Monday by Kathie Morinelli

Up early, hot breakfast and off to Las Lagunas. Trusted driver Nehemis, who rivals any Indy race car driver, again leaves us at the foot of the hill where we will work...down another hill, across a fetid stream, over stepping stones and then up a hill to the 27 cinder block, 3 room homes of these urban villagers which are in various stages of completion. Our group of 16 divides up - laborers are working on Sandy's home.  Most of these urban villagers are single women, as is Sandy. There are dozens of children in the village also, assorted ages. Sandy works in Copan as a cleaner in the City Offices. Problem is, she hasn't been paid in months and was told probably in January there would be a paycheck...but not yet.  So much for a 'good' job.  Sandy's young daughter drives a mean wheelbarrow full of cinder blocks at a quick clip to supply the construction site.  Young boys, bare foot and on rocky, rocky hills haul up 90 pound bags of cement to the site.  This is work, hard work for all in blazing sun.
     The second group is helping women to sew curtains for the 3 windows in their soon to be new 3 room home...taking care to let us know their names and their family members in the home.  The other challenge is to monitor the many children while coloring, reading stories, making friendship bracelets and playing uproarious games of UNO!  The finesse required is remarkable, especially given our limited Spanish.
     The good news is - tomorrow is another day and we are ready to greet a new day.