VIM mission team travels to Honduras; trip journal records experiences
3/16/2010
Eleven Iowans, with one member from Albany, NY, escaped the wintry climes for a two week work experience in El Paraiso (Paradise), a small country town 2 hours southeast of Tegucigalpa, Honduras and 15 minutes from the Nicaragua border. Nestled in tobacco and coffee growing country, the community is made up of farm workers and some cattle growers…
(What follows is the journal from the Honduras VIM mission team…)
Thurs. Feb. 5 In DM it was snowy with wet rain and low visibility. Linda & Monica came for lunch and we met Nola/Hank to drive to the airport together. Hank followed Linda to the Conf. Center where she left her car. Everyone got checked in. We re juggled weight in suitcases to be less than 50 pounds! Some had to pay $30 for an extra bag. The flight was full and delayed due to the de-icing truck not functioning. Upon arrival in Atlanta we walked and walked to find ground transportation to the Super 8 Motel. A shuttle took us there where we checked in with several heading for the Ruby Tuesday Restaurant for a late dinner. Marc arrived from Albany to complete the group of 12 (the Dirty Dozen or the 12 Disciples!) -Beverly
Sat. Feb. 6 Hurry up and wait at the ATL airport. Delta had to replace a part on the plane before we could take off so were delayed three hours making us arrive late in TGU. Ron and Loretta Davidson, VIM Coordinators, met us and we loaded up our team and luggage and headed to the Hotel Isis in El Paraiso, We had a delicious meal at Nancy’s then a comfy bed to rest our weary heads. -Kathy
Sun. Feb. 7 We woke to cool temps and a light drizzle. There was good coffee in hotel lobby. We walked in the square where the venders were setting up for business again. This is something they do every day when the coffee farmers are bringing their bean to town to sell.
We had a great breakfast of French toast with both syrup and local honey/mile. At 9 AM we had an orientation meeting that was very interesting as we learned more about the country and the people of Honduras. Now it’s time to eat again with chicken fajitas and cole slaw. We shopped, walked and rested (played games, e-mailed home using Ron’s laptop and visited until 3 PM. We all went to the Methodist Church to see what our work might be and took most of our tools with us. This looks like we may have two weeks of good, busy and rewarding work. Back to the hotel to change and return to church again. This time it was for the 5 PM worship service. We met a lot of nice people and kids. Then it was back to the Refresqueria Nancy to eat again after ward had our evening devotions and debriefing. Later we watched the Super Bowl (Saints beat the Colts) with Spanish commentary. -Larry
Mon. Feb. 8 We started work today! Our team may be small but we are mighty. Everyone worked hard today and we accomplished much. We started with sanding…walls, ceilings and paper glued on the walls. Clayton was able to buy supplies in the AM and by the end of the day had three cabinets done and hung. Marc worked through lunch and was able to sand the ceiling beams in the sanctuary and then paint them in the PM. Russell was able to get up on the scaffolding to help finish the walls with a plaster-like finish. Many others painted, sanded and just helped.
Cynthia was able to get the medications we brought. She was excited like a child at Christmas! Our team has done well today. May God bless us and our work and may we accomplish much during our time here. -Monica
Tues. Feb. 9 Today our group put in a full day. The team I was assigned finished the building of kitchen wall cabinets and started the primer coat. Another team continued to do the finish plaster coast on the hall walls. Another team primed walls and some finish coast painting has been started. The hair stylist shop/Kathy went very well with a lot of interaction with the local people. It has been hot & humid. The showers at the hotel are a real treat. The food continues to be very good with a variety of meals prepared. We get a beverage of choice (Banana, Grape, Orange, Lipton Ice Tea, Gatorade, Fresca or water) at each meal.
I did get a smile out of Monico, an older man that lives on site in a shack with his family. I motioned for him to help me cut some plywood for the cabinet doors. At the end of the day, I said, “Thank you” in Spanish and the smile he gave was quick, but seemed heart-left. I feel this is the reason for being here! -Clayton
Wed. Feb. 10 Had a good day which started with a wonderful breakfast. Our eating area is on a balcony overlooking the town square/park where vendors set up their stalls each morning when we come for breakfast and take it down at night when we have dinner. School kids walk through the park with their uniforms on headed to school. Buses go to and fro with loud horns. We went to church where everyone had a job to do. The Kid’s Bible School started today in PM with a great turnout. For me, personally, the kids are what it is about. God is good! Tomorrow is a new Day. Amen. -Russell
Editorial note (Bev learned that she has two new grandsons: Colton and Connor born 2/9 and in NICU in Des Moines)
Thurs. Feb. 11
We headed south to get out of the snow.
You’ll probably ask where did we go? We all went with VIM
No one had to swim
When we get home, you’ll all get to know!
Today we plastered and painted
We wonder, has anyone fainted?
The hair did get cut, No one’s in a rut
Going is good, has anyone been sainted?
Monica asked for joys and concerns. Larry had devotions. Food yummy: today French toast, fresh fruits, hard tacos, tortillas, salsa to name a few foods. God is good (Dios es bueno), all the time (Todo el tiempo)! -Nola
Fri. Feb. 12 Buenos Dias! I missed breakfast again but heard you’ll ate cereal and fruit. Guess who is writing this? Work at the church this morning included plastering, sanding and painting in the aqua room (intense green), two yellow rooms (bright) with the melon kitchen completed.
One thing that touched me—the 2 children at the church ran out to greet us in the morning! For lunch, we had sandwiches and French friend with that delicious ketchup. In the afternoon we went sightseeing. We drove in 2 vans to Danli, where we visited a cigar factory. We saw tobacco leaves rolled into cigars, cut to length, finished, labeled and packed. Several of the team bought a box of cigars…no fumar!
We visited Danli Central UMC, stopped at Fuente de Luz UMC/Danli (where we were originally scheduled to work) and Quisqualga UMC, out in the country side. While in the country we drove past fields of sorghum, corn, tomatoes and other crops. We also saw a coffee plantation.
Supper was sausage, steak, tortillas, beans, rice, fresh salsa and fried plantains—interesting!
Team meeting and everyone is off to bed. Buenos noches, mis amigos! -Crystal
Sat. Feb. 13 The view from the roof top in the morning is beautiful. A light rain/mix this morning was causing people to hurry around. There is a purple flowering tree in the next courtyard to the north that is “home” to several species of birds. We have taken several pictures among us of some of them. The brown dog below was howling this morning because his gate was locked. Maybe his owner didn’t rise so early this morning. The roosters crowing all over town signals a wake up call. Breakfast was a bean scrambled egg burrito or open faced with avocados and a beautiful fresh fruit plate. All were pleased for breakfast. This is the day that the Lord has made. A lot of work has been accomplished at the church. Today more “concrete plaster” went on the hallway. On the 2nd hallway is more plaster. Sanding continues as does priming. I painted 3 benches a dark green color that didn’t quite match the “green” room walls. And about 11:30 AM the first coat of light yellow paint was artfully applied to the sanctuary walls. After one small crisis when some “unlightened” painter made one stripe on the wall, the work went quickly.
Melvin was very pleased with the work we accomplished this week. Monico read from Nehemiah and we had prayer together. When we got back to the hotel the square was bustling with street vendors and buyers. We were slightly late for lunch due to the painting of the sanctuary. Lunch was cheese burgers and French fries.
We spotted a canary in the square. He was quite a show off. After lunch nine of us met at 1:30 PM for a hike to the cross on top of a hill near the church. Carlos joined Russell, Clayton, Monica, Linda and I (the Davis County Connection), Larry, Kathy and Marc for the trek. Part of the hike was really a steep climb so we went ‘poly, poly’, slowly, slowly, part of the way. The view was beautiful and we have pictures to prove it! While we were gone the others did various things including shopping in the park. Bev received pictures on the internet of her two new grandsons, Connor and Colton, born on 2/9 and weighed a little more than 3 pounds. Small and mighty! She was glad to share them with us. We pray for their safety and that they grow strong quickly!
Russell and I took some life saver candy to the park and shared with young/old. The smiles and shy looks were precious! God is good; all the time! Supper was great! We had fried chicken, rice, fresh salsa, rolls, friend plantain and a sugary fruit candy.
Kathy had devotions and did a book review of “The Helper” by Catherine Marshall. She shared how this book has helped her embrace the Holy Spirit. John 14 was referred to. Kathy has given several of these books to others and I hope to learn a lot from reading it.
We played Valentine games to gear up for tomorrow. Famous couples, words made from Valentine’s Day, and song about love or with the word heart in them. The games were fun but we need to work on our a cappella choir!
The love of Christ is shining through this group! God bless us everyone! Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart God, and make my spirit right again. Psalm 51:17 The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit. God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin. -Donna
Sun. Feb. 14 Greeted by a decorated table with candy/Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, Valentine card, place settings with Kathy giving the morning prayer. John 17:2. It gets no better than that …pancakes…fruit…juice…and coffee…for breakfast. Church in Danli at 9:30 AM. Church was filled with kids, adults, song, prayer, sermon, a baptism and more songs. Lots of fellowship during and after—Hondurans loves to hug. Lunch was a chicken soup with large pieces of chicken, veggies and a wonderful broth on a bed of rice with corn tortillas for dipping.
Just got back from a hike with Clayton, Donna and Linda to the cross atop the hill beyond the church. We met 6/7 kids who challenged our photographic abilities and our strength wanting to be carried and at the end, our patience somewhat, as they were following us all the way back. But the time was a blessing being out and about with each other and the kids.
Just returned from service at “our” church where a pastoral candidate “Carlos” gave the sermon. The church seemed well attended but it seems clear this church will grow over time. Dinner was spaghetti w/sauce (red/white), meat or not, with side of garlic bread, also those wonderful light sweet cookies which remind me of Grandma’s Easter cookies. The meeting tonight started with a devotion from Linda speaking to being or really feeling poor. It did bring some interesting conversation and reflections. Ron, Loretta and Beverly spoke to the VIM national/international structure with specifies relative to our project and other mission possibilities in Honduras. There was discussion about the money our group provided to the church along with material donations. Beverly ended with some Bible “jokes” and another day in the life was had by all. The hardest part for me will be saying goodbye to everyone! -Marc
Mon. Feb. 15 Back to work today—Clayton told me at breakfast that his sink was stopped up and he used an empty coke bottle as a plunger to unstop with great success.
Kathy and I have set up beauty shop again in the new kitchen, out of the way of the building work going on. Crystal is off work today due to a “cold” maybe too much sanding dust. Did several nails this AM, Kathy cut hair. The children like to hang out where we do hair and nails. Clayton & Russell and some of the others have had limited time to spend with the children due to the plastering and painting they have been doing. When we are off work and out in the community they make up for it—the children flock to them. Today & tomorrow are our last 2 days to work—the kitchen, hall and 3 S.S. rooms have been painted and none of us will forget aqua, melon and yellow paint colors---all intenso! The sanctuary and halls are being painted a soft beigy yellow—much more to our North American tastes.
It is Linda’s birthday—we sang for her at breakfast and lunch. She had prayer at breakfast and like a true P.E. teacher had us doing stretching exercises. We should have been doing them everyday. It was a bit chilly this AM but warmer later—a beautiful sunshiny day! Last day for Bible School—Donna, Crystal, Linda and Loretta have done a wonderful job—it is so good to hear the children laughing, playing and singing. We are all praying for the pastor of this church—there are enough people willing to be part of the church—many of us have discussed visions of children’s ministries, teaching for women and children’s health and family ministries, etc. There is so much NEED and so much POTENTIAL.
Group meeting tonight included more celebration of Linda’s birthday. We had a three milk (tres leche) cake and strawberry cheesecake ice cream for dessert. The room was decorated with balloons. At meeting we got into groups and tried to list sports, occupation, African countries and colors beginning with each letter of Linda’s name. Russell had devotions and we shared what we think are our personal gifts and talents. We are servants all. God bless us and the people we serve. -Ruth
Tues. Feb. 16 The day started the same as most for me. I wake up early, read some devotions by flashlight, then go up to the top floor of the hotel to watch the day break. Today Russell & Clayton were there. I stretched a little & am always looking for a photo op of birds or something. Breakfast was cereal and that delicious fruit (papaya, pineapple, melon and watermelon) we have every day along with O.J. Off we went to our last day of work at the church. At Beverly’s insistence I got a hair cut from Kathy as many have the past several days. Everyone busied themselves at various jobs as we try to get as much finished as possible. The plasterers were hard at work in their interior room (to be pastor’s study). Sanded and primed one last corner that was just finished. Several of us then finished the 1st coat of paint in the west hallway. Others were putting on 2nd coat in the north hallway. We also had some painting of one of the yellow rooms with the lighter yellow color. Lots of little things continued. We broke for lunch which was the hard shell with meat, slaw, guacamole and sauce. We finished the last of my BD cake and ice cream. We then went back to wrap things up—plasterers continued but most everyone else picked up things, cleaned on windows & doors, we put their church light and banners, etc. back up in the “sanctuary” and pretty much did general overall cleaning. Then we gathered with the local people for a sharing time led by Monico. Everyone gave lots of praise and thanks to each other & to God for all that has been accomplished. We had prayer, then took group photos with our team and Honduran workers. Did some sorting & packing and did a collection of stuff to leave them. We had a beautiful sunset we watched just before supper. The meal was pork chops with cheese lasagna for Marc & Carlos who don’t eat pork. Also the veggies—carrots and squash with rice. After supper as usual, we had a team meeting. We started with some beautiful singing. Crystal shared devotions from I Cor.1, Paul’s prayer and then we shared prayers for the church here. Beverly shared about the reverse culture shock of returning home and read some of her “funnies.” Ron & Loretta went over the itinerary for tomorrow. I packed a little then went out to the lobby and visited, then 3 of us went up top and enjoyed the nice evening. We learned it was 12 degrees and blowing in Iowa! We made a list of all the jobs we had accomplished & how hard this group has worked and worked together as a TEAM—each one using their gifts for the good of all. This has been a wonderful team! Thanks ya’all. -Linda
Wed. Feb. 17 Excitement, with a tinge of sadness filled the air this morning. Our bags are packed and we are ready to leave El Paraiso after 7 busy days of building, sanding, painting, plastering, Bible School, cutting hair and learning from and about the people who live there. After breakfast of cereal, fruits, coffee & juice, we leave for Tegucigalpa, arriving at the Casal Hotel about 11 AM. We unloaded our luggage in our rooms and then left for a tourist area, Valley of the Angels, where we shopped and did some sight-seeing. Lunch was a variety of snacks and P.B. sandwiches. We arrived back at the hotel shortly after 3:30 PM. Everyone is resting and catching up on e-mails before dinner which will be at a near-by restaurant. The meal was fabulous, ribs, steak, shrimp, chicken lasagna, salad bar and desserts! Evening devotions by Nola and a summary of tomorrow’s flight back to Iowa by Beverly who brought the day to a close. -Nola
Thurs., Feb. 18 A partially cloudy day dawned in Teguc with several of the early risers seeking coffee, having breakfast and enjoying the environs in/around the Casal Hotel. Members of the group had breakfast, visited and reorganized their luggage in preparation for a 10 AM departure for the airport. Ron arrived, the luggage was loaded (much less this trip) and we headed for the TGU airport. The Delta ticket counter was not yet open but when it was there was another mission group ahead of us. We proceeded through check in (no one had to pay for the extra bag), stood in line to pay the departure tax ($36.75), bid adios to Ron and headed up to the gate. Lunch was left over P.B. sandwiches, trail mix, salami and granola bars. After a check of gates and the flight arriving from Atlanta, we boarded (again had carry-on luggage checked) with an almost on time departure for the U.S. Customs was fast, collecting our luggage and rechecking it to Des Moines was quick so we headed to our gate. Several ate at Wendy’s. Marc headed to Albany with hugs from the Iowa group. Flight was on time so we headed on the small Comair plane to our final destination—Des Moines. Hank took Clayton, Linda and I to their parked cars. Clayton drove Monica, Russell and Donna back to Bloomfield, Ruth and Nola took off for home, Bigelows went to the hotel and Linda and I went to my house where we put in a load of dirty clothes to wash for Linda as she was headed to Nairobi/Entebbe in about 10 hours. Thanks to God for a safe, sane and satisfactory volunteer in mission work trip to Honduras! Welcome home, gang! -Beverly
Honduran Workers: Monico, Melvin, Gerson, Joseph, Jorge
Honduran Translator: Carlos
VBS Director: Donna, Lesson: Crystal, Crafts: Loretta/Beverly, Sports: Linda
Plaster team: Russell, Monica, Larry
Construction Team: Clayton, Larry, Crystal
Painting: Marc, Linda, Nola, Beverly, Donna, Crystal, Ruth, Kathy, Clayton
Hair cutting: Kathy, Ruth, Crystal
VIM Coordinators: Ron and Loretta Davidson, hondurasvim@aol.com
Scholarships with Blessings/Becas con Bendiciones: Sara & Henry Clines, becascb@aol.com
POB 246, Allen, TX 75013
District Superintendent: Rev. Roberto Pena, pastor Danli Central Methodist Church
Honduras Country Director: David Ceballos
Honduras Medical Coordinator: Cynthia Ceballos
Work Accomplishments in El Paraiso Methodist Church (40’ x 60’ approximate size)
Plaster: 3 long hallways, 1 classroom and ½ room
Sanded the interior of the building that had been plastered
Built cabinets with 3 shelves, 9 doors installed on two walls in church kitchen
Shelves sanded, primed and painted melon color
Bought and mixed 25 gallon of oil base paint—aqua, yellow and melon
Brushed and cleaned church doors and windows
Painted front door of church a green color
Painted the sanctuary a soft yellow color
Sanded and repainted green metal beams on sanctuary ceiling
Painted 4 benches and tables
Cleaned brushes and paint rollers
Swept down walls prior to putting on primer coat
Installed security window
Busted out pila/concrete water container and poured cement over hole
Worked on light fixtures throughout church
Treated blisters, lice, cuts, bruises
Hiked up to cross on hill
Hiked back to hotel
Visited Danli Methodist Churches
Cleaned floors/swept them and then threw down water
Washed chairs, rehung cross and banners
Organized snacks for team and Honduran workers
VBS for 3 days with approximately 100 children mainly elementary children with singing, story,
Bible verse, crafts, treats (Juice/crackers) and pencils
Practiced Spanish, ESL
Sightseeing to rural area, toured cigar factory, local town square/park
Attended three worship services (2 El Paraiso, 1 Danli Central)
Celebrated Linda’s birthday with cake, ice cream, party and games
Drove on Pan American Highway