Mission Trip to La Paz, Honduras

August 7-15 was the annual Friends of Barnabas Medical Mission trip that I organize once a year.  This year we held two clinics near Pena Blanca and three clinics new La Paz.  We served many wonderful people again in the mountains where few had ever seen a doctor.  Four of our team members were medical persons and we had two translators in a team of 13.  As always, where there is a common purpose, there is always wonderful unity as we share our joys and work together in love.  We had an awesome team. 
The day before our mission we decided to visit some neighbors near the Barnabas House rather that do some of the tourist places.  With 70 comfort dolls, hand knitted by ladies form Virginia, Vermont, and as far north as Canada, we rode in our trusty bus up an extremely bumpy road to the village of El Tigre to visit a child Care/soup kitchen which I have visited several times.  After walking up a narrow path, Sister Maria and about 40 little children greeted us at the gate looking very shy and inquisitive.  Sister Maria is a nun who has dedicated her life to taking care of pre-school children so their siblings can go to school in the mornings and their parents can work in the fields.  Each morning they have breakfast, organized play and learning sessions.  At noon, when the brothers and sister come from school, she feeds 113 children with donated supplies and volunteer help.  Needless to say, her faith that the Lord will supply all needs is very strong.  She was very thankful for her donated chickens and chicken house and was exited that someone had just given her two cows, so the children will now have milk.  Her desire is that the four bins in the kitchen will always be filled with corn, beans and rice so the children we have food.  The team was very happy to meet all the children, give them their comfort dolls and lots of hugs and smiles. 
We then drove to within a mile of the Barnabas House to an orphanage started 50 years ago by Dr. Youngberg and his wife from Texas.  Of course, we immediately went to where the little ones were housed in a neat, clean building with rows of beds and lots of toys.  Each member seemed to become attached to one individual child and spent much quality time holding, loving, hugging and playing with them and their comfort dolls. What a blessing it was for me as a team leader to see members of team 8A react with compassion and care for all these precious children.  That was just the beginning of a week of helping to make a difference, one child at a time in Honduras.

Gardening for Nutrition

Because I am a gardener and know the nutrition needed for the children in Honduras,  the Spirit has given me a burning desire to help families grow gardens.  If the fence posts can grow, and they do, surely they can have gardens to provide year round vegetables for nutrition.  So, seeds were purchased and sent  back with Rodilio and his father and Elmer will do test gardens for us.  This could be an exciting adventure!  Although, with the hard rain and roaming chickens, dogs and pigs, it will be a different way of gardening but I think it can be worked out.  With out vision we will get nowhere, right.  I will keep you posted.

Rodilio from Las Vegas to DC

My dear friend Rodilio, from Las Vegas, Honduras is visiting Washington DC for several days.  He's visiting long time friends who are very interested in his dreams.  Yesterday we met with the program manager for World Vision for Central America.  We learned so much from her as we think about working on new projects.   We also are going to learn more about Micro businesses in Honduras.  Will spend more quality time with Rodilio when Brian gets here tomorrow.
Our Friends of Barnabas team for August is completed and will be there from August 7-15.  We will be spending severall days in communities in La Paz, Honduras  in three new communities.  Six members of our team will be going for the first time and are very excited.

Last three days spent in Puerto Cortes

Caught the FOBF bus to San Pedro on Sat morning, which was going to pick up the next mission team and met Mario there who is the Headmaster of the Cortes International School.  He is the person who picked up the 45 computers of which he kept 16 for his school.  We went directly to the school where I was surprised by total reconstruction of the school  They were able to get a coop loan and will eventually have 12 grades in a two story building, with a cafeteria, a computer room and an office.  It will be great when it is finished and Mario promised a bonus to the construction workers if they finish by the end of August.  Believe me they were busy as bees working about 10-12 hrs a day.
I stayed in Mario's grandmother's house and enjoyed playing board games and cards with their children and his beautiful wife Carol.  I had a few restful days despite the fact that there was no water in the bathroom sink but a pitcher of water, no hot shower but it felt good in the heat, mangoes falling on the roof--love mangoes and little ants in my bed, just brush them off. You know when you are tired enough, you are so thankful that you have a bed to sleep in.  Oh I forgot the roosters that start to crow at 4:30-airconditioner and earplugs wotk. They were very gracious to let me stay there.  Mario only asked for one thing.  He teaches cooking classes and well he should.  Yummy meals. The women do not have pots and pans.  So if I collect them he will find a way to get them there.  Wanna help?  Used or new it does not matter.  Just let me know and I can pick them up.  It's just a little way we can help to make a difference with nutrition.
I left feeling great that God opens my eyes and heart to see where the needs are and act upon them as much as I can.  To God be the glory great things He has done.  Sorry these are so long but I had to condense 8 days into three entries.

Two Days in Las Vegas--------Honduras that is.

Thursday, after waiting to get the dead battery charged, I drove to Las Vegas where all the sponsored children were waiting for me.  Thank Heavens Sylvia, the kindergarten teacher was there because she was the only one who could translate.  All the children thanked me individually,wishing me God's blessing and safety plus a big hug.  Some even said something in English.  Even the parents gave big hugs.
Rodilio and Marie Augstino,the Director of the Seeds of Liberty and I went to see two of the new girls receiving scholarships in the school.  Their father appeared from up the street with a severe limp.  In fact it looked as though he was using his lower leg as a cane.  He was an absolute delightful man and upon asking he informed us that he had polio when he was two and he is now 31.His leg has no muscle and his foot is deformed.  He was left by his first wife with three small children, married a few years later and had three more children.  So, there are six children and two adults living in a two bedroom house which was very clean and tidy.  He works as a nightwatchman at the nearby college for their support.
In the morning, after an interesting evening with a family who spoke no English, I immediately thought of Emanuel and want to help him to less pain now and in the future.  So I got the family to understand that I wanted to take Emanuel to FOBF to see if they could do anything.  Now, I'm in their truck with three people who speak no English.  We did manage.  As it turns out, he needs to see an orthopedists and Rodilio is taking him to San Pedro on the 25th to a clinic.  I think he needs a built up shoe and a brace above his knee so he can walk straight and won't have to bend over holding his knees to walk.  Praise God for his messages to help those in need.

Another Honduras Adventure August 7-15,2010

Sorry for the late entry but life happens in between.  After a 51/2 hour layover in El Salvador and a much needed time to relax, I found Elmer and two interns waiting for me in the airport.  In the morning I had a wonderful surprise, Rodilio said I could use his extra car for a few days. That just suited me fine and Hanna, an intern and I went straight to the Martinez House to see the progress and also to have Hanna as a translator.  Wed. was my day with Elmer  as it was his day off.  Because I am always impressed with what Sister Maria does at her Soup Kitchen, we went there and found all the bins full of corn, beans and rice. She was so excited because someone had given her two cows and she could give the children the nutrition of milk.  However, we met five children, ages 3-14,who had been orphaned for only two months due to their mother dying of aids and no family to care for them.  Sister Maria was given custody of them.  When I asked her what her greatest need was, she said for the children to have mattresses.  Through the generosity of FOBF we have five mattress and also though money given to me from a member in our church, The children all have new colorful sheet sets.  God is good.

Returning to Honduras

I'm returning to Honduras June 7 for a week just to touch base and see how the sponsored children are doing in school.  The Martinez house is also being built and I'm anxious to see progress on that project.  There are teachers needed for all the schools we are associated with and I want to check out the places to live and what is needed.  This is truly a very exciting time in our lives and we look forward to seeing what is in store for us in the future.  Keep our missions in your prayers as we follow God's guidance.