Sunday February 14, 2010
Judith Bahamon U.S. Navy. They can meet us at 10:00 Wednesday. We will meet at the Guijerro at 10:00 and go from there. Judith explained that all community welfare money has been stripped and given to IT for this year so there will be no kitchens in 2010. I said we still want to meet.
• Dr. Mossi sent an email explained that he will be out of town this week but instructed me to see Lidia Fromm and she will set up appointments. I called but she had gone for the day. I’ll call tomorrow at 9:00AM
------------------------Start of Trip Log---------------------
Sunday February 14, 2010
4:45PM Elise and I drove to Birmingham in anticipation of the early flight tomorrow. Weather was good driving up (50+degrees). Ate dinner in the hotel and went to bed early.
9:00PM End of day.
Monday February 15, 2010
4:00AM Up and getting ready to go to the airport. The plan was for Elise to drive me to the airport and go home from there.
4:45AM Outside. Too cold and some ice on road. Decided to take shuttle. Elise would return to hotel and wait for ice to melt.
5:00AM At kiosk getting tickets, then baggage check-in, then security check in.
5:45AM Waiting for 6:15 flight.
6:15AM Loaded up just fine then pushed to de-icing area. They fooled around with deicing vehicles till we were an hour late leaving.
9:15AM Walked up to the Teguci plane as they were announcing last call. Uneventful flight.
1:30PM In a cab headed for Hotel General
2:30PM Started calling to finalize meetings for next three days.
• Judith Bahamon U.S. Navy. They can meet us at 10:00 Wednesday. We will meet at the Guijerro at 10:00 and go from there. Judith explained that all community welfare money has been stripped and given to IT for this year so there will be no kitchens in 2010. I said we still want to meet.
• Dr. Mossi sent an email explained that he will be out of town this week but instructed me to see Lidia Fromm and she will set up appointments. I called but she had gone for the day. I’ll call tomorrow at 9:00AM
• Ana Lacayo will meet me here at the Hotel General tomorrow at 1:00PM.
• I called Fernando and asked him to come up tomorrow to meet with Ana and me.
Stopped calling because I am getting too many balls in the air. Tight scheduling in Honduras is not a good idea.
4:00PM Went to Gino’s Italian restaurant for dinner.
6:45PM In the room taking notes.
7:30PM End of day.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
9:30AM Called Lidia Fromm as I said I would. Left another voice mail explaining that I don’t have my Honduras cell phone but she can reach me at the Hotel General. Not much to do but wait. I can’t get too pushy; after all, Mossi’s office is doing us a favor.
11:30AM This is the hardest part of any trip; the waiting. Ana and Fernando will be here at 1:00PM and I want to leave other options open right now for World Bank appointment. So I wait. Good time to study Spanish. When Fernando gets here we’ll call his contact with World Food Group and set up a meeting. Am hoping they can provide milk or vitamins in the country.
1:00PM Ana Lacoya arrived within 10 minutes, Fernando arrived. We went to EL Patio for lunch.A very good meeting, both Fernando and I believe Ana is the right person to help us develop grants through World Bank. Unfortunately, Lidia Fromm, Dr. Mossi’s designate has not returned my calls.
2:30AM Fernando and I called Teresa Searcy, the woman that Fernando met bringing Dr's to Valle District. She will be out of town for the rest of the week but can see us this afternoon so off we went. I don’t understand this situation. We will move with caution. She talks of all the (family) money she has; this talk does not match her modest apartment. By her own description, she hands things out indiscriminately; some canned food here, some school supplies there, some wheel chairs here, some clothes there. While she talks of these huge volumes (container loads at a time) she sorts and hands out everything. She does set up Dr. tours and Fernando knows of several people in Valle District that have benefitted from Dr. tours set up by Ms. Teresa. She took a local politician under her wing and centered her philanthropic activities in the area where he was running for office (he lost). Everything that goes wrong around her is due to corruption; everything that goes right is due to her efforts. She claims to know someone in every organization mentioned yet she doesn’t understand the relationship between PRAF, World Bank, and the Honduras Government. She has worked in Honduras since 1981 and actually lived here most of those years. Fernando and she have arranged for her to distribute corn meal in some communities in Valle District This will cost L4L a laborer for 3 days (approximately $30). Beyond this, I am not sure how we can assist each other. We will be very careful if we do anything with her. Her website is smartteams.org
4:30PM In the hotel for the night. Fernando asked my opinion of Teresa. All I could say is that I will have to think about our visit but there is something missing from the picture and we will move forward with caution.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
7:00AM Fernando and I met for breakfast. Waiting for our 10:00AM meeting with Navy personnel. Mossi’s assistant still has not called. I left another message in her voice mail with my Honduras cell number. If she doesn’t respond, I’ll wait till Monday and contact Dr. Mossi. Hurry up and wait; I’ll never get used to it.
10:00AM Fernando and I took a cab to Guijerro. Judith was waiting for us. We drove to the military base. Judith’s boss wasn’t there! She and an associate drove us back to the hotel.
12:00PM Judith and Jose showed up. Juan apologized for forgetting the morning. A very productive and friendly conversation. All of their money for the year was sent to Haiti. Our list is on the top of the spreadsheet and they will start as soon as possible. Probably not this year. A sidebar:Jose is from Guatemala and knows exactly what we are doing and the value to the communities we serve. His heart is really into what we are doing.
1:15PM Fernando and I went next door to get some lunch.
2:00PM Fernando and I went around the corner and rented a 4 door pickup. It will be delivered by 5:00PM today.
2:30PM Fernando and I took a cab to the mall to look for a laptop for Fernando. It seemed like forever but by 4:30PM we had a HP laptop. I told Fernando that we should go ahead and buy the Windows Office programs while we were out. He told me that is a tremendous waste of money; we can get the whole thing loaded for $25 in Nacaomi. I said that is like seeing with one eye; things look ok but and you can live but it’s just not 100%. He assured me that he has always used a reload from someone’s original. It is a big savings and if he’s ok…
4:30PM Fortunately, I called Jeff and he reminded that we are a 501c and it wouldn’t help our image if some federal organization, during a routine check, found that ran off of pirated programs. I explained to Fernando that we were going to spend the money for a real program. We’ll purchase the real thing in the morning before we head for Nacaomi.
5:00PM Fernando copied a set of the contract a Non-Government Organization (NGO) must submit to work on projects for World Food Program (WFP). A week or two ago, I passed some pictures around that Fernando took at a meeting he had with the District Managers of the WFP. The WFP is a branch of the UN. It seems that the District Manager, Mr. Marcos Antonio Garay, approached Fernando to determine if L4L was interested in acting as the food/program managers in this area for WFP. They have come to realize that L4L has an efficient and well managed lunch program. Well managed NGO’s are apparently hard to find. I read the standard management contract and will send a copy via email to all. The management/administrative/ logistical requirements set forth are right up our ally. There is one substantial difference that we must consider: WFP has approached L4L to manage a program where L4L would receive, divide, and deliver food to the parents of pre-school children, primarily in the villages where L4L is active with the real expectation that L4L would grow to include some substantial part of Valle District. All budgeting, tracking, and reporting would be part of the L4L responsibility. The District Manager, Marcos Antonio Garay, requested a meeting with me and Fernando while I’m in Nacaomi. I told Fernando to set it up.
6:00PM in for the night. End of day
Thursday, February 18, 2010
8:00AM Fernando spent an hour and a half looking for a Windows Office program to buy. Most of the shops order from the US upon request (and pre-payment).
9:30AM Driving toward Nacaomi
11:30AM At motel. Fernando set up a meeting with Mr. Garay for 11:00AM tomorrow morning. Drove to San Lorenzo for fish.
1:30PM Fernando and I are at the river for a beer.
4:30PM In compound for the night Will take some notes for tomorrow’s meeting with the school Principals. Between the world economic downturn and the political turmoil in Honduras over the past 6 months, I can really notice a decrease in activity at the various hotels. Three years ago, there was always hustle in the Hotel General lobby; now there is just about no one around. In past years, there was always some several travelers stopping at the motel in Nacaomi; most traveling along CA-1 for one reason or another. Last night I was the only one here. During the night, a medical team showed up. My point is that commerce ground to a halt and is not recovering rapidly. The Honduras government went against the international tide and maintained the integrity of their constitution and continues to pay a terrible price. More evidence that no good deed goes unpunished.
7:30PM End of day.
Friday, February 19, 2010
7:00AM Catching up on notes, expense account, trying to send Trip Log email.
10:00AM Juan Rosa, our translator, showed up. I want to go over some details of our Principal’s meeting and the upcoming visitors before we talk with the principals. I also want him to set in on our meeting with Mr. Marcos Antonio Garay Hernandes of the World Food Program.
11:00AM Meeting with Marcos Garay of the World Food Program of the UN (WFP). Mr. Garay lives in Nacaomi and manages the Southern District of Honduras. Mr. Garay is much more interested in preschool children. I took about 15 minutes to explain L4L including our ability to set up and properly manage a project. The talked about WFP and WFP as it pertains to the Southern District of Honduras. He explained that chronic malnutrition is found primarily in very young children. The UN considers 2.5% chronic malnutrition within a population to be the critical level where immediate emergency aid is required. The average for Valle District is 7.5% (remember this is total population and the vast majority is within the preschool population). If you recall the Open Arms charity run by the Santos family found 40% clinically malnourished among the preschoolers they evaluated in our area. Back to WFP, he is most interested in preschool with a secondary interest in getting assistance for 7th thru 10th graders. I believe most of what I said simply confirmed what Fernando had told him in the past. He asked that we submit a proposal/work plan. He will give us a spread sheet as a guideline. He asked what level of resources ($) we are prepared to commit to the project. I made it clear that we have time & management skills and a team in place but we have very little money for expanding projects. I asked how much $ NGO’s usually contribute. He said “very little”. There comes a time to determine exactly what each party provides but for this meeting, demonstrating the ability and desire seems to be in order. I am not exactly sure how we proceed. For now, I am doing to try to get Fernando, Ana, and myself together and set up a schedule do develop a very rough draft to hand carry to Mr. Garay for his advise/direction. Mr. Garay is very confident and direct in his delivery; I am sure he already knows where he wants us to fit in his scheme. It’s up to us to write a proposal to fit his plan.
2:00PM Meeting with principals and teachers involved in next week’s visits. Mostly, I wanted to explain our schedule; I want to be sure they are having school on these days (yes, I have gone out to some of these schools only to find that the particular school uses that specific day as one of their “free” days built into the school year). I also want to put them at ease by explaining that all of these visitors want to believe that they are helping the students and community; that the school staff and any parents who want to, should talk freely with the visitors and answer any questions as they see fit. I have no idea what will happen at each school but I can assure they are all excited about the visitors and, by the time we get there, I am sure the entire community will know about us.
4:00PM Under the “ignore it and it might go away (but it never does)” category: When we hired Fernando, he was careful to explain that “his” part lost the recent election and his Border Guard job (actually, he was an accountant for the Border Guard) had been taken from him and given to another. Honduras has laws that protect civil servants much as the US does but polititions take much more liberty with the rules than the US. Fernando filed a letter of inquiry (what we would call a formal protest) requesting that his job with back pay be given to him. This past November “his” party won. Over the last 3 years Fernando’s lawyer let this project simmer on the back burner; he is now striking while the iron is hot. Fernando expects to hear something within 2 months. Including the 3 years he wrongfully lost his job, Fernando will be reinstated at $14,000 per year. Even if we could match that, he will also get some large portion of the last 3 years' pay, be in the Federal pension plan, and get all the holidays, etc. If he wins, he simply cannot leave all of that on the table for an organization with no benefits and an uncertain future. Fernando and his lawyer are playing their hand masterfully and I am sure they will prevail. Fernando explained that the Border job is a tedious unpleasant job with a never ending progression of problems while the L4L job is very pleasant and satisfying but he must consider the future and his family.
4:30PM Fernando and I stopped by to see Anabel and Miriam. Anabel’s teeth are finally fixed and front tooth decay and the browning is gone. She smiles from ear to ear; that never happened in the past.
5:30PM At the river for a beer with Fernando, Dr. Cerro (the one who helped L4L get our Pin Sifer (certificate to do business with the Honduras Government), and others.
8:00PM In the compound. It’s been a long day with a lot to absorb. End of Day.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
7:00AM Taking notes, working on expense account.
8:30AM Fernando shows up. We discussed the following items:
I will return to Nacaomi right after my meeting with Dr. Mossi (assuming I can get a meeting with Dr. Mossi. We will spend Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday working on a proposal for World Food Group. I will call Ana Lacoyo to see if she will work with us. I want to be beyond the rough draft stage before I leave Honduras.
I want Fernando to start looking for an assistant. We have been talking about this for a few years and each time Fernando assured me that he doesn’t need an assistant yet (and, obviously, he did not). I explained that he must find an assistant of management talent now. Whether Fernando gets his old job back or not, he needs an assistant so we can move forward with the WFP project. I am sure Fernando is very secure in this position with L4L and with me so he will hire a really good replacement without feeling threatened. He will give it some serious thought. I would like to have interviewed at least one candidate before returning to the US. Early next week, we must settle in on an accounting firm to submit our obligatory year end report to the Honduras Government. It’s going to be a busy two weeks.
11:30AM On my way to Teguci.
1:30PM At the Hotel General.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
6:30AM Sat around drinking coffee and reading the paper.
9:30AM Paid a taxi to guide me to the south part of town. Drove to Nacaomi.
11:00PM At the hotel in Nacaomi. There is a fairly new very clean coffee shop on a side road in Nacaomi. Besides being clean, they have excellent coffee. Fernando and I stopped by for a cup of coffee. There was a group of Germans and Latinos who were communicating in half English/half Spanish and studying maps. There was a small van with all kinds of sponsor decals
and a follow vehicle (Citron as I recall) both with European tags. My curiosity got the best of me and I asked where they are going and how they found this coffee shop. This is a team of Germans whose main sponsor is T Boone Pickens. They are driving from the most southern community in South America to northern Alaska in a natural gas driven van. This trip is
assembled under the name Challenge 4 www.challenge4.de . Their website is ecofuel-transamerica.com and the team is headed by Rainer Zietlow; apparently known for such stunts. I asked their Honduras guide (who is from Teguci) how he found this shop. He said he just asked when they got to town; and I’ve spent 4 years finding the place!
12:30PM Fernando called to invite me to dinner with some of his family. Fernando, his wife and two children picked me up. We drove west toward San Lorenzo and turned south toward Tiger Island. About halfway to Amapalla, we turned into a very clean, brightly painted tienda (convenience store) with a very nice one-story house behind. This is the business and residence of Fernando’s wife’s family. After about 15 minutes of small talk, Fernando, his father-in-law, two other adult male relatives and I drove to a local restaurant for a dinner of fried fish. Not since the rural areas of Thailand in the mid-60’s have I seen such a clear and purposeful division of society. This is not a question of educated/uneducated; Fernando’s wife has a Masters degree in biology. This is not a division of authority; Fernando’s wife owns and manages a medical laboratory; adult women are respected and participate in decisions at all levels. This is a question of chosen lifestyle that endures for reasons other than autocratic domination. I honestly believe the women would rather not sit around the table talking soccer and politics. I believe the
women prefer to tend to the kids and talk about family, social events, and politics among themselves. Of course there is abuse and forced domination in Honduras just as there is in the US and among all societies; this lifestyle has nothing to do with domination and everything to do with a relaxed and caring culture. Our forced equality among all suits us; this relaxed division suits Honduras.
5:30PM In the compound. It turns out that the motel as expanded available TV channels so I watched CNN Espanol for a few hours. End of Day.
Monday February 22, 2010
7:00AM I spent the morning writing a rough draft of the proposal that I think Mr. Marcos is looking for. Fernando showed up around 8:00 and started working the phone. While Fernando is a great manager and administrator, he is not a good writer. I believe proposal/technical writing is something he has not had to do in college or in his career. Of course, he is very comfortable with numbers. I am going to try to get Ana Lacoya involved in the writing as soon as possible. If she doesn’t get involved, I will have to do the writing and get it translated.
11:30AM I have a pretty good outline of what I believe Mr. Marcos is looking for. Fernando used a computer translator and read my rough draft. He agrees that I have the essence of what Mr. Marcos is looking for. Fernando has talked with Mr. Marcos during the morning; Mr. Marcos will be in meetings and/or out of phone range so he will call when his day slows down. It is necessary that each registered NGO submit a yearly financial summary prepared by a licensed accountant to the Honduras Government. Late last year, I asked Fernando to get me a short list of licensed accountants that meet some basic criteria such as: not an immediate relative, not a good friend, not located in Nacaomi, etc. As per my instructions in late December, Fernando sent a list of four accounting firms that meet the stated criteria. As it turns out, Fernando has never worked with, and does not know any of the accountants on the list. One of the accountants is in San Lorenzo. Fernando called him and set up a preliminary meeting for 2:00PM.
2:00PM Fernando and I are at the office of Contabilidad Ochoa, P.M.Y.C.P. Ulices Ochoa, El Barrio Victoria, San Lorenzo. We are a few blocks off the city center. In this area, each block consists of one story old stucco, adobe/slumpblock buildings that are attached and create a continuous street front edifices. Most are painted cream or cream top half over another color bottom half (blue, green, or rust-brown). There are two assistants who work in the reception room. Shelves stacked with old files surround the room. Mr. Ochoa’s office is modest, not cluttered, but not real neat either; kind of a working man’s office. I am guessing he is in his late-forties to mid-fifties which would make him 10 to 15 years older than Fernando. He speaks no English but it was a simple meeting and Fernando knows what we need and what an accountant will need. At the end, all agreed that Fernando will bring L4L accounting documents (probably tomorrow), Mr. Ochoa well get an idea of the job at hand and give us an estimate (actually, a quote). On the way back, Fernando said that he is comfortable that this accountant can do the job. If his quote is not out of line, we’ll use him.
4:00PM Still no call from Mr. Marcos. Fernando called him but he is still out of range. Hopefully, we will reach him in the morning. Fernando says the student headcount will be less than last year though he won’t know how much till the end of the month. The reason: it seems that younger ladies are having fewer children by choice. Public awareness and
low cost pills are having a positive impact. Fernando asked if we could add a school if the headcount is low enough. I said that I doubt it, we will do good to hold our own this year and a decreased headcount would help L4L. Fernando says there is a really poor village that he wants to take me to tomorrow. This village has petitioned L4L and they really need help. There hasbeen an infestation of the insect Chinche Picuda that causes Mal de Chagas has really devastated the village. The first time I heard of the disease Mal de Chagas was in Jack Kerouac’s book “On the Road” where he gets the disease and his sidekick Meardi(sp?) leaves him in a ramshackle hotel room to die and heads back for the US. The Chinche Picuda is a flee/lice like insect that lives in damp, warm, dark organic material such as wood piles and thatched roofs. It moves around after dark (when people are sleeping) and sucks blood from warm-blooded animals (much as mosquitoes or ticks). The disease, Mal de Chagas, that it leaves behind is much more devastating than malaria. If it doesn’t kill you, it leaves you in such a weakened
state that you will live a miserable existence until something else kills you. Most cases used to be the result of the Chinche Picuda dropping out of thatch-roofed dwellings. During the ‘40’s governments from southern Mexico to Colunbia went on a serious public announcement/education program coupled with a government assistance program to eliminate thatched roofs from dwellings where people will be overnight. This is the reason you see terracotta or tin roofs on houses but never see thatched roofs on houses. Most thatched roofs are on pavilions in tourist areas and are speayed with insecticide. My advice: if you ever find yourself in a tropical climate under an untreated thatched roof after dark, get out. Of course some survive, Kerouac did (assuming his story is true) and lived to take another trip with Meardi(sp?) (assuming Meardi(sp?) really existed). The necessary level of care simply isn’t available to indigenous mountain people. The village is further out than any of our schools. Should be interesting.
6:00PM In the compound. End of Day
Tuesday February 23, 2010
7:00AM Drove out to school Las Tablas. There really isn’t a town. Inhabitants are disbursed along dirt roads and foot paths into the hills around the school. This is as far out into the mountains as I have been. The roads are really rough and steep. Only people with a reason come back here. At every cluster of houses everyone paused to watch the vehicle go by, I’m sure, checking to see if it is someone they know. The school consists of three small cinderblock buildings. One with two classes and each other with one class. There are 118 students and 4 teachers. There is a well constructed outhouse. I may be wrong but the quality of the outhouse is an indication to me of the commitment of the community; after all, they must buy the supplies and construct the facility. As described by Fernando, this is a very poor community that could certainly use some help; maybe next year.
10:30AM Fernando and I met with Mr. Marco. He scanned our rough draft proposal and said that the proposal is consistent with his idea of what should be done. He will read it thoroughly and make suggestions this evening and suggested that possibly we could meet tomorrow. After the meeting I told Fernando that Mr. Marcos has mentioned the (financial?) contribution that L4L would commit to the project. I have never given Fernando any information concerning the financial structure or depth of L4L so he had no idea at what level we could participate in such a project. I explained to Fernando that L4L can provide management expertise and time but little else. I asked Fernando if we should get this on the table now or go through another round of discussions; after all Mr. Marcos has not put his cards on the table yet. Later on, while riding along, Fernando took it upon himself to call Mr. Marcos and explain what I had told him. Mr. Marcos said that he knew we couldn’t finance a high percentage of a project, that it is clear we know what we are doing and he wants continue the conversation. We are slated to meet tomorrow morning; time to be determined. At the next meeting I am going to make the L4L BoD play “bad cop”. I am going to start with the following three rather direct questions:
1. My BoD doesn’t understand why L4L should contribute to a UN funded program that is already funded by our tax dollars. Can you give me some documentation of similar arrangements that will help me explain?
2. My BoD doesn’t understand why we should pay to manage a project. We don’t pay ourselves to run L4L, why should we pay the UN to run theirs. Getting our assistance for free should show our level of commitment.
3. My BoD would like a document that shows specifically who L4L gives money to, where that money goes, and how L4L will get verification.
2:00PM Drove to San Lorenzo for lunch and to purchase a high(er) speed modem for Fernando. It seems the Claro Phone store is out of modems but should be getting some in tomorrow. I no longer get aggravated at such setbacks; we’ll simply come back later.
4:00PM At the river discussing events of the day.
5:30PM In the compound. End of day.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
6:30AM Those who know me know that, once I decide on an end result, I can become rather focused; I have even been accused of having a one track mind. This approach to project completion has served me well over the years but it has on major drawback: by necessity peripheral vision is substantially narrowed and ability to recognize imaginative ideas of alternative paths is decreased. By necessity, I have trained myself to stop, back off, relax for a while, and take a broader view. I spent last night in this mode. A few basics: L4L US management doesn’t pay itself anything to manage the L4L program, why should we pay WFP to run their project; on a ledger, L4L management talent brought to the WFP project should be given a dollar value, on this same ledger, the total dollars L4L provides to Honduras should be given a dollar value; as for demonstrating good faith/dedication, 5 continuous years of providing a lunch program in Honduras without compensation should be given value toward good faith. Working on a fairly structured presentation for Mr. Marcos explaining those items L4L brings to the table that should be given a dollar value, concluding that, while L4L has no intention of making money off of the UN, we also don’t feel obligated to contribute dollars to the UN.
8:00AM What a difference a day makes! Fernando stopped by to see Mr. Marcos last evening. The following are the basics of what they hammered out:
WFP to provide:
• 100% of legumes and grains for the existing L4L program
• 100% of vitamins for the existing L4L program
• Compensation for transporting food products to schools in the L4L program
Specific school supplies such as tablets, pencils, crayons, etc
• Compensation for food delivery
• Compensation for teacher/parent training
• Compensation for L4L/school Principal lunch-meetings.
L4L to provide:
• Supervision, storage space, and personnel to receive, re-package, and distribute food products
• Management to be responsible that all activities are properly recorded and that records consistent with WFP procedures are maintained and submitted on a predetermined schedule.
• Provide a yearly visit/inspection by a dentist
• Provide a yearly visit/inspection by a doctor
• Provide classes to community mothers beyond school related activities such as contracting with an agronomist to provide seminars in the communities about effective methods to prepare and grow a vegetable garden.
This is exactly where we want to be! Clearly, Mr. Marcos saw the value of what I was going to present without my explaining it and Fernando is a better negotiator than I am. I really couldn’t trust my poor Spanish and went over these lists of proposed obligations three different ways. When all of the adding and subtracting is done, L4L will be partly compensated for doing exactly what L4L does!
8:30AM Took L4L Honduras files to accountant, Ulices Ochoa for his review.
9:00AM Went to Claro Phone Store. They have the modem. It took forever to do all the paperwork! In fact, after about 45 minutes, we were told that everything has been submitted and we should come back in an hour. The electronic submittal should be complete and our modem should be activated. We walked through the marcado in El Centeo de San Lorenzo.
11:30AM Modem is set up and we are headed back to the motel restaurant to meet Mr. Marcos.
12:15PM Fernando, Mr. Marcos, and I are meeting over lunch. Mr. Marcos reiterated what Fernando had explained in the morning. He then, went on to say that he has resources that bring doctor and dentist teams into the area, we could schedule yearly doctor/dentist visits through his contacts. Further, finding an agronomist will be easy and cheap; developing and scheduling classes will require L4L management, time, and expertise. Mr. Marcos said that I should re-write my proposal and he would verify before I submit it to the L4L BoD. I explained that Fernando and I have a full week with visitors and that if he could write the initial proposed contract, he would save both of us several steps of getting my proposal to match his program. He said he would write an initial proposed contract during the next week.
2:00PM On my way to Teguci. Long tedious drive. During the political turmoil, commerce across borders was almost stopped. Now, trade is picking up and lines of transfer trucks ply the roads. A trip that had been shortened to just over 1.5 hours is again closer to 2.5 hours. On the outskirts of Teguci., I set my GPS to Hotel General and followed it. I drove directly to the motel. A savings of $10 for a guide taxi.
4:45PM In the Hotel General.
7:30PM Very tired. End of Day.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
9:30AM Set my GPS for the airport. Not quite the same results as yesterday. The GPS directed me into the center of downtown Teguci. then directed me into some narrow alleys. Just as I was breaking out of the alleys, I found myself going the wrong way down a one way street. About half way down the street I encountered two very young policemen. Of course they stopped me; I used my best Spanish to explain that my GPS directed me here. They stopped traffic and directed me to turn around. One explained something that ended up with a question. He spoke in colloquialisms and it was noisy. Something about the airport. There was some pointing. One of the police got in the truck, I went for my wallet but he motioned that he didn’t want money. Something about him guiding me to the correct road to the airport. Ok! Let’s go. As it turns out, his headquarters is next to the airport. Junior officers are responsible for their own transportation and he had to find his own way to headquarters. And here I am looking for directions to the airport! A win-win situation. 20 minutes later we are at the airport and both of us are happy.
10:00AM I got a call from Terry Barber; he missed the flight.
10:30AM Fernando and Juan showed up.
1:30PM Allen and Linda Thames cleared customs. Within 15 minutes, Allen, Linda and Juan were on their way to Nacaomi.
5:15PM Steve Gulledge was cleared through customs. Fernando, Steve, and I were headed toward Nacaomi.
7:00PM At the motel. Gave out L4L shirts, ate dinner, had a few beers, discussed some of tomorrows events. Incidentally, Jose showed Allen and Linda around Nacaome during the afternoon hours while waiting on us.
8:30PM In my room. End of day.
Friday, February 26, 2010
6:30AM Started out for Steve’s school, Jose Trinidad Reyes in El Picacho.
7:20AM At Steves school. Pleasant visit, well received. Meal was being prepared while we were there. Lots of pictures by Linda and Fernando. Allen evaluated kitchen and was quite interested in the partially finished new grade school. Short welcoming presentation by the principal, Jose Edilberto Reyes and one of the mothers. Short Thank you by Steve encouraging the kids to stay in school and gave the principal 3 soccer balls. We stayed as lunch was given to the kids.
8:45AM Headed for Rotary school, Jose Cecilio del Valle.
9:30AM At Rotary school. The kids lined up at the gate entrance and sang a song of welcome. It is a song that requires a response from the visitor at the end of each refrain. Only Fernando recognized what was happening so he responded for us (something like “We are glad to see you also”). It was a little disjointed because we didn’t know our part but it was nice. The principal, Mayra Nunez, received us with a nice welcoming comment. I guided Allen to the kindergarten to look at required repairs. After some evaluation, Allen settled in on working with the abandoned school structure. We were presented a table of honor with grade school chairs. While we ate lunch, the principal made a gracious welcoming speech. Senior Nunez had a captive audience and wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to present a wish list. Her wish list consists of:
• Fix the kitchen
• Provide chalkless boards for the school
• Scholarships for seventh graders
Very pleasant visit. I think Steve, Allen and Linda have a good feel for what L4L is doing.
11:30AM Headed back to Nacaomi to talk with the building supply store owner about roofing costs. He is out of town for the day. He won’t be in for the day.
1:00PM Lunch in Nacaomi, el Centro. Food was good. Pleasant lunch.
2:30PM Steve, Linda and Allen are seasoned travelers; they are prudent and remain aware of their surroundings, but are not rattled in the unfamiliar or unexpected. Fernando and I decided to take them to the river for a beer and to unwind. Relaxing time at the river.
4:30PM In the compound for the night.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
7:45AM Headed for El Coyolar to check out the kitchen. After all this time, I am used to the bad roads; first time visitors are always surprised at the poor condition of the roads. Two mothers were waiting for us. They were both very attentive to our activities and clearly wanted to demonstrate their appreciation of the kitchen. When we were getting ready to leave, in a very shy but determined demeanor, the “lead lady” gave a very sweet and simple one paragraph presentation expressing the gratitude of the community for all the help. Allen responded with a short comment that the community does the work and we appreciate their assistance for the benefit of the children.
9:30AM The Principal, Senora Albertina Arguijo, and all three teachers were waiting for us at el Rincon. As always, the school yard is neat and clean. Pots and utensils hanging from the wall. Everything is really clean. Walked around the school talked with teachers. Anabel came by and gave me a big hug so I introduced her to the group. We toured the school.
11:30AM Headed for Amapala. Walked from the dock to the center of town, toured second floor “museum”, rode around the island in two hacks. Next time we’ll rent a pickup; simply couldn’t see much. Ate fish at the restaurant where Fernando and his father-in-law took me. Pleasant meal.
4:30PM In the compound.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
6:00AM Steve, Fernando, and I were headed for the Teguci airport.
8:00AM Processing through airport.
10:00AM Had an early lunch. Steve went through security.
11:00AM Allen and Linda arrived with Juan. We processed through security and they had an early lunch.
12:30PM Allen and Linda processed through security.
1:45PM Claire and Louis came through customs.
4:00PM Processed into the motel. The receptionist did not save me the rooms I had explained before our arrival! I was not pleasant in refusing the rooms. Finally got some rooms within the walled compound.
Monday, March 01, 2010
7:30AM Fernando, Juan, Claire, Lois, and I went to El Barrial. Very pleasant reception. We were introduced to the School Committee “President” (in charge of school maintenance) and the coordinator of the cooking teams. The children got into formation in front of the school. We were positioned on the front porch. The children did the Pledge, sang the national anthem, and said a prayer. They then sang us a song of welcome. Pretty lively little tone, at the refrain the kids jumped up to indicate excitement of our arrival. First all sang a refrain, then the girls, then the boys. We were then shown from room to room. Kindergarten kids were seated at their desks practicing their vowel sounds as we came in. While most were really intrigued by all the strangers, one little boy was crying with fright. First graders were tearing little bits of paper from a sheet of construction paper, wadding it up, and pasting it over the pensiled word “WELCOME”, and so on through the “seventh” grade (an unofficial class set up by a teacher since none of last year’s 6th graders can afford to go on). During the course of the day, a mother showed us the leg of her third grade daughter. It seems that the girl, Deysi Graciela Canales, fell out of a tree sometime back and broke her leg. She went unattended; the bone fused. Her leg is now permanently turned to one side and her range of motion is so limited that she can only walk with a very pronounced limp, very slowly, and with great difficulty. I have seen too many petitions beyond the lunch program; Claire and Lois have not. I think the little girl had an impact on them. One interesting side bar: It seems that 12 students on this side of that school’s radius of an adjacent school now walk to this school so they can take advantage of the lunch program; there is actually a shortage of desk chairs now. At the end of the school-day , the parents requested a meeting with us. The School “President”, Lunch Coordinator, and another parent made (an obviously prepared) but very direct speech thanking us for all we do. Many mothers and a few fathers stood on the porch watching attentatively through the windows. The “president” then verbally provided a wish list. My recollection of the wish list follows:
• Window screens (with a frame) to keep bats out (bat droppings, and especially bat urine in the classrooms creates a health risk).
• Vertical ¾ in supports for the bat prevention screen that will double as burglar bars.
• Kindergarten building.
• Toys for kindergarten children (This request came from the kindergarten kids, themselves. As class let out, they came running to Claire and Lois saying in unison “juguetes”). It’s hard to tell if they asked for permission or were prompted, but they would not have come uninvited without permission.
• Scholarship for 7th graders High school.
• Build a high school on site.
I will let Claire and Lois tell their own story; but, I believe they are satisfied that Messiah, Madison is receiving value for their contributions.
12:30PM In the hotel
2:30PM In San Lorenzo for fish dinner.
4:30PM Went to meet Fernando’s family.
5:30PM In the compound. We will visit two schools tomorrow but we will be done by noon, one o’clock at the latest. What will I do with Clair and Lois for an entire afternoon? Not to worry, that extra time will be filled before breakfast is completed tomorrow. End of Day.
Tuesday March 2, 2010
6:30AM A group of Dr's and dentists have been staying in the motel. They were having breakfast so I introduced myself and explained the little girl with the broken leg and asked if there is a program with more depth that might assist. As it turns out, Kristin Mathews, the RN, belongs to a group that brings bad bone repair cases to the US (Phoenix, Arizona), schedules surgery, and has the child stay with a sponsor family during recuperation. Got a form to fill out and it would be nice to have x-rays.
7:40AM Left for El Coyolar. On the last little incline before the school, we passed two 6th grade girls, each carrying a jug of water on her head to the school. In the wet season, rain water is collected in a cistern, during the dry season, water is brought from a shallow well near the creek bed at the bottom of the hill. Met by Assistant Principal, staff, cooks, and children. After a warm welcome, we watched the last stages of lunch preparation; serving lunch started. As always, kindergarten first, followed by lowest grade first. Very pleasant visit.
9:15AM At El Rincon. Warm welcome by the Principal and staff. Lunch preparation was finished and they were waiting for us. While lunch was being set up for distribution we looked at the kitchen, then helped with food distribution. Once it came to 6th grade time, Anabel came over and I introduced her. She was very attentive to us.
10:45AM We were headed back along that tedious, rocky, long drive to El Barrial to pick up Deysi Graciela Canales. We took her to the hospital in San Lorenzo for x-rays.
12:15PM In hospital waiting for x-rays. Since it is unusual to see three gringos standing around a hospital corridor, three or four nurses asked Claire and Lois what brought them to the hospital. After a few minutes of trying to explain, Juan came to over and explained the situation. When the two x-rays were presented at the pay counter, one of the nurses who had talked to Claire and Lois gave me the x-rays, and simply waved us on. Apparently they wanted to do their part for the little girl as well.
2:30PM At the motel waiting for Dr's
3:00PM Dr. Peter Connolly showed up first, then RN Kristin Mathews. Kristin took the x-rays and filled forms out as best as we could (the father could not spell his daughter’s name or his own and there is no birth certificate). Nurse Mathews explained very carefully to the father and daughter that Deysi would have to go to the US by herself. The father finally understood that not even the mother would be able to go. He said he would have to talk with his wife but he would consent.
3:30PM Fernando and I took the girl and father home. After a great deal of discussion, the mother consented but was very hesitant (as I would be under the same circumstances). If anyone is going to back out it will be the mother.
5:30PM Went by Fernando’s house to meet his children.
6:30PM In the compound for the night. Had dinner with the medical team who took an interest in our broken leg project. End of Day.
Wednesday March 3, 2010
6:00AM Dr. Connolly was waiting to go to the King Quality Bus station so I gave him a ride. Bus leaves at 11:00AM so I went back to the restaurant.
6:30AM We were gathering around “our” table on the patio. Bit of a controversy among the medical team. The L4L group was set for a relaxing late start.
7:45AM Went to my favorite breakfast/lunch shop in el Centro. On the breakfast menu they have listed Breakfast “Tipico”, French toast, and pancakes. Claire ordered French toast, they don’t have it; Claire ordered pancakes, they have it. OK, with the Breakfast Tipico, Claire ordered sausage; don’t have sausage or salami. Actual choices: Breakfast Tipico with beef or chicken. Good food, good coffee, good company. Claire and Fernando demonstrated their version of la Punta dancing. Possibly, music would have helped the performance but I doubt it.
8:30AM Walked the marcado. Always enjoyable, always something new to see.
11:00AM Headed for Ampapala. Walked through town to the municipal building with the second floor “museum”. Took two hacks around the island. Ate lunch on Playa Burro. Much better food than past meals.
4:30PM In motel compound around the pool. Fernando and I changed cars out in preparation for returning to Teguci tomorrow morning. On the way back I asked Fernando what time evening church service starts at the Catholic Church; 5:00PM, and it is now 5:01PM.
5:05PM At the motel. Told Claire and Lois church just started. Some rushing around, but got to church at 5:14PM. A lot better than our Sunday evening attempt.
6:15PM Returned from church. We went to the pool. Fernando called Marcos about working together on WFP tomorrow through Tuesday.
6:30PM Went to Carni Asada restaurant in el Centro. Nurse and pharmacist from Cape Hope went with us. Got table set up outside. Pleasant meal in the evening coolness. Stopped by Fernando’s house so our guests could meet Fernando’s family.
8:00PM In the compound: End of Day.
Thursday March 4, 2010
7:45AM Fernando had loaded his bike on the pickup so he can come back to Nacaomi. We loaded luggage.
8:00AM On the road. In Teguci, it is necessary we get coffee. Fernando takes a “short cut” through a huge central marcado. We got caught in a traffic jam that wouldn’t quit. Good time to lock the doors. Finally made it to the coffee processing facility. In the past, this coffee shop has been the model of efficiency. This time they were completely unprepared for us. Got our coffee and headed for airport.
11:30AM At the airport exactly 2 hours early.
12:30AM Claire and Lois went through security.
1:58PM Airplane was in the air.
3:00PM In the hotel. Relaxed most of the afternoon.
5:30PM End of Day.