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| Overlooking Los Pinos |
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| Kids carrying water to home |
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| The living area |
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| Bedroom |
Yesterday, as I returned from Pilates class here in Salt Lake, I dumped the tap water from my water bottle onto the ground. That small action really made me think.
When I move to Honduras, most of the families I will serve do not have running water. If a home does have running water, the city controls when the water is turned on. The last time I lived in Honduras we had running water from about 11pm until 6am every 3rd night. Usually. We stored that water in huge garbage cans to use later. The water was not safe to drink. I saw a little squirmy amoeba-like thing in it once, so I never looked at it closely again. It comes in one temperature - cold.
Kids from the Breakfast Program I will serve always ask for the left over milk cartons. They fill the milk cartons with water to take home for dishes or bathing. I have visited some of the childrens' homes. The first home I ever visited kept their water in a bathtub. However, chickens had access to the same bathtub. Let's suffice it to say, the water was not clean. Most other homes had garbage cans outside to catch rain water for bathing or cleaning.
A home in Los Pinos (the community I will serve) is usually one room, sectioned off with a sheet between the sleeping and living space. It has a dirt floor. The walls are random pieces of wood. When it rains, the rain can easily blow through the walls. A piece of tin is set on top of the walls and held in place with heavy rocks to make a roof. Cooking happens outside in a designated area. I never asked where a person relieves themselves. After visiting those homes I understood better why I often saw people urinating along the side of the road. Why walk home and urinate near your house when there is no bathroom there?
Lourdes and Jairo have called several times. Lourdes said she needs me "urgently", but she wants me to move in God's time. She is currently feeding at least 65 kids on a daily basis and really needs help. I will tell you more specifics about that later. For today, water was on my mind.
When I move to Honduras, most of the families I will serve do not have running water. If a home does have running water, the city controls when the water is turned on. The last time I lived in Honduras we had running water from about 11pm until 6am every 3rd night. Usually. We stored that water in huge garbage cans to use later. The water was not safe to drink. I saw a little squirmy amoeba-like thing in it once, so I never looked at it closely again. It comes in one temperature - cold.
Kids from the Breakfast Program I will serve always ask for the left over milk cartons. They fill the milk cartons with water to take home for dishes or bathing. I have visited some of the childrens' homes. The first home I ever visited kept their water in a bathtub. However, chickens had access to the same bathtub. Let's suffice it to say, the water was not clean. Most other homes had garbage cans outside to catch rain water for bathing or cleaning.
A home in Los Pinos (the community I will serve) is usually one room, sectioned off with a sheet between the sleeping and living space. It has a dirt floor. The walls are random pieces of wood. When it rains, the rain can easily blow through the walls. A piece of tin is set on top of the walls and held in place with heavy rocks to make a roof. Cooking happens outside in a designated area. I never asked where a person relieves themselves. After visiting those homes I understood better why I often saw people urinating along the side of the road. Why walk home and urinate near your house when there is no bathroom there?
Lourdes and Jairo have called several times. Lourdes said she needs me "urgently", but she wants me to move in God's time. She is currently feeding at least 65 kids on a daily basis and really needs help. I will tell you more specifics about that later. For today, water was on my mind.
So for now, I will continue to appreciate my fresh smelling clothes, which I washed in a washing machine and dried in a dryer. I will enjoy pilates classes in a studio more extravagant than most homes in Honduras. I will bask in a hot shower after class and be grateful for the way it eases my sore muscles. I will drink tap water and not complain that it doesn't taste the same as bottled. Finally, I will NOT dump tap water onto the ground again. It just doesn't feel right anymore.
Many people have asked how fund raising is going. On March 1st I will receive a statement from World Outreach Ministries, the people who are handling my finances. I'll update you after I have more specific information. To those of you who are supporting me financially, I appreciate it more than words can say. Every penny helps. However, I must reach my goal in monthly donations before I can leave. You can contribute by clicking on this link and finding my name (Fager, Mary Lynn).
https://worldoutreach.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=117
Thank you for helping me follow my calling. I can't wait to be writing to you with awesome stories from my new home in Honduras!
https://worldoutreach.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=117
Thank you for helping me follow my calling. I can't wait to be writing to you with awesome stories from my new home in Honduras!
