Honduras 2008

Alvin.

This is Alvin. The founder of Manos Extendidas and our host along with his wife Nellie for our team of 8 for 8 days in June of 2008. Alvin, an amazing man, is the central figure of all of the stories that are to follow.

Our Team

From left to right: Angie Beld, Trina Baron, Tanya Poag, Chad Baron, Verlyn Korthuis, Matthew Gerlach, John Engels, Jim Baron.

Michael

Manos Extendidas has built Feeding / Day Care Centers in some of the most impoverished areas of Tegucegulpa, Honduras. Our team visited two of them, playing with children, holding them, watching them and feeding them. For many it will be the only meal they have in a day. A young boy, maybe 8 years old was moving a chair and the leg of the chair got caught on the table. He gave the chair a might jerk, it broke loose and hit him in the face, cutting his lip and giving him a bloody nose. Knowing he couldn't understand me, I said sarcastically for Chad to hear, "well that really worked out well didn't it." Chad looked at me and said, "Dad, he's blind." I spent the next 1.5 hours playing with Michael.

Abagail

It was about 9:00pm when our pickup truck with our eight member team and Alvin, the founder of Manos Extendidas and host for our team, pulled along the curb in a run down area of Tegucigalpa, the 1.2 million population capital city of Honduras. Alvin yelled out the window to a young lady standing on the sidewalk. "Abigail". She looked up and it appeared she first was looking to walk or run away. She stood looking at the truck for a long moment, obviously recognizing Alvin. She slowly walked over to the truck. Abigail was a beautiful woman dressed provocatively. They were her work clothes. She was waiting for a customer. Alvin was the driver. She stood by the passenger door. They spoke in Spanish so I could not understand them. What I did understand was her attempt to fight back tears. Her looking away and back again at Alvin, avoiding answering a question. Finally she spoke a short sentence and quietly.

As we drove away Alvin explained that she had lived in their home for three years. Her mother had given her up as an infant. At nine years of age she left her foster home and went to live on the streets. At age 14, Alvin rescued her. Now at 25 with 2 children living in an orphanage, she is doing drugs, a prostitute living on the streets. Alvin has been trying to get the birth papers of her children, but she has refused to give them to him. Without the birth papers, the children live without an identity with no known birth date. That is how many of the orphans are. If Alvin could get the papers from his foster daughter, he will not only provide the children with some identity, but also put himself in a position to possibly place them in a foster home or even his home. Without this type of intervention in the children's lives, is there any hope of breaking the vicious cycle? Jesus Christ does provide hope. Hope through servants like Alvin.

Tonight Abagail promised to bring the birth papers to the street at 10:00 am tomorrow morning.

One block down the street, a lady grabbed me by the arm and starts dancing. She had a wide mouth fruit juice bottle in her hand. In the bottom of the jar was glue. She had the mouth of the jar to her mouth as she inhaled – continuously. Every breath she took was glue vapors. Every person – EVERY PERSON, that surrounded the eight members of our team on this particular stop on the streets of Tegucigalpa had a bottle with glue in it. There were 15 – 20 people on the sidewalk – in the streets- some hiding their glue, some inhaling it openly. When the police came by, they stopped at the intersection and watched as we handed out bread with cream cheese and Tang flavored water. A young lady, 9 months pregnant with belly exposed inhaled the glue while watching the police vehicle thru glassy eyes. A young man literally stumbled across the street directly in front of the police pickup with 3 officers in the back and 2 inside. They watched in silence. When he had finished crossing, they drove away.

Six blocks down the filthy street a fourteen year old girl stood alone. She too was a prostitute, selling her body for money or drugs. Alvin pulled along the curb and said…. ( What would you say? What would Jesus say?) ….and Alvin said, "Careena, would you like something to eat or drink?" She politely declined, saying she was working and needed a customer. He offered this prostitute some food. And did you notice, he knew her name. She called him Papi Albeen. (Uncle Alvin). And Alvin knew her by name!!

We drove by Abagails street two more times – both times she was alone, still walking without a customer.

P.S. Abagail did not show up at 10:00 am the next morning. Alvin said it is the second time she lied to him.

Kevin and Validimir

There are 2 young boys that our hosts Alvin and his wife Nellie have taken in: Kevin and Validimir. Last night while on the streets, Alvin introduced us to Kevin's mothers friend. Kevins mohter lives under a bridge in the area Alvin rarely sees her because she is too embarrassed to be seen. The police took Kevin to the Infama (the government facility that takes in children) soon after he was born. Alvin and Nellie are now raising him. Karla was Validimir's mother. She died of complications from a gun shot wound she suffered 3 years earlier. The stories go on and on. I am fascinated by them. But here is the point. Because of one man and his wife living out their faith, many have hope.

Children

Children in any culture and country are the innocent victims of irresponsibility. How can you not become totally overcome with emotion when young five year old boys run up and give you, a total stranger, a hug. They are so hungry for love and acceptance. How can you not cry for a one year old infant who lays her head on your shoulder, so starved for human touch. Today we visited a government facility where children are placed when removed from the street or physical and sexually abusive homes. It was a gut wrenching experience.

But it was also a time of pride for me. To see our children, Chad, Tanya and Trina, care and love and be involved with these children is more than any parent could ask for. Laurie's and my prayer, our stated objective when raising our children was to bring them up in such a way that when they were adults they would be well integrated responsible individuals that loved and served God. To see that in action brings unspeakable happiness. And the fact that they both have spouses, Trina and Brian, that also love and serve God is a huge bonus.

Spring Babies

The short calving season has begun. Number one of four has arrived and no one is more excited about the baby calves than Daisy! And Grandma was having a good time making the introductions. As of today, Daisy was still faster than the yet to be named baby calf. That will likely soon change. Come back soon for more pictures.

Several days of sunshine makes the farmer in me wish it was spring. As time rushes by spring will be here soon and along with that some babies. We have four pregnant cows, all due in April. So check back here soon for pictures of this years calf crop. Meanwhile, check out 2010rvpark.com
It's not too early to think about what you will be doing in Feb. of 2010. Thats only 2 years from now. Check it out.

Mazatlan

Some card games kept me on my toes. And no, contrary to what the pictures indicates, I had no Tequila.




A break from the farm and other activities of a routine nature brought Laurie and I to Mazatlan, Mexico. The beach was beautiful. My wife was wonderful and the sunsets were spectacular!

The escaping cow

OK, you won't believe what happened to us tonight!

Well, I was bringing a cow and calf and steer to Dean Lenssen's mom's place. They have some extra grass and I don't.

We dropped the steer off there and decided to take the cow and calf back home since I was worried about the fence. It wasn't built for small lowlines. Thought the little critter might just walk under the fence and into the neighbors potato field.

I got home and looked in the back of the trailer...and to my horrific surprise.

There was the calf standing by itself.

No cow!!

I looked up and down and all around....and no cow. Holy Cow! Where did she go. Can you even imagine the shock when I went to open the door and the Cow was not there.

For a moment I was sure the rapture had come for cows and the calf wasn't saved...but that was not it.

The door was shut but I noticed it was not latched good...so the only thing that made sense was the door had slid open, the cow stepped...or jumped out...and then shut the door so the calf would stay safe. Or...

The door must have slid back shut before the calf got out.

So in a panic, I got my wife, Laurie, from the house, called Dean and asked him to see if he could find the cow. I tied the calf in the trailer hoping that if we found the cow the calf would help lure her back into the trailer. And down the road we went. Dean called. She was running down the road ...corner of Haveman and Pangborn Rds.

As we arrived on the scene, she gave every indication she was happy to see the trailer with her beloved calf in it.

We opened the gate and she jumped right in...we took her home...turned them back out in the pasture and they lived happily ever after. And that my faithful readers is just how it happened.

Gertie joins the herd!

That's it. The last calf due to be born at the Baron Cattle Co. Lowline farms. All total, 3 born on in Yakima and 4 in Lynden. Bubba was a busy boy last summer and got the job done. Five heifers and two bulls. We like that ratio. Two full bloods, two three quarter bloods and three half-bloods. Now is a good time to call us if you are interested in getting started in Lowlines. We have several for sale. It's amazing how fast a small herd can grow. Last year we started by purchasing 4 full blood females, two half blood females and one full blood bull. Twelve months later, our herd has doubled. We'd be happy to help you get started, just like we did. Check out our web site at www.baroncattle.com.

It's a Heifer!! It's Margie!!

Of course, Bambi waited to deliver the weekend we chose to be gone. But not to worry, neighbor Darrel and daughter Tanya were keeping an eye on her. And sure enough, at 1:00 on Saturday, April 15, they watched the smallest, wobbliest black baby calf they'd ever seen, take it's first step. But it was more than 24 hours before we were home to determine whether it was the much desired heifer calf, or just another bull. (Ron did promise however, that if it was a bull calf, it would be loved just as much as a heifer.) The little stinker was hiding when we arrived at home, but not for long, because eagle eye Laurie was on the look out. And find her she did. And Laurie did not spare her the indignity of lifting her tail to determine if she be a she or it be a he. As you already know from the title, a she it is. (Depending of course on what the definition of "it" is....or was it what "is" is?)


Here are the first pictures of Margie. Weighing in at a whopping 45 pounds.

White Belly Button?

Abe kind of snuck up on us today. It was pretty routine on the Aitch St farm this morning. Hurry up to feed the critters, cause I'm running a little late for work. Tonight, more of the same. Home a little late from work, so hurry up outside to do the chores so I can go in and get some dinner. But wait. What's that in the field? Another black calf. And look at that! It has a white belly button, just like Norman. So here is the first picture of Abe. She's kind of dirty. Mom gave her a mud bath I think. But what the heck. She's as healthy as a ......? So another half blood Lowline for the Baron Cattle Co. Five so far this spring and still counting. Two bulls and three heifers. Stay tuned for more pictures and more babies due in the next week.

The day after.

Here is the welcoming committee! After a scare this morning, because we couldn't find the little rascal, Norman, the family came over to welcome him to our world too. Of course, Chad is always intrigued with the Chickens. Trina thinks he is nuts, but has finally come to understand why he calls her "chickee". Be Careful what you kiss.

Newborn on Aitch St.

Well, it's spring so its what you would expect....babies. I was away overnight, so my wife was feeding the critters this morning when she discovered a new born. It is the first Lowline born on the Aitch St Ranch. Its a half blood lowline to be precise. Momma a Hereford, or Whiteface and the old man is Bubba, a registered fullblood Lowline. It's Bubba's third offspring as the first two were born at our sister ranch, (actually it's my brother's ranch, but go figure, I call it a sister ranch) in Yakima. If you go to our website at www.baroncattle.com you can see the pictures of Art's (that's what we named him) half brother Rastus who is actually a full blood, not a half blood like Art. So, remember to keep the distinction between a half blood and a half brother. (In real human life, Art and Rastus are full brothers.) Art's other relative in Yakima is his half sister, who is actually a 3/4 blood. Her name is Shirley, named after Art's full sister in human terms. Now most of you don't give two hoots about any of this do you? So why in the world are you wasting your time reading this. From now on, when you come to this blog, just commit to looking at the pictures and don't waste your time reading. But do check back soon for more pictures, because we have more babies coming any day!

P.S. We have a problem with the name. Fortunately, the birth certificate was not completed as of this writing, so we can still change the name. Which we must do. I have been reminded that I made a commitment to a person who is very important to me that I would name the first male calf born on the Aitch St Ranch, "Norman." So, Norman it is. We can call him "Norm" for short, or if you want, you can call him "Bill." Just don't call him Art, because that is not his name. I really am glad about this too because I was really getting confused with all the half blood, half brother stuff. I think this really keeps it much simpler. And now Trina won't have a cow.

More ancestors.

I know, I know, if you look at the time, you see I just got done with my first post, but I'm just so excited about this whole thing that I can't help myself. I know you too are waiting with baited breath to find out more about the ancestry of the Lowline herd being kept at Aitch St Farms and other places in the State of Washington. (Occasionally you may find one tied on a lawn at Wiser Lk., the home of one of my partners, and there are a few roaming the Yakima Reservation also, the home of another partner.) Anyway, I digress. This big bad fella is Tequila. Tequila is a bull. But what I am going to tell you about him is no bull. Tequila was the National Champion Lowline Bull at the Royal Easter Show in Australia in 2000. Imported to the US that year, he was the record selling bull in Denver for $22,500. Since making his home at the Bar J Ranch, he has sired more class winners and major champions then any bull in the breed.

And why do you care about this? Because Tequila is the Sire of Evergreen, the Matriarch of our little herd of little black angus on our little farm. Can you even believe it? With royal ancestry like that, it has to be good. When Evergreen has that little baby calf in April '07, it is going to be cause for celebration. Bubba's it's daddy, Tequila it's granddaddy and Brenton it's great grand daddy. WOW. What a pedigree. Crank up the barbque...it's about time to party.

Ancestors

Here is a picture of a little black dumb bull. He lives in New Zealand. The reason I have included his picture here is that we have a number of offspring from this guy. And for those of you who know me, I'm a real family guy. So, old Brenton here, is now part of our family. Kind of. OK, he's not part of our family, part of him is in our family. His genes are anyway. Well, if you didn't care, why are your reading this. So you must care about family too. So read on. Ol' Eliza Park Brenton is actually the granddaddy to three of our critters: Willow, Reba and Bubba. Did I say Bubba. Yes sir. He's da bull. He's the King of the Hill. He's the patroller of the pasture. Bubba is the daddy to be of all the babies we are anxiously awaiting this spring. So take a look at Bubba and come back soon, where I will be sharing more exciting pictures and historical information about the animals you will find at the "Aitch St. Farm"