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.