After some soccer and running around we all sat down for some pizza and ice cream, not really what you would expect for a first meal in Honduras. After more running around and impromtu Spanish lessons it was time to say goodbye.

From there we headed to our lodging for the week in Pimienta, at the Washington Overseas Mission(WOM) Bodega.

Sunday consisted mainly of familiarizing ourselves with Pimienta and the surrounding area. We were shown many different water storage tanks, pumps, wells, living conditions, etc. That afternoon we paid a visit to Santiago, the neighboring village where we hope to implement a project in the future.

A meeting was arranged with the Vice Alcalde(Vice Mayor), local water committee, and other community members. We explained how EWB would like to build a long lasting partnership with their community to address their needs. They explained to us the existing conditions and what they were most in need of. It was ascertained that water was the top priority. The meeting was very beneficial towards making contacts and getting to understand their way of life. A decision was made to upgrade the existing system and adding another water tank with the hopes of supplying approximately 7200 people with consistent potable water.

This morning we met with some big names - Pimienta Alcalde (Mayor) Dr. Raul Ugarte and USAID Engineers. We realized the importance of this venture when TV and newspaper reporters from San Pedro Sula interrupted our meeting for interviews and pictures. We discussed the situation of the department and their plans for future growth. It was important to us to establish a good working relationship with those vital to the success of our project.

Lunch today consisted of delicious rice, beans, beef, and tortillas. The rest of the afternoon was spent in Santiago. Along the way we drove through the local dump - basically a stretch of road where trash is constantly burning - where we saw a handful of locals rummaging through the debris for anything of value. It was disheartening to witness children picking through heaps of burning rubbish for a plastic bottle or tin can. Upon entering the village, our group split up to accomplish a variety of tasks. Lucas and Will set out to test the water quality and determine the layout of the existing water system. Katie and Dr. Stephenson traveled around surveying the locals about water usage, health, and culture. Today was a great success, as we came back with almost all of the information we will need to plan our future project. As for the next few days, we will continue our research to strengthen our knowledge about the area and about the job we are setting out to do.

Buenos Noches,
Will Kirby, Lucas Rottler and Katie Fritts