Honduras Update: Leave It All On The Mountain

A few years ago when I was down here a U.S. team came and I hooked up with them.  They had a very charismatic, full-bore Rambo-like team leader.  He would lead us in a cheer.

Leader: What are we gonna do?

Team:  Leave it all!!!

Leader: Where we gonna leave it?!?

Team:  ON THE MOUNTAIN!!

And he would then lead us through the cheer 2 or 3 more times, each time increasing in passion.  This past Monday our staff led a team of young women from Arkansas up into the mountains.  They were accompanied by a pediatrician and his wife, and then a Honduran physician and a dentist joined us later in the week.  The trip had 3 purposes:  construction, building relationships and playing with the kids, and hosting an outdoor medical clinic.  

Here’s some of my impressions:

**Leaving it all on the mountain is certainly an inspirational concept.  The problem with it is that you then have nothing left for hiking back out of the mountains.  The last day a fourth of the team were sick, and during the night I became ill and woke up to a day of hiking out of the mountains.  An hour and a half into the hike I had no reserves left and couldn’t go any further.  I had to ride a pack-mule the rest of the way back.  Embarrassing and an assault on my male ego, but I had nothing left.   (I was concerned about my wife, Leslie, handling the rigors of the hike and, fortunately, she avoided all sickness and managed the hike.)

**Les, Dr. David, and Tiffany (one of the Arkansas women) provided a medical clinic in a little mountain village, Las Crucitas, “the crosses.”  My understanding is that no one had ever done so in recent memory.  In light of time restraints and the difficulty in getting there the 3 rode mules in and out.  (Out of curiosity, I googled Las Crucitas, and was informed that “nearby accommodations” were in Tegucigalpa at the Hotel Excelsior.  Tegicigalpa is a 3-4 hour drive from the mission-base, and then it’s a two hour and 15 minute drive on an unpaved road from the base to Monte Verde, followed by 3 to 4 hour hike, and then a mule ride to get to Las Crucitas.   Thanks for the hot tip.)  Regardless, they provided medical care to a number of children and adults and were received with much gratitude.

**Many of the women become pregnant at an appalling early age.  Very disheartening and typically sealing their fate and future.  While they were in Las Crucitas a woman proudly told them that she is 49 and just celebrated her 38^th anniversary. You do the math.   At our base camp in the mountains I met a young mother with three children.  She is seventeen; her oldest son is 7.  We met a thirteen year old mother. Many of these women have lost their childhood, their adolescence, and, without some intervention, have forfeited their future and dreams.  It makes me very sad.

**Reg. the construction, we completed a house by constructing the trusses,  putting on the roof and white-washing the adobe brick walls.  The family was so eager to get out of their shack that they began moving in before we were even finished.  They now have a shelter that will protect them and last them for generations.

**the kids.  The team brought coloring books, some soccer balls, balloons, bubble-blowing stuff and provided unbelievable care and individual attention.  They arranged a “salon” and washed the kids’ hair.  The physical touch and tender stroking of their hair was moving.  More than hair was cleansed; something on the level of the soul was touched, as well.

**When the three returned from Las Crucitas, we then hosted a major medical clinic where we were stationed, Santa Maria.  We held it in open air “pavilion.”  People stood in line for hours, waiting until they could be seen by the doctor or dentist.  The team had brought a massive supply of antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals.  The dentist pulled a lot of teeth, team members washing the instruments each time and then proceeding to the next patient.

**It’s all about personal contact—one on one. The team leader, Linda, would take several of her team and hike to the individual shacks that housed each family, befriending them.  They came to one mother’s house and she was very moved by their personal interest in her.  She told them, “I had heard you people were here in the area; but you came to me.”  It’s one thing to talk the faith; walking it is what it’s all about.  This team did both.  As Christ-followers we represent God; we are to mirror Christ’s love.  God comes to us; we don’t have to figure our way through the maze, and we, in turn, go to others.  Way to pay it forward, team!

**I can’t dance.  When I do, onlookers usually think I need medical attention and fear I’m having a seizure.  I was in a mother’s “house of sticks”—the mother for whom we finished her new  house.  She’s 56 y.o., a grieving woman whose husband had died recently.  She had a little portable radio that could pick up a signal and was playing some music.  I began dancing and she began laughing and it was a beautiful thing to see, even for a moment, light in her saddened eyes. Laughter on her grief-ridden face. 

We will have a few days back here at the Mercy International base and then another team comes in Wednesday.  We will be building in the local area this week.   Thank you for your prayers and for your encouragement. 

 Be thankful for what and who you have.      

 Grace and Peace, Steve and Les

Two Weeks in Honduras Is Like a Year Anywhere Else: The Glory and The Gory

As of today, we've been here two weeks.  Here's some snapshots:

**We've rented a little  2 room"apartment" in Yamaranguila, a town of maybe a thousand people.  We narrowed our selection down to this one primarily because it was the only one.  No stove, no frig.  We did buy a hot-plate in order to heat up some food.  Still no frig, and may not get one.  We will be eating our meals at the mission base and may forgo the luxury of a refrigerator.   Our landlord lives in a house adjoining our apartment. He has a housekeeper who for some reason precisely between 5:30-6:00 a.m. daily chops wood on the concrete sidewalk fifteen feet outside our bedroom window.  An unsolicited alarm clock.  Our landlord has has 3 roosters in a pen about 30 feet away form our window.  One of them is apparently neurologically deficient and crows around 3:00 a.m. and the rest begin about 5:30--just in case we were to sleep through the wood-chopping.

**The mission base, Mercy International, builds houses both locally and up in the mountains where the poorest of the poor reside.  I just returned from our first hike up into the mountains.  (Les did not accompany due to some strained neck muscles from an accident about a week before we arrived here.  She hopes to accompany me on the next hike next week.)  First, it is a two hour plus drive on a very rough, unpaved mountain road, and then we abandon the vehicles and hike a minimum of 3 hours up into the mountains to get to this little mountain village, Santa Maria.  We hosted a team from Florida State University, a number of them on the football team.  They all concurred that the hike was beyond what their conditioning involves.  We divided into 2 teams, one team to pour a concrete floor for a mother and her children, the other to complete a house by adding trusses and a roof.   Ironically, the family for whom my team built a roof is the same family for whom I poured a concrete floor this past Nov., and it was a great pleasure to meet them again and re-establish our relationship. I went to the other site and met the mother for whom we were to construct a floor.  She's 56 y.o.  She has lived in what I call this "house of sticks" for 25 years.  No floor, no running water, no electricity.  Literally, sticks packed with mud for walls.  She cried as I asked her about her life.  Her husband had died in January and she has no idea how she will provide for her family.  I would ask her about other matters but she would resume talking about her husband whom she misses dearly.  She is filled with grief, both recent and old.  She told me she had 14 children and 6 of them have died.  Hopefully, a concrete floor will serve as a metaphor for something of substance for her to stand on as she regroups and faces an even more difficult life ahead.

**These are a humble people.  When we built the trusses and added a tin roof to "my" family's house we asked if we could gather around them and pray for them.  They were very appreciative and wanted us to.  When we finished praying for them the father, Melbis, asked if he could pray for us.  You who have so little have so much compassion that you want to pray for US?  We gratefully received his prayer.

**The hike out of the mountains was in the rain, and the mud was slippery and many of us slipped and fell but only our pride was injured.  As we drove back on the mountain road, the van was slipping in the the mud.  We had two trucks leading the way for the van.  As we were descending, I noticed a full-sized school bus ascending the approaching mountain curve, but then stopped.  We couldn't see what was going on.  All of us left our vehicles to discover that the bus had lost traction in the mud and had begun to slide back down the hill.  The bus driver had hit the brakes, got it to at least stop, and had someone attach a rope to the bumper and there were about 15 Honduran adults and children attempting to pull this full-sized school bus up the mud-soaked mountain incline. We all ran over and joined them in the mud and somehow pulled this bus up the hill to a level place where once again the driver could get traction.    The bus driver proceeded to  shake our hands in fervent appreciation.  It was a joyful feeling joining these Hondurans as a team, agonizing in pulling this bus up the hill.  What a wild ride!  

Well, those are a few slices of life thus far.  Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.  And be grateful for what and who you have.

(Sorry, no photo; problems loading and want to post before I lose everything.)

Safe Arrival in Honduras

Random thoughts and impressions:

--Thankful for a safe trip, and reminded again of the beauty of Honduras.

--Exasperated with the incompetence of the airlines which will remain nameless, other than to say it is the last word in U.S.A. and add an "n."  We arrived at San Pedro Sula airport and two of our 5 checked bags did not arrive.  Two large durable plastic trunks with many supplies.  The airlines put our baggage on 2 different flights.   Go figure. We are to receive the trunks in 2-3 days.

--Thankful for twentysomethings.  I was amazed at the number of different teams of twentysomethings on our flight, coming down for the purpose of serving the poor.  This disavowal of a life of total consumption and, instead, desiring to give, encourages me immensely.  You rock.

--This is such a country of contrasts.  San Pedro Sula is urban, high-tech.  Mercedez dealerships. Malls that compare to ours.  A "latino sexuality" particularly in women's attire, flaunting cleavage, lot of bling. A short drive and people in rags, dogs with ribs protruding, no running water or electricity.

--I'm spoiled.  A middle-upperclass baby. Our 2 room "apartment" in which we we spent our first night has no stove, no frig.   Can't drink the tap water--too risky. The front door lock doesn't work.  The mattress has strands of wire running through it.   The shower head has an electrical unit on it that you switch on to create hot water and to apparently shorten your life if you happen to be standing in any water.  It's fondly called "the widow-maker."  And there are millions of people who are begging to have such a life of luxury. 

--Grateful for my wife who embraces the simple life with acceptance and thankfulness, while I whine.

--Excited about what these next three months might hold. Excited about opportunities to serve, help, befriend, embrace, build.  Excited about the potential changes within us as we step out into unchartered territory.

--I want to savor each moment and have no regrets at the end of each day.  I don't want to hold back and then at end of day to lament, "if only. . . "

--And that's my hope for you, as well.

Adios for a While

We leave Friday, 2/25, for our 3 months in Honduras, serving the poor.  The electricity there is unpredictable and Internet unreliable.  My intent is to blog while down there.  I hope my good intentions translate into action.  

This is a new chapter in the story of our life, new terrain yet to be explored on our journey. 


I am grateful for your reading of my blogs and the interaction thus far.  I will appreciate your patience as we get acclimated.  Once settled in, I will post a blog.  

We're still packing and have a lot to do in the next 15 hours before departure.  I'd better get to it.

Grace and peace to each of you.

A Heads Up Before We Head Out

In 9 days my wife and I will be flying to Honduras and living there in an impoverished area for three months.  We will be working with Mercy International, constructing houses for the poor and possibly helping kids in the school system.  There is a lot up in the air so late in the game.  We just now secured a 2-room apartment that supposedly has a bed init--the condition and cleanliness of the bed unknown.   We do not have cellphone arrangements worked out and may have to wait until we get there to do so.  These and more create high anxiety for me.  My wife is much calmer about it than I.  That's fortunate; we'd be getting nothing done if both of us were tucked in a fetal position.  I think I'm regressing; I don't recall sucking my thumb prior to making this monumental decision.  Of course, at my age recalling my DOB requires a post-it note.

I'm anxious about immaterial matters, such as not being able to get a deep tan.  I love the sun and have for decades.  Apparently, the sun doesn't share a similar fondness for me.  In recent years a dermatologist has made me aware of numerous sites of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma.  I have been having them removed 2 or 3 at a time.  I have vowed that I will now protect myself with sunscreen.  The thought of being lily white after three months in Central America is not appealing.  However, the thought of possibly no more surgeries requiring staples and stitches to close the sites is very appealing.   My vanity will take a hit.

I'm anxious about important matters.  I have friends and family that are terribly struggling with life.  I don't believe that staying home would make a difference in their life. That's not the issue.  The issue is that being here gives me a sense of security in that at least I am available and can see and talk with them and do something for them if they requested.  I will feel helpless living so far away. 

I can feel the sadness slowly mounting as the reality of our departure draws closer. This past Sunday  was the  last time we  will see our friends in our community of faith.   I know I won't be able to embrace and say good-bye to everyone that I care about.  We won't get to see everyone before we leave, and words will be left unspoken and hugs withheld.

Yet, in all of this I am nonetheless excited.   The day we arrive there will also be a team from the U.S. flying in to do construction work.  I can't wait.  If possible I want to start building with them or hiking up into the mountains with them to build a shelter up there.   My  adrenalin is pumped;  I don't want to gradually tiptoe into this adventure.  I want to plunge in.

I am excited about the prospects of making an impact on families--an impact lasting for generations.
I'm excited about how all of this will impact ourselves.  I have a feeling that the intensity of this work and the harshness of the environment will serve to purge our marriage and make it stronger.  I'm not looking forward to the stress it may place on our relationship, but I view the stress as a means to a beautiful end.

I realize I am rambling and for that I apologize.  I'm not feeling real linear and sequential right now.  I also apoligize for the long delay in posting this blog.  I'm very distracted.     

I hope to post one more blog before we leave on 2/25.  Electricity and the Internet down there are not particulary reliable.  Consequently, I don't know how frequently I will be blogging.  Also, we could be up in the mountains working for a week at a time with no access to computer.  I appreciate your patience in all this.

I intend to chronicle these coming three months and share with you our experiences.  I appreciate your reading and following thus far; I hope you'll stick with me.








 

Procrastination: Trains stop at train stations; Buses stop at bus stations; On my desk is a workstation.

If I were Catholic I would be crowned the Pope of Procrastination.  If I worked the casinos I would be the Dealer of Distraction.  If I were a snow-covered peak I would be the Avalanche of Avoidance.  You get the idea.

(I alert you I'm also the Ally of Alliteration-- but I digress, I do.) 

It's very frustrating and adds to my stress but I persist in putting off tasks/projects until the last minute. I've analyzed it.. There are a number of reasons why I procrastinate.  Sometimes, I fear the magnitude of a task and simultaneously question my ability to manage it.  I will then delay my perceived forthcoming failure as long as possible.  There are times when the task or responsibility is distasteful or undesirable; consequently I avoid the unpleasant issue as long as possible.  Other times I invest a task with more difficulty than it actually contains--I blow its magnitude out of proportion--and avoid facing it until absolutely necessary.  At times, quite frankly, I would rather play than work and I choose to play now and work later.  Much later.

Unfortunately, analyzing it--as I have just done--does not necessarily change it.  In fact, too much mere thinking about it  could prolong my avoidance as I succumb to the paralysis of analysis.   Maybe Nike was right--just do it.

The Scriptures in which I attempt to ground my life certainly do not support my procrastinating.  The sacred text contains phrases like "THIS day choose. . . " and "THIS is the day. . . "   Not tomorrow, later or whenever.   

I'm trying, I think.  On the one hand, I grimace at the realization that I have procrastinated in sitting down and blogging about my tendency to procrastinate  That's a sorry look in the mirror. On the other hand, I did do it THIS day and I  detect a slight smile as I take a second look.




 

The Best Things In Life Aren't Things

Some of you know, some don't.  I'll share in more detail soon.  In a little over 3 weeks my wife and I are leaving our family and friends and for 3 months will serve the poor in Honduras.  I will miss a lot.


I will miss all the conveniences currently at my disposal, but I'll adjust.
I will miss the easy access to stores, but I'll survive and simplify. 
I will miss instantaneous Internet,  but will learn to delay gratification.
I will miss fb on demand, but will hopefully interact with my wife more and everyone else less.
I will miss my friends and my community of faith, but  I know I will cope with their absence.
I will miss going to a movie, but will learn to enjoy a sunset, instead.
I will miss my big house, but will soon appreciate any space available. 

And I will miss my family and I do not have a clue how life will go on without them.  This morning one of our daughters sent me this photo of her two boys, which translates into my two grandboys.    I cried.  I cried because I love them so much, I cried because I know I will miss them so much.


Yeh, I know.  There's Skype, etc etc etc etc.  I can take photos with us.  All sorts of options.  All of that will help, but the painful truth is-- a photo in your hand doesn't compare to a child in your arms. 

Thanks for allowing me a melancholy moment.