Celebrating Honduran Father's Day...

In Honduras, Father's Day is March 19.  We decided to celebrate by having a school talent show honoring fathers, with the proceeds going toward our high school kids, who were raising money to go to the Central American Student Convention the following week.  The holiday itself was on Monday, but we had the talent show on Thursday evening.  That worked well for the missions team that was here with us, as Thursday was the last day of medical clinics and the team did not need to spend the evening preparing for the next day.

The high school kids had food and drink for sale and two of our seniors were the emcees.

Alejandro and Eliany did a great job as emcees for the evening.

Starting with the 3-year-old pre-kinder class, each of the grades, through 8th grade, presented a song, a skit, a poem, etc..  Here are just a few of the many pictures I took that evening.

Here are the 3-year-olds.

These are some of the 4-year-old girls in our kinder class.

The prepa boys were dressed in their daddy's shirts, pants, and even shoes.

Jonathan, surrounded by some of the angels in his third grade class.

The 8th graders presented a human video showing what happens when we "touch" sin.

It was a great night.  Hundreds of parents and family members showed up to support their kids.  And the high school kids did an awesome job of planning, directing, hosting, and making sure that everyone had fun.

After the show was over, we got the Center cleaned up and things put away just in time.  Just in time for a power failure!  The Michigan team was getting to experience part of our normal life that week: vehicle problems, schedule changes, power failures...  We all congregated out on the courts, enjoying a cooling breeze and even just a few drops of rain.  And laugh, lots of laughs.

A short time later, the power came back on and everyone started migrating toward their rooms to get that  last little bit of packing done.  The power had been out for just a bit more than a half hour.  Heck, that's hardly even worth mentioning.

Don't Forget the Carpenters...

Each day while the doctors and nurses were busy sharing their gifts with the people of Honduras, another equally devoted team of carpenters was doing the same thing right here on our property.

Joe, Mark and Doug spent the week sharing their skills with us.

This year's main project was to try to build 4 new classrooms.  We are soooo out of room in the school until we can expand, either up or out.  In the mean time, we need to put up some temporary classrooms.  So, in the main school building, where the big open room was, there are now two newly framed classrooms. 

Framing out the rooms at the beginning of the week.

Lots of progress.  

In the Center, they put up another two rooms on the upper level.  This year, there are as many as 5 classes going on in the Center at once, depending on the day and the weather.  It can get quite noisy and quite distracting, so it was decided that the best thing would be a few temporary classrooms.

Letting the sparks fly!

Putting a wall into place.

Every night after dinner, we would have a debriefing time ~~ a time where we all talked about our day.  One of the things that I loved, is that the medical team was always so excited to hear what the carpentry team did during the day.  On at least a few days, when we got back from clinic, one or more of the doctors would join in and help the carpenters.

Dr. Chad, remember to measure twice and cut once.  (Good advice for surgery, too.)

At the end of the week, we had four new classrooms framed and walled, ready for lights and fans.  I'm hopeful that as soon as Semana Santa (Holy Week) is over, we'll be putting those new classrooms to good use.

On Thursday, the last day of medical clinic, the carpenters joined us for the first hour.  They wanted to see what was going on and how it all happens.  Since Thursday's clinic was just outside of Comayagua, they could come out for a bit and then head back to Enlaces.  They were a welcome addition to the clinic, even for the short time they were there. 

It really does take a whole team, working together, to get things done.  Dr. Rick and his incredible team from Michigan make it look easy!!  We can't wait until next year.

Tomorrow I'm going to share pictures from the talent show that was held on the Thursday evening of our brigade week.  It was pretty awesome to have the team here to help us celebrate Honduran Father's Day!

Thursday: Mata de Caña

Our final day of clinics was held at Mata de Caña, a village that we've been to for at least the last three years.  We hold clinic in a house where the family and all their belongings have moved out for us.  It's small and it's cramped, but it's available!  This year we were a little surprised to find that we wouldn't be able to use the whole house, but only about two-thirds of it.  No worries; we'll deal!  We're good like that!

It took a few minutes to decide how to best use the available space.  While the doctors were working on that, the nurses got busy with triage since, as usual, there was already a waiting (and growing) crowd.  Within the first half-hour, Sue, one of the nurses called me over and told me our "boyfriend" was there.  He's an older gentleman from the community and Sue and I both have made a big deal over him every year.  This year we both thought that he seemed to be in better health each of the last two years.

Me and Sue with our "boyfriend".  Sue's husband doesn't even mind!

The doctors had a steady flow of patients.  The rooms were so full that there was no room to have the translators in chairs.  Thankfully, the translators took that decision in stride.

Cramped quarters

For our last day of clinics, we had two Honduran doctors, one pharmacist and one nurse working with us.  That always helps things go well.

Dr. Gerson sees a girl with severe cerebral palsy. 

What a blessing to have Hondurans help in the pharmacy.

At one point, Dr. Rick called each of the doctors out to see a patient who was treated outside.  I've never seen a worse case of chicken pox.  The boy's stomach and back were covered, I mean COVERED, with infected, puss-filled sores.  Dr. Rick wanted to make sure the other doctors saw him since it is so rare to actually see chicken pox in the United States anymore.

I'm purposely not using the picture of this boy's belly or back.  Chicken pox!

Every time it seemed that we were getting near the end of the line, I would look up again and see that several more people had "slipped" through.  That happens.  A lot.  Even when we have a finite number of people we can see in a day, it's so hard to say "no".  The problem is, then we run the risk of running out of meds.  And that happens, too.

Dr. Josh and Dr. Chad celebrate a busy day with a bag of water.

A few minutes of well-deserved rest in the shade before getting back on the bus and heading for home.

In 4 hours, the team saw 300 patients.  300 patients!  I think that was some kind of record.

Nurses Sue, Jody and Linda pose with their beloved nurses suitcase.

Tomorrow I'll post about the carpentry team and the work that they did during the week.  It really is a team effort and we are soooooo thankful for all the help.  To be able to share God's love with so many people, in so many ways is an awesome thing!

Wednesday: Carboneras

Carboneras was another new area for a clinic.  And Zair only took two wrong turns getting us there.  An area is pretty remote when even a local, and a bus driver at that, gets lost.  But we arrived and got settled in as quickly as possible.  It was another day in close quarters, but our team took it all in stride.

Doctors, optical and pharmacy ~ all in close quarters

It's a different location, but Dr. Belen gets another large family: mom and 5 kids.

Because our space was so small, if people also wanted to see optical, they needed to drop off their prescriptions and then go outside and get in another line.  We would bring them in one or two at a time.  It was a slow process, but it allowed us to keep a little bit of order inside.

Karla translated for Anthony in the optical clinic.

Once again, pharmacy stayed busy all day.  Somehow, they manage to keep it all together. And they even have smiles on their faces much of the day.

Steve and Dr. Rick keep the drugs flowing.

Brian was an indispensable cog in the pharmacy wheel.

There was rarely time to take many pictures during clinic, but somehow, we grabbed enough photos for me to be able to visually relate our days to you.  At the end of each day, as things were being put away, cameras came out in abundance.

The Cindys.  Cindy translated for Dr. Cindy.

 It was a great surprise to get back and find that our bus was finally home.  Maybe not completely fixed, but at least it was home.

Yes, the bus is back!

Everyone got cleaned up and ready to go out for dinner.  First, though, we needed to celebrate a birthday.  Doug, on the carpentry team, was celebrating his birthday.  (Don't worry, Doug, I won't mention what number it was!)  So we helped him celebrate, Honduran style.

First, the eggs and flour...

Then, add water!

Doug was a great sport about it!  He knew that something was up when the whole group was called outside and he saw the three big pans of water.  Actually, those who were egging, flouring and watering seemed to get just as messy, but it's all in fun!

Dinner downtown, next to the Cathedral was wonderful.  Good food and good fellowship!  We spent a relaxing night together before the final push on Thursday.

Tuesday: La Escalera...

La Escalera, The Ladder...  That's where Tuesday's clinic was.  Like Monday, we were working with the other missionary couple, helping them learn how we do clinics.  What works and what doesn't.  Of course, what works mostly is flexibility, the ability to change things on the fly.

Since we were going to La Escalera, it would be another chicken truck day.  But this time we wouldn't need to take the chicken truck all the way.  We'd be able to go by bus for quite a while before transferring over to the big truck.  Once again, Zair was called to be our bus transportation.  To the surprise of all of us, Zair got us quite a ways up the mountain, much further than any of us thought he'd be able to go in the bus.  And, apparently, much higher than the people in the area though we could (or should) go.  But then we all switched over to the waiting chicken truck.  Me?  I got to ride in the cab of a pick-up truck that the Honduran doctors were using.

Another day, another chicken truck ride

It was only about 10 or 15 more minutes before we arrived in La Escalera.  Many people were already in line and waiting for us.  One pick-up truck of supplies was already there and they were in the process of setting up, which always makes the opening minutes much easier.

Many people were already waiting as we arrived.

We had a great group of students with us as translators.  For several of them, it was their first time to translate. I know that many of their parents were so proud of their children being able to use the English skills they are learning.  I also know that several of the students are very interested in going into medicine and I watched several doctors quickly form teaching bonds with their young helpers during the week.

In La Escalera, our quarters were a bit more cramped, but once we got things going, it all flowed quite well.  Traffic flow and control is actually pretty critical to these clinics, as it helps establish order.  This week, that was my primary responsibility on sight, which also meant that I was standing all day.  I'm thankfully for my nice, comfy Keen sandals!

Everyone was kept busy all day, and it seemed that we had to keep one person doing various lab tests almost the whole time.  Sometimes we don't need that many labs; it just depends on the community and their needs.

Dr. Josh examining a patient.

Kelsey taking a blood sample for a sugar check.

It was another long day, but there are never any complaints.  Everyone pitches in to break down and pack up clinic.  It's amazing how quickly it gets done, but the group is usually motivated to go outside and give away sweaters, balls, and other gifts to the children.

Tomorrow? Clinic at Carboneras.

Monday: Playitas

Monday's clinic was scheduled for Playitas, not far from Comayagua.  We were working with another missionary couple in the area and using their beautiful facility.  They're in the midst of building an actual health clinic, but we used the mission house on their property and it was our most spacious (and clean) facility all week long.

But first we had to get there.  Our bus was still in Taulabe, so Sandi contracted a local man, Zair, and his bus to get us there.  We were waiting for the bus to arrive, then once it did, we had to wait to pull out since the school kids were arriving.

Zair followed Sandi and her pickup truck and Beth (one of the missionaries) and her vehicle.  After a few minutes, though, Beth made a turn and Sandi followed.  Zair didn't.  I wasn't worried since I ride my bike and motorcycle out that way and know that the sign for Playitas is a bit further up the road.  That's the way Zair went.  A few minutes later, we were all on the same road again.  We thought that Sandi and Beth were both probably quite a bit in front of us, but that wasn't the case.

As we drove on, we were suddenly met by a pickup truck on its side, blocking the road.  Upon closer inspection, we saw that there were people strewn about on both sides of the road.

The doctors quickly started triaging the wounded.

The pickup truck had been loaded with coffee and people, driving too fast.  There may have been a motorcycle involved, too, but I never got that straight.  We arrived at the scene within 2 or 3 minutes of the accident.  And, Sandi and Beth, whose vehicles had all the gear ended up being BEHIND us since they had stopped to wait for us when they saw we didn't make the same turn as them.

Sandi immediately called Comayagua for an ambulance.  Here, an ambulance merely transports people; they are not trained for anything else.  The doctors and nurses sprang into action.  One young girl had a compound fracture in her leg.  A man had a severe laceration to the bone, and other injuries.  There were a few other broken bones and more probable broken bones.  Lots and lots of cuts, abrasions and bumps, and concussions.  In all, 9 people were injured to the point of needing  treatment.

I got out my camera to take some pics.  I got this picture taken and Dr. Josh asked me to put on gloves and hold the man's arm, applying pressure to stop the bleeding.

Dr. Josh had me put on gloves and take over applying pressure so that he could help the others.

My picture taking was over.  I spent the next 30 minutes hold this man's arm until the doctors came back over to work on him some more.  I did ask one of the students to take my camera out of my pocket and snap some photos.

Splinting the girl with a compound fracture.  Her left foot was also injured.

Loading her into the ambulance ~ once it arrived.

Another broken bone

And another for the ambulance

The doctors were very concerned about the girl with the compound fracture, wondering if she will be able to receive sufficient care to save the leg.  They also said that the man whose arm I was holding probably would have bled out before receiving help if we had not arrived when we did.

I mean, these kinds of accidents happen here all the time.  All. The. Time.  But there's not usually a busload of doctors and nurses pulling up right behind.  It was truly a miracle.  God's hand was upon those people and upon our team as they gave aid.

A bunch of the Hondurans got the truck righted and Charly and Zair were able to help the owner get it running again.  The people loaded it back up and some of the people climbed right back on.  They know nothing else.  Sometimes, there is nothing else.

I wondered what would have happened to those people if our bus was not broken and we had left at our "scheduled" time.  I wondered what would have happened to those people if Zair had made the same turn as Beth and Sandi and we would have all been in front of the accident. It was no coincidence we left when we did or that we turned where we did.  God's hand was upon those people!

After about 45 minutes, we were back on the bus and off for the final mile or two to where we were hold that day's clinic.  I spent the day in awe at God's goodness to those people in the truck.  I spent the day in awe at the skills of the doctors and nurses.  I also spent the day in awe of the beautiful facility we had for clinic that day.

Triage on a shaded porch

Melanie translates for Anthony in the optical clinic.  See what I mean about lots of room?

Here's Dr. Belen with a mom and her 6 children.

It was a long day, but by the end, the doctors had seen over 250 people and there were 19 salvations, including several people who rededicated their lives to the Lord.

Sunday: San Jose de Pane...

Sunday started pretty early.  I was up at 4:20am and over at the Center around 5:00 to help Sandi prepare breakfast. Sandi was already there, and it was apparent she had been there for a while.  Since we were doing the day's medical clinic together with a team of Honduran doctors who do brigades every two weeks, we invited them to join us for a typical Honduran breakfast.  (Sorry, I didn't get any photos of that.)  That meant breakfast for about 60 people, including all the volunteers.

After breakfast, we started loading the pickup trucks and the chicken truck with medicines, supplies, new iron gates for the community building, and people.  San Jose de Pane is almost 1 1/2 hours away, and much of that trip is in 4-wheel drive territory.

Yes, you stand the whole way, hanging on, trying to avoid bumps and bruises.  Hey, guys, that truck's a little empty.  Looks like there's room for at least 10 or 12 more people.

We arrived in San Jose de Pane, and within 15-20 minutes the group was set up and ready to see their first patients.  For the day's clinic, there were 10 doctors available, plus dental and optical.  That made for an incredibly busy day.  But the people were so patient.  They would wait in whichever line you told them to stand in.

From this line, the next step is to see a doctor.

During most clinic days, the pharmacy is the last place to get busy since people have to first see the doctors.  But once they get going, it's non-stop for the rest of the day.  Many times, a mom and her 5 or 6 children will see the doctor.  The doctor is writing prescriptions for each person.  Everyone gets vitamins and most get worm/parasite medicine, plus whatever the doctor needs to prescribe for the primary reason they are there.  So, you can have one person receiving 3, 4, sometimes 5 meds.  Times 6 people in a family?  Conceivably, that's 30 prescriptions for a single family.  (The doctors try not to do this, but there are times when there are no other options.)

But it doesn't end there.  Then, our translators need to explain the medicine to the patient, or their moms ~~ telling them how and when ~ and why ~ to take the medicine.  They need to emphasize that it's important to take ALL the medicine, not just stop when they start to feel better, as so often happens here.  It can be an incredibly daunting task, but the pharmacy team makes it all look easy.

Pharmacy will have a super busy day, so it's important to get as organized as possible.

Each village has its own flavor and the doctors will start to see the same symptom or complaint over and over again.  Then the next day the chief complaint will be something else.  And, since this is also a teaching opportunity, the doctors do a lot of consulting amongst themselves.  It's incredible to watch them in action.

Here, Dr. Chad is helping remove an obstruction from an ear when repeated irrigation didn't clear things up sufficiently.

At the end of the day in San Jose de Pane, the doctors saw 352 patients.  50 dental procedures also took place and another 50 had optical attention.  And since this is also an evangelistic outreach, the best news of the day is that 42 people accepted Jesus as their Savior!

Thank You, Lord, for allowing us to show your love to the people of this community!

MissionsTeam, Day One...

We had a missions team in for a week.  They left yesterday, so I can finally get caught up on a little posting.  It was an incredible team of 17 people: doctors, nurses, carpenters and other support!  The group was from Michigan and have been coming here for quite a few years.  This was the third time that I've worked with them.  The lead doctor brings some of the resident doctors in his program.  The carpenters do whatever projects we have for them.

Last year, their trip was cut short by two days because of a major snowstorm in the upper Midwest.  This year their big adventure didn't begin until they arrived in the country.  They got here last Saturday, March 17. Arriving in San Pedro Sula and going through Immigrations and Customs was no big deal.  Lunch-to-go was from Wendy's.  Again, no big deal.

By the time our bus hit Santa Rita, some of the first-timers were a little nervous because they had to go over this bridge:

Actually, the picture looks a little better than the bridge really is.  That was the old bridge, but it got called back into service in May 2009, after the earthquake left the new bridge looking like this:

Then it was smooth sailing until the group was at the lake.  That's when all the belts in the bus broke.  Yes, all of them.

But while the bus was broken down, the group made the most of their time.  They had a roadside meeting to go over some of the meds and other things that would be available during the week.

Well, the bus got fixed, or so everyone thought.  They made it a bit further down the highway, to about Taulabe, and the same thing happened again.  Welcome to Honduras!!  After realizing that the bus wasn't going to get properly fixed on Saturday, arrangements were made for a rental bus to be sent from Comayagua to Taulabe to get the group.

The whole group and all their luggage arrived at Enlaces about 5 or 6 hours later than they were supposed to, but none the worse for wear.  A wonderful dinner of pinchos, (shish kebobs) was waiting for them.  Food really does seem to make everything better and soon there were smiles all around.

 

After dinner it was time for the first pill party of the week ~~ time to bag up the medicine and prepare things for the next day.  We were going to San Jose de Pane, so it would be an early morning.

If things go the way I'm hoping, I'll have a post each day, corresponding to a day of the team's time here.