So we just realized that it's April Fools Day...
Go us.
We started the day off with a visit to the Hogar farm. The farm included fruit bearing trees, chickens, pigs, goats, cows, dogs (guarding the area), and an empty talapia pond. The farm was not like those in Minnesota because of lack of water, irrigation systems, storage, and crops in general. Currently the Hogar is in the process of building a water tower and an irrigation system for the many trees and future crops. The hope is to have the water tower finished by Monday. Volunteers from Canada plan to finish constructing an irrigation system.
Right now the boys are dropping like flies. Three guys have had to leave the hogar early due to feeling under the weather.
We made sock puppets with the second and third graders today which was very chaotic due to a lack of communication. Several kids would hide the materials in their desks and would ask for another sock or two. One kid decided he was going to wear his instead of using them for puppets. We manaed to get a few tables done today but it's still slow going.
Everyone is in the process of making dinner for all the kids tonight which includes hot dogs, mac & cheese, jello, beans, and tang.
At this point we are all very tired. Those of us who are staying at the volunteer house aren't planning on a good sleep.
None of us are looking forward to saying good-bye to the kids tomorrow. It will be difficult to say good-bye with the kids' sad faces and giving that final farewell hug.
Off to make dinner now. Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Wednesday midday
Hola amigos
Jeff and Jack posting to the blog. The last couple of days have been eye-opening in many ways. Yesterday we paid a visit to a brick making location in Comayagua. We essentially saw one dozen or so long 1/2 acre plots of land, each of which was it's own brick making business. Imagine 85-90 degrees, bent at 90 degrees most of the day and having a job that required you to make 350 mud bricks per day, in forms on the ground. Then imagine be
ing paid the equivalent of about $12 per day for that work. While the laborers had pride in their work and politely explained how the did their trade, many of us found it difficult to stand there in our clean clothes, with a few cameras in hand, like tourists. Later, Annie, Debbie's daughter who lives in Nicaragua explained to us that $12 was a very good wage in Honduras. Made the entire experience all the more surreal. I'm glad we went. It's important to be pulled out of your comfort zone in that particular direction.
ing paid the equivalent of about $12 per day for that work. While the laborers had pride in their work and politely explained how the did their trade, many of us found it difficult to stand there in our clean clothes, with a few cameras in hand, like tourists. Later, Annie, Debbie's daughter who lives in Nicaragua explained to us that $12 was a very good wage in Honduras. Made the entire experience all the more surreal. I'm glad we went. It's important to be pulled out of your comfort zone in that particular direction.
Later in the day we visited the comedor (sp?) which is an outdoor, covered "soup kitchen" for children run by those who run the Hogar. About 20 children at there including children from the Hogar and children from the area around the Hogar. They had a better meal than I expected and many of them read books with us before and after they ate. Most were 11 years old or less and the boys in particular ate like any young boy I've seen. They ate heartily and wore some of what they ate.I've been building shelves for a computer room. My father would be proud. Measure twice, cut 
once. I'm remembering that most of the time and Bob has been very patient with us desk-job types. Jack and I went to the local school yesterday and today with cameras, a printer and materials for frames and worked with 20-25 kids to take, print and frame pictures. They took some beautiful pictures of each other and those at and around the school. It's quite a contrast to see their school and then to see the students in their bright white shirts/blouses and blue pants/skirts.
once. I'm remembering that most of the time and Bob has been very patient with us desk-job types. Jack and I went to the local school yesterday and today with cameras, a printer and materials for frames and worked with 20-25 kids to take, print and frame pictures. They took some beautiful pictures of each other and those at and around the school. It's quite a contrast to see their school and then to see the students in their bright white shirts/blouses and blue pants/skirts.Last night we wrapped up the day discussing what was the same and what was most different from home. Many agreed that the love shown and behavior of kids is much the same as at home. The differences we discussed are too great to mention but included everything from the living conditions, to the definition of poverty here versus the US, to the constant security we see on streets (guys in uniforms with big guns), to the definitions of needs and wants.
I think that's it for now. It's been a great experience already and we have several more days to look forward to.
Peace
Jeff and Jack
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