Getting Ready Week

I think that phrase best describes this week. As I type, Mildred is getting ready to go to La Ceiba in the morning with Sandi. Mildred needs a couple of medical tests done and Sandi has graciously agreed to go with her to help with translation. I will stay here and get ready to go to Utila. So I’ll be taking them to the ferry about 6:00 tomorrow morning.

In the meantime, we are getting ready for the arrival of Ken and Karen Anderson and Carl Hompstead. They are leaving the States on Wednesday and get here, if all goes according to plan, on Thursday. Then, on Friday afternoon, Ken, Carl, and I plan to head over to Utila to try to finish replacing the guy cables on the AM tower over there. The new rope and pulleys sent down from headquarters arrived today. I was surprised at the low HF involved in getting the shipment through customs this time. What is HF, you ask? Well, Peter and I like to have our little codes and that one stands for hassle factor. It’s unusual to get it all done in one trip.

Getting ready to go to Utila for two weeks involves some getting ready in the studios. I have my recordings all done for my first week over there. I’d like to get the second week done if I can, but Mildred said she would cover if necessary. I still need to get the Sunrise Serenade programs ready for those two Fridays, though.

We are also getting ready for construction to resume on the trade school being built behind the radio station. That involved re-routing the electrical and audio cables between the studios and the shops. The new cables are all in place and functioning now, so that’s a huge relief. We still need to salvage as much of the old audio cable as we can. I’m afraid that will probably involve some drywall cutting and repair. And I need to re-feed power to the lights in our entry area, porch, and restrooms. I’m afraid that may involve some ceiling butchering.

Last, but not least, we are getting ready for furlough. April 6 will be here before we know it. Mildred has been emailing our supporters around the country and the itinerary is almost done. We still have a few people we haven’t heard back from yet, and there are lots of little details to work out like where the money will come from, where we can get a reliable used car for a great price, and what I want to see while spending my birthday in Colorado. That one will take some thought!

Romel Hernandez reporting the news.

With all that in front of us, we took a moment today to look back and celebrate. Romel Hernandez, our one-man Spanish radio machine passed the 15-year service mark and we paused to congratulate him. I wish I had a picture of the look on his face. All the rest of us were gathered in the reception area. Mildred went upstairs to ask him to come down. When he saw that cake and we said, “¡Sorpressa!” Romel said, “Pero mi cumpliaños es proxima semana.” (But my birthday is next week.) Fifteen years with one organization is incredibly rare in this society. Romel is a tremendous blessing to us and our listeners.

So, before I get too long with this, I’ll just say so long for now. I hope you have a few minutes to listen to our Audio Update below. I was so busy last week, that I didn’t get that one on here, so we’ll just move on to this week’s Update.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:57 — 6.8MB)