Monday, March 29, 2004
I am up at dawn in time to see a beautiful sunrise. This morning we would be heading back to the Cay to do a little shopping for supplies. Craig met us at the house and we piled in for the arduous trip to the boat dock. After we had driven only about ten minutes, he pulled up to stop at his home. Marcella was there to meet us at the Nyre’s family dock. We loaded up and moved slowly out into the deeper water only to slow down and pull up to a shack poised on poles above the water. Marcella knocked on the door a few times before it opened. After an exchange of words with the owner, a long plastic hose came out to refuel the boat gas tank. Bob paid the tab and then a young Spanish-speaking woman asked for a ride. She climbed up front with Jim and me. She was friendly and we tried to communicate with hand signals and our limited Spanish.
We pulled into the Cay and tied up at the dock. The hardware store would have the lumber we needed to build a ping pong table and antenna parts to hook up a UHF radio for the school. Raphael Zapata, the former mayor met us at the dock and Bob gave him some eye glasses for his wife. They own the general store and lumberyard. Roger Wood had more of what we might need for supplies, so we negotiated the narrow streets to his shop to inquire for our supply list. After we finalized our purchases Bob wanted to visit with the airlines to see if we could reschedule our departure time. Eric, Dale, Jim and I began our search for some souvenir T-shirts. There weren’t many stores or shirts to be seen.
I wanted to see the church and the other church school. I saw a neatly dressed young man with a zipper Bible case under his arm and asked him for directions. He asked if I was a Seventh-day Adventist and I told him “yes”. He said he was also and pointed to the church and school about a half a block away. The church and school were located in a walled courtyard used as a playground. The school was a two story stucco building with all of its windows open. Inside was a hum of activity, as children and teachers were going through their daily lessons. I walked into the entry and saw school uniform shirts with the school name on them. I picked out a tan one that I liked for 120 Limpera, which is about $6.50. I was happy with my purchase and its price.
Roger Wood had a delivery man take our lumber by push cart to the dock. We also met Carlos, the school maintenance man, who was buying supplies. We loaded plywood and all the other materials into the boat and found places to sit or lie down on the plywood. Pastor Roy Johnson also hitched a ride back with us. it began to rain so I pulled out our ponchos and shared with Carlos and the pastor. We were nearing a dock that the pickup truck could get close to so we could transfer the plywood and other supplies to it. It was a convenient drive up for the truck, but the dock was a treacherous widow maker. Boards were loose and one whole section was missing. A 1’x10’ pine board was being used to span the gap, which was pretty flimsy and precarious. I scooted across quickly and Pastor Roy tossed all the cases for me to catch and stack.
This was our final day and we had to really push to finish up the final details. Jim tore into the ping pong table project. Dale and I began hooking up the antenna on the roof for the UHF set up. Eric is fine-tuning all the computers and downloading anti-virus software, etc. And Bob? Well, he is doing his management thing—checking on everything to make sure all is done decently and in order.
We had everything done and working by 5 pm, and were getting ready to clean up and go out to eat at the town’s only restaurant. Rigo walked up and said that he wanted us to attend a little activity. They had planned a little party in our honor and wanted to officially thank us. Each teacher gave a little testimonial and we did the same. Bob encouraged them to hang on and remain strong through the difficult times to make the school work. They fed us and gave us each a thank you letter and little gift to remember them by. Jim and I talked with two of the young teachers that spoke a little English and thanked them. They told us that they had to walk about three miles to and from school each day over that mud filled road. That night they would do it in the dark.
When it was all said and done we hurried home to pack for our early, 4 am, departure. Annie and Ramon Martinez, the owners of the house, stopped to say goodbye. They brought all the little children that they take care of, including Noel, who is a 7th grade girl with much talent. She had personality plus and is a born leader. She is in charge of the church choir and speaks five languages. We visited with them, took pictures, and said our goodbyes. Then we resumed our packing and crawled into bed. Tuesday, March 30, 2004
Guess what? We are up before the roosters this morning at 4 am. We are checking everything and trying to straighten up. How would your house look if five men had camped in it for a week? Eric swept the floor and Bob gathered up the trash. Bob began his ritual of watch checking because there was no truck to take us to our boat. Where was Craig? Senor Bob is excellent at worrying for all of us and all of the details. He does a wonderful job of it, and, for that reason, I can feel pretty secure on his trips. Finally, he sent Jim to run to Craig’s house and wake him up, but no worries. Craig arrived in a few minutes with Jim in the back.
We loaded in all our suitcases and climbed aboard, but the truck wouldn’t start. There were a flurry of suggestions and mini-conversations over this dilemma. Senor Bob said we would push start it since it was a standard shift. Craig didn’t know that was possible, but Bob got behind the wheel and after a few attempts the engine sputtered and roared to life. The truck ground along through mud and muck toward our boat dock in Mangrove Bight. Every link in this transportation chain was critically important in order to make our plane connections all the way home on schedule. If anything failed to connect between the house we were in to San Pedro Sula, American Airlines wouldn’t refund our money. We arrive at the boat dock and there was no Marcella. Bob began checking his watch again and pacing up and down as best he could with two bad knees. I think it must have worked because about 20 minutes later a boat pulled into the dock with Marcella at the controls.
We arrived at the airport in plenty of time. Sosa Airlines was just waking up and, eventually, the pilots arrived to ferry us to La Ceiba. We had to start paying the exit fees now, twenty Limperas to leave the terminal. In La Ceiba we had a 45 minute wait and another 20 Limpera to get into this terminal. We got into San Pedro Sula at 9 am and, since this would be a 5 hour layover, we decided to have breakfast at Burger King. I think I had more eggs this week than I had eaten all the previous year. I guess it is a good thing that I like them. We lounged, napped, walked around, and shopped at the one souvenir store in the airport. After about 5 hours and three or four purchases in the shop they knew us.
Miami was a welcome thought after being away for a week. Customs was a little stressful because I tried to hand the agent a form filled out in pencil instead of pen. I got lectured in front of the whole crowd, taken off to a remote corner and shuttled into the foreign immigrant line. Eventually I began asking for help and made my way back to the same line that had rejected me. This time the customs agent couldn’t be nice enough to Mr. Cheney. My brother had gone through before me and told him we were related to Dick Cheney. Bob was nervous, but we were all reunited in time to catch our last flight to Hartford. The other two Daryls felt sorry for their missing link and waited by the shuttle to guide me back to the group.
Bradley Field was a pretty sweet sight at 10 pm as we exited our plane and headed for our various assignments. My job was to locate the van, while the others went to baggage claim. Home, sweet home by midnight and a warm shower. God is good and He saw us through a maze of glitches and difficulties. We had the joy of seeing the happiness that one can bring when he or she gives not only money, but time, to others. These people were very appreciative of your gifts to them.
A special thanks to Bob for his vision for the missions program that we have been able to take part it and for working hard to see that all the details were taken care of on a trip of this kind. To Eric for his background work in getting tickets, itineraries and expertise with the computers. To Dale for his friendship, technical skills, and testimony. To my brother, Jim, for his carpentry skills and for taking the time to share this adventure with me. To Jane for handling all the background financial needs. To all of you who supported us through prayer, donations, and your interest in missions.
May God be glorified!