Monday, July 25, 2016

Beginning after breakfast, we assembled our team and headed to San Jose de la Montana.  We dropped off clothing to donate to members of the parish.  Shirts, pants, shoes, and belts were donated from the members of the mission trip.

The work on the roof and two hornillas (stoves) was complete and fully operational.  We again were greeted heartily by Padre Marcos Varela and his family.  Sampling a corn tortilla directly from the griddle was a wonderful experience.  We spoke with the people present, took pictures, exchanged hugs and were feeling elated as we know that this congregation will now have a greater source of revenue from the sale of tortillas and the internet cafe to make it self-sufficient.  We bid our brothers and sisters goodbye and headed back to the city.

We headed back to the Guamilito Artesanal Market for some last-minute souvenirs or "recuerdos" as they are known in Spanish.  Leaving the market, we headed to the City Center Mall for lunch and to see how Hondurans spend their free time.  The spacious mall had a cinema with many screens and is showing the same movies that we can enjoy in Northern Indiana.

Later that evening, we met Bishop Lloyd Allen for dinner.  He spoke with us about the successes and challenges of the Episcopal Church of Honduras as they move toward self-sufficiency in 2019.  After pictures and handshakes, we bid the Bishop "Adios" and headed back to our inn to pack for the journey home. <<Mike>>

Sunday, July 24, 2016

This morning began with a view of the mountains and the border of Guatemala from our courtyard while enjoying fresh-brewed Honduran coffee.  The group headed to the Mayan Archeological Site of Copan. After making arrangements and getting our guide, Virgilio, we began our journey into the city.  Virgilio told us that he has been working at the site for 27 years, the last 17 as a guide.  Originally hired to aid in the archeological preservation of the antiquities, he worked with teams for 10 years before becoming a guide.

Originally begun in the 450 A.D. and lasting until appx. 950 A.D., Copan was a 24 Square Kilometer area (15 sq miles) that had at its height a population of around 27,000 inhabitants.  The site is approximately 25 percent complete.  Currently, there is a group of scientists from China working on excavating part of the area.

Virgilio took us to the area known as the ball court.  The ancient Maya played a game known as "hit ball".  The ball weighed about 8 pounds and was made of pure rubber. Players would hit the ball with every parts of their bodies with the exception of their heads, feet and hands. The teams were comprised of Mayan royalty.  The oldest player, usually around 25 years of age, would be the designated captain of each team.  The purpose of the game was to please their god Chaac so that rain would fall and the plants could grow to support the people.  Games often lasted for many days.  When games were held with members withing the city of Copan, the captain of the winning team was sacrificed.  This was considered the greatest honor to the Maya.  When teams from visiting city states were competing, animals, usually macaws were sacrificed. <<Mike>>

Saturday, July 23, 2016

This morning began with breakfast at the Casa de Cafe.  We then headed to downtown Copan Ruinas for shopping and to gather some of the local flavor.  Fredy our driver and I went to get haircuts while others headed to the marketplace.  The cost of two cuts and tip was 100 Lempira or less than $5 dollars U.S.

Using this day to rest and gather our thoughts, we later headed to Macaw Mountain Bird Sanctuary.  Originally begun in Roatan by an avid bird enthusiast, the sanctuary was moved to Copan.  With over 50 birds at the sanctuary, the guide André introduced us to the residents.  There are four species of toucans, 3 species of macaw and countless other birds in their exhibits that mimic the jungle canopy.  Because of their expertise, they have a rehabilitation, breeding and release program.  The ultimate goal for the macaws is to release them back into the wild.

That evening we headed back to the village and enjoyed dinner at Jim's Pizza, owned by an American who has been in this country since 1998.  While eating al fresco, we were entertained by the sounds of Rock n' Roll music, an ever present reminder that many here are bilingual.  <<Mike>>

Friday, 22 July 2016

While finishing our breakfast, the Bishop arrived. We were greeted and thanked for our work here. He will join us for dinner on Monday if time permits. We were ready to get in the van when Freddy, our driver, discovers one of our rear tires is flat. With the help of Byron and Mike, Freddy was able to put on a new one.

Arriving at the worksite, we deposited our belongings in the sanctuary and began worship led by Carlos, our site foreman and accompanied by Marcy on the guitar.  We requested an early lunch so our team could check out of the hotel and be on our way to Copan in the early afternoon.

Saying farewell to our church friends was very emotional as we had formed strong bonds with the people of the parish. Every member of our team was present with a mug (with our name on it!) filled with Honduran candies and a package of various home-made cookies.

We then drove back to the hotel, showered and loaded the van. We made a quick stop at the gas station where Freddy filled the van and we splurged on ice cream. Three and half hours later, we were in Copan, having viewed many interesting landscapes on the way. What a contrast to our former location: a picturesque town in the mountains, with many stalls around the plaza and a number of interesting stores lining the narrow streets. Our destination was Casa de Cafe, a beautiful bed and breakfast owned by Howard, an ex pat from New York. The landscape at this property was wonderful with terraced gardens and a view of the mountains.

After sorting out our rooms, we set out for dinner at the Llama del Bosque. Stopping for our ice cream on the way home was a treat before going to our rooms and falling into our beds exhausted. Lightning lit the skies and thunder ensued for a while but rain did not follow.

<<Marilyn>>

Thursday, 21 July 2016

Today is Thursday, our second-to-last day at the work site. After another delicious breakfast which included slices of avocado, we set off to begin our day of work. The sun was strong and the humidity was 100%. We arrived to find extra help from the government workers, Carlos's family, and several church members. Our morning began as usual with a worship service. Today, Luz, a member of the tortilla-making staff and a church member, read the lesson and gave the homily. Hymns were sung with Marcy playing Abigail's guitar.



Work started with the completion of the concrete floor in the cooking area. After that, the second stove was begun. Meanwhile, Father Marco was working on the roof, and a channel was being dug around the back of the church which will be filled with concrete to prevent any more water seeping into the church.










At approximately 10:45 a.m. the first stove was lit and, shortly thereafter, the first tortillas were cooked on the new stove by Maria Suyapa, the eldest member of the cooking team.







Lunch was a delicious plate of fried chicken, rice, refried beans, potato salad, and (of course) tortillas. Dessert was bananas.






The afternoon proceeded with more work on the aforementioned. Our afternoon break consisted of some very interesting fried tortillas named machetiadas...huge, resembling an elephant ear but with two slashes in the middle like those of a machete.



When we left for the day, the second stove was well underway. Bob drove us back to the Green Frog a different way from the usual route Freddy, our normal driver, used. It is interesting to see the difference between the accommodations of the very poor and those who "have money". Back at the Green Frog, instant relief was found in the shower and our air-conditioned rooms.

It was a toss up as to where we ate, but it was decided not to return to any of our previous eateries but try somewhere new. Father Schram suggested the Hotel Pastelito where there is a buffet. Byron opted to stay behind but the rest of us enjoyed the various dishes complete with desserts of lemon tart and baklava which were outstanding. Following this, it was home and to bed as we were told the Bishop of Honduras would be stopping by to meet us at 8 a.m. the next morning.

<<Marilyn>>

Wednesday, 20 July 2016

Coming soon...

Tuesday, 19 July 2016

After a breakfast of quesadillas, avocado, and refried beans accompanied by fruit, juice, and coffee, we assembled for our journey to the church. The the rain began with a really heavy downpour. Fortunately, it had stopped by the time we had reached the church a short distance away. After checking that yesterday's hard work hadn't been ruined by last night's rainfall, we went into the church to find much of the floor covered in water due to a leak in the sacristy.

Our opening worship service included two hymns accompanied on the guitar by our construction leader, Carlos. During the service, Father Marcos revealed how he nearly gave up on seminary because of the hardship of the hour-long walk there and then the same journey on his return home. However, his wife persuaded him it was worthwhile, which left him reading a bible passage inspiring him not to give up.

Returning to the worksite, we leaned that Carlos had prevented damage to the ovens by covering the newly poured cement with plastic. Thus, work was able to continue with bricklaying the surround of of the oven.

Fortunately the skies remained clear until 12:30 when it was time to break for lunch. Lunch was delicious, consisting of fried fish, rice and beans, and plantain, accompanied by a very spicy salsa. The drink served was hibiscus juice, and this was followed by slices of water melon.

After lunch, Carlos again played the guitar and sang popular songs enjoyed by the children and adults as well. Yes, each day we are joined by several little boys from the Episcopal school who are on vacation right now. They are quite helpful, carrying buckets of sand for the cement, but their great enjoyment is coming from Marci's iPad and Abigail's guitar.

Work continued with the finishing of the stove and the welding of the roof supports. We stopped for  break mid-afternoon and were fed delicious savory pastelitos. Light rain started soon after, but that didn't stop Father Marcos from continuing with the welding. The last cement mix was made just before the pouring rain began. This load was to go behind a door at the back of the church where it was believed the rain was entering. The rain put a stop to any more work but, as it was past 4 p.m., it was not much of an interruption. Our trip back to the Green Frog included a stop at the grocery store for more water, fruit, and other liquid refreshment.

After a quick shower, we were on the road again to Restaurante Linda Marfe for another delicious Honduran dinner. This meal was different as we were all served a salad before we ordered our entree...something that had never happened before and a welcome change to have some lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumber. Following our meal, it was home and off to bed to rest our weary bodies in time for our next day of laying the floor of the stove area (pouring the concrete slab). Carlos will not be here on Wednesday, so we are not starting the second stove until Thursday.

<<Marilyn>>

Monday, 18 July 2016

Our day began with tostada francesa, French toast, along with a thin slice of ham, watermelon, papaya, and orange juice. And coffee, of course. We only arrived Friday, and yet it feels like we’ve been here longer than that.

Now that we have had a couple of days to settle in, see a bit of the country, and meet some people in the diocese, it is time to get to work.

When we arrive at Iglesia San José de la Montaña, Padre Marcos leads us in a devotion from a small booklet, with his daughter Abigail translating again. It was the story of a woman who, when she started making bread herself, seeing how the yeast works through the dough and how the dough transforms into bread, started to understand more what Jesus meant when he said, “I am the bread of life.” Padre Marcos invited anyone to look at the booklet to share the devotion any day this week, encouraged us to rest anytime in the sanctuary, take time to talk to anyone with Abigail’s help translating, and to feel at home as we are all the family of God. He introduced us to the women who would be cooking for us, three people helping from a government program called Vida Mejor, “Better Life,” and the man in charge of the construction project. After a closing prayer we got started.

Some people helped clear rubble and debris from where the expanded floor would go. Some demolished the old stove. Some started framing the new fence and roof. Some began to build the two new ecological stoves. Our team helped where and when we could, carrying things, holding things, wielding sledgehammer or pick axe, washing windows, reading to and playing with the kids, or getting out of the way.


I asked the cooks if they would like some help in the kitchen, and they let me attempt to make flour tortillas, slapping the dough between my hands. My tortillas were oblong, too thin in the middle, and prone to folding up on the way from one hand to the other, but María S., director of the tortillería, fixed them for me. Luz showed me how to form the tortillas on a circle of plastic on a cutting board instead, and that was much easier. These tortillas became baleadas for the workers’ breakfasts.

Later I helped with the corn tortillas for lunch, shaping the masa, a corn dough, into small balls that María flattened between plastic in a metal press. For a while I sat watching, chatting with Maricela about the lives of pastors’ and teachers’ wives. Among other things, I learned that until recently she and Padre Marcos worked with an AIDS program through the Episcopal church. They administer HIV tests and provide psychological support to those who test positive.

Those working outside saw the neighborhood children walking home from school in their uniforms, white polo shirts and navy pants or pleated skirts for the morning school, gray pants and skirts in the afternoon. None of the students looked older than eight or nine; it is expensive to go to school. They also saw the neighborhood trash pickup. Everyone piles their trash at the corner by the church. Three men load all the bags on the truck, and then unload bag by bag at the dump.

There were a lot of people and not much space, so folks took time to talk with one another here and there. Some of us chatted with Abigail.

Abigail is eighteen and has graduated from a bilingual school. She is registered to start college in Tegucigalpa, where she plans to study medicine. When she was a little girl, her aunt gave her a toy doctor kit that she loved to play with, and she has wanted to be a doctor ever since. She would like to be a pediatrician, possibly specializing in neonatology, or maybe she will be a neurosurgeon. If she becomes a pediatrician, she would love to start a hospital to serve poor children. She’s also interested in serving with Doctors Without Borders. AND she learned how to knit today (some of the other kids gave it a try, too), and has a guitar and wants to learn to play. I asked her to bring it tomorrow…

When she was in tenth grade, Abigail had an opportunity to spend fifteen days in the U.S., living with a host family in D.C., attending St. Andrews Episcopal School in Maryland, and visiting museums and other places. She was born in Paraiso, lived a few years in Puerto Cortés where her brother Keller was born, then the family moved here to San Pedro. Twelve-year-old Keller is interested in architecture and maybe engineering. Kenan is the family’s little dog.

<<Marcy>>

This morning began with a breakfast at the Green Frog before heading to mass at San Jose de la Montana.  We arrived and were greeted by Padre Marcos Varela, his wife Maricela, daughter Abigail and son Keller.  Other members of the congregation heartily welcomed their brothers and sisters from the U.S.  The service was offered in both Spanish and English.  During the peace, everyone was heartily greeted by each member present and offered an opportunity for us to gain an insight into this beautiful community.

Sunday, 17 July 2016

This morning began with a breakfast at the Green Frog before heading to mass at San Jose de la Montana.  We arrived and were greeted by Padre Marcos Varela, his wife Maricela, daughter Abigail and son Keller.  Other members of the congregation heartily welcomed their brothers and sisters from the U.S.  The service was offered in both Spanish and English.  During the peace, everyone was heartily greeted by each member present and offered an opportunity for us to gain an insight into this beautiful community. <<Mike>>

Saturday, 16 July 2016

We started the day with breakfast at the Green Frog Inn.








We then went to the Guamilito market (Mercado de Artisanias Guamilito). There was an amazing variety of "stuff" available there -- it looked a lot like a bazaar in the Middle East! We saw women making tortillas, and people selling trinkets and arrays of "useful things".

Before leaving Guamilito, we stopped in a cigar shop for some coffee and a few of us picked up some cigars for friends. The owner was quite friendly and visited us for a while.






Our visit to La Esperanza de Jesus (The Hope of Jesus) Children's Homewas led by Mike Miller -- Mike and his wife Kim are SAMS missionaries and have founded, built, and led the children's home. They currently have 16 children living there, and are dedicated to providing them a Christ-based opportunity for a better life. The goal of the home is that by the time every child leaves, they either are trained in a trade, or are prepared to enter a university.

Most of the children were actually not at the home as they were away for an event. We did meet a few who were watching a movie, and the usual "tag-along" kids that followed us around.









The facility was very nicely landscaped and clean, with buildings facing each other in a park-like setting. The dormitories housed 8 children each, with a resident adult (the "house mother"), and included a kitchen, eating area, common room, and dorm rooms.


<<Loren>>

Friday, 15 July 2016

We arrived today in San Pedro Sula to begin our mission for 2016. Thanks to all our friends, families and the Diocese of Northern Indiana for their support and prayers.  Present this year are Michael Marcks (St. David's  - Elkhart), Loren & Rhonda Woody (Grace Episcopal - Ft. Wayne), Marcy Prochaska & Fr. John Schramm (St. Thomas - Plymouth), Byron Evans & Tim Skimina (St. Timothy's - Griffith), Marilyn Molyneux (Holy Family - Angola).  Today was spent getting the entire team to Honduras.

We shopped, mostly for water.

Dinner at Chedrani was next ... which looked like a treehouse restaurant! It was  nestled above the ground in and across several trees. Being above the ground, it was breezy and cool.

We then headed back to the hotel for our "safety briefing". After a full day spent traveling, that pretty much was it for the day!

<<Mike & Loren>>

Pre-trip for July 2016

Iglesia San José de la Montaña

While in Honduras, the Mission Team will be meeting with the families of the parish of Iglesia San José de la Montaña (in San Pedro Sula), and helping to repair the tortilleria – rebuilding the roof, and some structural work. We will also attend services with the families on Sunday, and spend time building relationships during our lunch hour – lunch will be prepared by the women of the Parish.

We will also visit La Esperanza de Jesus (Hope of Jesus) Children’s Home to evaluate potential support the Diocese can offer the missionaries there in their project. They have asked us to consider helping with the needs of the residents there.

<<Loren>>