Life in Honduras: Year Two Who Hoo!

As most of you know, I went back to San Diego after being away for a year. It was a great trip. I haven’t been able to put it all together yet, but I wanted to touch base with all of you and let you know that I decided to stay in Honduras another year and continue to volunteer. I just got back from my trip in San Diego and am excited about what is to come. So, I should recap a bit of San Diego for those of you that don’t know…

I went to San Diego because an amazing friend named Heather Fuqua,( great photos of Mexico) www.heatherfuqua.com , flew me out so that I could get some work. She employed me for way too much money on three weddings and I got to stay in San Diego for a few weeks. During this time our documentary, Cocal Gracias, was screened at the San Diego Film Festival. We got a great response with some new people eager to help. Joel and I spent the majority of my trip working on Cocal and preparing for this next year. We sold t-shirts for Cocal, raising about $300 and making our friends look so trendy and cool in them. We have started working on a new video, new website (because we know the current one is hard to navigate), and a new proposal for grants. Thank you to all of you who have been helping us raise money, do screenings, and also stay sane during the project.

With all that is going on with Cocal, We hope we can raise the money we need to start construction next year. We have the possibility of having four groups come down and volunteer with construction as well. This coming year is looking like it will be very busy. I am taking an internship with Bob Shea these next few weeks and hoping to learn the ins and outs of leading volunteer mission groups.

I have been back in Cortes for four days and checked on Olga who is doing well, and also stopped by Genesis, the mini fabrica that made the t-shirts. I told them that we got them some more work. If anyone else needs shirts made for a group or a function, I would love to give the work to Genesis. Let me know. I also went to visit Franchesca in her school and she is still top of her class. She presented a science project yesterday and was the only one who did not download information from the internet. Her teacher was very impressed. I am now in Tegucigalpa to learn from Bob and will go back to Cortes in two weeks. If anyone still wants Cocal Shirts, we are making more and you can contact Joel or me to order one.

Anyway, I will be writing more later to you all. This is just to let you all know what is going on and that I am alive. And to show you some photos from San Diego….

http://ruarkphoto.blogspot.com/. Check them out and send me a note to say hi. Oh! And yesterday was my one year anniversary to be in Honduras. It’s hard to believe it has already been that long.

Brian

PHOTOS! ( sing it)

I talked at Pastor Antony's church about being in Honduras. They are the coolest church in San Diego, if you can speak French. I spoke english....

SAN DIEGO FILM FESTIVAL

We got the shirts and took a few photos in front of the press wall.

Julie (PR) , Me, Joel, Piotr (web-guy), and Daniel (did sound)

If you ever get the chance to be friends with Jesus or Joelsus, do it. He's the best friend you could have.

Mi mama. She helps me with everything. I couldn't be down here doing what I do without her help.

THE PARTAY!

Thanks all of you who came. It meant a lot to me to see all your faces happy and stuffed with good food. P- thanks for the perougies!

Dan and Joyce, my second parents (really Joel's parents) on a walk with me

OB! (ocean Beach) Joel and I surf here. I only got to go once, but I must say that after not trying for a year I did really well. I cannot wait to come back next year and be professional.

My awesome Pastor Dee Kelley preaching while I sneak photos of him from the crowd.

Shelley and Rick. Joel and I went to Sacramento to visit them. They will be bringing a group of students to Cortes in May to work on the school.

SIGHTSEEING!

Shelley and Rick took us to the vineyards and orchards in Apple Hill

Mmmmm!

Where I will live.... Hahaha. (right)

Some other Mining town they took us to. I love the brick.

Runaway minecart when Joelsus is driving...

Joel wanted to put his own handprint on the giant miner statue....

We'd look like ganstas if it wasnt for the ratty beards, the beatup sweatshirts, and the brilliant flora behind us.... Partners in Crime I guess. (good crime)

SAN FRANCISCO

We stopped Just so I could eat clam chowder before returning to the land of beans.

Mihr Woods ( I dont know how to spell it) but it's outside of San Fran, and amazing. Its a mini redwood forest to hike through. We actually hiked out of the forest without realizing, but this is the view we had.