Lori and Las Minas

Lori and Las Minas

Twenty-five years ago a Sonoma friend of ours, Todd Evans, started a nifty non-profit with the aim of rounding up church groups and student groups to build schools in Nicaragua and El Salvador, and named that outfit Seeds of Learning. Since then, 2,000 volunteers have planted those little schools like blossoms of hope in the most inconvenient places imaginable to afford employment for 200 teachers and education for 20,000 students.

In the year 2000 Lori and Tucker signed on to a construction team for a build in Las Minas, a town north of Chalatenango, El Salvador, to haul cinder blocks and mix concrete with shovels while perspiring like linemen under the tropical sun. Neither of them saw the finished product — subsequent teams installed the windows and doors and roof — but I saw it last Monday.

After Lori died on January 27, we suggested to friends like you that memorial gifts to Seeds of Learning would be fitting. And you responded . . . to the tune of $15,000. And counting. Prompting wonder and gratitude in this family and at Seeds of Learning.

And so it was that Seeds of Learning had a weather-proof metal plaque fabricated with Lori’s picture and these words. Lori Hutchinson : 1952 – 2016 : A great friend of Las Minas. She was part of the construction team that built this school in 2000 in collaboration with Seeds of Learning.

The school principal found the right place for that plaque, just outside his office, then picked his best reader, Graciella, to help me when the teachers and students assembled for the national anthem and some traditional dancing and words from the tall gringo. The kids loved hearing about how the Norteamericanos came to their town, then Graciella and I read from Esperanza y la Nueva Escuela, the bi-lingual book written by another member of Lori and Tucker’s team — Sarah Donnelly — when she returned to Sonoma.

Apparently love does make a difference. The little plaque that will soon be affixed to the school in Las Minas gives testimony to that, and to my beautiful girl.

Lori.

She made the world a better place.

44 thoughts on “Lori and Las Minas”

  2. Bill, we are so pleased Lori’s love and commitment to others is being memorialized. She certainly has affected so many in so many positive ways. We are glad you were able to be there to see this happen. We are sending you love and hope you feel her beating heart in yours every day. xoxo, Steve and Julie

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  5. We are so happy to share vicariously in this tribute to the Lori we all loved. The photos are just incredible. We are picturing you being there with Lori’s spirit and carrying the best wishes of all of us. I only wish I had known her longer.

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  7. Thank you Bill for posting this part of the story. You and your family have been in my prayers every day. Lori was and continues to be a great inspiration to me. She did make the world a better place, in big ways and in small ways. She always had a kind word, and was so supportive always of my daughter Renee. Her love lives on.

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  8. Thank you for this post Bill. Such a beautiful tribute to Lori, she truly did make the world a better place in so many ways.

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  9. Heart warming and invigorating at the same time! Seeds of Learning continues to plant seeds of learning with Lori as the good gardener.

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  11. I am so glad Bill that you posted this. It brought tears to my eyes. Lori’s legacy will live on not only here but in El Salvador. With love to you and your family

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  14. Thank you Bill. What a beautiful tribute to Lori. A truly amazing woman in every way possible. She did make this world a better place and continues to do so through her legacy of love which lives on through you & your beautiful family. We send you our love & blessings.
    Susan & Peter

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  15. Bill, thank you for sharing this piece of your heart with us. What a lovely tribute to a truly remarkable woman and friend.
    Susan Kelchner

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  18. Thank you Bill – a perfect way to remember Lori. I am so glad you were able to go down and see the plaque in place, and I’m sure it meant a lot to those folks to have you come. I have been a supporter of Seeds of Learning for many years having heard about it from Franny and Chester Arnold whose daughters spent some time down there, so it felt just right to be able to do something in memory of Lori through them. Having done a similar kind of thing for Ted, I know how much it means to have something like that in place and always there for you to go and remember from time to time. Love, Kit

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  19. QUE Bien! What a blessing to have known Lori and continue to see the fruits of her labor. And thank God for you to carry on her memory!
    Safe travels and lots of love, Sarah

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  22. So beautiful, Bill. And such a fitting tribute to Lori and her ever-loving, ever-hopeful and ever-generous spirit. How I miss my buddy. And how fortunate we all are that she lives on, even as we miss her. Much love to you Hutchinsons (etc) all,
    Kris

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  23. So wonderful that Lori’s Love and great compassion for everyone who crossed her path is being carried forward by you, Seeds of Learning, and those making a difference in Lori’s name. Bruce and Kirin join me in sending big love to you during this poignant trip.

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  24. You and your family gave so much hope to more people than you will ever be able to know. I am very sorry to know she is gone. A Holy , lovely lady, a blessed life and family. Gratefully , Sissy Schade

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  27. Pretty sweet story Bill.
    Give me a call (or whatever high tech way you communicate) if you’re passing through Marin and have time for a cuppa joe with an old Cheltenham grad.
    Al Charne

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  30. Oh Bill, this is so inspiring. Thank you for sending it along.
    We pray for you and your family often and hold you in our hearts closely as you walk in this time of deep loss of your beloved Lori.
    Stuart and I were so honored to know her; what an extraordinary woman-so full of grace!
    We send our love and continued prayers for your comfort and strength,
    Sandra

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  31. Lori and Las Minas, forever entwined. Such a lovely thing to do, Bill. Thank you for sharing your experience and including those wonderful photos.

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  32. Thank you Bill for sharing with us. Nice photos. I love the one with Lori.
    This Tribute is fantastic, Lori will be so happy.
    All the best to you.
    Bises
    Colandi

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  35. Thank you for sharing that. Lori is an angel whose testimony of love continues to grow.

    Amazing story!

    May God continue to comfort you as she lives on through your sharing!

    Cheryl Patella

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  37. So lovely, as was she. Thank you for sharing this Bill. Lori is very much missed with her love and laughter lingering in my heart. A perfect tribute to her.
    Be Safe.

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  38. Bill, it was so good to see you here. Thank you for this story. Lori was such a lovely person– and the two of you so lucky to have each other. Keep writing, keep travelling, keep breathing. Un fuerte abrazo, Bill. Jeanne Rikkers

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  39. I am so happy to see this. You and Lori are so dear to our hearts. This would bring one of those huge smiles to her face. With lot’s of love, Allyson

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  43. Bill, such a lovely story and a perfect tribute to Lori. Thank you for sharing and sending warm thoughts your way.
    Karen

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