DENTAL TRIP CONCLUDES

After many hours of van, plane and bus riding, the 2009 dental team arrived home to Aiken safe and sound last night. A highlight of the trip was being treated to this glorious sunset as we departed Atlanta!


It took until yesterday, our last morning in Quimistan, to get our team together for our traditional group photo. But our team was really much larger than the group you see here. It included many who supported us from the sidelines with their prayers, gifts, talents and love, without which this trip would not have been possible. We thank each and every one of you for your part in this mission! We also thank our Team Leader, Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ, who directed and protected us throughout the trip. We pray that what we were able to do these past few days will glorify Him and provide some measure of hope, aid, and comfort to the people of Honduras.

Tommy

UPDATE ON MRS. AMALIA’S HOUSE

Five of our patients at today’s clinic were from Santa Clara. One of these was Mrs. Amalia. After they were all done, Mandy and I rode with them as they were taken back home. On the way, 5-year-old Ariel, one of Mrs. Amalia’s grandsons, was very comfortable on Mandy’s lap. The feeling was mutual, and I think she considered hiding him in her luggage for the trip home tomorrow, but decided he had better stay in Santa Clara for now.


When we arrived, Mrs. Amalia, even though she had just had a few teeth removed, walked down the hill to show me her new house, which she is very happy about and anxious to move into.

The roof tiles have been made and delivered, and would have been installed by now, except that the builder was pulled from the job for a few days to repair Santa Clara’s broken water system.

What a joy it was to see the near completion of the project that was started in January.

Tommy

PUEBLO NUEVO CLINIC

Our first dental clinic in Pueblo Nuevo was held today. (The new tin roof you see was financed by HAF.) Upon arrival at 8:00 a.m., the staff was present and the clinic was open. The dental chair was set up, but there was no running water and the only bathroom in the building was out of order. Dr. Constantino provided bottled water.



We were joined by Angie, a bi-lingual, senior dental student, who proved to be a very big help, even to performing some of the extractions.


To speed things up, the team fixed up an extra dental chair using a stool, with the patient resting their head upon an elevated cot.



Between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., we treated 35 patients with an approximate extraction of 100 teeth, some requiring suturing.

"Charlie and Randy's Angels"

In the van on the way home, Charlie was heard to say, “That felt good. This is what it’s all about.”

Tommy

ANOTHER BUSY DAY IN QUIMISTAN!

Today was another very busy day, especially for Charlie and Randy, our 2 heroic dentists. The team completed all of the Agape Promises youth who came, plus a few other patients, and we shut down operations at the Agape clinic around 6:00 p.m. Tomorrow, the clinic will be held at a new location, in Pueblo Nuevo.

Interspersed through our hectic schedule were many opportunities for praise and celebration. It’s late, so I’ll let the pictures below show you a few of those.

Tommy

Donated flip-flops much appreciated!

A new soccer ball!

It works!

Happy 15th birthday, Brenda!

Bubble fun!

Don't hurt me, Dr. Randy!

Yet another satisfied customer!

Oh, no! Rox out of control again!

Time to say GOOD NIGHT!

A BUSY DAY AT THE CLINIC!

Woke up to a beautiful morning of birds chirping and goats maa-ing and most of you know I’m not usually a “morning person”. After breakfast, I even took some pictures before we all headed off to the Clinic.

Our morning there started off with a bang, literally. Charley’s portable dental unit was the cause and therefore, wasn’t working. Later, Charley tried it and it was functioning again – thank the Dear Lord! Several power outages changed the schedule, too, (that’s why the job of “flashlight holder” is necessary), so extractions were performed during those times. "Dentistas" Randy and Charlie are very flexible.

Our translators were very helpful – one being a high school-aged girl that we met for the first time and also helped as an assistant.

We served a total of 28 patients today, of which 20 were AP students. The dental work included 12 cleanings, 14 fillings and 31 extractions. A long day for sure!

As treasurer, Tommy did some banking and took lots of pictures of the children, as you can see below.

Looking forward to tomorrow. I’m so glad I came – will have many stories to tell.

Blessings,


Mandy

MARCH DENTAL TEAM OFF TO QUIMISTAN

The lively looking crew above, consisting of Randy, Karen, Charlie, Mandy, and Tommy, left Aiken at 4:30 this morning for Columbia airport. Following an hour-plus delay out of Atlanta, mostly due to weather, we arrived safely in Quimistan to join fellow team members Sam and Roxanne. Our primary purpose for this trip is a whirlwind 3-day dental clinic, which promises to be very busy. Today was mostly travel, set-up of the clinic, planning, and settling in, and we are all very tired after a short night and a 26-hour-long day.


Stay tuned for further details of what God has in mind for us this week.

Tommy

Welcome to our new blog site!

Our entry into the blogosphere last year was a rousing success. Interested readers are able to keep up with events underway in Honduras while the mission teams are there. Feedback has been positive and very encouraging.

Now we have moved the blog for Honduras Agape Foundation missions to its own site---here. The site we've been using will remain open and accessible for other missions of First Presbyterian, Aiken. Our new site will be exclusively for Honduras Agape Foundation missions.

Roof Delayed to Mañana

We thought Mrs. Amalia's house would have been completed by now, but unseasonably rainy weather has stymied progress. The floors have been completed, and doors and windows are ready, but the brick factory making the roof tiles has not been able to fire up the kiln because of the rain. As soon as the skies clear up for a few days, progress will resume and we'll get a photo showing the pride of the neighborhood!

Allen