Domingo… A day of rest.

Gracious Senor por a buen dia y los amigos de Honduran y Americano. Amen.

The day began with a few extra minutes of sleep for those who chose to take them, but as for me, I followed my protocal of a morning prayer as days first light peeked thru the window across from room from my bubble. Gathering around the table to break bread as the full commissioned team for one last time… Lama will return home a few days early due to commitments with her professional life away from the missionary field. What a great joy to work with her again and it was such a blessing to have her along for the trip even if a shortened one at that.

We loaded up her luggage into the Bus bound for San Pedro Sula Aeroporta. We said our farewells and good-byes to Lama as she traversed the stairway to the condor’s nest to wait patiently as it was prepared for flight. The team is now shy one key member, but we must carry on… so we did.

The remaining faithful caravanned over to Tela for a relaxing day swimming in the warm Caribbean waters. Nothing like a little sun and fun to clear the melancholy sadness from our eyes.

Gulf of Honduras

Arriving at the beach some of the gringos took off to the water for a swim while others hung out under the shade of the palm trees. Maynor procured a table for the team near the restaurant where we gathered around to decompress and reload for the week head. We were served a sprawl of local seafood with all the trimmings. Some returned to the ocean for another dip, some recounted the moments from the past week while others just sat back and tried to rest… in the 93-degree heat of the mid-day.

Senor Jefe wrangled everyone in around 3pm to travel back to the Federation compound for a lite evening snack before we went to sleep. Super Mario Francisco behind the wheel of the bus weaving… darting in and out of traffic going so low on the apron of the curves his crew chief came across the radio in a scolding tone to save the tires for the long journey. Mid way thru the trek we received a coded message from the Lama that she had arrived in Atlanta safe and secure and was awaiting her next flight to the Queen City. God Speed Lama see you soon.

Marco Francisco Valle Valle

Nearing the end of our first week in Honduras we were presented with a crossroad of sorts. The team divide up and travel to two separate projects. The Laugna team of Quanda, Que Pasa, Am, Lama and Marco traversed up the slopes bound to the regions near the river Alph seeking fresh honey dew and mook to pack. The trip was interrupted with a faulty battery cable that left us stranded in the middle of nowhere… in the middle of the road…  and in the middle of a blind curve… Unbelievable! The Lord sends angels in many ways and as it happened two showed up in a Toyota pick-ups. The battery was dead in our truck, they swapped batteries in the middle of the road, got us up and going again… I do not know about you, but I have never seen that in the good ole USA before. Not only did they swap but allowed us to it carry on our way. The truck was again nominated for the prestigious AM of the day award… but the day was young.

Arriving at the construction zone the team got to work removing the stubborn boards that caused us so much difficulty yesterday while the Mook Master AM and Lama prepared the Perfect blend of mook for the first load! AM is the Picasso of mook, it always turns into a master piece. The team labored thru the heat of the mid-day, but the Lord found favor in our labors and provided some clouds to cool us off for the afternoon run. The 3 pm coffee team arrived to serve all the Gringos and translators some fresh mountain coffee… It’s all fun and games until the AM spilt coffee on the already thrice injured Lama’s leg! It was bad enough that He did not have the Doom box charged up for a full days mooking, but to spill the lava hot liquid on her was… Unbelievable! Am of the day is now proudly presented to the AM!

By days end we had almost completed the block work on the Mooking wall so that Monday we will return again form the wall for it final pour. I am blessed to see the growth and progress of this crew over the years, rather than telling them what and when to do, they were patience with me because I was the only block mason today, but as soon as I finished a line they jumped up on the deathtrap 2000 scaffold and packed the holes and cracks to set up the next run. A quick and uneventful trip down the slippery slopes to the Federation Compound for our evening gathering and meal.

Mook Models

Moving on up

Wall of Mook Rising

Team Jefe’s team consisting of Mater, KC, Dirk, JJ, Hondo, and the return of Pablo Francisco traveled back to a location close to all our hearts La Montaita to add the electrical phase of Rosa’s house. We have in years past have done a lot of work for her. The first time the team visited we basically rebuilt her home adding a pila, shower and toilet. The second visit we added a bedroom for her on the back of the house. We have also worked in this community many times and almost every year we try to go and visit them if not just for a little heart string tug.

In the beginning Rosa was pretty much a lone survivor of circumstance and a difficult deck of cards. Widow, raising two small children… no job… no income… no hope? God answered her prayers and we answered the call… Today was a columniation of all those things and so much more… As we dined on dinner we discussed the day’s events as many emotional moments presented themselves at the proper and maybe the best opportune time… Best day ever!

Mater’s Finest

Dirk the Spider Monkey

Feliz Hondo

We can build houses, schools and walls, but a wise man named Solomon once said that everything under the sun was vanity with out God. Showing companion for someone by providing a slightly better ways and means is not at all in the least vain, but the compassion shared will go much further than anything that can be bought or built. Unconditional love… Agape… He died for us while we were still sinners… The Incarnate Agape Love of God reveled to all of creation!

GOD MOMENTS! AMEN!

“Tomorrow will be an easy day” said Daniela (AM of the day winner) as we packed up from Thursdays work… Friday began as we poured some groceries down our neck at breakfast, piled another load of junk in the trunk of the compact import pick-up and traversed the slippery slopes of the Honduran mountain ranges back towards Laguna del Carmen.

Two things to always remember while in Honduras…

1 their sense of time is way different than ours. If they say it will only be a 15 minute walk… it will be double that!

2 If they say it will be a short day… Forget that! Prepare to melt down in the sweltering heat..

The team accomplished many things to day, so I will let the photos speak as I am trying to recuperate form being left in the oven way to long.

No… we are not going to rob a bank, Unlike Nammar we do not want to take some dirt back to our home country… especially in our lungs.

Forming and preparing to pour Mook for the bonding beam. Tomorrow we will continue to lay block on the Mooking wall.

Under Hondo’s presence, Cesar, KC, Maynor and Wilmer the desk are completed and ready for gum application.

Part of our teams fundraising at work here… We provided each family in the community with 2 pounds of rice and beans. It is only a small gift, but it is in the spirit of  Agape love which means Unconditional, The Love that God has shown us thru the gift of His Son Jesus Christ.

Marco Francisco Valle Valle

Another beautiful day arose as the sun burst forth from the darkness of night. Birds of another feather squawking at 4:30 local time is difficult for a light sleeper to ignore… unless you are stationed with Dirk. The McCullagh 101 Chain saw ripping those mesquite logs are ruff on dem boyz in that room.

Early breakfast and quick devotion.. it’s to work we go… Hondurans style again. With 10 passengers in the compact import and a load of junk in the trunk to boot. The brain joined in the adventure of riding in the back of the truck bed taking in the full aroma of the wild Honduran scape… Cattle droppings… a couple of dead animals and the fragrant smell of our dusty trail laden with burning wood. All the while sipping on a tall cold AMP and sharing a greeting in our best Spanish with all to whom we encountered…. “Don’t be a menace in north central Honduras while sipping your AMP in the hood!” said Senor Jefe.

Arriving at the construction zone all AMP’D up and ready to throw down some Honduran crackers and pack the mook, we jumped up on the terrace trying not to start an international incident at the mooking wall with locals.  They obliged and allowed the Gringos to get into the mooking games. The gals and Dirk passed out the dresses and shorts that were made by the women’s group at Wilkesboro UMC. This simple gift made a huge impact on these poor children’s lives… To see a bunch of loco gringos sharing this gift brought forth a deep emotional moment for everyone. BIG THANK YOU WUMC!!! By days end the wall was ready for the first of two structural concrete pours to increase it’s rigidity. As a side note there was blood spilt on the mooking wall… Lama wins the AM of the day award… Again!

AM of the Day… LAMA

Inviting a couple of extra passengers in to the mosh pit of dust in the truck’s bed for the ride back to the compound was interesting… at one point there were 8 people in the bed of that truck… the second car behind us can only carry 6… AM! A quick trip to Home Depot… (Lowe’s) was closed to pick up supplies needed for tomorrow… so Daniela would remember what we needed for the festivities in Laguna del Carmen tomorrow.

A brief period of down time before dinner will warm the soul… the light (or video) of the truth will free your weary soul Senor Jefe! All is forgiven, at least we will let you believe that for a while… We are glad the lil pepper you sampled today is a reminder of things to come LOL.

Big shout out to all our family and friends back in the USA and thanks for all of your support and prayers, we are doing good, a little hot and dirty but all is good here.. Good Night.

The Brain (L-R Marco, Mater, Senor Jefe) plus 2 and the filling station attendant

The Mooking Wall

WUMC provided the Shorts for Boys

WUMC provided  the Dresses for the girls

Marco Francisco Valle Valle

Mook Master

The traditional method of mixing mook is on the ground, B-Rad AKA AM loves doing this labor intensive process. It took about 6 piles of this to pour the footing today

The Fountain of Mook

Dry ingredents mixed and water added, Two Working As a Team begin to turn before you burn and mix everything together… the trick here is NOT to bust the sidewall out or your pile will become a fountain of gray lava.

Caress of Steel

Much of the day was spent digging these holes to a near depth of China then setting the rebar frames that Quanda, Que Pasa and Lama worked so diligently on for the first couple of days. Another grid of rebar was tied into it to reinforce the foundation that is 24″ wide and about 7- 9″ deep. It took us along with several locals 5 hours to pour it in preparation for the Block Party tomorrow.

Laying the Mook

Adding small stones to the Mook as we pour adds strength to it according to local building code… the jury is still out on this one in my book.

New School Desk

The desk project spearheaded by the Gringo woodsmen Hondo and Dirk with aid from KC, Maynor and Marco dos. Today they finished the construction of these needed items and began to treat them with anit-termite protection. They will start painting then on Thursday or Friday.

Que Pasa and Lama playing

Sometimes during a lull on the action we will play with the children. Interaction is one of the many blessing on this trip.

Shade Squatting

Sometimes it nessecary to take a break from the sub tropic sun… but if you do it excessively you are labled as a shade squatter and receive the AM of the day award… Senor Jefe in action.

Marco Francisco Valle Valle

There is an old expression that states, “A photo is worth a thousand words.” Ain’t gonna cut it here folks. I have been half way around the world and seen a lot of things… but if this does not take the cake, mixing bowl and the spoon all at the same time. Let me set the tone of this little adventure.

First, we have a compact Nissan pick-up (US market based because its spedo reads in MPH, age unknown estimate early 2000 model) Built to carry 5 passengers in modest comfort over a short distance. The cargo area or bed as we call it in Wilkes County is standard width and about four and one-half feet long… not a true ‘work truck’. It follows the culture trend in America that creature comfort over application while looking macho in a truck. Yep, that and a nickel will get you a hot cup of jack squat! As you can see, or maybe not the load of stuff stuffed in the cargo area, roof top and cabin of this thing and if you cannot, please allow me to break it down for you.

On the roof is one hack of pre-cut lumber to build 9 school desk and 14 school benches. 2 pieces of PVC water pipe, one tool chest and a sack full of lumber for the afore mentioned project… all held together or in place with a long length of nylon rope and a couple of sketchy ratchet straps.

In the cargo area we have a 4 foot cooler full of agua, another tool trunk, 2 more sacks of lumber, 3 shovels, 2 picks, sledge hammers, levels, 3 back packs, 2 more tool bags… Oh and 2 Honduras, Marco dos y Daniela and 2 Gringos, Dirk (posing for the photo) and Casey (wearing the do-rag) for good measure. Are you really starting to get the photograph? Up in the creature zone we have 2 more Hondurans, Wilmer the driver and poco jefe Maynor along with 3 more Gringos, Que pasa, Quanda y Marco Francisco. Yes, we CAN carry a lot of junk in our trunks! Or is that truck, you decide?

All of this in a vehicle that probably has a GVW for loads of less than 1000 pounds. Factor in the safety element of traveling into the mountainous regions of northern Honduras where the highway disappears into a worn goat part with hill grades approaching 12-15% grade and you can begin see how God is truly at work in our lives. Its got to be only by His grace that we arrived safely at our destination of Laguna del Carmen in one piece. (Insert AM of the day award here)

After multiple stops along the way to pick up our scattered tools, 8 members of the team (Senor Jefe Chris, Mater, Lama, Quanda, Que Pasa, V-JJ, B-RAD the former Blogmaster now simply known as ‘AM’ and Marco Franciso with Danela as our guide, we began to dig the footings for the much needed retaining wall. The ladies did a wonderful job of bending the rings and assembling the re-bar frames for tomorrows big Mook pour. Meanwhile… Up the hill, Hondo, Dirk and Casey along with Maynor and Marco dos guiding this group on the new furniture for the school.

By days end we had done much in a short time, Footings were almost dug, most of the steel frame work complete, all the desks assembled and only needing 5 more benches built before the painting can start tomorrow.

Back down the hill in a brown cloud of dust we came to the compound where we dined on fresh fish and steamed veggies. Hunger check, Devotions check, Showers check, Bed time… Tune in tomorrow for another Easter Egg laden post from yours truly. NITE!

Marco Francisco Valle Valle

Following the day after Christ ascended back to heaven the eleven disciples once again gathered in the early hours of the newly formed day… discussing the challenge of ‘Going Forth into All Nations!’ Profoundly they laughed and spoke of their sleep deprived bodies even before the trip had begun. Some napped, some got a few hours of eyelid crack inspection while others chose not to sleep due the excitement of visiting with our good friends in Honduras once again.

A trip of this sort is not something that is thrown together on a whim, but months of careful planning… checking and even rechecking that all of the ‘T’s” are crossed and the ‘I’s” are dotted to ensure that the trip upon the great aluminum condor would flow as flawlessly as possible… Enter in Lama… A former team member from years gone past that has for various reasons been unable to join us in the land of honeydew due to, but not limited to college… career… and life in general. It was from the adventures from years gone by that she received her nickname Lama due to the situation she once tried to purchase some homemade funnel cakes and offered to pay in ‘Lamas” not Limps. Thru the years of traveling abroad she had exercised the usefulness of her original passport… Hence this is where the drama begins.

The team caravanned…. Wait a minute. I think I just spoke of the whole planning thing in the last paragraph… Rather than having a van to carry the luggage as in years past, it was not available for use. Try cramming 15 pieces of luggage, 11 people and their carry-on’s into 2 compact imports and 1 small SUV… I am not sure if it was by God’s Grace or the years of our team building exercise called, “Packing a Van like a sardine can.” None the less we headed down the road to pick up Senor Mater from the Blue Box Hardware Distribution Center and travel on down to the Queen City for an early morning TSA fondling session.

Arriving early for your trip never hit home quite as much as it did when the Counter worker discovered that Lama had brought her expired passport… Not sure if she wanted to have on last great adventure on it… or was simply a mistake… None the less it looked as if she was not going to play any ‘Going 4 wide on a 2 lane road games.’ The team spirit sank to a new time low at the moment that we realized that we may lose a member even before we boarded the carnival ride.

Lama Mama to the rescue. Given the option that if… The newly acquired passport could be retrieved… raced to the airport (which is 1-1/2 hours away without traffic… and somehow scanned 30 minutes before the next flight to Hotlanta… Vegas bookies were giving odds of 60-1 shot of the miracle occurring. We boarded our flight with heads hung low and our thoughts of the one we left behind… Unaware of how the events were transpiring as we lifted off the ground our hearts remained grounded with the Lama.

Much to our joy and surprise we heard the good news that the Lama Mama came thru, and the Lama was able to board the next flight. Just as the boarding call was announced for our flight over Lake Evendin… In walked a stressed out but relived Lama. We celebrated with roar of applause and proudly presented her with the ‘AM’ of the day award. In all the years of this prestigious team award that has been given out… She has raised the bar not only in level… but in the speed of acquisition. The AM chorus chirping over my shoulder as I write… We arrived safe, secure and a little less scattered in SPS on time. Glad to report no darkroom visit needed to escape the condors nest, as we passed thru the glass door there were our longtime Amigos… Maynor, Danela and Super Mario Franscisco awaiting our arrival.

This year’s team is a frothy mixture of experience, the return of a few from MIA and a couple of newbies… A father son combo affectionally named Dirk and JJ. I will elaborate on those two in the next episode of ‘How the BLOG is Dunn!’

Marco Francisco Valle Valle

This morning we started the day with Pastor Cindy leading the fifth in her series of Holy Week devotions and focused our minds and hearts on the event of Good Friday and Christ’s crucifixion.

Most of the patients were children from the remote village of La Montanita. This was the village our team visited on Tuesday afternoon. The children and a few moms arrived in a small pickup with most standing in the bed of the pickup for the ride over the bumpy roads. Our dental team treated 12 patients today, mostly children. Dr. Laura, the young Honduras dentist that went through the Agape Promise program, helped with several dental procedures again today.

While the dental team was doing dentistry, our teenage team members continued to entertain the children that came to the clinic.  Today was mostly Balloon Day!

 

Tonight for dinner, we had several very special guests including Gary & Martha Thomsen; Gloria Castillo; Sandra Rojas; Maynor, Jessy & Arleth; Joselyn, David & Douglas; Isaac & Carlos (Suyapa’s children); Daniel; and our driver Mario.

For dessert, we had a delicious Tres Leches cake, made by Gloria.  Thank you, Gloria!  Unfortunately, it was so good, it was about gone before we could get a picture of it.

At the end of the meal, Tommy had a surprise visit from our long-time sponsoree, Sonia, who came to say good-bye, and drop off a parting gift.

We complete this day thinking back to the crucifixion of Christ over 2,000 years ago on this Good Friday and think about what He went through that day for us to redeem us from our sins. What a wonderful and gracious God that He would do this for me!

Tonight we pray for safe, smooth travels home for our team tomorrow. We also ask for prayers for the next mission team that will arrive tomorrow as we depart. The next mission team is a youth/adult team with 10 members from St. John’s United Methodist in Aiken, SC and 5 members from McDonough Presbyterian in McDonough, GA (just south of Atlanta).  Stay tuned for more blog entries from that team.

May God bless you; may God bless the wonderful people here in Honduras, and may God bless our combined US & Honduras mission team members.

Buenas noches y adios de Honduras!

This morning we started the day with Pastor Cindy leading the fourth in her series of Holy Week devotions and focused our minds and hearts on Maundy Thursday and Christ’s Last Supper with his disciples and then his betrayal.

Today our dental team had a very special Honduran member added to our combined mission team – Dr. Laura. About 12-15 years ago when Laura was still in elementary school here in Quimistan, she was sponsored as a new Agape Promise (AP) student (i.e., when she was about 10-12 years old). Growing up in a very poor family, the Honduras Agape Foundation (HAF) AP program was really her only way to continue beyond elementary school. With HAF sponsor support, she not only remained in school through high school (which is not that common in Honduras) but also completed university and dental school. She received her dental license a year ago and has been serving this past year doing social service dentistry here in Quimistan (a requirement in Honduras). Dr. Laura helped Dr. Patty and Jessica throughout the day today during our dental clinic for the children here.

Our dental team treated 12 patients today (mostly children). This included our translator Daniel’s 2 children, Isabella (9) and Ezra (6).  Isabella seems to be thinking of changing her career goal to dentistry.

One of the adult patients treated today was Dr. Tino’s wife Fatima. Dr. Tino is a medical doctor here that helps our Honduras Agape Foundation with monthly visits to poor, remote mountain villages to provide medical exams and treatments for these people who rarely have an opportunity to see a real doctor. Dr. Tino also provides extensive first aid training to a few women in each village so they will be able to do some basic medical procedures in case of an emergency (take blood pressure, suture cuts, etc.) Dr. Tinos’ children, Josè (12^th grade) and Andrea (6^th grade) were also at the clinic. Josè plans to be a doctor like his father.

While the dental team was doing dentistry, our teenage team members continued to entertain the children that came to the clinic.

We complete this day with our thoughts going back to the events of Christ over 2,000 years ago on this Maundy Thursday and look towards Good Friday. May God bless you; may God bless the wonderful people here in Honduras, and may God bless our combined US & Honduras mission team members.

This morning we started the day with Cindy leading the third in her series of Holy Week devotions. Then, following breakfast and a special prayer for our two dental professionals, our team was off to the clinic for the first dental day of this week. When we arrived, there were already several children from Los Hornos waiting for their treatments, so Joselyn got right to work logging them in.

The first patient treated was the star patient of the day – a young boy 10 or 11 years old had 6 cavities in 4 of his teeth. Although he had never been treated by a dentist before and thus was a bit nervous, he was the perfect patient – no crying, squirming, or complaining. He just laid in the dentist’s chair for an hour and half letting Dr. Patty & Jessica (a long-time dental assistant) work on his 6 cavities.

During much of the day, our 3 teenagers on the mission team entertained the children waiting for their dental treatment. This included helping the children color in a coloring book, blowing up balloons and twisting them into animal and other unique shapes for them, playing soccer, playing “keep the beach ball on the parachute”, etc.

Besides the 2 dental professionals on this mission trip, other mission team members assisted them, including our 3 teenagers, by holding a flashlight to illuminate the mouth, getting supplies for the dentist, etc.

This morning, we took Luis shopping. Luis is an absolutely wonderful Agape Promise student. His family living in the Tejeras area is one of the poorest families here. Luis got a new bicycle, some new shoes and a few much needed clothing items. Below is a photo of Luis with his new bike wearing a “balloon crown” made for him by the teenagers on our team.

The highlight of Tommy’s day was when Sonia, the last patient of the day, came in with her younger 2 sisters. In the nearly 11 years that he & Mandy have sponsored her, she has gone from a shy 5^th grader to a college student, who is also holding down a job. It is always great to catch up with Sonia and her family!

This evening we had a “mucho delicioso” (extremely delicious) dinner prepared for us by our host cooks. It was “Honduran tocos”, chimol (Honduran salsa), slaw, fried potatoes, and fresh mango & melon. It was so tasty that we all applauded the cooks when we finished dinner.

And now, we look forward to a good night’s rest to help prepare us for another rewarding day tomorrow.