Today was a full day...but the best day I have had yet in my book! We began early at 8:30 making about 300 bologne sandwhiches! Only took us 45 minutes. Then we grabbed huge containers of water and headed into Tagus. Along the way we stopped at the fruit stand and bought several bags of oranges and then headed to the dump. Along the way, we traveled through one of the worst sections of Tagus and at one point came upon a lady, probably my age, that had been hit by a car. Police were with her. It is easy to see why so many people get hit by cars here. The driving conditions are terrible and most people walk everywhere they go! Tagus is crazy! We then got to the dump and the minute the people there saw Mark Tendal's truck they began to run because they knew they would get a small amt of food! We probably fed 200 people in just the short time we were there. Most were older men and women...but there were probably at least 30 very dirty chidren in the midst of all them also....very sad! Many of them kept coming back for more food and would store it up in their dirty little bags. We were instructed to take off all watches, etc before we even got out of the truck. One of the dump people warned us to put up the camera because kids were there that stole one last week,......so we guarded it with our lives also. Very moving experience for sure. I would do it again every day if I could though. I guess Casa and a few others is all the food that is brought there in a weeks time. Many expressed their thanks and Mark Tindal has really built up a rapport with them and they respcct him.....it is obvious. We physically touched the people very little (only our hands touched)....but as we left...we washed our hands with wet towels and all were black. I just wanted to take the kids home with us....what a life..... and one has to wonder what HOPE do they even have except for more of this? We then headed back to town...grabbed a sandwhich and went to a domestic women's shelter in Tagus. There we bought some candles that the ladies make on the site to raise funds for the shelter. Casa is ordering special candles from them for their shop here on site to sell to help raise funds for the orphange. They will all have the starfish star on them, We picked up some candles today with stars on them. Anita and I bought one and then left a donation for them also. We then went on to another shop that specializes in pewter designs and has Honduran pottery pieces. Karen and Terri Tendall also ordered star pieces there for the shop here on the orphanage. It was at this shop that we ran upon Rudy!!! He yelled for Karen loud enough that we heard him in the shop. He is the little boy that ran away shortly after Karen and Dorian got married last year and went back to street living. At first he did not seem to want us to approach him...but then he let all of us hug him and take a picture of him with Anita. :) We then gave him a little to eat also. I always felt for Rudy and clicked with him last year when I was here. A rough little boy.....but it is all he has ever known. It was soooo good to see him again. He had no shoes on though and was nearly as dirty as the ones we had seen in the dump....but seeing him was good and brought tears to this old grandma's eyes.....how I would love to just pack some of these kids up and take them home. Truth is they do not do well in a home like we are used to.....the streets is all they have ever known and stealing is the only way they know to survive! That is why Rudy is back on the streets! We then headed home and dodged cars, people and cows all the way home. So.....it has been a full day, an interesting day and a heartwrenching day. The moth picture is what we found on the door of the apt as we came home.....just another of God's beautiful creatures that I am sure he placed on this door just for me to appreciate today! Hope you all have enjoyed the winter wonder land that God gave you today also! :)
Today was a full day...but the best day I have had yet in my book! We began early at 8:30 making about 300 bologne sandwhiches! Only took us 45 minutes. Then we grabbed huge containers of water and headed into Tagus. Along the way we stopped at the fruit stand and bought several bags of oranges and then headed to the dump. Along the way, we traveled through one of the worst sections of Tagus and at one point came upon a lady, probably my age, that had been hit by a car. Police were with her. It is easy to see why so many people get hit by cars here. The driving conditions are terrible and most people walk everywhere they go! Tagus is crazy! We then got to the dump and the minute the people there saw Mark Tendal's truck they began to run because they knew they would get a small amt of food! We probably fed 200 people in just the short time we were there. Most were older men and women...but there were probably at least 30 very dirty chidren in the midst of all them also....very sad! Many of them kept coming back for more food and would store it up in their dirty little bags. We were instructed to take off all watches, etc before we even got out of the truck. One of the dump people warned us to put up the camera because kids were there that stole one last week,......so we guarded it with our lives also. Very moving experience for sure. I would do it again every day if I could though. I guess Casa and a few others is all the food that is brought there in a weeks time. Many expressed their thanks and Mark Tindal has really built up a rapport with them and they respcct him.....it is obvious. We physically touched the people very little (only our hands touched)....but as we left...we washed our hands with wet towels and all were black. I just wanted to take the kids home with us....what a life..... and one has to wonder what HOPE do they even have except for more of this? We then headed back to town...grabbed a sandwhich and went to a domestic women's shelter in Tagus. There we bought some candles that the ladies make on the site to raise funds for the shelter. Casa is ordering special candles from them for their shop here on site to sell to help raise funds for the orphange. They will all have the starfish star on them, We picked up some candles today with stars on them. Anita and I bought one and then left a donation for them also. We then went on to another shop that specializes in pewter designs and has Honduran pottery pieces. Karen and Terri Tendall also ordered star pieces there for the shop here on the orphanage. It was at this shop that we ran upon Rudy!!! He yelled for Karen loud enough that we heard him in the shop. He is the little boy that ran away shortly after Karen and Dorian got married last year and went back to street living. At first he did not seem to want us to approach him...but then he let all of us hug him and take a picture of him with Anita. :) We then gave him a little to eat also. I always felt for Rudy and clicked with him last year when I was here. A rough little boy.....but it is all he has ever known. It was soooo good to see him again. He had no shoes on though and was nearly as dirty as the ones we had seen in the dump....but seeing him was good and brought tears to this old grandma's eyes.....how I would love to just pack some of these kids up and take them home. Truth is they do not do well in a home like we are used to.....the streets is all they have ever known and stealing is the only way they know to survive! That is why Rudy is back on the streets! We then headed home and dodged cars, people and cows all the way home. So.....it has been a full day, an interesting day and a heartwrenching day. The moth picture is what we found on the door of the apt as we came home.....just another of God's beautiful creatures that I am sure he placed on this door just for me to appreciate today! Hope you all have enjoyed the winter wonder land that God gave you today also! :) 
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