Jeremy's Honduras Happenings Blog

For two long months we suffered problems with the hydro-electric generator.  We had to use the power company's power which is quite honestly pathetic.  Brownouts, long outages, and voltage spikes.  This all causes problems.  We burned up transformers all over campus.  I've become quite the linesman now.  Constant brownouts means having to use voltage regulators on everything.  And when things turn off even while they are plugged into a regulator that just means it's a really good brownout.  No water in the tap means the brownout popped the breakers on the water pumps hours earlier.

The diesel generator that we use as a backup of course went down at the same time.  It provides much better power but is also very expensive.  I won't get into how much the School spent everyday on diesel.

We were finally able to get the hydro-electric plant fixed. Two men came down from the states and saved us!  We now have reliable power.  I no longer have to get up at 2:00am to flip on the diesel backup for the milk barn.  No more power changes at 11:00pm.  No more getting in the shower to find out there is no water.  No more spending all night to change a transformer.  Time to get back to my "job"

I'm spending a lot more time these days helping out the counselors.  I've been doing a lot of work on the computers to get the counselors a little more organized.  We've come a long way but there are always ways to improve.

I keep getting emails from people thinking that I am in the United States. Back in March I went to the states for about 2 weeks, then came back to Honduras the first of April. It wasn't really a planned trip to raise funds or anything. Really the trip was to use a ticket that I had purchased the year before but had to postpone due to the political situation the country was experiencing.

I'm back at Escuela El Sembrador. I continue to be involved in many different areas. I work a lot with the counselors. We coordinate different activities with the boys and make sure they are where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be dressed the way they are supposed to be.

Another area that takes a lot of time is dealing with computer and internet issues. This also includes implementing a new email system for the school. Most people are very excited when they get here to hear that we have internet. They soon find out that internet here is not like the states. Here on the entire campus we have 1/2 the speed that my parents have into their house in Indiana! Here we have about 10 houses! Yeah we have internet, but it's slow and sometimes very unreliable!

Currently I'm planning and testing for a skype session with a church in the states this coming Thursday. We're hoping to do a video conference during their banquet so that they can see the students here and hear from them. Please pray that the internet will work and that all the other logistical issues will work out so that the Skype hookup will be successful.

Stopping at stop signs, not passing around curves or double yellow lines, stopping at red lights, not pushing to the front of a line, really fast internet, and pumping your own gas are all new concepts for me these past few days.

That's right, I'm in the United States!

I'll be here in the states for about two weeks.  I'm visiting family and friends as well as some local churchs that support me.  

The school year at El Sembrador is well underway.  The students showed up on January 25th and just left last week for a week long vacation.  My duties at the farm vary on a daily basis.

• working on computers
• fixing internet issues
• discipline issues
• disciplinary meetings with boys
• rules and regulations meetings
• translating
• general maintenance work
• working with the boys
• watching over study hall
• driving the bus
• working with the other counselors
• switching the hydroelectric plant on and off

Those are just a few of the tasks that I'm involved with at El Sembrador currently.  It's amazing how God moved me out of Manuelito and into Sembrador.  I have a true peace about being there and know that I'm where God wants me.

I ask that you continue to pray for me and my ministry as well as the Manuelito kids!

Ten days.  That's what we've got before over 100 boys show up for the new school year at El Sembrador.  Over one hundred will show up on the 25th of January to register and to begin their school year.   In these next ten days we have over 100 loose ends to tie up!  One of our major projects is to finish up a remodel job on the school building which is not in the greatest shape. (we're only tackling one side of the building for now) 

Next week we have several days of meetings so we won't be able to get a lot of the "physical" work done.  These things always seem to work out.  

This next school year is going to be an exciting year.  It has been a long time since I've been at El Sembrador long term!  Really looking forward to the year!

For months the kids had been asking me if I would be spending Christmas with them.  As time got closer I made some calls to line everything up so that I could be with the kids in Talanga.

On the 23rd I packed my bags and headed to Tegucigalpa.  I spent a couple of hours purchasing some items for Talanga.  A box of pears, a crate of grapes, cookies (it's okay mom, they were oatmeal), a big box of Milky Ways, Banana Bread x 8, and of course 15Large Pizza Hut Pizzas !!!

On the 24th I headed to Talanga.  It was sooooo good to spend time with the kids.  There was the traditional lunch at noon for everyone.  Then many people took off.  There is always a large group of kids that have no where to go and stay at the project.  For several years now I've tried to do something special for them.  

We talked, ate, talked some more, ate another two times, and then it was time.  Time for the fireworks!!  I'd never teally done anything like that before but wanted to try it.  I purchased all kinds of fireworks and set up a little show for the kids.  With the help of Bryan and Juan it went off without a hitch.  And just as we finished our show the clock struck 12:00.  The entire town lit up!  

For several more hours we ate, talked, ate some more, then talked some more.  At 3:00am I was the first to call it quits and to head to bed.

Before returning to El Sembrador on the 25th I helped with lunch for with kids.  The kids had a blast and I'm glad I could be there for them.