Grocery Shopping

Marc and I had to go to Tegucigalpa today for some errands. We stopped at the warehouse because some of that tuna is coming to Casa de Espranza. We drove to the warehouse and my arms and legs began to hurt just thinking about unloading those containers. Actually, my arms haven't quit hurting yet. We were in the green truck so we weren't going to take everything that is going to Casa today. We loaded several cases in the truck. I am already wondering what wonderful things Dilcia and Elvia will cook up using that tuna. Then we went to PriceSmart, the Honduran version of Costco, but not near as much selection. We had a few groceries to buy for ourselves and the list for Casa de Esperanza was quite long. We go to the fruit market every other week for fruits and vegetables. Karen orders meat, bread, milk and eggs and has all of that delivered. What else could be left? You would be surprised.

Marc took a basket and went to get our groceries and I took one and started on the Casa list. After I got laundry detergent, fabric softener, bleach and disinfectant and I had completely filled one of the huge PriceSmart baskets, including the bottom. I went and got another basket and started filling it. I must admit it was probably quite a funny sight to see a gringa pushing around an extremely full, extremely heavy cart, pulling another cart with a spanish/english dictionary in her hand. That was me. I am sure I would have laughed had I seen someone else doing that.

I found everything on that list. I had to walk up some of the aisles more than once. It makes no sense how the store is laid out. If someone would have asked me, I would have told them to put everything used to bake on one aisle, all the soup on one aisle. But no one asked me so I had to search for a few things.

After paying for our things and paying for the Casa things on separate receipts, we had to be checked at the door, just like in the states. In the states, they give a quick glance at your receipt and then a quick glance at your basket and you are out the door. Not so in Honduras. The guy checked every single item in the basket against the receipt. I was in shock, but it was so funny. I was trying not to laugh and Marc was standing there shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Then we put all of that in the back of the truck which is already have full with tuna.

After driving up the mountain and getting home, there were 15 little people ready to help us unload. Thank goodness. Even the smallest ones helped carry something. There was a couple of little scuffles because someone wanted to carry what someone else had. Back and forth, back and forth we all went carrying in the groceries. When everything was in the house, a couple of the kids cried because they wanted to help more.

Then a few helped Marc and I carry our groceries down to the house. Whew! Grocery shopping is done for a while and we got home before the rain began.

Terri

Food Containers

For weeks I have talked about two food containers we were expecting. We were told yesterday they would be at the warehouse at 9:30 this morning. Bumblebee Tuna donated two full containers of canned meat: tuna, chicken, sardines, oysters and so much more. And to my friends in Columbus, Starkville, and West Point, the flavor of the south is now in Honduras. Bryan Food Vienna Sausages. Doesn't get much better than that.

We got up at 5:00 and left for town at 6:00 to go to the fruit market. We got there at 7:00 and finished at 8:00. Then we had a cup of coffee and went to the warehouse at 9:15. In Honduras when someone tells you 9:30, that means they won't be there before 9:30 and no telling how much after. The first truck arrived at 10:30. Timoteo, two of his sons and some of the Baxter students came to unload the trucks. Thank goodness, or we would still be there. Think about a can of tuna and 12 of those make a case. The cases are not very big. I think there must have been a million cases. Funny thing how a 40 feet container on the outside looks like a 100 feet on the inside. And no matter what the packing list said, I think crossing the ocean, the cases multiplied. No forklift. We used dollies and, in true Mary Sharkey style, a wheelbarrow. More than one can of sardines broke open and leaked on us. Don't you know we smelled great? It took 8 hours to unload those two containers. I might have worked that hard before, but I don't remember when. Of course, Marc was, by far, the dirtiest of all of us. He always is.

When we finally finished, all of us went to eat pizza. With sardine juice and sweat mixed together, there was a green funky cloud hanging over our table. Some people were seated at the table next to us and immediatly asked to be moved. Everyone worked hard all day. I know they were hungry. The students from Baxter that are married each took a piece of pizza and wrapped it up in a napkin to take to their wives. Everyone that worked had 2 cases of tuna to take home as well. When we left the Pizza Hut, it sure seemed like a long, long way to Santa Ana tonight, even though it is only 30 kilometers.

I am really tired tonight and really dirty. If I had a bathtub, I probably would be taking a long hot bath, that is if I could step over into the tub. I am also excited just thinking about all the people this food will help and how grateful they will be to receive it. This food will be completely distributed in two weeks or less. Most Hondurans that will be receiving canned meat have never had anything like this. Most cannot even imagine what they will be receiving. The ones that eat daily have beans and rice. Some people don't eat daily. This next week most people in the United States will be preparing and/or eating feasts for Thanksgiving and there's nothing wrong with that. There will be people in Honduras receiving their first can of tuna or sardines and being so thankful for canned meat. Let's all really count our blessings this week.

Terri

Hospital Supplies

I think sometimes we in the United States get so use to having nice hospitals, schools and other items, that we cannot even begin to comprehend the conditions we find in other places. I have written and talked about the inadequate conditions at Hospital Escuela. The conditions are that way, not because people want them that way or because doctors and nurses don't care, but because the funds are not available to have necessities like surgical gloves and other sterile equipment. Therefore, a lot of surgeries just are not done. A lot of people die from inadequate care and inadequate sterilization.

The container we unloaded last month had hospital supplies for Hospital Escuela. Nothing here is done simply, not even donating much needed hospital supplies. We have been trying to do this all week, but the right people have to be available at the right time. We were suppose to meet our doctor friend at the warehouse at 9:30 and load our truck and his truck full of hospital supplies, and then be at the hospital at 11:00. The doctor is an orthopedic surgeon and was doing a full hip replacement this morning. We loaded our truck and pulled the other boxes out of the warehouse and waited. Someone called for the doctor and said he was not going to make it to the warehouse and to meet him at the hospital at 11:30. We hauled several boxes back into the warehouse and squeezed a few more in our truck. We went to Dunkin Donuts across from the hospital and had a cup of coffee and waited. We drove over to the hospital. We never have trouble driving right in. I did not think the guards wanted to let us through the gates. Marc finally made them understand we were donating all of that stuff. I can't imagine what they thought we were doing. We got to the hospital and waited some more for the doctor. There is absolutely no way for us to go off and leave that all of that in the back of truck. So, I stayed with the truck while Marc and others made several trips unloading the supplies. There were surgical gloves, scrubs, sutures, gauze, bandages, 5 cases of sterile surgery kits, oxygen masks, ekg pads, syringes, needles, an air conditioner for the sound room where audiology tests are given. I am sure there was more. As the last of the boxes were taken from the truck, I walked upstairs with Marc. We met the director of the hospital, who was most grateful for these supplies. We got to see the audiology equipment that was donated by IRC last summer. As we started to leave, there were some journalists from 2 different papers. The doctor had tipped off the media. He is a member of congress as well as being a doctor. The publicity isn't important to us, but it is to him. The doctor was interviewed and then Marc. Marc had to speak spanish the whole time. He did quite well.

We receive several containers of hospital supplies each year, most of them donated to Hospital Escuela. While it would never be enough to supply the needs of this hospital, at least it makes a difference to those that receive it.

Terri

God Art

We were told that the two containers of food would be ready to unload today, but they weren't. Nothing new there. We attempted to run several other errands and we kept running into dead ends. It was a bit frustrating, but humorous as well. Murphy's law was in full effect today. I was really tired. We started back up the mountain and saw some beautiful God art. The sunset was awesome. The reds and golds were resting on top of the mountains, making the mountains appear ablaze with fire, the trees silhouetted against the sky. It was gorgeous. Just a bit too dark to take a good picture, though. God is so good to provide such beautiful art for everyone to enjoy, completely free of charge. At the same time, it felt like a big eraser was erasing the tiredness and frustration right out of my body.

God is good...all the time.

Terri

Playing Outside at Casa de Esperanza

Today Karen's mom was leaving to go back to Ohio. Karen, of course, really wanted to take her to airport. That meant Marc and I got kid duty today. Karen was going to leave at 2:30 and was going to be back at 4:30. Marc was leaving at 4:00 to take one of the kids to the doctor. I thought all the ladies got off at 4:30 so I am thinking piece of cake. Imagine my surprise when I found out everyone but one person got off at 4:00 and about the same time, that things at the airport at been delayed and Karen would not be back at 4:30 and wasn't sure when she would be back. I am still not speaking real good spanish. Oh well, that didn't matter, we just played outside.

I pushed little Marjuri in the swing. And I pushed Marjuri in the swing. And I pushed Marjuri in the swing. She never gets tired of the swing. It has been a long time since anyone I know likes to be pushed that long. Once in a while, Katty would get in the swing beside Marjuri and I pushed both of them. Some of the boys got oranges from one of the trees. Rudy got a knife and began to peel one orange at a time. He then would cut the orange in two pieces and call two of the others to come get one. The kids were putting sugar on their oranges. The oranges I have been eating have been so sweet. I could not imagine the need for sugar. When my turn came, I soon found out the need for sugar. I have never tasted a sour orange until today. Rudy peeled many oranges and made sure everyone got some. As he peeled, the peelings were going into the flower bed. He looked down and saw the mess and sent someone in the house for a bag. I got Antonio started on picking up orange peels and soon Rudy finished peeling the oranges and the finished picking up the mess. Then every0ne lined up at the gate and two at a time raced each other. I began to take some video. Oh my, how they loved seeing the replay. They began to think up all kinds of things for me to video. Some of the girls danced. Some of the boys played soccer. Everyone wanted one more photo.

At 5:00, the kids have to begin taking showers. I remained outside with the ones that were still out there. I began thinking from where these children have come. Some of them were never allowed to be children. Some had their childhood stolen from them. All came to Casa de Esperanza hurt and afraid to love and afraid they would be hurt again. Yes, they are kids and there were some spats. But I saw and heard happy, smiling, laughing kids. Kids that need love and are receiving love. Kids that have come a long way. Kids that share after having learned to fend for themselve. Kids that help each other. Kids that care for each other. There are many sets of siblings here. In every instance, the oldest sibling is still the protector for his or her younger siblings. From outside, where I was, I could here talking and more laughing. When the last child was indoors and in the shower, Rudy and I finished getting dinner ready. Rudy loves to help and showed me just the way everything should be done. I told him we made a good team and he smiled.

I am thankful for Casa de Esperanza, the House of Hope, where these sweet kids now have a home and place of hope.

Terri

The Big Shoe Adventure

A couple of weeks ago, we had a group here. The ones from Walnut Creek, California left some money with specific instructions how to spend it. One of the items on their list was a new pair of shoes for every child at Casa de Esperanza. Mostly, these kids wear gently used shoes. Once in a while someone buys new shoes for everyone and sends down here. But for the most part, you could say these kids have never been in a shoe store and picked out their own shoes. There was debate whether to take them 2 or 3 at a time or take the whole group, all 15 of them. There is enough adults here right now we decided to take the whole group and do lunch and the whole works. The excitement level about this adventure was high. After church and after everyone went to the bathroom, we began to load the cars. There are some things that are legal and a way of life here in Honduras that is absolutely forbidden in the states. One of those is riding in the back of a pickup truck. While legal, we don't allow any of the children to ride in the back of the truck. So fifteen kids and 3 adults piled into the trooper with Marc driving. Karen and her mother got into the front of the green pickup. Dorian and I crawled in the back of the truck. Only going to town there were 4 other adults who needed a ride to town. Six adults in the back of the truck. Not bad, for Honduras. I have seen a whole lot more than that in the back of a truck. I love riding in the back of the truck. Don't you wish you were here, Ginger? Only Marc's rule is no standing. We had to sit. You might not have liked it as much. After a vote by the kids, we headed for Church's fried chicken. Marc ordered food for all the kids. Just like at home, they bowed their heads and sweetly said a prayer. And then they ate and ate. Crispy fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Only one coke was spilled. Those little tummies were as full as ticks. Then the adults ordered their food and chatted over a leisurely lunch while all the kids played on the playground. Then we loaded back into the cars and headed for the mall. Just loading and unloading is no small task. Can you imagine seeing 15 kids and 7 adults come walking into the mall? They all went right in and put their little fingers and faces all over the glass. Someone has a job this afternoon. Karen sat them all in the floor and we decided to take three at a time into the shoe store. How do you keep 12 kids happy while 3 get to pick out shoes? Dunkin Donuts. I think if I had been the clerk on duty, it might have been break time. The two clerks that helped us were very gracious and helpful. The little kids were easy. When we found something that fit, that is what they got. I took Katty in first. I tried the shoes on her and she smiled then she said for Maryuri and I said no, for Katty. Then she smiled even bigger. All of this went relatively fast. Every adult got to go in at least once. We got sandals, tennis shoes, soccer shoes. Pamela is our oldest girl, and, of course, she cared what she got. She was in a terrible accident before she came to live at Casa de Esperanza. She has a badly misshaped heel that causes her a lot of pain. The shoes she really liked fit right on the scar and hurt her foot. We told her to get sandals. She tried on many pairs and either she did not like them or they did not fit. She sat down on the floor and I saw her quickly brush one tear away. We were going to tell her if she did not find something she really liked that we would take her to another store and find some. Perhaps not today, though. She did not want to be the only person that left without new shoes. At last, she found a pretty pair of pink sandals. She was beaming when she tried them and they fit. Of course, everyone wanted to wear their new shoes home. Karen told everyone they could put their new shoes on when they got home. Sharon, Janie, John, and Dave I wish you were here to be a part of this adventure for which you provided. I took pictures. Maybe not as many as you guys would have, but I took pictures.

What a grand time we all had, watching these children go into a shoe store and pick out a new pair of shoes, most for the first time.

When we got home, it was definitely nap time, at least for Marc and me.

Terri

Noel and Joanna

Noel and Joanna have been our neighbors since we moved here. We live on one side of a duplex and they have lived on the other. Noel, Joanna and their two sweet little girls. Noel has been the preacher in Santa Ana since this church was built. Joanna has developed the Sunday school program and has been one of the teachers. She was so excited when Sunday school classrooms were built this past summer so the children no longer had to meet outdoors. Noel has worked tirelessly both in the church and in the community. He wears a ready smile and has a deep jolly laugh, which we hear often. At night we could hear him playing and laughing with the girls. Noel and Joanna are both from Nicarauga. Their families are still there. Joanna, especially, has missed being closer to her family. A few weeks back Noel and Joanna made the decision to move back to Nicarauga to be near their families. This was emphasized even more by the tragedy that happened last week in Noel's family. He know he needs to be near to help his parents. Yesterday was moving day for Noel and Joanna. We, and several others, helped load their truck. This morning they leave for Nicarauga. We say goodbye. We will miss them. This little church will miss them and this community will miss them. Noel and Joanna, good luck and Godspeed.

Terri