Terremoto=earthquake

So, by now you have probably heard about the earthquake off the Honduran coast early this morning. I know it was around 2:30 because that is when Valerie woke up, and then she woke me up saying "I think it is an earthquake." I sat there...and said "I think you are right." She was getting dizzy. It felt like someone was shaking the bed...and it was, it was just shaking everything else at the same time. I posted on Facebook the quite noteworthy experience...and went back to bed. It was done under a minute.

It is amazing that an earthquake that fierce on the Richter scale caused "so little" damage. There are still reports coming in...including cracks and problems in a very old Church just an hour from here, but I did not notice anything here at the house or in the clinic this morning, so praise God for that. So far the totals I have seen indicate four dead, 17 injured, 150 homes damaged, 3 bridges down, 14 schools, 4 public buildings, 2 hotels, and 7 factories. I am sure those totals are not done adding up (especially as it pertains to buildings) but hopefully there are no destructive aftershocks either.

Yesterday I bought tires for the Land Cruiser. Tires are expensive! It was not until my tires were next to the tires for a Hyundai four door car that I realized the difference in the tires besides the cost. I fought buying tires at Pricesmart, even though they are usually cheaper than other places. I was sure I could find cheaper tires elsewhere. I was wrong. I checked several different tire shops...for the money nobody touched Pricesmart prices, which now seemed almost cheap by comparison.

Things keep changing at the clinic. I have a feeling that will be the M.O. for quite some time. Here you can see the drawings that the nursing students have put up to share during their lesson times....they teach patients about how to do preventative treatments at home (just one of the benefits of CHE training in the clinic) and Valerie has been talking to Marlen as well about creating pamphlets we could distribute to people as well.

And the wall behind the clinic will be finished soon enough. Carlos is doing the block work (to finish the wall already started by our neighbor) and we will use groups this summer to finish the footer that goes on top of the pre-fab wall (seen just to the left of where Carlos is working.)

Eventually we will even get around to painting it. I am torn on the color choice....we have talked about keeping the same blue color of the old clinic, and keeping it on both buildings, or painting the old building another color to differentiate. We shall see...Dora is taking on one of her many odd jobs and painting some more signs on the existing building to make sure people know to go to the new building.

Morgan Oregon

So I think I am improving as a father. We took the kids to see Hannah Montana...the Movie on Friday afternoon. Cecilia was rather adept at singing along with almost all the songs. First dubbed movie I have seen at the theater. I prefer subtitles (as do most people in Latin America I have found out....Sony Entertainment Television channel even says as much as to why they subtitle the programs on their channel) but the dub job was actually pretty good. Although not a cinematic masterpiece, I have wasted more of my time on worse movies...plus it was good to be there for them.


Before that, I headed over to the bank. I know I get around at the banks because at least two of the tellers at different branches know me by name now....a nice trick behind four inches of glass. It was an interesting trip...#1 because I saw through the glass that the bank was fairly empty, and #2 because there was a huge bottle of pump hand sanitizer on the ground next to the door. I saw the gentleman before me squirt and wash his hands and enter. The guard then looked to me and I said "no gracias." He then stopped and basically said...you do not wash, you do not enter. All this for the swine flu, or a-1 steak sauce or whatever we are calling it now. We all had a good chuckle about it, what else could we do.

The Fords are back...mostly fixed. Roberto gave me a list of a bunch of parts I am to buy for the coming needs in the next six months. It should provide hours of joy searching on the internet...by the way, one of the litany of things I need are balineras and seals for the rear "bufas" None of you happen to know what a bufa is (besides the every day pedestrian meaning), do you?

Meeting day

How can I sum this up without writing a book? I started off the morning driving down town, something everyone here loves to do. It was for a meeting with the mayor's office to settle a property dispute for the Church in San Juancito...it seems the president of the local civilian little government (patronato) moved our fence line there to make room for his walkway to the swimming hole he created by damming the river. Long story short...I was glad I did not end up having to go into the yell fest, and it looks now as if we will come out favored, even getting back land we were not told was ours when we bought the property (not to mention official measurements that will come as a result for future reference.) Next meeting will be called after they do all the measurements...and we will need to have a lawyer present, but it should all work out.

After that, I talked to Celeo (requested to appear even though not pastor there anymore) about the recent work being done in Talanga. We went there last week to do corn....he said they had the first service there this week, in someone's home (only a small place rented to do clothing this week finally rented) and there were 35 adults and 28 children present. Of just the fourteen homes that my group visited, eight were there that night. What a great start!

Then a board meeting this afternoon, which went very well, and was very encouraging (I presume to all of us, but I can only specifically speak to me for sure.) as well as instructional in more ways than one.

Then dropping off paperwork for the latest container to come in...from one of our supporting Churches, so it will be packed with not only clothes, but food, household good, and other surprises for sure.

Then back here for more email, typing up notes, etc....etc....and etc.

Very crazy, adrenaline, pumped day. I enjoyed it quite a bit...a good thing days like this are not every day, but a very good day nonetheless.

Listening

I had time yesterday driving to pick up the kids from school. So instead of listening to a CD, turned it off, and prayed. I was driving by a neighborhood where I must confess to wanting to live, to own a house, to have something that is "ours."

I had just been listening to a sermon about those tough questions where we say "if only Jesus you would have..." I started to get a little snotty about a house. Then I decided to pray. We long for actually hearing God when we pray...but sometimes you need to be ready for what you are being told...and you might not like it.

I thought about how I was asking for his direction, but maybe I was getting it and was just not liking what I was getting. I thought about how I think sometimes of people that could help us, instead of just totally depending on Him...be that through those people to help us, or not.

Hmmmm, so that was convicting.





Yesterday was hard to coordinate. Trying to get phone calls through to Oscar, Valerie, and others, organize pictures from the last several groups (always a long process, but very interesting to see all those pictures, different points of view, etc. I am including a few here for your enjoyment and possible edification) which I have yet to complete, and then finally taking a night for Valerie and I to spend some quality time together. It might not seem like it to most, but watching the Survivor finale was good fun.



Today is banking (and plenty of it), trying to get ready for a board meeting tomorrow, and this morning talking quite a bit about fixes on all the vehicles...the Land Cruiser getting some body work done later this week (nothing major) and both Fords getting all sorts of maintenance (hopefully to get us through the majority of the rest of the year) and then next week lots of body work and painting....including possibly painting the chasis with a sort of rino lining to protect against rusting...which Oscar has noted a little already on his truck. Since we want these to last a long time...we are trying to do what it takes to keep them in fine form, including putting some seats in the bed later this summer when we have time and the moolah.




Pictures are (in order):

1. orderly kids at the milk project
2. One of the beautiful views from Zamorano
3. Esther, Pastor Jorge's daughter during one of the construction days.

Rolling, rolling, rolling

So after the group departed yesterday, I began a five hour adventure with only one primordial goal...to get tires for the Mitsubishi (formerly of Sampedrana fame...mostly repaired now.) So after putting fuel in the empty tank, and paying the matricula (somehow which was lost...the registration paperwork) after 45 minutes in line at the bank, I finally (ok, with another hour or so lost in checking prices) ended up with new tires. The video shows what new tires could not fix however. When I first got in it...I was more than a little skiddish. Not only can you turn the wheel like a bad TV show driver sitting behind a fake wheel with no movement, but the brakes are a little squishy, and did I mention that the steering is not power steering? The speedometer works...but the other gauges, not so much. But it is transportation, and it should serve him and the congregation well...especially to get back and forth to get the clothes for the stores in San Juancito and Cantaranas.



I could not resist a few snap shots of Soren. Although not what really happened, here is how I imagine the following conversation:

Erica: "Soren, that is deep man!"
Soren: "Well, you know, I mean, that is just the way I see it. The Mater philosphy just says, you know, get 'er done, and I just feel that is what we all need to do, you know?"
Erica: "True that man, true that."








And what kid does not just light up at getting his picture taken beside several pounds of sausage? Part of his self described "very fun day!" with the group and both these pictures taken at Zamorano as we then got a tour of part of the huge campus. I believe I heard they also have 7,000 acres for farming, etc. which is even more than I would have guessed.

Quickly

Today went well with the group....the clothing and VBS in Guadalajara went not as expected, but well nonetheless....we were in two rooms in the back of the buidling instead of the sanctuary. At first I swore there were no more than 30 people there....but even with thirty leaving at least a few times, there were still 30 in there in the end. Of course, people were entering, but it just always never dawned on me. The group kept the kids very well occupied for almost all morning. Then we had a very lovely tour of the grounds of Zamorano, now fully realized with Espresso Americanos for those driving by, and one one campus near the sanctuary just for those on campus. Wow. One of these days I hope to get a tour of the production facilities, but for another day.

In more disturbing news, Gender called me at 10:00. I never answer my phone that late, but I had it on and out with me for some reason (unknown to me, not to God.) He was greatly distressed, crying. It turns out that one of the leaders of the Church there became infatuated with a woman there. I do not have all the details, but he became dispondant, Gender had tried to talk to him about this, to encourage him, etc. but he hanged himself this evening. Gender was quite upset....at losing a brother and leader in the Church, as well as what the reaction would be from the catholic community there, which has been very critical of him at every opportunity, and this suicide he knows will also bring reprisals against him and the Church. We talked for quite a while, he is leaving now for Comayagua to get a coffin (they will not take down the body until some kind of "auxiliary" gets there...not sure about that) and probably bury him tomorrow.

We talked much more...but one thing I assured him of was that I was going to let you all know and ask for prayers for the man's family (his brother is studying at the Bible institute to become a pastor) for Gender, and for the Church. This will be a big test for them....and they need to be filled with the Holy Spirit to continue forward in perserverance.

Please pray.

Talanga

There is nothing quite like doing something you have done before...but in a totally different setting, with different people, in a somewhat different way.


So many new and interesting things to see (like you are seeing) so many new roads to drive (and miss) and so many people to meet...which after all is the real reason we were there. We went in three different groups, and had different experiences, but my overall impression was of meeting many people that had a deep need for Christ, and many that certainly were happy to receive the corn.







A few people that we visited were in Christ...a few said they went to Church....a few said they did not attend anywhere, and one actually said she was of the devil...not in the way that sounds, but recognizing she was not serving God, then she must be serving the enemy. Very insightful I thought, and said to her. We had a long talk about humanity's seeking of God only when they have a problem they can not solve, how we need His faith, His spirit to guide and direct us, or we keep falling into that perpetual hole. Without Him....we are indeed following the enemy. A good time to share and talk with Vanessa, just one small part of a bigger experience than any one of us that was there...either taking or receiving. Which by the way...one family was so grateful they gave us a bag of nice looking mangos.

I liked this building....although all the continents are mentioned (and for some reason, the USA...in Engish no less), the internet advertisement turned out to be wireless, and internetless....no cable, wires, etc. because there was never internet there, somebody just thought it would be cool to paint all that stuff on the front of the house. Why? We all wondered, a mystery for the ages.













I caught a nice picture of little Oscar while having a beautiful lunch (PB&J

of course) in the central park there. Reports from today...he started crawling yesterday, and you can already see his first tooth. Already takes after his dad...delightful to get along with, always ready to eat, and always ready with a smile.

Care to guess what this is? No hints,

and no cheating....all I will say is that if you do not live here, then only one part of this little sucker (not ripe yet by the way...the top part gets red) is what you eat, and has roughly the same shape. It grows on a tree...there, I violated my no hint rule already. A nice example was seen today amongst the little shade we found besides mango trees.

Construction junction, what's your function?

So yesterday and today are somewhat of a blur for me. The group had some foci, I had some of those and some others. While most of the group yesterday started the covering process for the septic tank and the PVC pipe connecting the "old" and new tank, two of the students and myself unloaded the clothing stores we operate of their surplus clothes (including the painful process of throwing away what is just never going to sell....sweaters, XXL, etc.) and then transporting the clothing still sellable back to the containers. As you can see from this picture...some of the bags were heavy. After that, due to transportation issues (long story) John and Al accompanied me to San Juancito and Cantaranas to deliver clothes for the stores there (note...even heavier bags.) for which everyone involved there was very grateful. I also had opportunity there to purchase corn on the cob...which was perhaps hot enough to power some kind of fusion reactor.

Here you can see the view from the Church up to the new septic tank....which I must say is the nicest looking septic tank I have ever seen...and the group working on burying the 100' or so of pipe. Using that backhoe to dig both holes ahead of time...wow, that was such a time saver.









And in this picture (taken from the mission house) we see the clinic with the containers in place. Moving everything in them down to the other ones and opening up those for general medicine/optometry/dentistry will be quite a task, but one we are already starting slowly as we use different things. The containers are fairly level now, but with some more rain and settling, we will probably have to jack them up again in the future to make sure the doors continue to open properly.







The fence goes up. The Church was motivated, and probably close to 20 or more people were there to work, some directly working on the fence, some of the women working on cleaning, picking up trash, etc. After all...that fence stuff is heavy work. If they can keep this up, and do more of the work and get more of the materials on their own...they might just meet that goal of finishing the wall this year.

There was collateral damage....this piece of one of the posts fell off and hit Oscar right below the neck while I was using a sledge hammer to hit the post to get it moved into position. We all assumed it was the plancha (thin pieces that go between the posts) that had broken and fallen, but everything looked fine...it took a few seconds to figure out what had happened. We all had a good chuckle...because he was not hurt. It would not have been so funny had the sharp part contacted instead of the flat part. Otherwise, no injuries....just genuine tiredness after everyone worked a hard day. Seeing so much happen so fast...it can make your head spin, but in a good way that helps us glorify God, which is after all why we are here in the first place.

But of course

So our mechanic friend was in Venezuela. I heard from him today (trying to get a time for him to look over the Musso) and asked how his trip was. It went fine...I remarked at how the reasons for such flights was pure propoganda (in the English sense of the word...the Spanish sense is not strong with the indignation I had) and I think he agreed (my hearing is still not great after the ear infection.) I will get to talk to him more about that political side of the trip on Wednesday when he comes for the Musso.

But when he told me what the surgery was that he needed...I about laughed and sighed at the same time. He was transported to Venezuela, fed, cared for, etc. not of course for propoganda about how great ALBA and Hugo Chavez is, oh no....but rather for the urgently needed, life saivng....pterygium surgery (please note heavy sarcastic eye roll included here.)

Now, if your are not familiar with this annoying eye problem....let me just say, needing that surgery (his was not bad enough to even need surgery in my opinion) is not worth flying anyone out of the country, in almost any circumstance. Thousands of dollars for a surgery that even in a private clinic here costs only hundreds (I have heard it referred to as minor surgery), not to mention that free or reduced price clinics do this often, as does the public hospital (when it gets bad enough) and that such a surgery is not a one time deal....pterygiums grow back. If it is not bad, artificial tears take care of most of the symptoms.

I suppose I could go on, but I think you get the picture. It would be foolish to ignore that there is a battle being waged politically, and at least one side is fighting hard in more ways than one.

Coffee

I am still needing help on the coffee logo, so if you have not voted yet....scroll down to see the designs and do so now. If we end in a three way tie...I am back where I started in some ways!

Children?

Yes, we have children. I know there is some talk out there I do not put enough on here about them, but I rarely does someone ask me how they are doing...so I suppose either most do not care...or we actually are doing a fairly good job on reporting on them along with everything else.

I come bearing pictures, which always helps tell a good story.

Yesterday was the mother's day celebration for the school. While all of us should honor our mothers, I thought the tribute went a bit over the top when it was said "there is nothing on the earth that is close to the image of God than a mother." It started late (no surprise there) and as God would have it, Valerie had no patients, so she was able to come down. I am used to being the odd man out everywhere I go, but certainly so there...other than the few guys on staff at the school, I think I was the only man in the building.

Cecilia had two different activities....dancing, scene here, and a little skit. The idea was that everyone would wear all white, if that is why it looks like almost everyone but Cecilia had a white dress. She enjoyed dancing more than her partner I think. She really liked her part in the little skit...which was funny, a lost little girl trying to find her mom. The first "mom" suggested (another student) was too skinny, too young, etc. and then came Cecilia..."too white bread."

Soren....poor Soren. I felt so bad for him. There was another girl on the other side of the stage that had to wear a mask as well, but it was obvious that he could not see through the eye holes, and that made his whole time up there....frustrating. Frustrating for him to try to do what he was supposed to do (hand motions to a song) which he did fairly well regardless, and frustrating for me to see him frustrated. He bore it well...but still. (If you can not tell...he is in the middle of the picture, with the yellow pants....which also did not fit him and they had to roll them up twice before starting the song)

I have as well a few pictures of just them being them in one way or another as well.

Soren and Cecilia had to go with me to escort the mechanic back to the property to look at the Fords (and Oscar's Toyota, and eventually the Musso....and probably after that the Defender) Soren is usually slow to go up the hill, but for some reason following his van seemed like a great time to run. This picture means more because this is not our usual mechanic, this is another gentleman that Oscar knows. Our regular mechanic is having surgery...in Venezuela, all thanks to our good buddies there promoting socialism. I will be curious to see what happened when he returns (as well as what surgery he had...I knew he is a chronic alcoholic, but as of a month ago I did not know he needed any surgery.) We have heard people here tell us of promised eye surgeries in Cuba to fix problems that other than a miracle, there is no known cure (retinitis pigmentosa springs to mind, as do macular scars)

The kids loved the Toyota Hilux La Colonia is giving away for Mother's day, especially the fact that it was inside the store! I thought it was somewhat cool myself (I prefer a stouter vehicle for use here, but it is surely a nice vehicle) but did wonder...is this the car most mothers here would want? The answer may be yes, but it did surprise me a little, you know, versus giving away a four door sedan or mini-van, also popular here. If that was not enough, the Toyota people set up shop outside to do oil changes...and probably other stuff to which I did not inquire, right outside the front door of the store. I have heard of convenience being the max in the US...but do they do it to this extent?

And finally, I am taking a moment to blog to the testimony living in my kids. They are good kids. They are not perfect, and if someone was to tell me they did something wrong, I would probably believe them (you know, not like some parents who believe whatever their kids tell them no matter what)....but more often than not they are considerate, kind, thoughtful, and obedient. I am thankful for them....for who they are becoming, and who they are helping me become. I fail them regularly as a parent...and they still love me. They may not always do the right thing...but I will always love them as well. And right there I get a little glimpse of God's love for me....not of myself, not based on what I do or how I try...it just is, beyond any explanation or logic we might try to apply....other than grace.

Funeral

I have often joked that at my funeral, it will be important to remember the first three letters in the word. However most funerals here are anything but fun. With staying up all night to comfort the family, the heat, and the typical women sobbing, wailing, and attempting to throw themselves (sometimes) into the grave with their beloved departed...it can be rather sad. Sad not always for the person that died, but in knowing how much value we sometimes put on this side of heaven.




Our presence (Oscar and myself) was requested by Gender to be at a funeral in Comayagua. This was, I believe, the first funeral for the Church plant in Sampedrana. This older gentleman had Christ come into his heart through the work of the Church, his wife as well. Seeing him being buried and realizing his original path before that Church was a little more than I could process.





His wife....was amazing. Calm, cool, collected, she knew exactly where her husband was, and took every opportunity while I was there to reach out, to show this, and make an impact on so many others there that right now are heading down a different road. I do not think I have seen anyone do a better job of representing Christ in a stressful time, let alone when you consider it was a spouse. Her...grace under pressure was inspiring, and obvious in its source.

Afterwards (and during to some extent) we went to a fancy lunch at "Rey de Hamburguesas" with Gender and Lourdes to discuss a rather new and exciting opportunity for Sampedrana....a group coming this summer there, while we are hosting another group in Tegucigalpa. They will be staying for four days, finishing the "mission house" project there (adding a second floor to the existing building, as well as a bathroom and patio) as well as distributing corn to families in the mountains, soccer, VBS, Church services every night, and other activities (possibly helping prep new property for coffee, and community projects like sewers and other work around the soccer field.) A big project for anyone, especially for them trying to cook and get everything ready for 28 people. Pray for them...this is a huge opportunity for that Church, and for Gender and Lourdes as well.

Back ho!

I rarely post videos. However, trying to show how he moved three containers was really only easily done by...posting a video. The two containers up by the clinic were moved to their new locations for when we empty them to take their new place as storage for the medical and optometry supplies. Moving all that stuff, and the shelving units....that will be a big project, probably not happening until June or July when we have a big enough group to tackle it.

However, the move was done now because we already had the backhoe up there digging the new septic tank for the clinic. The old one is filling and not draining...that is a problem. Having the backhoe do this one meant it was ready in a day, not two weeks or more, and much deeper than we otherwise could have hoped to get dug with regular workers. He dug the trench to run the new line to connect the two, and then cleaned out all the property next to the clinic (oh, I can only imagine how long that would have taken us using manual labor!) while at the same time taking all the extra dirt and piling it up in the corner for the future cistern, and behind the clinic for growing flowers, etc. He moved the green container down below that was in the way of the new Church construction as well, although the four down there are not in rank and file like we would like...but it is not a perfect science moving containers that way.

Speaking of containers, we were contemplating how to start building the second floor if we could not do it all at once. How would we work that out, not knowing space needs in the future? How would we leave a walkway? How could we do it safely, securely, and cheap? I am not sure we are sure....but it looks like we could do it one at a time using...shipping containers. The initial room I was thinking about for the milk project and possibly sewing ministry was 15' x 30'. Two shipping containers with a wall removed would be 16' x 40. There would be some other costs (adding windows, insulation for heat, possibly needing a roof above it, modifying the doors for some of our more gentile staff to be able to open and close them, etc.) but they would fit with a small walkway, and it would take twelve to fill the whole top side. Worth consideration at least.

Much more to write about today and yesterday. I promise to get to it later tonight or tomorrow....somehow.

Coffee project

Here is my attempt at a basic logo for the coffee. I am going to post a poll on here for you to vote for which one you might like more...keeping in mind the idea is what would be most appealing in terms of selling and promoting the coffee of course.

Also feel free to add comments, suggestions, etc. I am trying to keep it simple for the printing process of the stickers (not many colors or complex graphics) at least for this initial run as we continue to feel this out.

This is design #1....horizontal His Beans

This is design #2 Different height His Beans

This is #3 His Brew logo

This is design #4, the Hill Climber Logo

Repentance

I was listening to the Derek Webb CD "The House Show" last week driving the group (I highly recommend both by the way...groups, and the CD) and heard once again his introduction to, and the song entitled 'I Repent' and then a sermon from Center Pointe Christian Church about wearing masks, putting on a happy face, or otherwise treating Christian living as nothing more than doing a better job of hiding our sin instead of addressing it, confessing it, and pursuing maturity and growth in faith.

I may feel alone, but I know I am not alone...in struggling with sin. Paul sometimes feels like a close friend I never met when he says in Romans 7:24 "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"

I can just sigh in agreement, exhale in the frustration of such realizations and swallow hard and take a deep breath as I repent the following:

I am...
an idol worshipper
a blasphemer
a coveter
an adulterer
a liar
selfish
a coward
a thief
a braggard
a murderer
a complainer
a waster of God's gifts
not a good parent
proud
self-reliant
too quick to speak
not quick enough to listen
greedy
cruel
and so many more things that I can not begin to remember, or am not even conscious of what I have done.


God does not judge on a curve. It does not matter what other people do. It is not about keeping seven of the ten commandments. (in many instances you can make a credible argument that in breaking one...you break them all) One line from the song especially strikes me "I repent judging by a law that even I can't keep." I am wrong, and of all these things, I repent.

I do not hide....nor bring these sins up in any sense of pride or desire to draw attention to me, but rather point out...Christ already knows all these things about me. Hiding them or pretending they do not exist accomplishes nothing to glorify Him! I do not want to be like some kind of wizard of Oz...."pay no attention to the sin there, I am fine....I am good, everything is ok!" I had a boss that taught me a lot....a Godly man. One thing though that I struggled with was his greeting to everyone every morning when they asked how he was. With the upmost confidence he would snap back a crisp "Excellent!" I asked him why he always answered that way...when I knew sometimes that answer was not quite applicable. He told me something to the effect "because as the boss I need to be positive so that those around me would be positive, be happy, and be encouraged to keep going."

That makes sense from a business perspective, even from a kind trying to help people perspective. But I find that when we are really honest with people, and that means being brutally honest about ourselves (by brutal I mean brutal in that it hurts us just sharing), we have even more opportunity to help others. Trying to say we do not suffer, we do not sin (like that bumper sticker....Christians are not perfect, they just sin less) or whatever other whitewash we try to paint over reality only shows others outside of the Church that we are liars.

Paul did not just lament in Romans 7:24 about how down in the dumps he was over his natural state and leave it at that. Who will save me?...25"Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Now read chapter 8....really read it! This wretchedness that is in me...that is me, so beyond my comprehension in its scope, so beyond me to rectify....the thanks and glory be to God through Christ and His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave....He rescued me!

I repent necessarily to try to move past....to not hide but move out in the open, take the shots, and keep running. Who wins races....who fights battles....who reaches out to others....by hiding?

Ode to Tegus

So the FCO group from NOVA left today. What a great group...not many groups write a song while being here, nor have translators calling them favorites...and crazy. You may not get everything, but it seemed blog worthy....especially because I am not sure they all got a copy of the original hand writen lyrics which are sure to soon be a collector's item.

So...here are the lyrics:

Woke in the morning and packed our bags
Filled the cases with all we had
The landing was scary and the descent was steep
Little did we know we'd be in this deep

One little saying got us through
was something that only the Moa Master knew
Cheque pues, cheque pues
City de Tegus what a unique place
Cheque pues cheque pues
Two simple works will put a smile on their face

In Honduras there's only one way to go
In the back of Felipe's truck where your hair will blow
There is one advantage of rolling this way
You see all the people and their pueblo way
When we wave hello to brighten their day
There is one thing that you must say...

que pedos vos que pedos vos
an awesome phrase that's kinda gross
que pedos vos, que pedos vos
that makes chicos laugh here the most

Set up shop out in the sticks
We basically wore out our diagnostic kits
We lined up the patients, they came by the masses
Every single one wanted a cool pair of glasses
One little thing that ruined our flow
is when we gave lentes and they said NO!

Mire la cruz, mire la cruz
no mira a mi tampoco la luz
when leave here today don't be confused
We want you to know Jesus es la luz

We found ourselves among much needed care
Leaving Christ's love in a teddy bear.
Then we created dramas just a funny few
to make the kids laugh and share Jesus too.

Red light green light gringo says
Were games we played and cold milk fed
Board scores are up board scores are up
puchica puchica board scores are up
Val took us to the internet cafe
We all passed what an awesome day.

Dropped off corn bought some gifts so groovy
finished off the day by catching a movie
Went to Church and then went sight seeing
We hate to say that we will be leaving.

Thanks Felipe, Val and Victor too.
Let us take this one last picture with you.

We say muchas, muchas, muchas, muchas, muchas gracias
You say muchas, muchas, muchas, muchas, muchas de nada

Ideas

I am supposed to be doing quite a few things. One of those things is designing a logo and coming up with a name for the coffee we will be selling that is grown up in Sampedrana. This year's batch will be 500 pounds, so it is more of a test...and if it goes well, we would expand and go bigger next year.

Now...I am thinking a very simple logo for this micro-enterprise experiment we are undertaking, so something three color at most. I am not sure what I will do there. I still have to find out how much the stickers would cost before I proceed too much further. .

However, I did decide to use this forum to see if anyone has any name suggestions. I have heard a few already...so, what do you think?