Monday, August 20, 2012
Remembering...
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
San Pedro > La Ceiba > Puerto Lempira
This past Thursday after work was done here at the hospital, I headed out with Dr. Ted Beemer and his wife Susan (a nurse anesthetist) for a mobile clinic on the very east coast of the country. Of all of our mobile clinic sights that we have, this one is definitely my favorite! First we had to drive three hours (more or less) eastward to the beautiful city of La Ceiba which is right on the north coast of the country, and there we stayed at Rainbow Village, a hotel owned by Germans that I quickly fell in love with. We stayed here because airport is only one block from our hotel, so at the wee hour of four'o'clock in the morning we got up and drove over across the street to the tiny Ceiba airport. We were the only ones there except for one guard, and we soon found out that the plane would leave at six, not five!
So at six'o'clock we gave the attendant our re-useable tickets and boarded the fifteen passenger plane. As we taxied down the runway and I tried to get my seat belt to click, I noticed the pilot had his window open. Thankfully before we took off he closed it, but I never did get my seat belt to work.
The next thing I knew, I was waking up with a view over a blanket of white clouds. I fell back asleep and soon we were coming in close over the shoreline where vast water spread out in one direction and small shanties dotted the land in the other direction. Then I saw a a red dirt runway, and school children in white tops tucked into navy blue pants or skirts walked along the side of it, as well as men on hand-peddled bikes who were previously lobster fishermen but had been injured and became partly or totally paralyzed in the legs.
In just one hour I had traveled to a in a different world.
We came to a smooth landing and upon exiting the plane, gave our passports to a man in an army uniform with the biggest gun I've ever seen. Maybe it's because he was rather small, but it crossed from his shoulder to below his knee and looked about as heavy as himself. Besides the two men in army uniforms, there were some other people asking us if we needed a taxi ride and others waiting for the five other people on our flight.
We didn't have to wait even a minute before we saw Katrina waiting for us with the Gator. Katrina and her family have been missionaries there in Puerto Lempira for many years now and work at the orphanage Casa Esperanza (Hope Home). We threw our bags in the Gator, jumped in the back, and headed down the dirt road full of potholes. Only a few minutes later we arrived at Hope Home where we would stay that night. I barely had the chance to get out of the Gator with my bags in two before two little boys with big glowing smiles came running over and threw their arms around me. What better way to be welcomed?! They greeted me cheerfully and I told them I was going to put my bags in the room and I would be right back. As soon as we put our stuff away, it was time to head over to the hospital with Katrina and Jess (a volunteer nurse at Hope Home). We took with us mugs, hot water and instant coffee to have some breakfast before clinic started, and we also brought homemade yuca cake. This, friends, is seriously THE BEST FOOD EVER. I know that I have a lot of favorite foods here, but this definitely topped them all (and the best part is that it's so simple- basically yucca with milk, eggs and cinnamon and sugar). So with all this goodness in tow, we gatored down the dirt road through the town until we came to the hospital. This hospital would hardly be qualified to be called a hospital by most people that I know; the building is simple and run down, and the hygiene is extremely poor. But this is all they had and we were going to make the best of it. There, Dr. Marianne was waiting for us with a long list of patients ready to be seen, with her translator as well who would translate for us from Moskitio to Spanish for the patients from the rural areas who didn't speak Spanish. Marianne has lived there in Puerto Limpera for many years, having a clinic at Hope Home as well as having her own feeding program with about fifty children at her house, as well as eight Honduran boys of her own. Every so often she brings patients over to us in San Pedro for surgery. We are very grateful for her partnership and ministry to the people in this part of Honduras (and some from Nicaragua as well). After yucca cake and coffee we began seeing patients, some who had already been operated on at CURE and some new patients who needed operations. Slowly by slowly we continued through the day, some patients doing well and some that no surgery or treatment would heal, ones only to be healed with prayer. Dr. Beemer saw about forty patients in all, about eight hours in clinic. It was a successful day over all, and we were ready to go have fresh seafood soup at Marianne's house (on the beach) about two miles across town, along with her many precious feeding program children.
So at six'o'clock we gave the attendant our re-useable tickets and boarded the fifteen passenger plane. As we taxied down the runway and I tried to get my seat belt to click, I noticed the pilot had his window open. Thankfully before we took off he closed it, but I never did get my seat belt to work.
The next thing I knew, I was waking up with a view over a blanket of white clouds. I fell back asleep and soon we were coming in close over the shoreline where vast water spread out in one direction and small shanties dotted the land in the other direction. Then I saw a a red dirt runway, and school children in white tops tucked into navy blue pants or skirts walked along the side of it, as well as men on hand-peddled bikes who were previously lobster fishermen but had been injured and became partly or totally paralyzed in the legs.
In just one hour I had traveled to a in a different world.
We came to a smooth landing and upon exiting the plane, gave our passports to a man in an army uniform with the biggest gun I've ever seen. Maybe it's because he was rather small, but it crossed from his shoulder to below his knee and looked about as heavy as himself. Besides the two men in army uniforms, there were some other people asking us if we needed a taxi ride and others waiting for the five other people on our flight.
We didn't have to wait even a minute before we saw Katrina waiting for us with the Gator. Katrina and her family have been missionaries there in Puerto Lempira for many years now and work at the orphanage Casa Esperanza (Hope Home). We threw our bags in the Gator, jumped in the back, and headed down the dirt road full of potholes. Only a few minutes later we arrived at Hope Home where we would stay that night. I barely had the chance to get out of the Gator with my bags in two before two little boys with big glowing smiles came running over and threw their arms around me. What better way to be welcomed?! They greeted me cheerfully and I told them I was going to put my bags in the room and I would be right back. As soon as we put our stuff away, it was time to head over to the hospital with Katrina and Jess (a volunteer nurse at Hope Home). We took with us mugs, hot water and instant coffee to have some breakfast before clinic started, and we also brought homemade yuca cake. This, friends, is seriously THE BEST FOOD EVER. I know that I have a lot of favorite foods here, but this definitely topped them all (and the best part is that it's so simple- basically yucca with milk, eggs and cinnamon and sugar). So with all this goodness in tow, we gatored down the dirt road through the town until we came to the hospital. This hospital would hardly be qualified to be called a hospital by most people that I know; the building is simple and run down, and the hygiene is extremely poor. But this is all they had and we were going to make the best of it. There, Dr. Marianne was waiting for us with a long list of patients ready to be seen, with her translator as well who would translate for us from Moskitio to Spanish for the patients from the rural areas who didn't speak Spanish. Marianne has lived there in Puerto Limpera for many years, having a clinic at Hope Home as well as having her own feeding program with about fifty children at her house, as well as eight Honduran boys of her own. Every so often she brings patients over to us in San Pedro for surgery. We are very grateful for her partnership and ministry to the people in this part of Honduras (and some from Nicaragua as well). After yucca cake and coffee we began seeing patients, some who had already been operated on at CURE and some new patients who needed operations. Slowly by slowly we continued through the day, some patients doing well and some that no surgery or treatment would heal, ones only to be healed with prayer. Dr. Beemer saw about forty patients in all, about eight hours in clinic. It was a successful day over all, and we were ready to go have fresh seafood soup at Marianne's house (on the beach) about two miles across town, along with her many precious feeding program children.
Here Dr. Beemer is showing nurse Jess how to do clubfoot casting. Jess and Dr. Marianne will be doing the followup casting for the several clubfoot babies who came in that day.
Our clinic crew: Dr. Beemer with a patient and mother, his wife Susan behind him, our Moskitio/Spanish translator to the right, and nurse Jess front left. Below left in green, Dr. Marianne (a hero to Honduras!)
Baby Ana Galilea was born with a hand deformity and amniotic bands on her right leg which need to be treated as soon as possible. She is scheduled to come to CURE for surgery in September with Dr. Marianne
Lindon has severely bowed legs and will also come in September for his surgery.
Harvey was born with a deformity of the right leg and foot and surgery is being planned so that he will be able to walk!
This is Isaac, one of the residents at Hope Home. He and his two brothers were all operated on at CURE in 2009 for their clubfeet. This is him now, with two straight feet and doing well!
After a long day I was happy to lay down and sleep in the quietness with breeze blowing through the window. No AC in Puerto Lempira.... the weather there is simply perfect. I woke up with the early sunrise at five'o'clock the next morning, to a view out my window of the red dirt runway in the distance and nothing else besides trees to be seen and roosters to be heard with the occasional sound of children's voices. I was really happy in this place and wasn't quite ready to leave. A young lady volunteering at Hope Home with ROOM was in the room next to mine, and as the doors to both of our rooms were open, as I was getting ready I saw a little brown baby with nothing but a diaper sound asleep on the middle of the hardwood floor in her bedroom. I thought to myself that I wouldn't mind staying and here and having some little brown baby of my own to take of. I finished getting ready and put my backpack in the Gator. As Jess and I drove out I waved goodbye to the children playing in the yard and digging in the dirt. Five minutes later Jess dropped me at the little shanty airport where Dr. Beemer and Susan were already waiting with Dr. Marianne, and soon my friend Jose who I had met the night before at Marianne's house showed up to wish us farewell. We chatted for the remaining minutes that we had together, and soon a little airplane came in the distance. The passengers exited and the luggage was unloaded onto a rickety wooden wheelbarrow used as a luggage cart. Marianne and Jose walked to the airplane with us and we hugged them before boarding. I know that Dr. Beemer and Susan will be back before long, and I can only hope that one day I will as well! God's plan and His timing area always perfect- so as I ate knock-off brand Lucky Charms and read "Mountains Beyond Mountains" on our flight back to Ceiba (before falling asleep), and then as we drove back to my beloved and hot San Pedro, I had peace that I will one day be able to go back if that is part of the plan.
Our clinic crew: Dr. Beemer with a patient and mother, his wife Susan behind him, our Moskitio/Spanish translator to the right, and nurse Jess front left. Below left in green, Dr. Marianne (a hero to Honduras!)
Baby Ana Galilea was born with a hand deformity and amniotic bands on her right leg which need to be treated as soon as possible. She is scheduled to come to CURE for surgery in September with Dr. Marianne
Lindon has severely bowed legs and will also come in September for his surgery.
Harvey was born with a deformity of the right leg and foot and surgery is being planned so that he will be able to walk!
This is Isaac, one of the residents at Hope Home. He and his two brothers were all operated on at CURE in 2009 for their clubfeet. This is him now, with two straight feet and doing well!After a long day I was happy to lay down and sleep in the quietness with breeze blowing through the window. No AC in Puerto Lempira.... the weather there is simply perfect. I woke up with the early sunrise at five'o'clock the next morning, to a view out my window of the red dirt runway in the distance and nothing else besides trees to be seen and roosters to be heard with the occasional sound of children's voices. I was really happy in this place and wasn't quite ready to leave. A young lady volunteering at Hope Home with ROOM was in the room next to mine, and as the doors to both of our rooms were open, as I was getting ready I saw a little brown baby with nothing but a diaper sound asleep on the middle of the hardwood floor in her bedroom. I thought to myself that I wouldn't mind staying and here and having some little brown baby of my own to take of. I finished getting ready and put my backpack in the Gator. As Jess and I drove out I waved goodbye to the children playing in the yard and digging in the dirt. Five minutes later Jess dropped me at the little shanty airport where Dr. Beemer and Susan were already waiting with Dr. Marianne, and soon my friend Jose who I had met the night before at Marianne's house showed up to wish us farewell. We chatted for the remaining minutes that we had together, and soon a little airplane came in the distance. The passengers exited and the luggage was unloaded onto a rickety wooden wheelbarrow used as a luggage cart. Marianne and Jose walked to the airplane with us and we hugged them before boarding. I know that Dr. Beemer and Susan will be back before long, and I can only hope that one day I will as well! God's plan and His timing area always perfect- so as I ate knock-off brand Lucky Charms and read "Mountains Beyond Mountains" on our flight back to Ceiba (before falling asleep), and then as we drove back to my beloved and hot San Pedro, I had peace that I will one day be able to go back if that is part of the plan.
Flying into Puerto Lempira
View of the airport from the plane window
Marianne's house after dark. I'm standing on the shore- the house is built over the water. And it's like manic land in there- big dogs, little dogs, new puppies, boys and girls of all sizes running in and out of the house. Boys cooking and sweeping up spilled rice and mopping up the mud all over the floor. And somehow Marianne has peace through all the chaos, and it's a beautiful thing to be a part of.
Gathering around the big table with many of Marianne's children for dinner. There's a small church made up of chairs and a thatched roof right beside the dining area here, so we got to listen to the youth practicing their music during and after dinner.
View of the airport from the plane window
Marianne's house after dark. I'm standing on the shore- the house is built over the water. And it's like manic land in there- big dogs, little dogs, new puppies, boys and girls of all sizes running in and out of the house. Boys cooking and sweeping up spilled rice and mopping up the mud all over the floor. And somehow Marianne has peace through all the chaos, and it's a beautiful thing to be a part of.
Gathering around the big table with many of Marianne's children for dinner. There's a small church made up of chairs and a thatched roof right beside the dining area here, so we got to listen to the youth practicing their music during and after dinner.Tuesday, July 17, 2012
thoughts from an early monday morning...
Yesterday morning as I woke at 5:15 and was getting ready once again for another Monday, at that time, like most Mondays, I did not really want to get out of bed. Even though Monday is one of my favorite days because it's clubfoot clinic day and all of our precious babies come for new casts, bar shoes, or just a followup, there are still those days, usually Mondays, when I'd rather sleep, if you know what I mean.
As I was getting ready, still half awake as I dressed and took Ace outside to walk, I just felt so heavily on my heart to pray for several people on my mind, people that I pray for anyway when I think about them, but I don't know why the Lord put it so clearly and heavily on my heart the burden to pray, and not just so, but I felt so strongly the need to spend more time in prayer, just in general. In wondering why and where this was coming from, I realized that I felt this because in the recent times I haven't been serious enough in my communication with the Lord. I'm one who likes to pray throughout the day as people come to my mind, but often times recently I've been getting up early (as always) and going to bed extremely late, spending my days at the hospital and evenings with friends, which is great, but I needed the Lord's gently reminder that when I wake up so early and start thinking about the day and going through the motions, and then when I crash at the end of the day with energy for nothing more except to lock the door, brush my teeth and turn off the light, things start getting out out of focus. The days start to lose purpose and rather than feeling hopeful for life, either for myself or for others... it becomes overwhelming and worry begins to rob my peace and joy from the Lord. He reminded me to pray more intentionally, beginning and ending my day with Him that He may be the focus throughout, because this is what I need. Prayer is what brings me closer to the Lord, prayer aligns my heart with His, prayer is the power of Holy Spirit in us (Romans 8:26). Prayer is what moves us to action. As I pray for others, I see that I equally benefit. Prayer helps me to be honest with my weakness. The Lord already knows me better than I know myself; nothing is hidden from Him (Hebrews 4:13). Yet in my human nature I give excuses and pretend I have it all together. As C.S. Lewis said, we must lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us. See, the Lord already knows what's in my heart! My need to pray, my need to be open, is for my benefit, that the Lord may cleanse me that I may not continue to walk in darkness. The more I give the Lord what is on my heart and He takes the burden from me, the more I see that there is no where else I want to be but in His presence.
My Monday morning turned from a tired, not-wanting-to-get-up morning to having a renewed joy for the day. Simply because it was the day that the Lord made, and He was in it. He is in each moment and has a purpose, whether I am aware of it or not. I had renewed energy because no matter how many hours I sleep during the night, the JOY of the Lord is what gives me strength! (Nehemiah 8:10).
While reading the Bible before clinic started, I began the book of First Timothy and I came to this verse: I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. (1 Timothy 2:1 NLT). What confirmation of what had been laid on my hear! My deep need to pray, not how I had been before, but with a new desire. To pray for others for their sake and for mine. To pray because as His child He desires to be with me and wants me to be closer to Him. And when I am with Him I realize that there is no better place to be, that life has joyous purpose, eternal purpose.
Psalm 51:10: Create in my a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
As I was getting ready, still half awake as I dressed and took Ace outside to walk, I just felt so heavily on my heart to pray for several people on my mind, people that I pray for anyway when I think about them, but I don't know why the Lord put it so clearly and heavily on my heart the burden to pray, and not just so, but I felt so strongly the need to spend more time in prayer, just in general. In wondering why and where this was coming from, I realized that I felt this because in the recent times I haven't been serious enough in my communication with the Lord. I'm one who likes to pray throughout the day as people come to my mind, but often times recently I've been getting up early (as always) and going to bed extremely late, spending my days at the hospital and evenings with friends, which is great, but I needed the Lord's gently reminder that when I wake up so early and start thinking about the day and going through the motions, and then when I crash at the end of the day with energy for nothing more except to lock the door, brush my teeth and turn off the light, things start getting out out of focus. The days start to lose purpose and rather than feeling hopeful for life, either for myself or for others... it becomes overwhelming and worry begins to rob my peace and joy from the Lord. He reminded me to pray more intentionally, beginning and ending my day with Him that He may be the focus throughout, because this is what I need. Prayer is what brings me closer to the Lord, prayer aligns my heart with His, prayer is the power of Holy Spirit in us (Romans 8:26). Prayer is what moves us to action. As I pray for others, I see that I equally benefit. Prayer helps me to be honest with my weakness. The Lord already knows me better than I know myself; nothing is hidden from Him (Hebrews 4:13). Yet in my human nature I give excuses and pretend I have it all together. As C.S. Lewis said, we must lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us. See, the Lord already knows what's in my heart! My need to pray, my need to be open, is for my benefit, that the Lord may cleanse me that I may not continue to walk in darkness. The more I give the Lord what is on my heart and He takes the burden from me, the more I see that there is no where else I want to be but in His presence.
My Monday morning turned from a tired, not-wanting-to-get-up morning to having a renewed joy for the day. Simply because it was the day that the Lord made, and He was in it. He is in each moment and has a purpose, whether I am aware of it or not. I had renewed energy because no matter how many hours I sleep during the night, the JOY of the Lord is what gives me strength! (Nehemiah 8:10).
While reading the Bible before clinic started, I began the book of First Timothy and I came to this verse: I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. (1 Timothy 2:1 NLT). What confirmation of what had been laid on my hear! My deep need to pray, not how I had been before, but with a new desire. To pray for others for their sake and for mine. To pray because as His child He desires to be with me and wants me to be closer to Him. And when I am with Him I realize that there is no better place to be, that life has joyous purpose, eternal purpose.
Psalm 51:10: Create in my a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Some of our clubfoot cuties... left to right, top to bottom:
Percy and his mom, Jorvin and his big sister Jenifer, Erik,
Manuel, Colmar and his parents, Juana,
Jorge, Daniela and her mom, and little Edis (who is now a much bigger and chubbier baby!)
Percy and his mom, Jorvin and his big sister Jenifer, Erik,
Manuel, Colmar and his parents, Juana,
Jorge, Daniela and her mom, and little Edis (who is now a much bigger and chubbier baby!)
Monday, June 18, 2012
musical garage
as some of you know, every saturday i am blessed to take part in the "session de alabanxa" (time of praise and worship) at the musical garage near my house. i have met some of my dearest and funnest (i know, it's 'most fun') friends there, and it has truly made my life better than i ever could have imagined it. last month they celebrated their second anniversary of having the garage and sessions every saturday and first of every month. i took some videos of this special event and put a little video snapshot together.
forever grateful for the Lord's provision of this place and these people- all the glory to the One who blesses us beyond what we can imagine (ephesians 3:20).
if you are in, near, or come to visit san pedro, it's the place to be!!!!!
forever grateful for the Lord's provision of this place and these people- all the glory to the One who blesses us beyond what we can imagine (ephesians 3:20).
if you are in, near, or come to visit san pedro, it's the place to be!!!!!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Shrek The Musical...
THANK YOU dear friends who purchased tickets for this event to support our hospital!
My friend Abigail played the part of "Little Fiona" and sang her solo beautifully... for the other parts of the play she was a purple fairy! Enjoy the video and please know how grateful CURE Honduras is for your support to our hospital and helping to make this even a success!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
CURE Honduras Benefit Show!
We are very excited to announce the fundraiser that Hands On Learning is doing with us here at CURE Honduras! The performance on June 12th will be a benefit for CURE- they are giving our hospital $5.00 for every ticket that is purchased. If you would like to purchase a ticket which will be given to one of our patients (who otherwise could not attend the show), you can make a check out to Pauline Bridgeman with "Shrek" in the memo line, and it will be forwarded directly to our hospital to help our patients. Checks can be mailed to the following address.
Jen Bushman
25 Maple Avenue
Hershey, PA 17033.
Pictures will be posted of our patients who attend the show!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
This is Cesar.
Meet my little buddy Cesar. Cesar Cipriano. This is a picture of him from a few days ago, quite a different child from when I met him a few months ago.
________________________________________________
This is a picture that I took of Cesar the first day that he came to our clinic. He had bilateral clubfeet, but that didn't stop him from being able to run around. And run he did. He was probably the most out of control patient I have seen since being here for almost a year. He refused to take his hand out of his mouth, to look at anyone in the face, to smile, to come to his mother when she called him... he was totally doing his own thing, not wanting to be pinned down to have big uncomfortable casts put on him. 
And really, that's understandable. It's scary and painful, and geez, if I can run around without any problem in my mind, why do I want to be immobilized? Cesar left that day not too happy. The poor little guy didn't understand what was happening, but he would soon find out, and it would change more than just his feet.
In the weeks that followed, he continued with his casting but was clearly not thrilled with the idea.
The first time that I remember seeing a smile on Cesar's face is when he was sitting on the bed in the ward with is mother the morning of his surgery. Something was changing, and I think he was beginning to realize what was happening to him.
He toughed it through his surgery and recovery, and I was amazed to see him the next afternoon before he left, sitting outside happily playing with a toy truck and actually smiling when he saw me. He no longer had a temperament of anger but one of happiness and calm.
This is Cesar now. He is walking almost normally with two straight feet, and here he is showing us the special shoes that are connected with a bar that he wears at night to maintain the good position.
The stark contrast of his personality from the time he first came to now is shocking to me, and it still amazes me that this sweet boy is the same Cesar that I met just months ago. Healing is changing him from the inside out!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)