A day in the neighborhood and with the kids!

Today we got to spend our day on the prayer walk and with the kid’s ministry. This is always a fun day and one I look forward to. 

It was nice to see the kids at the San Juan school so excited to see us again. Or should I say, they were excited to see the kids that were on our team. This year we took some middle and high school kids with us and they were able to make a connection with the kids there. It was great to see them interact together. They didn’t need to speak Spanish, they spoke “kid” language! One that I have outgrown and am not fluent in anymore.

We had a praise and worship time in the school and the kids all came together to sing then had our lesson and craft. That is always fun. We even had time to play our relay game that we did in LaCampa. Once we were done, we all went outside to get ready to go home and the kids didn’t want to go home. They hung around for a long time just to be with us and fellowship. Even the horses wanted to be around us all! Not sure where they came from, but, tada!  there they were. 

Once we got done and everything cleaned up, we went for our prayer walk through the neighborhood. We broke into groups like last year and went knocking on doors. Lucy and I were able to minister to a lady named Maria. She was unable to come to the clinic the day before and we were able to pray for her. We also met Alejandra. She runs the little puperia in the neighborhood. We talked and prayed for her too. We tried to buy a coke from her, but she would have none of it. She gave us this gift and we graciously accepted. And even though I despise pepsi, I drank it because it was hot, I was thirsty, but most of all, she gave it to me as a gift. 

Then we met Jose and his little sister. He spoke English! He said he is in college in Tegucigalpa and graduates in 2020. He is studying to be a chef! How great is that.

The end of the day I found this quote and how true this is every day. 

“In every encounter we either give life or we drain it; there is no neutral exchange.” 

~Brennan Manning

What do you do?

Romans 10: 10-13

“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the scripture says, anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame. For there is no difference between Jews or Gentile, the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Amen y Amen

Bendiciones,

Alejandra

Jose

clinic 5- San Juan

Clinic 5 today. One more after today.

We had our clinic in San Juan today and we saw 133 people…..in 4 hrs!!

I was struggling working this day. It was so HOT! And working with the local doctor was hard to get use to. I am used to working with doctors in US and they do things and think about things differently. But she was there to help our clinics and to see the people. 

We did have a small cool breeze, but it was short lived. 

So, you read where we saw 133 in 4 hrs?? Why only 4hrs? We ran out of meds today. We saw so many people, so many people that have needs, that we ran out. That tells me: 1. There are a lot of people that have needs, 2. We are helping as many as we can.

We still have one more clinic this week. Tomorrow, they are going to go out and purchase more meds.

I saw so many that needed their ears cleaned! We flushed, we picked out ear wax and hopefully the kids can now hear better!  Also, Jen worked the pharmacy table and she did some feet cleaning on the kids! And she says she isn't medical! I think differently. 

Thank goodness for the women from the church. They helped set up, register people to be seen and helped us take it all down. Then they had to set up for church that night! They are amazing in their love for God and their support for their church.

After the clinic, we had church that night at San Juan. And boy was it a bug fest! So many bugs. My bug spray is definitely working over time! But it was a good time with everyone. I always enjoy when we preach, and our interpreters will interpret the sermon for the others. It is so interesting to hear how they work so well together. 

I am so glad my dad is here with me. I love sharing this experience with him. He has such a big heart. 

Bendiciones,

Pharmacy table with Jen

My table 

My dad helping her to the pharmacy table

Ear cleaning time

Home away from home

Have you ever just been somewhere, and it feels like home? I have. Honduras. LaCampa and Tela. Every time I arrive, we are welcomed with smiles.

But sometimes, don’t you feel, even when you are at home, that satan tries to keep happiness from us? He will attempt to try to get you to concentrate on the hard work and how tired you feel to take away from the feeling of doing something good for others.

People are watching you all the time. Whether you are at home, at work or away on mission. And it just isn’t the people you serve. It is your family, your co-workers, team mates.

 

One this day, 4/1/19, we had devotion day on the beach. All of us together and we all get a chance to talk about what has touched us so far in our mission. The God moment for me was when my dad spoke up during this share time. My dad has a lot to say, but sometimes you get his wisdom only in small groups. But today, I was proud that he spoke up. He said a lot that taught me that the small actions we do are noticed, not just the big actions.

He talked about how he witnessed us in the clinic treating patients and how busy we were. You see, this was the first year that dad was not on the construction site. He worked with us at the clinic. This was a big change in roles for him and an adjustment. But he told us all in share time that he witnessed in our care that we leaned in, listened intently, we took our time like we were the only people there. He would see us lay our hand on their shoulder to show we care. We may not have even realized it, but God shown through those actions.

 

In the times past, I would feel rushed, like I had to see all the patients that came through or the clinics were a failure. It puts a lot of pressure on you as a clinician to perform quickly. Things may get missed or the patient may not feel like we care. This year, I realized, that I do not have to rush. I promised myself that I would take my time and “see” the patient’s, then treat them.

It is such a joy to be a blessing to others, not just my patients.

 

 

After hearing this, I was even more determined to be all I can for the patients I cared for at the clinics. There was a lot of God’s love showing in the small things after this.

At the clinic, I saw a 88 yo lady with high BP. Her BP was high and she was out of her medications. She said she was dizzy and hadn’t eaten. We were able to treat her BP then, give her some food. We took her to the ministry table for Antonio to pray over her. She said she felt like she was too weak to walk home. Little did I know that the miracles in care didn’t stop. He asked Eddie, one of our team if he would drive her home and he did. What a witness to her.

 

I have learned to see the miracles of God in the small things. Look around. You will see them too.

Bendiciones,

Where did I see God?

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean no on your own understanding. In all you ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Today we left LaCampa to head to Tela…8 hr drive…In the van. And did I mention, get ready for some TMI..I haven’t pooped in for 4 days! I had to take Imodium because of, well you know. Now I am paying for it! Ok enough about poop. I am sure I will get relief soon!

We have planned for our day off tomorrow to get up to watch the sunrise. It’s at 5:45am. That’s early for a gal that isn’t a morning person!

So, the next morning we got up to watch the sunrise and it was not disappointing. It was beautiful. Something that we see and take for granted every day, when you just sit and watch it happen, it makes you think about how big and majestic our world is.

So where did I see God?

In the sunrise, and the beauty of the colors and how the sky changes over each minute.

I met 2 different people at the hotel.

1- A guy came to me at the hotel and asked me where I was from- IN ENGLISH!! I had to do a double take. We talked some and he is from New Orleans but has family in Tela and was visiting. Such a small world.

2- the second guy, I couldn’t hardly understand his English, but he said he had lived in Key West and moved to Tela. We talked about Kentucky and Florida and how they were different but beautiful the same.

With both, we had great conversations talking about the states and why we were in Tela and why our team was here and what we were doing. I was glad that I had the courage to talk with them and witness to them.

 

So, in our down time today, we all gathered around the table together and we colored. All of us, men and women. Coloring is not only for kids, it is also for kids at heart! I am excited because dad will be showing up later with team 2!!

 

Bendiciones,

coloring

van ride

"no swimming"

more coloring

Clinic 3; 2019

We went back to Coaloca today! It was great to go back there to the school and see all the kids again. This is the 3^rd time I have been there, and it is always fun. We saw 151 people and kids today. I got to hold a few babies today. Holding babies is a highlight of our clinics but it comes with a price. I got pee’d on! I missed having Meily there with us at the clinics. We like to try to hold as many babies as we can at the clinics. We didn’t see to many sick people, but it is always great to help them out with what they need.

This week started off horrible for me and taking me to do a lot of soul searching and praying about my attitude and with God’s help, he has turned my heart around and placed the love of what we do back into my heart.

Over the next year, I am going to have to get into better shape. The cabins we are staying in, I have to walk up a lot of stairs to get to it up the hill. I am starting to get into shape right now!

 

Bendiciones,