Honduras Day 4: San Nicolas

Susan (our dentist) at work. She was overjoyed to have this chair -- on previous trips she's had to work on patients sitting in folding chairs. The patients thought this was cool, too.

That's Fred holding the light and saying "Oh, my." By Monday afternoon I was doing that and he was doing intake. I wasn't as grossed out by the gory stuff as he and Loren were. Loren handled the pharmacy (dispensing).

We saw about 25-30 dental patients each day, and >75 general medicine. Basics like lice shampoo, loperamide (Immodium), hygiene kits, amoxicillin, parasite meds, vitamins.

And of course, toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Honduras Day 3 continued

This kid hung out with me all day on Sunday. I was dealing with the eyeglasses at that point, and generally lending a hand wherever needed.
I think he said his name was Felipe. He and I goofed around with the high-plus lenses and made all the kids laugh.

Honduras Day 3: To the hills

Sunday 1 June
We arrived in Tegucigalpa Saturday evening and stayed at Villa Gracia, the hostel run by Heifer for missions and training groups. We stayed up and repacked the crates and were able to eliminate two. Now we only have to cart 7 up the mountain!

From Tegucigalpa back up to Siguatapeque about 2 hrs, then 2 more hours heading west into the mountains to La Esperanza. After checking into the hotel we headed up the dirt highway north of the city. All of the villages where we will hold clinics are on this road. The Agricultural Cooperative that invited us has members in communities all along the road, as well as in La Esperanza.

I should specify that its not A road. its THE Road. We were supposed to go a few miles further to El Rosario (at the end of The Road) but the last stretch was impassable with mud

[that there nearly sank us -- we had to get out of Tim's jeep so he could get back to navigable road surface]

so we backed up to what would have been our second stop, San Nicolas...

Honduras Day 2: San Pedro Sula

Saturday morning we got to do some sightseeing in the morning (our transportation was due at noon). Okay so I can't figure out how to rotate this image. Turn your head. Lovely Catedral across the park from the hotel.

Our ride was a woman from the Tegucigalpa office of Heifer International -- she'd arrived the night before to bring someone to the airport, so we were in luck. Somehow we managed to get all 9 crates secured in her SUV, plus the four of us and our hand baggage.

And her name was Marcella. We've decided our guardian angel is named Marcella, and anyone with that name can be trusted.

Honduras Day 2

Saturday 31 May

The best coffee EVER. Playing with my camera some more on the balcony.

Honduras Mission Trip Day 1

Friday 30 May traveling all day: got to Miami with no problem but stuck there all afternoon when Toncontin was closed down after a terrible crash. Flew to San Pedro Sula instead. American Airlines was less than helpful. A young woman from Tegucigalpa named Marcella proved to be our guardian angel and gave us good advice. A looooong day but the hotel was lovely. My room had a tiny balcony so I played with my new camera.