More About Cable Bridges PLUS a Thank You to Our Friends in Virginia

Since I posted pictures the other day about the cable bridges in our area, I thought I'd take some time now and write about our big bridge building project.

There are a number of areas in the department of Lempira which are only accessible by crossing fords. During the rainy season, the rivers swell, and these areas can be completely cut off from the rest of the world. We have been asked to participate in a project which will build cable bridges into some of these areas.

Now, a major part of a construction job of this size is acquiring the materials. We have been blessed with some generous and extremely ingenious friends in the Northern Virginia area, who have found for us a source of used cable, for bridge building. Here is the story:

The Potomac River creates the border between Maryland and Virginia. For a long stretch of the river, there are no bridges. In years past there were many ferries operating along the banks of the Potomac, but there is now only one remaining in this area: White's Ferry.




For safety reasons, the ferry is attached to a cable. Also for safety reasons, the owners of the ferry are required to replace the cable every six months. When a new cable is brought into use, the abandoned cable is left to sit on the bottom of the river. Occasionally, salvage yards have collected these barely used cables, and sold them. The cable is in good condition, as it has only been gently used for a short period of time, and it is free to whomever will go to the effort to remove it.

Now our very good friends in Northern Virginia gather a work crew at intervals during the year, to pull the cable out of the water for us (see it lying alongside the road in the picture to the right). It is difficult work to pull the cable out of the water, roll it onto spools, and deliver it to the warehouse, for shipping to Honduras in a container shipment.

Are these fabulous friends and ministry partners, or what?






There is a growing collection of spools of cable here in Gracias, awaiting the start of these bridge construction projects. We are so excited to be able to assist the people in the remote areas of the department in this way. Imagine if you couldn't get out of your neighborhood in times of illness or emergency, and you will understand what a blessing these bridges will be to the people in these remote areas.

Thanks so much, to all the folks in Northern Virginia who have helped with this project!