Roger in the U.S.

Roger playing 

Applying for a visa for a Honduran resident is no small task.  Not only is there an on-line application, with a substantial fee just to make an appointment, but then there is the drive to Tegucigalpa (over 6 hours away) and an in-person interview.  After all that, Dr. Roger did receive a 10 year visitor visa.  On the heels of the success for this visa, we sent him immediately off to the U.S.   He was invited by two physicians that came down during one of the medical brigades this last summer to come spend the week with them.  His time will include speaking at a church, accompanying the docs on general rounds at the hospital, speaking in front of students, attending a soccer game, and even going trick-or-treating with Dr. Rick's family.  This is going to be a great opportunity to meet new people, talk about the ministry he is involved in, support raise, and just experience the United States for the first time.  So far he was impressed with the train in the airport (flew into Atlanta), and many of the things we take for granted in the U.S. that just don't exist in Honduras (automatic soap dispensers for example).  He is enjoying the cuisine. I've "mandated"  Dr. Rick and Dr. Allen to see if they can get some experience with Americana - i.e. Chick-fil-A and Krispy Kreme, and even a Mega Wal Mart or other huge store.

I am actively support raising for Dr. Roger's pay for the following year - the only way to continue keeping him employed is through YOUR support!  I am also actively pursuing hiring a Honduran assistant to help him in the clinic while I am on furlough next year.  It would be an almost impossible task to run the clinic by himself.  So - how can YOU help?!  EASY!  Follow this link to make a one-time or on-going support contribution:

https://donations.mtw.org/donate/AddDesignation.aspx?No=92410

speaking engagement at Dr. Allen and Dr. Rick's church

The gift of walking

Manuela arrived to the clinic a few days ago.  She is 90 years old and hobbled in barely able to walk, leaning heavily on her old cane.  With her other hand she reached out to anything that was close by to give her more stability.  This, on top of the fact that she was barely able to see from one of her eyes as she has a degenerative condition that is slowly making her blind.  I walked onto my storage room and pulled out the shortest walker I could find and gave her some brief instructions.  Before I could even finish my instructions she was scooting down the hallway with her new found freedom, and her family had to slow her down before she took off out of the clinic without her medications

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A taste of home

My sweet friend Mindy Hertzell came to visit.  She is a Registered Nurse, and came to hang with me and spend time in the clinic.  Since she has been here she has done a breathing treatment, medicine infusions, and a toe nail removal.  We have also had the opportunity to go hiking in the rainforest, and driven to the State Capitol.  It has been an awesome time, and am sad it is coming to an end.

Hospital closed and our clinic open.

What is someone to do when a hospital closes?  When your only resource is to seek medical care wherever you can.  When the next closest public hospital is almost 2 hours away?  Well....you seek care wherever you can get it.  The last few weeks we have been bombarded with patients.  This week we have been oddly slow, I am hoping that is bcause we have gotten people over their crisis, but the overwhelming number of patients going through our clinic is wiping out our medical supplies.  One example is a gentleman who came in with a severe infection in his joint.  We have had him come to the clinic three days in a row where we have pulled out pus and infection in his knee, given three rounds of antiobiotics in his veins, oral antibiotics, crutches, and even a knee mobilizer.  It is patients like this that really need to be admitted, but there is no hospital to admit him to.  However, after three days of agressive treatment we decided he just needed to admit him, so we sent him out to a hospital 2 hours away.  The needs here are great, and our ability to serve them holistically we are seriously lacking in some basic things like laboratory equipment.  I have a great resource of a company in the States that will fully equip my clinic, including coming to train us on the equipment....so this is what I am saving up to get.