Honduras Medical Team 2610

 OUR TEAM “RUNS” ON GOOD SLEEP, GOOD FOOD, PLENTY OF CLEAN WATER…OH YES, AND ON CAFFEINE. BUT OUR DEVOTIONS, MORNING AND EVENING, INSPIRE US FOR THE DAY AHEAD. EACH TEAM MEMBER TAKES A TURN OFFERING A DEVOTION BASED ON A COMMON THEME — THIS YEAR, “ONE OF JESUS’S SAYINGS.” SO FAR, ALL OUR TEAM’S DEVOTIONS HAVE BEEN NOTABLE AND “ON THE MARK” FOR OUR JOB OF MINISTERING TO THE CHURCH COMMUNITY’S ILLNESSES, ACHES AND PAINS. WHAT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO KNOW IS HOW PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. THERE ARE SOME SITUATIONS WE CANNOT ADDRESS WITH MODERN MEDICINE, BUT WITH PRAYER. OUR TWO PRACTITIONERS, DR. PATTY AND R.N. DEB, ADDRESS MANY ISSUES WITH PRAYER — SUCH AS THE SLEEPLESS WOMAN WHOSE 18-YEAR-OLD SON HAS BEEN MISSING FOR TWO WEEKS, THE FAMILY WITH THE 12-YEAR-OLD NONVERBAL DAUGHTER WHO IS CONSTANTLY HUNGRY FOR ATTENTION. AND THE GRANDPA WHO HAS A MUSCLE-WASTING CONDITION AND NEEDS TO IMPROVE HIS NUTRITION AND FITNESS EFFORT. AFTER GIVING APPROPRIATE MEDS OR FOOD SUPP...

WE BEGIN THE DAY WITH A FIVE-HOUR CLINIC, THEN LUNCH AND A QUICK CHANGE OF CLOTHES BEFORE CHURCH AT 4:00 PM. ABOVE: OUR PHARMACIST AND HELPER TAKE A BREATHER WHILE COUNTING MEDS. ABOVE: AT OUR NUTRITION EDUCATION STATION, VISITORS RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT GETTING MORE PROTEIN IN THEIR DIET, PLUS SOME DENTAL AND SKINCARE TIPS. THEY RECEIVE A GIFT-BAG OF ITEMS FOR THEIR TEETH AND SKIN. ABOVE: WE ATTEND THE CHURCH SERVICE FROM 4:00 - 5:00 ABOVE: THE DAY’S READINGS AND HYMNS. FOLLOWING THE SERVICE, THE TEAM SINGS JESUS LOVES ME IN ENGLISH, THEN THE CONGREGATION JOINS IN FOR THE SPANISH VERSES. ABOVE: A PHOTO OF THE CONGREGATION WITH THE TEAM.

OUR TEAM BENEFITS FROM 1 Medical Doctor, 1 Physical Therapist, 1 Registered Pharmacist, 4 Registered Nurses, a student nurse, and 4 sharp non-medical team members willing to fill in where needed (in the pharmacy, entertaining the children, assisting with Health & Nutrition Education.) Above: Our P.T. has been a wonderful addition to the team. A first-timer on a MOST team, he has been busy all day, treating skeletal and muscular problems. Above:  Our Student Nurse wraps the legs of a woman with painful varicose veins. Above:  A helper plays ball with some of the local boys. Above: Our M.D. with her translator from two years ago and the translator’s grandma. The grandma’s hip that Dr. Patty treated two years ago still is pain-free. Above:  Twins? Either that, or they got the email to wear black scrubs. Above:  Our clinic has open hours from 9:00 to 3:00. From 3:00 to 4:00 we see the remaining patients, record the day’s stats and prep for the next day. Here the Past...

 THE SIOUX FALLS TEAM READY TO BOARD 24 LARGE SUITCASES OF PROJECT MEDS AND SUPPLIES FIRST STOP WAS IGLESIA CASTILLO FUERTE IN LA PAZ. OUR TEAM THIS WEEK INCLUDES THE PASTOR AND HIS FAMILY, 6 TRANSLATORS, AND “THE TWO MARIAS” WHO WILL FIX OUR LUNCHES WHILE WE HOLD MEDICAL CLINICS. WHEN WE FINALLY ARRIVED AT HOTEL DEL ANGEL, HOT, SWEATY AND TIRED, THIS POOL BECKONED US. THREE BATHING BEAUTIES CUTTHROAT CARD GAMES BY THE POOL BEFORE DINNER OUR TRADEMARK AFTER-DINNER ICE CREAM TREATS. WE’VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO SAMPLING CENTRAL AMERICA’S FAMOUS “SARITA” ICE CREAM.