Week 5 of 5- changing "mailing" address!

Here's the yellow jungle house with the incredible profusion of color that Chilo delights in tending. In honor of our leaving, he asked if he could do a major hair cut- and promptly chopped it all down to about 6 inches! He was afraid that in our absence, it would become an uncontrollable mess. Sniff! 

Dinner with Sonia, longtime hospital employee and friend

Our last week is a blur...Abby helping me get past the impasse in packing by pushing me thru the first 2 50# bags, daily visits at 7 am from 2 yr old Aleyah, savoring our last days together and getting her hair in braids for mom, impromptu counseling sessions with an old neighbor, Suzanne, who providentially arrived in the country for our last week, many "last" quick runs next door to enjoy Heidi,  dinner with Tumlinsons and their 3 special kids. Then there were meals with local Honduran friends, all memorable. I am thankful for digital memories for when my own memories fade! 

In our last blog, we shared a trip to Arenalosa to visit Jesus and Milagro. While there, we tried to convince her pregnant sister, Decy, to come down the mountain to be closer to deal with her twins, who we knew had problems. Decy did not cooperate, but she did have her C-section and had a 2# and a 4 #er, both boys. The little fellows went home about a week out. I got a call just about 12 hrs from the time they left the hospital, at 1 am, that teenie twin had died. So a dawn trip out to the community they had gone home to to pay respect to mom and family. VERY sad way to end our time there with that family we've been so involved with. 

Teenie 1 and Teenie 2- 

Bad storms our last days, causing rising rivers. Were able to get to church Wednesday PM, and enjoyed pastelitos  as a going-away treat. Everyone filed by us to bless us and hug us. I did OK til Joni, our 15 yr old friend, came by. He did not shed a tear when he dad/grandpa died in the fall, so was not expecting him to fall apart. He hugged and hugged and cried. The next day, at our planned meeting time to say goodby one last time and chat, I couldn't get across the river. By God's grace, we got across at sunrise on departure day, to deliver a frozen chicken for an upcoming wedding, and various other things we were gifting to the church folks. Thankfully school was closed, as the next river was flooded also, so had a sweet time with Joni and his mom. 

Dave Fields drove us out on Friday, along with Christine Bell, who had to leave for a visa trip, so we had a kind of prolonged goodbye with them. We stopped and had a late lunch with the Drs. Lanzas, radiologist friends, at a resort halfway to the airport- a delightful treat. They have been very special to John. 

Maria and Allen Lanza

Dave arranged for a wheelchair to meet us in Houston, which made it possible to make our connecting flight! Even with 4 huge bags, carryons and backpacks, we had a smooth trip, made more enjoyable by having access to the USO in Denver for our 5 hr. layover. Blessings upon blessings. My sister, Shellie, met us at 930 PM for the long drive "home"- was hard to settle down, as we were greeted by a beautifully complete remodel job! Our neighbor, Mike, had come in when we left and spent the 5 weeks finishing up trim work and laying the new flooring. We kept coming back out of the bedroom to admire our kitchen and flooring! 

We were heavily laden- Yeah for Errol from United for his help!

Next blog from WA- a 3 week stay here before we take a roadtrip to Tulsa, seeing supporters and family along the way.  More about what our future holds then! Blessings.

Late 4th week of 5 as we leave Honduras

 As we near take-off, the clock seems to have sped up. Last weekend, the McKenney's hosted a Despedida for the Aldens, labeled "FAHP", Familia Alden Hasta Pronto- reflecting Dr. Jeff's desire to encourage hugs, not tears. This means "See ya soon, Alden family". It was 5 hours of swimming for the little ones, barbeque, fotos, lots of one:one visits for John and I, many foto memories.

Have had lunches and dinners with Honduran friends and employees, sometimes feel we are "Cafecito-ing" out way around the community, as they have to whip up their VERY black coffee to serve us with lots of sugar. Somehow, still seem to be sleeping well!

Since pictures tell the story well, will let the fotos suffice for week 4.

FAHP

Last goodbyes to seminary student, Anael, as he headed out on the bus for the long ride to school.

Dr. Jeff assuring the "Hugs, not tears" was written!

Unexpected visit with Genesis, whom we referred to the Children's Center years ago with Downs. She can now walk and is potty trained, and back with her mom, who has come to the Lord and married. She still runs out to jump in my arms, not realizing she's not a wee one and I am NOT young and strong to catch her when she comes flying!

Treasured last AM's with faithful Aleyah, who comes down for a hair-fixing and to hang out in the mornings. 

A visit with the 3rd. Imanuel, a late-in-life surprise for his parents.

OpenHouse in Lucinda for a small consignment shop to market local crafts, encouraged by my neighbor Heidi. Here we are enjoying Topos, frozen fruitj uice in baggies, sold by the new shop.

One of John's favorite families, Xiomara and Juan Carlos. John delivered Aron at home 6 years ago, and Caleb in the hospital. Xiomara is thriving in her Social Service at the hospital, soon to be an LPN for us.

Week 3 of 5.....Down with Motorscooters!

 Last Saturday, we took some folks up to Arenalosa, "slippery sand", to visit long-time friends and patients there. Its an uphill, scary drive and then a LONG climb by foot and across a ridge to the home. Our goal was to bring cupcakes up for the #2 birthday of Milagro (Miracle), who weighed in at 2# on the pulperia grocery scale at birth. Many in the hospital were involved with her and the family when she was admitted at 10 days, VERY hungry. While mom built up her milk supply by pumping, 2 of our missionary moms who had recently given birth shared their milk with little Milagro. She is now very able to help with family cores, like grinding corn for the tortillas. She has her own wee table where she pats out her tortillas.
An auntie of Milagro is nearing term with twins, one of which is not growing. Part of our visit involved getting a message to her that she needed to be "down below" long before labor began. However, there is no cell signal up there so the family dispatched a 7 yr old nephew on his horse to ride the long trail to Aunt Decy's house, with a message tied inside a plastic bag tied to his waist band!
Glad we did the adventure, as John took a fall on the motorscooter going down the hill to the hospital on Wednesday AM. He twisted his knee badly, as well as hitting his head and arm. So he has been bedridden with that leg elevated, wrapped and iced for 48 hrs. We began crutches late today, praying he gets enough healing to be independent when we leave the country in 2 weeks!  He has been a model patient----making it easy to be a good nurse! I continued teaching my Nurses Aide class, running back home on break and lunch to check on him and keep him supplied with ice and beverages! A challenging- but good- week!

Pony Express ready for departure!

John on the long trail down the mountain.

Alden casita as we prepare to pass it on to the ministry. Getting emptier by the day. Memories.

The Tall and the Short of our Heimlech Maneuver class!

sunrise, sunset...swiftly flow the days....

Last week, one of the first acquaintances we made in the campo came into the ER in the evening and the doc on call called me because they couldn't find her chart anywhere- and the patient mentioned she knew me. She had been hammock-bound since we'd met her 8+ years ago from crippling arthritis, and we'd seen her "raise" her 2 young girls, then 10 and 11, along with 3 grandchildren, who had been sent to her after birth as the mom was living on the streets in Ceiba. Many have tried to help the family in various ways over the years....with dubious success. Most of those years, we'd brought meds out to the mud shack for D, as her condition did not allow her to travel from her hammock. This visit, D's bloodwork and condition were not encouraging...and after several days inpatient, it was time to share with her that we could not continue transfusing her and that her condition had no cure. The first night, so weak she could barely be heard, D shared with me that she was uncertain of her relation with the Lord, so we spend time talking and praying. Many others who knew her and had invested in her deeply shared during the few days with us. John was the makeshift ambulance to get her home,where we gently lifted her from the pickup bed in her soft matress and transferred her to a hammock in the main room of the small cementblock house the community had made her last year- no more than 20x20. 9 people live there. D will spend her last days there with her children, and her grandchildren. 

D and her daughter, with nurse Penny in the Toyota ambulance! This was my day off!

Week 2 of our allotted 5 has begun. We had a delightful time celebrating one of the MK's 16th birthdays on Saturday night. Mariah Fields had planned a special dinner and celebration at a nearby hotel, and it was a night of enjoying our youth all fancied up in their formals, tuxes, dress jeans, etc. The attire was "jungle formal"- meaning whatever you had in your closet that suited! Sweet fellowship that will long be remembered. The missionaries here excel in celebrating!

The birthday girl and her little brother

The stellar CPR class!

Did the first of 2 CPR classes today with the help of the other 2 missionary nurses, Christy and Heather. The teamwork made it go more smoothly than normal, and have never had such an enjoyable class!  (Hopefully, they really learned something and we'll see the fruit of the investment!)  The Lord has made it very clear to me that He's put all my responsibilities in capable hands, and right now, I'm feeling like I can pass the baton with no panic. What a ride its been!  I'm feeling keenly everything I do "for the last time"- and just delighting in everything, trying to suck ever last bit of flavor out of these days. 

John is doing the same- out in the villages visiting patients and  church friends, taking his helpers to the public health clinics for the last times. We have the pickup sold, as well as most of our household goods-all of which will remain for our use until we leave on March 15. I am thankful I learned long ago to hold material things loosely- to see them all as loaned for a season by the Lord for my use, but not to be clutched to my chest possessively. When we return to visit, we'll take pleasure in seeing our treasures being used and loved by those we love here!

Re-entry miracle- and record day in ER!

Edwar in October- very swollen!

Edwar this week, playful and all boy!

A bright memory of our reentry this past weekend to Honduras was a call from some fellow missionaries, asking us to stop by on the way up the hill to see a "surprise". We pulled in to see Edwar, a 6 year old with Acute lymphocytic leukemia, who I shared about in October. He came to us after a year of failure to be diagnosed in the public system, with total body pain, and looking like he had a terminal case of mumps. Just touch his skin to take his pulse hurt him. Dr. Judy diagnosed him with leukemia, and then began her search for treatment here in Honduras. The mom did the unthinkable- she took a bus to the capital city and entered a treatment program there. The child's father remained behind to work to have money for the treatment! As I was helping him dress for the long bus trip to the city for treatment, he'd said something like, "All I want to do is play someday"!  I told him when he got strong again, I would buy him a soccer ball. What a joy to have Heather whisper, "I have a new one that I just brought in from the US if you want to give it to him now!" So she made possible keeping my promise immediately. He has 2 more years of his chemo...

Rosalinda in front of the nursing school

Tho we had only arrived at Loma de Luz Sunday afternoon, we turned around and went back to Ceiba early Monday morning- to bring a new LPN student, Rosalinda, to her first day of classes. Her dad and one of her good friends, Sonia, also walked down the trail from the house to see her off. If one could can that joy and excitement...

 The hospital clinic is now only open Monday, wednesday, and Friday. We expect the other two days will be just ER, so light days. Today, a record was set when we began receiving patients from a pickup roll-over about 0930.  In our early days here, there was a similar accident on Independence Day when a pickup went up on a bank to make a U-turn and dumped all those who were hitching a ride on the back. We were very shortstaffed, as it was a weekend when we have our annual missionary conference about 6 hours from here, and most were in attendance. That day we had 7 patients at once. Today, we treated about 13! It was truly all hands on deck! By God's grace, we had no critical patients, and only had to admit 2. But it kept the surgeon busy all day, and was a quick re-orientation to the hospital for me. During the hours of patching and stitching and monitoring, we also had a child come in with a fractured arm from a fall from a tree, and an OB needing a postpartum surgery, so all in all, think it topped the charts for the busiest ER day in history here.

"Shall we gather at the river..."

Anael, Bessie, and Rigo Andino

Sunday saw another baptismal service for the Church at Margarita- this time Bessie and Edwin, 2 more siblings from a catholic family that have become delightful additions to the growing family here. There are now 4 of the children baptized and actively serving in reaching out to the mountain communities with Anael, on the left in the picture. Rigo Andino(R) and his family have been helping Anael with the church leadership since last summer.  Less than 2 weeks and we will again be with these awesome folks, applauding at what the Lord is doing!

"Shall we gather at the river..."

A time to mourn and a time to dance....

Receive regular news from our Honduran home and wanted to pass on something for you all to lift up in prayer. Veronica is a young woman who has worked at the hospital since before John and I arrived in 2004. She left to get married and have her children, and came back to us to work in the lab a few years ago. This past weekend, her husband was murdered in San Pedro. Please remember she and the children in the aftermath of this tragedy. Also pray for our fellow missionary, Christine, as she is particularly close to Veronica, having been her supervisor in the lab.

Sabbatical- a long Sabbath rest, right? In ways this past 3 months has provided that- daily exercise in a nearby gym to stave off the seasonal affective disorder, and using that exercise time to listen to favorite podcasts like John Piper and Alistair Beggs. We've both done a LOT of reading, as our church here has a great library, and we find we can read on the treadmill or elliptical machine! Always loved to multitask.  I've learned to knit and crochet,  and almost done with scarves for the 3 littlest grandgirls. We've enjoyed being in much better touch with all the kids and grands during this time home.  Here's 4 of them celebrating Savannah's birthday. She had a mermaid party, I think it was!