Honduras 2012: Ditches and Lights

Mama Tara's is in great need of a security wall around their facility. They have been fundraising for this massive project for several years now. The local government donated 15 acres to Mama Tara's years ago and the plan is to put a wall around that land to secure it. Squatting is common there. If there is nothing there to mark the land it will likely 'shrink' over time. Most importantly though is that theft is prevalent there. They need the wall for the safety of the children!  When we arrived in Puerto Lempira they still needed $16,000 dollars to complete the (interior) wall.  It is going to take at least twice that to enclose the entire property but for now they are going ahead with enclosing just a few acres so that they can ensure the children's safety. 

 When we arrived we were excited to see that part of the wall had been worked on. I guess that is where the funds ran out. They were going to need to begin fundraising again. In my mind $16,000 seemed like an unreachable goal.

  Digging trenches for the footing of the wall however is free. We were excited to begin that process. So we dug, and we dug,

 and we dug some more...

 and a bit more...

even the kids happily pitched in and dug. We made a nice dent in the earth surrounding Mama Tara's and we were extremely pleased by that. But we left a bit sad because we knew it would be a long time before cinder block was laid in those trenches. 

Little did we know that a spark was ignited in Andy Barnes one of our team members. Andy was not satisfied that the wall was going to have to wait. When he got home he began to talk to his employers and within a week or two he had $16,000 pledged and sent to complete this wall! Please tell me... How good is our God!?  

I am excited to go back next year and see the kids playing safely inside their wall!

  Something we discovered on our first trip was that we thought it to be ridiculous for these children to not have electricity. The power line from town ended a mere 200ish yds away.. yet they had no electricity. Grr... When we left December 31st of 2011 we set out to make sure these kids had light. At 5:30 pm it gets terribly dark in PL... Actually it gets scary dark.
 It was hard for me to swallow knowing that the kids were in the dark when I was home with more lights than one really needs. Within a few months our church had committed to pay for the installation of the electricity line as well as pay for at least a year of electricity!

This year on our trip we had the advantage of taking along an electrician. Scott was priceless to the cause of getting the wiring up-to-snuff within the facility. He worked hard everyday keeping things rolling. He even rolled right through the medical clinic! lol (above: Dr. Cline and Wendy hold the ladder for Scott as he finishes wiring the school room/make shift clinic)

 After Scott finished the wiring Alex brought over a generator so we could see what it would look like once the lights were turned on for good!

 All the kids and Mama Tara gathered in the main room for the 'reveal'!  Alex gave a little speech and then it happened Scott turned the lights on! It was a great moment for us even though we new it was temporary because the power line had not made it's way from town yet.

However we have word that this should be happening soon! And definitely by the next time we return the lights will officially be on! Praise God for donors and all those who love the children at Mama Tara's!

I saw the light. I saw the light.
 No more darkness, no more night, 
Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight.
 Praise the Lord. I was the light!