Winding down our 2 1/2 weeks visit back to Honduras. Every place we visit, we see pieces of the puzzle that was "Aldens in Honduras" for almost 9 years. Eating with Honduran friends, we sat around our old kitchen table that John designed, with the handmade chairs. Sipping coffee with fellow missionaries, we sat around the patio table John designed for me. Admired with nostalgia the bed John designed for us, and were delighted to see how well our small-scale furniture fit in Christine's little casita. Our rug looks perfect in another missionary home. We see and hear Deana riding my motorscooter up and down the hill as she teaches Spanish. The projector donated by someone in our Tulsa Sunday School class is meeting the needs of the church, as well as the hospital with the nurses and in the honduran bilingual school. On and on....when I mentioned it to someone, they responded by saying, "Its the same as your influence here- its scattered around the community, everywhere". At least it made me see the scattered household items in a different light!
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| Great expansion of nurses' station at rear. Good job, Mike! |
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Xiomara, 1st. homegrown LPN from scholarship
program to sign contract |
Have long since lost count of the number of homes we've visited, the babies we've cuddled, the meals we've shared, but can say, "It is VERY good". We see growth in the church both in numbers and in spiritual growth and taking responsibility. We see a well-organized, efficient, and MUCH nicer nurse's station, thanks to an addition that blocks the fierce sun and gives our nurses a much-needed space to prepare meds and also have a place to heat their own food and that of patients. We see our first scholarshipped LPN signing a contract and stepping up to the plate as a well-prepared and respected addition, and 2 more students that have begun their year of mandatory social service that they owe the government. For the first time, the hospital has adequate staff in nursing, thanks to many who have contributed to the scholarships for the nurses.
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| Lunching with new believers. |
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Yuri, in white, now doing her social service
with us. Thank you, Mike and Cathy Breckinridge, for
investing in her!
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| Emanuel #1- mom died after birth |
In a brief conversation with Dr and Rosanne McKenney, founders and directors of the hospital work, they expressed their desire to see us continue the scholarship fund indefinitely. We're thankful they have found it a blessing. Its the key to expansion here, to have local, homegrown nurses. There is now a committee here that manages the applications, and the monthly distribution of tuition to each student. In our absence these past 8 months, its proved to run smoothly, funds being distributed from the hospital administrator. Right now, there is one probable applicant for a scholarship for 2014, so we are making that need known now. It costs them about $100 monthly for 12-16 months, depending on whether they go to a private or a public program. There are benefits to both. Alejandra has chosen the public one, which would be 12 months, with a need for a small stipend to support her during her year of social service. Our account is open at Cornerstone International, with a project fund marked for nurses' scholarships.
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Emanuel #2- successful repair in US of spina
bifida |
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| Emanuel #3- late in life unexpected joy |
They make it so easy- just look under longterm missionaries, click on Aldens, and there is an easy way to donate directly to that fund from there. Things have become SO efficient since we began in 2004!
We are headed out of the country now, but wanted memories to be fresh. The new role of being listeners, encouragers, and counselors was different- but we had a delightfully memorable time. Blessings, John and Penny
