Honduras 2006

Jesus Loves Me vs. Johnny Apple Seed

2006-08-19T20:44:00.000-05:00

Usually on Torch trips we do things at night. Like go to Victor Sports and play soccer or go to the Jesus statue etc. This trip was different. We did not do anything at night until Saturday night...our last night.
We all got showers and put on semi-nice cloths, loaded the buses and headed to the oldest Catholic church in the Western Hemisphere...Santa Lucia. To get there by bus is tricky b/c the streets are narrow and cobblestone (my favorite).
We got close and then walked the rest of the way, but actually as we were walking the buses pasted us and got to the church first. Anyway...once in the church we all found seats and then we sang. It is my favorite memory of this trip. Since I do not come from a COC background I cherish the times when I get to worship in Accapella. Don't get me wrong, I love the worship bands and the traditional hymns with piano and organ in all, but I have come to appreciate all the styles of worship. I do not have a preference..It is all worship..I can worship to the sound of drums guitars, pianos or crickets...Don't matter to me. ANYWAY...
During worship, as I found myself staring at a painting of the crucifixion of Christ, (it was hanging right in front of me) and thinking about the reality of being in another country, I am reminded how the life of Jesus is known around the world and how his story reaches the darkest corners. I am not some country bumpkin who only knows the boundaries of Dyer county...I have traveled some, and have had the blessing of having friends who are of other nationalities..So I know there is life and traditions aside from our own...YET it still amazes me how far Jesus has reached. "Jesus Loves Me" outreaches "Johnny Apple Seed."
So sitting there in the Santa Lucia Church with Jesus before me, Friends to the left and right of me, and the whole country of Honduras behind me I realize that I was right where I needed to be...where God had placed me for that moment in time......a place where I could feel God's presence..a place were everyone was one....and a place that I did not want to leave.
That is the memory that I will keep with me this year as I await my return to Honduras next year.

On Sunday we (PT group) headed back to the states. Man is it hard to say goodbye....to friends and to the atmosphere so I will act like that day did not happen..it does not deserve recognition.
I am going to post as many pics as I can from people who have sent me theirs of the trip.

See ya next year.

The Last day..already

2006-08-19T19:42:00.000-05:00

Sat. was our last full day in Honduras this year. It came too soon.
We loaded the buses and headed back to Santa Ana to finish the floor at the medical clinic.
Jeremy, Dennis, Dinah, Judy, Brett and I maned the paint, while other continued work on the playground to get it child proof for the kids at Casa de Esperanza. Judy and I had to keep reminding Margaret to wear her face mask that her MD told her to wear when working outside. Later when I was back in the states I saw a pic of Margaret working AND she did not have the mask on...But whatever.
After we took all the furniture and equipment out of the medical clinic we got to work putting the second coat down. The door frames needed to be painted whitle so we did that too. What we should have done was to paint the door frame on Thursday, before we put the first coat of paint on the floor. That is what we should have done..of course we didn't do that. So by the time we finshed the door trim we had white spots all over the floor. The white paint for the doors was thick..thick as my last batch of bacon gravy, which pretty much tasted like flour, so we had to thin it out. Of course then we got it too thin.....white spots. The elephants came back as well.
We broke for lunch and walked down the road to a little cafe place that served fried chicken and fries. Jen Wright, one of Casa de Esperanza's moms eats thereand said it was safe for us to eat as well. Judy and Jen had eaten there on thursday and had two pieces of chicken and fries and Jen called ahead to let them know that 20 people were coming. She ordered everyone 2 pieces of chicken. When the waitress brought out the first batch the pieces were larger than they had been on Thursday...they were more like chicken halves. SO..needless to say we all cramed as much chicken in our stomachs as we could..well almost everyone...I believe Judy bowed out early. Dennis ate like 2 full chickens. BUT that was hte BEST fried chicken and fries I have ever had in my life...I could not breathe or feel my toes when I walked out, but I was some good eatin. When we got back to the clinic I felt like taking a nap or yacking, but we just got back to work.
We ran out of paint when we got to the last room...the room with all the white spots. Brett just painted over the spots. It was not the best paint job ever, but it will defiently give another group something to do.

Bob and Betty Builder

2006-08-17T20:38:00.000-05:00

On Friday the PT group and others went off to San Miguel to build a house.
Our group was going to venture into an area of the village that had not had a house built in before, so we could not go walking around.

After climbing the Mtn in the bus we went the rest of the way on foot. The lumber was about 100 yards uphill from the work site, so while most of the guys tore down the existing house Judy, Dinah, Jeremy, Jordan, I and a bunch of the village kids moved the lumber from atop the hill down to atop the other hill above the house site. It was hot and dirty work. I came out with a few bruises and scraps (thanks jeremy). Oh, before we started to move the lumber we were helping tear down the house and Dennis ripped a board of the house and then proceeded to throw it at me...without me knowing...right into my arm. It was kinda funny though. From our worksite we could see the other construction crew across the valley on another mtn. It is really cool to be able to hear their hammers going but they look like little ants on the hill.We worked long and hard on this house and it seemed that everything was taking along time to accomplish, but we did it, we all worked our butts off...well except for Jordan who just sat around.... ..............Just Kidding. One little boy helped me all day, his name was Ronnie. All day he wanted my work gloves, so at the end of the day, and after we prayed with the family in thier new house, Ronnie got the work gloves. He was so excited. After we loaded all the equipment back on to the bus we headed back to the mission house. As I was cleaning my face off with a wet nap I could feel my face stinging...thats new....but when I got back and took alook at my face I saw why.....Just call me Bob..the tomato.

Paint, Mop heads and Surprises

2006-08-07T12:11:00.000-05:00

On Thursday we headed out to Santa Ana to do some work at Casa de Esperanza, "house of Hope"

After getting a tour of the place we split into teams to tackle some odds and ends that needed tackling.

Dinah, Judy, Brett and I headed to the medical clinic to paint the floors. The clinic is not up and running yet. we had to clean the floors and then apply a terra cotta type paint to the floor.

It took all day pretty much to do it. The fumes were overwhelming... Oh, and a pink and purple elephant walked by the clinic about 3pm...it was soo cool.

Other groups painted walls and cleaned up the palyground area.

After we got the first coat of paint on the floors we reallized we would not have time to do the 2nd coat. It started raining while we were packing it up. Judy and I got in the small pharmacy room and personally touched every peice of equipment that came out of all the other rooms. We positioned them all to fit nicely. No sweat was envolved here.

Mark came by and helped and then surprised us with the news the Margaret had come to Honduras early.. There was jumping and screaming and I am pretty sure Judy made a fool out of herself when Margerat pulled into the mission house that evening by jumping up and down and screaming. Or was that me....

I now have pics via Judy, Dinah, Jeremy and Dennis.
I will post them at the end

Drugs and painting

2006-07-31T15:15:00.000-05:00

On Wed. we went to the Bodega. Judy, Dinah and I sorted medicines and organized the pharmacy.
Judy got beat down by a huge cardboard box of medical supplies, while Jeremy got beat down by stomach rumblings.
Terry and Byran also came to the Bodega to help load school lunch tables and chairs in between running errands (or driving halfway to the airport then coming back).
Terry came into the pharmacy to help organize it but I think he really just came in for the air conditioning.
In the afternoon we loaded up the truck and went to San Migel to paint a house. We transfered into Randy's truck and he drove us up, up, up and a little higher to the house we would be painting. We painted the house pink, with a red door and window. There we no matter mishaps during this excursion, except that while painting the upper half of one of the walls I stepped back into the pan of pink paint. Yes, my shoe was covered.
We walked back down the mountian to catch a ride one of the buses. I'm sorry, did I say walked down? No, I mean't hiked down. My legs got the best workout they had had in a long time.
All the kids in the village surrounded the buses as we pulled out.
I love being up in the villages in the mountains. I think that one of my favorite views is standing up in the hills and looking out across the valley, seeing the kids and people run about doing their daily routines.

PT day two

2006-07-29T13:54:00.000-05:00

I forgot. On Monday we also headed back to tegucigalpa.
On Tuesday we went to a Special needs orphange to play with the kids and hand out clouths and toys. We stopped at the grocery store first to get some things for the kids.
When we got there Judy, Dinah and I started sortingthe clouths, but then Brett came and found us to tell us that he found a PT who was working with some of the kids now.

Of course, by the time we got over there Dennis and Jeremy had gotten word and were treating some of the kids as well. we all joined in and had an awesome experience.

We headed to a Hospital next. Once there we split up into teams and scattered around the different wards to visit the kids and play with them.

Last year I placed myself behind a video camera, but this year I put it aside and really dove into the kids. I am glad I did b/c I got to really experience the situation I was in. I only wish I could have some out with pics of the the kids, then I could post them. (JUDY)

This day was very emotionally draining, but I think it was one of my favorite days in Honduras..ever.

One thing that made this day special was getting to see Jeremy, Dinah and Dennis experience what a 3rd world country hospital is like. We all know what top notch US hospitals are like since we have worked in them, but knowing what it should be and seeing what it is not can be overwhelming.

A day of PT

2006-07-26T16:19:00.000-05:00

On Monday we awoke to our first full day in Honduras.
We split up into groups and Loaded the buses. The construction crew and the PT crew got on the same bus and headed out to the construction site. After dropping the CC off we headed to the local Rehabilitation center to do a little PT.
Once we got there, the manager gave us a tour around the facility and showed us the trade training the patients recieved after the graduated from therapy. Some of the post-patients were making school desks and other were making frames for walkers etc.
Then we were lead to the PT building. Upon entering you could tell that it was a PT room. There were low mats, parallel bars, stairs and even an ultrasound machine.
We split into groups to take on the line of patients waiting and went to work. Dinah and Dennis teamed up and Jeremy, Judy and I made the other team. Each group had a translator. Since I was the one who had just come out of orthopedics I was elected the first to evaluate the patient...in walks an 18 month old little girl.
Dr. Darr I thought of you immediatly
We teamed together and got it done.
I eventually broke off from Judy and Jeremy and saw some less invasive cases to make sure everyone got to see a PT.

After we were done we all took a photo in front of the the gate with the name of the rehab clinic on it, and then loaded up to go pick up the construction crew.

BUT, the construction crew was not finished with the house so we headed back to the hotel....THEN....the entire muffler system fell off the bus.

That night at devo we learned that the locals had banded toether to help finish the house.

This day I was reminded of just how much we have here in the States. The PT clinic did not even have theraband or reflex hammers. Well, they did have A theratube untill Dinah broke it. (her patient did, just kidding)

I stand to praise you

2006-07-23T16:53:00.000-05:00

After we dropped our luggage off at the hotel we headed to the church to help....well actually we went and stood.

Ok times out. I had written this section 3 times now, and each time I somehow manage to erase it, so if it is not up to my level of work I apologize.

After standing somemore we helped fill bags with koolaid for the kids in VBS.

Once the other teams finished painting and doing VBS we headed back to the hotel to change to comeback to the church for thier evening service.

The church was packed and the air was filled with singing, preaching, translating and it was awesome.

That night at devo I was exhausted...we had been up over 20 hours and with the time change I was dead on my feet.

But being there listening to the singing and the words...I was at peace.
And as I lay in my bed..knowing I was in Honduras... and knowing what it took to get there ........I was home.......at last.

of course the bed Dinah and I shared folded to the middle, so really it was like sleeping in a hoagie bun.

2006-07-20T13:33:00.000-05:00

We got on this plane without anymore incidents. We were making one stop in El Salvador then changing planes and jumping over into Honduras. I was sitting between Judy and Dennis when we landed and the Stew. Announced "Welcome to Nicaragua!" WHAT?
I quickly found my boarding ticket and there was nothing about making a stop here. Judy exclaims, "DO NOT get off the plane...I AM NOT GETTING OFF THE PLANE!"
After we all changed our pants and calmed down we settled back took pictures and waited till we took off again this time for El Salvador. By the time we reached Honduras we had gone through 3 different times zones and 4 different countries within 4 hours. The US, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras.

When we got to the Tegucigalpa airport it was a sight. Over the past year they have remodeled and built onto it. It was beautiful. After going through immigration and having our finger prints scanned (new) we went to await for our luggage which might not be there. As we are sweating it out, a American Airlines attendent came up to me and asked if we were us and that our luggage had arrived yesterday. YIPPEE!!!!We had to wait for our luggage to be brought over and then had to scan them to leave the airport, which is something that I had never done before. There was a new glass frosted wall that prevented us from seeing who was waiting for us, but as I got closer I could see Terry's shoes!!

HOME at last!!!

We all headed outside to Terry's and Jen Arnold's cars and loaded up to head out to Chomeagwa (sp?) a town about 2 hours from Tegucigalpa.

Photos from Central America

2006-07-20T13:22:00.000-05:00

This is Dinah, Judy and I sitting on the plane on the runway in Nicaragua, the country we did NOT know we were going to.

This is Jeremy, Judy, Dinah and Dennis sitting in the San Salvador Airport waiting to fly to Honduras.

The never ending day

2006-07-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

The lady at the American Airlines counter was not happy with us, but she gave us our boarding passes for the flight to Miami, BUT not for the flight from Miami to Honduras. She said we would need to pick those up in Miami.

2 hours later we land in Miami and proceed to find our gate, but we have a 5 hour layover. We could not find a screen that told of our flight so we had to ask which one it was. Once we march all the way to the end of the airport, from D terminal to A terminal, we find there is no one at the gate.

Well, since we had 5 hours to kill we decided to head to get something to eat and watch the world cup. Well, the game went into double over time and then into penalty kicks. We dragged ourselves back to the gate at the end of the hallway to get our boarding passes. We still had about an hour and 20 min before boarding time.

We waited in line and THEN we we reached the front of the line we were told that the plane was over booked and our tickets had been given away.....WHAT?.

Yes, the counter guy at TACA airlines said that at an hour to boarding time, if you have not checked in your tickets are given away. Well, Judy went to work, I was put in time out over by the people mover.

See there is a saying about TACA airlines which goes something like this...T=take A=a C=chance A= airlines

After about 2 hours, alot of walking and being reassured our luggage will not be lost we leave Miami airport with vochers for 2 rooms at the Courtyard Marriot, 2 free meals, and a $200 TACA vocher. Oh and transportation to hotel in paid for.

At this point we are all tired and realize that we will need to wake up at 1:45 am to get to the airport at 3am for the 5am flight, so we order our food, take showers and go to bed....at 6pm. The boys on the other hand decide to go to the Fl marlins vs Boston game.

I feel asleep about 6ish but wake up around 830pm and cannot fall back asleep untill about 1130pm. Of course I packed underwear in my backpack but my plan to pack an extra pair of cloths fell through sat morning, so I had to put back on the cloths I wore the day before.

We make it to the airport on time and get our boarding passes, BUT when I asked about our luggage TACA responds with "American Airlines never transfered your luggage to TACA"
So I spent the next few min talking with AA and trying to figure out where I bags were. Well, here is another meaning for TACA, T=that A=aint C=coming A=amigo or "Take a carry on always"

American said we could not claim our bags untill we made it to Honduras and then we would have to claimthem with TACA....oh yeah right.

We made the lonely walk back to the end of A terminal to await our flight.

In the beginning

2006-07-12T13:22:00.000-05:00

This years journey to Honduras began on Friday June 30th.
I left Dyersburg around 1:30pm to drive to Nashville b/c Judy, Dinah, Jeremy, Dennis and I were flying out of BNA at 6:30 am to Miami.

Judy and I stayed at Dinah's and then met the boys at the airport. On way to the airport we realized that we were not sure which airline we were flying to Miami, but we knew we were flying TACA airlines from Miami to Honduras.

Trying to check in at the airport was a little difficult since we had NO paper work to give the counter personnel to verify we were changing carriers in Miami. The CSR asked us at least 5 times if we had any papers to verify the changing of carriers, so we had to do a little dance with waving of the arms to say, "Again No, we have NO paper"......and so began.......

HONDURAS........The Musical

Screen play by: Anna Palmer and Judy Mitchell
Music By: Various artists
Choreography By: Judy Mitchell and Anna Palmer