"Idle Time"

Any picture is worth 1000 words- a hackneyed expression, maybe, but in this case a truism. Unfortunately, I only have 600 to describe Ut Prosim El Porvenir’s mission over 2500 miles from Blacksburg. But if I could choose one scene to half-articulate, I’d show you our extended and diverted walk home last night from the local secondary school of El Porvenir, Honduras.

Since our arrival in Honduras, we’ve quite literally hit the ground running. From the start, our daily schedule has enveloped us and taken on a life of its own: an unwitting game of chicken on the Honduran roadways with an intrepid taxi driver, followed immediately by an onslaught of rapid, agriculturally-themed Spanish with the local garden group, which led invariably to laying the beginning foundation of the fire station with a group of vaguely related, jocular, and water-happy volunteer firefighters, not to be overshadowed by the door-to-door Dengue inspections we helped conduct in conjunction with a meticulously capable team from the health clinic, courtesy of a national emergency Dengue mandate. However, four days into the mix, catching my breath and reclining on the untouched Honduran shore, it’s not any of these events which fully prove an allegory for UPEP’s presence in the community, but rather the seemingly insignificant return trip from one such event.

As Heather, our nonprofit community liaison, advised us yesterday, “Idle time always represents an opportunity.” And so it did. Dragging our feet on the freshly paved Porvenir streets on the way back to the volunteer house last night, the seven of us were physically exhausted but in high spirits, shouting out our token Spanish phrases haphazardly to the local pulperia owners and their naked, sun-kissed children. From the obscurity behind us came the cry, “Ey! Every-bady! Lez go! High fives!” Circling us on a tricked-out bicycle was Alex, the apparently bilingual head of El Porvenir’s volunteer fire department. I’d like you to picture Alex as the guy at your high school who knew everyone and played every sport. Well. Now add a wife, a few children, and the respect of an entire community, and you’re beginning to understand the role that Alex Rodriguez plays in this town.

As he treated us to a sampling of the Backstreet Boys and Justin Bieber while Alex herded us down the street, an idea struck him, “Ey. guys! Come to my mahm’s! I cho ju plans!” We stepped into a nearby pulperia (corner store), where he retrieved some papers from the back and seated us all around a picnic table. He then proceeded to lay in front of us 3 different blueprints for his distant and ideal firehouse, all professionally designed and executed, and acting in sharp contrast to the surrounding tin roofs and one room shacks. Speaking rapid and fervent Spanish, Alex articulated every detail of his dream for the community, from the garages that would house the already present and functioning fire trucks, down to the last bunk bed, where, he assured us, there would always be room for community volunteers to overnight. Finally, we turned our attention to the last page of the plans, which consisted of a list of numbers attached to a large quantity of zeroes in any language. Alex glanced down at the page, smiled at us wearily, and said, “Si Dios lo quiere, va a pasar.” (If God is willing, he will make it happen).

Exchanging Spanglish goodbyes a few hours later with Alex and his fellow bombero (a secondary student who moonlights as a shark hunter), we mentioned that our group would be “reforesting the beach” with the secondary school later this week. The bomberos eagerly sought out further details and rapidly indicated their commitment to such a pursuit, also mentioning that they were hoping to challenge us to a basketball game the next night. I marveled to myself at how in a town where thirty minutes late translates to a prompt arrival, community initiatives seem to spring up with surprising alacrity.

Reflecting on our parting last night, I find that it presents an apt metaphor for UPEP’s principal function in El Porvenir. We’re not here to provide physical labor, or act as founts of wisdom, or offer donations. There is such a hotbed of excitement and potential involvement just simmering under the surface, as Alex’s commitment so significantly proved. Our aim is to gather this vision, harvest it, and provide these diverse and vibrant community members with the stage and resources to meet one another halfway- something our visibility in the community has already begun to foment.