Greetings to all!
I will try to keep this short and provide the copy of the trip log later.
Just when I thought a routine trip was in the offing. As you will see, everything changed starting from my arrival.
Let me start with a sad note. Anabel, my little charge, is back on the streets. The free living life style of the streets, her mother’s fatalistic indifference, and the overpowering petty jealousy of the clique within her neighborhood are simply too strong. She knows that there is a breakfast and secure home whenever she chooses. The sad part is that I think she will understand the fallacy of her choices way too late. As Roxana and I discussed, if our L4L program can help even a few children over the next several years, Anabel’s time on the stage will have served a purpose.
Back to the business at hand:
Monday January 10, 2005.
Food Program: The UN/Honduras food program ceased in all of Valle province. We are, now responsible for all of any lunch program that is to be. The state provided a basic menu so Roxana could simply buy into that menu. The menu consists of a varied group of dried beans, rice, wheat, and soy. Other ingredients are cooking oil, sugar, and salt. Roxana would buy in bulk from one of the wholesalers the state bought from. Roxana suggested decreasing milk to every other day or dropping it, as it is the most expensive line item. And, just to keep us on our toes, the number of children increased from 86 the year before a food program to 120 by the end of the past year. We will be feeding 120 kids, not 100. A monthly total for 120 kids would look something like:
Dried beans, rice, grain, oil, sugar $160
Labor for preparation $ 60
Milk $ 280
Vitamins $ 90
Subtotal $ 690
Overhead ( ? )
Actually, this is still within the projected budget but leaves much less room for error. I told Roxana to stay on track. We’ll start the first few months with the entire program and adjust as necessary.
Since the food program is now financed (by us) Roxana will resubmit paperwork to receive grains through the UN/Honduras program. She is doubtful of the success, and certainly no assistance before May or June of this year. She appreciates that state involvement also stretches our funds so will make a real attempt (I am not optimistic that she will be successful).
Banking: Drove 25 miles to San Lorenzo, the nearest bank that has computer communications with the parent bank in Teguc. It seems that all bank accounts in Honduras must be in the name of an individual (or individuals) or a registered corporation that pays fees, taxes, etc. We cannot afford the etc. So I recommended that the account be set up under the name of Roxana, Pastor and me. Only Honduras citizens can be named on a bank account, unless the non-citizen is registered. The account is in Roxana’s name. We will maintain a balance of around $1,000. Our exposure is not large and I have every confidence in Roxana’s integrity. I know this makes for really sloppy accounting and control procedures, but it is what we have now. The money will be available to Roxana in 30 days. Incidentally, they did list me as the beneficiary to the account.
I took $500 in travelers checks to purchase necessary immediate items.
It seems that the only way to cash travelers checks outside of Teguc. Is to deposit the travelers checks in an account and wait 10 days to withdraw. So much for the “travelers checks are accepted anywhere”. Fortunately, plastic is universal so I withdrew $500 from my personal Visa account and will simply cash the travelers check to cover the Visa withdrawal.
Food Stuff Purchases: Roxana’s parents were once merchants in this particular town. We asked them for guidance and an introduction to food wholesalers for the school lunch food stuff. Prices were negotiated and delivery schedules were arranged. Roxana paid for the first month’s supply. I asked Enrique (my guide) if he felt that we got a fair price. He said that we got very good prices, partly because Roxana’s family is known and partly because the merchant sees this as a long term project that he wants.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
L4L Sign: We drove back to San Lorenzo to a sign maker. The sign will be 4 feet by 8 feet and will be set up as we requested. The logo and inscription will be painted on both sides. The sign will be free-standing on steel polls that will be cemented into the ground. The price installed is $520. Thirty percent was given as a down payment. The rest is due upon completion. Steel and plywood are very expensive since both are imported and taxed heavily. Enrique opined, later, that this sign is a large project for this small town and the painter low-balled the project so that he wouldn’t scare us away. Roxana is also satisfied. We’ll see when it is delivered and erected.
There are two logical locations for the sign. One is readily seen from the public (dirt) road but not the best view from the school yard. The other is in clear view of the school yard but not so well seen from the public road. I picked the latter site. My logic is that our interest is the kids; we want them to see the sign every day.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Digital Camera: We drove to the school to take some pictures. Actually, the idea was so that Roxana could get familiar with the camera. I believe her 11 and 14 year old daughters will become proficient faster than Roxana. Roxana understands the basics and also understands the importance of the pictures. As an aside, I wish you could see the school compound. There are 2 two-room block buildings and 1 one-room block building surrounded by a chain link fence. There has been absolutely no maintenance or upkeep in years. Paint and plaster is falling off the buildings, there is absolutely nothing in the school yard but volunteer weeds. The kids have planted a few scraggly bushes along the fence in a feeble attempt at beautification. Anyway, back to the project at hand.
Computer Café/Reporting Procedures: We worked on the computer and discussed our reporting needs at the same time. As most people know, I am marginally computer inadequate. Compared to Roxana, I am a super geek. She wants to learn and will learn, just as each of us did. It will take time. She will send an email to the people listed above every two weeks. The memo will include an itemized list of expenditures and she will use checks as often as possible. Expenditures will be in lempira, we will do the conversions.
We hooked up the camera but the computer had no software to download and we didn’t bring the disc. The computer café owner said he would help Roxana learn how to send pictures. I am a little discouraged that we did not go through a successful picture import/attach procedure as this will become so important over time. I think Roxana understands this importance and will continue till she can proficiently send pictures.
While the notes may not reflect it, this was a fast paced, very tiring, sometimes emotionally draining, very necessary trip. I am keenly aware of the confidence you are putting in me. I will do all I can to earn and maintain that trust.