Monday - la Mealer

Today was a leap in faith day. With 13 team members from Pennsylvania and another 13 Honduran doctors, translators and helpers, and about 6 suitcases of medicines, supplies, toys for the kids, and crafts for later in the day, we set out for the community of la Mealer. How would we transport all of these people and all of these supplies we needed?  Well, Dinora and the staff from ACEM had it figured out, and we had enough vehicles and a pickup truck to transport us all for the hour and 15 minute drive - about 55 minutes on decent highway, and 20 minutes on bumpy dirt roads, through palm oil plantations.

It took our team some time to figure out where to set up in the church and two rooms of the preschool, but we were soon seeing patients, and both our new team members and our return members were doing well at their various tasks.  

The heat was almost unbearable, with the temperature in the mid-nineties and the humidity equally as high. It didn't take long for many of us to have wet shirts. Isn't a "wicking" shirt supposed to stay dry?

The doctors consulted with 202 patients today. The lines were steady all morning, and we finished up around 3:30 in the afternoon. The waits were long, especially for the moms carrying a child and another hanging onto their side. With the high heat, many of the little ones were crying and probably wanted to go back to their houses.  But, the mothers were all very patient.

Pastor Jesus Hernandez and his wife were with us much of the day, and he recalled how DRE had a team there about 10 years ago, and we prayed with him in their old bamboo sided church. Today, they have a large unfinished concrete block church, and he is hoping to find funding to finish the church.

One of the teachers at the pre-school, Aracely, recognized me, and helped me to remember that I was on the team 10 years ago that helped her husband, Antonio, build their house. They also had a son, Jorge, who was confined to a wheelchair as a result of MS. At that time, Jorge was strong enough to propel himself around. Today, Aracely wanted a small group of us to come over to their house, about a 5 minute walk. When we got there, she went into a back room, and came out carrying Jorge in her arms. This 6 year-old is now 16, and the family has surrounded him with their love and constant care, as he is no longer able to do anything on his own. His muscles have shriveled up to nothing. But, the family continues to thank God for each day that Jorge is with them!

Our first day went really well, in spite of the awful heat. Everyone is healthy and enjoying our time together, and we're looking forward to what God has planned for us tomorrow. We will have a 1 1/2 hour drive, so we'll be leaving our hotel by 7:30. Continue praying for our team, our DRE group and also our Honduran brothers and sisters.

For the team,  Bob Moyer