Helen and Lilliam share a moment of teaching/demonstration to assure the women they are able to make earrings. In 5 minutes ... when the ladies knew they could do this, they became eager for the next meeting when they can set their own hands to the work.
John and Freddy met with ten families (first beneficiaries) who will run the chicken business. If you look in the background thru the "window" ... there stands the beginning of the hen house (draped in banana leaves and palm branches so they don't "walk or crash thru it" before it's finished).The little "berg" of La Ceiba is revving up with excitement and construction as it prepares for the business of raising chickens (for eggs) and making earrings to sell. This will be our start. The "egg" business will take more time for cash to flow than the sale of earrings ... so we decided to go ahead with the jewelry instead of waiting a couple of months for the eggs to be in "full swing."
On Sep 21, our rented microbus drove 14 of us to La Ceiba, where we were met by approximately 50 adults and at least 30 children. There was a flurry of activity and excitement and cheer and expectancy. We had a general meeting with members of both churches, and then we split into separate groups. One of Freddy's business partners, Rolando, addressed the group during the general meeting and though I don't know all of what he said, some people in the crowd would shout an intermittent "Amen!" We know he was talking about "unity" working together even though they are members of two churches and don't know each other (yet). He talked about God getting the glory (not them), and about working with your hands (to eat) instead of waiting for a hand-out. Amen! There was an occasional comment from the crowd too ... about hard work and the need for it. And an "Amen" again. The kids played "soccer" with around the property and they, too, were happy (as is normal when you put kids and a ball in the same place).
After the general meeting, John and Freddy met with the ten families who will be beneficiaries of the chicken business ... while Helen and Rolando met with 25 ladies who are interested in making jewelry. Though the photo isn't as clear as it could be, the frame of the chicken coop and their outside yard is complete. We brought chicken wire and a 55-gallon barrel with us (one of the reasons for the microbus), and at the meeting they discussed what else they need to accomplish before the chickens are ordered/delivered. They discussed the terms of the loan, and were given (as an example) a spreadsheet of how many eggs per day 100 hens could expect to lay, then how many a month, then different scenarios of "if X were eaten, then XX could be sold for C$XX, which would allow the loan to be paid back in XXXX months." The spreadsheet showed 16 scenarios. Their BOD will call a meeting to discuss how the families want to proceed. While this meeting was in session ...
Rolando interpreted as Helen encouraged the ladies and demonstrated how to make a pair of earrings. Lilliam gave a testimony (unprompted) on how she was given pairs of earrings at the last meeting, and had sold them quickly ... and now had C$380. All who were given earrings at the last meeting gave half the proceeds back to Helen and kept the rest of the money so they can purchase the beads/supplies next week. At this meeting too, more earrings were given to those who had not yet had a chance to get "seed money" for the purchase of supplies. Yessinia (Rolando's wife) then encouraged the ladies with Scripture ... and we ended in prayer together.
That's the short story. The time spent in La Ceiba was 4-1/2 hours, and we drove home in total darkness in a big rain storm ... HUNGRY ... but satisfied.
We returned to La Ceiba on Tuesday to discuss a thatched roof and remaining construction items. All ten families showed even though it was semi-impromptu (wanted to get the ball rolling). On the spot we called a man who sells wood (for trusses), and though they got a good price (C$35 = USD$1.80) per piece, they wanted to save money and cut branches from surrounding trees instead. It is amazing and miraculous really, as it is an ART to weave a roof from coconut palms. TWO men - one from each church - know how to do this and will teach the others as they all make the roof. Tile or tin is not an option, as the chickens would "bake" from the heat. They are industrious and we are pleased with their decision-making to cut their own wood rather than buy it.
We're returning on Sunday ... more to come.
