Weekend and Home

Our team left early on Saturday for the 4hr. drive to Copan....dodging tumulas(speed bumps),potholes, people and dogs and cows, being passed on curvy roads by tractor trailers. But the drive is so worth it to arrive in the quaint little cobblestone street town of Copan. Such a pleasure to relax, shop and eat in a beautiful,warm and safe place for two days. We packed up early Monday morning for the drive to the airport and home. No complications and back at DRE after midnight on Monday night.

We thank each of you for your interest in our trip and hope we have inspired you to consider serving others more...in places like Honduras or right next door.

We are each called in Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Barb for the Jan 2012 team

Friday finale

The last day of the service work week arrived. For the first time the medical team and the construction team were in separate communities. The medical team went to brisas de campo, about 30 minutes drive from the mission house. They had their busiest day of the week - seeing 103 persons. A very kind man who was the leader of the community hosted the medical team, even letting the dental team use a room in his house. Afterwards he gave the team a tour of his finca.

The construction team stayed in San Francisco, for the first time ever. They did 6 houses - all very different from each other. There was a lot of help from home owners - at the first house, 3 teenagers supplied wonderful help carrying water and sand. One house was in the middle of the hill, and the sand had to be carried down the hill to the house. For this house and the last house, the 2 crews worked together and we could not have done it otherwise. The last home owner was a woman with 4 children. She was an incredible worker - carrying buckets, digging trenches, and doing everything possible to accommodate us. When I told a Honduran that she was an incredible worker, he replied - she a great football player too! We ended the long day having done 53 bags for the day.

Tonight we had a great celebration with the whole Honduran staff. We had dinner, exchanged words of appreciation, and were favored with a mime performance by dani - one of our translators. It has been a great week. The medical team saw 464 people; the dentists saw 188 people; 472 packets of micronutrients were dispersed; and 83 people received reading glasses. On the construction side - 30 houses received new floors; 235 bags of concrete were mixed; 53 1/2 yards of concrete were mixed by hand - the equivalent of 5 1/2 mixer trucks. We are tired, but contented. It has been a tremendously talented team that accomplished much. Perhaps the best comment made tonight by a honduran was this - 'thanks for your gifts, time, and willingness to come help our country. But more than that, thanks for demonstrating love and care as you served.'

Tomorrow we go to Copan to relax for 2 days. We are looking forward to seeing some Mayan sites and enjoying being tourists. Please don't stop praying - we have a 4 hour drive - and driving is an adventure in Honduras. We will see you back in the states on Monday evening.

Tim weaver for the team

up the mountain

Today quickly became a challenge when the guys had to get out of the van and push it uphill. Getting to the village site was difficult.. Together we all persevered, as we climed the mountain in the 4 vehicles. We were all glad to be there and set up quickly. The buildings were large offering us space to spread out for all of our different stations. The view form the consult room and pharmacy was amazing. It would've been considered prime realistate back home.

We had a great day, the men and Karen, used 44 bags of concrete, totaling 185 for the week so far. Six homes have new floors from today. They work so hard and never complain. Today they had help from a little guy who carried buckets of sand uphill! We are always thankful for the villagers help. In the clinic we saw 87 patients. Large happy families today. All well nourished with shoes! In the dental clinic they saw 43 patients, and pulled 23 teeth! Those odds have changed from pervious days.

I am so thankful to be part of this amazing team. Together we have accomplished to much to help the Honduran people. I am privileged to be here, I am returning home with a new perspective on life and all that I have and have access to. I am blessed. Looking forward to our last day and all that the Lord has in store for us!

Corrie for the team

Neuva Esperanza Day 3

As a first timer here in Honduras I have so many thoughts in my head that it is almost overwhelming. My journal is full of random thoughts that will be processed for months to come. So here are just a few of my thoughts tonight..

Neuva Esperanza is about a 2 hour drive from the mission house. The ride is on well traveled dirt roads, a highway and dirt roads much less traveled. While the first dirt road is laden with potholes and speed bumps and kicks up a cloud of dust, it is by far the easiest part of the journey, The mountain roads are narrow, curvy and steep with big drop offs, streams without bridges, boulders, ruts and beautiful vistas. The most frightful road of all is the highway. The vehicles (many big trucks) travel fast and close. They pass each other on curves and on hills, on the left and the right. Sometimes one car passes a car that is passing another car. The shoulders of the road become lanes despite the people walking or the livestock grazing. It is a hair raising experience to be sure. Our drivers manage to get us to our destination safely. A twice a day miracle in my book.

To our surprise, our facilities today had real toilets that actually flushed. But, as Dr. Kathy pointed out, not all good looking toilets are good toilets. Personally, I am taking a picture of all of our toilets this week. there are stories to be told that are not fit to print.

Today the medical brigade saw over 90 patients. The dentists pulled over 40 teeth. The construction crew went through 48 bags of cement in 6 houses.

After the medical team finishes with patients and we have a little time to visit with the villagers I've found two sure things to bring smiles to their faces. One is to take a picture and then show them the digital picture. Young or old, without exception, you get to see the biggest grin they have. The second is to paint their fingernails. As Jane said, "All women like to be pretty".

Isabella is a great cook and the pineapples and bananas are plentiful and oh so yummy.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. We are all safe and well and looking forward to what tomorrow will bring.

Debbie for the team

Las Manzanas Day 2

I've never really done anything like this before so this whole expirience is a journey for me. Today we went to a village high up in the mountains-it was the scariest ride of my life-and helped a village that seemed very fortunate and thankful to have us there. I have been giving out parasite pills to the villages we have been going to and today was much easier than yesterday. The people and most of the children were so cooperative and aside from the slight confusion of thinking that I am Spanish like them and talking to me in Spanish- which I don't understand-I was happy to help them. By the time lunch came around we were finished and only a few more patients had to speak to the doctors. Most of the women and children were just sitting around so a couple girls, also on the team, and I went around to paint nails. Within minutes we had a swarm of girls surrounding us anxious to get their nails painted too. It was so much fun to see their faces of delight when they looked at their pretty nails. During this time the children were also getting presents of toys, crayons, pencils, games, clothes, and books. Hearing them laugh and watching them smile at all these things made me so happy. This experience is the chance of a lifetime and each day I am learning new things. It teaches me where my priorities should be and how I should really be grateful for all the wonderful things in my life. I'm proud to say that as a teenager, who complains about many things, I am learning to understand what is a necessity apposed to a wish or a want. By the time this week is over I will be going home with new life lessons that I will keep forever.

Alicia Roeder

Day 1

The MAMA team had a first successful day out in the community! Today we visited Germania II, Siguatepeque, Comayaqua. The medical brigade had 72 people from the community come to receive medical attention. The community leaders explained to us that this was only a fraction of those who live there because many of the families were harvesting coffee beans, one of their primary sources of income, so many were unable to come to the clinic. Most of the community seemed to be adequately nourished and in relatively good health. The villagers were very polite, each waiting patiently in line for their turn at each of the stations. At the hemoglobin monitoring station, one of the workers had a bus to catch to go to work; those who had already been standing in line allowed him to move to the front of the line so he could catch his bus.

The cement crew went through 42 bags of sand, cementing 6 floors. We were blessed with a cool, overcast day so the crew was able to work pretty comfortably. We found that water is transported from the lake at the top of the mountain to each of the homes and therefore each of the families were reluctant to share their water with their neighbors to mix the cement. The dental students worked incredibly hard today, extracting 50 teeth. They were the first to get started and the last to finish because of the volume of patients they saw.

On a very exciting and happy note, Marge's suitcase was successful retrieved from the airport and arrived safely to the MAMA house this evening. A great ending to a great day. Thank you to all for your prayers and support and we look forward to serving another community tomorrow.
Emily for the team

Arrival!

We are here! It is warm and lovely. Flights all smooth. An initial problem of one extra bag of medicine to check (3rd bag cost of $150) gave us an opportunity to experience a God moment...the check-in desk attendent said she took care of it! Such a cool feeling of seeing God at work. But now another bag concern--Marge´s personal bag did not make it to Honduras. We are hoping it shows up tomorrow...Marge is taking it in stride. Please pray for the suitcase to come.

The medicine and donations are all unpacked and sorted. Please pray for a good first day for all tomorrow..everyone to get into the routine of the clinic, good interaction with the persons who come, and strength for the concrete crew.

All very weary..so headed to bed.

Barb for the team

Team # 21- January 2012

Off to San Francisco de Yojoa in 10 days!
Team members-
Cement floor crew: Joe Hohenstein, Don Rice, Jake Rice, Keith Williams, Timmy Magee, Tim Nyce, Dave Rice, Ed Wyse, and Karen Hohenstein
Medical brigade: Jane Barker Hunt, Debbie Barker, Dr. Kathy Roeder, Alicia Roeder, Emily McGrath, Corrie Miller, Marge Wyse, and Barb Rice
Translator- Tim Weaver
Stories to come!!
Thanks for your support and prayers.