Clinic giving - Private Matching Grant

It is that time of year.  The end of the year....and therefore, end of year giving.  Our clinic is 100% reliant upon generous givers which allows us to give quality healthcare to the poorest of the poor.  Dr. Roger is an incredible physician who cares and loves for all those who come to the clinic.  We have seen such amazing cases, newly diagnosed cases of cancer, rare diseases, and normal aches and pains.  The ability to serve God's children, and reaching out to those who might otherwise be without medical care is a privilege I am reminded of on a daily basis.  So what does it cost to pay for a physician and assistant?  So glad you asked...$19,600.  UPDATE:  I JUST RECEIVED NOTICE FROM A PRIVATE FUNDER THAT HE IS WILLING TO DO A MATCHING GRANT!  So let's MAKE THIS HAPPEN!!!!  If you give $100 - he will give $100, etc.   Help me continue to make this possible by easily contributing here :  https://donations.mtw.org/donate/AddDesignation.aspx?No=92410

I am looking for funding for an assistant as I will be leaving for furlough in July, and need someone to oversee the clinic while I am gone.

Sweet little 3 year old Nicole is one of the kiddos who comes to our clinic for free vitamins.

Handing out a walker and giving the gift of walking

Dr. Roger with a lttle baby at the clinic.

Leishmaniasis

A big word for basically a parasite caused by an infected sand flea.  Docs in the States most likely have only seen this in text books.  In the five years I've been here, I don't recall seeing any - however - this week?  We've seen two cases.  And two very different cases.  Going to get a little geeky here - hang with me...

• Cutaneous leishmaniasis affects the skin and mucous membranes. Skin sores usually start at the site of the sandfly bite. In a few people, sores may develop on mucous membranes.
• Systemic, or visceral, leishmaniasis affects the entire body. This form occurs 2 - 8 months after a person is bitten by the sandfly. Most people do not remember having a skin sore. This form can lead to deadly complications. The parasites damage the immune system by decreasing the numbers of disease-fighting cells.

The first case we saw was a young 21 year old girl with severe complications from this that has involved her liver, and when I first looked at her, the whites of her eyes were completely yellow - jaundice from 

She has been fighting her disease for three years, and when I asked her what had been done for her, she gave me this desperate look and basically told me nothing had been done.  The hospital just doesn't have the resources for her, and whenever she had been to see a specialist, they were not there.  She had the second case - the systemic version.

The second case we saw was cutaneous leishmaniasis.  

This young man came to our clinic today.  Two cases of leishmaniasis in one week.  Certainly was an interesting way to finish out this year.

The consequences of diabetes

This sweet 42 year old, named Gladis, came to our clinic yesterday with complaints of an ulcer on the bottom of her toe.  Complications related to her diabetes has already caused one of her toes to be amputated.  Upon first glance at this toe, I don't know that it is even salvagable.  However, she has already been to the doctors, and they have been advising her to have her foot removed to help stem her problems.  Now, I'm no expert, but the foot seems pretty salvagable to me, but I'm not so sure this toe is.  Because of the medical advice she had received from the local public hospital she is terrified of returning, and told me that she simply wouldn't return unless there was no hope beyond hope.  She said to me, "you are one of the sweetest people I know, and I know that you can save it."  Okay...so no pressure there!  But, we've started her on a couple of different antibiotics, and I am bringing her into the clinic for daily cleaning and wound packing of her toe.  I told her she has lots to do.  The medicine and I can only do so much - but her job was the hardest.  She needed to change her life.  She has taken her diabetes very lightly, even with the removal of one of her toes.  She had eaten nothing but carbohydrates for breakfast, not a protein source in sight.  I spent about the next 30 minutes speaking with her, giving her literature, and am having her start a food journal so we can better evaluate her eating/drinking habits.  With lots of information to get her going, I told her the other thing we need to do is pray!  Pray that God would give her healing, endurance to change her life, and allow her body to heal itself.  Will you pray with me?  Pray for Gladis, her health, and especially her toe.

Trying to change peoples lives

Let's face it...it is not easy to get people to change their life habits in the United States where they are surrounded by education, the internet, and tons of resources.  Here, with the lack of education, very little patient information or general understanding of health, we are confronted by difficulties similar in the States, but multiplied a 100 fold.  Today a sweet young 17 year old girl came in to be seen.  She is almost 22 weeks pregnant and presented with high blood pressure and diabetes, and her body mass index is 39 (above 30 is obese).  To say she is high risk is an understatement.  Most likely both her diabetes and her blood pressure problems are related to her pregnancy.  For the next hour, Roger spent the time explaining all that was wrong with her, how to change her life, the precautions to take, and the signs of emergency.  We are praying for this young girl - she received more information than she would ever have received at a public hospital or clinic, and for this, I am glad that we can help.  Changing people's lives one person at a time.  

Would you like to see us continue offering incredible services to the poorest of the poor?  You can help out by giving a one time donation or an on-going contribution toward Dr. Roger's pay.  The new year is almost here, and I am aggressively looking for pay for his salary to enable him to continue working.  Can you help out?  https://donations.mtw.org/donate/AddDesignation.aspx?No=92410

Darkness...but the Light shines through!

Your financial contributions are what have made the clinic continue to be a light in the darkness. To support Dr. Roger, to be able to continue running the clinic with me, PLEASE go here:

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

What does it mean to work on the mission field?  God tells us to GO!  For some that is physically going, for others it means to pray diligently for those on the field, and for others it means to financially support those people who are on the field.

During our time here, we knew going in that things were not going to be comfortable.  Things were not going to be easy.  Things were going to challenge us in ways we couldn't foresee.  Soon after we got here Honduras became the murder capitol of the world.  Not a thing to strive for at all.  And...for the next three years, Honduras has maintained that unfortunate title.

In the little 3,000 person community of Armenia Bonito, where we work, it has proven to be even more challenging then we could ever have imagined!  Five years ago we started out working from a small little building with no electricity, water, or even doors.  We have come a long way, and have truly come to love this community.  We are almost done with a High School, constructed a huge indoor soccer field, have planted a church, and are running a health clinic.  Sometimes, however, in the midst of all the amazing / great things going on, there truly are times that challenge you a bit more.  Since June there have been 10 murders just in this community.  This hurts my heart....a lot....we know these people, love these people, and when we find there is yet another person that has been shot it is heart breaking.  I'm just going to say it.  My heart is down.  I am saddened. I am discouraged. I am tired both physically and emotionally.  

The world is full of evil, and I know that - but it is one thing to hear it on the news, and the other to experience it up close and personal with people I know and love.

Here is what I hold firm to from a devotional I read just today by Lysa TerKeurst:

The Lord:  Recall the beauty of trusting the only One who can see what is and what is to come. Nahum 1:7... "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him." (NIV 1984)

Me: I do trust You. But for everything to end like this is so hard. It just seems pointless

The Lord: Nothing I allow is pointless. Even in the midst of hurt I will work good. Proverbs 19:20-21... "Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." (NIV 1984)

Me: Why does she (me/the community/Armenia) have to go through this?

The Lord: You don't have to have answers. You just need to trust. Isaiah 55:9b... "My ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (NIV 1984)

Your financial contributions are what have made the clinic continue to be a light in the midst of this ever growing darkness. Please allow us to be the vessels of the light to this oppressive darkness.  To support Dr. Roger, to be able to continue running the clinic with me, PLEASE go here:

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

End of a season

After five years of hosting Kids Club, it is finally coming to a close. The goal with Mission to the World is to turn all ministry over to Nationals to run. In otherwords, work yourself out of a job. We have not really had anyone to turn it over to, but now that the church in Armenia Bonito has been established for a year, it is time to turn it over to the church.  Pastor Jesús has been coming to Kids Club for the past 4-5 months or so to learn the ropes and see what has been going on, and for the kids to get to know him.  In a few short weeks our long-term intern, James, will be leaving, and that will signal the changing of the guard.  We will host a Christmas party, have our final Kids Club, and turn things over to the Pastor officially.  Pastor Jesús will be installing a decon, and the decon and he will be responsible for the future of Kids Club.  Most likely the days, times, and even location will change as it works for Pastor's schedule.  It will eventually move into the church, once that has been constructed.  This is a bitter-sweet time for me.  For over 3 years I have lead Kids Club, taken the children through the catechism, created a new process for how it has done, and James has become integral into it as well. But...as the goal is to turn things over to Nationals, it is a natural progression, and timely as the church grows and takes on new responsibilities.  We have been averaging 60-80 kids each week, the picture below are the 35 kids who had almost perfect attendance and were able to participate in the end of cycle fiesta.

I love the kids, and will miss them dearly, but I know that I will still see most of them around Armenia.

Medical crisis

This week we have had nine people from a community called Santa Ana that have come to our medical clinic.  To put that in perspective, they are traveling an hour and fifteen minutes via bus to come to our little clinic.  There is a government run medical clinic in their community, but it has NO medicine.  So they can go to the clinic and get a consultation, but then they can't be treated for their ailments.  Their only other option is a private clinic in their community that offers a consultation and medications for HNL1,500 which is about $75.00.  This means care is ONLY available to the rich people of that community.  We charge $2.50 for a consultation and $1.25 for all your medications. This makes the hour+ bus ride WELL worth it!  We can serve the poorest of the poor!  We continue to seek funds for Dr. Roger's pay to be able to continue our efforts to treat people like little Manuel who came to our clinic from the community over an hour away.  It is so easy to become a part of this effort by making an on-going or one-time contribution toward Dr. Roger's pay. Go to this link to make an EASY contribution... https://donations.mtw.org/donate/AddDesignation.aspx?No=92410