If We Are The Body...There is a Way

The construction team had a terribly hard day! :-) In the morning we (Vern, Wendell, and Pastor Juan) installed three windows. We also helped them get started on the roof. After a delicious lunch with the medical team, we went out to visit several homes. Emilio's home was built this summer. After that we visited Jose, Maria, Miguel, Martha, Nelsie, and Elias' home. After a few pictures, we went to the home of Olimpia, the wife of Mauricio, that we built last year. Mauricio passed away this past January. This was not the first home on Pastor Juan's mind to build last March, however with God's will it was chosen and now his family has a home. We spent some time mourning with them. On the way back to the clinic, we took some pictures of the children sponsored for school from Deep Run and Swamp members. It was a very fulfilling day- both seeing the work that was completed and getting to know the children of Pastor Juan's community.

The medical team was also in Gracios A Dios. Brandon and Bob joined the fun, which was very helpful as almost 100 people were registered by the time we arrived. We were blessed to have received six boxes of MCC meat, a 50-lb bag of soy, and two boxes of lentel bean protein mix to provide to those in need. Some of our members had to regretably leave throughout the day; Sandy and Alison had to retun home, while Rolando was traveling to Tegucigalpa to visit family. So for the last few hours of clinic we joined together as a team to help those in need with only Colleen left to serve as a nurse. Overall, most families were much healthier than those seen earlier in the week. However, with regret several families had to be turned away with our supplies and team members limited. It was very hard for many of us to deal with, we wished we could have done more. During devotions later in the night, however Barb lifted our spirits by reminding us of the story of the starfish, where a woman going along the shoreline throwing starfish back into the ocean replied to a skepitical man that while thousands of other starfish may be out of the water somewhere else, she was making a difference to those she touched.

Devotional time was also a time of great reflection. Wendell and Brandon reminded us of a song entitled "If We Are The Body". With the end of the week at a near, we are beginning to struggle on how we can continue serving others when we return home. Serving is easier when time has been set specifically aside to do it. But how do we continue to serve when we return to our daily routines in life? Bob reminded us that even the little things, like remembering the birthdays of our friends here in Honduras, allow us to remember to "do our homework" and serve others. If we are the body, with Jesus anything is possible.

With the end of the week nearing, I would like to personally thank the team for all the gifts they have offered this week. Liz has been my right hand girl all week interpreting and without her I wouldn't have been able to learn about and touch the lives of so many this week. Barb and Kathy faithfully handed out medication after medication- providing relief to those in need. Brandon and Wendell offered both their construction skills as well as much laughter to the team. Sandy offered her medical skills to those in need as well as lots of laughs- even if they were sometimes at her own expense. Vern provided his knowledge and experience with building. Joyce was a source of encouragement for all the children we saw, always smiling at them as they had to take their deworming medicine. Rolando offered his spiritual dedication as he led our team and the people of Honduras we often met in devotion. Bob, as team leader lended his experience to support the team through our journey this week.

Please continue to pray for us at home for safety and some needed R&R in Copan. Also, on a quick personal note, for all of my nursing teachers at home right now following along on my trip via the blog I would like to thank you for all the gifts of knowledge you have shared with me. This week has allowed me to see just how much I have truly learned- this week I was able to provide not only medicine but also education to every patient I encountered so when the medicine runs out they still have the power of knowledge on what they can do for the health of both themselves and their family.

-Wendell and Colleen on behalf of team