Tuesday January 13, 2015 Casa Viejas, Santa Cruz de Yojoa

Today the team was up early and enjoying scrambled eggs and bacon with tortillas!  We only had a one hour drive to Casas Viejas, Santa Cruz.  We set up in the school classrooms while people waited for the medical brigade to begin.  I worked with Adrienne Vehec at the deworming station and a wonderful local lady named Lydia.  Lydia spoke fluent English and Spanish which helped when issues came up.  We had way over 100 children plus many women and men.  Most of the children were calm and cooperative but once in awhile a little one didn't think taking vitamin A was a good idea and loudly refused.  One little girl wouldn't even take a sticker after we battled down the Vitamin A.  Later at the end of the day I tried to give the same little girl crayons and a coloring page but the she just yelled remembering the vitamin A!
There were many large families and they traveled through the centers; registration, deworming, vitamin A, blood pressure, anemia testing, height and weight, and micronutrients and finally goodies.  I looked up once in awhile and watched the happy faces as Eva Yoder helped people selected a small toy or Beanie Baby or clothing for children.  Evan Trauger had a nice family give him rubber band bracelets.  The children loved them!  Another woman donated a Beanie Baby collection that was her moms.  I wish her mom could see how happy she made so many children.
The concrete crew did 48 bags of concrete.  The first two homes were brothers.  They each helped helped the concrete crew and each other with water and sand.  One lady worked at the first two homes and then at her own.  I am sure she will sleep well tonight.  Neighbors donated water, they received freely and gave freely!  Joe enjoyed seeing a large blonde feathered rooster.  At one home there was a beautiful huge white rabbit with red eyes.
As we traveled home we had a few misty showers.  We had twenty two for a spaghetti dinner and then ended the evening with devotions and a paraphrase of The Lord's Prayer.  It was a day full of blessings.  We all appreciate your prayers.
Enjoying the warm weather and all the team members.  Appreciated the staff and their hard work.
Reporting for the team, Ruth Hohenstein