Medical Brigade!

Wow..what a way to end my stay here in the Honduras. The gracious brothers and sisters from Idaho welcomed me with open arms to join their medical brigade to the villages around Santa Barbara. They treated me as one of the team by including me in the fellowships, food and play. It was a wonderful experience after being here on a solo mission trip..not knowing one person in Honduras when I came here. I wondered what the group mission trips were like, and I got to experience both.

It was highly organized. Brett and his wife had done this nine times, so they were very experienced at herding groups of 20 to 30 people that have never worked together before. The huge amount of supplies and food needed was in itself a sight to behold. the packing and unpacking..very impressive.

Everyday we were in a different village in the mountains. We usually had 300 to 400 people from the villages come out each day. Travelling up the mountains was both beautiful and treacherous in these huge school buses. Sometimes we were so close to the edge, I just put my life anew in God's hands. I know that sounds dramatic..but it was quite hairy at times.

These are the two buses we went up the mountains in..it was very exciting! we slipped,  slid, rocked to and fro, and got stuck in the mud. At one point everyone had to get out and push!

Of course it had to rain everyday making the trip up the mountains treacherous. But God got us there safely and back.







Crowds were waiting..lines and lines of people!

In case those of you don't know what a medical brigade involves..as I didn't..I'll give you a picture in case you ever get a chance to join one. The first day we went to a village called El Eden. The connection is set up through a local pastor. We usually use the public school as a base. There were 450 people waiting for us when we drove up. We had several stations...Evangelism and Hygiene, Triage, Medical, Dental, Glasses. Pharmacy and Shoes. Usually there is women's health, but unfortunately not this time. The first village, I helped in triage doing vital signs and blood pressure.

these old guys from the mountains have perfect blood pressure and vitals. They work really hard up and down the mountains with their coffee.

Then in La Zona where I had lived for the first month I was here, I ran around and did everything because I knew the people.  It was so nice to come back and provide these services to people I knew.  I got lot's of hugs and kisses, it was so wonderful. The next village I helped to pull and cleaned teeth.

there were two dentist there to guide us

Then there was Pharmacy, giving out worm pills, vitamins, antibiotics, pain killers, etc. with doctors orders of course.

counting out the pills

giving out the pills

The next village I fitted people for glasses. It was so nice to hear them exclaim claro!, claro!..as they could read or see far for the first time.

Then there was shoes...which were all gone in the first hour or two. we had to ration them to each village. Seeing the big holes in shoes and being able to give a new pair of nikes was a blessing.

And then fixing food and feeding the five thousand..well 450...that is what it felt like anyway.

My little Spanish helped a little, but we did have Honduran translators with us.

the Honduran translators

 Some of my new found friends

 

the wonderful Honduran doctor Raphael that invited me..thank you Raphael!

In the evening we had a wonderful fellowship with singing and testimony time..sharing the experiences from the day.  So many different people from so many different churches with one goal, to serve and honor god...what a blessing it was!

All I can say is thank you Lord for this wonderful opportunity!  He has orchestrated this whole five months for me. One opportunity after another to serve in so many ways. I just came..not knowing a soul in Honduras..and He just led me. A safe place to stay, good clean water, healthy food..lots and lots of new friends from all over the world. And not one day sick or even a tummy ache. Thank you Lord!