Tuesday we went to Santa Katarina. Finally, it is time to start building the feeding center. We went to buy block, rebar and cement so construction could begin.
Santa Katarin is 40 kilometers south of Choluteca and then we go eleven more kilometers out into the middle of nowhere. There is no businesses any where near Santa Katarina. We thought we would have to buy supplies in Choluteca and have them trucked out. Of course, we pay for delivery. Milton and Luis informed us we could probably buy supplies in El Triunfo, which is much nearer Santa Katarina. We found a block maker that makes block in his front yard. We stopped and asked his price and it was the price we were expecting to pay. Marc ordered 600 blocks and asked about delivery. The guy said he didn't have a truck. That sounds like a problem, but not really in Honduras. Because if someone doesn't have a truck, they always know someone that does. And in this case it was the guy's brother. Marc began to ask about the rebar and the cement as well. Since we have to pay delivery, it is better to have everything on one truck.
In true Honduras fashion, the guy gets on his motorcycle and drives off, while we wait, to ask about the truck, the rebar and the cement. He comes back to say that he has everything lined up for us, except that the truck is not available for that day,but the next. We agreed that we would be back the next Tuesday to have it taken to Santa Katarina.
We went on to Santa Katarina. We saw the lot, which is completely cleared and ready for construction. The folks there are so excited that construction will finally begin soon. After negotiating for supplies, it was midafternoon, when we arrived at Santa Katarina. We really did not plan to stay long, just let everyone know supplies would be arriving next week.
Santa Katarina is literally on the Honduran-Nicaraguan border. I walked into Nicaragua. Since there is no border crossing there, Marc reminded me in was in Nicaragua illegally. I would post a picture on the marker, but I still can't post pictures. Perhaps later. We said our goodbyes and left.
Marc and I had not eaten since breakfast. Probably Milton and Luis had not either. We were making plans to get to Choluteca and make our way to Pizza Hut. We were barely back on the highway and we had a problem with the truck. Thankfully, we were back on the highway.
It is very hot in that part of Honduras, and, as I already said, I was hungry. I found out that being hot and hungry tends to make me cranky. Fortunately, we broke down right in front of a little pulperia. Marc bought Pepsis for everyone but me. Since there was no coke, I wanted water. Milton bought some cookies, some really good Honduran cookies for all of us. They were kind of like cooked pie crust with sugar on them. They tasted wonderful and certainly took the edge off of my crankiness.
Milton rode in a van to town to find someone to tow us. As God would have it, the person driving the van, was the uncle of someone who owned a tow truck and was a mechanic as well. Marc called our friend Richard to get one of the other vehicles and head for Choluteca to get us. Richard drove from Santa Ana and was waiting at the Pizza Hut for us before the tow truck got out to us.
We saw a hawk and a beautiful yellow-breasted bird. When it got dark, where there is no city lights, the stars were awesome.
When the tow truck got there and got everything set, they told us to ride in the truck. Our truck. One person rode in the back of the tow truck with a flashlight shining the light, making sure all the connections held. Man, did that ever make me feel secure.
We hit a big pothole and the tow truck had a flat. They jumped out of the truck and had that trucked jacked up and the tire changed in nothing flat. Marc told them them must be part of team Nascar. The guys really liked that.
After we got to Choluteca and our truck was unhooked from the tow truck, the driver to told us to get in the back of his truck and he took us to Pizza Hut. The ride to Pizza Hut was free of charge.
We ate and finally got home around 11:00. Milton and Luis stayed in Choluteca so they could drive the red truck home yesterday. At least that was the plan. Luis came to Tegucigalpa last night. Milton did not. Luis came to buy a part for the truck, that could not be found any where in Choluteca. Marc is buying the part right now. Luis will go back to Choluteca as soon as Marc gets the part. The mechanic will put the part on the car and the guys should be in this afternoon.
You just got to love it.
Terri
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2 comments:
Only you Terri, could make a truck break down so fun to read. Almost feel guilty getting a kick out of your troubles. I did love it. I love your details. Makes me feel like I am a part of it all. All those emotions you feel, every day is a different experience all the while you all are doing Gods work. We love you for it. linda
I certainly can relate to that, since we had a similar experience after leaving Chulateca going into the mountains, at night, when Jen hit a pothole going about 100 mph (not really, but almost). Maybe Karen told you about it. It was pretty scary, at night, on a curve with no reflectors and a big truck coming around the curve so he couldn't see us, alone in the mountains on the Chulateca Highway, with a blown tire and bent wheel and a very bad spare tire and our cell phones were our light source for changing the tire. At least we had a spare, but when we got it on we were so quiet the rest of the way home, as I think we were all praying all the way. Jen drove pretty slow too, because we were afraid that even the slightest bump in the road would blow the spare tire, much less a pot hole and leave us really stranded, with thoughts of what could happen when a bunch of gringos are found alone at night, in the mountains, miles from anything. It was truly a hair raising night. What a feeling of relief when we turned off the highway and were almost back to Santa Anna!!
I never did comment on your seeing "critters" at night in the bedroom. Maybe later! Or just know that turning down the covers and doing a thorough inspection between the sheets is a good idea for an every night routine. But I bet you know that already! Love,from Janet P.
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