Thursday, March 25, 2004
We awoke to a warm, humid morning and the sound of a 1/2 dozen roosters trying to out crow one another. Bob and I went to Rigo’s house to shower and met his wife and baby. I don’t know how the rest of the group cleaned up—we didn’t ask. Breakfast just arrived. We polished off scrambled eggs, refried beans, pancakes, and chocolate milk. It was my day for worship, and then we began to organize for the day’s assignments.
We surveyed the computer lab and Jim began making a materials list for building the computer tables. Then we hiked up a path to the chicken farm, which was nearly framed up. We discussed where our talents could best be used. Bob decided we would focus on things they couldn’t do locally, such as the electrical, computers, UHF radio, etc. Eric and Dale began laying out their materials for the computer lab wiring. Bob decided that he would take Jim and me (the two Daryls) to the Cay, a tiny, overcrowded island of houses and businesses on the main island. Since his knees were hurting, we would ferry the building supplies to the boat. So, back in the Nissan, over the muddy main highway, to the boat dock, climb aboard with Marcella at the helm and off we churned south toward the canal which would lead us to the Cay.
The Cay was a busy place of commerce, ships unloading supplies, locals shopping, and yet no one seemed to be in any real hurry. We purchased our lumber and materials and loaded them into the dory. Bob needed to do some banking, so we headed into town. The bank was patrolled by three armed guards, one of which carried a pump action shotgun. With the banking completed, we walked to meet Pastor Adonja. His wife warmly greeted us and entertained us until her husband arrived. He has a very pastoral demeanor and brought us into a circle for prayer and blessing on our work.
Marcella fired up the engine in the dory and we navigated slowly toward an unloading ship. It was here that Bob met with the mayor to talk about needs for the school. We purchased some watermelons and fresh pineapple, took some pictures, and then it was time to return to Mitch where the school was located. Back across the channel between the reefs and through the canal to the west side Marcella directed the prow of the dory. We arrived at the Mangrove Bight dock at noon and accepted an invitation to have lunch with Pastor Bill Smith and his group from Mt. Ellis Academy. They were sheet rocking the Mangrove Bight Church. The food was delicious but, because we were late, we ate on cook pot covers. Everything there is kind of make do with what you have.
We decided it was time to begin in earnest on our project at the school. Materials had been hauled from dory to truck, and now we unloaded them into the school auditorium. Dale and Eric had a good portion of the 110 volt computer lines run. Dale assigned me to install receptacles on the walls and pulling wires. Peche, who was the guard for the previous group, helped me with this project. When the wiring project was caught up, I helped Jim put together the computer tables from precut pieces he had cut out. When they were complete we painted them. We were on a tight time schedule. Eric and Dale were waiting for the tables so they could set up the computers.
We scooted home over the little path through the bushes, over an arroyo, under the barbed wire gate that Dale had to duck beneath, to home. After another wonderful hand delivered meal and worship, we negotiated the little path back to the school to do a second coat of paint on the tables. This would give Eric and Dale what they needed to set up the computer work stations. It was then back up the trail for a shower, diary entries and into bed by 9:10 pm.