This blog comes to you from high up in the mountains of Western Honduras. Just 7 years ago there was no electricity here in Belen Gualcho. Now, thanks to this week’s installation of satellite internet, I can communicate with anyone in the free world almost instantaneously. The best part is I will no longer have to drive the 1 and ½ hours to my home just to send or receive an important e mail. One time I had to do this twice in one day.
The weather here in the highlands has been pretty ugly over the last several days. On Tuesday there was even a bit of sleet mixed into the rain. This has slowed our progress on the main water project, as the conditions are just to rough for working in the difficult terrain, not to mention sleeping out in it. The water sources for the project, which are up in the Celaque Mountains, are about a 2 hour hike in some really rugged country. Add to that the carrying, by hand, (too rough for mules) 20 foot sections of 6” pipe and 100 pound sacks of concrete and weather can play a big role in the progress of the project.
The village that is the “base camp” for the main water line is called Rio Negro. This village is a 3 hour walk from the nearest access by truck. The living conditions in Rio Negro are very bleak, even by Honduran standards. Because the village is inside the boarders of the Celaque national park no resources like roads, electricity, etc. can be developed. This is to protect the parks eco system and cut down on illegal logging that has damaged much of Honduras. Without access to resources, the people of Rio Negro (about 45 families) subsist on their meager corn crops and by harvesting coffee. Coffee harvest provides about 10 weeks of solid work, and a good coffee picker can earn about 3 dollars a day. According to a recent survey of the village, the average household has an annual income of around $200. Yes that’s annual. It always breaks my heart to be in Rio Negro. I have had the chance to make friends with a couple of families there. They are so humble and open. But malnutrition has reaped its horrible harvest and the light in the children’s eyes burns very low, if at all.
I wish I could change things for them. I wish I could play god in their lives. But for now, I’ll let God be God and I’ll try to learn from their humility.
Blessed are the poor in spirit.
