This update from Ronnie Strickland regarding the Honduras project: 

 

Marc
 
Reservations---- you don't need no stinking reservations, after all this IS Honduras.  Dan and Keith can handle that when they get there.  Jim Johnston will be there and by then he should have recovered enough and have learned enough Spanish to help the group out with Francisco before you arrive.  We took ten additional rooms Sunday night.  The motel has been a little more crowded that usual.  So far, all our people have been happy but flexible.  As far as something for Debbie to do, there should be plenty.  We can get her a crew of niños and they can work on the desks at Porton like was done at Cito.  It went over very,very well.  Neal can fill you in and give some ideas when he gets back and we can use Jim and Ed Barlow to do the preliminary work.  Everybody got a good workout yesterday and came back exhausted.  We picked up Tommy Moore from the Dresden Club, who is there on an annual mission trip, and took him to Porton.  He really liked it, it's beautiful.  Stayed to dark.  Had planned on going to look at the potential project for next year, Jocote de Linaca.  We had the jefe with us but was dark by the time we got back from Porton.  Neal stayed for a meeting with Sergio and Roger while I took the jefe home throught uncharted waters.   Neal did a great job with Sergio and Roger and I did a great job getting the jefe home.  Neal was a little under the weather yesterday and had to stop every so often to call "ole Raaaaaalph".  Only thing he could keep down was my tea.  Serves him right for being so hard on me.  I'm in Teguz right now killing time before the plane leaves.  That's why I'm writing such a long letter.  We visited Triunfo Saturday and have some issues with both the water and electricity.  We are going to try to address them through Roger and with any additional funds that we may scrape up.  We have a great crew down there now, seventeen excluding me.  They were delayed in both Nashville and Miami and arrived over three hours late.  Plane in Miami had brake problems and you well know that that is a problem that you do not want landing at Teguz International.  We went down the mountain in the dark, which was very dangerous for the pedestrians walking and lying in the roadway.  Gringos just can't see as well at night.  Exciting¡¡¡  Luckily those newbees with us were so shell-shocked by the three abreast, Talledega passing that most had their eyes closed.  We've come a long way on securing ecostoves but it is still a challenge.  Everyone has already discovered the outdoor cafe and cold Port Royal.  About a million good things have happened to us in the last two weeks and I wish I could remember all of them.  It has been a blessing for all of us.  Hope Neal lives through this week, if not, I know a Marine that can r eplace him¡¡¡¡¡  I was sorry that Mike's back trouble will keep him from coming down.  I have a big bottle of dust from my diningroom table that I collected this morning and will bring it to him.  His buddy Edder comes by every morning to say hello to us.  We got down to just Honduran coffee and after Jim Kinney almost killed all of us with it, I got to where I could cut it so it tasted pretty good.  At least it was better than Wendy's.  Jim's not allowed in the kitchen any more though.  I really hated leaving the team down there; it's a great time to meet new Rotarians at their best.  They will have a party at Cito Saturday.  Neal bought a piñata for the kids and I think they are going to cook a pig, snake or gorobo or something.  I hate to miss it; we have made some really good friends there.  Hope we can do the same at Porton, it's such a great idea.  One of the good things about going with so many Rotarias is that they can think of so many dynamic things to do.  I'll holler at you sometime this week after I get through hybernating.  Don't bother to bring your raincoat.  Hasta luego.  Honduron  
 

 

Marc Michaelson <marc.michaelson@comcast.net> wrote:
OK, I have made the change. We will arrive on Feb. 2, the same as Dan and leave on Feb. 11. We will still be on Continental. Please change my motel reservations to the new dates. I would like to be on the same side of the street as Ronnie’s apt. in a room with 2 beds. If there is anything else I need to do or know please let me know. I read where I need to pay some money for transportation, which I have not done yet. How and where do you want me to do this?
The $1000 check from Nissan to Smyrna Club was mailed to the address I got from Dan today.
 
Thanks,
 
Marc
 
From: Ronnie Strickland [mailto:honduron@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 11:27 AM
To: Marc Michaelson
Cc: Dan Florida
Subject: RE: Porton Pipe
 
Answer---No problems, no problems.  Super busy again.  Eleven came in yesterday.  Their plane was two  hours late.  Exciting ride tfrom Teguz to Choluteca in the dark.  Neal very, very busy herding cats.  Having a blast¡ Honduron

 

Marc Michaelson <marc.michaelson@comcast.net> wrote:
Ronnie, Dan,
 
I am sure that you know that Mike is not planning to go. I have to ask the following question: What kind of problems does it cause if Debbie and I delay 1 week and come Feb. 4 – Feb 11? Is there a transportation problem, motel issue, any other issue? Maybe it helps, I don’t know. We are open to changing since the rest of the Smyrna group will be going that week. Let me know as soon as you have answers so I can see if it is possible to get there during that time. Preliminary checking says we can, but that might change when I actually make the change.
 
Thanks,
 
Marc
 
From: Ronnie Strickland [mailto:honduron@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 9:05 PM
To: Thomason, Keith
Cc: Dan Florida; marc michaelson; Trey Lewis; david hartley; mike woods; Marci DuBois
Subject: RE: Porton Pipe
 
Too late for me to do anything at this point.  We go to Teguz tomorrow to pick up a group and Monday I will be clearing post.  Neal and Jim will be your contact.  We had a great day today.  We went to El Porton, where the water system work is well in progress.  We left there and went to Cedeño for shrimp.  From there we went through the markets in Choulteca.  Our last trip was to La Libertad.  They have identified some problems and we are working on answers.  Right now our wagon is full at Cito.  We will be working there probably a week longer than expected but should be finished by this Wednesday, especiall with the infusion of new blood.  It will be great to see all those from Madison and introduce them to the projects here.  They are going to donate an additional $1,500 because their Simplified Grant was approved.  That´s great news, no.  See you guys Thursday if not sooner.  We still have a lot of loose ends but thiings are coming together.  Honduron

 

"Thomason, Keith" <Keith.Thomason@mtemc.com> wrote:
Ronnie and Neal,
 
See Steve's list below.  Jim Johnston will need this material list for making the necessary fixtures for each pilla at El Porton. 
 
thanks guys,
Keith
 
From: Stephen Davis [mailto:stephendavispch@gmail.com]
Sent: Fri 1/19/2007 4:54 PM
To: Thomason, Keith
Subject: Re: Porton Pipe
Keith,
 
Yes I would like to use galvanized pipe for the pilas.  But if we have to cut corners then we might be using PVC.  But lets plan on galvanized pipe.
 
all components will be 1/2"
We will need
1 adapter PVC with threads (PVC end female and male end threads)
1 female adapter galvanized (both have female ends)
2 90 degree elbows
1 faucet
1 galvanized pipe ( length 4" to 6")
1 galvanized pipe ( length roughly 3 or 5 feet) depends on how high the pilas are. 
1 galvanized pipe about 2 or 3 feet in length
 

 

Thanks,
Steve

 

--
Stephen Davis
Peace Corps
Apartado Postal 3158
Tegucigalpa
Honduras, C.A.
504-376-2132

---