The main work undertaken by the group was a public health clinic held for a week in the community of San Isidro, near La Esperanza, in the high mountains in the central-west area of the country. In the group were two MDs, two Nurse Practitioners, and two RNs. Allan Richards provided translation support for the health team. Translation was also provided by staff of the Christian Commission for Development (CCD), and by two Peace Corps volunteers living in San Isidro. The rest of the group worked in supporting roles for the clinic, packing pills in unit doses, writing labels, running errands, and playing with the children of the community. They spent part of one day helping with a construction project, and spent one morning with children in the local school.
We were living and working in the region where funds from the Foundation of Faith campaign will help to buy land and develop an education, health and training facility with (CCD). We hope that this trip will continue to develop the mission partnership we have begun with the CCD in that region of Honduras. Our experience was a blessing both of giving and receiving. Living in the community of San Isidro for a week and sharing the life of the people there was wonderful. We have established a bond of friendship and shared work with them which we hope to continue. We all look forward to the next trip! |
|
|
HONDURAS MEDICAL TEAM Friday, July 20 Most of us met at church this morning at 4:00 a.m. Our anxieties have been replaced with excitement for the most part and we are ready for the adventure! It was a hot, humid July morning in Kentucky and I looked forward to the 75-60 degree temps we were traveling to. God bless Stuart for driving us in the van – I caught a great nap on the way to Cincy! We met up at the airport with Jim and Barbara and we were off! O yeah – I should note a thanks to Sam for fixing all our boxes of supplies and organizing so well. I’ve gotten somewhat acquainted with everyone and the group seems very comfortable with each other. The flights were smooth and I caught another nap on the way to Houston – that one Tylenol PM was doing a good job. When we arrived in Tegucigalpa, the view from the plane was beautiful.
I noticed how the houses were built in harmony with the mountains, as
opposed to our version of bulldozing everything down so that we can
mathematically squeeze everyone into the subdivision sardine can. I liked
it already! We made it through customs without any problems. A short drive to Monte Carmelo, mostly up. We enjoyed getting to see how people lived in the city. There were many stairs, no wonder no one is fat. What we have seen of the countryside is beautiful. As we pulled up the hill to Monte Carmelo we saw the breeding farm for the Heifer Project, then the camp, which is very nice. We unpacked in our dorms, chatted and sorted out meds that Helen had on hand from previous visitors. Some of the team enjoyed a trail around the grounds. Barbara, Louis, Audrey and I played a little game of horse. I was the first one out. Our biggest excitement of the game was when the ball escaped through a hole in the fence and I went running after it down the mountain, just trying not to break an ankle. Thankfully it stopped before it got to the bottom! We were really ready for dinner at 4 p.m. [6 p.m. Kentucky time]. Doreen and I helped make passion fruit juice that was a treat. We also had chicken and rice, mixed vegetables (carrots, broccoli and squash), tortillas and banana bread. I think we all had seconds. Tim Wheeler did a nice presentation about CCD, Heifer Project, and Honduras. We all tried to stay awake, but it wasn’t because it was boring! I was in bed asleep before the lights were out! Thus ends day 1, volume 1 of the diary – sorry, my husband and editor is not here to give you my reader’s digest version.
Saturday, July 21 We were awakened this morning by an incredible symphony of bird songs. An occasion when one wishes that one was more learned in bird calls – some sounded familiar. Everyone arose at different times with several people helping in the kitchen which included squeezing fresh orange juice. Breakfast (and supper the night before) was prepared by Luisa and consisted of fresh pineapple and cantaloupe, toast and homemade pineapple jam, coffee, juice and oatmeal – our version was between the Honduran variety of mostly milk and a little oatmeal and the American style of mostly oatmeal with a little milk. Unfortunately, Mike’s stomach seems to not be tolerating the Chloroquine well and didn’t eat breakfast. With the help of dramamine and phenergan, he recovered later in the day.
We get to La Esperanza and no one is at the CCD office. We eat at a bakery next door – sandwiches that Luisa prepared for us. We took a walk through the market in town. Open air market with fruits and vegetables and booths that sell just about everything else. Helen told us that the people were small and she was right – we towered over them.
Seems they were expecting us a little longer than we will be here – so while our plans said we would open clinic on Monday, it looks as though we’ll get started tomorrow. So it’s off to set up the clinic and pharmacy. Dinner was vegetables and some sort of pasta with tortillas and a sauce. The pasta was delicious. Then to bed. Interesting to be watched at every moment by children sitting in the windowsills.
The thunder blasted, the lightning flashed, and down came the rain. This was our welcome to San Isidro (Saint of Workers) on Sunday, July 22. For those of us who wondered why the rain was an excellent welcome, we needed to look no further than the stunted plants and the dry soil the Sunday morning walk through the community revealed. Although it rained earlier, there was no running water for showers. We took our showers with water stored in our solar showers from the day before. After, we did various things. Some of us wrote in our journals, others talked among themselves, and others went walking.
After our walk, after eating breakfast, and after spending an hour and a half preparing the clinic, most of us went to church. The people of San Isidro, and perhaps the rest of Honduras, face many problems. Among them the lack of frequent rainfall for crops, health issues, education, and religion. The average campesino working with the government makes 2 Lempiras per day. Assuming that they work six days per week, this comes to less than 1$ U.S. [editor’s note – I read in the CCD annual report for the year 2000 that the average minimum wage in Honduras is $3 a day U.S. - slp] Despite these problems, the people have a very optimistic outlook for the future. I asked myself how could this be? I found at least part of the answer today. The church service was well-attended and the people were encouraged to have hope and perseverance. Their religion and church are a strength for them.
The clinic closed at about 5:00 p.m. We had supper. The thunder blasted, the lightning flashed, and the rain came again. We went to bed.
Monday, July 23 As we heard more and more about "before Mitch" and "after Mitch," and how Hurricane Mitch set Honduras back fifty years I began reflecting on what God wants from his children.
We love, serve, obey God when we love and serve our fellow man, God’s other children. The question is not how could God let Hurricane Mitch happen to those people. The question is how can we NOT help these people all the time. When we see, absolutely know, that these people are without medicine, clean water, etc., and have the means to make life better and do nothing, are we worse than Hurricane Mitch? What kind of Christians are we that it takes a Hurricane Mitch for us to treat others as God has said, as Jesus has taught us to do? There were approximately forty children in the primary grade at the school this morning. The building had about ten classrooms. The older the students, the fewer students in the classroom. Children who can, work at home in the fields.
The school is new, made of concrete block and painted a bluish green (sea green, not turquoise) with a courtyard. The classrooms had one teacher and many student desks. Each desk had two students on its matching wooden bench. The walls had nothing! There were no school supplies in sight. (The room had no closets.) Of course, no computers – no electricity. Books? No! Yes, they were appreciative of the school supplies we brought. How much we [North] Americans waste! How much we could send here instead of discarding! I felt terrible. My class and I could have sent so much that would be of significant help. How I wanted to help!!! One group of children were leaving school at about 8:45 a.m. Their teacher did not come to school so the little ones were dismissed. We were expecting hundreds of patients at the clinic so I didn’t even think to stay and teach. In the pickup truck, Audrey (19 years old) said now she knew what she wanted to do. "I want to improve the education system here."
Nora was ABSOLUTELY wonderful on a home visit today. Jesus was smiling. Nora was professional, but more loving and caring. She touched with love, she questioned with love, she complemented the mother for taking such good care of her daughter with love. What a wonderful experience for me to see what the Lord wants us to do through Nora.
Tuesday, July 24 During the night I witnessed Sam in an unexpected role: a dog started barking just outside our sleeping quarters around 1 a.m. or so. Sam got up and tossed a few rocks in the general direction of the dog – away he went.
After breakfast of corn flakes and a cookie-like bread, we headed to the clinic. The morning was fairly busy but a good pace. Mike saw a couple of fairly sick children – two with pneumonia, and a lot of skin rashes. The non-clinical workers helped with completing the bagging of medications – a big task. We were all ready for the lunch break – a great soup and rice with carrots mixed in. Nora, Mike and Adam had to make a home visit to a woman who had experienced a reaction to medication received earlier. Turned out to be a vasovagal [?] response to stomach irritation, and she recovered uneventfully.
I think everybody was ready for suppertime – tortillas, cheese beans and coffee. After supper, people went in different directions – taking walks, showering, etc. Before supper, Barbara got herself involved in a soccer game with several village boys; they all seemed to enjoy themselves. I’m amazed at how well the clinic runs – village personnel keep
things running. Sam, Barbara, Rosalind and Jennifer do yeoman’s work in
the Farmacia. Now we’re settling into an evening routine – one group is playing cards, another group talking outside, and several reading and writing in their journals. It’s amazing how close to the land people live here; their animals run free in the streets and yards (yards are not yards as we envision them, but represent fenced foraging areas for family livestock). The people are hard-working and have spread their arms to us. I suspect that we’re gaining more from them than vice versa. But we do what we can.
Tuesday, July 24 Four of us went in the afternoon to help a man build a bridge. This was rebuilding one of several in the area which were washed out my Mitch. (The replacement bridge that is currently being used is just a couple of timbers across the stream with planks nailed on to them.)
Since that was a bust, he had us tear down some forms that had been in place to pour some of the concrete pylons for the bridge. We were better at destruction than construction. When we finished with that, Louis and Audrey went to swim, but just soaked their feet in the water. It was rather silty, I guess from recent rains. Rosalind and I sat and talked until our leader finished mortaring, then he began tearing down some scaffolding around the pylons so we helped him. I can’t say we didn’t help him, we did do something, and as I understand it, it is usually just him working on the bridge by himself, but we weren’t a great help. In terms of construction, they seem well skilled in getting done what they want to build or have the money to build. We personally can’t contribute much as individuals to the actual work. But they are nice about us wanting to work and we did get out, see some of the country. The stream the bridge spanned ran through a very nice little valley. All in all, I had fun, even if I didn’t do anything earth shattering.
Wednesday, July 25
Then off to the clinic – very busy this morning – so many people
and children that had been bused in. We in the pharmacy (Jennifer, Sam
Rosalind and I) are a fine, smooth-running machine. We have settled into
what we are doing. Juan and Allan are doing the eye work, and work very
well together. This has turned out to be a great experience for me. The people are gracious and so giving. The country is beautiful, and everyone in the group are loving, caring people – what a great testimony to what people can do.
Thursday, July 26 Today is my day to write in the journal. Right now the older gringos
are playing the younger gringos in basketball. Many kids in the community
are watching. (The older gringos are winning.) We had a good rain last
night. It rained much of the night. This morning several of us walked down
by the local cemetery and beyond. There is a beautiful path, pines growing
on either side, pine needles covering the ground, sun shining through the
mist, it was so peaceful and beautiful. The pharmacy crew, Barbara, Jennifer, Rosalind and our translator Sam, had a hectic morning and a steady but peaceful afternoon. Several people, Audrey, Louis, Rosalind, Allan, Doreen and Ken went to the school today to teach. They said the kids were hungry to learn. They taught them the English names for body parts, sand and taught an art class. The clouds are rolling in, looks like we’re in for another rain. The temperature has probably been mid- to upper-70s every day. Lows in the low 60s. Bedtime at 7:00 is just getting to be too early. Probably play cards and talk and read.
July 26
July 27
Dr. Juan left today, but not at the advertised time of 1:00. He left on Honduran time at nearly 3:00, after Gloria arrived. That means they (Gladys, Helen, Mario and he) would have arrived back at Monte Carmelo after dark. I hope he got something to eat.
Nora, Mike, Barbara and I were talking on our walk this evening about
possibilities for future trips. Our consensus was that more specialized
clinics – eyes, OB/Gyn, dental – seem like they would be more useful
than another general medicine clinic like this. We wondered about the
worth of some of the energy we expended – giving small quantities of
vitamins and pain medication. One of the best things we did was giving a
woman with chronic asthma a whole bag full of inhalers to help her breathe
– but what did the other people think about her having so much, when we
gave such small quantities to almost everyone else? I wondered how they
viewed the medicines in such small quantities – was it good to have just
a little? Or did people look at a bag of 5 Ketoprofen tabs and wonder why
we were so stingy? I’m counting on there being some intangible benefits
beyond what we could measure – some raising of consciousness, some
awareness of what is necessary for better health – I hope. Someone I will really miss is Samuel. I could take him home with me. He was pretending to play along with the guitars during the music tonight during the despedida – our going-away party. He was keeping perfect time with the beat. Saturday morning, July 28, in the van – The despedida was just right – not too long, not too short. Everything was said that needed to be said. Several speeches were made – by the mayor, a very short one by Sandra, by yours truly, and by a representative of the community – I think he was from the agricultural organization or represented the campesinos. Another man spoke to represent the other communities which were served by the clinic. The mayor was very sincere in his deep sense of thankfulness for our work and the things we brought. He said he was quite surprised that we brought school supplies for the children in addition to the medicines, and was deeply touched by that gift. That explains why he took so long at the school making a formal presentation in each classroom when I was thinking how small the packages of supplies looked after they had divided them up into seven packets. But he was very appreciative. He also asked that we write them letters after we get home, even though they don’t read much English – Adam and Jason can translate them.
Last night/evening, Jaime skipped supper and went to our favorite trail and sat on the overlook near the cemetery to commune with Honduras. All the sounds of the place were there on that ridge – the wind through the pine needles, the voices and laughter of children somewhere down the hill, animal noises, someone hammering – blending together to remind us of all we had experienced during the week. Had we not had the obligation of the despedida, I could have sat there until after dark. Barb, Mike, Nora & I walked the trail down to the school and back up. Mike and I stayed to listen to the wind for a while but didn’t stay nearly long enough. Sandra looked tired after the week was over. I hope she was pleased with the success of the work. We left some medicines in the clinic that we thought Sandra and others could easily use – antibiotics, mebendazole, cough syrup, some antacids and miscellaneous supplies. We also left the extra children’s vitamins for the school. Gloria did not seem pleased with this. She said the children we will see from around Copan are more malnourished than the ones we saw in San Isidro. That doesn’t surprise me, given the housing I’ve seen around Copan Ruinas and the fact that the cost of living is higher there due to the tourist industry. The contrasts are more striking between rich and poor. After the end of our week of clinic and the goodbye party, and the emotion of leaving all that behind – it will be hard to gear up for another day of clinic. But we have a free day on Monday to spur us on.
Saturday, July 28 This morning was our last day in San Isidro. We had fruit and coffee for breakfast. Most of the early morning was spent packing and loading the van. We left San Isidro early. The ride back down the mountainside was uneventful, although there were worries that the luggage on top of the van would cause it to tip over. We stopped at a Texaco Station for lunch. Of all the places we have been in Honduras, this Texaco Station was the most "American." The only thing that set it apart from a U.S. gas station was the extreme politeness of the staff. One employee opened and held the door for us, and another jumped on the opportunity to microwave some food I bought. After a filling lunch we were back on the road. In the mid-afternoon we arrived in Copan. The hotel was luxurious compared to our prior lodging. We had electricity, beds, privacy, and hot water. We spent a short time unpacking and then walked in the plaza. We went as a group to a restaurant called "Tunkul." Halfway through dinner the skies opened up and we were pelted with rain. We were in a thatched hut, but we mostly stayed dry. After dinner everyone was so exhausted from traveling all day that we went back to the hotel and collapsed on our comfortable beds. Tomorrow we will be doing another clinic, so we will need the rest.
Sunday, July 29 The morning comes a little different than in San Isidro. No roosters and no 5:30 bus. I think Barbara and Nora got up and took a walk around the city. We had breakfast in the hotel restaurant. We ordered food from the menu – French toast, eggs, continental. Things to take for granted and things to appreciate. Those of us on the street side were awakened last night about midnight by singing in the street. Luckily only a few songs. We went over to the building where the clinic will take place. We had to set up everything – including tables. Pharmacy had to be set up. People were beginning to line up by 7:00 A.M. We finally got started a little after 8:00. Jason and Adam came along and are interpreting again for us. Their help was invaluable.
Early afternoon, Jennifer had squirted water at Adam and there were drops of water leading toward Jason’s and my table. We were teasing Jennifer that the little old lady going from our table to the pharmacy was going to slip, fall and sue us. I was making small, choppy steps with my feet to show how she needed to walk to keep from falling, when I looked up and my next patient – a little old lady – was walking up to the table using small, choppy steps. Jason, who has an infectious laugh, and I looked at each other and cracked up. I was laughing so hard that I had to leave the room to bet myself under control. I’m told my face turned as red as a beet. A welcome relief for the afternoon. We finished the day after seeing about 225 patients. Pharmacy packed up all leftover meds and Gloria took them for CCD use. Jennifer and I celebrated by squirting and pouring water on each other. It had been a long day and we were all glad that it was finally finished. While this day ran at a more relaxed pace, I think it was difficult to regenerate for the one day. The ride to Copan was pretty quiet – rest and reflection. I think it would have been good had the Copan clinic been a little better organized before we got there. Also, several people felt a simple "thank you" would have helped close our efforts out – I know I felt that way. I think our group feels that it was a very successful endeavor. I would like to personally express my gratitude to everyone on this trip for helping create a life memory.
Monday, July 30 Today was our (only) play day, and we were ready! Our only play day, but it, too, was intruded upon by schedules imposed upon us from the outside, and I was resentful. I tired very quickly of the Ruins tour, but then I had already been to the Ruins twice in previous trips. Then we had to eat at the hotel because Gloria had arranged with them to feed us and have lunch ready at noon. It is worth considering, when we take a trip like this again with a group coming to Copan, to arrange to pay CCD only for our transportation and room, and let us take care of our tourist activities and meals so that our schedule will be more flexible and we will have more freedom. But the day started off well. After a breakfast of pancakes at the hotel, most of us walked early to the Ruins (soon after 7:00) to stroll the nature trail outside the fence in the Ruins Park, with Adam leading the way in search of birds. He has an amazing ability to hear the bird calls. We would be walking along and talking, when Adam would stop and turn his head up toward a tree and begin searching with his field glasses. Some he knew immediately by call; some he had to find with the glasses and identify with the book. But for those of us who were not as intent on identifying the birds, just to listen to them was thrill enough. The rain from the night before was still dripping from the trees (and if one was of a mind, could be shaken off the branches onto one’s friends), and the forest was still cool and quiet in the early morning. Trees and brush were so thick that it was difficult to see very far ahead, so listening was easier than trying to see the birds anyway. Their sounds were so unfamiliar and the territory so foreign that it was an adventure just to walk slowly along the path and absorb the feeling of being in a Central American forest, imagining the rich life that still exists in patches which have escaped the slash and burn farming and the deforestation of the countryside. We were treated to orb spider webs still shining with dew, the occasional flash of a bird high above us, the majesty of the Ceiba and Guanacaste trees towering over the rest of the forest, and the mysterious sounds of the forest.
We ate lunch at the hotel in shifts as people wandered back in from the ruins and the museum and wandering souvenir shops. The lunch was good, a club sandwich of some sort. After lunch we waited for 2:00 for the souvenir shops to open again, then wandered the town looking in stores and doing our shopping. In one shop I began to admire the Salvadorian liturgical stoles and remarked that I liked the colors and weight of one in particular and that I just might buy it. Nora said, "No you won’t." I realized that something was up, but it was too late to take the secret back. I told her which one I liked best, then was told to forget I ever saw it. We all cleaned up and waited in front of the hotel in the plaza at 4:30 to meet Flavia, who was to take us to the hacienda in her truck. When 5:00 came I walked over to her office to inquire if there was a mix-up. The person at the desk got her on the radio, and she began apologizing profusely. She had thought we were coming on Tuesday, and had a group of 15 up there, which is the most she can accommodate. I was terribly disappointed, but the group said no problem, we’ll just go to Tunkul again. We had a good supper, and stayed out for a while, so decided to postpone our brief closing worship until the morning at breakfast.
Then suddenly I was alone. I lugged my absurdly large duffle bag down the street and waited for the school to open. Amadea greeted me warmly. I told her I was tired and missed my friends. She gave me the entrance test and then I spent the morning with Erica, my teacher for the next week. Then Amadea took me to the home of Lilian and Edgardo, with whom I was to live for the week. That night I slept well, and all night long, for the first time in over a week. My sheep were home, and the trip had been a success.
Tuesday, July 31 Sam is going to write about yesterday, but since he is not with us today, I thought I would just write a note about today – at least as far as it has gone so far. We had breakfast at 7 – followed by a closing devotional by Sam. The ride to San Pedro Sula wasn’t bad by Honduran traffic standards. I cannot imagine being the parent of teenagers in this country – they would never be allowed behind the wheel of a car. You have to watch front, back, and to the side at every moment. I do think I have a new-found appreciation for the car horn. Adam and Jason rode to San Pedro Sula with us to catch the bus back to La Esperanza. We dropped them off on a corner – everyone piled out for hugs and kisses all around. Two really great guys who were invaluable to us for their interpreting, knowledge of Honduras, and friendship. Getting checked in at the airport turned out to be easy. While Jennifer and I were checking in, the agent said just to bring everyone’s passports and tickets to him and he would handle everything. I grabbed everyone’s stuff and we all had our boarding passes and luggage checked in about ten minutes. We said goodbye to Allan and Rosalind who stayed for Allan’s brother’s wedding. We are now about an hour from Houston. All is going well.
We all got through immigration and customs without a hitch. The only question they asked Lewis was, "How are you doing?" We had about two hours to wait in Houston, so most wandered off in separate directions. Mike got through the security check this time without much difficulty – belt buckles set it off this time. We’re now about 30 minutes out of Cincinnati and the last leg of the journey; will be a late night for all, including our driver. After living together so closely for almost two weeks, most of it in the village of San Isidro, will seem strange tomorrow to wake to the sounds of an alarm and NPR rather than roosters crowing. Also we’ll say goodbye to Doreen and Ken for at least a year, as they move to San Antonio at the end of the week. It’s been an experience we’ll all remember.
|
Mike
Hagen had quite an ordeal in Cincinnati – it almost came to a strip
search and of course we were (sympathetically) laughing hysterically at
him. It seemed his steel toed boots were setting off the alarm. I hope he
didn’t mind. We met up with Allan and Rosalind at the airport, and
Gladys and Mario and Helen picked us up. We managed to lug our med boxes
out (with the Honduran men fighting to help us) and we were off again.
After
cramming all of our bags and supplies into one vehicle and ourselves into
another, we headed for La Esperanza / San Isidro with Gladys and Mario at
the wheels. Driving on the roads is a little different. You pass when you
think you have the chance – regardless of curves and the like – and
when being passed one pulls over to the right side. Makes for the
occasional tense moment. Our drive takes us over the mountains and down
into the valleys – the temperature change in the air is dramatic and
welcome as we go up. The roads are paved except for the last 20 miles to
San Isidro. The views are pretty spectacular from the mountains. The
people there has some unbelievable cardiovascular systems – while
we’re struggling in the cars to get to the top – folks are peddling
their bicycles almost effortlessly. As we drive we notice that they build
houses anywhere there is a spot – places you can’t imagine. And crops
planted on hillsides so steep I wouldn’t attempt walking up them – or
down.
We
headed back up the valley to get to San Isidro. Finally, a dirt road.
Actually one that is not that bad – we traveled the road a lot faster
than I would have. Lots of curves and at times some very steep
drop-offs that seemed to go forever. We were greeted in San Isidro by
quite a few of the townspeople and many children – all seemed more than
willing to help carry things.
The
Following Day
I
was among the group of people who went for a walk. Our walk started on a
dirt road with cobblestones and potholes that years of rain has created.
This was indicative of all the roads in San Isidro. The incline was about
40 degrees varying to approximately 60 degrees in some places. It was on
this road that we met a boy named Ricardo. Ricardo carried an axe on his
shoulder. He was ten years old and had the stature of an average 6 year
old boy in the United States. Talking to Ricardo, we realized he was going
to work, perhaps to chop wood for cooking meals. The people work very
hard.
Back
to the clinic! With the preparation completed for the day, the clinic
opened its doors for service to the community of San Isidro at 1:00 p.m.
General medicine and ophthalmology were the services offered. Along with
the services of a pharmacy. Over eighty people, mostly children, attended.
I worked as a translator with the ophthalmologist and we saw two cases
that have remained with me. First, there was a little boy with Downs
syndrome. We could not help him. Second, there was a man about 26 years
old. He had an accident in which the car in which he was traveling
overturned. His left eye received a severe blow. There was no vision in
that eye. We could not do anything to help him either.
We
often wonder how God could do this... how God could let this happen?...
Well, did God actually "punish" the people of Honduras who have
so very little with Hurricane Mitch? Definitely there was a lot of pain
and loss – death and destruction of homes, bridges, roads, schools, etc.
But this was the opportunity for all who have so much!
Children
are the same everywhere, friendly and curious. The parents care. The
children were there in uniforms with backpacks, ready to learn.
Next
year I want to come bringing supplies that will make a significant
difference and speak Spanish well enough to help the children and the
teacher. I love writing labels for the nurses in the pharmacy but I
think I could be helpful at the school, too.
Most
of us got up around 5 a.m. to join Adam for a bird-watching tour. We drove
down the mountain and spent time walking in the forest. Saw parrots, jays,
flycatchers, "climbers;" had hoped to see toucans but didn’t;
also saw a couple of leaf-cutter ant hills, with the ants busy at work
carrying pieces of leaves to the colony to be used as a medium for growing
their food source: mold. Also saw hanging nests used earlier this spring
[by the oropendula bird] quite impressive.
In
the afternoon, the non-clinical workers (minus Doreen) went to help with
bridge construction. Doreen stayed back to help with medicine labels. The
clinic was more hectic than the morning session – a lot of large groups
visits (5-7 patients at once). Everybody has headaches and stomachaches,
plus saw a lot of skin problems. Jim had an interesting experience this
afternoon: when he began examining one patient, she told him she
"couldn’t see because the light was shining off his head!"
Then she began to try to match him with her 16 year old daughter [telling
him she used to be thinner] – an interesting interaction!
We
saw about 200 patients today in about 6 ½ hours.
What
we were to do, it being just the five of us, was to make some rough
concrete work to get a smooth surface. Well we made the mortar fine, but
Louis and I just could not get the mortar spread on the wall. The man we
were working for (we never learned his name) would flick a trowel full of
mortar at the wall and it would spread out nice and evenly. When we did
it, just a big clump hit the wall.
We
were again wakened by the sound of roosters. I believe they talk to each
other across the mountains. They start crowing around 3:30 a.m. Maybe that
is why we go to bed by 9:00 p.m. We also hear the 5:30 a.m. bus come up
the mountain. For little scrawny roosters they are loud. Half of group
today are not feeling well. We are using the village water with Clorox
mixed in – this is supposed to be safe but we don’t seem to agree with
it. Luckily I’ve been O.K. We went for a lovely walk this morning
through some pine forest with a nice flat bed of pine needles to walk on.
It reminded us of home. We went to a cemetery which was along the way. The
place was very hard in appearance. Wooden crosses – sometimes 3 of them
at the same spot. Very rocky – very... hard to describe. It felt like
they died as hard as they lived. Pancakes for breakfast.
Adam
and Nora, Jim and Jason, Mike and Helen all are great teams. The clinic is
going well. We saw just a few patients this afternoon and they decided to
give us the afternoon off – Yeah! No water this afternoon – which
means we are back to the old outhouse which has a concrete circle thing to
sit on – Ugh! 6:30 and still no water. Rain this evening has brought us
inside – playing cards, talking, etc. A group of people are going to the
school tomorrow. Nora, Helen and I sent for a great walk this evening in
the rain.
We
saw patients from Pueblo Viejo today, about 150 - 170 people. The usual
and a little of the unusual – hypertension, brachioplaxy [?] – had to
refer this one young man to Jesus de Otoro to see a physician there,
hopefully to see a neurologist at some point.
Several
of us visited the new school this morning, those not needed in the clinic.
We put together a few things to teach the students, like parts of the
body, songs, and even Simon Says. The kids absorbed everything we showed
them, and even though they knew little English, and most of us knew little
Spanish, we still managed to communicate and have a great time. I have
never encountered students so eager to learn. They were open-minded,
patient with us, and listened the entire time. They asked questions about
our culture and shared with us about themselves. We’ve come to the
conclusion that everyone’s favorite food is beans and rice, even. What a
surprise. These children are so much different from [North] American
students when it comes to their good behavior, and appetite for new
information. These students are capable of so much more than they are
challenged with here. To think if the education system was better, how
improved the entire country of Honduras would be. It really is unfortunate
to see such talent go to waste. Being in that classroom with such bright
children was definitely inspiration for action.
Today
was our biggest day at the clinic – 224 people! The people from San
Isidro Center were there today. They had been watching the people from the
other aldeas come to the clinics all week and finally it was their turn.
We were busy all day long. I won’t be surprised if I start saying,
"Aplique dos veces al dia." in my sleep. We were really in the
groove in the farmacia today – no glitches in giving anyone the wrong
medicines or getting stressed when we were backed up. We found our rhythm.
It helped immensely that Rosalind was there to write labels. She was used
to the labels we needed and could anticipate what was wanted and begin.
She also had most of the labels memorized by today.
John
was a great addition to the group. I was so pleased that he chose to come,
because he had not been someone I knew very well. And not only did he help
people see, but he made Kentucky proud with his skills on the basketball
court. I hope he can come back to Honduras and perform cataract surgeries
another year.
But
I also wonder if their idea of better health is just access to medicine.
The weight of the problems of Honduras seems so tremendous – the
inefficiency of the government, the oppressive economic conditions, the
traditions and customs that militate against better health, the poor
transportation and infrastructure, poverty. I read in the CCD Year 2000
Annual Report that the average daily income for minimum wage is $3 a day,
while average daily cost of living for a family of six is $6 a day.
That’s a balance that just doesn’t work.
Between
the speeches were interspersed several songs by the band which had played
in church. And we sang our song – Somos del Señor. With a badly out of
tune guitar we didn’t sound too bad. Allan and Rosalind listened to us.
After the festivities they had pineapple tea and some really greasy
deep-fried potato turnovers. I was not thrilled with eating all that
grease, and even less so when I woke up with cramps in my lower abdomen
late last night. So – our goodbye was last night and this morning we
left right after breakfast with no fanfare. A crowd of children was around
our Salon Municipal and when we took the mosquito netting off the windows
the room began to fill up. I noticed that as we were finishing up loading
and getting in the van, the kids were all wandering through the room and
out back as if they were looking for signs of gringo habitation.
The
age of the patients here was much older than in San Isidro. Made for a
much different pace. The older folks here were very loving people. Many of
them gave us hugs – there was one gentleman who went around and shook
hands with every single one of us. I had one gentleman who smiled
constantly – that’s how we could tell he was done talking – he broke
into a huge grin. I told him to keep smiling – it would keep him healthy
and make life easier and better for all of the rest of us. Sam seemed to
have a lot more time to converse with the patients.
When
we reached the old ball court ruins, we still had plenty of time before
our scheduled 9:00 meeting with Gloria to begin a guided tour of the
ruins, so we sat on the stones, listened to the sounds of the forest, and
took turns using the binoculars as Adam pointed out birds to us. We saw
some flycatchers, orioles, saw an oropendula nest, and heard Mat-Mats in
the distance. The mosquitoes did not bother us too much. We wandered on up
the service road to the Ruins entrance and then on back to the
headquarters to meet Gloria. She had arranged for a particular guide whom
she considers the best. His name was Giovanni, or something like that
which sounded more Italian than Spanish. He was very talkative, and
the tour took a little better than 2 ½ hours, partly because the group
was pretty bad at taking direction by this time and tended to wander off,
not to reassemble after getting a photo break, etc. We were all
ready to be cut loose from any sort of schedule. I even wandered off after
we got through the ball court and into the main sacrificial plaza, despite
my encouraging of people to stick together so we could get out of here
faster. Gloria had given me the ticket to get the group into the museum,
which really is worth seeing if one has the energy. I decided not to go,
and gave the ticket to Ken, so he could lead the group into the museum.
Barbara and I walked back to town, stopping by the office for the Hacienda
San Lucas to (so we thought) confirm a reservation for the group to have
supper at the hacienda that night as our farewell to Honduras. For me, it
would have been a special treat to be able to share an evening at that
place with the group.
After
breakfast, just before the group left for San Pedro Sula, I read from
Isaiah 65, then shared two other readings, one on letting go and letting
God lead us into unknown futures, and another on laughter and acceptance.
Then a prayer. Nora and Barbara gave me the worship stole. Then they all
got into the van to go after big hugs goodbye.