Political unrest in Honduras

For lack of time and words, I am pasting with permission of Dr. Joel 2 things that have consumed our minds and our time this week. Then I will follow the first with an update from yesterday. The following was written Thursday night.

"Gabi is a 5 year old girl who I first met almost 6 weeks ago. She came in have her first seizure (maybe, there were some questionable ones in the days leading up), and it was a doozy. Status epilepticus, for those medical types. All told she was probably seizing for over 35-40 minutes by the time we got it suppressed w/ phenobarbital (a strong sedative and anti-seizure med). She was then in the hospital for 2 days, the first mostly sleeping off the drug. After leaving, she came back the next week w/ no new seizures, controlled on her dose of phenobarbital, happy and sweet. She even sang me a song! I thought we were on our way to a happy ending. However she returned a few weeks later and had scary symptoms developing: severe weakness in Right arm and hand, difficulty walking due to weakness in R leg, and facial droop like a stroke victim has. Distressed, I told her mom that she would need a CT scan. Mom seemed somewhat detached from it all, and blamed all her problems on intestinal parasites. She seemed to understand the need for the CT scan, but said she couldn't afford it. I told her that I would speak to her pastors (since they both serve at our hospital as well) and that her church would help. The Yosts, a missionary family in that same church, offered to pay for 1/2 and drive her to get it. I made her an appt for 3 days to try and get time to make the arrangements. Mom and Gabi did not show up. I heard from those in her church that she told everyone that Gabi was improved and didn't need to go, so not many people contributed in the offering. After missing another appointment, Gabi and mom finally showed up (2 weeks later, after multiple attempts by pastors and missionaries to have them return), and Gabi looked much worse. Very lethargic, still walking, but just barely, and now having developed deviation of one eye. After some long discussion w/ one of our excellent nurses and Peggy, mom agreed to get the CT scan and said she could come up w/ about 1/4 of the cost. The other was covered by various others touched by this beautiful, suffering little girl. Ct done next day. Not good news when they came back Wednesday. She has a tumor the size of a small egg in the L side of her brain. We kept her overnight in the hospital, and after some-difficult-to-explainresistance from mom, who still seems somewhat detached, and required several "talkings-to", arrangements were made to take her to the largest government hospital in San Pedro Sula. The have experienced neurosurgeons there and even pediatric oncologist, whom I spoke too and who agreed she need to come there. So today mom and Gabi were taken in car by staff to that hospital. I really ask you all to pray for Gabi that God would heal her, that she could get the surgery she needs and would grow to become as lovely a woman as she is now a lovely girl. Pray that God would protect her, that she could even have no significant neurological deficits after her treatment. Even pray that her healing would be an amazing testimony and set off a revival in her town. Also, pray for mom that God would touch her through this and bring her to himself. Pray that she would see her need for Christ and repent. Pray that God would give her strength to be a good mom during this difficult time. Pray for provision for her other children whom she had to leave behind w/ other family."

John and I traveled to San Pedro yesterday, Friday, to be ready to greet Eryn, our 11 yr old granddaughter, traveling into the country with Dr Leon and Judy. We visited Gabi and her mom and aunt in the hospital about 6 PM. Gabi had gone into convulsions again shortly after arrival in SPS, and then into a coma. She was still in Pediatric ER 24 hrs later- still in the same green dress, but now unresponsive. We had been told that she was on mechanical ventilation- hm, the mecanics of which is mom and auntie taking turns squeezing the ambu! They have done this for over 24 hours...they're mad and tired. Gabi has probably winged her way heavenward as I write. Will call when its a decent hour.

The second attention grabber of the week is the political unrest here that Dr. Joel describes far better than I can. Due to being involved in the hospital, I had not been on email all week, and the gradually increasing tension had escaped me. All here will be staying close to home as the national "referendum" is tomorrow, Sunday. There is nothing else in the news here. Tho we know its "small potatoes" in the states, as is the pathos of our Gabi, it nonetheless a crises here.

To quote Dr. Joel, at present there is a "showdown between the president and executive branch and every other branch of the government/power structure. In short, President Zelaya, w/out saying what changes need to be made, is calling for a vote of the citizens to see if they want a 'cuarta urna'(fourth ballot, the first three are for 1)local candidates 2)congress candidates 3)presidential candidates) included in November's elections. Unfortunately, there is no such polling or cuarta urna allowed in the Constitution. There are other ways established w/in the Constitution to change the constitution, but apparently he is not interested in these methods. Probably b/c he could never get enough support to get them called. Slyly, he won't say what part of the consititution needs changing, just saying that it "doesn't work" or is "bad". Apparently, this hasn't fooled too many people, as the press and most people interviewed call it a veiled attempt to seek continuismo, staying in power continually. Lately it has really become a showdown, and looks like it might develop into a crisis. It is incredibly interesting, but scary too. The atmosphere builds w/ the weightness of what is happening. W/in the past week, the Supreme Court declared the polling unconstitutional and ordered the armed forces and police to NOT participate. The attorney general declared it illegal and has threatened to bring charges against any government officials or workers or citizens who help put forth the polling, as it is against the law and considered an "attempt against the state". Just yesterday, the president fired the equivalent of the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff of the armed forces, when the general said he would not follow the presidents order to establish the cuarta urna, b/c to do so was to break the law. So he got canned. In response, the heads of each branch of the armed forces and the defense minister resigned in solidarity. The next day, the Supreme Court reinstated the head of the joint chiefs, saying it was within his power and that his firing was unlawful. There have been large street protests, so far apparently peaceful, against the president's effort. There have been smaller ones in favor. Their are rumors that the executive branch has been paying money and giving lots of gifts to labor unions and campesino groups to get their support. Like actual cash payments to come to the rally. Their is the sense that the majority of Hondurans are against this, and not just mildly so, but actually fed up w/ it and screaming no. But that could just be my impression from the people that I know. Anyway, at the very least, this is very heady stuff and a potentially explosive situation. Please pray: 1) that the rule of law would win out and that rule of law will be respected, throughout Honduran society
2) that peace would reign and that no violence would occur, no lives would be lost 3) that justice would rule and those guilty would pay the consequences and 4) that God might use this to build a more peaceful, less corrupt, more just society focused on serving its people and lifting up those who have-not. "

We are pensive yet excited today as we await the arrival of Eryn. Pensive as we await news of Gabi, about how her family will handle this. Pensive in the aftermath of a young man who died yesterday AM in our ER from machete wounds after being attacked by 2 men in his field up in the mountains. Hurting for the staff and the need for them to "deal with" such pain. Studying in Perspectives weekly the need to never be resigned to the status quo as regards evil. How to confront evil without forsaking 1 Cor. 13, "Love is patient, love is kind...keeps no records of wrong". Having been rightly accused of being aggressive in the Pediatric ER last PM as I spoke with the doctor, I am truly reassessing my reaction to injustice, how we "take a stand" without anger that is destructive, not life-changing. Pray for us. Pray for Honduras.

4 weeks update

2 weeks ago: The weather has turned almost unbearably hot- I frequently make my rounds with a blue surgical handtowel over my shoulder to wipe off the sweat when it interferes with my performance- like in starting IV’s, when I am dripping over the site. We love the setting of the sun when a lite breeze comes up off the ocean to cool down the house a bit so we can sleep. Rare to need a sheet nowadays.
In the aftermath of Thursday am’s earthquake here in Honduras, we are en route to San Pedro Sula to pick up a couple at the airport flying in from Maine. We stayed in a cheap cabin outside the city and awoke at our normal time of 5:30 to find no water. The owner kindly and apologetically brought us a gallon of water from the wee swimming pool to wash our faces! Knowing there would be no coffee forthcoming here, we forayed into Progresso to a Dunkin Donuts for a breakfast sandwich-and COFFEE! Read The Prensa, the morning Honduran paper, while we breakfasted, and pretended all was well with the world, while we read of growing dangers in the cities here and the aftermath of damage from the quake. We will soon have to cross a bridge that was partially destroyed but we understand we can cross on l lane. We will see! (They say, “Si Dios quiere”, ). Afternote: we crossed without problems. See pic below.

Mid May John and I enjoyed 4 days away in the mountains where John was helping with the OB part of a Community Health Promoters conference sponsored by World MAP, a welcome respite and a wonderful way to spend my 57th birthday, reading a fun book instead of studying as usual. We are very pleased with the results of this 3 year class, which just began. We have 4 young ladies from our area attending, the only drawback being the 6 hr. drive and pulling away to do it every 3 months! It’s exciting to see the light of understanding flash in their eyes as they become aware of different truths. As a follow-up on this, Dr. Gabby, the director of MAP in Honduras , and her sidekick Lucy came to our area this past week to introduce a method of community assessment in Lucinda, teaching Dr. Rene, who works with us, the technique. We are always looking to assess needs so as to better meet them here, so perhaps this will give us a handle on that.

We were glad to have a Physical Therapist here for a short week, in which John and I both accompanied him on some home visits, in addition to which I translated for him for clinic patients. He worked with some of the kids in the children's center as well. Below is our visit with Wilson, a 4 year old severely handicapped child with a captivating grin who suffered a bilirubin of 48 after birth without treatment. We brought out a highchair for him that the PT padded to help his mom with his posture. She and her companion take great care of Wilson, and the love they have for him is tangible.

Our housekeeper, approaching the end of her pregnancy by a married man whose wife is also pregnant, has presented John with some challenges. We have visited with her family, who refuse to let her bring another baby into the poverty of the household. They have agreed for her to return home after giving the baby away! That is not out of the cultural norm here. She does not want to give the baby away, but feels no other options. The father is threatening her over her decision to give up the child, saying he wants to give it to his wife! Oh, Lord, give us wisdom! She is afraid to return to work for her last weeks, having been on bedrest for the past 2, because she says he will get her on the road! Hm. We are seeking options as to how to best bless her and the baby.

…..the above was written several weeks ago, now being June 13. Our houseguests, Mike and Cathey, just left after 2 weeks here, he in the pharmacy and she in nursing and evangelism. During their stay, we were delighted to host 2 men from Faith Comes by Hearing, one from Guatemala City, the other from Ceiba. My brother Jeff with Wycliffe in Nepal put us in touch with this group, as they have used them there to do the audio recording of the language they work in. We spoke of them and the workshop one presented back in May to begin listening groups for the Garifuna Bible. This visit was strictly to encourage John and I, which it surely did. They are both delightful men, one a pastor in a large church in Guat. The other is a youth pastor, 25. Both very musical, so after a typical dinner I gave them both a guitar and with our other guests we sang for over an hour. Then Abdiel had us gather to listen to John 4 on The Proclaimer, the audio tool we have been using, only in Spanish. From that section in scripture, he encouraged us and then prayed over us and our work.

Mom asked for an update on Carla, the little malnourished girl I sent a picture of awhile back. Carla has been at the Children’s Home now since that time, being loved and fed and doctored. It was discovered she probably has beriberi, a vitamin deficiency, so is getting 3xweekly injections of thiamine. Thos she was gaining weight, she was also rapidly gaining girth and walking like a 9 month pregnant lady. An echo showed congestive heart failure, and she also has a very enlarged liver. She is now on heart meds and a diuretic, measuring her girth each visit. She now joins in Sunday school class, says “Adios, Penny” aftr I inject her, and will let me “chinear” her when she’s sad or hurt. Pray for her…she is in need of much physical healing.

While Cathy and Mike were here, another missionary from La Ceiba came out for 2 nights and the 3 guys did 2 sessions of Ham Radio testing to provide legal licences to a few more of the long term missionaries. Tho we now all have cell phones, there are still many places where there is no signal and we all rely on radio to communicate. So was a great blessing to have both Rob and Mike here to form a testing team, all 3 guys being able to give tests.

Our housekeeper Chayto gave birth last Sunday night, quickly and healthily. John and I were with her. I had needed to work in nursing both Saturday and Sunday due to staff sickness, so the added need to be out during the night started my week with less than a full tank! But were thankful Chayto delivered without problems. Her father changed his mind and was actually in the hospital for the delivery, and the second person to hold the baby. It looks like after all our planning to find a haven for her and the baby that it won’t be necessary after all!

Monday I began the first of 10 days of a nurse’s aide class for 5 young women we’d carefully selected as being possible candidates for employment. We know we will need someone very soon, and even as I was beginning the class, another employee is talking of resigning to move. So of the 5 I began training, perhaps 2 will be offered immediate employment and will begin hospital orientation at the end of this coming week. It meant some long hard days, with very little time to prepare, as we had company and then extras each night, so was late before I was able to retreat to our room to study and prepare the next days classes. The Lord honored my intent, and it was a good week. This coming week, we will begin the 5 days of clinical experience in the hospital and clinic. I am thankful to have this group trained so as not to be caught with limited time or options when there is the need to hire someone. I actually enjoyed the week, tho barely made it energy wise!

We're down to 2 weeks today that our granddaughter Eryn arrives! Hoping to have an easier pace with her here after working so hard to deserve it! Many are gone so the hospital should be slower. Our laboratory person and family leave permanently sunday, and others are headed out on visa trips or furloughs. We will be tight...but that also means not so many admissions. Thanks to all who sent their notes of concern about the earthquake- we are covered in prayer, obviously.