Taking Shape

Hi from Copan, Honduras.

The computer lab and classroom are taking shape. The outside and inside walls are up and Monday we will begin on the gables and then the roof. We have sifted sand, made mortar, carried mortar to the block layers, tied rebar, first cutting the wire into the right size pieces. We have carried blocks and carried blocks and carried blocks, sometimes from one place to another and sometimes to the person who is laying the block. We do whatever we can to facilitate the work of the skilled workers. We clean the site and the tools each day before going home for supper. En route we stop for a welcome beer at the local tienda, not a bar, just a little store where we can sit outside on the verandah in the shade.

We are having a good time with the men from the community who are working with us on the site. The foreman is a Honduran, Freddie, and he remembers Jack from some of the "builds" we were on before.

The children are lots of fun and they laugh at our halting Spanish but like it that we try. Some of them work alongside us and they work very hard, much harder than you would expect from such small children.

We are in Copan on our "days off" to visit the famous Mayan ruins here. It is hot and sunny and we are all well. It is a blessing for me to be surrounded by all these people who cared about Jack and who care about me.

There is much more to tell and there will be many pictures to choose from but for now this is it.

Elaine