Biblioteca Nueva Esperanza

ch/April Report

                                       March and April 2008 was consumed by shipment #10. Working with the Catholic Church here in Guaimaca we loaded another container. When I got the charity rate for last year’s container, I really got two, the second had to be used before March 8^th   2008. So idea was that the Catholic Church from Fall River, Ma. and another guy from Rhode Island would send all of their donations up to me in West Stockbridge, I would load it and get to fill any nooks and crannies with some of the donations I couldn’t fit last year.  It didn’t work out the way we thought, they only filled half the container and I had to fill the other half. Filling the other half was no problem for me, dental chairs, doors, compressors, exam tables and plenty of paper. The problem is paying for half of a container.

                                        Thank you to all who donated on this trip back, but I had to use the money to ship this container and most of what we brought down goes to others. The dental chairs and exam tables will go to small health centers in the area. The paper will be divided up between the schools in Guaimaca. We got another oxygen machine which went to work right away.  So, all in all, it was a great shipment and many here in Guaimaca and other areas will benefit from it.

                                           Another major event in March was that our good friend and collaborator here in Guaimaca moved back to his home town. Edmundo Mendez Sanchez first came to help us with our computers. When Armond passed away Edmundo covered the whole place living upstairs for what was going to be three months and turned into three years. Since then he has been a constant help and lets us live in the house across the street that he bought. He accepted a teaching job at the high school in La Esperanza where he will be closer to his dad who is elderly and sick.

                                              He spoke with the director of the hospital in La Esperanza to see if they could use the operating table that we brought down last year. Sure enough they could use it and what ever else we could donate to them. La Esperanza is located in the department(state) of Intibuca probably the poorest part of Honduras on the border with El Salvador. They will be here this coming week with a truck to take some of the things we brought down on this trip too.

                                              While I was home I spoke with people about donating to the project. Now that the building has the roof and floor, we really just need money to pay teachers. $100 will buy a lot of music classes. $100 will buy a lot of computer classes. $100 will buy a lot of sewing classes. $100 will buy a lot of ceramic classes. $100 will also cover the cost of a trip to the hospital in Tegucigalpa. Most organizations working here charge for their services but we try to help the poorest without requiring money. Of course if someone has the ability we ask for help. As for all the donations that we are donating now we don’t require payment. People feel that I am wrong to not charge but I think I’m right.

                                               For example, When Edmundo comes down next week with the director of the hospital, I could say that I want them to pay. But what ever money he pays me, means there is less money to buy medicine for the poor that come to the hospital for help. We donated a lot of paper this week to the schools in our area, especially the pink paper to be used for Mother’s Day celebrations, and I didn’t ask for money in return. I could have, but that would mean less money for something else that the school needed. The oxygen machine that we donated to the health center will help many, but if I charge the health center it means less money for them to buy medicine. What do you think? We spent just over three thousand dollars for the container and we are able to donate over $5000 of paper to the schools, plus six dental chairs with x-ray machines and stools, two really nice exam tables, wheel chairs, bikes and other great things. I think we will be able to donate over $10,000 worth of equipment. Was it worth it? I think so.

                                               Of course the center continued to serve with the library, ambulance and providing space for the grammar school and high school projects. We have limited music and other classes too. I would really like to have more permanent on going classes in music, ceramic, sewing and everything else we have equipment for, but I need your help to do that.

                                                  I am interested in knowing how you feel about this project and how it is functioning. You are all invited to Sonrisa’s 15^th Birthday bash which will be the 28^th of June. I’ll send pictures along for those who can’t make it. We are expecting some visitors from the Universary of Albany this summer, we’ll keep you updated about that.

                                                   Thanks for taking the time to read about our project, please take another minute to write to me telling me what you think and consider donating. You can contact me through this site or e-mail me at eddie@gmail.com.   My phone is working again, 011 504 769 4667 or cel # 011 504 9866 0655. It is much cheaper for me to call you, so if you’d like to talk by phone send me your number with a good time to call and I’ll call you.

                                               Thanks again for your interest in Guaimaca Honduras.