The Wonder of It All

Entering the week before christmas here in Honduras.  I returned on December 3, with our two grandkids, Eryn, 12, and Benton, almost 11, in tow. Thus began a new era in the lives of Grandpa and Gran!  Its been amazing how fast they both have acclimated to a new land, culture, language and family. They are redecorating our home and our lives- with much laughter and adventure!  Eryn began experimenting with the Bilingual School, El Camino, run by the McKenneys, to see how she would adjust in the 2 weeks she had with them before they dismissed for Christmas break. We'll reassess down the road a bit to see how she is doing. She is only there a few hours weekly, and will spend the rest of her time with me at home. Benton has all his classes with me. Both are having spanish language lessons here at the house. 

kids after decorating


Because they came in during holiday season, its been a bit partyish since arrival, with movies next door for the highschool coop there, the missionary Christmas party, a 15th birthday party of one of the kids here, and anticipating the annual christmas pageant next week, in which both have a part. This more than normal excitement has made their entry festive and fun!  We've decorated a bit, baked a lot, delivered presents. The weather has been pleasantly cool, to ease that adjustment. They have yet to learn to live in a land of unrelenting heat with its discomforts! They are enjoying frolicking in the ocean, running up and down the steep hill to the hospital gate, arising early with the sun and going to bed early with the same. All in all, the Lord has blessed them immensely with good adjustment.
Within the first 48 hours home, I had assisted in a Code in the hospital, much to the kid's consternation when I flew out the door and hopped on the motorscooter. During the next night, a fellow missionary went into labor and I awoke the kids to accompany us to their home to assist John in the delivery. They were initiated immediately into the need for flexibility. Since then, I have not been much in the hospital, will take an indefinite leave of absence.from direct hospital involvement until its clear the 2 grandkids are thriving in school and in their personal lives. They are our primary mission right now.

This past Monday, they accompanied me into San Luis, a nearby village, to assist Lindy in teaching guitar and scripture to a porch class. Both kids got to learn some chords with the kids, and added spice to their .
day. In addition, provided spanish interaction.
Please pray for them in their first Christmas away from their mom. Pray for her also. Eryn leaves us a love note on our pillows many nights- she learned it somewhere! Both are very huggy and sensitive- their mom has been a good teacher. We don't pretend to take her place...but pray for God's grace in their lives to use this time with us to grow mightily. I know that God will honor their nightly prayers for healing for their mom. Thanks to all who have been (and ARE) a part in making this work for all of us. Getting us school books, making trips to deliver things to a courier passing thru Tulsa...all bless us immensely. May you all be touched by the wonder of this special season as we are. John and Penny

HE LIVES! by John Alden (December 12, 2010)

HE LIVES! No, I am not confused, I know that this is Christmas and "He Lives" matches with Easter.

Yesterday was not routine. In the wee hours of the morning, we had a baby. Never suggest to a pregnant lady that having a baby is routine, but most of the time you know where you are going and most of the rest you are ready for. Being on ER call is different, Sometimes, if you knew what was coming, you might call in "Sick". In these cases, the best preparation is prayer. I am not speaking just of my own, but those who routinely pray for us and the work here at Loma de Luz.

Jose Contreras is a 23 year old whose family lives in Las Crucitas. For those of you who speak Spanish, you might think that it is a Catholic community, but that is not the origin of the name (and that is a different story). Yesterday, Jose got into a fight with his chain saw; he did not win. If your favorite color is a dark red, you might like the picture. No, I don't think so!

You do not have to know much about Human Anatomy, to know that there are some big arteries in the back of the leg. We could not have collected blood and transfused him quick enough to save Jose's life. An hour drive to the city, rainy season, rivers without bridges, and the State Hospital that looks more like the County Fair Ground than a hospital, Oh, LORD!. The LORD looked down upon us with grace.

An available, ambulance-like Land Cruiser, (Thank You, Iain and Liz), an ambulance driver (Jon Lent) and nurse (Norma Hunt). A couple of fast running IVs, a tourniquet and your routine prayers. Jose arrived at ATLANTIDA (the State Hospital) with a hematocrit of 11 (normal 40). They had a unit or two of blood available and he was off to San Pedro Sula where there might be a vascular surgeon.

 I heard late today that Jose Contreras lives. Praise GOD!

Thank you for your prayers for the work here.

John

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.....

Sarah with baby Ellie and Benton

Last night, our 33 yr old daughter, Sarah, began singing the old favorite Mennonite doxology from her youth group years, and I joined her. "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below....praise Him above ye heavenly hosts....".  It came at the culmination of several days of phone calls, emails, scannings, visits, all directed towards helping our other daugher, Kate, secure a passport for her 10 yr old son, Benton.  I am bringing he and his 12 yr old sister, Eryn, back to Honduras to live and study for awhile, and teach John and I what its like to be 10 and 12 again!  To get a passport with such little notice proved to be quite a task- without the help of Senator Coburn's office, it would have been unreachable.  A 5 hr. drive to Dallas yesterday proved victorious and we returned with the passport in hand- and today, Thanksgiving Day, we made their flight plans to return with me next Friday.  Deserved the Halleluia Chorus! The cherry on top was John's voice on the Skype phone today when he realized I'd be returning on the previously scheduled date and not having to delay to wait for a passport. We miss each other!

I have now been in Tulsa, OK for 4 weeks. A thyroid mass was the reason we planned this trip, and my first 2 weeks were spent pursuing a diagnosis. The needle biopsy showed it to be benign, so the endocrinologist's suggestion was to attempt to reduce the size with lowdose levothyroxine. If its unsuccessful and continues to grow, then down the road we'll discuss surgery. A big YEAH!  Thanks to the many who prayed and followed this closely with encouragement and humor!  In the end, I think John concurs with me that the thyroid was just the bait the Lord used to get me to Tulsa before our projected time to be able to address a family need and to enjoy a 2 week visit with our Sarah and 2 yr old Ellie, who came supposedly to nurse me back to health after surgery. Instead, Sarah has been invaluable in helping me deal with this family need and also building up my health thru her awesomely wholesome and delicious cooking.   

Son Jake, with Eryn and Benton

Please uphold us as we begin a new chapter in our lives, that of loving our grandkids up close in our Honduran home instead of investing in their lives from afar. We need your prayers as we begin to homeschool them and teach them Spanish. Pray for the huge adjustment in their lives too, that they would both form close, edifying relationships and grow and blossom like the jungle flora.  That they would meet God in a BIG way at Loma de Luz....see Him in all His Glory. 

We are thankful for all of you who have invested so heavily in our lives- in encouragement, in loaning vehicles, providing lodging, hummus and cottage cheese, accompanying me on doctor's visit, lending reading material, winter clothing, sending hospital supplies back with me, buying a new grate for our honduran grill....oh, the list goes on and on! Bless you all. Merry Thanksgiving to all .   

Change of Pace

 The scenery is very different looking out the window here in Tulsa!  I have traded the jungle out back and the ocean out front for tall trees with various shades of turning leaves, squirrels, and increasingly cooler air. I left Honduras when our last guests, Bob and Alexis Jack and their engineer friend, Ben, left the country after fixing our electrical system in the hospital. 4 weeks earlier, I had noted a small mass on my thyroid and we began making plans for me to come back to the US to have it evaluated. I'm now 1 1/2 weeks into my visit and still awaiting the definitive thyroid diagnosis!  However, we had very good news today in hearing that the PET scan done to prove that the mass was not part of something more extensive turned out negative. More news and a plan of attack should be forthcoming after a Friday visit with the endocrinologist and a Monday visit with a surgeon. I've needed some recovery time physically as was very tired on returning, so have been content to spend a lot of time reading, praying, and visiting with friends mostly here where I am staying. Just now getting out walking and enjoying the late Fall sunshine with the kids and grandkids.     John has stayed behind this trip with the 4 kids committed to caring for me if its necessary to have surgery! Sarah and baby Ellie will be arriving here in Tulsa on Monday from Philadelphia, figuring that a toddler is good laughter-therapy- especially this one! Eryn has said she'll skip school to help me, Dan says he'll take time off work....I am richly blessed. I appreciate them all, and with the good news that its nothing more than a thyroid problem, I am confident I'll be able to just enjoy them all and need very little help!


aftergame treats with Eryn and Benton

 The plan, Lord willing, is for me to return to Honduras Dec. 3.  So until then, no pictures from Honduras!  Please pray for peace for John there alone. The heavy rains have begun in earnest, he's dealing with the normal bridge outages, internet being out, inability to get to his mountain clinics, and having to keep up the house alone. We're thankful for all the prayers in this health problem....praying that I will be a good steward of this time the Lord has given me.

...and now, for the rest of the story!



Proud nurses releasing our miracle baby



1:30 and the 5 hr trek is just beginning, with sunset at 5:30!



Last entry left 2 week old Miguel Angel just having begun recovery after a rough week. He continued to improve, mom Rosa very happily nursing him after her every 2 hr. pumping to build up her nonexistent milk supply on arrival. It had been hard for her to do so, not understanding the principle of milk production, and knowing her baby was dying. but she had trusted and done it- and got to see the fruits of her obedience- Miguel rapidly grew a second chin and fat thighs. We grinned each time we heard him having a tizzy- we couldn't get enough of him. Almost 2 weeks after that last entry, I had the privilege of driving Miguel plus his 3 yr old big sister who had also been admitted with pneumonia and diarrhea, and mom and dad to the start of the trail that would take them home. Know our nurse visitors, Lori and Amber, can't wait til next Sept. when they return, when we all plan a victory march up the mountain with a pinata for Miguel's first birthday.

Since our Jacksonville, OR trio left, our neighbors from Moses Lake, WA, Mike and Claudia, have also spent a week with us. Claudia left having made curtains for the children's center, and Mike did his normal "fix-everything" routine. We enjoyed the fellowship immensely!



Mike and Claudia

Update on Michaelangelo, onward to baby Elder

Baby Michaelangelo (Miguel Angel) 6 hours after extubating himself

Been a roller coaster week in the hospital. Baby Miguel Angel has kept all the RN visitors busy, and the locals besides. He was intubated twice, both times took a decisive role and yanked out his breathing tube.  The second time, yesterday AM early, we had just spent many hours making an ambulance to transport him to San Pedro where rumor has it there is a ventilator. At the last possible minute, he went bad again, it took awhile to stabilize him- and he yanked his tube. We all prepared to say goodby to our little friend. I have pictures of mom and dad tearfully cuddling him.  But he perked up, and this picture is of him with a full belly of breastmilk, mom and dad just enjoying him. Who can know the mind of the Lord? His folks are totally at peace with just being with him, waiting on God to either take him HOME or for them to carry him back up the mountain 6 hours away.


Baby Elder, hypothyroidism, 4 lbs at 2 months old



As we were backing off from baby Miguel, letting his folks care for him, breathing a sigh of relief and thinking we might begin sleeping normally again, we received a tiny 4 pounder, who hasn't gained any weight since birth, but 2 months old. Every rib showed. Dr. Sharon made what looked like an instant diagnosis, and we began intervention. He looks like a starving baby from Africa...had a blood transfusion during the night. Another baby to pray for.  The second of our 4 visiting RN's leaves today, so that leaves us our 2 visitors, Amber and Lori, to be the extra hands. 

John and our visitors, with his assistant Xiomara, attempted a trip to the Cayos islands offshore to do a Women's health clinic. They had to return within 24 hours as Hurricane Matthew was descending on the north coast of Honduras. They boated in at noon, the rains hit by 3, and John made a quick transport of a laboring patient as darkness hit.  Thats our 4th delivery of the week, 3 transported out to the city. We have had trouble finding time to eat or to visit all together with our company, but we surely have seen God at work protecting patients, protecting long hours on the road.   



Michaelangelo

Magda,RN in government service, with baby Miguel Angel

13 day old Miguel Angel is fighting for his life.  His mom and dad carried him 6 hours down the mountain the end of last week with a bad pneumonia- imagine being a newly delivered mom, hiking that distance! Little Miguel went bad Friday night before we got back from the city with our 3 guests, Amber and Richard Shields, and Lori. Its not been a restful visit for any of them, beginning with all day Saturday doing wound care in the hospital, helping John deliver a baby Saturday midnight, then working all day sunday in the hospital helping John stitch up ER patients.  I went with Richard to church, and returned to help in the hospital til supper time. By then, it was obvious Miguel was not doing well, so Amber and Lori stayed the night to special-duty him. By sunday night, Sandy Hurst, a nurse anesthetist friend, had arrived, so because surgeries were cancelled on Monday, she was free to special-duty Miguel Monday. By afternoon, she had decided to intubate him as he was just wearing out. Since that time, someone has been breathing for him by ambu, as there is no ventilator here nor anywhere close!  "For such a time as this"- we surely see God's hand in the timing.  Never do we have 2 extra RN's and an anesthetist!  So baby Miguel Angel has received the best Honduras can offer.  I just dropped Amber and Lori off at the hospital for the 3rd straight night....Please pray for this little fellow to turn the corner and begin to recover.  Pray for mom and dad, a young, VERY poor couple with 3 other children back up in the mountains. When I began speaking with them yesterday about the possibility of transferring the baby, their main concern was how to pay for all this. I told them that they could pay us in bananas, chickens, mangoes....he said , "You don't understand. We are being given housing where we are. We have none of what you are describing. We have nothing".  I asked him if he was a Believer, and he visible lit up, saying yes, he'd been walking with the Lord for 4 years. I pointed to his wife, a very sweet young lady, and commented that she was quite a treasure too. Then I asked him if he was healthy, and he assured me he was capable of hard work.  I summed up out brief conversation with, "Hm, you said you are SO poor, you have nothing.  I think you are a very rich man!  You have Jesus, your wife, 3 children that are being cared for by your pastor, and say you are strong and healthy. Yes, you are a very rich, blessed man. Lets just deal with today, with Miguel Jesus. We'll find a way for you to be able to pay your bills."
Yes, there are many kinds of poverty. This man is poor in $ only.  I'd rather be that kind of poor.    

Arma blanca y arma del fuego (machetes and guns)

"Voy a machetear su cara..."- "I'm going to machete your face!"-  hm, for the first few sentences I was listening closely for clues as to whom I was speaking yesterday afternoon as the generator roared in the background.  I was preparing Sunday School in advance, and the power was out, so that noise made it hard to hear real well what the speaker on the house phone was saying.  I'd assumed it was a Honduran friend....but realized with the threat that it was NOT a nice man!  He  spoke of his gang and needing money for the coffins of some "homies" that had been killed and told me he was watching me as we spoke!  I pretended I couldn't understand him and stuttered in broken spanish that I needed a translator...and shouted at the neighbors for help!  Diana, the spanish teacher, was providentially giving a lesson and took the phone, wisely stringing him along until Dr. McKenney arrived. By asking some clever questions, she quickly discerned that he was NOT viewing ou rhouse  from half a block away- we don't have blocks here!  Then he said to bring the money to the gas station. Wrong again- we don't have gas stations here. Whew! I just knew he was peeking in my window! Found out later that this scam is prevalent in the country right now, with numbers being dialed randomly. "He keeps in perfect peace those whose minds are fixed on Him."  Still, that phrase, "I'm going to machete your face" kept doing maneuvers in my mind as I went to bed last night.  anael, flagbearer Today was Honduran Independence Day, so we were out in Rio Esteban by 8 AM, ready to take pictures of the parade of school kids. They make special outfits, beat on drums, carry banners. Anael, the 20 yr old that we and friends support to get thru highschool, and who bears the main load at the church, was among the top 5 in his class (Junior) so was one of the elite flagbearers. They each had a plastic drinking cup looped thru their belt to support the pole. Clever.Tho the parade didn't really rev up til 9:30, it was fun visiting with all the familiar faces.  Joni in his finery Joni, the 12 year old we mentor, began in the bilingual school (a misnomer!) in Rio Esteban 3 weeks ago now. He looked so proud in his newly made maroon pants with tie and beret in the parade today! Tho his changing schools means he had to go back a year, we think the guarantee that he will get schooling instead of always being home while the public schools are on strike made it worth the gamble. We are looking for a tutor for him for his winter break from Dec. thru January, 2 months, to really grill him on English and improve his math skills. Anyone want a Carribean vacation over Christmas? Please pray and consider this need!   Last week was the Community Health Promoters workshop for 3 days, so added that extra to the normal full schedule. We were blessed to have Dr. Gabby, the head of World Map for Honduras and the chief teacher for this Promoters course that runs for 3 years, and her coworker Loyda, staying with us. They were delightful company and so full of vigor and ideas! We are beginning to see fruit from this course thats now at the end of its second year for 2 of our hospital employees, and the end of year 1 for the remaining 23.  Dispelling myths that negatively affect health and wellbeing of the people is a priority of this course. Sunday evening we received an emergency call from Anael, saying to meet them at the hospital, that a mutual friend, Jose, had just been shot. His advance notice helped us be a bit better prepared. Jose had been returning home from the village for supper and taken a shortcut up a creekbed in the dark. He came upon some "mountain man", he reports, and decided to turn around and return to the road, but was shot in the back as he turned around. We stabilized Jose and began transport plans. It again pointed out the great need we have for an ambulance out here. In the end, our faithful neighbor,  Dave, who by day works in IT but  moonlights as an EMT, drove our pickup with Jose and his wife in the backseat, to the hospital in the city, with our agricultural missionary Brad, accompanying. (One wears many hats here!) . Jose was finally operated on after noon Monday, and we hear from his wife Doli that he can now walk a bit. She says he's in a lot of pain, and that she has to go out and buy him medicine as they don't have any in the hospital We plan to bring him something enroute to San Pedro tomorrow. We think pain control is a RIGHT- here its only a privilege of those who have money. Pray for Jose and Doli- they were the first couple John baptized and married here.

From KY to WA to OK ----to Honduras!

August 21, 2010

Our dear friends, Bobby and George, with the 60th
 anniversary couple, Mom and Dad

Long silence as we left for the USA on July 3 for our Cornerstone International Summit back in Wilmore, KY, and didn’t return to Honduras til just a week ago.( Believe it or not, we have much more consistent internet access in the jungle than in the US!)  In addition to VERY pertinent input at the Summit and wonderful fellowship, we were able to fly on to the NW and have time with our daughter Sarah, Jaie and baby Ellie, now 17 months old and SO much fun, spend time in our home in Moses lake WA, and attend the 60th wedding anniversary reunion for my folks at the home of a niece. We had just 3 days together, with 4 generations represented, and a special visit to the reunion from a couple who probably have had the most influence on the Webster clan in our walks with the Lord. Thanks, Bobby and George, for making that big effort to celebrate with us, even tho you were dealing with grief in your own family. Also, we salute you for the investment you made years ago in all of us, and how you continue to support the Webster kids that are on the mission field today!

Sarah and Ellie

Sarah made a special trip with baby Ellie to Moses Lake to spend 4 days with us and give Ellie a chance to know her Great Grandparents before bringing us with her back to Portland to fly on to Tulsa. An unplanned blessing there was having dinner with a highschool classmate I’d not seen since our wedding 36 years ago! Thanks, Craig and Valerie, for making that happen.

Loving on Kaitlin Maurie

Before Before returning to Honduras, we briefly visited the 3 kids in Tulsa OK. Bill, a longtime friend of ours, treated us and 3 grandkids and our son to a day sailing on Oologah Lake. Will long remember the day for being our first day alone with our granddaughter Kaitlin Maurie, now almost 3- a fun time to get to know her a bit.

We arrived back in Honduras in time to reacquaint ourselves with our friends , the Greene’s, before driving them to the city to fly back to the US. He and Dr. Joel have held down the hospital and clinic for almost 6 weeks alone, except for brief respites with visiting docs. Now we are expectantly awaiting the reentry of Dr. Shaw today, hopefully followed by Dr.Mark next week. Slowly the whole crew is trickling back in.

As last year when we returned in July, we had 2 Code blue’s this first week back. Seems one gets back in the groove quickly…sink or swim. I am busily orienting a new LPN and SO thankful to have another nurse on board! It will be a bit before she can work independently, but will be a big help. As John looks at the schedule, he is trying to plan 2 mountain trips in the next 2 weeks, to be sure he’s gotten into these 2 health departments at least one more time before the rains start in late October, as the roads become impassable. We had one of the nurses from Las Ballas inpatient this week and from her found out the road is still passable to their clinic, contrary to what we’d been told by rumors.

Had opportunity to participate yesterday in a mass civil wedding of 24 couples here in Balfate- all done free to fulfill a campaign promise of the new mayor. Our longtime friend and John’s assistant, Xiomara, was finally married, and we attended as their witnesses. John has committed to giving them the roof for their intended house when it comes to that point- a practical wedding gift!

Juan Carlos and Xiomara finally wed!

In closing, please pray for Karly, a 17 year old short-term missionary that spent 6 weeks here caring for Orlin, a baby in the children’s center who needs 1:1 care. Today, she is flying back to Seattle, escorted by her Dad, to be admitted for diagnosis of some mysterious ailment that has had her down now for a week. She has puzzled our docs…her desire is to get treated and return….we pray for her healing and for her spirits during this big disappointment.

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Baby Ellie rocking in the porch swing with Great Grandpa

June 28, 2010- Winding Down

Winding down for a trip to the US for our mission board conference July 5, and the celebration of my folks 60th anniversary the end of that month. 1 week left!  We've hosted old friends from our reservations days, Mike and Cathy Breckinridge, these past 3 weeks. He agreed to come and take over the pharmacy so the Honduran who works there could take his vacation. It meant 5 long days each week. His wife was here at a very needy time, as the 2 men who had been doing all the counseling spiritually had just left, so Cathy agreed to cover that as well as sharing several times for the staff morning devotions. Because she speaks such good spanish, she was in demand also to lead Women's studies and sang frequently. Mike is a Ham operator so we also had testing while he was here to offer the opportunity for new missionaries to get their legal licenses, as its still how we best communciate here.We put them on a bus for the city on Friday.  I'm sure they will need to rest up when they arrive back in the US!

John was finally able to make it up to Las Balles (think thats how its spelled!) twice. It is a community way up the mountain that was a 4 hr. plus walk for the last group that attempted it.  Just about a month ago, a road went thru to connect us, so he immediately began planning a trip to do Women's Health Care in the health department there. In the week between trips, the road eroded a lot- I got brave and went on the second trip. My knuckles were blue as I gripped the "grannie" bar- reminded myself that I'd have no scenery to report if I didn't open my eyes!  We brought an exam table in the pickup as well as a nebulizer to gift the clinic. John had a full day of patients, and I played visitor, playing guitar all day with a crowd of kids. Praying the road lasts long enough for l more trip up to see patients before rainy season.

En route home from dropping friends in La Ceiba and picking up 2 more visitors for the hospital yesterday, we passed a big balloon-festooned celebration at a home in Lis Lis we visit frequently in our comings and goings. Remember Keilin, who birthed little Emanuel 2 1/2 years ago and died shortly afterwards?  Well, her sister Delmy has mothered little Emanuel, and her partner, Luis, even came home from the US where he was working to be an active Dad to him and his other 3 children.  The festive celebration was their wedding!  We were SO thrilled for them.  We were late arriving for another wedding out at the hospital, so couldn't stop, so the present will be late! Exciting to see families changing as they take to heart God's Word.

Little Aron lost his big sister to a rare skin cancer last year. It is genetic and he has the same ailment. I think he is 3, maybe 4, a bitty mite with freckles. He has undergone more surgeries than one can keep track of, and all in the hospital know him.  Unlike most kids whose superheros are just cartoon characters or fantasy, he has a real-life superhero. He admires- and wants to be- Dr.McKinney, his surgeon.  I assume thats also why his other passion is motorcycles, as Dr. Jeff drives one. He says he is "McKinney" and "operates" on his parents. I put him on our motorscooter one day when he was bored waiting for his appointment, and got his foto, then gave him a copy. Also found a large pair of surgical green scrubs like his mentor wears and had someone make a wee pair of scrubs for him.  Outfitted with those and a plastic stethoscope, scrub hat and mask, he is a sight. The next thing on his 'Make a Wish" list is the motorcycle ride. Still working on arranging that!

Wedding shower for our RN employee, Ritza, was a beautiful time together to celebrate her LONG wait for the right guy.  She will marry during our US trip, so had to do it early!

Completed all 16 of the necessary recertifications for our staff in CPR these 3 months, and almost done with a big project of making a procedure manual for our purchasing department. Had a picnic and movie night with our 10 from Sunday School to encourage them, and just plain get them out doing something fun.  Often bringing several home on Sundays for lunch and then guitar next door. Hoping to see more on the level of Joni, who has learned enough to be a steady part of the music at church. Finishing up a series of Sunday school lessons on basic foundations of the faith, preparing to lessen our formal involvement there and begin to pursue other things. Will continue our 1:1 discipling, our extra-church involvement with our 10-12 kids, just feel a need to move out of the formal setting, have 2 less Gringos there, and put our efforts behind some other happenenings in the same community!

John continues to invest heavily in the ongoing training of those who will one day replace him in women's health care so that now when we leave there is a local woman well capable of continuing prenatal care and well women's care. Thats a big step!  With his involvement in the 2 mountain clinics and once a week in a health department in Rio Esteban, he is changing the face of women's health here.

Continue to feel the need for an ambulance here of our own, especially since the  late May crazy trip with a 2 yr old iron overdose.  According to Dave who followed the ambulance at dusk in order to drive Joelle and I home once the child was delivered to the city ER, our driver made his own lane down the center of the paved highway and forced a semi off the road! In a torrential downpour, he refused to use his wipers, and fishtailed many times on the muddy dirt road. Thought is we might just save lives by driving ourselves!  The iron overdose made it, despite the fact that the antidote is unavailable in Central America. ( As a result of this incident, we now stock the antidote ourselves!)

Enjoying having a Tulsa-ite next door, interning with our neighbors, the Rumbaughs. Karin Shacklett has been here a month now, going on 2, and is SO nice to have someone from our home church amongst us.

Too long to go without writing. Each week here is its own book!

 

Of Baptisms and Birthdays

A week ago Sunday was the river baptism of Jorge, one of our Sunday School students whom we've known for 6 years. He is the one who weekly reminded me that I shouldn't expect him to behave in class as he wasn't a Christian!  A shy boy with a nonstop grin and sparkly eyes, Jorge is one of 12 and takes big responsibility in his home for the remaining 4 children younger than he.We invited he and another boy to lunch after church Sunday to see pictures of the baptism and other Sunday school activities, and to practice/learn guitar, as Dr. Don was giving a class. So Jorge showed great potential, and was sent home with a list of 35 songs to memorize, and to enlist 9 others to join him, to earn a guitar of his own!

I mentioned that the monkeys seem to be quite brazen right now, ever drawing closer to the house. Enjoyed sitting inside the laundry room with my camera poised on the open window to catch the little rascals as they scanned the house, then jumped to the roof and leaned down to steal the bananas we had hanging from the eaves to ripen.

The 2nd of 12- 3 day long Community Health Promoters workshops that will be held over the next 3 years was held last week at the hospital, put on by World MAP International. There were about 30 participants, 10 of them needing lodging for the 2-3 nights. Takes a lot of planning on the part of John and Dr. Rene to make this work, but fits well with the longterm goals of the hospital and ministry.

Because I had gone down to the hospital about 3 PM thursday to sign something, I got involved in the care of a 2 year old boy, Angel, who had overdosed on his mama's iron tablets and went downhill very quickly as mom had waited 4 hours before bringing him in as he'd shown no initial symptoms. When he began convulsing and vomiting, we got him.  After stabilizing him, and contacting Poison Control in the States, Joelle and I prepared to accompany he and his mom in the bare box of an ambulance for the hour plus ride to La Ceiba to the public hospital. For a much better story than I can tell, having been bent over the child and not daring to look out the front window, see  http://davefields.blogspot.com/2010/05/iron-overdose-poisoning.html.  Dave is a fellow missionary/EMT who often volunteers to either follow the ambulance and bring us back to the hospital, or to drive John over when its a laboring patient. Enjoy!

Friday, I had intended to celebrate my 58th birthday by staying home alone while John went to the city and just catch up with the Lord.  When the Field's invited me to accompany them on an outing, I accepted, thinking it was a place very close. I had confused the name, and ended up going almost to the city with them, had a wonderfully relaxing day by a pool, eating good food, just luxuriating in no radio and good fellowship. Arrived home to greet 3 of the nurses who had climbed the hill to bring me a cake.
The fun continued the next day when Dr. Don asked if I'd drop his kayak off at the end of the road, as his partner in recreating had not brought his pickup.  We were finishing a Saturday guitar/keyboard class, and all 7 or so youth wanted to go too to swim in the icy river. So we followed the guys out to the waterfall with the kayak on board, and all jumped in the river fully dressed!  They all cavorted like so many otters, dumping each other off the kayak and pirating it for themselves. Delightful to watch and participate in! Thus ended a fun birthday week.








http://davefields.blogspot.com/2010/05/iron-overdose-poisoning.html

Back in Honduras

Been back in Honduras 2 very hot weeks now, after 3 weeks in the US, John in the NW and I in Tulsa. John came and went thru Portland, so was able to visit Sarah, Jaie and baby Ellie. He accomplished much on the house we own in WA- with the help of a fellow missionary from here, Terry. The 2 of them played bachelor, cooked for themselves there, supervised the roofing of the house and the installation of the heat/AC unit, and they built the roof on the deck and a fence around it. Can't wait to see it!

I spent the 3 weeks reconnecting to 3 children and 3 grandchildren in Tulsa, as well as numerous friend visits. Spring hit while there, and was able to go to

some old haunts with Eryn and Benton, some we'd visited with them before leaving 6 years ago, one hike in REdbud valley that we'd done with our own 4 kids 20-some years ago! Beautiful foliage everywhere. Always feel so blessed by how we are cared for by our friends there, who find us a car, provide a spacious apartment for us to have our kids and friends visit...and who are available for deep visits and sharing anytime from 6 AM til late. Can't pay for that kind of blessing!

We had 1 week to acclimate again to the hospital work and the church ministry before friends from Tulsa arrived to "vacation" and see firsthand what they have faithfully supported now for 7 years! Bob was supposed to be relaxing in the wake of completing a huge baseball stadium in Tulsa- but was obviously with us "for such a time as this", as he immediately got pulled into 4 days of sweaty work with 2 other engineers who arrived "coincidentally" the same time he did, working on various needs in his field in the hospital. Alexis tackled my disorganized office, and left it in good shape, with all my baskets of baby clothes seperated and folded. She helped me with my weekly afternoon reading time with some of the church kids- they had scheduled a "picnic" at the top of the wooded hill on the church property, so we carried a blanket up and had our brownies and juice and reading practice up there while they climbed the huge trees and took pictures of each other while the others read. We also did some needful newborn visits together, giving her a better picture of those we minister to in their home settings. One night we went out for dinner near here at Rosies, something that had not been available until recently. We had a tasty lobster/shrimp dinner in this rustic place on the beach. En route with them back to San Pedro Sula, we stopped at the Lodge at Pico Bonito, which we'd heard about but rarely take time for "touristy" things. It was a beautiful stop, and we plan to go back one day when its cooler to take a tour of the area with a wildlife- botanist sort to find out about the plants and birds and butterflies in the area.

We had made reservations at an American chain motel so that our guests would sleep well before flying out- only to awaken in the very early AM to find that their AC had not worked and it had taken 3 trips to their room before they finally replaced the whole unit. Then they awoke to find molasses-colored water in their bath, prohibiting bathing! We returned from bringing them to the airport and changed to use the gym, which they had assured me when we checked in had AC. Arrived to find a hole in the wall where the unit had been the night before- said unit was now installed in our friends' room!

We've had several opportunities to use the delivery room since returning- now with AC! Thanks to the man in Tulsa who donated the breakers necessary to complete the installation. Is tempting to sneak in there and pretend its my office! But then one must sooner or later leave- and then one gets hit with the wall of heat. Is better just to stay acclimated to the real world!

The heat is driving even the monkeys crazy- we have not witnessed it yet, but our gardener says several times lately the whitefaced monkeys have come out of the trees onto our back patio, chased the cats, walked on the porch or roof. Can't wait to get a picture of that!

Louis's surgery March 22

Little Louis, whom I mentioned in my last blog, was operated on yesterday for his long-standing intestinal pain, even tho the anesthetist, Sandy, was delayed 24 hours in arrival. The visiting anesthesiologist with the ENT brigade was able to do the anesthesia with Dr. McKenney. Pray for rapid healing and return to little rowdy boy activity! We look forward to the day soon when Louis is out playing soccer with the other boys from the center. The saying "Lord willing and the creek don't rise!" has real significance here, and we saw it yesterday with torrential downpours that kept many of the first day ENT patients home. Here is little Louis before surgery during a pain-free spell.

Patients, New Believers, Heroines

March 21, 2010

Tempestuous start to the hot season here, interrupted by welcome respites of cool rain. Hear our friends in Tulsa, OK are under snow right now, preventing our anesthetist friend, Sandy, from taking off this AM. Awaiting her arrival for 2 much needed surgeries for patients from the Children’s Center!

Following up on last blog: Dubis’s, the 52 yr. old woman with the suspected uterine cancer whose surgery was made possible by donations from our Tulsa Sunday school class, had a hyatidiform molar pregnancy. There will be followup hormone studies for awhile to be sure she remains cancer free. She returned last weekend, having opened up the incision and needing admission with us for IV antibiotics, but is recovering now at home. Thanks for making her diagnosis and surgery possible! We are SO thankful for the relationship John has with the private city hospital and the generosity of the OB-GYN surgeon there. This is not the first time he’s donated his skills and time!

Andrea, the 11 year old whose mom died this past year, has made a decision to follow Jesus in her young life, and with several others having made the same decision in our Sunday School class, we are following her closely to be sure she gets the discipling she needs to be fruitful. Christine, the lab director who is teaching our wee one’s Sunday school class, has bonded to Andrea and is studying regularly with her. Christine is a very timely addition to our church, with the departure of our Guatemalan pastor and family. We are beginning to see some fruit from our 5 years of teaching here….perhaps the 12 strong men I’ve been praying for to form the base of our church group will be mostly youth! Jorge, a 13 year old from a very troubled family, has chosen recently to follow the Lord and arrives sparkling and eager to study. All are entering the time of most temptation in their lives here, their teens. Few make it through unscathed. Pray for the 6 youth that are beginning their walk with the Lord.

This month, I have graduated 6 new students from the nurse’s aide class, so we again have a “pool” from which to select new employees. One has been hired at the children’s center, and another comes on board tomorrow in the hospital. Because of a 3 week planned trip to the US beginning this week, I am sad to not be able to orient her as I’d desired! I have also begun the yearly CPR training, difficult as we can’t afford to pay them to come in on time off and our low staffing doesn’t allow them the leisure of escaping during work time to take the course. But slowly, 3-5 at a time, I am plowing thru the list of nursing staff and doing a 6 hr DVD course with all. Learning from the example of our neighbor, Dr. Don, I put the basics of CPR to a song they all know to hopefully improve retention. I will complete the last group of staff when I return in 3 weeks.

The most inspirational person in my last month has been Liz, who directs the Children’s Center with Iain. They are increasingly getting very difficult kids and babies, as the equivalent of our DHS system has discovered them and are sending them hard cases. Among the recent arrivals was Louis, an 8 yr. old that began coming to our Sunday School. He has now been a patient for over 2 weeks in the hospital, so becoming well-known to all of us. He had an abdominal surgery right before coming here that has left him with some complications, so is awaiting surgery, in much pain at times. Also a patient for several weeks now is little 8 month old Orlin, with head injuries from abuse. He needs a feeding tube to prevent or control the constant aspiration from bottle feeding, so he too is awaiting a surgery. Both were admitted right as iain left for a planned return to his homeland, Scotland. While we “feel” for Liz as she has been a constant fixture in the pediatrics ward, rarely leaving the 2 untended , the blessing has been the chance to see the character and resilience of Liz, making it work with her own son at home and she at the hospital. Her ever-cheerful presence in a full ward, listening to and encouraging the other young women, has not only been inspirational but VERY helpful in being able to address the needs she sees close up there. Thankful for the chance to know the “real” Liz, and be able to rub shoulders with another giant in the faith.

Women's Health Newsletter-update by John, March 3, 2010

A couple of weeks ago, Joel T, one of the FP Docs, referred a lady to the city for an ultrasound exam. Seeing Loma de Luz on the referral, the radiologist, a friend, assumed that I had sent the patient , so sent her back to me with URGENT on the results. He saw evidence of uterine cancer. He also called a mutual friend, the GYN surgeon that I work with in La Ceiba, who took a quick look and confirmed the radiologist's finding. Dubis and her husband, Domingo, showed me the ultrasound exam. She reported that Doctor Sae told them that it could not wait and that I was the one who could make it work. Now and then her husband sobbed and interjected "There is NO Way, we have no money". With the exception of feeling that a CAT scan was appropriate to have a better idea if we were dealing with metastasis, it was easy to agree with the other opinions from a quick look at the ultrasound. The following day, Friday, I met with another radiologist who has the capacity for a CT scan and with the surgeon. We agreed on Tuesday as the surgery date, depending on the results of the CT.

On Saturday, Penny and I crossed 2 rivers and several creeks to visit with Dubis and Domingo. They agreed with the plan, but needed continual assurance that we would not let money stand in the way of her receiving the care she needed. "Dios puede hacerlo". (God can do it!) I wrote them the referral for the CT and called Dr Sae to confirm the plans.

As well, Penny sent a note to her "Foul Weather Friend" (FWF), Nancy, who responded that she would "pass the hat" in Sunday School class the next day. Indeed, "Dios Puede": the hat yielded enough to cover the deeply discounted prices of the CT and pathology exams and a good start on the anesthesia bill. Neither Dr Sae nor I will charge the patient and he (the owner of the hospital) will overlook the hospital costs.

Monday evening, with a CT result of "no evidence of metastasis", Dubis was admitted and at 7 am on Tuesday, we were in the OR. As we got to the point where we could open and examine contents of the uterus, we found what appeared to be a very different kind of probably benign tumor, and one that would be unheard of in a post-menopausal patient. On Friday, nine days after her first exam, and amidst Domingo's interjections that "we have no money" and that "Dios puede", Dubis was discharged. I am awaiting the pathology results.

On Friday while I was discharging Dubis, Penny was walking one of our young pregnant patients through the HIV clinic at the public hospital. On a VERY happy note, the clinic lab negated our positive, preliminary "screening" test.

But if you would, please pray for another of our young pregnant patients, whose screening test affirmed her HIV. Pray that she will both continue with her prenatal care and with the HIV clinic; that her baby is not infected and for her healing.

Zippety Doodah, Zippedy Aye, My o My what a wonderful day

Friday, I (Penny) had planned to use my day in the city to walk a pregnant young lady thru the HIV system in the public hospital while John did the other errands. Was struck by the dirt and disorder, garbage, broken equipment outside the buildings in the hospital compound. The nurse that we finally got routed to was efficient, very kind, neat and informative- a wonderful contrast. When I asked her how often this confirmatory blood test turned out negative when we had a positive from our hospital, and she tersely replied "Never", and I watched S's eyes well up with tears. This is pregnancy #4 for her, and we had already gotten a negative on her husband. The Nurse poked S's finger after cleaning it with water, as she was out of alcohol. She did not have gloves to use. While we waited for the 15 minutes for her to read the results of the blood test, she began to outline the protocol that S would immediately begin, due to the pregnancy. When I again said, "Now, that’s IF its positive". She brushed away my statement and continued her efficient teaching. At the 15 minute mark, she turned to read the test- and said quietly, "It's negative!" She quickly asked S if she could still get blood out of the previous stick (so as not to waste another lancet!) and she could, so she did a second confirmatory of a different type- also negative. YEAH!
We went to a dirty Dunkin' Donuts to celebrate, and S talked about how she felt, like she had a new life. She had walked with this hanging over her head for a week, wondering how she'd contracted the disease, as she was clear that she'd been a "senorita" when she married and that her husband was faithful. She stayed with us all day as we did our errands about town, commenting frequently how free she felt. Made me think of how I felt at 18 after I’d ended a year’s search for the Truth and encountered Grace!
Resolved: visit the HIV clinic to bring alcohol and gloves! Pray for our friends who weekly visit patients dying there of AIDS, and help them with their needs.

Yesterday we had Andrea up for the afternoon, to make cookies for our Sunday School class, just have some 1:1 time with this 11 yr old orphan from the Children’s Center. Her mom died in October, so Andrea will be raised in the Center she’s done with school , one of her mom’s last requests. She has seen and felt too much in her 11 years, so is a joy to see her eyes sparkle. Christine, 26 yrs old, full time lab director here that has bonded quickly to the Honduran kids and employees, came up midafternoon and took Andrea for a ride on her moto, and a hike up to the water tower. We made lasagna for Andrea to test out and bring to Liz and Iain, the Children’s Center parents. Think it was time well spent!