Saturday, August 4, 2007
Today was our Last full day in Honduras as well as our day of rest and recreation. We started the day by sleeping in past 8 am and then enjoying a leisurely breakfast. What a treat! We were usually off to work by this time during the week before the sun got too hot and the traffic too congested.
As planned, Beth and Jane went on a tour of the Hospital Escuela with Dr. Barbara McClure, as Britta and Wendy had done several days ago. It is a hospital for the poorer people of Teguc and the surrounding area. It was a very eye opening experience for all of us.
We met for lunch at the local mall and had some time to shop there as well as at an artisans’ market.
After having some down time back at the hotel, we drove to Luis’ house for a lively and wonderful dinner party. We were joined by Luis and Connie’s extended family, friends from Villa Nueva, and another mission group from Miami, who had worked on a building project in Villa Nueva this past week. The party was lively with salsa music and dancing; the food cooked on the grill was delicious. We all had a lovely time getting to know one another, sharing stories, and spending a relaxing evening with old friends and work partners. It was the perfect ending to our week in Honduras.
Wendy Squires
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4 comments:
I've never been into blogs and chatrooms much although I've long been aware of their tremendous potential. Same goes for short missionary trips to remote and struggling Anglican parishes in various portions of Central America. Trinity was sending people to Guatemala for awhile, but my favorite anecdote is the report from a young St. James Parishoner about how her success in getting Drs. Without Borders to provide artificial legs for one of the youngsters in her charge (he'd been run over by a freight train)came to naught when his mother decided that his new legs diminished his earnings from street begging.
It sounds, however, like CCC's Honduran Mission is highly successful and effective especially because it represents a permanent committment wherein progress (and lack thereof) can be observed over an extended period of time.
I've learned that, couching Christian morality in the terms of contemporary language, it is useful to look at the value of things from two perspectives: (1)as intrinsic or expressive--as valuable in and of itself (e.g., pitching chunks of concrete all day can be very good exercise); and(2)as instrumental--as valueable in the achievement of some higher goal (i.e., Britta's reference to improving or removing a sacristy wall on July 30).
So my own comment on this operation is that we need to evaluate it both from the standpoint of its objective impact on the progress of Anglican Christianity in Central America on the one hand; and in terms of its subjective impact on the personal and spiritual development that will be unique (and hopefully positive) to each individual participant.
From a personal standpoint, my interest in that part of the world goes back a long way. I grew up listening to my Dad, (referred to as "the Spanish speaking druggist" by itinerant Mexican railroad section crews during WWII)recount his experiences as a young Marine lieutenant in Haiti during WWI and my subsequent shock at finding out what a mess they still were in (even before depredations of the Duvalier family)thirty years later.
For some reason, people I hardly know often walk up to me with all sorts of horror stories about our false flag operations in that part of the world, and news reports that reached us especially during the Reagan years have done little to calm my suspicions that much goes on there we're not supposed to know about.
I doubt if our own missionary activities will do much to change this overall impression, but I suppose one can always say, with the Christophers, "it is better to light one candle than it is to curse the darkness..."
I just rec'd an email from hostelworld.com on "voluntourism." I thought I'd already forwarded a copy of it but am probably mistaken, so will try again, sins previous commentary:
"“Voluntourism Destinations: Trips for the Socially Responsible Traveller
Once a vacation option reserved only for the altruistic college student, “voluntourism” is rapidly spreading beyond college campuses and into mainstream America. Increasingly, individuals are yearning for an experience that appeases both their desire for adventure as well as their social conscience, trading vacations filled with poolside pina coladas for those spent building orphanages in third world countries.
With endless good deeds to be done, Hostelworld.com narrows the options and recommends the following voluntourism vacation destinations for those travelers with a penchant for the philanthropic
Skyway Guesthouse, Siem Reap, Cambodia.- Thirty years of war, foreign occupation and genocide has left Cambodia with a wealth of orphaned and abandoned children. Located in the heart of Siem Reap, the Skyway Guesthouse offers patrons the opportunity to dedicate their days to supporting some of these impoverished victims of circumstance, whose parents or other family members have been killed or maimed by land-mines, died of hunger or disease, or targeted for murder because of their political affiliations. Volunteers at the Skyway Guest house can make a-difference in the lives of these destitute children by teaching them English and computer skills, assisting them with homework and providing them with the love and attention they desperately need. Rates from €4.60 /per night
Favela Receptiva, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.-- Perched on the outskirts of Rio, Favela Receptiva is located on the edge of the Villa Canoas, a shanty town, or favela, common to Brazilian cities. The plight of those living in the hellish favela is evident from the scraps and garbage that have been collected to create the endless sea of shacks in which the residents live. Adding to the misery of its occupants, the claustrophobic Villa Canoas is plagued by sewage and hygiene problemsand while some portions of the favela have electricity, other sections are left to suffer in the dark ages. Providing a sparkle of optimism to this impoverished community, the Favela Receptiva connects inspired guests with local organizations to bring needed support to the favela. Volunteers can work to educate children; assist in cleaning and construction; aid local groups in crime prevention; and assist non-profit groups in curbing the growing wave of domestic violence and child neglect. Most of these crucial programs are focused on connecting the favela’s youth to programs centered on education, community development, human rights and public safety. Rates from €12.71 / per night
Hostel Hoff, Moshi, Tanzania.--Nestled in the heart of Moshi at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro in Northern Tanzania, the Hostel Hoff caters to novice voluntourists, many of whom are visiting an underdeveloped country for the first time. Unsure patrons receive guidance from the hostel regarding the myriad of volunteer options for anyone wishing to lend a helping hand. Whether it’s promoting HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, teaching the fundamentals at a local school or uplifting the social status of traditional Masai women by helping them learn English, there is a job available that meets the specific talents of every traveler. At Hostel Hoff, patrons arrive with a desire to make a difference and leave as seasoned veterans in selflessness. Rates from €9.68 / per night."
Last sentence was typed "sans" rather than "sins." These automatic spell corrections are a real pain.
I can see many reasons why more people don't participate. A novice can never be sure what is going to end up being published. This is also a second attempt to correct an incorrect automatic correction that changed "sans" to "sins" in the last sentence. Jeez.
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