Buenachos

I can't believe this is the last week of work! It has gone by so fast. I am really excited to see my family, but really sad to be leaving everybody here at the same time. On Monday and Tuesday I was at the school. I really really enjoy playing with the kids. I like playing soccer...no big deal that I made the same kid bust his lip twice. He's still my friend. On Tuesday we got hamburgers for lunch to celebrate Raul's birthday and also as a good'bye present for the interns. I was really surprised too that after school they had another good'bye present...a cake!! They also said it was for my birthday on August 11. I was beside myself because I had just mentioned it to Roxanna in passing. All of the teachers went around and said nice things about us so I decided that I was going to say something back....in spanish. It worked out well because I didn't get the confused look I usually get. What a blessing to get to know them and the kids. On Wednesday we went to the clinic. Since there were four of us we had to split the patients half and half. That night Chad, Shelli, Meredith, and Alyssa came over to eat spaget at our house. When they came we were playing a sweet game of four square so Chad joined in. I won. On Thursday we went to Duyure with Javier. We had to wait for him at the school. As soon as I walked outside Jefri (if you are allowed to have favorites he would be mine) ran to me and yelled my named and jumped in my arms. I don't remember much else about the day because that was the best part. Just kidding, but it was the best part. We hiked around to different houses. A man gave Herman some mamones and I thought it was awesome because he really didn't have a lot to give. That was our last night for Spanish classes and it was sad to be leaving Mary. Today was our last day of work. Now we are all trying to change our flights to get home...what a pill. But I am realllyy excited about Roatan!!! God bless!
Jaclyn

No Mas Trabaja

Well this was the last week of work for the interns here in Honduras.  I don't think I could've asked for a better week.  There were several good things that took place that I enjoyed.  Like every other week I began on Monday with Javier at the clinic.  Its always a joy to be able to work with him and learn what you can.  We actually got to watch him perform a minor surgery and remove a cyst from a woman's arm.  It was awesome to be able to see the procedure performed.  On Tuesday, Kyle and I had the privilege of handing out 4300 pounds of fertilizer to the families of Las Pitas to apply to their corn.  It was apparent that the families were very appreciative.  On Wednesday, I finally got to do something I had wanted to do the entire summer.  I got to work with the carpenter on a project the entire day.  We made a picture frame to give to our Spanish teacher with our picture as a farewell gift from the interns.  After Chad saw the frame, he asked us to make him one and we ended up making three during the day.  On Thursday, I got to spend my last day with Javier doing the medical programs.  We drove into the mountains at Duyure and walked on the mountainside from house to house to see the patients.  When we finished on the mountain, we went back down into Duyure to see the rest of the patients.  The last house we went to was very moving.  The entire house was no bigger than the size of my bedroom.  At that moment I realized how fortunate I truly am.  Finally on Thursday night, we had our last Spanish class.  It was a relief to be done.  As I wrap things up, I have enjoyed the work that we were able to do while down here.  Here are a just a few things that I was able to do: learn to check blood pressure, give shots, count and distribute medication, work with doctors form Honduras and America, do road work, carpentry, plant coffee, plant king grass, ride horses, and several other things along the way.  It's been a great summer!

Loren

Amy, Whats Up

So I told Amy before she left that I would write a blog directed to her, so here it is.

Amy I hope that things in the U.S. are going well. Things down here are about like they were when you left, however, the house tends to much quieter without you around (for those of you reading this, that was a joke). We still ride around in El Jefe, we still make the same jokes over and over, we still go to Spanish class, and we still dont know her name. Loren still cooks all of our meals, we still talk about the time you ate the entire cheese cake. The Bathroom is still stinky.

I figure I should give you a person by person update.

Kyle: Katie bruised him on the cheek, and he has a really funny sun burn
Heather: She can hypnotize people, Loren ate some berries
Katie: She still likes to ride horses, she yelled at us on our last ride. She bruised kyle
Kendra: I now know more about cows than I ever thought I would
Haley: She is still the most mature out of all of us, she has really curly hair
Loren: We caught him sewing while watching a chick flick. He nearly killed Jarred at Tres Pilas
Jaclyn: We found out that she is really a secret agent in the British Special Forces
Me: I am about the same, I did shave on Tuesday though
I hope that was an adequate update on things down here
David
P.S. we played four square last night. I hope you like the picture

I am already missing Honduras

Two weeks to go, and I am already missing this place.
I love the country´s beauty, the simplicity of life, and the culture.
The Honduran culture is still amazing to me, for they are a strikingly simple and happy people. I´ll give you an example concerning their giving and considerate attitude. Holman once offered to share his dinner with me because he saw that I had none for the time being. Now you may be thinking that any decent American would do the same. Well, what if the stakes were raised to where that American goes without food on several occasions and that night the food he recieves is, fortunately for him, incredibly delicious? And I can always get my food later. I never go forcibly without food; he knows this. Would you, being that American, want to share your food happily, without grudge, or anything negative in your attitude as you do so?

Another classic example of Honduran hospitality is making sure everyone has a chair to sit down on. Over the course of my stay, several times I have had Hondurans, male and female, seek out a chair for me so I do not have to stand. On this same subject, two nights ago we had movie night with about ten orphans from the refudge on the ranch. Everyone had a chair but me. The three American guys noticed but started the movie and proceeded with everyone to watch it. (This is not to say that I am incapable of finding my own chair, but I could not help thinking that if there had been Honduran men in the room, they would have most assuredly sought out a chair for me.)

Another example of the goodness of the Honduran culture is how often everyone smiles at you, greets you, and alknowledges you IN COMPARISON to Americans, especially or mostly in comparison to western states Americans. If you were to see how often people can actually smile and how happy they can be, you´d see what America´s missing.

Other example of the contrast between our two cultures are buzzing about in my head right now. One includes a Honduran looking for a lost article for me when it was not his worry at all. Another includes a stanger, a young Honduran woman, reaching out her hand and touching my shoulder, in comfort, as she passed, because she noticed I was seemingly sad. One Honduran worker on the ranch asked me if I was feeling sad, and said he hoped I would get to feeling better. (Note that I do not seek to get these displays of feelings and concern. Nor do I expect I would get much concern if I wanted it back in the West.) As a whole, they are very considerate people. I gurarantee you there are indeed differences. It´s indisputable.

Reply to this post. I would love know what you´ll think.

Heather

Great Audience

Another good week in the hood.On Monday I was at the school and it was a good time. I took lots of pictures because Im starting to realize it is close to being over. After school Haley and I took a walk and stumbled upon a cemetery. We walked around inside and it was very interesting to see all of the graves. Monday night we went to the Posada and after we introduced ourselves Chad gave a blurb about us and five minutes later someone had bought all of our dinners for the rest of the week. That was exciting!! (God bless you!) Then that night we had a verrryyy long family meeting about a surprise I will soon be able to tell you. I thought it was special though because we all had different views but we expressed them like any family should and everything was fine. I liked it. Tuesday was the nutrition program and Wednesday the clinic. David gave his first shot!! Or I guess I should say his first four shots..(it wasnt his fault we promise.) He claims his beard wasnt getting in the way. Hey soooo Thursday I had a ranch day with Katie. We rode horses with the group. Then rode 15 minutes by ourselves. Lets just say I had to turn my hat sideways because Medianoche was moving so fast. Last night was one of my favorite spanish class sessions. Mary is so patient...it gives me confidence! Today we went to the clinic and it was a pretty busy day. A few shots in the rear are always a pick me up. I'm excited about this upcoming weekend because the mini'fair is in town and there is a huge church get together on Sunday. God Bless!
Jaclyn

BRIGADA MEDICA

Last week was a good week here in Honduras.  About thirty people from the U.S. came for the second medical brigade of the year.  However this brigade was on a much larger scale.  The group included three doctors, a physician's assistant, two nurse practitioners, a dentist, and an optometrist, and several others who assisted in translating and other areas needed.  As an intern, I got to hang out Dr. Walter, one of the doctors, Susanne, the physicians assistant, and Milly and Christie, the nurse practitioners.  The group was awesome and I enjoyed every minute that we got to spend with them.  I could go on and on about things we saw, did and learned including skin ulcers, infected toenails, and pulling teeth.  But most importantly, last week I saw professionals from the U.S. who were willing to sacrifice their time and money to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  Most of the people from Duyure are very poor and rarely receive medial treatment.  Last week, over 900 people were able to see the doctor, dentist, and optometrist to receive the care they needed.  As I reflect on last week, I can only pray that when I become a doctor I will be willing to do like the one's mentioned and sacrifice my time to help those less fortunate than me.  

Loren

Kyle Week 5.2

There is a cardinal rule that must always be followed at a pool.  Well two I guess.  Don't pee in the pool, and as we have all heard preached from lifeguard stands for our entire lives, NO RUNNING!

Not so much here in Honduras.  

On Saturday, Jaclyn, Haley, Olman and I joined the refuge kids at the pool at Las Tekas park.  It was an awesome day and I have the sunburn to prove it.  

But back to the running.  

They didn't just run around the pool, they sprinted, played tag, flung themselves over the wet concrete around corners, up stairs and ultimately on a painted concrete ledge that stood over an unfenced ten foot drop to the yard below.  My heart never left my throat.  And it wasn't just the kids, it was the Tias, their driver, Olman, and ultimately even the gringos joined in.  God smiled upon us that day.  No one died.  No one even got hurt.  Miracles still happen.  

The pool was only five feet deep, which comforted me that no one would drown, that is until Giovanni tried to prove me wrong.  We had just walked in and I was in the water watching two of the older boys doggy-paddle back to the edge of the pool.  The question, "Can Honduras swim?" flashed into my mind, but only briefly before all eyes in the pool were upon the screaming Tia leaping fully clothed into the middle of the pool to snatch a smiling Giovanni off the bottom.  In all of the commotion of people jumping into the water, Giovanni, who is maybe four years old, had sunk to the bottom and was innocently holding his nose waiting for someone to come and rescue him.  Who needs to be able to swim to enjoy the pool?  

We had lots of fun splashing, teaching kids how to swim and jumping off the edge.  At one point Jaclyn and I were tossing kids into the water, one of us holding by the ankles the other by the wrists.  That lasted until we put a kid five feet in the air with absolutely no spin so that he belly-flopped with a sickening smack into the water.  No one wanted to be tossed after that.  Go figure.  

I had so much fun, I can't even tell you.  Best Saturday I've had yet.  

fourth times a charm

During our time here in Honduras they try to get the interns involved in all areas of Mission Lazarus. While I am a marketing major and have a business focus here in Honduras, I am also involved on the ranch, school, and clinic; Wednesdays are my day to go to the clinic. The normal routine while in the clinic consists of sitting in Dr. Javier’s office and watching him treat patients, while he also explains to you what he is doing. Yesterday while I was their, a boy came in who had a fever and needed to get a shot. When shots need to be given Dr. Javier lets the interns give them, however, since I am a business student I leave the medical stuff to the interns who are here for a medical focus. Yesterday, however, when it came time to give this boy his shot Dr. Javier shouts out of his Office, “Jaclyn, teach David how to give a shot.” While I was slightly nervous about giving this 12 year old boy a shot, I was confident that I would be able to do it no problem. Shots at the clinic are given to patients in their butt. After Jaclyn explained how you are suppose to pinch the cheek where you are going to give the shot, gently stick the needle in, and then push down on the plunger to inject the liquid, she handed me the needle and I was ready to go. At this point it is only me, Jaclyn, the boy, and his mother in the room. I did as Jaclyn said, and the needle went in just fine, however, when I pushed down on the plunger, I could not get it to budge, I then tried to push harder on the plunger while not sticking the entire needle into the poor kid. At this point Jaclyn told me there is something wrong and that I should take it out and try again. For a second attempt I picked a spot about an inch below my first spot. On the second try, however, the same thing happened and I could not get the liquid to come out of the syringe. At this point we call in the clinic nurse Lexi, and ask her what we should do. She takes the syringe flicks it and gets it to work outside of the cheek. She then hands it back to me and tells me to try again. At this point I look up at the mom and she looks very angry and has her hands folded across her chest. On the first attempt I felt slightly nervous, however, after two failed attempts I look like I just ran a marathon. Since the kid already had two holes in his right cheek I decide it is time the try the left cheek. I stick the needle in just fine like the first two try’s, but like the first two times I cannot get the liquid to come out of the syringe. After a third failed attempt, Lexi takes the needle from me, goes over to the counter and changes out the needle on the syringe, and then hands the syringe back to me. At this point I am thinking to myself “why me again I have already failed three times,” I keep my thoughts to myself though and I go in for a fourth try. Before I stick the needle in I chance a glance at his mom and she looks angrier then ever. I figure I might as well give him an even two holes in each cheek so I again stick him in the left cheek. This time, thankfully all goes as planned, and I am able to give him his shot. I then dispose of the needle and go back into Dr. Javier’s office, where he is still treating other patients. Later Lexi told me that it was not my fault, that the needle was not working, and that we should have changed out the needle after the first failed attempt. Javier told me that the boy will be back next week for a second shot.
David

Kyle Week 5.1

Rubio is a punk.  No wonder they gelded him.  

Rubio is the name of the horse that I rode up into the mountains on Wednesday.  Kendra, Amy, Samwell and I rode all day Wednesday from the ranch all the way to the coffee plantation two mountains away.  Kendra was collecting information for an agriculture project by taking a survey of the farming practices in different villages.  Amy and I were along for the ride and to help take pictures and entertain kids while Kendra spoke with the parents.  Samwell was there for security and as the only person who really knew what to do on a horse.  The ride there was long and uneventful, as was most of the day, but Rubio decided to spice things up a bit as we mounted up at the last house of the day.  

He had been doing so great.  

I had ridden Rubio before so I knew that he had a tendency to start before you were quite in the saddle.  But at the last house, he decided to really mess with me.  I don't know if he was cranky or tired or just ready to go home, but as I untied his lead rope from the tree where he was hitched, he took a mind that he was ready to go with or without me.  I grabbed hold of his reins and tried to get him to hold still while I tied the lead rope into the saddle.  He was having none of it.  As soon as I would let go of the reins to use both hands to tie the rope, he would take off and I would have to scramble to rein him back.  I finally threw a half hitch around the lead rope enough to keep it off the ground and with the eyes of everyone else now on me, tried to mount.  It was a fantastic display of bumbling frantic despiration.  My left foot was barely in the stirrup before Rubio started forward, this time with earnest.  I had been expecting it and had a firm grip on the horn and had been planning on using a bit of his momentum to swing me up above the saddle.  I don't know exactly where it all went wrong but I found myself with two hands gripping the horn, my left foot in the stirrup, but the rest of me riding Rubio's haunch, sliding back away from the saddle.  It would have been bad enough had Samwell not tried to lead his horse, Sistona, in to help me at the last second.  Rubio was gaining speed toward Sistona and did his best to rub me off by crushing my left leg into her flank.  It took a gigantic heave to pull myself forward into the saddle, then I had to find the reins and take control of my deranged ride.  I think I even got a round of applause from the Hondurans that were watching.  One tried to make me feel better by telling me I was a good rider and a cowboy, but he couldn't keep a strait face.   

That was just the start to a long ride home.  At one point I forgot that a horse bounces up and down as it walks and had to find my hat with crossed eyes after Rubio put my head squarely through a tree branch that we were going under.  

Another time he decided to get spooky because of a concrete pipe that was next to the road.  When I finally convinced him to walk past the pipe and not wheel around in eight different directions, it was like we were shot out of a cannon.  One instant I had a hand on Rubio's neck trying to calm him and coax him forward, the next we are at a full sprint tearing down a gravel road into the gathering darkness.  It was a quarter mile before I could slow him down, and I promise that I was reining him back with every bit of survival instinct inside of me.  

Stinking Rubio.  I found out a week later that the horse has confirmed mental issues.  

Medical Brigade

This past week we had a medical brigade from Tennessee come. I was able to work two days with an awesome doctor who taught me so much about medicine and treating patients. Priscilla taught the entire time we were together and I learned all about why we use different medicines, what medicines react with each other, what to prescribe for different illnesses etc. I really appreciated her patience with me, as well as her advice on medical school and everything else we talked about!
This doesn´t fit in with medical, but on Friday David and I took groups out on trail rides. It was awesome. We took the river trail and basically just got to hang out all day and ride horses. Then on Saturday the interns all went riding and then we went to what we thought was Tres Pilas. Turns out it wasn´t but it was still really cool. There was a 100 foot waterfall that you could swim up to and then we all went exploring on the rocks down below. It was a great way to spend a Saturday, then that night we had Shelly and Holman over for dinner and dessert which tasted great (good job Loren, Haley and Shelly!!!)
Katie

Medical Brigade on Steroids

This week was the medical brigade in Duyure. We were stacked with doctors, a p.a., two n.p., rn´s, an optometrist, dentist, translators and many others. We saw around 200-300 patients a day. It was a good experience and very interesting to see the difference between the practices of US medicine and Honduran medicine. I got a little bogged down around Tuesday wondering if what we were doing was really doing any good for the people. Because say a person would come in with high blood pressure and we can supply a month worth of medicine but what are they going to do the rest of the time? So I asked Meredith about it and she totally helped me see the big picture and that is that we are showing them love. Showing them that we are spending time to take care of them and having faith God will provide the rest and for the moment we are the provisions God is supplying. Such a simple but pivotal moment. I was pumped to express this care and concern for the people there after. Not to mention I got to give two joint injections, pull a tooth (i just happened to be standing at the right place at the right time), see a lot of interesting things, translate roughly a few times for the first time (mind you the very first thing I said was ¨When you pee does it itch?¨hey I was nervous), and meet some awesome awesome people ( hey mom-I even landed a place to stay in Dickson on my way to Harding-sleepover!!). Overall-excellent. I even got to hear a woman tell us she hasn´t...defecated in three years. Turns out it´s only been a week, but I wasn´t translating on that one.
Yesterday was AWESOME. We rode horses in the morning and it was one of the most perfect days these eyes have witnessed. Blue skies for sure. Afterwards we went to what we thought was Tres Pilas..turns out it wasn´t, but it was a huge waterfall that we got to swim in!! It was exciting. And I loved seeing how excited Olman was...what a good guy. Welp-time for church! God bless!
Jaclyn

Kyle ¨¿Como se dice?¨

There are a few phrases that I have found that I needed but never learned in Spanish class. So with some help from a very good friend, I translated the bare essential for survival thus far in the trip. Enjoy and practice in case you ever travel to Honduras.


That smell is the bathroom upstairs.

Aquel olor es el baño arriba.

My horse is pregnant.

Mi caballo está preñada.

I broke my horse's leg.

Yo rompí la pierna de mi caballo.

My horse ran out of gas.

Mi caballo no anda benzina.

Please do not yell into my stethescope.

Por favor que no gritas en mi estetoscopio.

The cows in my yard woke me up this morning.

Las vacas en mi jardín me despetaron esta mañana.

Olman, you just ran over a cat.

Olman, atropellaste un gató.

I will dig your latrine.

Voy a cavar tu letrina.

The electricity is out again.

Sé fue la electricidad otra vez.

I fell into the river.

Me caí en el río.

Sometimes Loren snores like a garbage disposal.

A veces, Loren ronca como si fuero un triturador de basura.

I have to give you a shot in the buttocks.

Tengo que darte una inyección en las nalgitas.

This doesn't taste like beef because it is not beef.

Eso no sabe de carne porque no es carne.

Why are you laughing at me?

¿Porqué te ries de mi?

You are now out of toilet paper.

En este momento se terminó el papel higiénico.

Yes I know my passport photo looks like a terrorist.

Ya lo sé que en mi pasaporte parece que soy terrorista.

Please stop screaming, it is one a.m.

Por favor, deja de gritar, las uno de la mañana.

Thanks Seth, I know you understand exactly what I am trying to communicate.

Sooooo much Spanish!

Saludos Amigos,
I am going to begin this email giving you guys an ideas as to what I have been doing this week- something that is begining to wear me thin. It begins in the following paragraph.

Estoy bien y ocupada con varias actividades. Para esta semana, soy interprete para los americanos quien son doctores y enfermeros. A veces, no es facil, porque los hodureños usan palabras nuevas o palabras con que no estoy familiar.

Okay, so anyway, today I mainly focused on....what´s that you say? I need to translate the above sentences? Oh yeah, that´s right. It´s just...I´ve been doing a lot of that lately. But okay, here´s the translation: I am well and busy with several activities. This week, I am acting as an interpreter for the americans who are doctors and nurses. Sometimes, it is not easy because the Hondurans use new words or words I am unfamiliar with.

Yeah, it´s been great. Today, I was beat, so exhausted from interpreting, I thought my brain would burst or something. It was though I could not bare to try to hear and understand anymore Spanish. So, what do I do. I slip somewhat out of range and head for the bench are where two older Honduran men were waiting to see the eye doctor. ¨Can I sit here beside you, please?¨ I asked one of the elderly men in Spanish. ¨Si,¨ he replied enthusiastically, ¨I would be so very proud to have you sitting next to me,¨ he added with delight. I looked at him disbelievingly, wondering if I had heard him right. Then he stretched a little and added in Spanish, ¨Oh si, I am satified now¨. I was so tired and could barely believe my ears. My weary ears were hearing him correctly- this 65- year old man was lightly hitting on me. I actually started to blush. Then Sarah came over and made things worse. She said to him, ¨Oh si, she is very beautiful, no?¨ and the man relplied without delay, ¨Yes, very pretty¨. Luckly in that moment, I was called over to interpret more and so had to leave. Just kidding, I really did enjoy the man. The guy was refreshing and adorable.

The rest of the day with the Hondurans went well. I really enjoyed helping them find the right glasses and helping the Americans to determine whether or not the had cataracts or were near-sighted or far-sighted or whatever the problem was.

Gotta go.

Heather

We are treating several upon several upon several Hondurans with many different enfermedades. Por example, there are personas con problems con sus dientes y eyes y ears y heart y knees y mucho mas problemas. It makes for a very long day! I am constantly interpreting, which of course involves listening, comprehending, and speaking in turn to them (the Hondurans, in this case).

A Lesson in Joy - by Haley

Hello, all! This week the interns are accompanying a group of doctors, nurses, physician´s assistants, pharmacists, dentist, opthalmologist, and translators, on the week-long ¨medical brigade¨in Duyure. Kendra, Heather, and I are translating for the medical personnel; Kyle, Loren, Katie, and Jaclyn get to observe, learn, and assist the doctors; and David is helping out wherever necessary. It has been a huge blessing for me to be able to translate. I definitely give glory to God for how easy it is for me to communicate with the Hondurans now. Remember the first week when I didn´t see how I could possibly be fluent by the end of the summer? Well, just within the past couple weeks something clicked for me. I don´t know all the words that people say to me, but I´m able to understand them and to speak with them so that they understand me. And the other interns are getting so much better at Spanish, too. I truly believe that God is giving us this wisdom and understanding and ability. Praise the Lord!

Yesterday I was encouraged so much by two patients in particular. One was a 14-year-old boy with mental retardation. He came in with his father, who definitely loves his son very much. And this boy overflowed with such joy and love! He wore a huge grin the entire time he was there; he shook hands exuberantly with everyone he met; he loved to laugh and smile and hug. He brought joy to my life just by his presence in the room.
The other encouraging patient was a man who had an work-related accident 7 years ago which left him paralyzed from the waist down. He is no longer able to work; he cauterized himself; and he came to the medical brigade, by himself, in a wheelchair. This man has one of the most amazing attitudes I´ve ever seen. Always positive. Kyle told me that the man was encouraging him about going to med school and how Kyle will touch people´s lives for God through medicine. As I talked with the man, he told me that he thanks God for his life, for keeping him safe during the accident. He knows that God has a purpose for his life; otherwise he would have died in the accident. I asked him what he does now that can´t work. He said that he spends all day reading the Word of God. I could see the joy, the wisdom, the intelligence, and the deep love of the Lord in his eyes. This is a man who knows God, who knows the goodness and love and friendship of his God. Who revels in the time he spends with God. Would that all of us took the time to know and experience God like this man does.

These two patients left me thinking: if they can have such exuberant joy and thankfulness towards our God, why not we who are considered to be ¨healthy¨and ¨normal¨? Where is our gratitude and love for Him who has given us days of a life worth living? Who has given us legs that walk, and minds that think, and ears that hear, and eyes that see, and hearts that beat, and family that love us, and jobs that pay us, and food that nourishes us, and homes that warm us? If these two children of God can show such appreciation and praise, I certainly have no excuse for not worshipping and honoring and glorifying my God in everything, all the days of my life.

Que Dios le bendiga. (God bless you.)

Haley