Jewell's Village Partners Project

January 2010 Embarcadero, Honduras

This past January, boarding a plane to the Central American country of Honduras was just a little too easy, as the snow continued to pile up and temperatures plummeted in the Midwest. Little did we know that even in the warmer climate, precipitation would still affect our adventures in the village of Embarcadero.

Leaving the airport in San Pedro Sula, it was cloudy but no rain was falling. Our local host, Tim McNeely, informed us that it had been raining in the village for four days, and that our chances of getting into town were virtually impossible. That night we slept in the chapel at the orphanage, but as we rested, a steady tropical downpour kept us just a little restless, knowing that our only way into the village is by driving through a small river, that continued to swell with each passing day of rainfall. The next morning, we decided to go and see for ourselves how it looked in Embarcadero.

The drive to Embarcadero usually takes about an hour, but four days of rain changes the landscape in many ways. We drove past small mudslides, pastures that had been transformed into lakes, and the road itself, in many places, resembled more of a river, than a road. When we arrived at our river crossing we learned at its deepest point the crossing was over 5 feet deep. Maximo, one of the leaders from the community road his bike out to meet us, but he was only able to do so because he knew from memory exactly where the submerged footbridge was

under the surface of the flooded stream. We learned that this stream rises quickly, but also recedes quickly, so if the forecast for dry weather held, we would be able to get into the village the next day.

The rain stopped and the next day we drove to the river, parked our van, and walked the final mile into the village. Thankfully we had also rented a small four-wheel drive pick up that could negotiate crossing the river. Students trudged the muddy road and finally entered the village of Embarcadero. Junior, Religion major, Abby Pratt describes it like this, “As we walked into the village I remember thinking, ‘what am I getting myself into here? This is for real!’ But when we left, three days later, Icouldn’t help but realize how silly I was and how much I had changed in those three days.”

Our trip had two goals, to start a composting latrine for each family, and to begin building relationships with the members of the community. Materials for building the latrines had been delivered prior to the rains, so once we got into town we were ready to get to work. The first order of business was to gather the folks of

Embarcadero at the schoolhouse and introduce students to their adopted families for the week. Our group slept at the schoolhouse, and shared meals with our adopted families. This proved to be a little uncomfortable at first, b

ut by the week’s end, everyone felt like they were truly a part of their respective families. Our Spanish skills ranged from

none to fluent, so it took a lot of creativity and determination on the part of our students to hold basic conversations with our hosts.

Before nightfall, which means a lot more when you have no electricity, we had started to dig the holes for the foundations of the first two latrines. The work continued the next day as we formed teams with very specific duties. First there was the location team, led by one of the local men named Infriene. He new the exact dimensions and had a system using stakes and fishing line to mark where each latrine foundation should be placed based on his discussion with each resident. Laura Vanbiber, a senior, got to work on Infriene’s team, and she said this about the experience, “ When I approached the group several of the men just looked at me and then went back to what they were doing. I felt like the new kid at school, waiting to see if I would fit in. Then I asked Infriene if he needed my help and he said, “Of course! You are my partner.” That is when I really felt like I was part of the group. After that day, the other men in the town began to treat me like I was just one of the guys. When we were waiting to measure the next foundation, they would ask me questions about my life back in America or we would talk about how to say the names of the tools in English. It felt really good to know that I was able to accomplish these things on my own.”

Our student’s formed most of the next two teams. The rough dig team, and the finish dig team. The rough dig team used shovels to dig about a six inch wide trench just inside the fishing lines left by the placement team. Once they finished a rough outline, they would move on to the next site, while the finish dig team would use hand trowels to clean out the trenches and make sure they were level and square. This prepared the way for the final team, usually consisting of the homeowner and a few of his neighbors. These men worked together to actually lay the cement (mezcla) and place the first course of bricks in the holes. It worked out to be a great system, in two and a half days we were able to start 17 latrines, one for each family in the village.

After lunch each day, instead taking a little siesta, we always found something interesting to do. One day we walked through the palm groves to see how the men of the community work together to care for and harvest the palm nuts from the palm trees. The trees are only about six years old, and so they are only about 6-8 feet tall right now, looking more like palm bushes, than palm trees. The next afternoon, we made our way to the soccer field at the edge of the vill

age, even though it was very muddy, and half of it was still under water, that did not stop some of the guys from a rousing game of “futbol!” Josh Ehrhard, a Jewell soccer player said, ““Who would have thought that a remote village would be able to teach us so much about our culture, relationships, family and stuff.” While the guys played soccer the girls played games with the children. Many of us watched and cheered as players slid through the mud.

Sunday was supposed to be the next to last day in the village, and so we worked together with the residents to share together in a worship service at 1pm. Unfortunately, the night before it had started raining again, causing us concern about being able to get out of the village, in the event the river rose again to an impassable level. We moved up our worship service and quickly dis-assembled our makeshift camp inside the school house. In less than 30 minutes we had all of our belongings stowed in the pick up truck, and drove it out to the river where the water was indeed getting deeper by the minute. As I drove through the river the water was easily four feet deep, leaving the footbridge just a foot above the water level. We parked the truck in a nearby family member’s yard, and Colon and I walked back to join the worship service just beginning.

The service was enthusiastic, and filled with music, scripture readings and of course some energetic Pentecostal preaching. The first speaker was our liaison, Tim McNeely, then from the local pastor, Maximo. Following the service we took about an hour to share formal words of appreciation and thanks from both our students and the men and women of the village. Each student presented their host family with a framed picture of the student with their family. We also gave the children soccer balls, donated by Jewell’s soccer team.

One by one the people of the village stood to express how much it has meant to them for us to come and live in their village. In some cases they addressed their adopted student directly, sharing how much they valued their new friendship, bringing tears to many students eyes. Abby Blevins said, “Each day, eating meals with Maximo and his wife Emelda was an interesting experience. I always invited Emelda to join us, but in their culture, she is accustomed to staying in the kitchen, while the family eats, but I made a point to invite her at each meal. I wanted her to know that I wanted to spend time with her too. At the closing service, when Emelda said that I was like a daughter to her – I totally lost it, I gave her a big hug and I started crying like a baby!”

Our group said our last goodbyes and left the village the same way we came in… on foot, wearing rubber boots, carrying our backpacks, sporting just a few more blisters and bug bites. As we walked the muddy road toward the river, we all knew that we would never be the same. Our partners in Embarcadero were now our family and the memories of being truly immersed into their world will help us make our world at Jewell a better place. We are all looking forward to our next trip in March, and how the Village Partners Project will continue to benefit both communities.

First Day in Honduras

We arrived in Honduras on Tuesday, during the third day of torrential downpours. On Wednesday we ventured out to Embarcadero, but the recent rains made it impossible for us to cross the swollen stream at the entrance to the village. We are "Camping out" in the chapel at the Proyecto Alcance Orphanage, which is run by our friends David & Dialis Romero. We will do some work for them at their school tomorrow while we wait for the rainwaters to recede. It quit raining tonight at about 8pm (We are on Central time too) So hopefully we can get into the village late tomorrow or Friday. We are all well and soaking in the Honduran culture. We will send another update when we can. We appreciate your prayers and support as continue our adventures.

Thursday Morning...

No Rain Last night - there was a power outage and saw amazing display of stars and shooting stars in the total blackout. This morning it is sunny and we will try to get to the village today. We are breaking our "Camp" in the chapel and preparing for travel. The forecast shows no rain until Saturday. We pray that the weather holds. Blessings - Jeff

Half-Way There...

What can we say... It was pretty easy to board the plane this afternoon, considering the local temperature was hovering around zero. Our friends at Continental threw us a curve ball this trip. Usually we leave early in the morning and make a quick connection in Houston and we are in San Pedro Sula Honduras by Noon the same day. This year we were notified about two months ago - that the early morning flight had been moved ten minutes ahead. That move eliminated the option of a short layover in Houston. The minimum time allowed is 30 minutes, and the adjustment left us only 20 minutes. So tonight we are sleeping at a hotel near the Houston Airport.

We have made the most of our time. After dinner we spent about an hour getting acquainted, sharing stories about our families and our holidays. We also talked a little bit about our fears and expectations as we head into this trip. Some in our group are a little anxious about not having much privacy this coming week. (We are all sleeping in a one room school house.) For the most part everyone is excited about building relationships with the families in Embarcadero.

I may not have a lot of internet access the next few days since we will be working in the village. If you try to locate Embarcadero on a map of Honduras, you probably will not find it. But in the northern district of Atlantida you will see two coastal cities - Tela and La Cieba. A little closer to Tela is the village of Esparta just a little inland. Embarcadero is just a mile east of Esparta. This little agricultural community is at the end of the road... literally. Until our next update - stay warm!

Pictured: From a previous trip - The sign on the church in Embarcadero.

Our team consists of...

Jeff Buscher

Dr. Lori Wetmore

Tim Honse

Josh Ehrhard

Matt Goldschmidt

Abby Pratt

Abby Blevins

Caty Compton

Kait Bartoletta

Laura Vanbiber

Amber Hull

Ken & Janessa Carroll

New Adventures in Honduras

On January 4th 2010, a team of 13 students, faculty and staff, will head to Embarcadero, Honduras for our third trip in an ongoing partnership with this village. During our week in the village we will build relationships with our host families, and we will build as many Latrines as possible.

Communities engaging for the purpose of healthy change through learning, practicing, and partnering.

This project falls under the mission of Jewell’s Center for Justice and Sustainability. Our goals are to act thoughtfully and responsibly as we address societal, economic, and ecological challenges as we encounter them. Through this project we have broadened and re-defined what it means to “Serve Abroad.”

Students step outside of their own cultural experience, and engage in community led projects designed to meet specific needs for the Honduran village. Students and faculty will dialogue and reflect, enhancing the students’ academic and practical grasp of the challenges faced by developing communities. This project is becoming a model for campus-wide initiatives engaging global cultures.

Immersed in Rural Honduras

This year we will take two trips to Honduras. The first will be in January and the second during Spring Break. Participants will stay in the small village of Embarcadero, Honduras. Lodging will be in the school house, and each student will be adopted by a family in the village. We will share meals together and learn from our hosts.

As a community the residents have set priorities to improve the health and well being of their village. The first issues to be addressed include improving the water supply (wells) and providing healthy, sustainable waste systems.

To those ends, this year’s effort will be to work alongside the residents to build a latrine for each family in the village (19 families). Last year’s group did education work and completed the first two latrines. Since that visit a third latrine has been completed.

Matthew 25 Project: Lending a hand, where a hand is needed most...

In Kansas City’s urban core, one zip code was dubbed “The Murder Factory” in a January 2009 series of articles in the Kansas City Star. 

Author Tony Rizzo writes, “No other ZIP code in Kansas City, St. Louis or any other part of the state comes close. Though its 26,000 residents make up about 6 percent of the cities population, it accounts for 

20 percent of Kansas Citians in prison for murder or voluntary manslaughter.” In the midst of this neighborhood, WIlliam Jewell College has forged a strong partnership with the staff and volunteers at the Palestine Neighborhood Development Center. Among many of the good things they do for their neighbors, once a year they partner with Jewell, selecting homes to be painted during the Matthew 25 Project.

A qualifying home owner receives paint donated through the Kansas City Paint Program and Jewell provides the volunteers by inviting churches, schools, and other civic groups from all across the metro area. Volunteer groups sign up to serve for one day during the week. This year because of the extreme heat, crews started pretty early, around 7:00 am, and worked until noon or 1:00pm. In four days, 17 crews completed four homes, and by Friday, as we were gathering equipment and cleaning up supplies, homeowners were ecstatic about the facelift their homes received.

 During the course of the week one volunteer, who had been pondering the plight of the neighborhood, was thinking out loud and asked me, “Do you really think that painting this house will make a difference?” We visited for a few minutes and determined that each resident will definitely benefit from having a newly painted home. The next day his question was answered very clearly when DeWayne Bright, Coordinator of the L.I.N.C. Program at the Center, relayed the following story.

One of the residents of a street where we were painting 2 homes, told DeWayne how much she appreciated the work that was being done. She shared how a year ago, family members on that same block had been arguing and fighting with one another and the situation had escalated to some minor violence involving calls to the authorities. She told DeWayne that over the course of the week those same quarreling family members determined to work together to do some yard work and made plans to make some long past due minor maintenance projects on their own homes.

Each day new groups would arrive at the homes ready to get as much done as they could before the scorching heat sent their weary, sweaty bodies home at mid-day. Equipped with paintbrushes, scrapers, ladders and water bottles they worked in the morning sun and whatever shade they could find to beautify the resident’s home. In many instances they also made some minor repairs and yard work to help spruce up the finished product. One homeowner complimented a group, telling them they were “Angels” because of the work they had done.

One of the key partners in this effort is Major Gene Bresino and his summer ROTC Cadet program of Central High School. This summer Gene is coordinating five crews of 10-12 students each. His teams and their sponsors will work most of the summer painting other homes that qualified for the program. Each week they also spend a day in class learning about character development and receiving leadership training. Many of the Cadets live nearby and know the residents whose homes they are painting.

The Matthew 25 Project is working to make a difference in “The Murder Factory.” With more partners in this grassroots effort we hope that the biblical mandate of serving others, found in Matthew 25 can become a reality in the heart of Kansas City.  Find out more how to get involved at: www.matt25project.com

BEFORE & AFTER shots of one of the houses...

Meeting in Embarcadero

We arrived on Saturday in Embarcadero at about 11 am. We drove two vehicles, a Hyundai Santa Fe and a Toyota four wheel drive pick up. When we got to the river, it was not much more than a mud puddle, but the folks in the Toyota convinced us to leave the rental car behind and climb into the pick up to cross the muddy depression. During the rainy season (December & January) the water flows nearly as deep as the wooden footbridge on the left. Access by vehicles is often limited to the village because of this unpredictable drainage. 

Once we crossed the mud puddle and made our way into the village we were greeted with smiles and hugs, mostly from women and children because we learned the men were in a Co-Op meeting in the school house. We were able to walk around and visit and get a look at the latrines our team built in January. The folks of Embarcadero had built a third latrine near the church. I put a 

picture of one of the latrines on my last post. We were very encouraged by the way the community has embraced the value of the ecological, composting latrines. They prevent pollution of their water source and provide fertilizer for their crops. 

A little later in the afternoon we were able to hold a meeting with the

 

folks of the community in the school house pictured here. Our

discussion covered three primary topics. First we wanted their feedback on the latrines and we wanted to hear what they felt would be best for their community.

Men and women from the community expressed their appreciation for the latrines and also related that because

 of the education offered last Januray's visit, they no

 longer wanted to use the "Pit Latrines" because they understood that those would contaminate their wells. They are eager to enter into a partnership that will provide a "Composting Latrine" for each family in the village. When you include the church and the school, this will require the building of approximately 25 more latrines.

The second topic we discussed was the logistics of our on-going partnership between William Jewell College and the village of Embarcadero. Our goal in this partnership is best expressed through the phrase: 

"Communities engaging for the purpose of healthy change through partnering, learning and practicing."  

As we discussed ideas for our next trip to Embarcadero we arrived at the following model. A group of no more than 15 will travel to the village in January of 2010. They will sleep in the school building and each participant will be "adopted" by a different family for meal times eating what the family eats, when the family eats. Our group will cover the expenses of the extra meals and lodging in the school building. This plan helps meet our goals a number of different ways. Students will truly be immersed in the local culture, also we will be very close to our work sites as we build more latrines. Also because we will be right there with them we will have so many more opportunities to get to know them and learn from them. Building these relationships will be a great benefit to both of our communities.

Finally we discussed the best way to move forward in our plan to construct latrines and engage the folks of Embarcadero in the process. We talked about the need for resources to build the latrines. Materials for each one costs about $300 USD, which translates to just over 5,600 Lempiras. The average annual income for an agricultural worker in Honduras is only $450 per year or 8,500 Lempiras. They are committed to providing labor, along with our teams. We are also negotiating how housing our students can also be seen as an investment in the project. Each family will also plan and prepare the ground for the site of their family's latrine. 

In the coming months we will be raising funds for this project, but in our discussion with our partners we both agreed that we want both groups to contribute equally to the project. It is important that we continue to support and encourage their community as they strive for healthy change. 

Tim McNeely is serving at Proyecto Alcance in La Masica and teaching school in San Juan Pueblo. He is works with David and Dialis Romero, who have been our partners for the past 5 years. Tim will continue to visit Embarcadero every 3-4 weeks and keep our communication current as we move forward in our planning. Tim will be instrumental in getting supplies and building materials to our partners as we move ahead on this exciting project.

More next time about the great potential this project holds for participants from William Jewell.   Mucho Gusto - Jeff

Village Partners in Honduras

FRIDAY

Our day started at 4 am traveling to KCI where we would board a 6am flight to Houston, and on to San Pedro Sula Honduras by 11 am local time (Noon CST)  Our driver, WJC Chaplain, Dr. Andy Pratt, braved the early morning hours to take Campus Minister, Jeff Buscher, Chemistry Professor, Dr. Lori Wetmore, and Alumni Mark Buhlig to the Continental gate and send us on our way. 

( Photo - Latrines built by our group in January )

Our flights were both early, in fact the pilot on one flight joked, “So the next time you are delayed you owe us 20 minutes before you can start complaining!”  Upon arrival something totally unexpected occurred – 2 out 3 bags arrived – somehow mine did not make it.  They knew it was missing before we got to the counter. Mmm?  Anyway we submitted a claim and they indicated it would be delivered to our hotel the next day?  We’ll see how that goes.  I was truly surprised because over the last 5 years we have never lost a bag on this leg of the trip.  As I write this I realize that our video camera and my medicine is in that bag… I’m sure it will arrive tomorrow… Now that I'm posting this note - Everything arrived just fine. In fact the good folks of Continental delivered my bag to our hotel in La Masica - Three hours away from the airport. Thank goodness, another day in those clothes would have been challenging.

Renting a car was an adventure: Avis said their car was not working, so she took it on herself to send us next door to “Econo-Car” Where they rented us a Hyundai Santa Fe for the same price we were quoted by our friends at AVIS. We signed some papers and we were pleasantly surprised with a shiny new Hyundai. It had a few dings and scratches, but it will be ideal for touring this part of northern Honduras. The important thing is that the AC worked just fine. We then exchanged our cash and made our way to La Masica.

Following Thursday’s earthquake the drive was not too bad. There were back ups at the Bridges. The bridge near El Progresso was the worst damage we saw.  As we approached the bridge there were some cracks in the highway. We crossed on the good bridge and made our way toward San Juan Pueblo where we would stop in and pay a visit in the colonia where we have built homes and a church over the last 5 years.  It was great to see the families that we have worked with over the years, including the high school student – Rosita, who our CSM group sponsors by sending funds for her school supplies each year.

From there we drove another 15 minutes into La Masica where our base of operations… Hotel Media Luna  (Half Moon Hotel) stood waiting for our arrival.  After a few minutes of tracking folks down at Senior Antunez Hardware Store, we finally found a fellow that could hook us up with keys for the rooms.  And we got settled in for the night.  I have to stay up and wait for Donette, Tono, and Dani to arrive from Guatemala. They finally arrived around midnight. 

Some of the things we will work through on this trip:  How do we appropriately assure that our partnership with the village folk of Embarcadero is intentionally reciprocal and can we ask our partners to be vulnerable with us by telling us their story. And then how do we communicate the big picture of our Village Partners Project?  I look forward to re-connecting with the folks in Embarcadero tomorrow – For now I think our friends have arrived, I’ve got to give them their room keys. 

More Manyana - Jeff