The Motorcycle Diary

Trip Log (Written Monday, November 14 thru Saturday , November 26, 2011)

reh@knology.net — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Monday November 14, 2011

6:00AM Cleared Montgomery Airport security and waiting for flight to Atlanta. The box of paperback dictionaries that I will use as graduation gifts in my carry-on was too dense so the security guard took the box of dictionaries out of my suitcase and re-ran them thru
the scanner. Guess what; they were still too dense! This is why we get to the airport
very early.

10:00AM Plane to Teguci left on time. Less than 1/3 full. Each of the major airlines
sends one flight per day to Teguc; I hope they don’t start dropping planes from an already
slim lineup. Landed on time. He landed a little fast but the plane had good breaks. Had
to open vitamins and books but customs agent was sympathetic to the cause and passed me without much delay.

4:30PM Checked in General, ate a late lunch at my favorite Italian restaurant, rental car
delivered. Everything is set to go to Nacaome early in the morning. Probably could have
driven to Nacaome this afternoon but am cautious about not driving in the evening.

Tuesday November 15, 2011

6:30AM On the road to Nacaome. The rainy season that is just over was really hard on the road. Many areas where parts of the road have slid down the hill, large areas where there is enough movement of the road that the pavement has deteriorated and lots of huge
potholes. Am glad I didn’t make the run yesterday afternoon. This is the main road from
Teguci to CA-1 and southern ports; the road is kept open and passable but, with no signs,
night driving is out of the question.

10:00AM At the Hotel Real Vista Hermosa in Nacaome. Fernando and I went to the
coffee/breakfast shop in el centro to have breakfast and catch up. Fernando is getting
over a pretty bad summer flu. Checked on translator, schedule for the week, went to the bank, etc.

1:00PM Fernando went home to rest, I’m getting stuff (medic’s kit, flashlights, wet
wipes, etc.) together for our visitors and catching up on admin stuff.

5:00PM Went to a small restaurant in el Centro for dinner

6:30PM In the compound. End of day.

Wednesday November 16, 2011

7:30AM Fernando and I are on the road to the Teguci airport. The road is bad;
the trip is slow.

10:30AM We’re having breakfast at a restaurant/bakery near the airport.

11:30AM Our translator, Maria Rivera arrived. She and I found a table in an airport
coffee shop. I explained what I expect of a translator. Now we wait for Sandy…

1:30PM Sandy is through security. We’re on the road.

2:30PM We stop for lunch at a small, simple restaurant. Today’s choice is
chicken or beef. Other items such as beans, salad come with the meal; you don’t get a
choice. This same restaurant has a private zoo in the back. A couple of indigenous fox,
monkeys, parrots, hawks, pigs, raccoons, etc. Actually, better kept than I would have
expected.

4:30PM At the hotel Real Vista Hermosa.

6:00PM Alcalde Velasquez arriver for dinner with his wife. Had a very pleasant
dinner. Mr. Velasquez explained that the government is restructuring the Department of
Education. In the past total management/admin structure was top-down. The smallest
detail was dictated from the top. Local communities were required to register grievances
with the Central Government in Teguci and the central administration would get to the
detail in their own time. Remember when Jicaro Centro didn’t have a teacher assigned for
half a year, until Fernando got involved? The result of top-down micromanagement. Over
the years, local communities simply stopped submit requests/grievances; they took what
they got. Education Department money was passed down through channels; little money made it through to the schools. Teachers came and went as they pleased, including determining their own work schedule. In one rural school, the teachers decided to come 4 days a week; the community had no (effective) recourse.The new management system referred to as COMDE will set up our equivalent of a school board in each school district. This “school board” will monitor teacher’s performance, attendance, etc. Federal education money will be given to the “school board” to purchase supplies deemed most necessary by the “school board”. Members of the “school board” will consist of the community “President”, a teacher, church leader, an at large representative. Mr. Velasquez wants permission to appoint a member of the L4L staff to the COMDE committee in school districts where L4L supports schools. We’ll see what comes of this but it’s a real honor to be considered and another indication of the impact of L4L on the local communities.

9:00PM Mr. Velasquez and wife leave. End of day.

Thursday November 17, 2011

7:00AM Fernando arrives and we went to the sidewalk kitchen where they
serve “baladas”, scrambled eggs and beans in a flour tortilla and coffee. Always good.

8:00AM Headed to Pedro Nufio

9:15AM Arrived at Pedro Nufio. We waited outside of the schoolyard as the
children lined up along both sides of the walk, at the end of the line were children
holding up a set of signs that read “Gracias First United Methodist Church”. As we walked between the two rows of children, they were clapping. There is a raised walkway in front of a school room that was set up as an improvised stage. Children have brought desk chairs out and arranged them as an auditorium in front of the “stage”. A special row of desks was set up for us dignitaries. As things got set up, we walked to the kitchen so Sandy could see it. Mothers were cooking chicken vegetable soup. With the smokestacks
built into the fire pits, there was more smoke in the kitchen than I expected. We walked
back to the “stage” area. There had been a slight modification; our desk-chairs had been
moved up on the “stage” area facing the audience. We took our seats and the ceremony
started. They opened with a prayer, played the US National Anthem, sang the Honduras
National Anthem. Two or three groups of little kids sang songs, a high school girl
recited, from memory, a very well written critique of Honduras history. The school
principal welcomed us and thanked us on behalf of the staff. Then it was our turn; Sandy,
Fernando, and me. After the ceremonies, we went to the kitchen. An official from the
Mayor’s office was present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony (Fernando commented to me, on the side that the Mayor’s office had done nothing, now they want to be part of the
ceremony; Fernando wasn’t real happy with this). Sandy cut the ribbon that had been put
across the door to the applause of all. The staff had covered the plaque with a cloth.
Sandy pulled the cloth away from the plaque to applause. The kids lined up to eat;
youngest to oldest, then we were served.After eating, we visited each class room. Fernando collected all 6th graders who were available (7 of the 8). I expressed our pride in their accomplishment and Sandy handed out dictionaries. All in all, a very pleasant ceremony.

1:30PM We drove to los Tablas to look at the kindergarten building. It’s all
finished, just needs paint. Gerard, I’ll bring a CD of pics when I return. Really a
great looking building, I hope someone from Bentley will come for dedication so they can
see what they are doing. We got there late enough that all from the school had left.

3:00PM In the motel, free time (translate, take a nap).

5:30PM in el Centro, eating dinner at a sidewalk café. Dinner choices; pork or
(very tough) beef. Always a very pleasant place to relax in the evening.

7:00PM In the compound. End of day.

Friday November 18, 2011

7:00AM Eating a plate of papaya, bananas, and fried plantains on the patio.

7:45AM Headed for 3 de Octobre. Road is worse than usual due to long rainy
season.

9:00AM At school. Received warmly by all. I’ll let Sandy describe the day.
After introductions of all the staff to us, we went on a tour of the kitchen and class
rooms. The Principal presented Sandy a letter of appreciation on behalf of the
school/parents/community for Sandy to deliver to the Roswell Rotary Club; we used this
opportunity for a photo op with many very willing participants (all the children). Lunch
was served; equivalent to our red beans and rice. Sand asked about vitamins; given to the
children upon arrival at school. The principal talked about how listless the children
were before the program and how much more alert and energetic they are now. The principal
also explained that 4 of the boys are sent by their respective mothers from the next
district over because there is a meal here. The boys walk over 1 1/2 hours to school each
day. Ask Sandy or Kristi about the mountain the boys cross to get here. Sandy could see
the decrease in brown hair as one looks toward the older kids who have been on the program
for several years.

1:30PM Picked up Miriam (Anabel’s mother) on the way back to the hotel, then Anabel at
her school. Went to San Lorenzo for fish dinner. Once again, I’ll let Sandy give his
impressions on Anabel and Miriam. Anabel never had to study during elementary school to
make exceptional grades; she is having a hard time adjusting to a more demanding
environment and I could see that she is feeling the pressure. Always a good meal of fried
fish.

5:00PM Back at the hotel. End of day.

Saturday November 19, 2011

6:30AM Breakfast of papaya, bananas, and fried plantains on the patio.

8:10AM Fernando arrived. Fernando has been nursing a bad cold all week. Hope he can hold up for the week. Headed for the airport. Bad road, lots of truck, bus traffic; slow going for the first ¼ of the trip. As traffic thinned out, we could pick up the pace; but still a little slower than normal due to the deteriorated road. Stopped along the way for coffee and rosquillas (a cookie/cracker baked in an oven using firewood). Some say they can taste the wood smoke in the cookie, I cannot.

10:30AM At the airport.

11:30AM Got Sandy to the security checkpoint, established phone contact, said our good-byes. Fernando and I left to do chores.

1:00PM Picked up some magnetic L4L signs for the pickup. Went to a tire shop for Fernando, office supply store, etc. Signed in at the Guijerros.

4:00PM Dinner at Asado el Gordo (steak restaurant). Bad service; I refuse to go to el Patio due to bad/slow service, now this. Guess I’ll have to lower my expectations (and tips) if I’m going to eat.

6:30PM In the Guijerros. End of day.

Sunday November 20, 2011

9:00AM Fernando and I are at the Hotel General waiting for Kristin Denny, and Marlon (our translator). As it turns out, Kristin and Denny are early risers so they left early to visit a local mountain community. All arrived by 11:00.

11:00AM Headed for airport. Sunday morning; light traffic.

1:00PM Plane arrived on time. Claire, Sarah, and Kimberly were on board. All processed into country without delays.

2:00PM We stopped at the same restaurant described during Sandy’s ride to Nacaome. Choices of beef and chicken but they ran out of
beef before they got to Fernando. Fernando had beef liver; don’t know why they didn’t offer that option when telling us what was available

(not that I would have had it). Took a few minutes to walk through the “zoo”.
4:15PM At Motel Real Hermano Vista.

6:00PM The group went to evening Catholic service at Fernando’s church. In this particular Catholic Church, babies are formally presented to the congregation shortly after birth and baptized after confirmation. After a long service a baby was presented and a page of
announcements were given. An extremely long service!

7:30PM In compound sharing the beer Fernando wouldn’t let us have before the service. End of day.

Monday November 21, 2011

7:00AM Breakfast at a sidewalk kitchen. We had “baladas” (see Nov 17). Am learning as we go; there must be some variety for a larger group. Some don’t like eggs, some don’t like beans. With one item on the menu, some would have preferred to eat elsewhere. Nobody
complained.

9:00AM At Jicaro Abajo. Very unorganized. I have known this principal for a long time. She is very organized and very dedicated. She is also very quiet and reserved. What I didn’t know is that she is also very shy. She actually avoided the visitors. When asked a question, she would answer concisely and completely then drift off to a desk by herself and make herself busy. The second teacher also had a child graduating from 6th grade so was dressed up and hanging with the other mothers. This is the first graduation ceremony with gringos at this school. Fortunately we had Fernando; he jumped in and helped organize the formal presentation. Parents and children were standing around in small groups; just standing. I had hoped we could get more interaction between visitors and locals; it didn’t happen. I think my frustration/aggravation showed through and probably contributed to the atmosphere. That evening, when Fernando and I compared notes, we talked about the lack of organization and I mentioned that my impatience may have shown through. Fernando confirmed that it did, his assessment was something like “Most parts of the graduation went great, a few parts not so much. Everyone is here to enjoy the day, if a part goes a little slowly, just relax and enjoy the day. Everyone watches you; if you appear impatient, it affects everyone. We’re not “managing” anything here, we’re just helping a little as we go along”. It’s a good thing we have Fernando; actually, he did choreograph
the entire event. These mothers who were too humble to interact had prepared a fabulous lunch; some show by doing what they can’t show by saying. As things were set up, Sarah, Kristin, and Kimberly played a game of Duck-Duck-Goose with the kids. Am not sure how well anyone understood the game but everyone was running around tagging someone. In the end, the entire event turned out just fine. The day seemed disjointed to me because I like more structure; Sarah will understand. This school is sponsored by Living Waters Lutheran Church. Please ask Kristin and Denny for their observations and sensibilities about the school and the graduation ceremony. In the end, if the event is truly for the graduates, than a good time was had by all.

1:00PM We drove down the very rocky side road/creek bed to Jicaro Centro. Remember, this is the school that had no teacher for 6 months. Fernando finally took a delegation from the community to the Department of Education and the news media (see previous Trip Log for
details). Much better organized, we were well received. As we met community leaders, an older man (whose name I don’t remember) joined us. I explained to our visitors that this is the elder statesman of the community. Each election a different responsible man is chosen as
Community President. This elder statesman teaches each one his job and is always in the background to assist. The present president is a man of 30-something. I am sure he is dedicated and a true asset to the community but this is a humble community; he is not used to talking
to a whole group of gringos who come in new 4 door pickups with translator, cameras, bottled water, and all. He welcomed us with two sentences. At the end of the ceremony, the elder statesman stepped forward and gave a truly heartfelt presentation recognizing Fernando for
helping re-establish a teacher in the community, provide food for the school, and for having enough confidence in the community to bring a sponsor for the school. I think even those who couldn’t understand the words felt his sincerity. There was applause from the community for
each speaker, each dignitary. I thought it was very telling that the loudest applause was given to the new school principal. This a big deal because it indicated the communities acceptance and appreciation of her though she has been here less than 4 months. This is a good place to be.

4:30PM Back in town

6:00PM At a sidewalk restaurant that sells something rolled in a taco with a 12” diameter. I have no idea what is in these rolled
tacos but it really is good.

7:30PM In the compound. End of day

Tuesday November 22, 2011

6:00AM Breakfast in the motel. Everyone started congregating. Anabel stopped by to get help with English. We set up for Kimberly and me to visit her house once we return from el Barrial. Gave her 10 Lps (55 cents) for a taxi so she wouldn’t be late to school.

7:30AM We don’t have to be at el Barrial till 10:00; actually, we shouldn’t get there early as they are setting up for graduation. We wiled away a few hours walking through the marcado in el Central. Of course, everyone greeted Fernando as we walked around. One lady called in a very light hearted way to Fernando “Hey Fernando, bring me a gringo!” I smiled and asked her “What type of gringo do you want?” She pulled a towel up in front of her face and said to the women with her “I didn’t think anyone would understand.” A good time was had by all, Gringos and locals alike.

9:30AM Headed for el Barriel. While rains were pretty intense during the rainy season, bringing devastating mudslides in Guatemala and El Salvador, I believe the storms were beneficial for the farmers in our area. Mellon and corn fields are maturing without the stress
that can be evident during dryer years. There was a huge crowd in the school yard! I would guess 150 adults. All 6th grade graduates and kindergarten graduates wore pink shirts with black tie, pants/skirts, and shoes.The school principal was the final speaker. He started out by recognizing the participants who had come from other towns and even as far away as Nacaome to participate in this celebration. He recognized the students for their accomplishment. He went on to say that he had never seen a school community work together for a common goal, not even in Nacaome (translate to more affluent schools). He attributes this school/community growth to the relationship, over the last few years with Messiah Lutheran Church; where the community and Messiah Lutheran Church work together to a common goal on several projects. He hopes this relationship will continue into the future and that the community will continue to enthusiastically be involved in these projects. He turned back to the graduates and explained that this type of cooperative effort should be an example to them as they grow into adulthood. The presentation was much more elegant than I have expressed here. I believe he had thought his presentation through very thoroughly and the huge crowd gave him the empties to forcefully deliver it.

2:20PM Headed for motel.

3:00PM Kimberly and I were at Anabels. I listened for a few minutes and came to understand that Anabel knows what she knows; hopefully, it’s enough to pass the final but she is behind and won’t catch up without assistance. As Kimberly and Anabel went through some exercises, I called Juan Rosa and set up for Juan to help Anabel one hour 3 times a week during the December thru mid-February vacation period.

4:30PM Kimberly and I are back In the compound.

6:00PM We all got together for dinner at the motel restaurant. A professional Honduras soccer team is staying at the motel. This is their staging place for a tournament to be held tomorrow in Choluteca. First of all Fernando heckled them from our patio table, later Kristin went into their pre-game strategy session to ask why they don’t put more into helping the poor of Honduras. I am sure the team took this motel off their list of options while traveling.

8:00PM End of day.

Wednesday November 23, 2011

6:00AM Group started gathering on the patio for breakfast. I asked for comments concerning L4L and the 4 day tour we are finishing.
• Denny said he wishes we could turn the attention to the graduates and away from our participation.
• Kristin said it would be nice if we could track the progress of our graduates after graduation.
• Sarah said she felt that last year’s graduation ceremony seemed more spontaneous and this one a little too structures.

8:30AM Headed for Teguci

9:45AM Stopped for tamalies mid way between Nacaome and the airport. They were out so we ate rosquillas and drank coffee.

10:30AM At the airport processing through. In the food court next to security. Just enough time to shop for some souvenirs, a commodity
lacking in Nacaome.

12:45PM Kristin and Denny went through security.

1:30PM Claire, Sarah, and Kimberly went through security.

1:45PM Fernando headed for Nacaome. Using my GPS, I headed toward the Hotel General, or at least toward a point I thought was the Hotel General. I knew I was on the wrong side of the river as the roads started to narrow and the buildings started to close in. Not at all
where I wanted to be. I knew I needed to cross the river, drive across the opposite ridge, pass the stadium, then work my way up the far hillside (hidden right now by the first ridge). I also knew this is no time to trust my senses. There was an empty taxi with driver just to
the left. I pulled real close and lowered my window while keeping back from the window; only the taxi driver could see me. I explained that I will pay him if he will guide me to the Hotel General. Off he went with me following. Had we not passes certain markers (cross the river,
climb to the ridge, pass the soccer field, make our way up the next hill side) I would have veered off, and made a few turns to lose him and try with another taxi. He took me exactly where I wanted to go. He was really happy when I gave him 100Lps ($5.00), so was I.

3:00PM Hotel General is booked but they set me up at the Plaza San Martines Hotel just across the street. A really big room but I will stay with the Hotel General when given a choice.

4:00PM went to Italian Restaurant for dinner

6:30PM In the compound. End of day

Thursday November 24, 2011

9:00AM Processed out of Plaza San Martines Hotel.

10:00AM In Guijerros. Called Marisa Rietti, last year’s President of the Club Rotario Nueva Teguc about attending this evening’s meeting. It turns out that the Nueva Rotario meets on Wed. evening. Marisa will set up a lunch meeting for tomorrow with this year’s President and,
possibly others. Spent the day relaxing and catching up on admin stuff.

8:30PM End of day.

Friday November 25, 2011

Had hoped to meet with Lic. Cinia Maria Pineda M., the social science researcher who spoke at the Honduras Embassy sponsored meeting I attended last month in Atlanta but it wasn’t to be. I’ll plan better next trip.

12:30PM Met Marisa at THI Fridays for lunch. She will rekindle interest in L4L over the next few weeks. We talked a great deal about the February Rotary Future Vision Fair to be held in Teguci on February 2 through 4. This fair will include clubs from the entire district; Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize. Rotary Clubs, in-country service organizations, and NGO’s will have booths. The purpose is to combine Rotary Future Vision Clubs with projects that suit them. Both Rotary Clubs and NGO’s will be promoting their respective interests. L4L will have a booth. Kristi, warm up the promotional juices; we are going to make this event work for us; display, videos, handouts, the works!

1:30PM Headed for Nacaome. Same bad road, same tedious trip.

3:30PM Fernando and I are comparing notes over a beer. Fernando must go to a kindergarten graduation at 4:00.

7:15PM Fernando and I head to Choluteca Rotary Club meeting.

8:10PM We arrive a few minutes late but that’s ok. This club meeting is intended as a relaxing Friday night out and the meeting is not nearly ready to start. Incidentally, this club is all men; still legal in Honduras. More discussion about the February District Future Vision Fair. Some discussion about L4L. Fernando asked if a member of the club could stand in for Steve at the Rotary Club Piedras Blancas Elementary School graduation. Why didn’t I think of that when Steve notified me that he can’t attend?! There was interest but, I believe we asked too late for club members to schedule. A good meeting.

10:30PM In the compound. End of day.

Saturday November 26, 2011

8:00AM Fernando asked if it would be alright if Dr. Cerrato accompanied us to the school graduation in the community of Torrecillas for Jose Angel Cerrato Elementary School this morning. Dr. Cerrato is attached to what we would call the County Health Department. Dr.Cerrato has been very helpful in seeing to it that L4L schools receive WFP food supplies even when other schools don’t. Of course it’s alright! Mr. Cerrato has been a very strong ally of L4L for many years. Drove to Dr. Cerrato’s house; he wasn’t quite ready. Drove to
Fernando’s house; he had forgotten his wallet. Returned to Dr. Cerrato’s house.

8:50AM We started our 45minute to 1 hour ride for a graduation scheduled for 9:00AM. The roads are mountainous and rough; you don’t
make up time. During the ride, I learned that Dr. Cerrato’s father was raised in the community of Torrecillas, further, that the school is
named for a family relation.

9:45AM At the school. Small one-room schoolhouse. There were a half dozen parents all of the graduates, and another handful of kids. I gave our apologies to the Principal who was delighted to see us (we weren’t the Patrinos; just invited guests). The graduation ceremony hadn’t started; still preparing and waiting for parents and Patrinos. The ceremony didn’t start till 11:00!! My typical Gringo concern about being late and we were among the early ones. We truly are on Mountain Time.Of course, Dr. Cerrato and Fernando knew the adults as they arrived and we were received warmly by everyone. I was surprised by the number of young men and women (15 to 20 years old) who came by for the celebration. I guess this is the biggest event of the weekend, so why not attend? By the time the celebration started, the entire room was full; graduates sitting front-center, parents around them, general public filling the rest of the room. The “front” wall (wall the audience was facing) acted as a stage and had been tastefully decorated with the school name and the name of the Patrinos. Each year, a school will pick a successful family or person(s) somehow related to the community to serve as the Patrino. The intent is to leave the 6th grade graduates with an example of a successful person, a role model that they can relate to. This year there were two (whose names I will have to get). One man had an easy smile and greeted everyone warmly, he was there early and always engaged; he reminded me of Fernando I never heard what he does. The second is an attorney from Teguc., he was aloof and a little arrogant. He arrived at 11:30, he walked in during the ceremony. During his speech, he apologized for being late but had an important meeting in Teguc this morning. As anyone who has attended a graduation ceremony knows, there is dead time between segments as the event progresses. During one of these periods, this “important” attorney asked those sitting next to him (community President and other Patrino) why Fernando and I were at the head table. Obviously, he doesn’t come around here very often.The ceremony (once it started) was well organized. Most smaller, older schools have a back patio about 8 feet deep that is covered by the extended roof of the school. The school that Steve sponsors is a really good example of this type of structure. The graduates and their
parents waited on the patio till they were introduced then parents and child walked through the center of the room to the applause of the audience. The parents left their respective child/graduate at their seat and took a reserved seat at the side. Speeches by all. Graduates
and their parents were served lunch at special tables set up in the back; a nice final touch.
An aside: When my turn to speak came, I explained that my Spanish is not good so Fernando will help me. Fernando explained that he would translate my Spanish into Spanish. Several pointed out one young lady (possibly 25) who can speak English. She sheepishly came forward and did a tremendous job (her husband is a teacher in Teguc and she is a law student; her parents live in the community and her husband and she visits frequently). Now to my story: As you know, there is no electricity this far out and the trip into Nacaome is arduous for those
without a car (which is almost everyone). Even in these conditions, most kids have visited places with power/TV’s enough times by 6th grade that they are familial with a person speaking English. Apparently this one 6th grade graduate in the front row hasn’t been in town very
often. She could not contain herself, nudging each girl at her side and (quietly) laughing while the other two girls tried to remain quiet and sophisticated and knew to listen to the translator. That little girl has no idea what I said but she will always remember that tall gringo who spoke at her graduation ceremony in a really funny language.

2:30PM Dropped Fernando and Dr. Cerrato off and went down town to find a gift for Fernantito’s 3rd birthday party.

3:30PA At Fernando’s house for the birthday party. Fernantito (usually) met the guest and (usually) accepted the gift and (usually) carried the gift to the designated gift place. Birthday cake, piñata, and kids all over the place. A good time was had by all.

6:00PM In the compound. End of day.

Trip Log (September 15, 2011 Through September 29, 2011)

reh@knology.net — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Thursday September 15, 2011

5:05AM Airport, I packed a 2 ton capacity chain hoist in a 5 gal pail and an overhead hoist trolley in another bag. Both are larger than normal chunks of steel. It just happened that 6 inspectors were watching the screen (some type of training I’m guessing). Of course, they had to open both containers. These items were wrapped an taped so they were secure and wouldn’t rattle around. 25 minutes later I was on my way and so were my re-wrapped items. We’ll see how they fair being thrown around two airports.

10:20AM Plane left on time. Over the last year I have noticed a major re-alignment of flight schedules so that flights are full. This plane was less than 1/3 full. I expect one of the major line to stop daily flights to Teguc in the near future.

12:05PM Plane lands in Teguci without incident. Both bags arrived! Through customs without a search.

1:30PM In Hotel Guijarros. While it often seems like an unnecessary use of time, I always put a few days in front of the arrival of visitors; visitors are coming this Sunday. There’s a reason for that; something always go wrong. Fernando called yesterday and said Juan, our translator can’t accompany us on Sunday or Monday. While I frequently drive from Teguc to Nacaome, I won’t do it with a visitor. Odds are we will be stopped at a road block along the trip. On my own, I muddle through (pay an on-the-spot “fine” of $5 or $10); with a group of guests, I want a local native speaker with us. Fortunately, I have a few days. I called Diana Valleja because she always knows some really competent interpreters. She is in Mexico till November! I called Jorge, he will try to find Enriqui.

5:30PM Still no translator but that’s ok; I have tomorrow. If necessary, I’ll go to the Language School late tomorrow. They always have a few over paid translators available.

In the compound. End of Day.

Friday September 16, 2011

6:00AM Breakfast, studied Spanish. Biding time to be sure I secured a translator before heading for Nacaome tomorrow. I should have set up some kind of museum tour to take up some time.

2:00PM Finally heard from Fernando and Juan; Juan can accompany us on Sunday and will meet me in Nacaome at 7:30, Sunday morning. I’m confident he will be there because, over the last 2 years he has proven that he is very reliable.

3:00PM Rental car arrived. I had called at noon to confirm that it would be delivered only to find that they were planning on delivering it tomorrow between 2:00 and 4:00. They were able to adjust and all’s well that ends well.

Went down the road to Ruby Tuesday for dinner. It was ok.

5:00PM In the compound. End of Day.

Saturday September 17, 2011

7:00AM Breakfast with Jorge Lineras. Jorge is one of the first people we met in Honduras. He is still avery good and helpful friend. It seems that he got some version of Verdigo where he had terrible headaches on his way back from the US about two months ago. He ended up in a hospital in El Salvador on then in and out of the hospital in Honduras before they stabilized him. He is back to normal but not back to fighting form (in my opinion).

10:00AM On the road to Nacaome. Stopped by the windmill farm going in at the mountain rim, just before you start going back down to the Pacific. I’m guessing there will be more than 30 windmills. I’ll get some pictures on my next trip through.

1:30PM In the Hotel Real Vista Hermosa.

2:00PM Went out to see Anabel and Miriam. I was stopped at the standard police roadblock. I’m going to take a minute to explain, after 7+ years of being stopped at these roadblocks, how I handle them: The road is a typical 2 lane blacktop road with a paved apron approximately 18 inches wide along both sides, and a 6 to 10 inch drop off to packed earth. When signaled to stop, I take up as much of the road as possible. When possible, I stop so that the police must stand in the on-coming lane. After they signal me to the side a few times, I pull over but keep the right wheels on the apron thereby assuring that I block most of my lane, slowing traffic behind me down to a crawl as they try to get by without hitting the officer. I always provide my Honduras drivers license and car registration I never provide my US drivers license or US passport. No matter how bad things get, I have my US passport and US drivers license. I take my time listening to questions till I understand it completely then I slowly answer. I have gotten to where I never offer or understand requests for bribes. As it turns out, these low ranking police who stand out in the sun can only tie up traffic for so long before a senior officer comes walking out of the shade to see what the holdup is. Today, after the preliminary perfunctory questions (where are you going, where are you coming from, what is your nationality, etc.), Rambo Jr. started on “what is your home address?” Remember, he has my Honduras driver’s license so he wants a Honduras address. After several iterations of “I don’t understand “ and “Read my license (which, incidentally, doesn’t give an address)”, I took my phone and dialed Fernando while the supervisor was walking over (we’re blocking most of our lane and traffic is backing up). Rambo Jr. explained to his supervisor that I must have a Honduras residence to have a Honduras license and he is finding out what it is. The supervisor shrugged and whispered something like “forget about it” and walked back to the shade. The officer was handing back my license and registration as Fernando answered the phone. I started handing the phone to the Rambo Jr. as he was waving me by. Every stop is a choreographed 10 minutes so you might as well relax and enjoy it.

2:45PM At Miriam’s house. Both Miriam and Anabel are glad to see me. I give Miriam money for Anabel’s school and ask how Anabel is doing. She is not getting all 90+’s and studies much more than other years. To be sure, her grades are still good but she has to work for them this year. After about 20 minutes of small talk, I promised that we would all go out to dinner one day this week and headed back to the motel.

4:00PM In the compound. End of Day.

Sunday September 18, 2011

7:00AM Juan arrived. Ate breakfast.

7:45AM Drove to Teguci airport.

10:00AM At airport. I try to be several hours early because any road delay, especially during the rainy season, can take up several hours.

12:30PM Plane arrives on time. Dan Scroggins and Jean Beckstrom emerge from customs.

2:30PM In motel Real Vista Hermosa in Nacaome.

4:00PM Fernando arrived. Introductions. Finalized plans for tomorrow. Enjoyed the evening.

6:00PM End of Day.

Monday September 19, 2011

6:45AM Breakfast at a local street breakfast spot that is a makeshift kitchen on the sidewalk in front of the proprietor’s house.

7:45AM At Jose Trinidad Cabanas Elementary School. We were met by Principal, Ms. Aracely Gonzales and the President of the Mothers Group. After introductions, Dan started a conversation about the existing water source. It seems that about seven years ago an NGO, Procagua, installed a well, water tank and plumbing to approximately 28 houses and the school. A local Water Authority was created. Water is provided for three hours every other day to half of the community one and 3 hours a day to the other half on the following day. Water is provided free to the school. Water at the school was collected in an open cistern. Residents of those houses that could not afford the 100 Lps ($5.00) per month would bathe in the cistern at the school after hours, rendering the water unsuitable for use. The water authority was compelled to shut water off at the school. Dan and I walked to the water pump location then to the water tank location while Fernando and Jean stayed to help serve lunch to the kids. I’ll let Dan describe our walk through mud, along creeks, through un-kept scrubland, and up hills to the concrete water holding tank. Oh, did I mention it was raining? Initial thoughts are that a holding tank be elevated in the kitchen and plumbed into the water authority system.

11:45AM At Dr. Juan Lindo Elementary School in La Puya. We are met by Principal, Mr. Marvin Omar. The Community President arrives shortly after. A water authority similar to Los Almendreus was developed in this community about seven years ago by Proagua. Water is supplied to the school for 80Lps ($4.00) per month. Water is provided to the school at a spigot. The recommended fix would be to mount a tank next to the kitchen (which is deteriorated to the point that it must be replaced) and plumb a closed system.

1:30PM Back at the motel, cleaned up and headed to San Lorenzo for fried fish. Dr. Cerrato joined us for lunch. I seems that the Valle Health Department is building a Water Quality Lab in Jicaro and they will test school drinking water for free. A pleasant meal.

3:30PM At the motel. Fernando and I went into Nacaome to talk with a welder about the overhead trolley we will build in the warehouse.

5:00PM In the compound. End of Day.

Tuesday September 20, 2011

7:00AM Jean, Dan, Juan, Fernando and I are on our way to El Barrial. On the outskirts of El Barrial, we picked up the community President, Mr. David Matute. We stopped where the down gradient hand dug well is located next to a creek. This well is doing little more than straining creek water, cow manure and all. Dan and I discounted this as a viable option. We reached town before school started. The president showed us to the house of the person who owns the continuously flowing mountain spring, Mr. Cupertino. This is the same family who owns the gasoline operated grain grinder. He led us upward along the side of a very steep hill on a very steep, very narrow path; then up the face of a very steep hill, around a bluff and down a bank, to a very rocky creek bed, along the creek bed to his hand-built water collection point. If I had any idea what we were getting to, I would have left Jean at the house with the family; I should not have taken her on this walk. Jean never complained and refused to turn back. I was constantly assured that the spring is “just a little farther” so we kept going. Mr. Cupertino is doing everything right and has a very nice setup for his household use. While this site could be enlarged to supply the entire town, cost to bring in necessary equipment and supplies would be prohibitive. The view from this hillside is spectacular; I recommend it to anyone. On the way back Mr. Cupertino picked 6 ears of corn that was roasted for us at his house. Initial thoughts: Probably drill a well on site and use a windmill to run the pump. El Barrial continues to amaze.

10:30AM At 3 de Octobre. Always an efficiently run school with a very involved Mothers Group. We were received warmly by all. We explained the purpose of our trip Mr. Robinson Cruze, the principal lead us directly to the hand dug well. The water is so clear you can see the bottom. The well is not used because it is dry most of the time and has collected some wood, leaves, and even a few plastic articles. This well could be deepened. We would attach a pump to a water tank in the kitchen. The system would be powered by 6^th grade child labor.

11:30AM At El Picacho. This facility has no well but does have power available. Access is relatively easy and there is a large upgradient recharge area and available electricity so a drilled well with a submersible pump makes sense.

12:300PM At Poyo Costero for lunch. Like KFC only better. Since we finished available school for the day and it is early. We decided to go to Tiger Island. I called Anabel and Miriam to see if they wanted to go with us. They did.

1:30PM Picked up Anabel and Mirium and headed for Tiger Island. Fernando begged off and Juan had to teach an English class so I was the translator and guide. Both were close by with phones so this wasn’t quite as daring as it may seem. Parked in the compound where I usually park and we walked to the boat. Miriam negotiated for the best price (75c per person) and off we went. Did the island tour, I will let Jean and Dan comment on our tour. I decided that we return to the motel for dinner as staying that long would put us on the road after dark. Came back from the customs dock. A good time was had by all.

5:00PM In the motel and seated for dinner. Fernando joined us for dinner.

6:15PM Fernando drove for me to Anabel’s and Miriam’s house (the front window is tinted so darkly that I simply cannot see through it after dark).

8:00PM In the compound. End of Day.

Wednesday September 21, 2011

7:30AM On the road to Manuel Jesus Subirana. We were greeted by Ms. Angela Reyez. Mrs. Angela arrived shortly afterward. It seems that the local water authority provides water 3 hours every other day, assuming there is sufficient pressure. The water is not potable. There is a dug well adjacent to the school on the property of Mr. bricio. We went over to look at the well and talk with Mr. Bricio. It seems that this well was put on this property by another NGO with the understanding that the community could draw drinking water from it. The owner is willing to let us submerge a pump and pipe it directly to the school. We would provide another tank where the community could fill bottles for drinking. The electric control panel would be locked and the property owner would have the key.

8:30AM At El Coyolar. Received graciously by Ms.Anabel Lazo. We toured the school and kitchen then we started talking about water. There is no water and no electricity at the school. There is an entire mountain range behind the school. Access is difficult but doable. A drilled well and windmill driven pump make the most sense.

9:30AM At (big school up the road). The entire staff went out of their way to greet us warmly. We were taken from class to class where each class sang a song and we said a few words of thanks. The local water authority stopped providing water a year ago. There is no well on sight. There are valleys on three sides and no real rise behind the school. We may have to drill a little deeper here. Driller access is easy and electricity is available. We walked across the street to the kindergarten. A water line was installed by the water authority under the road so we can provide water for the kindergarten from a source at the elementary school.

11:00PM At El Amatillo. Roxana greeted us warmly. There is no water on site. An effort at a hand dug well was not successful. There is a local private well but he will not let the school tie in. Power and access is available. Looks like a drilled well and submersible pump will be the answer.

11:45AM Drove to the old border crossing and showed where I met Anabel.

1:00PM In el centro for lunch.

2:30PM Stopped by the house of a friend of Fernando’s to look at a holding bin similar to what we would need for dividing grain among different bags.

3:00PM Jean and Dan at the motel. Fernando and I went to the warehouse to work with Junior for a while.

4:00PM In the compound. End of Day.

Thursday September 22, 2011

6:30AM I purchases some rosquillas the other day. We had ate them with coffee. Both Dave and Jean said they liked them but both are too polite to admit it if they didn’t. I still like them but can’t smell that burnt wood smell that that turns some people away.

7:00AM At Jose Trinidad. A very young stand-in principal has been assigned to this school. We are there as children are starting to collect for school. After a few minutes of explanation and introductions, we are at the hand-dug well. Water is close to the surface (this is the rainy season). We measured depth to water/depth to bottom. Dan has these numbers. The handle of a very old pump moves up and down but the flop-valve doesn’t close. A sixth grader told us the pump worked when he was in second grade and that there was a rust taste to the water. The fix is a new pump and some testing of water to assure that quality is good.

8:15AM in the Moropocay region, at Jicaro Abajo. The principal, Ms. Claudia Lorena Euceda gives us a tour of the school (both rooms), the warehouse and “kitchen”. In each room, the children sing a song, at photo op time, they were eager to get in the picture. There is no water source on site. All water is carried to the site. Milk is reconstituted on site, all other food is cooked off site and brought to the school. We explained that Living Waters Lutheran Church will send a delegation to participate in graduation ceremonies. I could see that Ms. Euceda was pleasantly surprised; she, and the community, simply doesn’t expect us to come all the way out here to participate in their humble activities.

9:30AM At Jicaro Centro. Mrs. Maria Irene Sanchez met us at the door and introduced us to the class, explaining that we are the ones that provide the lunch program. The children sang a song. Mrs.Sanchez explained the children never miss a day of school (remember, she was only assigned here 2 months ago after the school had been without a teacher for 6 months). We stepped out of the classroom to talk. I explained who Dan is and why we are here and commented that we would like to ask several questions related to drinking water. Mrs. Sanchez said that first she wanted to thank us for the lunch program and all that we have done for the community. There is no water source on the school site. There is a community well that she has never visited. We walked to the house of the community “President”. He guided us to the community well. What a magnificent complex! The “floor” is huge, flat, in-place rocks at different levels. There is canopy of trees for shade. This is actually a spring that has been developed with two covered reservoirs. Below each reservoir is pipe coming horizontally out of the rock with a spigot. This is the drinking water. To the side is another horizontal pipe with spigot. This spigot feeds a square concrete reservoir with an open top about waste high. Water in this reservoir is for washing clothes. If you stand looking at the reservoir, behind you is a concrete frame with 4 concrete washboard stations for washing clothes. On both sides of these clothes washing stations is a concrete shower stall with cloth curtain in front. This is the cleanest, best organized spring/well area I have ever seen. The springs were developed over 30 years ago. Back to the school. Neither Dan nor I would consider disturbing any part of this spring area, even if it were close enough. On sight; no water, no electricity, groundwater recharge area on three sides. Probable solution; drilled well on site using 6^th grade child labor power or a windmill. A very pleasant visit. Lunch was arriving as we left.

11:00AM At Jose Angel Cerrato Elementary school. Met by Ms. Clereth Izaguirre, the principal. You have never seen a more spectacular location for a school than in the shadow of Elephant Mountain (and, no, that’s not an Indian name). We toured the school including the kindergarten, which is run by a very energetic and resourceful teacher. Each class sang us a song. In the past, I’ve heard the kindergarten class rock the joint; this time they were simply overwhelmed by all of these huge odd looking people in the room and mumbled their way through a few verses while they stared at us. Back to business: There is a community, hand dug well on the corner of the school property. The entire community used the well until it dried up during one dry season. The well soon fell into disarray and sits there un-used. We were cautioned that if we redevelop the well site, the community will expect to draw water from the well. It appears that the well annular and apron are in good shape. First and cheapest fix is to pump the well out and test recharge water quality. If water quality is good, deepen the well and install an electric pump. This pump would feed a storage tank at the school kitchen and a storage tank for local use. The school principal would turn the pump on when she gets to school and off when she leaves (this plan might need some refining but this is the ides right now).

12:00PM We has a Coke and small bag of Cheese Puffs while sitting on a plank bench in front of a house that sells such items out the front window.

12:30PM At Pedro Nufeo Elementary school. The Principal is on maternity leave and all the teachers were finishing lunch under a shade tree before finishing the last 1.5 hours of school. We explained what brought us to the school this day. In the absence of a principal, we asked if one of the teachers would give us a quick tour of the school. They were glad to, all of them. All the children were just finishing lunch and still on recess but started scurrying to their designated room so as not to miss all the entertainment (us). This was a fun tour, if a little disorganized. We “inspected” the newly finished First United Methodist Church kitchen then got down to business. Water: The first story was that the local water authority supplies water 3 hours every other day and when needed. I asked where the potable water is stored for use between supplies. There is none. Next question: no water storage, what do kids drink. They all bring water with them in the morning. Ok, what about water authority water? Often it is turned on for 3 hours in the afternoon when school is out and actually never is supplied upon request, as originally planned. Actually, all potable water for drinking and cooking is brought in bottles each day by the children. The fix seems pretty simple; erect a water tank next to the kitchen of sufficient capacity that it will last from on water supply event to the next.

2:00PM On our way to check the kindergarten project, we met the school principal walking out. He joined us as we drove into Las Tablas. We visited the house where 15 kindergarten students gather. I’ll let Dan and Jean explain. This is actually a less accommodating area than the pre-school x-kitchen at el Barrial. The principal explained that, with this new kindergarten, the government will assign a licensed teacher and the lady who presently takes care of the children in the house for around $35 per month will be out of a job; the same as in el Barrial. Question: If this lady is good enough to handle kindergarten without a building, why is she not good enough to handle kindergarten with a building? The kindergarten building is about 1/3 done. Even though this school is not in the L4L program, Dan and I decided to add it to our Water Supply Inventory anyway. Community water is supplied by a well 500 or 600 yards down a foot path. While evaluating the site, we asked if another well we could see, is a private or community well. All the wells, even the one we are standing by, are private wells. The school has no power but over 130 students. Initial thoughts: Drill a well, install a windmill.

4:00PM At the motel. We will regroup at 6:00PM and drive into el Centro for dinner.

6:15PM In el Centro sitting at a table on the sidewalk. The proprietor comes out to take our order. It seems that this evening our choice if grilled pork, so that’s what we ordered. After dinner Din asked the proprietor if he had flan for dessert, he just laughed. Good food and company.

8:00PM In the compound. End of Day.

Friday, September 23, 2011

8:45AM Jean, Fernando, and I headed to the airport in Teguc while Dan stayed at the motel to wait for his ride to El Salvador.

10:45AM At the airport. Jean processed through ticketing, paid exit surcharge, and passed through security. Fernando and I waited till Jean had successfully cleared security. I went to a new Delta office on the third floor and changed my ticket for tomorrow. Fernando and I headed for Hotel General.

12:30PM Lunch at Hotel General.

4:00PM Lawyer Ochoa’s afternoon did not open up (I’m guessing he knows what we want to talk about so wasn’t available). Fernando and I had dinner at the Italian restaurant and Fernando went to the bus stop on his way back to Nacaome.

6:00PM In the hotel. End of day.

Saturday September 24, 2011

6:00AM In the hotel room catching my log up and trying to fill out my expense report.

10:00AM took a cab to airport and processed through, rates have gone from $10 to $12 for a taxi ride to the airport.

11:00AM At the gate, waiting.

12:55PM Plane left on time. Just enough time in Atlanta for a hotdog and beer and off to Montgomery.

8:35PM At the house. End of trip.

Trip Log (Written June 25th,2011 thru July 9, 2011)

reh@knology.net — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Saturday June 25, 2011

3:15PM Drove to Birmingham Airport Holiday Inn. Worst ride to Birmingham ever. Some type of accident on 65 stuck us at a standstill in traffic. At the next exit north of Prattville, we left the interstate and intended to use the GPS to guide us back to the interstate further north. We were on 31 so the GPS wasn’t necessary but so many other drivers decided to do the same thing that going was very slow with frequent stops. We got back on the interstate at Verbena. Apparently the traffic jam had broken up enough earlier for the knot of traffic to get ahead of us. The trip took over 2.5 hours.

Sunday June 26, 2011

4:30AM At the airport. Typical frustrations with processing through; kiosk didn’t work, clerks were unfriendly, the usual. Got to Houston just in time to process into the flight to Teguci. Started reading Pete Land’s book “How to Build a Winning Team“. Good stuff; I recommend it.

11:30AM In customs line at Teguci Airport. Very slow processing paperwork but the customs bag inspector just waved me through, so it all evens out.

1:00PM In Hotel Guijaerros. Rested and read some. Those of you who follow my logs know that this is the Hotel I was at when Mel Zalaya was thrown out of the country and where I was staying when snuck back in and was hold up in the Brazilian embassy. I like the hotel; friendly, helpful staff, clean rooms, good food, and a secure facility. In the compound. End of day.

Monday June 27, 2011

7:30AM Breakfast and studying Spanish. I had intended to spend the afternoon with Jorge Linares but he had unexpectedly been called out of town on business. I had arranged for a vehicle (rental pickup) to be delivered at 3:00PM but called to see if it could be delivered earlier.

1:00PM Pickup was delivered. I used a taxi to go down town to pick up plaques for kitchens L4L built.

2:20PM I was on my way to Nacaome. The highway is already showing wear from the rainy season. Very deep potholes appear with no warning; areas of road along mountain edges are starting to move down due to water in weaker fracture zones. There weaker fracture zones do not cause rapid failures but even a 6 inch drop can throw a driver off stride. Note to self: do not attempt driving at night.

4:30PM At the Hotel Real Vista Hermosa (an odd name for a motel with no view). Fernando stopped by for a few minutes but we didn’t discuss business. In the compound. End of day.

Tuesday June 28, 2011

8:00AM Fernando showed up late. Fernando’s daughter, Gina was up most of the night with an ear ache. Fernando stayed around till they could take her to the doctor. It’s been a busy day:
Story 1:
As you know, Living Waters Lutheran Church (LWL) decided to sponsor a school at the $9,000 per year level. I have not yet assigned a school for LWL. There is a reason for this and the story continues to unfold as I write. There are at least four very good choices for LWL but Jicaro has been at the top of my list and I wanted to see how events unfold before deciding. Actually, there are two schools; Jicaro (28 students) and Jicaro Abajo (35 students). Jicaro has a dedicated, quiet, serious minded principal named Claudia Lorena Euceda. Jicaro, on the other hand, has no principal, no teacher, in fact no school day. Jicaro is further down a road/creek bed than any other school in our program. Jicaro is further off the dirt road than 3 De Octobre or El Barrial. It is truly an arduous trip to a very remote very poor farming village. Last year the principal/teacher (there is only one teacher at this school) went on sick leave. A substitute was assigned. In Honduras, the Central Government assigns teachers. The purpose is to stop paternalism but the effect is that, often, teachers are assigned to distant villages that they have no knowledge of or interest in. The substitute came once in a while then just quit coming. This community is a very poor, uneducated, humble group of people who only want the best for their children but would never question government authorities; they know life is difficult and they endure. In delivering food supplies, Fernando came aware of the situation and went to the Education Department authorities in Nacaome and insisted that they assign another teacher. Sometime in the middle of this, late last school year, the permanent principal moved her status from temporary sick leave to permanent disability. Around April of this year the authorities assigned a permanent principal/teacher. This teacher went to the village once and never returned. School ceased and this went on for weeks. On one visit, Fernando explained to the community that he would have to take the food provisions that are simply sitting at the school and redistribute them to communities with a functioning school. The community implored Fernando to not take the provisions as the government keeps promising they will do something (actually, the authorities were tired of this community and had moved their attention elsewhere). Fernando said he would go to the authorities in Nacaome one more time but wanted some community leaders to go with him. Fernando tells me there was a whole crowd from Jicaro at the Education Director’s office at the appointed time; most of the community had come in. As it turns out, the Director of Education had been called away unexpectedly on urgent business and couldn’t meet with them. A larger group of curious Nacaome citizens had gathered. The local news reporter and a local TV camera were there. I am told that, emboldened by Fernando’s presence, the community elders stepped forward and started talking to the press, they held nothing back. As a result of this event, the Department of Education appointed a Principal/Teacher from Valle District. She is to start school on July 1. Fernando is in the process of setting up a meeting for me with this new teacher. Fernando is convinced that this is the right person for this particular job. Jicaro and Jicaro Abajo desperately need a sponsor. LWL would grow to respect, admire, and love these schools/communities, just as Messiah N. has come to love el Barrial. But, first Fernando and I must be confident that there is strong school leadership. The story continues to unfold but the issue of an assigned school for LWL will be handled over the next week.
Story 2:
Under Gerard’s leadership, Bentley Systems employees have gathered funds for yet another kindergarten. Those communities in the L4L program that want a kindergarten have one. Fernando knows of several communities adjacent to our area of operations that do not have kindergartens. We went to visit one. The trip took us on a road around behind the mountains where L4L schools are located into the area known as Moropocay. If a person says he is from Moropocay, you know he is country. The community we visited actually has a brick structure that was the old school. This brick structure needs a new roof, window screens, and doors. The Government has promised to build a new kinder… someday. The government will not pay for repairs to school buildings; they will only build new structures. The promised kindergarten will not come for years. Incidentally, this school has no government food provisions; there is no lunch at this school and you can see it in the children.
Our search for a kindergarten location is not being effective so Fernando and I went to the Department of Education building in Nacaome and talked with the woman in charge of all Kindergartens in this area.
Nacaome is equivalent to our County Seat of Nacaome “County”; further Nacaome is the equivalent of our State Capital for Valle District. We went to the office of the Director of Kindergartens in Nacaome “County” to ask for a list of schools that do not have kindergartens. The Department of Education for the “County” and District is located in a one story adobe building that encompasses a city block. The walls of these adobe buildings are 2 feet thick. The outside is plastered and painted a dull white/grey color. Window and door openings are large with functioning shutters. All of the offices open to an interior courtyard. There is no air conditioning; ventilation is provided through the exterior doors and windows, into the interior courtyard. We walk directly from the street into her “office”; a fairly large bay without partitions that has several well worn desks with matching chairs and filing cabinets. There is a thin partition with a very large doorway between the street side and the patio side of this large bay. The partition doorway is purposely very large to permit breezes to travel through the street-side offices to the inner patio. The Director of Kindergartens was very enthusiastic about our desire to build a kinder and will provide a list of schools without a kinder. We will return later in the afternoon.
Story 3:
We took a long lunch hour and I drove out to see Anabel and Miriam. Anabel has settled into 7th grade with enthusiasm, as one would expect. I asked to see some of her work. We went through one workbook after another. Her work is neat and precise. Grades haven’t come out for the first term yet (this is term finals week) but teacher’s check marks are consistently favorable. Miriam has wisely not started Anabel in English classes yet. English is taught at a private school after hours. This, coupled with the bus ride to Anabel’s house would take too much of Anabel’s time. We agreed that I would take all to lunch one day next week.
Story 4:
Each year our Honduras Management team holds a Parent/Teacher meeting at each school to reinforce the purpose and guidelines of L4L. Roxana had scheduled the meeting at Santa Lucas with Principal Angela Reyes. Every child was represented by a parent; a clear indication of the importance the community gives to the lunch program. Roxanna always gives a really good presentation. This school is next to the paved road. A potable water line runs along the highway and the school tapped into the line several years ago. As with most rural water services, the water is only on 2 hours a day and recipients must collect their daily water at that time. The school has a cistern for cleaning water at a location removed from the kitchen, but no capability to store drinking/cooking water. After the meeting, the President of the Mother’s group made a formal request for an enclosed plastic water container to be located in the kitchen. I gave my stock answer that L4L provides food but followed with a comment that this school has such an active Mother’s Group that I will carry their petition forward. Later, I inquired with Fernando what the mothers want. It turns out they want a plastic 55 gallon drum that is manufactured to store potable water. Frenando thinks one would cost approximately $75. I authorized Fernando to spend up to $100 on this cistern. I don’t know when, apparently I stepped out of the room while everyone was still there because Fernando chastised the group for always asking for something whenever Ron shows up. Late, I told Fernando that as long as they are asking for something for the school, let them talk. We’ll decide what we can do.
Drove to San Lorenzo for dinner of fried fish, rained and pickup lights are not that bright.

6:00PM In the compound. End of Day.

Wednesday June 29, 2011

8:00AM Fernando arrived with Mercedes Elizabeth Soravia, Presidenta de la Asociacion Hondurena de Padres y Madres de Familia “Volucmos a Clases” .This organization is similar to our PTA but is much more aggressive in pushing student’s needs. Fernando wants to involve her in the situation at Jicaro in the hopes that some noise from her “outside” group will help. We all drove to Jicaro where Fernando had set up a meeting with the community leaders. (Fernando has the sign-up sheet) This was a group of 3 men and 4 women; all serious minded people who work toward the betterment of the community and school. After about 45 minutes of discussion, Ms. Soravia helped them write and sign a letter she will hand-carry to the Dept. of Education in Teguci.

10:00AM Took building supplies to the kitchen project financed by 1st Methodist of Montgomery at Pedro Nufo. What a project! Workers are all over that building! When Fernando approached the community and explained that L4L would finance a kitchen, through 1st Methodist, at their school but the community must supply sand, gravel, and foundation rocks plus all the labor. Some communities are near rivers or the coast with sand beds (El Barrial, Rincon, Los Almendros, etc) Pedro Nufo is in the mountain high above calmer waters; there are no sand deposits around. The community voted to “assess” everyone and came up with $500+ to have the necessary sand and gravel delivered! This $500 cash plus labor will render a $6000 kitchen; the community feels this is a great deal. They also have a lot (for this community) invested on the front end; this project won’t falter! I love watching these communities come together on these projects!

12:00PM While driving out of the mountains, who should we meet riding a dirt bike out of the mountains but the newly assigned teacher for Jicaro and her husband! We invited them to join us for lunch in Nacaome to talk about Jicaro. After our lunch, I agree with Fernando, this is a serious minded, dedicated young teacher; her husband, a teacher at another mountain school, fits the same mold. I can’t make any guarantees but, with the community leaders, this new teacher, and LWL, I believe we are putting together the right team for the two Jicaros and I am looking forward to the evolution we will see in these communities.

2:30PM Went to “County” Department of Education and got our list of schools without kindergartens and drove by some of the closer in schools. I have explained, in the past, how (and why) the government makes a clear and definite distinction between kindergartens and elementary schools. Several of the schools on the list do not have a building/classroom built by the government specifically for a kindergarten but do have a very nice kindergarten room within the elementary school. They don’t need another classroom simply because an “official” kindergarten room wasn’t built by the government. This was also my first time at seeing the difference in elementary school facilities within barrios (neighborhoods) of a larger town (Nacaome) as opposed to very rural community schools. What a difference! Neighborhood schools in larger towns have light fixtures, a desk for each student, subject books for each student, brightly colored displays on freshly painted walls and more. I have often said “the poorer the community, the poorer the school”, the opposite is also true.

4:30PM In the compound. Having a beer with Fernando. End of Day.

Thursday June 30, 2011

8:00AM Fernando arrived. Fernando’s mother-in-law is a retired teacher who continues to volunteer for tasks around the school where she taught. The school in toward Ampapalla. It turns out that the school doesn’t have a kindergarten. Off we go. What a school! This is the best maintained elementary school campus I’ve seen! Everything is painted, there is no trash anyplace, there are patches of grass and manicured flower beds. Everyone needs Fernando’s mother-in-law as a volunteer. This is a location with no “officially designated” kindergarten but the prettiest, best equipped kindergarten classroom you could hope for! Drove by several others.

2:30PM I am starting to figure out what our problem is: Remember that I previously explained that there is a lower class of kindergarten where the instructor is not a registered teacher and is only paid $30 to $40 per month. These facilities are called “ceparadas” and are not designated as kindergartens; they are more like a day care center. This was the designation at el Barrial and is why a kinder was never built there. We have to find the person in charge of ceparadas. We did. She will have a list by tomorrow but she mentioned one where kindergarten (ceparada school) is held in a mother’s kitchen. We’ll head out there early tomorrow morning.

4:00PM In the compound. End of day

Friday July 1, 2011

7:30AM Fernando and I headed out into the mountains. Several trips back, probably 18 months to two years back, I described a debilitating disease called “mal de chaga” spread by a tick like insect that lives in moist dark humus material like firewood, leaves, thatched roofs, etc. The insect comes out a night and draws blood leaving behind this debilitating disease. There are present day cures but they are expensive and county people simply don’t have access to them. We are going back to that community. I hate to keep saying “this community is further out and more isolated than any others so far” but it’s true. We got there but none of the teachers were there. It seems that it is common for teachers at this school to not show up on Friday! Anyway, we were lead to the house where ceparada school is held. This is in a person’s house and I don’t want to be disparaging another’s house but these learning conditions are every bit as bad as el Barrial or Piedras Blancas. The room is dark and there are absolutely no school supplies. On a small (possibly 5ft by 5ft back porch, two desks are pushed together and the children sit around it. No child in the world should start their learning experience in these conditions. Fernando has some pictures; I will try to get them distributed.
Several community members came by to give us a tour of the elementary school. There are three neatly kept buildings with four teachers. No place exists on campus that could be diverted for use as a kindergarten. One of the ladies asked us to stop by for coffee and tamales on our way out of town.
We stopped at an adobe house that is set back in a yard with a clump of banana trees to one side and shade trees on the other. Through a break in the mountains in front of the house, one can see all the way to the pacific with mountains in Nicaragua to the left and mountain in El Salvador on the right. Absolutely spectacular but the residents have lived here all of their lives and it’s just another front yard to them. There was a constant gentle breeze. Under the porch that extends along the front of the house was cool and refreshing. Fernando has known the husband for years (of course he has). We sat on the porch drinking really great coffee and eating tamales while Fernando caught up on the latest news (men on the porch, women in the kitchen). Sometimes life is good.

11:00AM Back in Nacaome getting a list of ceparadas without classrooms. I asked Fernando if we could check one out yet today. “No! There are way out there; you haven’t seen anything yet!” The woman, a previous teacher-now administrator, told Fernando that she takes a police escort with her when she goes out there. He would use the weekend to call some friends from north of Langy to see if we can go to these schools by ourselves. He’ll have things set up by Monday. Where L4L is active, one is more secure in a truck with a L4L sign on the side than with the police. We’ll be going way outside of L4L territory.
We drove by a couple of newly mentioned school around Nacaome. None fit our criteria.
And aside: L4L provided all food stuff for lunch from Feb 15 to June 1. The WFP started providing beans, corn meal and rice in June. No school outside of the L4L program that we have visited while looking for a kindergarten location has received any WFP provisions. These schools are not serving any lunch. Schools in the L4L program do get preferential treatment; our schools are getting WFP provisions while those around us are not. I always cringe when Fernando says we provide milk, vitamins, and sugar… No we don’t! We provide (or cause the providing of) the whole lunch program. If you think we don’t, check the schools around us.

1:30PM On my way to Teguci.

3:30PM I had set up to stay at the Hotel Guijerro for Friday and Saturday night. Through my faulty Spanish I had reservations for Saturday only and there are no available rooms for tonight. Off to the Marriott. More money but they have a bed.

4:00PM In the hotel. End of Day.

Saturday July 2, 2011

8:00AM Having breakfast at the Marriott. Caught up on personal bookkeeping and took notes. Also watched a little news in English.

11:00AM Moved to the Guijarros. Relaxed in the patio area

2:00PM Ate a late lunch/early dinner at Asados El Gordo, a really good steak house not far from the hotel.

4:00PM In the compound. End of Day.

Sunday July 3, 2011

8:00AM Eating breakfast. It seems that I left the phone charger at the Marriott. I called twice last evening. They say they have checked the room and the charger isn’t there. Either someone found it or the staff really didn’t look. In either case, I don’t have a charger and my cell phone is dead.

9:30AM At the mall. Most stores open at 10:00AM or 11:00AM on Sunday. I got a cup of coffee.

10:00AM Those stores that have opened don’t have a charger and I really don’t believe the few left to open at 11:00 will either. These stores want to sell phones and expensive accessories; not chargers. Low cost items such as chargers are left to street vendors, individuals who walk between cars at red lights carrying/selling stuff. It is often not prudent to roll your window down for these vendors but they do sell chargers. I walked outside the mall and found a taxista and asked him if he knows where I can find a charger. Of course he does. We headed for Teguci Central. I asked if he knows the area we going to and if he is sure a Gringo will be secure. He said “Absolutely, you are with me. You will be safe.” Further down the road he said “Let me do the talking, these guys are a bunch of thieves.” We rolled down his window and asked the lady if she has a charger for a Nokia phone. She does. We tried the car charger; it works. She also had wall-socket charger. The taxista asked where we can try it out. She pointed to a poll behind a fence about a half block further down. We drive, she walks to that location. She reached her hand through a chain link fence, around the light pole and plugged the charger in. Meanwhile, the taxista is telling me we won’t buy anything without trying it, “these guys will sell anything”. By this time another couple of street vendors had stopped by to see if wanted their stuff. The charger worked; I got both for 140 Lps, approximately $7.00. Back to the mall. The taxista’s name is Lincoln; I’ll keep his name and number.

11:00AM On my way to Nacaome. Due to the rainy season, the road has deteriorated in just the last week. Can’t imagine what the trip will be like by the end of the rainy season.

1:00PM In the Real Vista Hermosa.

2:00PM Fernando came by. We spent an hour setting a tentative schedule for next week. Fernando had talked with some friends from Langue. They told Fernando he should not go back there unescorted. I was on the verge of suggesting that we take a police escort but realized Fernando preferred not to go. Fernando is not timid; if he doesn’t want to go, I better let it lay. Besides, suppose we decided to build a kitchen way out there, how would we get building supplies out there? The police aren’t going to be at our beck and call. Another time…

4:00PM In the compound, end of Day.

Monday July 4, 2011

7:30AM Fernando is at the motel. Setting out a “starter” schedule for the week, knowing it will change each day. When Fernando and I started a search for school in need of a kinder building, I expected that we would look at several schools without kinder buildings and make a choice within a day or two. Not so. Most schools with official “kindergarten” status have a classroom that they acquired one way or the other. Several of the schools with cepreda status have eked out space within the existing school buildings. We have only found one school with the level of need we are looking for. I told Fernando that it is time to make a decision on the kitchen location; he agrees but wants to spend the morning looking at 3 more schools he heard about last evening before we make a decision. As you know from the logs of previous days, we have been spreading the word that L4L has financing for a kindergarten; school principals are calling Farnando in the evening to suggest one location or another. All three schools on Fernando’s latest list are in the Moropocay region. Off we go. We turn north on the same mountain dirt road that climbs to over 3,000 feet and goes all the way out past Pedro Nufo.
First school: el Rincon, San Antonio. We travel a little ways along our regular dirt road north and turn to the left onto another better-than-normal dirt road. A fairly large, well kept school is only a mile or two down the road. The school is on the left hand side. The Principal, Juana, met us at the gate. This school goes through the 9th grade. The school has much more space and amenities than most schools. There is a nice kindergarten room in what would be an eating/lunch area if an official kinder were built. The school has a computer room (no computers yet), running water, and the start of an “auditorium”. This school has received WFP food. It is clear that the principal was hoping she could convince us to finish out the “auditorium” when she suggested that we visit her school. As nicely appointed as the school is, many, actually most, younger children have brown and thinning hair. On the way out, I mentioned that the school is has better facilities than most. Fernando said that is the result of a very active principal and teaching staff; the community is actually as poor as any in the region. I will add to that observation that it appears that schools with attached 7th, 8th, and 9th grades seem to have access to a few more assets that standard elementary schools.
Second school: Comunidad de Estacones. We go toward the mountains above the 2,400 foot level and turn left onto the standard unmaintained rock road/creek bed and go at least a half hour. This is a desperately poor remote farming community. The principal meets us and introduced us to the other teacher and kinder teacher. This is a very dedicated, serious minded cadre. This is a smaller school, probably 40 students (+/-). The school house, kinder building, and grounds are very clean and neat. The community has recently built an adobe kitchen. Lunch of WFP rice and beans is being prepared as we leave; this school is also presently receiving WFP products. I told Fernando to remember this location; when L4L can grow again, we will definitely consider this school. We use 4 wheel drive to climb back up to the “main” dirt road. It’s a good thing we rent vehicles, I would hate to see the repair bills for a vehicle after a year of this kind of use.
An aside: I mentioned to Fernando that, when I walked in the eyes of the younger kids got as big as saucers and their mouths gaped open. Their gaze stayed on me the whole time. Fernando said “They have no power for TV or radio and they are too little to walk all the way out; you’re the first Gringo they ever saw.” All of the teachers and other adults are the standard 5ft to 5ft 6in; I stand higher than most door openings. I must look like a giant to those little kids.
Third school: Comunidad de el Mapachin. Back on the “main” dirt road, we go further into the mountains and turn right onto a less steep dirt road/creek bed. 15 minutes along and we come into a fairly wide valley floor with gentler slopes rising on all sides to the rugged mountains. The Principal, (I don’t have her name) petitioned L4L in the past. She welcomed us and showed us around. Another very well kept facility with kinder but no kitchen. Lunch of beans and rice provided by WFP was being delivered as we left.
An aside: We just spent the morning visiting very poor communities with strongly engaged parents and a dedicated teaching staff. Each of these schools has received WFP food. To be sure, they were not receiving this food during the first several months of the year (no schools were); but the teachers are seeing to it that “their” children are among those who do get supplies when they are available. These are definitely the types of schools we want to include when we can grow again.

1:00PM In town, lunch in el central. Take a break.

3:30PM On the road to Anabel’s house. Miriam and Anabel were ready. Back to Nacaome to pick up Karen and Fernando, then to San Lorenzo. I wanted to take all to the restaurant owned by an x-pat from German because that is the only place I know of that has dark beer. They are closed on Monday. We went to an adjacent restaurant recommended by Fernando. Good food and good company.

7:00PM In the compound. End of Day.

Monday July 4 2011 (continued)

11:00AM On our way back from the Moropocay region, I suggested we drive out to el Barrial just to see the kindergarten 5 months later. Somehow, the community came up with some little red kindergarten-size tables and chairs. I’m guessing they shamed the Director of Education to come up with them. The only toys or teaching aids are those Gerard brought! Claire, if you guys are comfortable with your financing of the L4L lunch program and want a little side-project, I would recommend toys and teaching aids for your kindergarten. My only recommendation: no battery operated stuff. Second on the list; a very sturdy book case/shelves for a part of one wall.
We went by to see Daisie while we were in the area. I told Daisie that Claire and Kristin always ask about her and simply wanted to stop by so I could report back. She is now in 3rd grade and doing great. She is just as bright as ever with that winning smile, but a little more shy (am sure it has to do with age). She claims her leg doesn’t hurt. Her knee joint is frozen at a peculiar angle and she doesn’t put much pressure on it when walking. Her father has fashioned a plastic patio chair on a trashed wheel chair. Am not sure how much she hobbles around and how much she uses the chair; both rather difficult. We had a very pleasant visit with Daisie, her mother, father, and siblings. As we left town, I told Fernando that I wish the family would come around while the opportunity is still on the table but I can’t push the issue every time I see them. Fernando said he brought the subject up on a recent visit and said they were missing the best opportunity they will ever have. The mother pointed directly to the father and said “it’s his fault”. He sheepishly said that Daisie didn’t want to go. Fernando said that, while I can’t bring the subject up, he certainly can-and will. We’ll see.

1:30PM In town, lunch in el central. Take a break.

7:00PM In the compound. End of Day.

Tuesday July 5, 2011

7:30AM Fernando wants to visit one final location that claims not to have a kindergarten. We drove along CA-1 toward el Amatillo for about 5 miles then turned south on a well maintained dirt road. We came to a new very pretty small schoolhouse, actually, a kindergarten. This building is adobe with a thick plaster cover. There is a covered porch on the front and a large play area out back. The grounds have a cistern/wash area. The building is not quite complete and the teacher would like a newer roof. Once again, the principal hoped that, if Fernando and I stopped by we would provide assistance even though a serviceable kinder exists.

8:30AM Drove out to el Coyolar. The principal, Ms. Anabel Cruz, always a gregarious disposition, greeted us warmly. The community continues to improve on the kitchen. They have built a concrete bin with a screen top where they store all food to keep out mice and rats. Mothers were in the process of making lunch while we were there. Ms. Cruz, who lives near Langue, confirmed that we should not go north of Langue till the police have settled things down. It seems that some homegrown thugs are robbing anyone they happen across. Recently, two police sent into the area were killed by these thugs. Until the police get the area under control and settled down, the principal advises that we not go into that area.

10:10AM Fernando has arranged meetings with Jicaro Abajo at 11:00 and Jicaro Centro at 1:00. I will take a translator as I want to be sure I explain the status of having a sponsor.

11:00AM    We arrive on time. Several of the mothers and fathers are en route so we wait. There are two dogs sleeping comfortably on the classroom floor. I jokingly ask what grade they are in. Some comments about them being in kinder and that they are quieter than some of the kids. Once the meeting starts a mother tries to shoo the dogs out. The dog gets confused; he obviously thinks he is simply supposed to move to another part of the room. He doesn’t understand that he is supposed to actually leave the room. This is kind of amusing to everyone but the dog, the mother chasing the dog, and me. I finally tell the mother that it’s ok if the dog stays; after all, he’s only sleeping off to the side and bothering no one. There are 15 parents in attendance. This is a school of 35 kids and most parents have more than one child in school; every child is represented by a parent. This is a clear indication of the significance of the lunch program to this community.
I explained that there are two methods L4L uses to finance the lunch program at the different schools:
1.    General Funds. L4L collects money from individuals, churches, civic clubs, and companies and deposit this money into the General Fund. These funds are used to purchase provisions for schools financed by the general fund. Obviously, if donations fall below a certain level, we cannot provide all provisions necessary for a complete lunch.
2.    School Sponsorships: Individuals, churches, civic clubs, and companies request to sponsor a particular school. The sponsor commits to provide sufficient funds for the L4L program to be provided for the specific sponsored school for the year and look toward continuing this sponsorship into years beyond the first. Sponsored schools will receive lunch provisions regardless of the status of the L4L General Fund.
Everyone understood the tremendous benefit of being a sponsored school. I explained that, because this community has a strong mothers group and dedicated teachers, this school has been chosen to be sponsored by Living Waters Lutheran Church, Scottsdale, Arizona. There are two things L4L expects as a condition of maintaining this sponsorship:
1.    Continue preparing and providing the school lunch to the school children every school day. Continue to use the food provided efficiently; providing lunch only to those enrolled in the school and minimizing food waste.
2.    Communicate with your sponsor. Your sponsor wants to know that you appreciate the assistance they provide. Your sponsor also wants to build a relationship with this community; if you invite them to visit your community, they will send a representative.
These are stoic people; they accept any news (mostly bad news in their lives) with no outward signs. I saw emotions of joy all through that room. We had no sooner finished the meeting when the school principal wanted to know who she should address a “Thank You” letter to. Fernando took some group pictures; I’ll get them off to Living Waters upon my return.

12:00PM Our meeting at Jicaro Centro isn’t till 1PM. We drove to Perdo Nufo to check on the kitchen project. We are going to carry the walls 2 blocks higher to allow for better ventilation. We are also going to put a bonnet above the fire pit and direct the smoke to the outside through a stove pipe. A little more money for this construction, but a much more comfortable cooking environment.

1:00PM We are at Jicaro Centro. Most of the parents wait till they hear our pickup coming down the road to head for the school. Once again, there are 15 parents representing 34 students; every child is represented. Usually 20 to 25% of the parents are fathers. With this group, over 2/3 are fathers. I think this has to do with the heightened level of concern among the community due to the recent history of not having a teacher.
I gave the same presentation except about the dedicated teachers. I explained that this community has a long history of bad fortune with assigned teachers through no fault of their own. Fernando and I have met with the newly assigned teacher, Mrs. Fany Vancura and we are confident that she will bring the dedication to her job that the community needs. The rest of the presentation is similar. After our presentation, the elder statesman of the community responded. He said that he appreciates that L4L has stayed with the community through these difficult times. The parents work hard for the benefit of their children and know how important the lunch program and school is to the children. He promised that the community will do anything in their power to be sure the school is operating, lunch is served, and to satisfy the sponsor. There was true emotion in his voice and everyone looked at the floor so as not to betray their emotion. I believe the community thought we were coming to explain why we couldn’t continue the program (remember, these are a fatalistic people) and had no idea they would end up with a sponsor.
4:00PM At the motel, Juan (our translator) goes home. Fernando and go to San Lorenzo for dinner and to discuss events of the day and the next couple.

7:00PM In the compound. End of Day.

Wednesday July 6, 2011

8:00AM Breakfast with Fernando at his house. Fernando had a few personal chores to accomplish today. I used the morning to catch up on a backlog of notes and expense account stuff, etc. 4:00PM Fernando and I went to San Lorenzo for dinner.

6:30PM In the compound. End of Day.

Thursday July 7, 2011

7:30AM Those of you who have been following my trip logs know that Elise and are assisting a girl named Waldina through high school. This is a bittersweet story with more bitter than sweet. She lives with a bunch of other family members in a two room shack, neither room bigger than 8x8. Ask Kristi Holzimmer, she has been there. In the culture of the very poor, a child over 12 who lives in a house is expected to assist in providing. Meanwhile, high school environment is more of what we expect in college; the teacher presents the material and you either make it or you don’t. There is absolutely no individual help or even any awareness of personal difficulties. When school is over, she must go home. Once she is home, she does chores. Her grades have been barely passing. Waldina understands the opportunity she has; she is swimming against the current as hard as she can and constantly falls a little further behind. Last year I attempted to arrange where she could stay at school 2 hours after school and do her homework. The school principal and others said they would make it happen and promptly forgot our conversation when I left. Waldina is failing Physics. Fernando knows a physics teacher at the school (she teaches a different level but is certainly qualified to tutor Waldina). Fernando and I set up where the teacher will tutor Waldina after school 3 evenings a week. Waldina is expressionless when with me (except for breaking down in tears once last year while we were discussing grades). When we started helping Waldina 2.5 years ago, I explained that she must maintain a grade point average above 80%. She has never come close to that. Possibly she has been afraid that I would cut her assistance. This time I explained that I would continue her assistance as long as she maintains passing grades; if she does not maintain passing grades the school will not permit her to stay. I explained that we have arranged a tutor for her and that she must meet with the tutor every scheduled day if she wants to complete high school. I close with a comment about how hard she has worked for the last two years and she must redouble her efforts over the next two; we have arranged for a tutor that will include study time. With that, I drove off and left a 15 year old girl to the elements. I don’t believe she can survive 2 more years of school under the existing living conditions and I have no idea what else I can do. I am sorry for starting this endeavor and for what it is doing to Waldina.

11:30AM At Roxana’s house for a lunch of bean soup. A very pleasant 2 hours with her, her second daughter, Suyen, and her granddaughter. I have often said that Hondurans prefer to cook on a wood burning open fire pit than on a kitchen range. Roxana and I sat talking in the back yard as the bean soup cooked in a round-bottom clay pot over a wood burning fire pit. Good stuff. I reminded Roxana of how important our yearly meetings with parents/teachers is and asked if she could help Fernando get them done. Of course she will (she just wants a little special attention).

3:00PM In the office of our lawyer, Mr. Ochoa. A few months ago, Mr. Ochoa advised Fernando to modify our L4L Honduras registration documents (equivalent to Articles of Incorporation in the US) to include building kitchens, kindergartens, and other school or community improvements. The project has been stuck on dead center for too long. We set up a very specific set of tasks that will deliver the necessary documents to us in Spanish and English. We will get Board approval, necessary signatures (as I recall, all BoD members must sign) and send back to Mr. Ochoa and he will submit to the government. I’ll stay on top of this; I want it done before we submit our Yearly (audit) Report to the Honduras Government.

4:30PM San Lorenzo for dinner

7:00PM In the compound. End of Day

Friday July 8, 2011

This whole day fits into the “Why-would-anyone-do-that?” category.
A while back, I told Fernando I would like to drive north through Langue and just continue north on the dirt roads to Copan. Fernando said the way to go north is through Goascoran and you will come out far south of Capan and west of Tegucigalpa in Comayagua. Fernando said he would like to do that too as he has never been along that road much farther north than Goascoran. We had accomplished (or at least got a start on) most of our tasks for this trip so we decided mid-day yesterday to go this morning. Fernando arranged for a friend who has traveled this route several times to go with us. It turned out to be a darn good idea as we would still be wandering those back roads without a guide! The following notes really have nothing to do with L4L but it really this was a cool trip.

7:00AM I am at Fernando’s house picking him up. We have his friend Steven, our guide, and leave Nacaome.

7:30AM We are turning north off of CA-1 onto the dirt road that heads to Goascoran and points north. The river that is the border with El Salvador is to our left. The river valley is deep and we seldom see the river because there is a lesser ridge between us and the river. The dirt road is a typical “main” dirt road ranging from fairly well maintained to very rough; 4 wheel drive is not needed. The road more closely follows the lower side of very rugged mountains rather than run the ridges as in the Moropocay region. There is another huge difference that one notices immediately; the villages are not nearly so poor. Fernando says it’s because many of the men go to the US and send money back. That might be true but the same is said of los Almendreous. I think a large part of the difference is that, while the mountains are just as steep and rugged, the valley floors are wider with gentler slopes rising to touch the rock cliffs of the mountains. Farming is easier and more productive in this area. The difference is between not being able to raise quite enough crops to support a family and being able to raise enough. The villages are what you see on postcards or in magazines; whitewashed houses with red roofs and lush greenery all around. The larger communities have cobblestone roads through the community center. As we travel north, the El Salvador border curves west and so does the river. We start to climb higher. The scenery of intensely rugged mountains with rock faces coming straight out of the green floor and covered with a green top. There is no way I can describe the view nor would pictures show what one sees. The best analogy I can think of is; when you happen to sit in on a band that is perfect and the music is engrossing, it’s late, you get tired but you can’t leave. The CD you buy will never match the moment and you know it. You know that when you leave you will never be able to recall in your mind how wonderful the music is in the moment. That’s what the first 2 hour ride was like. Even Fernando, who has lived here all his life, was caught up in the beauty. We came to one little town with a beautiful small central park with the church on one side, elementary school on the other. To the right of the church, are some small shops; to the left are “county” government buildings. We stopped and bought some tamales from a street vendor (11cents each). I watched children around the school; Fernando talked with a local (politics, of course). The amount of chocolate brown hair is much decreased among these children; to be sure, there are some, but much less than I am used to seeing. As we left, Fernando asked if I heard the accent of the woman vendor (I had not, I simply couldn’t understand her). Fernando said it was Spanish with a heavy native Indian accent and dialect; much as you still hear in Guatemala.
As we rose above the 3,000 foot level, we came upon the construction of a huge limited access highway. Of course, there were no barriers or instructions so we simply drove on the paved part, then on the unpaved part. Fernando explained that Honduras is in the process of connecting the 4 lane highway from the Atlantic that goes to Teguci with the Pacific at el Amatillo. El Salvador recently finished a state-of-the-art port on the pacific side but has no access to the Atlantic. Honduras hopes to capitalize on this circumstance by providing the land route and the Atlantic access. This will certainly change forever, the ride we just took but it should also help Honduras financially. On our way to Comayagua we pass a huge US military base. Since we are on a high plateau with mountain ranges far the distance, this was the location that was proposed for a safer airport. The proposal never got off the ground (no pun intended) because the powerful and wealthy business interests in Teguci did not want to lose all their business to Comayagua. What a surprise; economics wins over safety.
We had lunch in Comayagua and headed back to Nacaome through Tegucigalpa.
I would highly recommend this (long) day trip to anyone.

4:30PM In the compound. End of day.

Saturday July 09, 2011

7:30AM Checked out of the Real Vista Hermosa and on the road to the Guijarros. Lots of car traffic coming from Teguci to the Pacific. I think its people coming to the coast for the weekend. Also lots of freight trucks with shipping cargo units from the port at San Lorenzo headed my way toward Teguci. Note to self: Don’t drive to Teguci Saturday morning between 6AM and noon.

10:00AM In the Guijrrros.

10:30AM Rental car company came by to pick up car.

11:00AM Fernando showed up. We went over Principal’s attendance report. I gave him the phone. Lawyer Ochoa and Wilson showed up. We went over the documents Ochoa needs for changing our Honduras registration documents. By the time everyone moved on it was 1:30.

1:30PM Relaxed and finalized notes and expense account. In the compound. End of Day.

Trip Log (Written March 31,2011 thru April 16, 2011)

reh@knology.net — Tue, 17 May 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Thursday, March 31, 2011

5:15AM At the Montgomery Airport ticket counter. Ticket agents are on duty and there are already 10 people in line. Quite a difference from a year ago when nobody showed up at the ticket counter till 5:30ish. The suitcase security screening station was not opened so, after receiving our tickets, we waited in line to check our bags through security till 5:30. Flight to Atlanta was more than ¾ full.

10:00AM Atlanta time, flight left on schedule. Plane is no more than 1/3 full.

12:30PM Through customs and on my way to Hotel General. I had hoped to catch up with Lidia Fromm and get the list of Donor Organizations in the South Zone. Lidia has told me that one of her assistants will email the list; that has not happened. I’ll get the list sooner or later while I am here.

I called Fernando to let him know I am here. I commonly bring “my” cell phone to Teguci when I fly out and leave it with the receptionist; Fernando retrieves it when he comes to Teguci. He told me the receptionist didn’t have it when he came to the hotel and asked me to check. It’s not here. The phone is old and the battery won’t hold a charge for more than half a day; we were going to change it out on this trip anyway. This will cause us to do what we were going to do anyway.

4:00PM Ate at my favorite Italian restaurant.

5:30PM Picked up the rental vehicle so I can leave early tomorrow.

6:00PM In my room. Getting my last shot of CNN (English) for the next 12 days. End of Day

Friday, April 1, 2011

5:50AM Went to sleep early, got up early. Processing out of Hotel and am on my way south. Not much traffic on the city at this hour so I made good time to the south side of town. Rush hour traffic is starting to come into the city from the outskirts so there is a steady stream of vehicles north. This inhibits passing slower vehicles going south so going was slow for the first 5 to 10 miles but as traffic thinned out, I could move right along.

7:30AM In Nacaome at Hotel Real Hermosa Vista. Called Fernando from front desk

8:30AM Fernando and I are on our way to el Barrial. On the ride, we caught up on all things Honduras.

Teachers vs. Government: The Honduras Government has a long history of paying government employees (teachers) late or offering a raise then not including it with monthly pay for an extended period of time. Because of this treatment and because the government really doesn’t have any money for pay raises, several years in the past the Teacher’s union got the contract concession that they could strike for “legitimate” grievances and get paid while on strike. This provision was used sparingly. About 5 years ago, the teachers were given a negotiated raise that was to start at a certain time.

The teachers received no raise 5 months into the stipulated time. The teachers protested by blocking the entrance to the airport. The teachers had arranged, with the police, that they would block the airport entrance and cause the three daily commercial flights to the US to leave empty to prove to the government that they had clout. Fortunately for Elise and me, Jorge Lineras was accompanying us. By following Jorge along a circuitous route and talking with friends of his, we were among the very few who entered the airport. After processing in, Elise, Jorge and I walked to the wall that is about 10 feet above the protestors just to see what was going on in the street below. Elise saw an unruly mob. I saw a few thousand people enjoying the morning air; vendors were pushing carts among the demonstrators, boy demonstrators were talking/walking with girl demonstrators. Everyone was enjoying the reunion. Jorge tells me that back when he was in college he joined some protest “movements” because that’s where all the chicks were. He says that protesting back then was much more dangerous because the police wouldn’t hesitate to shoot into the crowds and would indiscriminately arrest people in the area (the connotations of being “arrested” in Honduras still has a more harsh edge than in the US). Everything in moderation til the Mel Zalaya incident. Mel was a liberal populist who promised everything that he knew the country couldn’t afford. He was (still is) popular among the poor and the left wing of the Liberal Party; many within the Teacher’s union consider themselves left leaning Liberals and used the pay-while-striking provision during the entire Zalaya incident and beyond to the current situation. An aside: most of our school principals are not that far left leaning and keep their school opened most of the time. The Protest-and-pay came to a head toward the end of the last school year when records showed that many teachers had been in school as little as 90 days! Parents, the public, and the government ran out of patience and the government revoked that clause in the Teacher’s Contract (am not clear if that was unilateral during the effective time of the agreed upon contract or imposed during new contract negotiations). The government went further: effective this weekend, if a teacher misses 1 day he/she will be docked 3 days pay; if a teacher misses 3 days in a row he/she will be suspended without pay; if a teacher misses a week, he/she will be terminated and replaced. Nobody knows if the government will hold the line or back off. We’ll see. In speaking with one teacher yesterday, I commented that while the government and teachers squabble, the students are the ones that lose. The teacher responded “yes, for most kids in my school, a day without school is a day without food”. I was a little surprised that he sees the meal as the most immediate loss to the kids.
WFP provisions: WFP grains and legumes were delivered to our schools at the end of March, for April lunches. This will take a little pressure off our cash flow. Don’t get used to it, I expect very sporadic delivery over the year. In fact, I’m surprised delivery has resumed; Fernando is not surprised and is more optimistic about the near term future. I am going to attempt to have a meeting with the local WFP manager. Fernando is getting along very well with her and I want to encourage this interaction.
Annual L4L Parent/Teacher meeting at each school: Roxana has not initiated a single meeting! I will have to talk with her to find out why. This annual meeting is a cornerstone to L4L staying in touch with the community participants. Am not sure what we’ll do with this.

9:30AM At el Barrial. All is finished except some trim painting. Fernando is contracting the school painting which is how it should be. The community did a tremendous amount of work over 2 months. Each person has his own fields to maintain, jobs to attend to, families to provide for. While they put a tremendous amount of time and energy into a kindergarten for the kids, they aren’t going to give much time to something a frivolous as painting a building. Will send a bunch of pictures with Dedication Ceremonies a week from Monday.

11:30AM In San Lorenzo purchasing a new phone. It seems that the phone was appropriated and used to the tune of $250. We got a print-out of charges. Calls were around Teguc and northern Honduras. Fernando wants me to insist that the hotel pay these charges; I really don’t think that is a productive avenue to pursue. Lesson learned; find another method to hand off the phone or leave it in Nacaome.

12:30PM Lunch in San Lorenzo and back to motel. Fernando and I attempted to schedule out the first few days of next week.

2:30PM Fernando had a meeting with a gov. group. I always encourage this type of interaction.

4:30PM Drove to a new restaurant in San Lorenzo. First tender beef I’ve has in the southern zone of Honduras!
Trip Log

Thursday, March 31, 2011

5:15AM At the Montgomery Airport ticket counter. Ticket agents are on duty and there are already 10(+/-) people in line. Quite a difference from a year ago when nobody showed up at the ticket counter till 5:30ish. The suitcase security screening station was not opened so, after receiving our tickets, we waited in line to check our bags through security till 5:30. Flight to Atlanta was more than ¾ full.

10:00AM Atlanta time, flight left on schedule. Plane is no more than 1/3 full.

4:00PM Ate at my favorite Italian restaurant.

5:30PM Picked up the rental vehicle so I can leave early tomorrow.

6:00PM In my room. Getting my last shot of CNN (English) for the next 12 days. End of Day

Friday, April 1, 2011

7:30AM In Nacaome at Hotel Real Hermosa Vista. Called Fernando from front desk.

8:30AM Fernando and I are on our way to el Barrial. On the ride, we caught up on all things Honduras.

The teachers received no raise 5 months into the stipulated time. The teachers protested by blocking the entrance to the airport. The teachers had arranged, with the police, that they would block the airport entrance and cause the three daily commercial flights to the US to leave empty to prove to the government that they had clout. Fortunately for Elise and me, Jorge Lineras was accompanying us. By following Jorge along a circuitous route and talking with friends of his, we were among the very few who entered the airport. After processing in, Elise, Jorge and I walked to the wall that is about 10 feet above the protestors just to see what was going on in the street below. Elise saw an unruly mob. I saw a few thousand people enjoying the morning air; vendors were pushing carts among the demonstrators, boy demonstrators were talking/walking with girl demonstrators. Everyone was enjoying the reunion. Jorge tells me that back when he was in college he joined some protest “movements” because that’s where all the chicks were. He says that protesting back then was much more dangerous because the police wouldn’t hesitate to shoot into the crowds and would indiscriminately arrest people in the area (the connotations of being “arrested” in Honduras still has a more harsh edge than in the US). Everything in moderation till the Mel Zalaya incident. Mel was a liberal populist who promised everything that he knew the country couldn’t afford. He was (still is) popular among the poor and the left wing of the Liberal Party; many within the Teacher’s union consider themselves left leaning Liberals and used the pay-while-striking provision during the entire Zalaya incident and beyond to the current situation. An aside: most of our school principals are not that far left leaning and keep their school opened most of the time. The Protest-and-pay came to a head toward the end of the last school year when records showed that many teachers had been in school as little as 90 days! Parents, the public, and the government ran out of patience and the government revoked that clause in the Teacher’s Contract (am not clear if that was unilateral during the effective time of the agreed upon contract or imposed during new contract negotiations). The government went further: effective this weekend, if a teacher misses 1 day he/she will be docked 3 days pay; if a teacher misses 3 days in a row he/she will be suspended without pay; if a teacher misses a week, he/she will be terminated and replaced. Nobody knows if the government will hold the line or back off. We’ll see. In speaking with one teacher yesterday, I commented that while the government and teachers squabble, the students are the ones that lose. The teacher responded “yes, for most kids in my school, a day without school is a day without food”. I was a little surprised that he sees the meal as the most immediate loss to the kids.

WFP provisions: WFP grains and legumes were delivered to our schools at the end of March, for April lunches. This will take a little pressure off our cash flow. Don’t get used to it, I expect very sporadic delivery over the year. In fact, I’m surprised delivery has resumed; Fernando is not surprised and is more optimistic about the near term future. I am going to attempt to have a meeting with the local WFP manager. Fernando is getting along very well with her and I want to encourage this interaction.

Annual L4L Parent/Teacher meeting at each school: Roxana has not initiated a single meeting! I will have to talk with her to find out why. This annual meeting is a cornerstone to L4L staying in touch with the community participants. Am not sure what we’ll do with this.

12:30PM Lunch in San Lorenzo and back to motel. Fernando and I attempted to schedule out the first few days of next week.

2:30PM Fernando had a meeting with a gov. group. I always encourage this type of interaction.

4:30PM Drove to a new restaurant in San Lorenzo. First tender beef I’ve has in the southern zone of Honduras!

6:30PM In compound. End of Day.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

8:00AM Late breakfast in el Central. Working on expense account, admin stuff.

11:00AM Drove out to Roxana’s to pick up vitamin containers I had sent ahead with Jorge Lineras. As you know, we purchase vitamins in lots of 25,000. I noticed that Fernando was using any plastic bags he could find to carry vitamins to schools. Some of the bags are so flimsy they have holes in them before they get to the school. I purchased 250 quart size plastic containers with lids. Jorge left them with Roxana. As it turns out, Roxana had sent them to Fernando via a friend only an hour earlier but it was good to visit with Roxana and family. For the past 3 years, our visits had been business related; this was a more relaxed visit. I brought up the issue of Parent/Teacher meetings. Roxana said she could only set up two due to teacher/government strikes. I didn’t push the issue; I see this more as my problem than hers and I’ll have to figure it out.

1:00PM Picked up Miriam and Anabel and went to San Lorenzo for dinner to celebrate Anabel’s 16th birthday. I am constantly taken aback at the mix of confidence and naiveté. Anyone who knows anything of Anabel knows her first 9 (actually, 12) years consisted of a rough scrabble existence on the grittiest side on a border town. This background coupled with 4 years in the nurturing environment of Miriam’s clan has produced a quiet unshakable confidence that she can handle any situation. At the same time, she lives in an environment where the basics of life are a day to day struggle. In her world, people think about the necessities of today, or with some luck, tomorrow but not next year or years ahead; Anabel has given no thought of her life beyond this year in high school. I told Anabel that she can change her mind 20 times over her high school years but she must start thinking about what she will study in college to prepare for her life. On the ride home I explained to Anabel that she has a unique opportunity (for her world) to become a professional and she must start thinking about that now. Miriam agreed with that! I am sure she will talk with Anabel, though this is new territory for her as well.

4:30PM Went to the river for a beer.

6:00PM In the compound. End of day.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Spent the morning on admin stuff, changed motel room (condensation from the air conditioner above drips on my unit. Doesn’t sound like much but at 2:00AM it can be very distracting, getting ready for next week.

12:00PM Fernando invited me over for sopa de cangrejo (crab soup).

1:30PM Fernando and I went to visit Ms. Nunez to see if Tuesday would be a good day to come to her school for a video interview. Ms. Nunez prefers Tuesday so they can tidy up the kitchen and grounds and the children will know to wear their best. I wanted to tell her not to tell the kids so the camera sees a normal day but I couldn’t. Just as with us Gringos, the community and parents don’t want to be presented as disheveled and dirty to those looking in; personal pride is universal. The Rotary Club will see a video of the school at its best. Of course, as with most Central American visits, you can’t simply take care of business and leave; and politics is always a popular topic. Ms. Nunez comes from a very poor background; her parents did without (translates to “went hungry”) so she could go to high school. Ms. Nunez’s mother lives with her and her family. She loves to argue politics. Fernando and she had a great time.

2:30PM Back in Fernando’s house. Diana, our camera person called so the Tuesday is set up. Will try to find a woman translator; quite often a woman being translated by a man sounds disjointed.

3:30PM Fernando had some family stuff to handle so I went to the river for a relaxing few hours.

An interesting story came from these few hours: Fernando’s wife is a biologist and runs a medical lab in Nacaome and Fernando works every day. While their house is up-scale for Nacaome, laundry and dishes are done by hand and housework is done without vacuum cleaners, etc. There are also the two very young children that must be tended to. They have a full time and an assistant maid. The full time maid is usually an experienced adult and the assistant is usually a younger (teenage) girl. About 3 years ago, Fernando introduced me to their new assistant maid and explained that she had graduated from 3 de Octobre (a school in the L4L program-Kristi’s favorite). Obviously, she is very country. During the introduction, Fernando explained that she is healthy because of the L4L program and now her skin tone lightens every month because she is not in the sun all day. Later Fernando explained that he knew the father and the father had asked (implored) Fernando to give the girl some work. She lives and eats in Fernando’s house and they give her a spending allowance. In the US, this would smack of Child Labor Law violations; in Honduras, the father has one less hungry child in the house, the girl has gainful employment while she is young and has the opportunity to become part of the Nacaome community. During the interim, the fulltime maid moved on and this girl was “promoted”. Another assistant maid of a similar background was hired.

While walking from my pickup to the tienda at the river I usually go to, I saw this girl walking toward another tienda with a friend. We waved at each other and went our own ways. All age groups relax and socialize at the river; these girls were enjoying their day off with friends. After about an hour, she and her friend stopped by my table to say “Hi” (to not do so would have been disrespectful). By this time, Abel, from the motel staff, had joined me. Introductions all around and we all sat down for a drink. During the conversation, I learned that she is starting her second year of high school (8th grade). As it turns out, since the girl is reliable and dependable, after a year of work, Fernando and his wife financed her return to high school and brought on the assistant to cover while she is in school. As I have said in the past, every successful family I know of assists some less fortunate child. Because of the generosity of Fernando and his wife, this girl will go through high school while being provided for. An opportunity rarely afforded a poor country girl.

6:00PM In the compound. End of Day.

Monday, April 4, 2011

7:30AM Started toward 3 de Octobre but the Principal is not there today and I want to visit when he is there so turned toward Santa Lucia. The same very pleasant, low key reception by Angela Reyes as always. We explained that we would stop by with visitors on Monday. It was obvious by her demeanor that she is pleased that the school was chosen. The school and school yard is always neat. Her classes have planted various bushes around the yard. This is actually very poor soil with little rain during most of the year. Without fertilizer (which, of course, they can’t afford for schoolyard plants), plants are pretty scraggily, but she tries. Some of this trip has been a little tedious; visiting with Ms. Reyes is a pleasant respite.

8:45AM On to Jicaro Abajo. This is a very poor very small school with two young but dedicated and serious minded teachers. The school is a standard block structure on a concrete pad; there is no electricity or water. They have no kitchen. Of course, as with all schools, no school supplies are provided by the government and the teachers make do. We will build a kitchen with the funds raised by Allen and Sandy.

9:30AM Next stop is Jicaro. This community is 30 minutes off the “main” dirt road down a creek bed accessible only by 4x4. This is truly an out-of-the way community. The assigned teacher got sick many months back and the school sat closed. Fernando complained to the authorities in Nacaome that they had not assigned a replacement. The Education Department assigned a replacement teacher. Upon our arrival, the school was closed and the Parents Group President explained to us that a substitute teacher had been assigned about 6 weeks ago but has not arrived yet. Fernando will lodge another complaint. Each time Fernando complains, the Education Department Officials become irritated with Fernando but cause a response. I asked Fernando why the community isn’t up in arms. Fernando said “They are very humble country people, they simply don’t complain.” Roxana’s description “small, forgotten schools” certainly fits.

10:30AM North, further into the mountains. There is a public clinic ahead where Fernando (and, on an occasion, I) pick up WFP food as instructed by Dr. Cerrato. The clinic is a block structure similar to schools. There are several adobe houses clustered around and a few shade trees. There are always a few saddled horses tethered to a shade tree and at least a half dozen adults, some with babies, others with old people patiently waiting to see the nurse. This is a scene directly out of a spaghetti western popular in the early ‘60’s. Each time we ride into this scene, I expect to see Clint Eastwood leaning against a shade tree with his woven Mexican poncho and cowboy hat pulled down to shade his eyes. As is the el costumbre, we pick up a few people who have seen the doctor and live some distance (a few miles- people living within a mile would refuse the ride to leave room for those further out). We pick up an old lady helped into the truck by a younger (middle age) man and a mother with her baby. A few men climb in the back. We drop them off at their location as we go to to other two schools pass a country clinic.

11:00AM The next school is Pedro Nufio. This is set back from the road and is painted white; a very pretty location with a broad mountain view. The school has a very strong mother’s group and no kitchen. I believe we would have to pay for some of the sand and gravel but would get lots of donated labor from the fathers.

11:45AM And finally Escuela Jose Angel Cerrato. This school has approximately 80 elementary school students. On the same campus is a high school with 7th 8th and 9th grades. There are two high school teacher and 80 students. Three years ago, during the Q/A session of a Parent Teacher meeting, a father asked if there was any way we could provide lunch for the high school children. I told him that L4L targets elementary schools, that I would take the request to our BoD, but I could not be encouraging. The father said, in a very humble voice “these children walk a long ways to school and they come from the same poor families as the elementary school children, they are hungry when they get to school too. If you could provide any part of a meal, it would be greatly appreciated.” L4L was/is struggling to keep all schools on the program; we had to deny the request. Not a single 7th 8th or 9th grader has ever complained or commented about this. They understand; the younger kids get fed and they are no longer younger kids. The truth is, I often avoid visiting this school because I know of this disparity and can do nothing. Incidentally, the man who made the inquiry did not have children in high school. If we could get a sponsor for this school, I know that after one visit, the sponsor would find a way to include these other 80 kids.

1:30PM Back in Nacaome. Ate lunch in el Central.

2:30PM Diana and our translator arrived. Went over the interview we would tomorrow for the Rotary Club social on June 23.

3:30PM Went to Ms. Nunez’s house to go over the interview with her. Diana is very intelligent, very academic (in an artsy kind of way) and very organized. She confused Ms. Nunez in two minutes. At first, I thought this meeting was a bad idea but by the next morning, Ms. Nunez had collected herself and presented an excellent interview and tour of the school and lunch preparation. I really expect Diana to put together an excellent 10 minute video.

5:00PM We all ate dinner at an outdoor kitchen in el Centro. I listened to two young college academics explain how they are going to change/improve the world.

7:00PM In the compound. End of day.

Friday, April 8, 2011

7:30AM Fernando and I went over the revised L4L Chart of Accounts and standard forms Cheryl had developed for us. I think we’re all looking at the same page now. I also think we have an improved accurate and streamlined accounting system. Other admin stuff such as our required yearly accounting submittal for the Honduras Government. We use a local accounting firm to develop the submittal and Fernando hand-carries three copies to the appropriate government office. Fernando has all three stamped, dated, and signed as receive by the agency. The Gov. keeps a copy, Fernando keeps a copy, and I will bring a copy back with me. Most NGO’s don’t bother with this since NGO’s don’t pay taxes and nothing ever comes of it but Fernando cautions against ignoring this seemingly innocent detail. We’re lucky we have Fernando watching our back.

10:30AM Its been a pretty fast week so we really slowed the day down today. Had breakfast in el Centro and went our own ways till 7:00PM when we will go to the Choluteca Rotary Club meeting.

I did some house cleaning, literally. When you are in a motel room without your wife to pick up after you, you have to do it yourself or the clutter gets unmanageable. Now it’s my turn.

Believe it or not, for a modern motel of this size, all laundry is still washed by hand and hung out to dry. Once dried, the items are rolled up and returned. All clothing is returned inside out. Possibly a few of you can go back to when your mother hung the laundry on a line with cloth pins. Each cloth pin left a stretch mark. When folding the clothes, your mother would give a tug at the stretch mark so it wouldn’t show when the article was worn. One of my morning tasks was to turn everything right side out and tug at the stretch marks. Actually, much more difficult than it looked when my mother did it.

7:00PM Headed for Choluteca for the 8:00 Rotary meeting. People started showing up at 8:00 but it was 8:30 before everyone sat down for the meeting and about 1/3 straggled in till 9:00. This is the week before Easter week, THE vacation week of the year. The Club has 20 some members; 12 were in attendance. In anticipation of a small crowd, no guest speaker was scheduled so I was given the opportunity to present L4L. There was much more enthusiasm than I had expected; we simply have to find a corresponding Future Vision Club in the US. Incidentally, this club did a Future Vision project with the Madison, AL Club. I thought country folk in Honduras liked long meetings because it’s a diversion from the monotony. This meeting lasted till 10:00 and most of the group was still there as we made our farewells. Hondurans like long meetings! A very worthwhile trip. I wish I had found this club several years ago.

11:00PM In the compound. End of Day.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

8:00AM Late breakfast.

9:30AM Alcalde Valesquez in the motel lobby. Some kind of meeting with District School Governor. Mr. Valesquez introduced me to a school district official. I didn’t get a card so can’t write her name. She seemed much more interested in herself, not interested in L4L. Other than having her name on file, there would be no reason to have it. Slow morning, some good coffee.

12:20PM Spent several hours with Fernando and others at the tienda by the river.

7:00PM In the compound. Laid down for a short rest before dinner and fell asleep. End of Day.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

7:00AM Breakfast with Fernando. Fernando’s brother joined us on his way to start his day.

10:00AM Alex Erazo joined Fernando and me at a table in the main hotel lounge/breakfast area. Mr. Erazo is the Rotary District Secretary and VP of the San Pedro Sula Rotary Club. His English is extensive and without the typical Latino accent. I explained L4L.

10:30AM Congressman Jose Dario Gamez Panchame arrived. Besides being a Congressman, Mr. Gamez and his two brothers own one of the largest construction companies in Honduras. Mr. Gamez is the Rotary District Governor for District 4250 which includes Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize. Mr. Gamez is very enthusiastic about helping Honduras Rotary Clubs work with US Future Vision District Clubs to sponsor schools in L4L program. Mr. Gamez started describing poor areas in his (political) district. I explained that L4L will expand from our base in Valle District. Mr. Gamez was disappointed but vowed to help us find sponsors among the Teguci Clubs. Mr. Gamez called the President of a Teguci Rotary Club that meets on Fridays (tomorrow), provided a phone introduction and arranged for us to explain L4L to that club tomorrow evening. Very productive meeting!

11:45AM Fernando and I are on our way back to Teguci along the very arduous mountain road we used the day before to come from Teguci. Incidentally, the widened and improved road work along this highway is being done by Mr. Gamez’s company.

1:00PM Stopped at one of the many restaurants along Lake Yojoa for a lunch of Black Bass. Not as good as ocean fish in San Lorenzo, in my opinion. While on the road to Teguci Wendy, the President of the Teguci Rotary Club called to tell me they would be expecting us at tomorrow’s meeting.

5:00PM In Hotel General. End of Day.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Yesterday Fernando described a government agency in the Department of Education responsible for school nutrition that works with NGO’s and asked if I wanted to look them up in the morning. I told Fernando I really wanted to get my paperwork done in anticipation of going home on Saturday. I asked that we put this off till my return. The truth is, I’d had enough running around for these two (+) weeks. I just wanted to slow down for the day.

9:00AM Fernando called, he had located the Department of Education he told me about the other day and has an appointment with the Director’s Assistant at 2:00PM and asked if I wanted to attend. I couldn’t say no. We will eventually start working with Honduras Government officials. When we do, it will be the results of Fernando’s dogged determination; I am simply following along.

2:00PM At the Department of Education. Meeting with (?)(get name from Fernando) and his assistant (?). This group is responsible for coordinating the proposed school milk program and other nutrition programs. He wants to coordinate with us so that if the government provides milk at our schools, we will expand the schools where we provide vitamins. He is interested in splitting the cost of kitchens, and he is interested in using L4L to manage the restoration of water wells at certain schools. Very interesting meeting. I don’t know what they will do but they are certainly sincere about their intentions and coordinating efforts with us. Fernando will stay in touch with them. We’ll see.

7:30PM Rotary Club meeting. Club meeting started at around 8:00. Including myself, there were three speakers, then the club meeting. The club is very enthusiastic about L4L and Future Vision participation.

10:00PM Meeting adjourned.

10:30PM In the hotel. End of Day.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

10:15AM In line at the airport for my 12:45 flight. Never have seen the Teguci airport so chaotic. Was in one line or another for the entire 2.5 hours. All three planes left late because so many passengers were being held up for so long. Tickets were sold in advance so it’s not like the airport didn’t know how many people to expect! Through final security checkpoints (that are a real joke) and on the plane. We left 20 minutes late.

10:30PM In the house. End of Trip

Trip Log (Written February 8, 2011 thru February 18, 2011)

reh@knology.net — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Tuesday February 8, 2011

4:30AM On the road to the Montgomery Airport.

4:50AM Arrived at airport. Kiosk wouldn’t process me. An attendant processed me in. In the past, ticket agents weren’t even at the counter at 5:00AM, now I’m told we must be processed in by 4:30! Fortunately, the agent processed me in.

6:30AM Atlanta Airport. Studied Spanish.

10:15AM On airplane, headed for Teguci. Plane is less than 1/3 full. Evidence of continued bad economy. When the US (economy) coughs, Central America catches a cold.

1:45PM Finished processing through customs. Each time I bring 2 five-gallon pails of vitamins, customs makes me open one. Once they are satisfied that I am carrying vitamins, they pass me through. It’s the one place I have consistently met inspectors who somehow identify with what we are doing; hopefully, this will continue. Fernando was waiting for me. We went to a local paposa tienda for lunch.

2:30PM If you recall, a US Navy officer, Judy Bahaman, had processed paperwork for 4 kitchens. Funds were approved by her supervisor, Jorge Aldana. Plans for the first kitchen were under way when the earthquake hit Haiti last year. All Department of Defense (DoD) funds for public relations/assistance were diverted to Haiti for the year. Judy told me funds would be released in Jan ’11 and we would do the kitchens then. Over the year I lost contact with Judy. One of my first chores was to get these US Navy sponsored kitchen projects back on track. Let me back up for a second because rotation among certain military officers is different than we are used to hearing about: The US military offers citizenship to chosen Latinos who have a thorough grasp of Spanish and English and a strong background in Latino culture (were raised and educated in a Latino country). These personnel are given the standard military rank and pay as others of a similar status but are not rotated on a standard schedule. Many (like Jorge Aldana) have held their present position for 5 years and will remain there for several more; they do not rotate. As of last year, Judith had been reassigned to this position for 2 more years. I purposely stayed at the Guierras to catch up with Judith; she is no longer staying here and her phone number is disconnected. I called Jorge Aldana (who was raised in Guatemala and is very sympathetic to our cause). He was glad to hear from me and pleased to know that we have survived the economic downturn and are starting another year; however, DoD priorities have changed. The present Commander of this DoD Theater has decided to hold all humanitarian funds in reserve for disaster relief. Mr. Aldea explained that the Commander changes every 2 years and the next Commander may be more sympathetic to assisting these smaller projects, but for now, there is no money available. My observation: the humanitarian aid spigot is being turned way back and will not be reopened in the foreseeable future. I thanked Aldana for his assistance and promised that we would stay in touch and, possibly, we could meet for dinner during my next visit. He will wait for my call. When I enquired about Judith, he simply told me that she went back to Columbia (her birthplace), and that “she was still in the Navy when she left”. I knew that was a canned response and let the subject lay. Bottom line: No kitchens financed by the Navy.

7:00PM Went to a local fast food joint, Pollo Tripicanal. The chicken was second rate.

8:00PM In the compound. End of day.

Wednesday , February 9, 2011

7:00AM Pressed my white shirt that had been in a trunk with a pile of shirts. I did a lousy job. Note to self; leave enough time so I can get my shirts pressed. Breakfast with Fernando.

9:30AM Headed for Lidia Fromm’s office. A little background: Until this past winter, Dr. Mossi was the Director of the Honduras branch of World Bank. Dr. Mossi and I became good friends and I would stop by when in Teguci. Over the last few years as the Economy turned south, he was genuinely surprised that L4L hung in there as so many fell by the wayside. Incidentally (a little footnote to history), Dr. Mossi and I were introduced by Dr. Avila who was the Financial Advisor to the President till Mel Zalaya made a power grab and was thrown out of the country. Dr. Avila was a Zalaya fan and was one of the core group who held up with Zalaya in the Brazilian embassy last year. Needless to say, he was on the wrong (losing) side and is now on the outside. Anyway, back to my story: Dr. Mossi and L4L never put anything together but it wasn’t for trying. At one of our meetings, Dr. Mossi has two of his assistants sit in. The idea was that the assistants would communicate with L4L and see if they could find a fit. One of the assistants was Lidia Fromm. Neither of the assistants said a word and, by their demeanor, I didn’t expect much. My expectations were met; I never heard from either of them again. Prior to this visit, I emailed Dr. Mossi and asked if he could join me for dinner, if he was in Honduras. He was (is) not in Honduras but suggested that I contact Lidia Fromm who has been offered and accepted a federal department head position. I did. Lidia responded that she would like me to come by for a meeting and she would send a car for me if that was convenient. Lidia is Directora General de Cooperacion Externa, Secretaria Tecnica de Planificacion y Cooperacion Externa.

10:10AM Lidia met us and guided us into a conference room. About 10 minutes of catching up then to specifics. What L4L does, specifically, where we are, etc. Lidia called two technical assistants in to sift through the details of where L4L is located and donor entities in the same area. Lidia explained that her Department was formed to catalogue all donor groups and all NGO’s (Non Government Organizations) and connect the appropriate ones so that donor money is more efficiently used. She wants to set up meetings with significant donors (UN, European Union, Canadian Government, etc.) and L4L over the next 10 days to see if something fits. Lidia asked if we had a set of handouts that explain us that we can leave with participants of those we meet. I said this is a working trip and I didn’t bring promotional material. Lidia said “you understand that by my office setting these meetings up, we are endorsing L4L; bring some material so participants have something to take with them and refer to”, Basically, what she said is “don’t screw this up because I’ll look bad”. I told her that I promote L4L often in the US and I understood what she wants and I’ll have a package by the time meetings are set up.

11:30AM On the way back to the hotel Fernando and I decided to go to Nacaome so we can start putting a brochure together. I called Marcia of the Teguci Rotary Club and explained that my plans have changed and I will be going directly to Nacaomi but intend to attend next week’s meeting.

1:15PM Had eaten lunch and checked out on Guijerros.

3:30PM In Hotel Real Vista Hermosa. Tried unsuccessfully to get an email out to no avail. This is compounded by my cell phone only contacting selected (by the cell phone) people. The phone company says to wait and the problem will go away!

6:00PM In the compound. End of day.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

6:00AM Taking notes, sending emails to Lidia Fromm et al.

7:30AM Fernando arrived

8:00AM Headed to el Barrial. Road has not improved with time.
Kindergarten walls complete. As I was standing there looking at the building, impressed with all that had been done (remember there is no electricity, all sand/gravel is sieved using a hand shovel and screen at the river and loaded on ox carts by hand, all water is drawn by hand and carried to site, all cement and mortar is mixed by hand) I was wishing some men were working this morning. I could see where someone was wetting cement mixed and poured yesterday but… Just then an oxcart loaded with sieved sand came into sight from the river across the soccer field. Four men came along with the cart; they had started early enough that they had already made one cart of sand. As we talked, the crew (specially contracted to install the roof) arrived. Cork continues.
As it turned out, this is the same day that the two school teachers and the newly appointed kindergarten teacher have a meeting with all the mothers. They had gathered as we inspected the school. I have come to understand quite a while back, that if I happen upon a group of parents at one of our schools, I cannot leave without saying something; I had no translator. After being introduced by the principal, I said, in my best Spanish “This is a beautiful kindergarten you are building. On behalf of Messiah Lutheran Church, North, I want to thank you for all your assistance; all of your hard work. We hope you are as proud of your accomplishment as we are proud of you. When the kindergarten is finished, I will return with several from Messiah to have a party to celebrate your accomplishment; but for now, I want you to give yourselves a round of applause.” The group (at least some of the group) actually understood some of what I said! I didn’t go into the details of how Bentley Systems in tied into this project. My Spanish isn’t that good; however, the community is expecting a delegation from Messiah and Bentley to show up for a dedication ceremony/party.
About a mile out of town (but well within the school district) an old lady and her teenage daughter were standing in the doorway of one of the poorer mud huts. As we approached the girl walked toward the road carrying a chicken upside down. The chicken’s legs were tied. For some reason, if a chicken is carried upside down by its legs, it won’t struggle but will travel like a sack of potatoes. Fernando rolled his window down as he stopped. The girl handed Fernando the chicken, feet first, through the window. Fernando got out and opened the back door and had the girl put the chicken on the floor. Fernando thanked the girl and called his salutations to the mother who waved back from the doorway. As we drove away, Fernando smiled as he explained: Over the last year, I happened by and the family needed a lift into town for a meeting that was clearly very important to them. During the ride, Fernando understood just how poor they are, that their 4th grade daughter had no school clothes (in fact, had nothing you or I would call clothes). While they were in their meeting in the Municipal Building in Nacaome, Fernando got a white, blue skirt, and black shoes for the girl and gave them to her as they drove back into the country. Later that same year, Fernando happened by when a very sick family member had to go to the public clinic in Nacaome. Anyone who has been in el Barrial, knows that a very sick person cannot walk out and there are no vehicles in el Barrial. Had Fernando not happened along and offered a ride, the sick person would have had no choice but to stay in the house and die. The family determined that Fernando is their Patron; they adopted Fernando. One time they stopped him and gave him a watermelon from their (cash crop) melon patch; another time they stopped him and gave him a very bland type of goat cheese; this day they gave him a chicken. Fernando is a modest person; I don’t know if he just “happened by” or went out of his way to help but this kind of assistance and this level of appreciation is woven within the social fabric. As best I can tell the ledger tallies up to 2 trips into town plus school clothes Vs. one melon, some goat cheese, and a yard bird. If one adds with the wallet the score may not be quite even but if one adds with the heart, than all is right in their world (and mine).
As those of you who have traveled with us knows, on these country roads, it is “un custombre” to stop for walkers and give then a lift. We happened by 5 older teenage boys walking toward town. Each had a sack about 1/3 full that bulged as if it contained potatoes or apples. We stopped; they jumped in the back; off we went. In a not-too-nice barrio before we enter Nacaome, the boys banged on the truck; signaling us to stop. As each boy climbed out, he reached into his sack and gave Fernando two mangos, said “thanks” and walked toward their respective houses.
Today Fernando went home with a chicken and 10 mangos.

11:00AM Lunch at my favorite tienda in el Central.

12:00PM Fernando and I are at his house putting together a brochure. We know what we want concerning Honduras documents, now we simply have to gather them. The printer and/or computer are acting up and I can tell that my looking over his shoulder isn’t helping so I offer to go to my room to work on some admin stuff while he gets documents printed.

2:30PM Drove out to see Anabel. Wanted to be sure everything is set for school on Monday. Anabel and Miriam were both glad to see me. Got some administrative stuff done and talked. Miriam talked about one relative or another so fast that I could only catch glimpses. I couldn’t tell if the story was serious or humorous; for instance, one story was about an uncle who had died, it was obviously a funny story. When I would tell Miriam that I really didn’t get the whole story she would wave me off and start another story. Note to self: Miriam only tells funny stories.

4:30PM In San Lorenzo at my favorite fried fish restaurant.

7:00PM In the compound. Have been having trouble with cell phone calls all day. Don’t know if it is the satellites or my phone. End of Day.

Friday, February 11, 2011

7:30AM        Meeting with Fernando and Juan Rosa (our translator) to discuss several L4L administrative items in detail. These items include:
•    Those items to be included in our Presentation Brochure.
•    Discuss, in detail, revisions in the L4L Chart of Accounts.
•    Discuss the fee-for-services payment L4L received from the ADEL.
•    Discus completion of the in-kind value sheet for 2011.
Who is it that said paying the bills is never sexy but it has to be done? Jeff and Cheryl work behind the scene; without their efforts, L4L wouldn’t be here. Once in a while, I have to back up and meet our admin needs; this is one of those days.
12:00PM    Lunch break

1:00AM More of the same.

4:00PM Sitting in a tienda by the river drinking a beer with Fernando.

6:30PM In the compound. End of Day.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

7:00AM Fernando and I discussing administrative stuff. I want us to use the weekend to complete the admin items we discussed yesterday; next week is going to go way too fast with way too many distractions to try to focus on detailed admin projects. Fernando went to his office to work on the Monthly Report. I hung around the motel Caught up on my expense account, studied some Spanish, etc.

3:30PM At the river having a beer with Fernando. A quick reminder: Each year when the Dry Season arrives, several families put up poll structures covered with straw on the river rock just above the river. Women wash clothes, kids play, and men wash vehicles in the river. Everyone sits in the shade of one of these tiendas and drinks something cold (well, at least cool; of course, there is no electricity so drinks are as cool, or less cool than when brought in. Some tiendas have 55 gallon barrels cut for a fire pit and one can buy fried plantains, fish, beef, or whatever the host brings. There should be some pictures on our website. If there aren’t, we’ll have to put some there. A very relaxing way to spend a hot afternoon.

5:00PM Fernando went home and I went to the compound. I must keep reminding myself that Fernando has a wife and two small children; he needs some substantial part of the weekend for them.

5:30PM        In the compound watching the second half of some dumb movie that I don’t even remember. End of Day.

Sunday, February 13, 2011
There is a story that has been unfolding for quite a while. I think I can finally see the end result. There are several components, I’ll try to break them down:
•    Everyone knows that Honduras children lack proper nutrition; that’s what caused L4L to exist. During the last election, both parties promised nutritional assistance for the poor. Remember, this was the election 6 months after the previous president, “Mel” Zalaya, was thrown out of the country. The Conservative Party won. Due to the international attention and due to the continued well financed (by Chavez et al)Zalaya faithful, it is critical that the Government come through on some of their promises.
•    WFP provides legumes and grains to most schools most of the time; some years, better than others. In our schools, L4L makes up the shortfall. In my meeting with Jose Francisco Salinas, Director of WFP and his assistant, Hernan Alfonso Aguilar, about a year ago, Mr. Salinas explained that the UN still uses Hurricane Mitch of 1998 to supply food through WFP to Honduras schools. Mr. Salinas knows that Honduras cannot continue using Hurricane Mitch as justification for food aid to Honduras. He expects WFP food supplies to be reduced substantially in the near future.
•    One of the promises of the Conservative Party was to add a glass of milk to the school lunch program. A long time back, Fernando asked me what L4L would do if the Government supplies milk as well as grains and legumes. A told him I didn’t know but let’s wait and see how things unfold. I also told him that supplying milk to all schools would double the cost of the Government lunch program; that’s a lot of money for a poor country.
•    According to newspaper articles, the Government milk pilot program will be provided to 1,000 students in the city of Nacaome; the milk will be purchased from local producers and delivered to the schools in liquid form. As one school principal said “If milk is to be provided by local producers, we will have to start milking range steers.” It appears to me that a pilot program to provide liquid milk to 1,000 students in Nacaome will be initiated in the next few months. Politicians will make speeches, cameras will roll, stories will be written; a promise is kept. Best case; the pilot program will continue to provide liquid milk to 1,000 students in Nacaome. Worse cast; liquid milk will go bad, children will get sick, the program will wither on the vine. In either case, schools L4L assists, the country schools, the schools Roxana calls “the small forgotten schools” will be totally unaffected.
We will continue our L4L program and wait. The City of Nacaome is hosting a meeting for all school principals in the Nacaome School District (all of our schools are outside of this district) to explain the program. The meeting will be held this coming Wednesday. Fernando will attend this meeting. More to follow.

3:00PM There is a local WFP representative that Fernando stays in touch with so he knows if WFP is delivering food or if L4L must deliver. As of late last week, this person wasn’t quite sure where our designated food was. Fernando preferred to wait for word from her before purchasing food; he didn’t want to purchase a month’s worth of food and have WFP come through. We would have excess food through the system. Between the two of us, it became clear, over the weekend that WFP food will not arrive till April or May. Fernando and I will head for Teguc. very early tomorrow for provisions while Fernando’s assistant, Junior, rounds up other provisions from around Nacaome. We will deliver food Tuesday and Wednesday. I day or two late, but better than 2 months late.

4:30PM In compound. End of Day.

Monday, February 14, 2011

6:00AM Fernando and I are on our way to Teguc to purchase certain lunch provisions. Traffic is light and, other than stretches of the road that have not been repaired yet from the past rainy season, it was a pretty fast ride. Clouds with drizzle on top of the ridge (5,000 ft above sea level). When the weather is cooler than normal and the wind is from the west, moisture condenses above this ridge causing fog and a drizzle. Actually, unknown to us, a plane with 12 aboard lost its way in this fog and crashed just a few miles to the east at about the time we were going by. Did our shopping and headed back. The car horn quit working a few days back so I called the rental agent. She sent a mechanic where we go to purchase milk. By the time milk was purchased and loaded, our horn was fixed. Didn’t lose a minute!

11:00AM Back in Nacaome. Lunch. We had been trying to contact (former mayor) Antonio Valosquez to set up a meeting for 1:00PM today. We finally reached him but he is busy. We will meet Thursday after our yearly Principal’s meeting. Fernando and I started shopping the Nacaome warehouses/supermarkets.
Basically, Fernando works between four outlets, 3 warehouses that trade in dries grains/beans and one larger supermarket. He knows his last prices and starts trading. He will leave an order at one store but if he finds one or two items cheaper at another location he will call back and change his original order. If a supplier has a lower price but cannot meet the order (as with cooking oil), he will buy all available at the lowest price and finish the order at the next higher price. He knows all the sellers so the transactions are professional/friendly.
Most items are purchased in 100# bags. We carry all of the provisions to a warehouse owned by Fernando’s mother. Fernando has a scale hanging from a beam. He calculates (using the UN standard weight per grain per elementary school child) the amount for each school. Fernando does all the calculation then he and his assistant go to work. They weigh the appropriate amount in a bucket and put it in a bag. He labels the bag for the appropriate school, than moves to the next item. This process takes 2 men all afternoon with a little weighing left for the next morning. It is back breaking work.

4:30PM Fernando goes home and I go to el Centro for dinner.

6:30PM In the compound. End of Day.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

7:30AM        Fernando and I take one pickup truck load of provisions for 5 schools, Junior and Emanuel take another pickup loaded with provisions. Today, we will go to the furthest school to the east, Junior will take the furthest schools to the west. Since there are longest distances, possibly we can finish tomorrow, or at the latest, Thursday morning. Each school principal was very appreciative and happy to see us but not surprised. We have built a reputation; the schools have come to know that we will fill in the gaps. It seems that schools to be included for the upcoming liquid milk pilot program are being chosen at random. It also seems that we are the victims of our own success. One of our schools was chosen and the official had just stopped by. Not wanting to lose a sure thing for an iffy situation, the principal told the state official that she did not want to be part of the pilot program and will stay with what she has!
12:00PM    Back in Nacaome. My back is starting to bother me because of constant bumping over the roads.
2:00PM        Ana Gladys Flores is the District Manager of PMA (Spanish initials for WFP – the UN sponsored World Food Program). Fernando has been communicating with her concerning WFP scheduling for schools in our area of operation. About 18 months ago, the then-District Manager, Marcos (I would have to dig through my past logs to find his last name) contacted Fernando and discussed a partnership. If you recall, I stayed here an extra 3 days to finalize a proposal for Marcos to present to the WFP Director. When I returned on the following visit, Dr. Mossi set up a meeting with me and the Director of Honduras WFP. Subsequently, I talked with Dr. Cerrato, Health Director of Valle District (who commonly delivers food for WFP and often uses us as the distributor) about a closer relationship between L4L and WFP. His explanation fit all of my observations and crystallized unorganized thoughts; WFP is huge with many districts and sub districts, all jealously guarding their individual power base. They are jealous among themselves and are fearful of others whose activities they consider threatening to theirs. WFP is very top-down structured with very light and sparse management at the local level. A local manager has so many schools to manage, so much paperwork to contend with, and so much local activity that he/she almost never has time to visit any schools. There is no way the top can know what is happening in the field except through the local managers (who never go into the field). On top of this petty jealousy among factions, there is an unhealthy concern that all looks tranquil to any outsider. Steve Gulledge and I ran into this when we talked with the assistant Director of WFP. When confronted with the fact that WFP food was used as payment for the destruction of a partly finished building, the Assistant said “WFP doesn’t use food to pay for the dismantling of anything; the Local Manager said it didn’t happen, so it didn’t happen. End of story.” Marcose was the Local Manager who said the incident didn’t happen. Once WFP realized that L4L is actually very small and poses no threat to they, WFP simply put a box around us and ignore our existence. L4L and WFP work on parallel tracks with very little interaction.
Ana Gladys Flores became the District Manager in place of Marcose about a year ago. After a recent phone conversation with Fernando regarding food deliveries (or non-food deliveries), Ms. Flores sent Fernando a very pleasant email asking for a list of our schools and their locations. This was out of character and Fernando deferred to me. We decided that a meeting was in order. If we believe she actually wants to work with us, we’ll cooperate in any way possible. If we decide she wants the info of what schools we will support so WFP can cease deliveries to those schools, we will let her find our schools by herself (knowing that her staff has no time to chase around Valle District making a list). Fernando called; she was very receptive to a meeting. She was even willing to come to Nacaome, I told Fernando that we would go to her office in Choluteca. This brings us to the meeting we are entering right now.
Meeting with Ana Flores, PMA District Manager for Valle District, Alfredo Carrasco, former Manager of Valle District, Fernando, Juan (our translator), and me. I opened the conversation by thanking Ms. Flores for this opportunity to explain L4L and discuss means of cooperation. I explained the philosophy of L4L; that every school lunch of L4L consists of a legume, grain, milk, and vitamin. Seven years ago, the WFP was temporarily ceased, L4L made up the shortfall. Once the PMA program reopened, L4L continued delivering milk and vitamins and making up ant shortfalls. Once I finished Ms. Flores thanked us for coming by, that WFP has been curious about L4L for several years and is glad to finally meet us. She went on to say WFP had not missed any shipments over the years but WFP would like to work with us. This is the same denial Steve and I heard from the WFP Assistant Director. Steve and I sat there and took it because our agenda is bigger than that one incident. This time, I decide we have nothing to lose because we have nothing. When she finished, I looked directly at her and said the statement that no shipments have been missed simply doesn’t fit the facts (I’m thinking, this shortfall that we are meeting today will not have existed in the mind of WFP six months from now). WFP as missed several shipments and L4L has made up the shortfall several times. She went on to state that if the schools put the food products on pallets, they wouldn’t go bad. Once again, with nothing to lose, I stated that the food products were issued rancid; they didn’t go rancid on site. Fernando interjected that all of our schools have proper food storage techniques. Mr. Carrasco interjected that the principals shouldn’t take receipt of rancid food, once they receive the food the situation is out of the hands of WFP. I backed away from this line of conversation and said that we’re not here to rehash the past, we’re here to see how our combined efforts can better serve the children. Mr. Carrasco explained that he had become aware, during his tenure as WFP Manager of Valle District, that certain schools had milk, vitamins, and sugar and WFP had communicated with L4L regarding this. I pressed pretty hard to find out who with WFP had communicated with whom at L4L. Nobody was quite sure, but they were certain someone had in the past (they were thinking of Marcos, who never passed his information forward or laterally to them). The conversation turned to how present company could move forward in a cooperative effort. L4L will be authorized to deliver WFP food to schools that have no way of coming to the Nacaome warehouse. Fernando will have another meeting to better coordinate efforts. Meeting ended on a very positive note.
On the ride back, I asked Fernando what he thought. He said he thinks this group actually wants to help the schools, not just look important and he believes we can develop a productive working relationship with them. He believes our encounter with Marcos set us back by a couple years but he believes we can build our relationship with this group. I said that my impression was similar; that I believe Ms. Flores and Mr. Carrasco honestly want to build a relationship that benefits the schools. I told Fernando that my heavy handed approach at the front end of the meeting may have hampered his efforts but I want him to actively attempt to build a relationship with this group. We’ll see.
5:30PM        Dinner meeting with Antonio Valosquez, Fernando, Juan, and me. The purpose is to discuss the kindergarten project at Piedras Blancas. Discussion about activities in Piedras Blancas that lead to today. Antonio knows the community well and says there is no ill will toward L4L and the community will help in our efforts. It turns out that the soccer field in on school grounds and the Principal and community sometimes get at odds over what activities can happen on the field but that has nothing to do with L4L. I asked if he would stop by the community a few times during construction just to reinforce the concept that we are all in this together. He will.
Antonio explained that the Dept of Education does not believe that building this kindergarten is an efficient use of resources because:
•    The school population is dwindling and demographics indicate that this trend will continue.
•    This is not a real kindergarten; this is designated as a day care center with an unlicensed instructor.
I asked “isn’t it true that the distance is way too far for the children to walk to another school so this will remain an active school even as the student population dwindles?” Antonio agreed that this is true. I said “The 4 &5 year old kids need something better than that collapsing adobe warehouse for a classroom even if they don’t qualify as a kindergarten.” Antonio agreed that they certainly do. I asked if his office of the Department of Education could provide $4,000 toward the construction. He was hesitant but said it may be possible. I asked if his office could provide $2,000. He said they can do that. I said that we are going to plan on an amount between $2,000 and $4,000 and we will start on the building in mid to late March.

7:30PM End of Day.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

7:00AM Fernando stopped by the hotel to drop off Spanish version of our bound L4L presentation. His pickup was loaded down with lunch provisions for various schools. Junior had headed in another direction with lunch provisions.

9:30AM On the road in anticipation of Jeff’s package arrival. Actually, I had already given up on the arrival of that package but the only way I could put everything together given the short time line was to leave early.
12:00PM At the Hotel General, opened my email and guess what; a note from the Guijeros saying the package had arrived! I called my trusty taxista, Omar and asked if he could pick me up at 1:00PM. While in Honduras, I drive everyplace except in Teguc. I drove to Hotel General and park the vehicle, any traveling within Teguci is by taxi.

1:30PM on my way to the Guijeros

2:00PM I have the package, now on to Office Depot to purchase some cardboard folders with pockets. I called Lidia Fromm to say that I will have brochures to deliver tomorrow morning. I asked if I could come by at 9:00 as I had to get back to Nacaome. She said to ask for Lesly
3:00PM Grabbed a late lunch/early dinner.

4:00PM Back in the hotel room putting the brochure together. The left pocket has our bound presentation; list of school with community name, principal’s name, and number of students; our Honduras permit approval letter, equivalent to our Articles of Incorporation for Honduras; document that issued us our Pin Sypher; copy of our import certificate. The left side has 2 newsletters and a tri-fold over a list of corporate board members; our US Articles of Incorporation; and our Bylaws. I included Jeff’s and my business card. All in all, a pretty slick brochure. I have 6 of our bound presentations in Spanish that I will also deliver.

7:15PM Waiting for Marisa Rietti, President of Nueve Teguci Rotary Club. Marisa is always late.

7:30PM On our way to the meeting hall.

8:00PM Only three of us there so we waited till 8:30PM (this is all about living on Honduras time). Only 5 of 11 members showed. Marisa opened the meeting and asked me for a critique of Future Vision as it relates to Honduras and L4L. I gave a short critique. Pia (the woman who visited our schools) wasn’t at the meeting but had left a very favorable impression with everyone. The remainder of the meeting was dedicated to planning an annual fundraiser that will happen a week from this coming Saturday. Meeting didn’t adjourn till 10:00PM!

10:30PM In the hotel. End of day

Thursday February 17, 2011

8:40AM I had arranged for Omar to pick me up at 8:15. Due to my poor Spanish, he heard 8:45. I called him at 8:20 and he came as quickly as possible.

9:00AM At the Centro Civico Gubernamental-Contiguo a Chiminike. Within 10 minutes, Iris Amador met me. I carefully went through the brochures. She asked if we have the bound presentation in Spanish; we do. I said that the other day we talked about the fact that government agencies are built from the top down and often don’t have enough people at the ground lever. I said I want to give you an example: “You have been reading about this liquid milk program the government is going to implement to supplement the lunch provided by WFP. There was a meeting in Nacaome yesterday to explain the program with TV cameras, newspaper reporters and politicians. The one thing that was missed by everyone is that WDP has not issued a single pound of lunch provisions to a single school in Valle District since school started! In fact the talk was about supplementing something that doesn’t exist! Ask Directors at the top of WFP and they will tell you all is fine; ask the local director and she will tell you she expects to start food delivery in 2 weeks (a full month after school starts). L4L was built from the bottom up; we know exactly what is going on at every school in our program and all of “our” kids are eating a lunch today. The point I want to make is: if you have a donor group that is interested in helping feed or educate children in the Southern Region, L4L can see that funds are used effectively and efficiently.”
Though Ms. Amador didn’t say it, I could tell that she didn’t know that WFP had not delivered lunch provisions. I hope she checked up on me; that will build our credibility. Iris said she will set up meetings for the first week in April. We will keep in touch via email. Possibly, we finally have something going. Even if we do, progress will be measured in bureaucracy time; we will be at least a year putting something together.

10:00AM At a place that casts plaques to hang on outside walls of buildings. Ordered a plaque to be placed on the kindergarten building at el Barrial recognizing the employees of Bentley Systems.

11:00AM On the road to Nacaome for our annual Principal’s meeting.

12:30AM Former Alcalde Valosquez arrived. His attendance is good for both of us; it ties us to a respected local politician and it ties him to a successful local project. I got him aside and explained that I have a lot to cover, he will be asked questions (proposed liquid milk pilot program, kitchen building, etc.) I asked that he keep is answers to a few sentences and deflect the conversation back to L4L. I explained that he can work the crowd before and after the meeting but I need the meeting time; after all, he is a politician.

1:00PM Short meeting with Roxana. We discussed yearly parent meetings at each school. She will try to schedule all of them during Feb. and March. Roxana explained that school records on file with the central government show the number of students who start school each year and the number of students who remain in school at the end of the year. Possibly, someday L4L will be able to finance a study of dropout rates for the 10 years before L4L and the dropout rate for the years with L4L. Roxana said that one of the principals is retiring this month and is breaking her replacement in. She will be at the meeting and Roxana wants to recognize her. I said she can recognize the retiring principal after I welcome everyone and introduce the staff.

2:00PM Half of the schools are represented. Fernando called a few. They are coming.

2:30PM        All but three have arrived. Early in the meeting, two others arrived. Its all about Honduras time.
Notes of the meeting are on file so will simply outline discussions:
•    Thank all for taking their time to come and for their continued dedication to the project. Comments on why I think this annual meeting is important.
•    Recognized our staff; Fernando, Roxana, and Fernando (I didn’t “introduce” them because everyone knows them).
•    Gave Roxana the floor to recognize our retiring principal. It’s a good thing I told her to keep it short because if this was short I don’t want to hear long; Roxana can work a crowd!
•    I thanked the principals for all they do to see that their kids get fed and recognized that they do this for free.
•    I said there are a few housekeeping subjects before we get to the subject of the day:
o    Comments about filling out Principal’s Monthly Report
o    Roxana will be contacting each to set up our annual Parents Meeting
o    L4L prefers that all meals be cooked on site when possible. I explained why.
o    I mentioned that Alcalde Valosquez had helped with 3 of our 4 kitchens and hope he will help with more over the coming year.
•    Main subject of the day:
o    School lunch programs are financed in two ways:
§    Individuals/entities donate to the General Fund and all non-sponsored schools lunch programs are financed with this money. If we run out of General Fund money, the programs cannot be financed.
§    Individuals/entities sponsor a school. This sponsorship continues for that school even if there is no money in the general fund.
o    L4L is attempting to attract more sponsors; thereby, taking pressure off the General Fund.
o    Having more school sponsors helps all in the program.
•    I anticipate that we will be bringing prospective sponsors to certain schools during the next 6 months. We will let you know in advance if we are going to visit your school. Everyone has always been very gracious with all visitors and I know that gracious hospitality will continue. Answer all questions as honestly as possible.
•    Opened the floor to questions:
•    Always gracious comments of the success of L4L at schools.
•    While waiting for questions to start I asked Alcalde Valosquez to say a few words. He kept it short and talked about L4L and his continued involvement with us.
•    Angela Reyes of Manuel de Jesus Subirana asked if L4L would stop delivering powdered milk to schools chosen for the Pilot Liquid Milk Program. The room came alive; all had this same fear. They do not want to trade L4L support for government support. Absolutely nobody in the room (except Alcalde Valesquez) believes any lasting benefit will come from the government program. I said L4L is taking a wait-and-see approach. Nobody will be dropped from receiving any of the L4L assistance without more discussion.
•    I asked Roxana to say a few words. She discussed the importance of good recordkeeping and her upcoming visit for the Parents Meeting.
•    Back to questions; general housekeeping type questions, nothing stands out.
•    I asked Fernando to say a few words.
•    I closed the meeting by again thanking the Principals for their continued dedication to the L4L program. I explained that our entire BoD and BoA understands the amount of time and effort each of them put into the lunch program and that is an inspiration that keeps us focused on finding financing for the program.

4:00PM Meeting adjourned.
I collected school principals that have school sponsors for a short meeting to explain that the sponsor wants to hear from them. All are very eager to communicate with their respective sponsor. It was like I was giving them permission to do something they really want to do. This was quite an eye-opener for me; a valuable meeting. I thought they knew I wanted correspondence from them. They were waiting for a signal from me! I am sure there will be more open communications from the sponsored schools.

5:00PM All have made their way to the door. A brief meeting with Fernando.

5:30PM In the compound. End of Day

Friday February 18, 2011

7:30AM Fernando came by the motel with accounting documents, Chart of Accounts work-up, and a summary of in-kind values. We talked about these items early in the trip but got caught up in other stuff. I’ll hand-carry to Jeff/Cheryl.

8:00AM We drove out to Piedras Blancas for another check on the proposed kindergarten project.

Each time we go to Piedras Blancas, something about the project has changed. Now the community and principal want the kindergarten next to the second stand-alone schoolroom. It seems that some want the remaining x-building floor left as is. This means the old warehouse must be torn down! I told Ms. Nunez that we have the money now and we cannot wait for months while the old warehouse is torn down. Ms. Nunez says the community will tear it down. I said “you mean now, this week?” She said “Yes.”. She mentioned another meeting with the community. I said I won’t be here for another meeting; either the community knows what they want or we will use the money to build kitchens in other communities. Fernando said that the community must supply sand, gravel, foundation rocks, and labor. He said he would attend a meeting and if there is not a firm commitment from the community, we won’t start the project.

On the way out of town, I explained to Fernando that the fathers were paid to tear the old structure with WFP food. The local WFP representative really got in hot water over using food to tear a building down. She is not about to provide WFP food to tear down another structure (even if it is a good idea). The fathers won’t tear this building down for free when they just got paid with food to tear the other building down. Fernando agrees.

There are too many factions in this community that cannot agree on anything. If the old warehouse isn’t torn down within the next two weeks, I’m going to recommend that we not build the kindergarten at this time. I will recommend that we use this money to build two kitchens.

1:00PM Finished packing, checked out and on my way to Teguci.

3:00PM In the Hotel General. Had an early dinner/late lunch at the Crustacion Restaurant on the corner. Spent the afternoon catching up on some recordkeeping and resting

5:00PM In the hotel. End of Day.

Saturday February 19, 2011

10:00AM Processed out of the hotel and on my way to the airport.

1:45PM Plane leaves on time. Plane is completely full! It seems that all the “Religious Tourism” groups travel on weekends. Note to self; No more flying to/from on weekends! I still don’t like processing through Atlanta Airport but it was most convenient for this trip.

8:45PM At the Montgomery Airport.

9:15PM At the house. End of Trip.

Trip Log (Letter Written November 16th, 2010 thru December 3rd, 2010)

reh@knology.net — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 06:00:00 GMT

On the way back I observed that those who we talked with really weren’t concerned about the kindergarten project. Fernando, with Jose’s concurrence, explained that we were talking with the “Ruling Class” they ignore the Parent’s group, school teachers, and everyone else and do as they please. I might add, with no apology. There are several ways to move forward and provide a very nice kindergarten. This appears to be a good time for a gut check. If we move forward we do it for the poor children, poor parents (who make up the Mother’s Group), and school teachers. We will get no assistance (and no resistan

Trip Log (Letter Written August 28, 2010 thru September 14, 2010)

reh@knology.net — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Wednesday September 1, 2010

7:30AM Fernando and I drove to Goascoran High School to see Waldina’s grades. We went into the Administrative Office. It turns out, the lady we just happened to talk with is the school principal and a neighbor of Fernando. Fernando explained Waldi

Trip Log (letter written May 3, 2010 thru May 14, 2010)

reh@knology.net — Wed, 19 May 2010 06:00:00 GMT

3 May 2010 Monday

-------------Start of Log...----------------------------------------------
5:30PM Drove to Birmingham Airport Holiday and walked to the Continental Airlines kiosk to see if I could get my boarding pass. The kiosk is open from 4:30AM till 5:00PM. Except for a few employees and an occasional stray traveler, the airport was empty. A reminder that this really is a small-town airport – which is why it is preferred over Atlanta.

7:30PM In the Holiday Inn. Food is still second rate.

8:30PM End of day.

4 May 2010 Tuesday

5:00AM At the Continental ticket counter. Early rush has thinned out to nothing. Cleared security. Plane on time. Uneventful flight.

9:30AM In Houston/Dallas Airport at the Continental gate to Teguci. Another uneventful flight, which is exactly what we want. Going through customs was slow; passengers from the American flight were also processing through. Bags arrived. Got a taxi.

1:00PM Checked into the Hotel General. Walked around the corner to Xplor Car Rental place and set up to have a car delivered at 7:00AM. Studied Spanish.

2:00PM There is an up-scale outdoor restaurant with a balcony on the corner. They serve seafood and steak. I ordered a fish filet that is lightly breaded and pan-fried with all kinds of herbs. I was really good, except it was almost cooked. Not quite as white and flaky throughout as it should be. It tasted so good, I was hungry, and I was on the balcony where the waiter rarely comes. Against the most basic rules of travel, I ate it.

4:30PM A slight stomach ache. The last time I ate fish that wasn’t quite right was 8 years ago in Costa Rica and I had Montezuma’s Revenge so bad for 2 days that I knew I was going to die.

5:30PM Decided that if I am going to have a few bad days, I might as well have a bowl of black bean soup and be miserable on a full stomach. The black bean soup at the hotel really is good.

7:00PM In the room. End of day.

5 May 2010, Wednesday

5:30AM Up and feeling fine! Dodged the bullet but that was a reminder and I will remember.

6:00AM Breakfast with the best cappuccino in the world. Advice: Don’t drink two cups in a row unless you want to walk up walls, know the future, and see everything in bright colors.

7:00AM Car was ready. Drove to Nacaomi.

9:00AM Got my room, and called Fernando. It seems that he is in San Lorenzo at the port loading a truck! Ismael (Fernando’s new helper and our second Honduras fulltime employee) and I caught up with Fernando at a shop/warehouse in Nacaomi. Since Fernando presented our proposed Agreement to Marco Antonio Garay Hernandez with World Food Program (WFP), Fernando has maintained a dialogue with Marco and others. It seems that Marco called Fernando this morning and instructed him to take a truck to the port and load supplies to install water wells (the shallow hand-dug type) and that is what Fernando was doing. Once all of the supplies were secured, Fernando tried to explain over a cup of coffee:
Marcos understands that L4L concentrates on lunches for elementary school children and this is one of the interests of WFP. However, WFP is a more comprehensive program. If L4L wants assistance with the lunch program, we must assist with other WFP projects in our area. The directors of WFP have not signed our agreement but Marcos wants to get us involved in WFP projects now. There is an approved project for our area to provide well water for 5 small rural towns in our area. This project provides that WFP will supply hand tools to dig 5 wells, plus materials (bricks, mortar, cement, rebar, etc), the community will supply labor. L4L provides transportation for delivering supplies, management, and administrative support. L4L will receive food for the L4L lunch program plus food to deliver to laborers for their assistance. L4L will receive far more in value than the cost of our oversight. Finally, L4L gets credit for the entire water well project. If you recall, L4L gives value to food delivered to the lunch program by PRAF and books the dollar value of the food. We will book the entire value of developing these well.
I told Fernando that this is the right kind of surprise to have but there are some glairing gaps. For example; where is an agreement between L4L and WFP. I explained that certain BoD members, like me, are uncomfortable participating in such an arrangement with nothing in writing. Fernando explained that, while we don’t have a signed agreement, the WFP delivered the supplies on a WFP bill of laden and L4L signed for it; we are being supplied by WFP through their standard procedure. L4L and WFP will proceed through WFP standard procedures and all deliveries will be properly delivered and received with appropriate documentation/signatures. Further, there is a standard WFP procedure for NGO’s, like us, to distribute and utilize WFP products. I told Fernando that, while this is the right kind of surprise to walk into, it will take some digesting; meanwhile Fernando should move forward to facilitate this WFP/L4L process.

11:00AM Fernando, Ismael, and I drive out to Roxana’s to pick her up. From there, we go to elementary school Dr. Juan Lindo in the community of La Puya for the annual Parent/Teacher meeting. This is a school of 35 students; every child was represented by a parent, sever fathers were in attendance. You can’t appreciate the importance of the L4L program until you see, first hand, how seriously the parents take it. After Roxana and Fernando talked, we asked if there were any questions. A few positive comments then one man stood up; “first I want to thank you for bringing this program all the way out here to our small school. Can you tell us how long this program will last?” I said I don’t know, the answer is in the hands of a higher authority but it is our intent that the program last for a long time.

1:00PM Roxana, Fernando, Ismael, and two school principals drove to restaurant way south of town for curiles (a small shellfish eaten raw), a local delicacy.

6:00PM In the compound for the night. End of day.

6 May 2010 Thursday

7:00AM Drove to El Barrial so that the principal, David Rene Matute and Fernando could show me the door/door frame situation. Look at any pictures of the school at El Barrial or most other locations and you see a row of window frames with horizontal wooden shutters much like stationery venation blinds along the front and along the back of the school. The wooden door frame is part of the adjacent wooden window frame. One room has a stable door/window frame structure. The door is secure to the frame and window shutters are secure in place. Wire mesh as been placed along the upper row of windows. After school, the shutters are closed on the lower panel of windows and, with screens over the upper window panels, bats cannot enter. On the second classroom, the wooden frame is so decayed that it cannot hold shutters and the door is unstable. When there is a very limited amount of resources, decisions are made. Since this entire wooden door/window frame assembly must be replaced, the school committee and Mr. Rene decided to not waste the available screen on a frame that must be replaced as the screen will be destroyed in the process of taking the present window/door frame out. Now all the bats that stayed in both rooms, congregate in this one room and it is a mess! Until the situation is fixed, all grades meet in one room. Every morning, the 6th graders sweep up bat droppings from the previous night but the wet urine stains (and odor) remain. It is my understanding that the most unhealthy part of the situation is bat urine. Once the room is secure, the floor will be scrubbed with Clorox before it is put back into use. Messiah N provided $100 to repair the door frame and door. That might be sufficient except the window frames/shutters must also be replaced. Fernando wanted me to see the situation so I would understand why no action has been taken regarding the door and frame. You and I may have used the available screen as a temporary fix and simply replace the screen with the permanent fix, this community decided not to waste this valuable resource on a temporary fix. I explained to Fernando and Mr. Rene that L4L supplies lunch we don’t fix door frames. I suggested that Mr. Rene write a letter of explanation to Messiah N. Fernando can scan the letter and send it with pictures to Messiah N, who will decide how/when this matter is resolved.
Fernando, Marco and Dr. Cerrato have decided that the first water well project will be here at El Barrial. It seems that many years ago the community developed a hand-dug well. The well is several hundred yards from the community and alongside a small intermittently flowing stream. The well has a substantial concrete well apron and cap. The plan is to re-enter this well and make it deeper. In the process, limbs, leaves and other debris that has collected over the years will be removed. Finally, a hand pump will be attached to a buried water line that will fill a cistern in the community near the school. The water will be tested for purity before the well is put into service. Once again, all of the supplies will be provided by WFP through L4L and L4L will manage the project. L4L will receive lunch food and food for payment to community fathers who participate in the project.

11:00AM Fernando, Roxana, Ismael, and I are on our way to 3 de Octobre (Kristi, I had forgotten how far out this school is and how steep the roads are!). At each school, I find myself thinking “someone should sponsor this school, if only a person understood how greatly they would be appreciated for their assistance…” There are 50 students. There were 30 parents, men and woman in attendance; all the students were represented. The principal introduced us with the strongest possible endorsement of the program. You could see that he was preaching to the choir. After our presentation, a mother stood up to thank us on behalf of the mothers and a second woman stood up to thank us on behalf of another community group (my Spanish is not quite good enough to understand the difference between the groups).
I seems that the hand-dug well that supplied water dried up 2 years ago (the community was using it when Kristi and I visited the school). Fernando will look into deepening the well through the WFP participation. It’s all good!

4:00PM Drove to San Lorenzo for deep fried fish.

7:00PM In the compound. End of day.

7 May 2010, Friday

7:00AM    Dr. Cerrato, a long time supporter of L4L (he helped us get our Pin Cipher while in congress) has been appointed the Director of the Department of Health for Valle District (DoH-V). The DoH-V works closely with the WDP Director. Marco and Dr. Cerrato have asked Fernando to meet with them, and others, this morning to discuss combined efforts in Valle District. While Fernando is meetings with WFP, DoH-V and others, Ismael and I drove out into the mountains to a very small DoH-V clinic to pick up the monthly L4L food products for certain surrounding schools. As it turns out, the nurse/manager is spending the day in meetings in Cholutecka and the assistant on duty doesn’t have keys to the supply rooms. We drove all this way for nothing! One might observe that the stars are lining up for L4L or that we are going through a period of good karma but it is clear that Fernando is steering L4L through these events:
•    WFP is assigning tasks to L4L because of Fernando’s efforts
•    DoH-V is distributing food to L4L because of Fernando’s efforts
•    L4L will manage projects coordinated between WFP, DoH-V, and recipients because of Fernando’s efforts.
It’s all good and the best thing I can do is stay out of Fernando’s way and facilitate his efforts as best I can.

10:30 Ismael and I are back in Nacaomi. We go to the Governor’s office and I spend a few minutes talking with Marcos about our arrangement. He explained that he prefers not to push for a signature on the Agreement until L4L is more deeply involved in WFP projects. He doesn’t want to raise questions till he has more history with L4L to point to. Marcos explained that he knows Fernando is scheduled to speak at an annual Parent/Teacher meeting at a school this afternoon but asked if we can cover for Fernando so he can attend an afternoon planning meeting. Of course we can!

11:00AM Ismael and I picked up Roxana and are headed for Jose Cecilio Del Valle in the community of Los Posas school for the Parent/Teacher meeting. This is a school fairly large school with 120 students. Once again, almost every student is represented by a parent; there are over 30 participants, all mothers. The school principal used this meeting opportunity to hold a general parent/teacher meeting so the meeting was in progress when we arrived. Two teachers met us when we parked, welcomed us to the school, walked us to the meeting room and formally introduced us to the group. Most communities are fairly remote and most traveling is by foot so each community develops it own personality. This slightly more formal touch seems to fit this community. After our presentation, a pre-selected mother stood up and presented a message of appreciation from the mothers. There weren’t any specific questions during the Q/A session; mostly comments about the importance of the daily vitamins and the milk for the children.

1:30PM Back in the compound.

3:00PM Fernando came by so we could discuss events of the day. While meeting with Marco and Fernando in the Governor’s office this morning, I had suggested that Marco, Dr. Cerrato, Fernando, and meet for dinner as a social event without business to worry about. The dinner is set up for 6:00PM.

5:30PM At Fernando’s house to pick him up for dinner. Picked up Marco. We picked up another doctor who is a friend of Marco’s and known by all except me. Drove toward Ampapala. About 5 miles before the dock we stopped at what appears to be a very nice, fairly new two-story house; it is actually a very up-scale restaurant. The owner, Jorge Alvarez, left this area when he was 16 and worked/trained as a chef for 25 years in Miami and New York with a stint in Europe. He returned home about 3 years ago to see if he can put a business together on the Pacific side of Honduras.

7:00PM On the second floor balcony overlooking the bay with the lights of San Lorenzo across the bay and the lights of Cholutecka barely visible further off and to the right. There is an evening breeze off the bay. The ambiance is all outdoors/up-scale; china table setting with silver serving trays, attentive staff. Around the table was Dr. Cerrado, Wilson (a well educated man who travels to the US occasionally on business. I have met him several times in the past. He is now Dr. Cerrato’s Assistant), Marco and his Dr friend, Fernando and me. A wonderful evening of excellent food and grand camaraderie. My Spanish is still not good enough to keep up with the flow of conversation around a table but that didn’t dampen the mood of the evening. I have no idea why Wilson or the other doctor were there but, like so many things in Central America that seem spontaneous and unplanned, I can assure you the placement of individuals around this table was not spontaneous or unplanned.

9:30PM In the compound. End of day.

May 8, 2010 Saturday

8:00AM Fernando stopped by so we went to El Centro for breakfast. Discussed events of past week and plans for next. I asked when he expects to start work on rehabilitating the water well in El Barrial. He said he expects to start work in about a week. WFP has 5 wells to start with and has projects coming down the pipeline from building rehabilitation to putting in community gardens. L4L is on a course to have all necessary legumes, corn, rice, and cooking oil necessary for L4L into the foreseeable future. L4L will manage and book the value of many much larger projects. While L4L will be provided food, tools, and supplies, L4L will not receive actual cash from WFP into the foreseeable future. Somehow, the BoD must figure out a way to continue to finance L4L through this period where L4L grows in size, asset value, and impact but not in cash value.

9:30AM On my way to Tegucigalpa. Traffic has increased substantially since my last visit. Hopefully, this indicates some improvement in the economy. The Honduras economy was really pummeled during the unrest of last year. Maintaining an independent democracy has really hurt Honduras proving, once again, that no good deed goes unpunished.

12:00PM In the Hotel General. Italian restaurant for lunch.

1:30PM Spent the afternoon catching up on notes, expense account, etc.

6:00PN Went to El Patio for barbeque. Service is lousy and beef is tough. Probably the last time for El Patio.

7:30PM In the hotel for the night. End of day.

May 9, 2010 Sunday

Catching up on correspondence and getting ready for next week. No trip log activities to report.

May 10, 2010 Monday

9:00AM Email from Dr. Mossi, he can see me at 3:30. I called Fernando to see if he can join us. He can.

10:00AM I forgot a necktie so went to the mall. Tie was $35!!! Most people don’t make $35 in a week! Not much choice so I bought it.

11:00AM Marco called, he wants to meet Tuesday afternoon. It seems that his promotion came through and another person will take over our area. I hope we are embedded deeply enough that Fernando won’t have to start over. More on this after our Tuesday afternoon meeting.

1:00PM Fernando is here. Ate lunch. Whiled away some time discussing various WFP projects.

3:30PM In Dr. Mossi’s office. I like Dr. Mossi because he gets right to the meat of the subject; not a lot of small talk. I explained that Fernando has made contact with management of WFP and DoH-V. I would like Dr. Mossi to help me meet someone with the UN at the top of the Honduras chain so that when Marco or Dr. Cerrato mention L4L, their managers have heard of us. Dr. Mossi said he would set up a meeting with the Honduras UN person with rank equivalent to his (Country Director) for this Thursday. He will also set up a meeting with the new Director of PRAF for Thursday. I am on such a short timeline; flying out Friday. Hope he can put it together.

4:45PM Back at the hotel. Fernando is driving back to this evening so he left directly after we returned to the hotel so he won’t have to drive after dark. I will drive to Nacaomi very early tomorrow morning because Fernando wants to deliver food to several schools.

6:00PM Went to the restaurant next door. The waiter asked, in Spanish, if I wanted my fish well done or medium done. I couldn’t believe my ears and asked him to repeat. I never heard of fish other than well done. Possibly, I got my fish medium (not quite done) on purpose the other day. Now I know; you don’t just order “pescado” but “pescado bien cocinada”.

7:30PM In the hotel. End of day.

May 11, 2010 Tuesday

5:00AM Up so I can get an early start. Fernando will wait for me to start his daily activities.

6:00AM Processed out of hotel, retrieved vehicle from parking deck, guide/taxi lined up to lead me across Teguci.

8:00AM Processed into motel in Nacaomi, caught up with Fernando. Fernando, Ismael, and I are headed for the region health office in the small mountain community of (Upper) Jicaro. These small health offices are commonly staffed by a nurse and a helper. This unpainted concrete block office consists of a waiting room probably 18 feet wide by 30 feet long. There is a row of 8 rough hewn wooden church style benches. At the front is a desk for the assistant/receptionist. The nurse’s office is through a door to the front and right of waiting room. The waiting room is full of mostly women and children; some men are there with a child. Outside, several men sit under a shade tree. Four saddled horses are tethered to tree branches; ours is the only motor vehicle. Next to the nurse’s office building is a block storage building approximately 18 feet by 24 feet. Sixty pound bags of rice, corn meal, soy flour, wheat flour, and 2 cases of I liter plastic bottles of cooking oil. Dr. Cerrato and Marcos have arranged for us to pick up these supplies. There were a total of 60+/- bags (enough to fill the pickup bed). We loaded these bags with the help of two of the fathers and drove back to Nacaomi.

10:30AM We stored these food products in a building owned by Fernando’s mother. We now have hand-tools and food stored at Fernando’s house, his wife’s office, and a room at his mother’s house. L4L must rent a storage room!

11:30AM At a meeting in a room at the Governor’s office with Marco, an assistant of his, another NGO, Francisco (?), and his aid. Marcos talked for about 30 minutes about how the WFP is an integrated system and how we are a team. Next, we spent 30 minutes discussing the best project tracking form. Marco is a true bureaucrat’s bureaucrat. Marco dismissed the others.

12:45PM Marco explained that his assignment has changed. He will oversee a larger geographical area and study other projects. He will assign us to another manager (who, I think, will answer to him). This new person lives in Teguci and will manage this area from a desk. Our assigned projects will progress as if there was no change. He purposely did not push for the signature of the Agreement with L4L so that we would have more time to perform before our experience level is questioned. For me, this is business; it’s up to us to find out what motivates the new manager and determine if his interests are similar to, as well as benefit L4L interests. Something about Marco’s delivery rubbed Fernando the wrong way. Remember, they are friends from many years back and they live in the same community; they will stay friends. Still it was clear to me that, for Fernando, something isn’t just right.

1:30PM At Polloland “restaurant” for lunch. Fernando knows that this other NGO, Francisco, who is financed through an Italian foundation and WFP has actually accomplished nothing over the past year. Yet, somehow, Fernando feels L4L is playing second chair. I told Fernando to relax and wait; things will settle down and he can determine L4L’s best interest then (me telling someone to relax and wait-doesn’t sound right, does it?). To top off events; the chicken is raw in the middle. I showed it to the manager who shrugged her shoulders. I asked if she would change this for another, she said she would not; it’s all cooked the same so mine is ok. I told Fernando to explain that I will pay for everything except the raw chicken. Fernando said “you will go back to the US and we will stay here to pay many times, I prefer that you not do that”. When lunch was over, Fernando jumped up to pay to be sure I didn’t say something stupid (like I shouldn’t have to pay for raw chicken).

3:30PM Fernando met me at the motel and we went down the street for a beer. Fernando explained that as soon as he left, Dr. Cerrato called and instructed Fernando to pick up 60 lb. bags of school lunch dried food and that is what he has been doing for the past hour. This delivery consists of rations for a certain group of schools (Fernando has the list). L4L really does need a clean and dry storage area.

4:30PM Went to San Lorenzo for dinner

7:00PM In the compound. End of day.

May 12, 2010 Wednesday

8:00AM A little slower pace today. Actually, most of this day was for me. Fernando and Ismael came by. Drove to Rincon to see Anabel and find out when graduation would be in November. Students were just finishing “lunch” by the time we got there so this was the short morning recess. Anabel immediately ran over grinning from ear to ear. Most of you may not remember but Anabel’s front teeth were discolored any one could see small lines of decay on the side teeth. Even as a small child, she was self conscious and would never smile because that would show her bad teeth. Five years ago, Roxana took her to a dentist who was apparently not too good with kids. Anabel was so petrified she would not go back for years. During this past year the pain got bad enough that Miriam, her guardian, finally got her to the dentist. Five hundred dollars later, her front teeth are completely white and there is no decay left to show. The habit of not smiling was so old, for the last 4 months, everyone had to tell her to smile so her beautiful teeth would show. Now she grins from ear to ear. We learned that the School Director sent out a message that the graduation ceremony must be no more than 8 days before Nov. 30 and no more than 8 days after Nov. 30. This school prefers sometime before Nov 30.

10:00AM Drove to the high school in Goascoran to check on Waldina’s grades. Grades have not been tallied and distributed yet. I’ll never understand how a high school can simply ignore the scheduled report card day and casually distribute them several weeks late. This school consistently misses the date. While the report card distribution date is one week past, no one in the office would commit to a revised distribution date. When Waldina saw us, she dismissed herself from class and came over. Waldina never smiles or offers any information. She answers questions, when asked. After a few minutes of talk, she asked to be excused so she could return to class. The difference between Anabel and Waldina is that Anabel (now) has a great home life environment and Waldina doesn’t. Waldina was set up for failure, if she makes it through high school, it will be entirely of her own doing. There will be substantial changes in procedures before I do this again.

11:30AM At Pierdras Blancas to see when graduation will be. Essentially, the same story.

1:00PM Lunch in El Central.

2:00PM Ismael went to deliver some food products, Fernando went to put a report together for WFP.

4:00PM Drove to Goascoran to see ex-Alcalde, Valesquez (the mayor who helped with 3 of the 4 kitchens).

6:00PM On the way back, Fernando called to say that Dr. Mossi had set up some meetings for us in the morning. At this time, one of the typical police roadblocks was coming up and I was pulled over. The officer took the registration and my Honduras driver’s license (obviously looking for a handout) he announced that I was talking on my cell phone and that is illegal. There were two school principals hitching a ride to Nacaome with me so he really couldn’t ask for a bribe and I suppose my indignant response didn’t help much. One thing led to another and he wrote me a ticket. Now, ticket writing is a little different in Honduras. When a real ticket is written, they keep your license. You have to go to the local municipality the next day and pay your fine. Then they give your license back, in theory. What do you think the odds are of the three ticket copies and the confiscated license ever being in the same place? Fernando says he can get the license back; we’ll see. Two lessons:

· Don’t mouth off to a policeman at a road block; pay your damn bribe and go on.

· Carry a Honduras license so that they don’t get your US license.

8:00PM In the compound. End of day.

May 13, 2010 Thursday.

7:00AM Fernando and I are on our way to Teguci. We have a meeting at 10:30AM with the Director of PRAF and a meeting at 11:30AM with the Director of WFP.

10:30AM In the office of the Director of PRAF (Fernando has the notes with his name and email address). I like this Director of PRAF much more than the last; he is very management/business oriented, the last was political and showy. A little refresher info; PRAF does not actually distribute food. PRAF is a Honduras social services department under the watchful eye of World Bank. The Director of PRAF works closely with the Director of WFP. During our last encounter, about 4 years ago, after inspecting 3 schools in the L4L program, the PRAF director said she would recommend to the director of WFP that WFP continue deliveries of food, even during shortages. I assume she did; our schools didn’t miss a delivery until the political turmoil last year. To the meeting at hand: This was the first meeting where my Spanish failed me. I should have brought an interpreter. Fernando filled in for me; he knew the points we wanted to make. The Director was very appreciative of what we do and looks forward to working with us in the future. Meeting didn’t last more than 20 minutes.

11:30AM Meeting with Jose Francisco Salinas, WFP Director of Program. Probably halfway into my first paragraph of introduction, Mr. Salinas interrupted and said he wanted another person to hear what I am saying. This person is Hernan Alfonso Agullar, WDP Unit Programmer. I explained our history and said we are interested in working more closely with WFP since we work in the same communities. I further explained that L4L understands that WFP has a larger mission and we are ready to help, but these other efforts (such as refurbishing wells) cannot divert L4L money away from our school lunch program. Both men expressed an interest in exploring avenues of cooperation. Mr. Agullar will set up a time for him and Fernando to inspect some schools in the L4L program. Both men said they were really glad we came by because they had never heard of L4L and they are very interested in working with us (PRAF was supposed to have talked with then and Marcos was supposed to be moving us up through the chain – I think Dr. Mossi may have done more for us by setting this meeting up than all others combined). Mr. Salinas wants to explore an agreement with L4L where we either expand the schools we cover or include ages 6 months to 5 years in existing communities. A long ways to go, but we’re finally moving down a road that is going some place. Mr. Salinas made it clear that any agreement between L4L and WFP would have to be signed by me in Honduras. Again, a long way off, but we keep moving along.

1:00PM Turned rental vehicle in, walked across the street to BigBoy’s for a hamburger.

2:00PM Fernando leaves for Nacaomi. I am taking notes and getting ready for my flight.

4:30PM In the hotel. End of day.

May 14, 2010 Friday

9:00AM Slept late, finished packing. In a taxi headed for airport.

10:00AM Revised seating arrangements and got boarding pass, paid airport exit fee, through security.

12:00PM Plane leaves on time. Unusual turbulence. Plane is flying at 32,000 feet and we are skimming across the top of clouds. Apparently a fairly big storm right below us. Land on time. Through customs. Ride rail to Corridor B and walk all the way to the end of the 60’s series gates only to be told the gate has been changed to the 80’s series corridor. For those of you who haven’t done it, this is a long walk. If a person stopped on his way to the posted gate 61A to eat and arrived with 20 minutes left, he would not make it to the changed gate location; unless the person possesses EST he would miss his flight even though he would be at the posted gate in “plenty” of time.

6:30PM After an hour delay, we board the plane and taxi out to the runway only to be delayed by a storm passing over. We sat on the tarmac for 3 hours! Very bumpy first half of the trip.

11:30PM In Birmingham.

1:30AM At home. End of trip

Trip Log (letter written February 14,2010 thru March 4, 2010)

reh@knology.net — Tue, 11 May 2010 06:00:00 GMT

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.

Trip Log (letter written November 6, 2009 thru November 16, 2009)

reh@knology.net — Tue, 11 May 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Friday November 6, 2009

We called Fernando in Honduras to see if he knew any news. None. The bus driver who was supposed to be driving the bus to Costa Rica said that many people died in El Salvador due to after effects of the hurricane; probably flooding and mud slides.

We continued to wait at the bus station. Ron passed the time by conversing w/our driver, guide, and the waylaid bus driver. I have been surprised that not many people were at the bus station today. Finally, the bus arrived.

-------Start of Trip Log-----------

Friday November 6, 2009

5:00PM Ron and I drove to Birmingham Holiday Inn after work.

Saturday November 7, 2009

4:30AM Airport: kiosk not opened until 5AM. At 5AM, kiosk would not work, aggravation. Plane departed & arrived on schedule. Good because only a 50 min lay-over. Flight to Managua was good. Rain upon arrival. Then over to blue skies.

11:15AM Humid and hot when Jorge (our guide/translator) greeted us. Temperature was more pleasant as we departed the city headed to Granada, our destination.

1:45PM Arrived at Hotel Colonial, an old colonial hotel much like where we stayed in Oaxaca, as Ron had said. Walked around. Didn’t locate seafood restaurant that Jorge had told us about. Instead, shared a sandwich and drink in a restaurant across from central park. Walked around park looking at wares. Saw several items to consider purchasing. Returned to hotel and rested. Walked around town and down to the lake. Lake Managua is the second largest lake in Latin America. It is the only fresh water lake in the world with sharks living in it.

5:00PM We went to dinner at the South Hill (Colina del Sur)Restaurant. There we ordered Guapote, a fish caught from Lake Nicaragua. The whole fish (head and all) is served. Somehow they remove all the bones! It was very good. Our same taxi driver picked us up & returned us to Hotel Colonial. We walked around the central park. It was Saturday night; not overly busy. We stopped at a coffee shop for a piece of pecan pie and purchased a Nicaraguan newspaper.

9:00PM We returned to the hotel & went to sleep; we were tired.

Sunday November 8, 2009

5:30AM We awakened well rested. Couldn’t locate coffee till 7:00AM at the hotel restaurant. We both ordered the typical local breakfast. Afterward, we walked around the town & took some pictures. We returned to the hotel, but then I went out again to shop for a few things for friends and relatives.

9:00AM Jorge & the driver arrived to take us to King Quality Autobus in Nicaragua. We arrived an hour early. Anabel and her sister are to arrive on the bus from Nacaomi. I have entered this log while sitting in the waiting area at the bus station. Notes to date:

Granada is not as prosperous as Oaxaca. The people are friendly.

There were more Caucasians (tourists) than I expected.

Jorge stated that he tries to avoid Managua when possible, but there was not really another way to get to Granada.

Anniversary of Carlos Amador Fonseca, a major Sandanista celebration.

National Theatre, Presidential House, Mulacour area, Ron could not purchase a Sandanestin flag.

Hours later: After waiting on the bus we were told that the bus had been delayed due to weather from Hurricane Ida causing a bridge to collapse and traffic was backed up for miles.

It was past lunch time so we asked where to eat. Therer was a huge mall directly across from the bus station. We mingled with the hoards of people in the food court and feasted on fried chicken.

Back in the bus station; still delayed for more hours. Jorge decided to show us Lake Nicaragua and the Presidential House and National Theatre. Many people were gathering for a political rally. I was glad to be back in the mini-van and headed for the bus station, our “oasis” for the day.

We piled into the mini-van and headed back to Granada and the hotel. We arrived around 9 P.M. After showing Anabel and Miriam around their room and the hotel, we headed for the square and ate dinner. Then, we returned to the hotel for the evening.

Monday November 9, 2009

6:30AM Breakfast with Anabel and Mirium

9:00AM Carriage ride, city tour. William Walker (1855-1857) called himself el Presidente when Granada was capital .

Old hospital circa 1925, San Juan de Dios, abandoned 20 years ago. Spanish company purchased for $2 million to make a grand hotel.

Now, the government pays hospital, but not a medicine.

New hospital, built by Japanese downtown.

1748, Ft. Fuertela Polvara. Used as a prison by Samoya in 1945-1947. Underground cells. Cane roofs. Tower; great view of city.

New Catholic Church; ornate. Also catholic school for boys.

Several other churches.

Malecon de la Amistad, Pablo Antonio Cuadra

365 islets. Largest island is Ometepe; island fort is Ft. del lesa Del Moryea built between 1744-1748.

San Francisco Monastery 1529:

1200-1523 Indians

1524-1539 Conquistadors

1540-1600 Expansion, colonialsation

Agriculture commerce 1637

Praticos 1665-1811

Civil war 1812-1855 1812, 1823, 1855

Incendio filibuslero (1856), General Walker

Fotraleza San Pablo – in 1784 by the Spanish in Lake Nicaragua, last fort built in city.

Monkey Island - vet brought male and female and they have multiplied. Lucy came on the boat and got a banana. She tried to check out the items in my bag!

We returned to the hotel and gathered our bags. We set off to Volcano Masaya in the mini van. We could travel to the rim, but you had to park your car backwards in case it erupted. It was releasing steam and some sulphuric gas. Ron had never been to the rim of a volcano, so it was an exciting event for me him as well as the rest of our group. Jorge, our guide, said that at night you could see the lava below. We left and headed for Managua again.

At the Holiday Inn Select in Managua. Very nice. Checked in and went to get some dinner. It was a formal dining room, but there was a big-screen tv showing a soap opera which Miriam enjoyed watching! Afterwards, I showed them some pictures on the computer than we had taken during the trip. I went to check on the shuttle to the airport and my flight schedule.

Tuesday November 10,2009

5:30AM We all traveled to the airport and then said good-bye. I was traveling back to the U.S. and Ron, Anabel, and Miriam were taking the bus back to Honduras.

------End of Portion written by Elise Hicks-------

9:30AM At the King Quality Autobus station

11:15AM On bus headed for Honduras. Travel was slow. Anabel slept a good part of the way. The on-board movie was a really second rate movie about some bad actors helping the LA police catch some drug dealers using really fast cars in some really contrived chase scenes. Even Anabel was disinterested in the movie.

4:30PM Crossing the Honduras border

5:00PM First police checkpoint where officers walked through the bus randomly checking identification papers. Anabel and I were sitting on one side of the isle and Miriam was sitting two rows back on the left side. This was the first time it occurred to me how this could look to a suspicious cop; a 60-some year old gringo with a 14 year old Honduran girl whose half-sister/guardian is sitting two rows back. This police didn’t pay any attention but if a guard decided to, he could make a long complicated evening for us. I thought a minute about changing seats with Miriam but decide against that.

6:00PM Second checkpoint. A guard questioned Miriam’s papers and asked her to step off the bus. She told the guard that her ward, Anabel, is traveling with her so the guard asked Anabel to get off also. Since I was traveling with them I decided to step off with them even though I wasn’t asked. At the foot of the steps, one of the guards asked in a dismissive way if I was traveling with them (expecting me to say “no” so he could tell me to get back on the bus). I said I was; the guard was taken aback. I listened intently, mating eye contact with each officer as he questioned. For some reason that I will never understand, the police were very uncomfortable with my involvement. After a few awkward silences during the questions, we were all told to get back on the bus and the bus headed toward Jicaro, our destination. About 10 minutes down the road, the bus attendant (like an airline stewardess) came to me and started to explain that the gringos in the back are going to Teguci. I was still thinking about our recent encounter and asked what that had to do with me. After what seemed like 5 minutes of confusion, the Latino sitting in front of me explained that the attendant wanted me to act as the translator to explain how the other gringos can get to the Copan ruins via bus. This is the first time anyone ever asked me to act as translator! I didn’t do a very good job but everyone finally got the general idea of what must be done.

7:00PM At the Oases Motel in Jicaro. I got off to wait for the bus headed north to Teguci while Anabel and Miriam stayed on the bus as it would continue west toward El Amatillo. Fernando met me at the mote. And we had a few beers as we waited for the northbound bus.

7:30PM Headed north to Teguci.

9:94PM At bus station in Teguci.

10:15PM At the Hotel General, in for the night.

Wednesday November 11, 2009

8:30AM Jorge picked me up and we went to the hospital to see Angelo (El Maistro), his Chief Mechanic who is recovering from a bout with water around his heart. I must say, he is not in good shape but was really glad to see Jorge and really appreciated that I came to see him. Went to Jorge’s business and visited with Jorge and his wife, Leslie.

1:30PM In the Hotel, arranged to have rental car delivered in the morning. Called Fernando to arrange for visit. Took notes.

4:00PM End of day.

Thursday November 12, 2009

9:00AM Rental car arrived. Drove to Nacaomi. Stopped at a checkpoint and the officer started looking for something till he came to no fire extinguisher. It’s a dance one must dance. I would prefer to simply give him $5.00 but one must protest, plead ignorance, ask for a break while the officer insists that the law is the law. At the end of the dance you give him $5.00 and go on your way.

11:30PM Fernando and I went over revised Chart of Accounts and other administrative stuff.

2:00PM We drove to El Amatillo to visit with Waldina, check her 7^th grade final report card and discuss support for 8^th grade. This is becoming a sad story:

Waldina’s mother is really proud that Waldina is going to a “real” school but doesn’t have a clue how to help. Her two older sisters (by steps of about 1 year) are jealous and would just as soon she failed. Fernando explained that, among the very poor, families have little use for someone who lives in the house and eats the food but provides nothing. The poor do not consider going to school a full time job; the deck is stacked against her. At the same time, due to the political instability, schools were shut down for several weeks. End-of-year tests are standardized tests. Waldina explained that, for many parts of the year, teachers told them to read certain sections with no explanation; her grades are bad; not failing, math, Spanish, science, in the mid 60’s, but doesn’t demonstrate a good foundation to build on. Fernando confirmed that final grades are lower among all high school students this year. Elise and I will start the year supporting her. If she slowly brings the grades up over the year, we will continue our support.

Friday November 13, 2009

7:30AM Fernando and worked on some year-end loose ends and discussed logistics of delivering all items for lunch starting February as the Honduras gov. won’t be able to help. Tried to meet with Alcalde Valesquez.

1:30PM Met with Anabel and Miriam to finalize dental care for Anabel.

3:00PM In the compound, Fernando and I had a few beers.

5:00PM In the compound. End of day.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

9:30AM After breakfast with Fernando, I drove to Teguci.

12:00PM In the Hotel General.

1:30PM Rental car returned. Took notes, worked on expense account.

5:00PM In the hotel, end of day

Sunday, November 15, 2009

7:00AM Breakfast. Really a lost day. If I had it to do over again, I would have scheduled my flight out today.

12:00PM Watched football all afternoon. In the hotel. End of day

Monday, November 16, 2009

11:00AM Jorge took me to the airport.

12:30PM Fernando arrived with the Monthly Report.

1:30PM Plane left on schedule.

7:30PM Elise met me at the airport

10:30PM At the house.

End of trip