Baby Bag Party

 

While we were home for Christmas break Martha and Theda had collected enough items for well over two hundred bags.  I asked them to come to my home and we would put them together.  We had so much fun that afternoon in the middle of the living room floor.  There was laughter and there was excitement about how much they had collected.  Theda shared she has become addicted to collecting the items.  Any time she is out and about she will stop to see if a particular thrift store has any of the items needed for the baby bags.  During all the snow North Carolina had allowed Theda to make blankets and diapers while she was snowed in at home.  Martha goes twice a week to one location to check their stock to see if they have any of the items. 

Patricia, Carole and Ginger go to local yard sales and their church family assist them as well. Patricia shared during Christmas with me how she loves to get up on Saturday morning and hit the yard sales to hopefully find the items for the baby bags.  One interesting part to Patricia's story is Carole and Ginger have not ever met.  So you have five ladies serving the same Lord with the same calling to collect baby bags for the local hospital in Choluteca, Honduras. 

Martha was at an estate sell one day looking for beanie babies.  She met a lady who was coming on a mission trip to Choluteca, Honduras the next week.  It is a very small world we live in.  Sometimes when the different places find out where the baby items are going the merchants or yard sales will donate the items.  But a lot of the time the ladies are wheeling and dealing to get their best buy for their monies.  They all spend so much time going and collecting these items each week.  It is humbling for me to know the love which is going into each bag for these babies.  The ladies pray over the baby bags as they put them together.  Praying for the families as well as the newborn who will be receiving these baby bags. 

There is not enough words to say thank you for all you all have done for this additional ministry here in Choluteca, Honduras.  I started out with one hundred bags a month and thanks to you ladies I can sometimes take up to two hundred or at least one hundred fifty a month. 

 

The master replied, "Well done good and faithful servant!"

Matthew 25:23

 

 

 

Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine

 

North Carolina Baptist Men would like to introduce to everyone our first medical student team.  Campbell University has begun a medical school on their campus.  This group of young people is their first team to go international.  We were honored and privileged to work beside them for five days.  We did not know what to expect as we all prepared on this side and the NC side to get them ready to come assist in medical care for the people of Honduras and for them to learn how the people are cared for here in Honduras.  I would like to introduce to you, Liza, Dominique, Sara, Victor, Irina, Shaina, Moe, and  Leslie.  They were instructed by Dr. John, Dr. Brian, Dr. Charlotte, Dr. Francine, Dawn, Rebecca and Col. Bill. 

Now let's begin the journey of our first medical "student" team.  A team I must say who was flexible, eager to learn, focused and all were team players.  There was not a task at hand they did not or would not attempt.  They were learning how to take care of physical needs. They grew spiritually this week as well.  These young people took their spring break and served God in mighty ways. 

 

"For I am the Lord your God

who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear;

I will help you."

Isaiah 41:13 

Welcome to Colonia Williams

 

Campbell Medical Staff and Students arrived at their first location bright and early on Monday morning to a precious community called Colonia Williams.  Pastor Ramon Vargas greeted us with a huge smile of gratitude for providing his people a medical clinic.  We all gathered inside the church to introduce ourselves and to pray with the community.  God also blessed us this week with five awesome translators, thank you to Maida, Kora, Kelly, Gino and Efraine.  Also God blessed us with our Dr. Brenda who is the Honduran doctor.  This group of people, North Americans and Hondurans had never worked as a team before.  The North Americans knew of each other but did not know each other personally.  I sat back and watched as the morning unfolded into the most amazing medical clinic which only God could have provided.  Each person allowed God to use them in mighty ways even as they were setting up their stations.  They discussed and discussed some more.  They all worked hard as team players to get their first morning up and running.  The Hondurans started arriving and waiting patiently to have a chance to see a doctor.  The community provided tables and chairs which came from their different homes. After an hour of preparation the team was ready to see their very first patient.  God is good all the time.

 

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed."

Proverbs 16:3 

Bill and his pharmacy crew

 

While they were sitting up their different stations everyone pitched in to help Bill set up the pharmacy.  They all worked diligently to make their day of dispersing medicines run smoothly.  Dominique worked the first day with Bill.  Someone shared how Dominique was giving each child a sticker who came through the pharmacy.  At the end of the day when everyone was pushing themselves to get the job done, Dominique was still giving out stickers to each child as if they were the first patient of the day.  Dominique shared how appreciative each patient was of the medical care they received.  The pharmacy filled over 500 prescriptions the first day.  Job well done Dominique and Bill.

 

The Lord replied, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Exodus 33:14

 

 

One last word of encouragement

 

Dr. Brian shared a few words of encouragement and last minute instructions before they all separated to their different stations.  Each student rotated out daily to a different station to get the experience of each doctor and the pharmacy.  This was a week of learning as well as providing health care.  Dr. Brian encouraged each of his students as they were all there learning for the first time together.  This was an amazing week as each day introduced new and exciting learning experiences for all of us.

 

"The Lord is my light and my salvation,

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life,

of whom shall I be afraid."

Psalm 27:1 

Our first patient

 

Our First Patient

 

 

 

As Dawn and Kora check in the first patient the medical team is still sharing last minute thoughts with Dr. Brenda.  They wanted to make sure everything was just right for their patients.  Dr. Charlotte and her translator for the week Gino enjoyed working together getting their work station prepared with the help of Leslie, medical student.  They had lots of fun serving the Lord together.  Gino was such a willing servant, more than a translator.  He was there to do whatever Dr. Charlotte needed.  Dr. John was coaching Shaina on medical techniques before their first patient arrived.  This team took their medical responsibilities to a whole new level of commitment.  They wanted to give the people of Colonia Williams their best.

 

"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people."

Ephesians 6:7

 

 

Dr. Charlotte caring for the elderly

 

Rebecca's job was to deliver each patient to the doctors.  Dr. Charlotte's first patient of the day was an elderly lady of 75 years and maybe 50 pounds.  It took Rebecca a while to get her to Dr. Charlotte's location.  She was a frail little lady with a sweet spirit.  As I observed Dr. Charlotte's bed side manner with her tears formed in my eyes.  Dr. Charlotte treated her as is if she was the only patient she had for the day.  She treated her with tender loving care as she touched her frail body.  The 75 year old had good bone structure and some strength in her legs.  Her mobility was fine.  Dr. Charlotte showed this lady Jesus and how she is special in His eyes. What a beautiful act of compassion shown to this little lady. Thank you Dr. Charlotte for showing me Jesus on this bright and beautiful morning in Colonia Williams, Choluteca, Honduras. "

 

"But I will restore you to health

and heal your wounds."

Jeremiah 30:17

Dr. Brian and Dr. John share a room

 

As the morning progressed Rebecca continued bringing patients to each room.  They saw a lot of mal nutrition and body aches and pains.  Dr. Brian was able to take a broken table and lay a lady on it and pop a rib back in place.  On the end of the first day they saw 87 patients and on Wednesday they were able to see 132 patients. Please realize they were having teaching moments as well as seeing the patients.  On the first day they did several complete physicals to give the students some experience in several areas of medicine.  They took the resources before them and provided excellent health care to each and every person who came through the medical clinic. 

Some of the God moments for this community were the women's hands were working hands.

Liza asked one lady what she did for a living and the woman smiled and said, " I cook, clean the house, collect firewood for cooking and whatever else needs to be done for my family."  Liza said she said this with such pride.  Do we take pride in our everyday routine of living?  Do we praise the Lord for the opportunity to cook and clean our homes?  Do  whatever it takes to help our family as needed and do it with such joy?  Sara shared how simple is a joyful way of life.  The children are really children here.  They enjoy playing outside and getting dirty playing soccer.  The children enjoy life to the fullest.  Leslie shared how she enjoyed watching them play together.  One of the students shared how we connected very quickly with the Honduran people.  The Honduran people are full of love for others and put others before themselves.  Our first medical clinic was a huge success and we all walked away with so much more than we went there with.  We were far more blessed than the 219 patients we saw this week. Thank you Campbell Medical School for a job well done.

"Well done good and faithful servant."

Matthew 25:23

Assessing the first clinic

 

The team returns to the mission house to get ready for clinic number two.  They sat around the dining room table discussing the pros and cons of their first experience.  These students were so intense and focused on their task at hand.  Their maturity level was evident in their commitment to the purpose of this mission trip.  This was not a vacation for these folks.  This was not their typical spring break. This was a huge learning experience and they took advantage of every single minute of it.  The entire week was like this.  Even down to making their lunches on a daily basis.  Dr. Francine could not get through with supper and she was ready to get her task done.  Dr. Francine and Dr. Charlotte made over 40 sandwiches every night with a smile on their faces.  Dr. Francine had a very special technique of applying the jelly to the bread.  I always learn something new here in Honduras.  Thank you ladies for providing a nutritious and delicious lunch daily for your team.

 

"I will praise the Lord, who counsels me, even at night my heart instructs me.  I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."

Psalm 16:7-8

Campbell Univesity Medical Team Second Location

 

The team arrives after about a forty five minute journey to a quaint little village called Aqua Agna.  It is nestled up above the village, Las Cabasas.  This community has no electricity or running water.  The team used their flexibility skills and trudged along in sitting up their medical clinic.  They discussed what they were blessed with and used it to glorify God.  The translators once again did more than translate.  They helped carry and do whatever was needed to get this clinic up and running.  After about thirty minutes or so they were ready to get blessed once again. Dr. Charlotte shared a devotional out of Isaiah for their hump day earlier that morning.

 

"Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and His understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the week.

Even youth grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles,

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not grow faint."

Isaiah 40:28-31

 

 

Pharmacy at Aqua Agna

 

This set up was entirely different from their first location.  Bill goes to assess the facility for the pharmacy.  It is an adobe building with a window on the front to disperse the medicines.  As they were sitting up the room was rather dark from lack of sunshine.  This area had a lot of trees which provided some shade and a breeze once in a while.  But there was very little light.  So the commissioner of the village, Hector provided a generator which then provided light for the pharmacy.  Hector came up later with a floor fan for the team to use.  This community gave beyond any of our expectations.  There was a shelf laying out against another building.  Bill ask could he use it.  They cleaned it up and brought the shelf to Bill to store his medicines on.  The pharmacy was ready to provide their services. 

 

"Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find. knock and the door will be open to you."

Matthew 7:7 

Patients come a long way on foot

 

The title of this blog is Patients come a long way on foot.  This young man walked a long way with his infected foot.  He is 20 years old and works in the melon fields I believe.  This accident happened a month ago.  He got cut on one of the tractors.  He did not go to the hospital because he could not afford the cost. Dr.  Brian immediately decided to let Dr. Brenda care for this young man.  Dr. Brenda learned he had not had any medical care for his cut.  The foot was swollen and looked infected.  Dr. Brenda graciously cleaned the wound.  She decided there was not a need to stitch it because it was healing from the inside out.  The students came over to observe Dr. Brenda's procedures and to learn how the Hondurans care for their patients.  Dr. Brenda did an outstanding job providing all she could for this young man.  Victor experienced a patient who they seem to think had cancer.  She possibly has had it for many years.  There was very little medical care they could do for this lady.  But Victor asked her could they pray with her.  She was very gracious and said yes.  Sometimes when nothing else works prayer always works.  God is bigger than all the medicines man provides.  The team saw a total of 220 patients the three days they served Aqua Agna.  Three of their patients were house calls.  They learned quiet a bit from each other and the beautiful people of Honduras during their five day visit.   One day on their lunch break Moe, Bill and Irina went on a field trip with one of the men in the community. He took them to his favorite spot, his special spot.  Bill shared how beautiful the country of Honduras was from this location.  How this gentleman took the time to share with them his special place and they were all forever blessed by this experience. 

 

"He brought me out into a spacious place, he rescued me because he delighted in me."

Psalm 18:19 

 

 

 

 

Our Gentle Giant

 

Dr. Brian was every one's God moment on the second day of the clinic.  He and Irina had two children who came in with din gee.  The little girl was much worse than the little boy. They were both siblings.  She was running a high fever and was as limp as a dish rag.  Dr. Brian consulted Dr. Brenda and she said to get her immediately to the hospital.  So Dr. Brian carried this little one to the Kia and placed her in the back sit ever so gently as Jose took her and her family to the local hospital.  Unlike this particular patient Dr. Brian had a dear friend of ours, David, age 4 who was not so gentle.  David obviously has had a bad experience with a doctor sometime in his life.  He kicked and scream the entire time Dr. Brian and Dominique was caring for him.  Dr. Brian jokingly asked Dominique was she still interested in going in to Pediatrics.  She said with a huge smile ,"Of  course." Thank you God for sending this medical team at this time and place to hopefully save this little girl's life.  This family could not afford a bus to get her to the hospital.  This team provided a lot more than health care to these people, They provided them hope.  The team  did not know coming in what or who God would put before them.  But they did know this, they were serving a mighty God who is awesome and bigger than anything imaginable.  Words or pictures cannot describe the week we all just experienced.  Thank you Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine for coming here and entrusting us with your staff and students.  We were truly blessed.

 

"The unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

I Peter 3:4b