Day 3 - 2015

It's been another wonderful day in Honduras! Our medical team conducted a second clinic where they saw 168 patients and filled 541 prescriptions. Once again, we were met with a long line of people waiting to see the doctors when we arrived. 

The construction team made quick work of finishing up the first house. 

This house is for a single gentleman named Ramon. He is in he back row of this picture, just to my right. 

This is his "kitchen". 

And some youngsters from the "neighborhood" that we introduced to American football. 

Tomorrow is sure to be one of the best days of the trip as we will travel back to Cantarranas to worship with the new congregation there. The congregation from Valle de Angelos with also be joining us. After the church service, we plan to host another medical clinic for members of the church.  And then after the clinic, we'll probably finish out the day shopping in Valle de Angelos. 

Day 2 - 2015

Looking back, all of my blog posts seem to have a recurring theme - very long, yet very productive / rewarding days. Today was no different. We left the hotel at 730 local time and made stops at the AFC clinic to pick up medicine, and the convenience stop to buy snacks and food for the day. 

Then we were off to Valle de Angelos for our first medical clinic. There was a long line of people already waiting when we got there. 

This clinic was in what appeared to be an elementary school building. 

The clinic was a great success. We saw over 180 patients (both medical and dental) and filled 641 prescriptions. We also hosted a VBS and cut hair while the patients were being seen. 

After unloading the medicine, the construction crew drove over the mountain to Cantarranas and began construction on the first house. 

The homeowner had already done a lot of work prepping the site so we were able to get right to work. 

It's was a full day of construction. We were able to get all 4 walls up and both the door frame and 1 window frame set. 

Like so many of the build sites we've visited here, the view was breathtaking!

We finished off the day with a group meal at Pizza Hut. 

Tomorrow we plan to have another medical / dental clinic, and hopefully finish the house. 

Hola from Tegucigalpa!

We have arrived in Honduras safe and sound. We were blessed with a near perfect day of traveling. All flights were on time and all luggage arrived with us!

What a joyous sight it was to walk out of the airport and see so many familiar faces! Dear friends who become like family after a short time here. 

After loading all bags at the airport, we went to our Hotel to get checked in and freshen up. Then it was off to Wendy's for the traditional first day American fast food meal, and on to the Ambassadors for Christ clinic to pack food bags. This year, we were able to purchase enough supplies to pack food bags for over 300 families. These bags contain enough staple items to provide a family nourishment for a week or longer. A note is also included that says the food is given in the name of Jesus Christ by the church of Christ in the Valle de Angelos. 

Tomorrow we will begin construction on the first house as well as conduct a medical / dental clinic in Cantarranas. Pray for good weather, safety and good health, and that we will touch the lives of the Honduran people as much as they touch ours. 

Headed home! - 2014

We are currently sitting in the Miami airport, waiting on our connecting flight to Nashville. The flight from Tegucigalpa was smooth and on time. We hope we will be able to say the same about our next flight, although it has already been delayed 20 minutes. 

I cannot express what a great week this has been. This trip is such a blessing every year!  I would encourage everyone to try to experience it at least once. But be prepared - it you go once, you may fall in love with Honduras and the Honduran people like I have and find yourself going back year after year. 

Day 7 - 2014

Wow, how did it get to be day 7 already?! This week has flown by! I think everyone in our group would agree that this has been a fantastic trip. And one again, we have probably been blessed more from the experience than anyone that we have tried to help.

Day 7 was the day we handed out the food bags.  Somehow, Carlos had gotten word out in the area that we would be passing out food from the church building. Of course, there was already a line when we arrived. 

Carlos spoke for about 45 minutes and then we passed out the bags as people left. 

I am always touched by how gracious and how thankful the people are that we are able to give food to. You have to wonder how many would not have eaten this day if we have not been there. 

The ladies and some of the teenagers conducted another VBS while we were passing out food bags. 

And then after we were done, we spent the rest of the afternoon touring the park where the statue of Jesus overlooks the city of Tegucigalpa. 

We made a quick stop by the grocery store on the way back to our Hotel. Everyone stocked up on coffee, vanilla, and last minute souvenirs. Then it was off to the indoor soccer field for an American / Honduran grudge match. 

Even one of guards got in on the action!

I think the final talley was 1 - 1 with the Honduran girls beating the American girls and the American men beating the Honduran men. 

 

Day 6 -2014

Day 6 started the same as most: an early breakfast, quick stop at the "On the Run" convenience store, and then off to our appointed work sights for the day. First we set up the medical clinic. Tuesday's clinic was at another school in the Valley of the Angels. This school was only about 10 minutes from the church building. 

As usual, we had several people already waiting for us when we arrived. 

The medical team quickly got set up to see patients while Ms Amy, Ms Sally, Erin, and several of our young people got a VBS started. 

The construction team went back to the church building to begin work on their new baptistery. Men from the church already had the sight prepped. 

I found myself missing my Kubota several times throughout the day. It was a VERY hard day of moving gravel, sand, water, cement, and blocks by hand. The way the Hondurans work is simple amazing. They go 100%, non-stop, with never a word of complaint. And actually, I can't say enough about some of our young people. They worked side by side with the men all day. 

After construction and medical on day 6, head headed back to the Hotel to get ready for our annual group meal at El Patio. But, we were in for a huge surprise - Derrick (Carlos' middle son) had decided to be baptized! Ricky baptized him in the Hotel swimming pool as soon as we got back. 

Then it was off to El Patio for a wonderful meal. A perfect ending to a fantastic day. 

Day 5 - 2014

I will let the pictures tell most of the story in tonight's post. Today was a day of "hurry up and wait". It was a day where our medical team served over 160 people. It was a day where our construction team put a roof on a mud house for a single mother who couldn't afford to do it herself. It was a day where we delivered meals to 500 people at one of the saddest places imaginable - the public hospital in downtown Tegucigalpa. It was a day where we will go to bed feeling like we made a difference in some people's lives and praying for those that we can't.