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| 22nd September 2009 DR. JOHN STEICHEN | Interesting - From: Puerto Lempira It is interesting to see the comments of others on Puerto Lempira. I have been thru Puerto Lempira 4 times on the way to the very rural Kruta River villages. Puerto Lempira is like being downtown compared to the villages along the Kruta. Dr. Marianne Serkland a retired physician from Minnesota lives there now and attends to the very serious medical needs of residents that cannot receive advanced medical intervention for such things as Heart Defects in children, Cataract blindness. I have spent a day at the Casa Espiranze and had the children sit on my lap. An experience I cannot forget. Bless you for going back. John Steichen |
| 20th August 2009 Trace | Progress in Puerto Lempira - From: Puerto Lempira I came across your blog trying to find the website for the House of Hope, I understand that they have one now. Goodness, I think you would be so excited to see the progress made at the orphanage, I came back from there just a month ago. Mama Tara's Orphanage is now "separate" from the main House of Hope, but it's still just a ten minute walk and from what I understand they are very much related. Over the course of a year construction on the orphanage's dental building and guest building has flourished. The guest building is gorgeous, all things considered. There are ceilings, fans, well furnished rooms, plumbing, accomodations like fridges and tables and restrooms and good showers, it really was tremendous how much has been accomplished. No there was not air conditioning, but still! In the midst of such poverty the House of Hope really has transformed into something pretty amazing. I stayed there a week, visited neighboring islands, visited the hospitals which was the saddest experience of my life, and made bonds with some of the kids, which was the happiest of my life. |
| 16th September 2008 Hannah | - From: Puerto Lempira I went to Puerto Lempira over the Summer and the group I was with also worked with Mama Tara's orphanage. It was so awesome to see how they live everyday life. We stayed in the same hotel you did, and it was awful!! I will agree with you on that. We never had any luck with the internet, one day it took about 30min for it to even connect. I hope you still plan to go back next month. I love all of the children and I want to go back soon. You will be very impressed with all of the work that has been done to the new building right beside the orphanage. Our group had a hard time to get Max to open up to us, I hope you had better luck than we did! Let me know how your trip goes if you decide to go back next month! |
| 24th June 2008 Kristen | Just returned from Mama Tara's in Puerto Lempira - From: Puerto Lempira Natalie - I found your blog and was excited to read about your experience in Puerto Lempira Honduras. I just returned from a trip there where I saw Mama Tara (and the new construction on the orphanage!) We stayed at the House of Hope, as we were continuing construction on the Volunteer House. Please email me and we'll exchange thoughts! Kristen kbrown@cornerstonebiz.net |
| 23rd May 2008 John Francis Samsa | Your stay in Puerto Lempira - From: Puerto Lempira Dear Natalie, I read your article with great interest because I was the Catholic Priest (Pastor) of the Catholic Parish of Puerto Lempira for 25 years from 1979-2003 and know the Miskitu culture well and speak the language fluently. I have no doubt you were well intentioned in the work you did at the Orphanage you speak of. (Mama Tara Orphange). However, I do have serious doubts of the need of an orphanage among the Miskitu people as an answer to the social problems in the area. First of all, as you also mention, many of the children are not orphans and they do have their parents. Also the Miskitu people love their children and would never abandon them in the jungle to be eaten by tigers as you mention in your article. Some one told you a "big story". In case a child is left without parents because of death or an accident, etc. the Miskitu people have a strong sense of the extended family and the child would be well cared for by the nearest relatives and the Miskitu people also have a strong sense of community and would be responsible for one of their own if need be. That would be the first answer in meeting or dealing with the problem. In your article you mention that it would not be right to take the children away from their culture. How right you are. That is exactly what the orpanage is doing. As you describe the conditions and care they are given in the orphanage, it is obvious to me from my 25 years of experience among the Miskitu people in that very same area, that they would get better care in their own family ( including the extended family) and in their own community. I just recently visited Puerto Lempira in March-April of 2008. Since my 5 years of absence from the area, the social problems have grown immensely due to the continued growth of the drug traffic and also now, the abuse of drug use. An added factor to the social problems of Puerto Lempira is the people flocking into Puerto Lempira from the villages looking for the 'fast buck' from the drug trafficing instead of dedicating themselves to farming and fishing as they did in the past. Yes, the world of Puerto Lempira is changing rapidly and new ways have to be found to respond to the increasing social problems. You mentioned Casa Esperanza (House of Hope). I think they are doing an excellent job responding to children truely abandoned by parents adicted to crack and children with serious medical problems who need special help and professional care. Their's is a disinterested help that at the same time demands some responsibily on the part of the family whenever possible. I think you can see how their program does make attempts to avoid, as much as possible, the evils of pure paternalism in comparison to the orphanage. I hope you can return some day to Puerto Lempira to offer your services and talents as a volunteer where most needed. I know I miss the place and more so, the pepole very much, but after 40 years of pastoral service in Central America it is time to return to my roots. May God bless you. Fr. John Francis Samsa, Capuchin. |
| 6th May 2008 finn | WOW - From: Brazil: Paraty via Curitiba and Sao Paulo hello there! that is amazing, my girlfriend and i arrived in Sao Paulo a day after you then traveled to Curitiba but by flight We also went to carnival! AMAZING hahaha! Any who, can i ask a few questions? how much was the bus to Curitiba around? and how hard and what did you do to get to the Sao Paulo bus terminal? thank you so much! i am just wanting to go back in july, but i am wanting to save money this time hehe. cheers |
| 30th September 2007 Christina | Yum!! - From: Puebla Your dinner sounds delicious! I love beans.....I found it very hard to keep my weight under control in Latin America.....between avoiding salads and fruit and eating lots of beans - disaster!!! |
| 16th September 2007 Rodney | What an Experience - From: Puerto Angel Natalie: Your experiences sound terriffic. I wish I was doing the same. Travelling alone can be tricky as you note. It certainly helps you learn more about your limits and vulnerability. Best of luck, and have fun. So jealous, Rodney |
| 26th August 2007 Christina | Flying fox?? - From: Copper Canyon: Creel to Chihuahua Far out, you have a lot more courage than I do! I wouldn't get on one of those for US$10m...I'm terrified of heights! |
| 26th August 2007 Christina | Cuba - From: SCU: Day 5 You're gorgeous and don't need to lose ANY weight! As for the feet, yes, it's quite common for your feet to swell when in a hot country. I can't remember the medical reason, but there is one! |
| 12th July 2007 Maree | Hello Natalie - From: First stop: Mexico City I would have said hello in Spanish but hey.... So great to hear you are having such a ball. Am loving hearing all your news and am jealous as hell. Missing you heaps but glad you are in your element. |
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