Day 7 - 2015

It can't be day 7, we just got here!  This week has flown by! I'm not sure why, but the 7 short days have gone by quicker than ever before. 

Wednesday is typically a light day and I guess this year was no different, although we were very busy. We started out at the AFC clinic loading the remainder (200) of the food bags. 

We carried them to the church building in Cantarranas where, of course, there was a crowd already gathered. 

Carlos shared a short message before the food distribution began. 

While the food was being given out, a few of us went back to the second house to finish up the wiring. We noticed that Francisco (the new homeowner) had been very busy. He had carved steps into the hillside leading down to his new home and coverd them with concrete. 

After finishing up in Cantarranas, we made our way back to Tegucigalpa. We were treated to a tour of Baxter Institute - both the school and the clinic - by Steve Teel, with more than a little help from Ms. Young. It is a beautiful campus and they are doing some great work. 

From there, we went to the mall for lunch and then made one last stop at a city park. This park is home to some type of war memorial and offers great views of the city of Tegucigalpa. 

Finally, it was back to the Hotel for packing and then to the soccer fields for the traditional late night soccer match. This year, we mixed it up and played some American football also. We all had a great time!

It has truly been an amazing trip. I hope I have been able to accurately convey some of what we have experienced through these pages. The need here is so great. It seems that if anything, the gap between rich and poor is getting larger. If you have any questions about supporting the Honduras mission, please ask me (Chris), Joe, or Ricky. Or if you'd like to know more about our trip, just ask anyone who came this year - I'm sure they all have lots of stories! 

Day 6 - 2015

Wow  - how is it day 6 already?! Today was another great day for our team in Honduras. We started the day by loading approx. 100 of the food bags that we prepared on Thursday. We carried these to the church building in Cantarranas. Carlos will deliver them to some remote areas next week. 

Then we set up for a medical / dental clinic in the municipal building on the main square in Cantarranas. As usual, there was a crowd waiting when we got there. 

The medical team saw 167 patients and filled 677 prescriptions. 

Cantarranas is a beautiful town - exactly what you would expect to see in rural Honduras. 

After setting up for the clinic, the construction crew left to finish the second house. 

We made quick work of it and finished before lunch. 

Here is Francisco, the proud new homeowner. 

And again, with the whole crew. 

After finishing, we went down to the square, ate lunch, and just hung out for a while while the medical clinic finished up. Some played soccer and frisbee. 

And some just made new friends. 

We also carried sewing machines to give to the new school in Cantarranas. This is a brand new school and is very impressive. They are going to use the sewing machines to teach the young girls how to sew. 

Then it was back to the Hotel to get ready for our annual group meal at El Patio. 

Day 5 - 2015

This has been a VERY long day but we accomplished an incredible amount. Today's medical clinic was at the church building in Cantarranas. Yet again, people were waiting for us when we arrived. 

Today's clinic saw 157 patients and filled 564 prescriptions. 

The site for the second house was just right around the corner from the church. So after we helped set up for the clinic, the construction crew just walked to the build site. The homeowner had done quite a bit of preparation, but this site wasn't in near as good of shape as the last. 

But still, we managed to make great progress. 

This was also one of the poorer looking sites I can remember in my time here. The living conditions are just impossible to explain if you haven't seen it first hand. I asked Ricky today "how could you live like this?" Then I answered my own question - if you don't know any different, you just live like this. 

After we quit work for the day at both construction and medical, we stopped back by the first house we built. Today was moving day for Ramos and he wanted us to stop and pray blessings over the new home with him. 

The man with the cowboy hat is Ramos' brother in law. He spoke to the group and thanked us for everything we have done for Ramos. 

Then we hurried back to Tegucigalpa to pick up 300 plates of food that the AFC clinic had prepared for us to give away at Hospital Escuela. This is my least favorite part of the trip. It is such a sad place. The waiting room is outside. There is no furniture for family members in the rooms. Patients must furnish their own bedding and often their own medicine. The Hondurans call it the Hospital of Death. 

The Hospital Escuela will definitely make you appreciate the health care we enjoy in the United States. 

Day 4 - 2015

Wow - what a day! Sunday's in Honduras are always the highlight of the trip, and today was no different! 

We arrived at the church building in Cantarranas about 9:30. They are meeting in a house on the edge of town. 

As always, we were welcomed with open arms hearts.  Here is a link to a video of the congregation welcoming us with a song as we arrived. 

http://youtu.be/cPcJeG_8gW8

I couldn't help but think during the service that this must be similar to how the early church met. Fellow believers, packed tightly in a house, worshiping together. 

As an added treat and a special honor for Ms. Suzanne Young, Steve Teel (President of Baxter Institute) was with us to recognize her and Dr. Bill's work at Baxter. 

And then Ricky and Carlos presented plaques to her in both English and Spanish in honor of everything she and Dr. Bill have done for the Honduran people. 

Carlos also presented her with a special painting of Dr. Bill. 

After the church service, we were treated to a wonderful meal prepared by the ladies of the congregation. Then we quickly set up for a medical clinic for the church members. Our medical team saw 53 patients and filled 188 prescriptions. 

While the medical clinic was going on, the rest of us gave away clothing, shoes, eye glasses, and toys. 

And we made some new friends :)

Finally, we drove back over the mountain to Valłe de Angellos for about a hour of shopping and then on to Tegucigalpa and KFC for supper. After supper, we were in for one last treat. Carlos' youngest son asked to be baptized in the Hotel pool and wanted Ricky to do the honors. 

And then everybody in our group (under 30) decided to celebrate with Dillion by jumping in the pool with him! Definitely a fun night and a great end to a great day. 

http://youtu.be/-kKkqpm59ss