I stand corrected

Many things are becoming clearer as Day 2 in Honduras ensues.

First, I’ll rewind back to Day 1. We had an interesting (school) bus ride from the capital city to the NPR Ranch. NPR = Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos = My little brothers and sisters. The bus ride took us through Life In Honduras: poverty, mountains, warm climate, narrow roads, beautiful countryside, and people struggling with violence and lack of food on a daily basis. Living conditions are simply indescribable, and pictures cannot express the devastation. Bright Side? We, along with many other people, have come to assist some of these people in need.
After arriving at The Ranch, we settled into our designated rooms. The assignments were such that I’m in a all-girls room, and David is in a all-boys room. We are next door to each other, with anywhere from 4 to 5 twin beds per room. The facility we are staying in is somewhat new, and very nice. Each room has a bathroom and shower. Note: In Honduras, no matter where you are, you do not flush toilet paper down the toilet. The saying goes that “only what comes out of your body goes in the toilet.”
After we settled in and unpacked a bit, dinner was served. Fish, rice, vegetables, potatoes and homemade cake for dessert. The dining room is in the same building as the sleeping quarters, and everything is amazingly organized and nice. This Medical Mission has convenient and high quality facilities. I don’t think I expected that, although I don’t really know what I expected. Granted, there are many things that are dated: they still burn their trash, you can’t drink the water, you can’t brush your teeth with the water, and the electricity goes off often.
After dinner on Day 1, we all stood up and introduced ourselves, a presentation was given regarding the brigade - and its history. Then, it was off to our rooms for bed. Lights out wasn’t at 8 pm after all, it was at 9:30 pm. I think everyone was tired from the long trip here, with many people from Chicago, Minnesota and Connecticut. There is a big group of folks from the Austin area, too. It seemed like so many names to remember!
Fast forward to Day 2.
Of course, I woke up early. As I walked out of my room, I noticed no one was up. Then, surprise! David walked out of his room, along with Nick, another volunteer from the surgery center I work at. They both had “been awake” for some time, as one of their roommates was snoring like a freight train. They were surprised I could not hear it next door. I couldn’t hear it because one of my own roommates was snoring! It’s going to be a long week of figuring out how to get some sleep. David and Nick said they will be sleeping in a hammock outside tonight......and I think they are serious.
I digress. The three of us walked across the atrium to the dining area. One thing I forgot to mention was the peanut butter and bananas they provide, along with other fruit and snacks . So I had my usual banana and peanut butter, along with some coffee that David made for the whole group (in a huge mamma jamma coffee maker). After I ate, I knew that if I was to fit a run in, that now was the time, as the day was scheduled with other activities. So off I went! Running and exploring. I stayed on the “road” and mostly did laps of the area I knew. Yet, I still looked around as I ran. I could hear the unusual and new bird calls, the unfamiliar smells, and ever-present oddness of actually being in this country. What a privilege it is. We are safe on this compound with one exception.....do not be outside of our facility area when it’s dark. The security guards shoot, no questions asked, they will shoot a moving body in the dark. Everyone knows not to be out in the dark, it’s just a way of life here on this ranch. If you are, you had better let security know beforehand. The “violence” outside of this compound sometimes tries to get in. But they don’t stand a chance, as this place is heavily protected. They don’t mess around.
I happily finished my run, and came back to my room to shower. Sometimes you have hot water, sometimes you don’t. I got lucky, and had a warm shower. So far, it’s certainly my lucky day. Now, I just have to keep reminding myself not to open my mouth when I shower, as that’s another no-no. I use my towel I brought, to dry off. The ranch does give you one towel for the week, and encourages everyone to bring one of their own from home, as well.
After that, I met back up with David (and the grou) and we began our day. First things first, we take a organized walking tour of the ranch. OMGoodness. There’s so much back in here, down this tiny road. Buildings and more buildings of dorm-like structures that house children, and there’s a school, a “elderly “ home, other volunteer/visitor housing, staff housing, chapel’s, gardens, crops growing in the fields, and a farm (yes, a farm!). I wanted to stay there for the week. Cows, pigs, chickens......and I was instantly home-sick. Despite my internal resistance, we went on, and continued by buildings whereby trades are taught to the older children such as electricity skills, cosmetology, mechanics, sewing shop and others. They are educating these children (250 onsite right now), and as they approach 9th grade, they offer them training in these different trades. Simply amazing. They also counsel them in life skills of what healthy relationships would include, such as mutual respect, self-respect, communication skills among other mentally-healthy topics these children need, and are missing in life without their parents there to teach them. Speaking of children, after our tour, we went to a communal meeting spot to visit and play with some of the children. I can only sum this up with this: even though there’s a language barrier, verbal cues are enough to realize what they want to do (play, sit in your lap, etc). Another clarification I’d like to make is that this facility prefers it to be called a Children’s Home, and not a Orphanage. Many of the children are not orphans, as they have families, it’s just that they are unable to care for them due to the extreme poverty and conditions.
Now it’s lunch time for everyone and we all go back to our designated places to eat. And most importantly, it’s time to go to the surgery center for orientation after lunch. That in itself will have to be continued in my next blog post. This is really what we came for, to provide free surgeries to those that need it most. What I soon realized is that it’s surgery for (external/outside the ranch) Hondurans, and primarily adults, who do not have the means to have their ACL/knee fixed, or a hernia repaired, or a fracture properly taken care of, so that they can work and live their life. There are so many things that are becoming clear as I learn what’s happening........and about to happen. And it’s not anything like how we do it in the US.
More to come,
Cyndi