The next mission team will travel to Honduras on April 4. This team includes Michael N., Ford V., David W., Jeff, Rosalind, Kaylee and Emily C., Jim G., Ellie K., Jimi W. and Clayton S.
The team will be involved in construction for a kindergarten in Los Panales (The Honeycombs). They will also conduct several hygiene clinics and Vacation Bible School events. Please pray for this team to have a fruitful and safe trip.
Michael Norton
Today was our final dental treatment day. We began the treatments again at 8:00am with some Hope for Honduras students, and some Honduras Agape adults that assist mission teams. About 10:15 the van bringing the children down the mountain from El Venado arrived and we began treating these children (and one adult parent that needed critical dental care). The El Venado children were completed about 3:00pm and were taken back up the mountain to their home.
The dental team then treated 7 Agape Promise children, and finished some dental treatments for some Honduras Agape adult helpers. The dentists also saw one additional child that asked for treatment. Our AP university dental student Laura assisted once again today.
The total that received dental treatment today was 25:
A little after 4:00pm, the dental team began inventorying the remaining dental supplies, cataloging the dental supplies needed for next year, sterilizing all dental tools and equipment, and packing up everything. The team returned to Martha’s compound just before 6:30pm where we had a wonderful fish dinner prepared by Gloria and Sandra followed by a delicious bowl of Honduras ice cream as a special treat. Gloria is a great cook!
As we end this day and our time here in Honduras we thank God for a safe, rewarding and spiritually uplifting visit to Honduras. We also have been most thankful for being able to make new friends and renew existing friendships with these very special people here in this part of Honduras! All of the members of our MT-3 team feel so grateful for all the blessings we have received while we have been here. We have made many great memories that we will never forget. Thank you God!
God is great!
Leroy & Tommy
God gave us another beautiful day in Honduras today. It was the 2nd dental treatment day. Following devotion and breakfast we left for the clinic about 7:45am. Dental treatments and cleanings started on AP children at 8:00. At the same time the van started up the mountain to Arena Blanca (about a hour up and a hour back down) the mountain on narrow, curvy, dirt roads. The Arena Blanca children arrived about 10:15am to start dental treatments.
With 3 dentists and one hygienist working without a break except for lunch, we were able to treat 35 patients today:
Several of the AP children were able to join or retain membership in the “No Cavity Club.” Some of them are shown in the “thumbs up” pictures below.
One wonderful surprise for the dentists today was when Laura arrived in the early afternoon at the clinic. She is an AP young woman who is currently in dental school here sponsored by our Honduras Agape Foundation. For the remainder of the afternoon, she acted as the dental assistant, first for Dr. Randy and then for Dr. Patty. It was wonderful to see the fruits of the HAF education program come full circle to the point where one of the students that has been in the program for several years be able to assist the dentists. It was also great for her to be able to help and observe dental treatments.
Dental treatments were completed about 6:00pm today.
As we were completing our dinner meal, Gloria came with a very special treat for us – a pineapple upside down cake. Gloria told us that today is Father’s Day in Honduras and the cake was in honor of all the fathers on our MT-3 team and all the fathers of the Honduras men that help us here. It was a very nice treat.
The entire team is physically tired tonight, but we know that it was a good day serving today. We look forward to another beautiful day tomorrow.
God is good!
Leroy & Tommy
We had a very good day today. It was the first of the three dental clinic days for our MT-3 mission trip. The clinic started at 8:00am, with us treating 9 Agape Promise children and Sandra’s daughter. As we were treating these children, the van went up the mountain to Teo and brought 10 children and some of their parents back to the clinic in Quimistan. When they arrived about 10:15am, the dentists then began treatment on these 10 children. Some of these children were in critical need of dental care. Two of the parents that came with the children who had dental pain also received treatment. The dentists worked until about 1:00pm treating these children.
Meanwhile, Marleni kept the younger kids, mostly those from Teo, busy coloring pictures while awaiting their turn in the chair.
We then took a short break back to the ranch
for lunch. At the same time, the van took the Teo children back up the mountain to their homes (with lunch provided by Gloria).
This afternoon, the dentists treated more AP children, including some new to the AP program who needed extensive treatment. Several of them who had been treated in prior years escaped with only a cleaning, as they required no additional work done. A couple of these are shown below with “thumbs up.”
The last child was finished in the dental chair about 7:30pm. It was a very long day, but very rewarding.
Total numbers treated today:
The team is tired after a long, but very productive day. We look forward to a good night’s rest and another good day tomorrow.
God is good!
Leroy & Tommy
Today was a busy day starting well before sunrise when the 4 additional members of our Dental Team headed to the airport for their flight via Atlanta to San Pedro Sula. Our prayers were answered when they landed safely and arrived in Quimistan about 1:15pm.
Meanwhile the four “advance guard” team members went up into the mountains again this morning where we held a hygiene clinic in El Venado.
Following the clinic, the children enjoyed the Bible story of the 5 loaves and two fish and the associated craft. Also, 21 homemade dresses were handed out to nearly all of the girls in the class. Dr. Patty then did a dental screening on all 38 of the children in the school and identified the 10 that most need to come to Quimistan for dental treatment on Friday.
The entire team came together for a late lunch at Martha’s compound. We then began the set-up for the dental clinic in the Quimistan Hospital, “Gracias a Dios”. At 4:00 we took a break from setting up to attend and assist with the Tejeras feeding. After the children completed eating, they lined up to receive clothing and flip-flops that the dentists brought from Aiken. The children were extremely happy with their new items.
Following Tejeras, several members of the team returned to the clinic to finish setting up for tomorrow’s dental clinic where the dentists expect to treat 10 children from Teo (who have never ever been to a dentist) and about 16 AP children (including some on the new AP children who also have not been to a dentist before).
This afternoon, Tommy also had a wonderful opportunity to spend some time with Jessy, his AP student. He took her shopping to get a much-needed backpack, and a scientific calculator, which she says they will need to start learning to use in school in 2 just days! What good timing! Jessy was also happy to get a CD of her favorite singer and a CD player.
Although the day was long, we thank God that everything went according to plan – especially His plan.
God is good!
Leroy and Tommy
Today our mission team, ably assisted by AP students Marleni and Dilcia, took the long dusty road up the mountain to visit Teo and Arena Blanca. In Teo, we were met by many, many children, some who had just begun their 2015 school year today. After a short delay while the children had their lunch, we held a hygiene clinic of de-worming pills, hand washing, tooth brushing and fluoride mouth washing. Teo has just added a seventh grade class to their school this year, which resulted in additional children participating in the hygiene events. We estimate that 126 children were treated.
Following the hygiene events, we held a Bible story and related craft for children in Grades 1, 2 and 3. Patty told the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 using only 2 loaves and 5 fish (Luke 9: 10-17) in Spanish to the children. The team then assisted the children in constructing a bread basket using coffee filters for the basket and a strip of card stock paper for the handle which was decorated with crayons by the children and then stapled to the coffee filters for the completed bread basket. The children were then given some five gold fish crackers (e.g. the fish) and two cookie crackers (e.g. the bread) to put in their basket. The children appeared to really enjoy the Bible story and the craft.
The final event with the children in Teo was dental screenings by Dr. Patty for children in the 4, 5, & 6 grades (plus some selected students in the lower grades). This was done to identify the 10 children with the greatest need to come down to Quimistan on Wednesday for treatment by the dental team. Two or three adults will come with the children.
The women in Teo made a very delicious fried chicken lunch for us – this really showed us their love and appreciation for everyone associated with Honduras Agape. It was wonderful!
We then loaded up and headed to Arena Blanca just down the road. There we repeated the hygiene, Bible story/craft, and dental exams for the children. We estimate that 45 children participated in these events. Many of them also engaged Ben in a rousing soccer match as well.
In Arena Blanca, Dr. Patty did a dental screening for every child present. She noted that a much greater percentage of these children urgently need to receive dental treatment (as compared to the children in Teo). She is still trying to determine why the Arena Blanca children’s dental health was significantly worse than the children in Teo. She again identified the ten children here with the greatest need, who will travel to Quimistan on Thursday for treatment by the dental team. One of the Arena Blanca teachers will come with the children.
After the scenic ride back down the mountain to Quimistan, we loaded several dental trunks into the van and headed for the medical clinic to begin preparation for the dental clinic days later this week.
We finished the day with a delicious fish dinner prepared by Gloria and Sandra.
God is good!
Leroy
We woke up to a beautiful Honduras day. After a devotion and a good pancake breakfast, we went to Tejeras for Sunday school and the feeding of the children. Arriving at Tejeras, we saw a beautiful and very functional building that not only had a roof, concrete floors and tables/benches for the children, but also the outside and inside of the building is now painted in beautiful colors.
Pastor Wilmer and Sandra led a very lively and spiritual Sunday school, with energetic participation by the children.
The children then enjoyed a good meal of rice and spaghetti, which we helped to serve.
For lunch, we were invited to the home Graciela Paz, where we enjoyed great hospitality and a delicious lunch. Graciela shared her vision and goals for Hope For Honduras. She is modeling this new organization after the Agape Promise program. She has identified twelve “river children” (children that live in homes along the river similar to the Tejeras homes along the highway) that she hopes to find sponsors for, so that they may complete their education. Currently, four of them have sponsors and have been integrated with our AP program.
This afternoon we attended AP Sunday School. About 65 students were present, including a few younger siblings and 2 of Sandra’s grandchildren. The younger children were making Father’s Day cards for their fathers and sponsors. At the end of the program, all the children and our mission team had some great Honduran ice cream.
Afterward, several of the AP boys and Ben (Patty’s 13 year-old son on our team) had a very robust pick-up soccer game.
The day concluded with another of Gloria’s delicious dinners.
We look forward to another great day tomorrow when we will visit the mountain villages of Teo and Arena Blanca.
God is good.
Leroy
The first half of the March 2015 dental team, including dentist Patty, her son Ben, her father Leroy, and Tommy, arrived safely at 1:15 PM Saturday. The balance of the team will arrive Tuesday.
Following lunch, we had the opportunity to take 4 of the AP kids shopping. This included Edrai and Gabriela (“Alan’s Girls”) and 2 of the new additions to the program from Pinalejo, siblings Nolvia and Maynor. Their excitement was contagious, as we got to help them pick out school supplies and shoes. They also were given some of the donated clothing we brought with us.
By the way, the installation of the new heating units we brought for the showers has just been completed (7:00 PM), so we now have our water turned back on, and warm showers are once again available.
Now it’s time to finish unpacking, settling in, and preparing for another big day tomorrow.
Tommy
“We gather together to ask the Lords blessing…” That hymn has resonated in my head all day and is the theme for my blog tonight. Today I am reminded as we celebrate the end of another mission excursion to the Quimistan Valley, the surreal knowledge that all good things must come to an end. We must pack up and prepare to leave our second home and return to our eagerly awaiting families in America.
We gathered at breakfast this morning and began to share some memories of our trip with one another, in my best estimation we are ready to come home to our love ones and share the same memories. Mynor arrived with one of the AP students that graduated the program this year and we visited the University here in Quimistan with Jossalin. She wants to study business management at the school. Afterwards we took a short break and did some shopping in Quimistan then went to Sunday school with Sandra at the new church in Tajeres community. Following the service we then traveled to Graciela’s home and dined on chicken for lunch. Then we gathered again at the Villa to celebrate the graduates of the Agape Promise program. These young ladies and gentlemen were first class in their thanks and praise. There were moments of tears and laughter, music and food, games and celebrations. Amen!
As Michael and the graduates met in the cantina for one final meeting, the rest of us helped with cleaning choirs from the party and began to pack our bags for the journey home manana. In retrospect I look at this time of gathering as a clean sheet of paper in the midst of a work in progress. The last day is hectic and emotional for everyone here. I do not like saying good-bye, I have been on an emotional rollercoaster all day, manic if you will. Somehow God broke my heart and called me to lay my trophies down if but for a little while and love my neighbor. I pray for the people of Honduras, the communities that the Foundation serves, the people that work for the foundation here and in the United States. I pray that we gather as the Body of Christ and share in the plight of a country that struggles with maintaining even the simplest way of life. God Bless everyone and goodnight.
Mark
Deedee has been given blog duty again…. This is what I get for traveling with all men! Michael Norton and Tom Britt are already in bed and Mark Reville is out somewhere causing havoc with Pablo and Daniel!
Thanks to Tommy Thompson for the email correcting my spelling errors (in a very kind manor)!!! I thought about correcting them and then realized; perhaps it is best if everyone sees that we are here in this beautiful country filled with kind and generous people, trying to make a difference and do God’s work. Sometimes we make mistakes; but it is best to laugh and move on with the project at hand. Hopefully our Spanish will improve with time and hearts will remain as focused as ever!
I was just blessed with a visit from Roxanne. She joined me on the porch of the villa for a little girl talk. The weather is cool and the chairs very comfortable. It is truly a beautiful night. I just wish that the geckos would go away! They do freak me out a little! Perhaps not quite as much as the scorpion that I just killed in the bathroom….
Anyway, another long, but GREAT day. The team started out at Nuevo Esperanza. We met with our old friend Sonya and several of the healthcare workers, a representative form the Catholic Church, Pastor Henry Vasquez if the Church of God and members of the Patronado. Sonya did share that her son Marco is currently doing an internship at Pepsi in San Pedro Sula. The updated us on how things are progressing in their village and we discussed their needs for 2015. Afterwards, we were treated to doughnuts and coffee!
The team next visited Laguna Del Carmen. It was great to see the kitchen completed by the Honduras Agape Foundation in 2013. The sign thanking HAF looked great!! Most of the 2015 requests today were for school supplies, bibles and curriculum for Sunday School class. They also need a scale for newborns and a few more medical supplies. Finally, the President of the Patronado, Rene Laurios gave us a tour of the new kindergarten building. His daughter is the teacher. He asked that we consider 15 desks for the kindergarten and 40 for the school.
Our last visit today was at Tierra Amarilla. Honduras Agape Foundation has not partnered with this village in the past. We met Jorge Peña is friends with Sonya and heard about us through her. He reached out Maynor and asked that we visit his school. The village has 33 homes at 24 kids in grades 1-6. I was most impressed with Jorge and the people of Tierra Amarilla. He had a typed presentation complete with photos. He had his resume and a listing of all of the officers of the Patronado. We did not arrive until 4:00; but the children were still there waiting on us. They had prepared a special song and had made posters.
Jorge started a community trash pick up program complete with each student have small trash bin on their desk. The community has not received food for the students in 2 months, so they have been eating bananas and yucca. He plans to have chickens next year for the eggs. He told me in English that the community is excellent and that he loves his work!
Jorge asked for school supplies, a wipe board, a kitchen (the mothers cook the food at home and bring it to the school) and some improvements to the water tank.
We left Tierra Amarilla late in the afternoon. It was already growing dark on the mountain. We were given pineapples and bananas from the people of the village and notes and artwork from the students.
The team ended the day with another fabulous dinner courtesy of Saundra and Gloria (fish, rice, vegetables and ice cream!!) Yum!
By the way……….. the prodigal son has returned…. Mark is back from a visit to the Jernandez home where he joined them in a family birthday celebration. He has made it incredibly hard to finish the last 2 paragraphs!!
Honduras Agape 