Santa Katarina

The heavy rains of late have caused damage and devastation all across this country.  Many people have lost everything, which in many cases is not much, but it is everything they have. 

A few years ago we did some work in Santa Katarina, a poor village south of Choluteca.  Sometimes, when the heavy rains fall, this village is cut off from the world as waters rise, covering the road in several places.  Three years ago, after the rains fell, we were not able to get to them.  They had to swim to us to get to food.  We have visited Santa Katarina several times since then.  I love that village, but it is always sad.  Most people in this village never receive above a fifth or sixth grade education, if that much.  They are a farming community that depends on the fall crops.  And they are community.  They take care of each other. 

I am always excited when Marc decides to visit Santa Katarina on Tuesday, my day off.  It means I can go.  In addition to Marc and I, Pamela and Byron, Dorian and Luis went with us.  That meant taking two trucks.  I asked Marc if I didn't go, would one truck suffice.  He said yes.  But convinced me he really wanted me to go. 

In times past, when we have taken food to Santa Katarina, we have driven to Choluteca and bought a lot of food at Maxi Bodega.  Someone said they knew a  cheaper place.  Off we went to the El Centro market, always an interesting experience.  We soon discovered we could buy food much cheaper, meaning we could buy more food.

Marc and Luis went to work buying food. 

We quickly made this little lady's day.  I am not sure she had ever sold this much in one day.  I would be crazy if I had to work all day in quarters this small.  She did not seem to mind.

Carts and carts of food were hauled to the trucks.

It is a good thing I went and we had two trucks because we had two truckloads of food. 

We then headed for Santa Katarina.  We had learned we would be able to get all the way to Santa Katarina.  The rains stopped a week ago and water has receded, but there were several places the water still crossed the road.

And flooded fields.

One place the people of Santa Katarina had filled with sticks.  The mud was so thick and deep, it would have been impassable otherwise.

After we arrived, we learned the crops had been flooded out.  For the second year in a row.

There are at least 130 families in Santa Katarina and they were coming from all directions.  These folks were hungry.  And not just a little bit.  Everyone helped us unload the trucks and organize the food.  There were lots of hands to help bag the beans and rice.

Not sure this guy really knows who is in the World Series or even what the World Series is

Food for every family was a welcome site in this village of hungry people, where many did not have shoes,

some did not have clothes,

where lightened hair and distended bellies (both signs of malnourishment) were common.

Happy people, thanking God and walking home knowing they can feed their kids tonight.

Then after a quick stop at Wendy's in Choluteca, we were blessed with some awesome God art.

I am glad I got to be part of this, another great day in Honduras.

Terri