change is in the making for the better of, if not Honduras as a whole, but at least in one, remote, materially impoverished village. Poor in wordly possessions; but, one, I sensed, with a growing community spirit. Truly, the Holy Spirit is present. Tom

Our team, minus Ann E. who has the flu, arrived safely in Quimistan this PM. Some of our first-time team members are having some serious culture shock over the general conditions in Honduras and the poverty. Tomorrow, part of the team will visit La Montanita while others will start working on the desk/tables for Nueva Esperanza. Everyone is excited that we have hot water for showers for the first time.