Dia Diez – Final Thoughts & Reflections

Dia Diez – Final Thoughts & Reflections

It’s really all about the children!  Starting with the 7 first-graders at the White Dove School, the feeding of the children in Tejeras, the Sunday morning worship with Martha’s children on top of the hill, to the school children spitting out the fluoride liquid.  They are why I come and why I cry when I leave.  It really is all about the children!

George

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What a great week!!  Randy, Karen, and I have been truly blessed by the children once again, and also our other Honduran friends who try so hard to make us at home.  We love being of service as Jesus has commanded us, but we also miss home – especially the snow.

Charlie

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At the end of the day, I am totally exhausted, both physically and mentally, but couldn’t feel better.  That pretty much sums it up for me.  God has blessed me beyond measure this week …. but I was disappointed to miss the snow.

Karen

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Reflection on the work done and the folks that were hopefully helped did not lead me to a neat list that I could write home about. When one is counseling without counseling and instructing by asking questions, faith becomes operational. It seems that this is God’s way. Projects were launched and goals were agreed upon. Great expectations have begun.  And we were there. It seems that there is not a better use of our time.

Lee

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What an upgrade from last year!  The dental clinic was air-conditioned. Everyone’s attitude was upbeat and encouraging.  Our goals were accomplished with God’s help.  It is sad to leave knowing so much more is needed, but I take comfort that God’s Plan will always be done.

Randy

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I didn’t fully know what to expect when coming to Honduras this time.  I knew it wasn’t a construction trip, like my last, 5 years ago.  I really enjoyed getting out beyond Q’town and visiting some of the many villages the Foundation works with.  I also enjoyed playing Dental Tech.  Overall it was a fulfilling week and a half for both my physical and spiritual self.

Dane

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“Blessed beyond measure” are the first words that come to my mind.  I am blessed by the privilege of bringing love and a better life to the wonderful people of Honduras, blessed through working with a great, untiring team, blessed by my family and friends at home, and thankful to almighty God whose Plan put this trip together and brought it to a successful conclusion.

Tommy

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…and God’s people said, “Amen!”

Chicken and Toothpaste in Tejeras

George, Lee, and Tommy attended the feeding at Tejeras Friday afternoon during a light rain. Unfortunately, the chairs had not been delivered, so the children sat on the concrete slab and fought off the chickens to eat their meal. Gloria prepared one of her delicious meals, chicken pastalitas, which the children enjoyed as much or more than we do.

 

  

  

After all have been fed, seconds are offered.  The girl below is packing up her second portion to take home for later.

Tommy demonstrated proper tooth brushing technique, and I distributed 60 toothbrush/toothpaste sets.

 

  

George

Dia Nueve – A Busy Morning at the Clinic

This morning’s clinic had its lighter moments, such as 8-year-old Arlinton and 7-year-old Jessy.  Both returned from having extractions yesterday to have their teeth polished.  Jessy giggled throughout the polishing process, and Karen had to laugh at the way Arlinton swaggered out of the room when he was done, as if to say, “There’s nothing to this dentist stuff.”

More often, however, there is much pain and trauma.

We arrived this morning to see 12 patients of all ages from Santa Clara.  I believe some  of them had never seen a dentist, and most did not appear to be familiar with a toothbrush.

  

It was sad to see such a cute little 5-year-old with such a bad set of teeth.  Even her mother could not  bear to watch her teeth being pulled as she comforted the child.

The toughest case of the morning, however, was that of Maria.  This 22-year-old teaches at the White Dove School, where we met her last Friday.  After enduring 3 composite filings, she held up through 2 difficult molar extractions, both of which were broken below the gum line to start with, and decayed down into the roots, requiring extensive oral surgery. 

I didn’t get many pictures of this lovely but tough young lady, as I was holding her hand for at least 2 of the 3 hours she was in the chair.  Some were kidding her about going back to the classroom this afternoon, but I told her she could take the rest of the day off!

The afternoon session was just as busy, mostly with the AP kids, but I was otherwise occupied.

Tommy

The Desk Project

Back on day two as the team was reviewing the progress in Santa Clara, it became clear that the growth in the education program had created many new needs and opportunities to assure continuing success. The one that came immediately visible was the need for a teacher’s desk. After some discussion, we determined that we had the material to create a desk, and it could be done with spare time on this visit. I volunteered to get it started to make sure of our assumptions. By day eight we were able to provide a satisfactory desk. Upon reflection, this task surely had the imprimateur of God. The need was known, the material was on hand, we had a shop and tools, and the skill was here. So we did it. It is this kind of opportunity that keeps us happy in the business of showing God’s love.

Lee

Dias Ocho – A Caring Clinic

 This morning, the dental clinic opened with a bang.  As we arrived at the new Quimistan hospital, we were greeted with a dozen or so patients already in line.  George and Daniel retrieved Randy and Charlie’s wayward trunks from San Pedro Sula airport and returned by noon, so the temporary lack of tooth polishing thingies hidden in one of those trunks had a minimal impact on operations.  About 25 Agape Promises kids were treated today, with cleanings and usually one or more fillings or extractions performed on each.  It was a busy day, as you can see.

 I was impressed today, not only by the work that was done, but also by the love and compassion that was in evidence the whole day.  When a tear was brought to the eye of a young patient, it seemed to be contagious.  Often there were 3 or 4 people in physical contact with a fearful child to offer some measure of reassurance.  So while I helped the dentists provide physical healing, I also had the joy of sharing old and new friendships.  I felt I was offering hope and self-esteem to these children, as I looked into many smiling faces.  And in doing so, I looked into the Face of God.

Where have you seen God today?

Tommy

Dia Siete - Travel and Preparation

Our primary job for Dane, George, and Tommy today was to take all the dental supplies to the new hospital and set up for the dentists, as they made their way to Quimistan today. This is a very nice facility, with 2 chairs that actually move up and down, and even an air conditioner!

We unpacked the trunks, killed about a million ants that had taken up residence under one of the chairs, and had most of the instrument sterilization completed by the time Karen, Charlie, and Randy arrived safe and sound around 5:00 p.m.  We hope the rest of their luggage follows their example tomorrow.  :-(

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Lee was nearing completion of a very nice teacher's desk for the White Dove School in Santa Clara.

Peace Corps worker Katy Wooten joined us as a guest for dinner, and brought us up to date on her activities. (Katy's the one on the right.)  :-)

We're thankful for more safe travel today, and glad our team is now complete (well, except for the 2 trunks, anyway.)

We're all looking forward to a busy day tomorrow.

Tommy

Dia Seis - A Physically Challenging Trip to Teo

In the morning, we did repeat performances at the El Pinal school of deworming medicine, fluoride treatment, and tooth brushing demonstrations for 43 kindergarten to 6^th grade children in 3 classrooms.  We left additional toothbrushes for those who were absent.

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This afternoon we visited Texoxingales, the most remote of the villages that HAF supports.  During the 1-hour drive, we stopped at a scenic overlook, where we could see the whole Quimistan Valley below.  We couldn’t pick out Q’town, but the vista was superb!

Upon our arrival, the local citizen’s group gathered, and we first looked at the school kitchen, where they would like to build the first two Justa stoves.

We then proceeded to a nearby classroom for our scheduled meeting.  We got all of our questions answered, and I believe we have lots of information about their water needs and other potential projects, which will be reported at the Board meeting next week.  It was a good meeting, with about 3 dozen adults from the village attending, and numerous curious children about.

Afterward, we hiked up to the water tank, which was a steep, narrow trail.

Dane volunteered to hike beyond there to the new water source, over a kilometer away, in order to photograph it and estimate the distance and elevation drop to the tank.  Also, Dane learned that he was severely out of shape, compared to these rugged locals.

Our last stop was at the home of the community leader, where we were served a wonderful chicken soup, tortillas, rice, and roasted chicken.

 

Finally, Tommy broke out the bubbles and made some more new friends.

We returned to home base tired but blessed by our visit.

George

Dia Cinco - Pyrantel Pamoate and Fluoride

As one of our the activities for the day, the team visited Jicaro (pronounced "Hickarow"), small village almost an hour north of Quimistan.  The plan for the day included administering deworming medicine, (pyrantel pamoate), fluoride treatment, instruction on proper teeth cleaning, and dispensing tooth brushes and toothpaste.  All went remarkably well and showed the learning of procedures from previous visits.

 

An extensive evaluation was then made of the bridge the children use to get to the school.  The bridge is needed to cross a river that is a quiet stream less than a foot deep during the dry season ,and about 5 feet deep rushing water during the rainy season.  The bridge is constructed of two very long logs laying side by each from one stone perch to another with a single wooden post propping  the logs midway in the river.  There is no handrail or support along the length of the bridge.

Lee

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Bridge Over the River Jicaro

After treating the children at the Republic de Venezuela school at Jicaro, Tommy, Lee, Dane, Jose Pinto, and I walked 100 yards or so down the hill to examine this bridge.  During the rainy season, the stream is often over a meter deep and very fast moving.  Sometimes it reaches the existing half-log bridge, and the 7 children living on the other side cannot attend school.  The proposed bridge would have a reinforced concrete deck, 1.5 meters wide, with a guard rail on both sides.  It would  be about 2 ft. higher than the current bridge, and would have a reinforced concrete center support.  This appears to be a highly worthwhile project, and is recommended by this team for prompt consideration by the HAF Construction Committee.

 George

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Carpentry Project

 

By the way, the reason you haven’t heard much from Lee before today is because he goes to Martha’s garage every chance he gets to work on a teacher’s desk for the first grade class at the White Dove School in Santa Clara.  This will be completed from existing materials, with no purchases required, and will be completed before we leave.

 Tommy