Concrete Progress in San Antonio

This week there won't be a lot of text...Just a new slide show to prove to you that "Concrete" things are happening in San Antonio. Enjoy!!

I wish I was this smart!

A very interesting thing is taking place in San Antonio. --By the way, you can click on the map under the "About Me" section on the right and get a full screen version of the map so you can get an idea of where San Antonio is. When you are done viewing the map just hit the back button on your browser to return to the blog.-- Back to the interesting thing...When we proposed our package of 5 things we would do to help the villagers we felt strongly that we would not give them the option of choosing a la carte. In other words, it was all or nothing. They could not choose a latrine, but not the pila, dry well, improved stove, and bio-sand filter. The reason for this is every one of the items is extremely important in improving the overall health of the village. Well, no one had ever done this before and we were not certain how it would play in Peoria, but as it turned out we think it was another "God Thing".

Some of the people in the village were living in really bad shacks and we could not in good conscience put concrete floors or improve the roofs of these hovels. What some of the people have done so they could participate in our "Program of 5 Benefits" was to tear down the shacks and begin construction of their own homes out of adobe blocks. They took the initiative to to this all on their own at their own expense. They are making the blocks and building the homes, but we are advising them on some of the construction techniques through some of the Project Global Village experts.
THIS IS HUGE!!

Why you ask? Because the reason they have the confidence to go ahead with this is because we are there helping them with their water supply, latrines, pilas, dry wells, improved stoves, and water filters. They now have the HOPE they have been looking for for generations!
This is all because you guys have the guts to be different...to put your faith into action..let's be frank here...to give the money and trust us to put that money to work thousands of miles away being the hands and feet of Jesus! We aren't just talking the talk but walking the walk.

WE ARE PREACHING THE GOSPEL AND ONCE IN A WHILE USING WORDS!

Like my mama used to say, "Actions speak louder than words."

YOU GUYS ROCK!!

Que dios les bendiga un monton!

--tom

Great News from Santa Fe

Well, I know I promised 'yall some good news last week. I have some, but I'll get to that in a minute.

How about that Easter worship service? It was great to see the number of people packing out the sanctuary wasn't it? To me, the highlight was when the teens went to the top of the waterfall with the flags and banners tromping out to the fantastic music that Maxine and gang had put together. WoooHooo!!

And now....drumroll please...The Good News about Santa Fe is...and this is really quite an accomplishment...it may not seem like it until you have been in Honduras a few times and gotten to know the Honduran psyche a little bit...but...out of 44 households in the village 44 have verbally agreed to participate in the program that we proposed! Out of that, 15 have decided that they would like to build new homes!

Ok, cool, you say. Yea, more than cool when you know a little more about what we proposed. First, we offered everyone a package of 5 benefits. A latrine, a pila (concrete sink with a washboard), a bio-sand filter, a resumidero (like a dry-well so there would be somewhere for the wash water to go), and an improved cooking stove. This was offered at a very reasonable cost to the villagers. The exciting part of it is that in the past many of the people in other villages have not wanted to do it because we asked them to participate financially. These people get it! You watch. The health of this village will improve dramatically in the next year. We have done a survey where we asked many health related questions and we will do another one in about 18 months when we are ready to complete this project. It will be great to see the change.

Another exciting thing is the number of people who want to "buy" new homes. This is a major financial commitment for them. We do subsidize the cost of the home, but it still costs them a substantial amount of money. Especially when you consider that the per capita income of the people in Honduras is $1100. per year, or about $3 per day. This includes the very rich and the very poor. Per capita income is the total income of the country divided by the number of adults, so there are many with incomes way above this and many with incomes way below this. By the way, the per capita income in the US is $48,000.

The other good news is that a couple of weeks ago we decided to skip to the top of the pyramid of hope and begin to develop some village pride in Santa Fe. We went to the school and proposed a "clean up" day where the kids would go around and pick up garbage. When the adults saw what the kids were doing many of them joined in and helped! A classic example of the kids teaching the parents. By the way, the teacher was really impressed that we would care enough to make the effort to teach the children how important it is to keep things cleaned up.

There are many more things happening each day in all four of the villages. I just don't have the time to tell you about all of them, and make a living too!! I am in contact nearly every day with Daniel, or Chet, or the office in Tegucigalpa. The money that you have committed is being put to good use!! You are truly being the hands and feet of Christ. Thank you for that!!

Stay tuned!!

Tomas

Yadira's School Day

I'm sure you all remember Yadira. She is the young lady who could not go on to the seventh grade because her parents could not afford to buy the books, uniforms, etc. for her to continue her dream of an education. Well, one day a couple of weeks ago we decided to follow her around and see how she was doing, and if her parents were living up to their end of the bargain. Take a look at this slide show and see what you think.

There will be some really exciting news in the update for next week! Not that this isn't exciting but next week will be cool. Check back often!

By the way, don't tell Pastor Dale I posted this video. It's supposed to be a surprise in one of the services after we calm down from the Easter rush. Oh, and it is on the DVD that is playing on the TV in foyer. If you haven't seen the HDTV that is there check it out the next time you go through.

Hasta luerte! (Later Dude)