Mission Honduras LeMars / Joint Task Force Bravo, Soto Cano, Honduras

Mission Honduras LeMars teams up with Joint Task Force Bravo and the United States Military base at Soto Cano, Honduras.

The following are notes from Francis Seivert, Elkton, S.D., while representing Mission Honduras LeMars, early December 2010. This information concerns our joint medical team planning mission to Montana de la Flor.

1. I don't remember the exact date, but I read a story in the Brookings Register, Brookings, S.D. about a team from SDSU (South Dakota State University)that went to Honduras and worked with Joint Task Force Bravo (JTFB) doing nutritional assessments. JTFB is stationed at the military base in Soto Cano, Honduras. Dr.Kemmer, a retired army Col leads the SDSU team. I contacted her and then met with here at a restaurant just off I-20 and Hwy 34 east of Colman, S.D. It was here I told her about our group and our efforts to help the Tolupan of Montana de la Flor. She expressed interest in doing a study in MDLF and would check with her contact at JTFB which she did.  It was then that I started to communicate with Dr.Kemmer and Dr.Coello, the Honduran link with JTFB.

2. Our visit with representatives of JTFB to MDLF was on 4 July 2010.  Dr's. Kemmer and Coello were present along with representatives from Mission Honduras LeMars. Those present were Carolyn Bickford, Linda Reichle, and Richard Seivert. It was during this meeting that the chiefs gave us permission to do a study of nutrition if the US military and JTFB would approve such a mission. Obviously much has happened since. I was in contact with both Dr's. and I met again with Dr.Kemmer in Brookings to learn more about the process of her study which has always been done in conjunction with JTFB. I also attended an informational meeting Dr. Kemmer had at SDSU outlining the upcoming trip.

3. Originally Dr. Coello hoped to do the study in late October, 2010, but was not able to complete it at that time, do to weather and other issues.

4. Dr. Coello sent me an e-mail in September that mentioned that the study could be done in late Jan/Feb 2011.

5. This nutritional assessment will be done as part of a "Medical Readiness Training Exercise" that the US Army conducts periodically in Honduras. I'm not sure if these exercises always include pediatric doctors or others.

6. This trip will include 4 pediatric doctors from different U.S. hospitals. It will also include other team members from JTFB, Soto Cano, south of Comayagua in Honduras. At this time I am not sure how many team members will be present from JTFB.

7. On 01 Dec. 2010 Julio Rivera (eldest son of Chief Tomas), Karmen Betsworth, LeMars, Iowa, Dr. Coello and I traveled to MDLF to meet with the doctor at the health center in San Juan.  We also met with the 2 nurses that work at the health center.  We had a 1 and 1/2 hour meeting.  Dr. Coello explained the entire team concept. This study will include a complete nutritional assessment of children 6 months to under the age of 5. Those selected would be assessed using a scientific process. He stressed that not all kids between 6 months and under age 5 would be assessed simply because there are so many. The Honduran doctor and nurses fully accepted and understood that reality. Dr. Coello also went over with the doctor and nurses the registration information that the health center has on the 5 tribes in the area. He also looked at vaccination records. He took photos of the registration data on the kids under age 5 that showed their birth dates.  It is from these records that the kids will be selected. We also visited La Ceiba to once again check the GPS data for a LZ(landing zone) near the soccer field.

8. During this trip Dr. Coello took many photos of the roads and the rivers. These are necessary to help determine how the team will arrive in MDLF - either by ground convoy or helicopter. He needs to do many different assessments and then present them to commanders at JTFB.

9. It was during this trip that he told me that he and a complete assessment team from JTFB would fly to MDLF on 13 Dec 2010 to check out the conditions...the buildings, water and just about everything necessary to have a team stay in MDLF. He requested that I be present if possible to answer questions about how we and Mission Honduras LeMars have done things in the past.

10. Julio and I traveled to MDLF early on the morning of 13 Dec 2010.  Angel Paz (water director for Mission Honduras LeMars)was also with us.  Dr. Coello had previously contacted the police that provide security for MDLF. They would be needed to help us secure the LZ as well as guard the helicopter while it was on the ground. The assessment team was greeted by Chief Tomas, Chief Alvero and the son of Chief Julio Sota.

11. The assessment team spent about 1 and 1/2 hours on the ground. Many
questions, photos etc. It was during this meeting that we talked about our (Mission Honduras LeMars)role in this special medical team. I will continue to follow-up on this with Dr. Coello and Dr. Kemmer.

12. Basically our role will be to provide translators and vehicles if the team is flown in by helicopter. Vehicles would be needed to move the various team members on a daily basis. I also told them I would provide cooks, generators, fuel, food etc. but Dr. Coello informed me that the US military would be required to eat MRE's (meals ready to eat)only. The teams would also eat MRE's while in the field during the day. 

13. We will also provide mattresses, blankets, pillows, sheets etc. for the team members from MHL. Dulce, our normal cook while we are in the mountain, will cook for our part of this effort. Dr. Kemmer will check with Dr. Coello if the SDSU team members can eat our food or not. Since they are being flown by the military they might have to eat only MRE's.  She will get back to me on this.  She will also send me a copy of the assessment form to be used so the translators can have an advance awareness of the questions.

14. Dr. Coello plans to return to MDLF and meet with Julio in Acote and then drive the route again, as well as drive an alternate route that will bring the vehicles about 7 km's north of Acote. From there, the road is the same. I think after this trip, a final decision will be made on how the team will get to MDLF.  Our team will travel by trucks and arrive the day before the Task Force Bravo Team.

15. The process is this:  Dr. Coello and Dr. Kemmer will divide the team into 4 smaller teams.  Each team will be assigned certain kids to visit daily. We will also have to provide guides (Julio will take care of this) and maybe even burros to carry some of the supplies. Typically these small teams work for 4 days, and then on day 5 there is a general treatment day. Dr. Coello has told me that because of the remoteness of this area they may try and have 2 general days of treatment. He is talking with the Dr.in Orica about getting a couple of doctors to help. I'm not sure where he is at on this, but will check soon. I am also not sure if we will have a dentist. I will follow-up with him on this.  Typically this type of team does not provide general care or dental care, but only the nutritional assessment.  I told him that whatever they decide we are in agreement with.

16. Currently we are looking at these dates:  26 Jan 2011 SDSU team along with doctors from Walter Reed arrive in Tegucigalpa, Honduras,and are transported to JTFB. On 27 Jan they will do inventory, pack and train on the assessment protocols and then on 28 Jan travel to MDLF. At this time it looks like they will travel by helicopter. Our part of the team will arrive on 27 Jan 2011. Julio and I will also travel there before to bring supplies and help get the building and grounds clean.

17. I spoke with Dr. Kemmer recently and she will have a total of 7 team
members (including herself). I am not sure how many will be from JTFB. Dr. Kemmer spoke with me about the process yesterday. This will be a research project to study the nutritional status of these kids between 6 months and under age 5.

18. It looks like the team will return to JTFB on the morning of 3 Feb and then transition into Tegucigalpa. On 4 Feb they will tour hospital Esquela (NICU), PICU (pediatric intensive care unit) and the nutritional ward.  They may even go to Valley of the Angels.  The SDSU team will stay in Tegucigalpa on 3 and 4 Feb. They return to the USA on 5 Feb 2011.

Message From Richard Seivert

bone elongator

Franci Puerto awaits surgery to lengthen her leg



Francis Seivert and Dr. Napky

 Greetings from Mission Honduras LeMars. As many of you know Frank is once again in Honduras - for only a couple weeks this trip. He and I have a great many things going on not only with our student trips next spring, Then Feed Just One, but also with Mission Honduras LeMars.
As I write this he is on his way to Montana de la Flor this morning with Julio, Dr. Miguel Coello, another doctor (name unknown to me), and Karmen Betsworth from LeMars. This trip is planning for the rather large medical brigade being assembled to go to the mountain next January and February. This is the program that we have been working on for the past two plus years. Task Force Bravo, the U.S. military base at Soto Cano, Honduras, is taking over all our medical operations in MDLF. They are on this short planning mission today to work on logistics.
Other great news. The bone elongator carried by Frank, donated from Dr. Meyer in Sioux City, through Dr. Gary Carlton, also Sioux City, is the correct unit for the little girl Franci. Frank met with Dr. Napky just yesterday and he is very excited to have this unit and will set-up surgery for her sometime in January - Wow! What a story. If you have your newsletter handy she is pictured on the back side upper left but also at the top of this blog. I can only imagine how this surgery will improve her life - Mission Honduras LeMars is in this with her and her family all the way. When we met with her last July she and her mother were so excited - now it is coming to fruition. What a great feeling. Following surgery we will place the little girl at Don de Maria's (Mother Teresa's Children's Home) in Tegucigalpa for rehabilitation - the same place where Karmen Betsworth is currently stationed and where a group of Heelan seniors will be next spring - along with Sr. Joan, Sr. Renae and Al Vonnahme.
There are so many other things going on that I could continue to write for another hour or two, but suffice it to say the two items covered here are enough for today.
I would like to ask Gary Carlton to give a personal thanks to Dr. Meyer in Sioux City and maybe forward this along to him.
Hope all of you are doing well.
Take Care,
R. Seivert







Current News

We hope to keep you posted with our latest information with this blog. It will provide you with the most updated mission work and allow you to see what we are doing as it is done. Check back frequently to stay posted

Karmen Betsworth First Week Reflection from Mother Teresa's

Hola Dick. I am doing fine. I have met so many people and everyone has been so nice. It's amazing.


I am staying at the Pulpulorum (like a dorm house) at Colonia Monterrey. There are about 24 Honduran girls that live there. They are so very hard working girls. They are the poorest of the poor. Their day starts out very early. Maybe around 5:00 am. They are cleaning, studying, making their own meals (they all eat together at one time) and getting ready for the day. I hear them in the chapel every morning about 5:30 or 6:00. They pray and sing. Their singing is beautiful.

The Pulpulorum (our house) is a 3 level building. The first floor has like an office area (one big room) where there are a lot of desks and old computers. I think the girls and boys (the boys live in a different building) work on getting scholarships, work with sponsorships, and I am not sure of what else. There is a lot of business there. Also, Fr. Patricio parks his small pick-up in that room as well. On the second level of our building is another study area where the girls and boys will attend some classes. Their classes must start pretty early - I think 7:00 or 7:30. Fr. Patricio (who is in charge of this entire organization) wants the kids to be their best in education so classes are provided in the Pulpulorum as well as the kids going to a university. They study a lot. Also, in that same room is a long table where the girls all eat their meals together. They eat a lot of the same foods such as: rice, beans, eggs, tortillas, rice soup, veg. soup.... All of the girls take their turn in preparing the meals. They each do their own dishes as well.

Also, on the second floor is the kitchen where they prepare the food, two bathrooms which both have a sink, shower and a toilet. I always use the shower on their floor as the shower has warm water. Get wet, turn off water, soap up, turn water back on and then rinse off. Water is a precious commodity here. I don't want to be wasteful. The toilets do flush but toilet paper doesn't go in the toilets. There is a waste basket in the stall for the toilet paper. No big deal. There are also two big rooms that have bunk beds in there. Twelve of the girls live on the 2nd floor.

The 3rd level is where I sleep. The chapel is on the 3 floor too. It is a big simple room with a big cross and Jesus. I like going to the room to say my rosary. Also, on the 3 floor is another room where the girls do their homework. There is a balcony too. The laundry gets hung up out on the balcony. There are no dryers in Honduras. Line drying which I do back home in LeMars anyway. My room is shared with 5 other volunteers. There are 3 bunk beds and I have the bottom bunk - thank goodness. I don't want to climb up to the top bunk :) Most of the volunteers are from Spain. Some of them speak English. They are so nice and friendly. It's been great. They will be gone in December as most of them only do 3 months of volunteering. Then more will come. Also, on our floor is a pila (I think that is what it is called?) I am learning Spanish a little at a time. That is where we do our laundry. Use a cement scrub board with clean water. We do buy bottled water here as non-Hondurans we have to drink that. No big deal.

I have been working at the orphanage (Mother Teresa's) in the mornings. I love the kids. They are so adorable. There are about 40 little ones ranging from 1 year old to 5 years old. Busy place. I walk there in the morning. It's about 4 blocks from where I live. Shannon (the volunteer here from MN) went with me the first few times. I am now comfortable walking there by myself. I was told not to walk alone anywhere, but the volunteers from Spain said that after a week or two the neighborhood recognizes us and we are ok to walk alone. So I have been doing that. I am not scared. There are a lot of others walking, women, women with their kids. etc. I just ‘Bueno Diaz’ to the people I pass. There is always this older lady making tortilla's on the corner. Always a smile and Buenos Diaz :) I have learned several of the kid's names. I try to learn a couple a day. They like it when you call them by their name. When I get there between 8:00 and 8:15 it is time for breakfast. I help feed the little ones (about three or four of them) that need help eating. It is so cute as they are at short little tables (about 4 of them) with little chairs. I just sit right down by them. After that they wash their hands they play outside on their playground or out in front on the patio. The playground area is really nice. They have swing sets, plastic houses, little cars to ride on. etc... They really like being outside. When we play on the patio there isn't much for them to do so I want to buy some little books for them. I want to have story time with them. All little kids like to be read to. It's kind of funny as I can't speak Spanish. The kids try to talk to me but I can't understand them. I try to talk to them and they can't understand me either. I think we both get frustrated. I just try playing with them. Let them dance on my feet, play with my tennis shoes string (they knot them all up - it's too funny). I tried skipping, hopping, whatever. Play ring around the rosie....... I need to think of other games to play with them. Any ideas???? It will be fun when the Heelan students come down. The little kids will love them. I love the little kids. Can't wait until I can converse with them more. There are a few nuns and a few Honduran ladies that care for the children 24/7. There is so much work for them to do. Amazing. Lots of little clothes hanging out on the lines drying. Lots of cribs for the little ones. Last Friday I helped put them into their beds and the little munchkins knew what crib was theirs. That was too funny. They are so little. Love them!!

Also I have been to San Franciso, It’s a school building where the kids, from maybe grades 3 to 6, go before and after school to keep them busy and off of the streets. I walk there with other volunteers (from Spain) at 8:00. It takes us maybe 15 minutes. They call this place ‘the hole’. It is a nice facility that is a climb to get to. There are many steps so if one needs to get into shape, that'll do it. One day I helped paint wooden tops with the kids. Loved the kids there too. They know I can't speak Spanish and they try helping me out all of the time. They also want to learn English so I help them out. There are other people there teaching them English classes too. Also Spanish classes, painting, etc. They eat lunch too. The food there is pretty good too. I had rice soup with like a dumpling in it. It was good. Last Friday all of the kids took a bunch of supplies (food) up all of the steps. It was quite the process to watch. The kids have recess time. They play soccer. I want to teach them some other games too. So maybe when the Heelan students come they can teach them games too. I did teach them 4 square and they really liked that. I like going to San Francisco.

There is another popular food here called a baleadas. It was very good. It is a tortilla with beans and like a sour cream. Tastey :) I was already invited to one of the kids' house (his name is Misa - 12 years old) and they served us baleadas. I am going to sponsor Misa for school. He is done with the 6th grade this month and his family doesn't have any money to send him to further schooling. So for $20.00/ month I will send him. His Mom (Gloria) and Misa are so happy and so very grateful. That is why we were invited to their house. They were so hospitable. I met Misa at San Francisco. A nice boy.

I was invited to mass last night (Friday night). One of the Honduran boys (Vergilio) spoke English with me and told me that he plays the guitar and sings at mass. I said I would go. The church is right up the block from where I live (1/2 block). Fr. Patricio and the boys live in a building right next to the church. Right before mass started Fr. introduced me and welcomed me to Honduras. He said that he didn't speak English, but he tried a little. It was funny. After mass a Honduran boy stood up and spoke in English. He said welcome, thank you for coming and they were glad to have me here. He said that I was a part of their family now. If there is anything I need, to just let them know. Amazing. It made me feel so good. While sitting there during mass I thanked God for this wonderful experience. I feel I am a very lucky person

Went with Fr. Patricio and Louis (a man from Spain who can speak English as well - very nice guy) to a school called Santa Maria. That was fun to look around and meet more people. They have invited me to go and visit the other schools next week. Everyone has been so awesome. So friendly and helpful. I think my stay will be very nice. God is looking out for me :)

Well, I need to go for now. Luna (volunteer from Spain) has gotten a movie for us to watch tonight. Also some popcorn :)

Until Later Dick,

Karmen

Springfield Catholic Video's From 2010 Mission

Greetings from LeMars, Iowa and Gehlen Catholic Mission Honduras. This past week I was pleased to watch two video presentations produced by students from last springs mission trip. They are wonderful and I wanted to share them with everyone. Please go to the following youtube sites to watch and listen to these wonderful presentations. They are from Megan Haller and Stephanie Rice, both seniors at Springfield Catholic. We are pleased to have both of them back on Springfield Catholic Mission Honduras 2011. Excellent job girls.
Richard E. Seivert
Gehlen Catholic Mission Honduras
Director
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fALTtv3Sgiw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL6VO5qIKXQ

Message From Fr. Cosgrove

Hello to All,


The following is taken from a book, The Jesuit Guide by Fr.James Martin, S. J., and it might be good for us to reflect on what he has to say as it relates to our mission next spring. What you will be doing is very wonderful and prayerful. You need to be aware of your gift and responsibility.

The author is talking about how we can care for and learn from the poor. He mentions three things at first.
1. Being grateful for what you have
2. Helping out in a church community
3. Really stretching yourself when you give charitably.

You will all be doing those three things. As members of our mission trip you will be doing all three. Get ready to learn what is before you as you prepare and during the days you are there.

The author adds a final goal when working for the poor. Get to know the poor one-on-one, rather than as objects of charity. The poor are able to invite the wealthy to think about God in new way.

Finally he suggests to prepare to serve the Lord in the Poor by carving out a time for prayer and a time to be alone, finding God around you, practice a degree of detachment from the “things” of your life. As you prepare for the trip you will grow from the trip in years to come.

It is great to have you all with us. Remember to get your passport, save up some money, get used to living with lots of new people and to enjoy a short shower with cold water.

Heelan Students: We have five that have signed up for Don de Maria. We need eight. Any questions or if you wish to sign up let Fr. Cosgrove know soon. Give it some thought and talk it over with your friends. Both places will be great times to serve the Lord in the people of Honduras.

Fr. Cosgrove

Mission Honduras / Items Needed

Springfield Catholic, St. Thomas More, Heelan, and Gehlen,

Greetings again from Mission Honduras.
I hope you have been able to read my first email.
I wanted to let you know a few more things and then send you an attachment.
Please open, print, and keep.

Our chosen theme this year is: Heart So Full - Can't Explain

As we go forward I wanted to share with you the 'Items Needed' information. These are the things we would like to carry in your travel bags when you go to Honduras. I think the theme fits so well this year and what we try to do. Within each of our schools I hope we can collect a great amount of things. If we collect too much we will simply ship it later or hold onto it for the future.

As in my first email remember to get your passport as soon as possible. Then, please send a photocopy of it to me. I will need it to secure your seats with the airlines. Do Not get a 'passport card'. These cannot be used for international air travel.

If you already have a passport you may send it to me anytime. If you want to scan and send it by email to me that is fine. If you don't feel comfortable doing that then just photocopy it and get it in the regular mail. For all of you veterans - you do not need to send another photocopy. I have yours from previous years.

If you have not sent your final application please do so promptly.

I have placed both of these emails of today on our blog for your parents and other family members to read. Please keep all of them informed as we progress toward our mission.
Take Care,
R. Seivert
Mission Honduras
---------------------------------------------- Items Needed List Below
List of Items Needed for Honduras 2010-2011


Gehlen Catholic Mission Honduras ‘Changing Lives’ continues to need the help and support of everyone. Please consider helping our trips this year with the following items. Nothing old please.

Soap, shampoo, skin lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, vitamins of all kinds especially childrens chewables and prenatals, tylenol (cannot be outdated), flip flops and sandals, shoes and socks, childrens clothes especially baby clothes, cloth diapers/rubber pants, baby blankets, other shirts and blouses, underwear, shorts, t-shirts, caps, small toys, bubbles, stickers, gum, hair ties for girls, fingernail polish, soccer balls, twin size bed sheets, and school supplies of all kinds: notebooks, paper, pencils, pens, crayons, coloring books, rulers, glue, Spanish childrens books, and erasers. Just contact Gehlen if you would like to donate items to one of the trips.
Concerning all trips this year, Seivert commented that on his classroom wall at Gehlen is a quote from Mother Teresa that continues to motivate this entire program. It reads: If you pray - you will believe, if you believe - you will love, if you love – you will serve.

Contact: Richard Seivert, Gehlen Mission Honduras, 709 Plymouth St. N.E., LeMars, Iowa 51031 712-540-3062 (cell) 712-546-4181 (school)

First Message To All

Greetings from LeMars, Iowa and Gehlen Catholic Mission Honduras 'Changing Lives.'


On behalf of our entire school, Gehlen Mission Honduras, Mission Honduras LeMars, and Then Feed Just One, I would like to welcome all of you to our mission program next spring. It promises to be hard, challenging, and hot. But, make no mistake - worth it. Worth it beyond measure. From those I work closely with I also extend a warm welcome: Francis Seivert, Carolyn Bickford, Sister Joan Polak, Linda Reichle, Fr. Jerome Cosgrove, Merica Clinkenbeard, Mary Casey, and Katie Falkowski.

To the 22 students and chaperones from Springfield Catholic High, Springfield, Missouri, thanks for your commitment to this program, and stay in close contact with Mrs. Clinkenbeard.

To the 20 students and chaperones from St. Thomas More in Rapid City, South Dakota, thanks for your commitment to this program, and please stay in close contact with Mary Casey and Katie Falkowski.

To the 16 students and chaperones from Bishop Heelan in Sioux City, Iowa, thanks as well for your commitment to this program, and please stay in touch with Fr. Cosgrove.

And finally, to the 24 students and chaperones from Gehlen Catholic, LeMars, Iowa, thanks for your commitment to this program.

I have placed all your cell numbers in Carolyn Bickford's phone. When I wish to communicate with you by email I will notify you by text message from her phone. Please stay close to your email from here out. Very soon I will activate our 'blog' at www.gehlenmissionhonduras.org

I will post many of my communications right on the blog so that parents and family members can keep up to date with all the information.

We have a great deal of work ahead of us. I will be in touch with you on a regular basis and keep you posted on all developments. We are still in pursuit of the actual flight arrangements but I do not see a great deal of problem from here on out.

At this time I would ask all of you to get your passport process started. You may also look into your shots. To all Missiouri and STM, I have sent the main packet of information - please get those from your directors. All information concerning the shots and med's you need is in the booklet. I will get copies of the packet out to all Heelan and Gehlen missioners very soon.

Remember the deadline for paying for the trip - it is in the packet. There might still be some changes in cost because this is a group ticket. I will keep you posted and let you know the final cost sometime yet this fall.

On the front wall of my classroom, sandwiched between two large cut-outs of Mother Teresa, I have one of her famous quotes. It reads: "If you pray you will believe, if you believe you will love, and if you love you will serve." Keep praying for the good people of Honduras and around the world that so much need our help. I deeply believe in the 'power of young people like you.' You are a great testament to your generation.
Once again thanks for your belief and trust and welcome to this program.

Take Care,
Richard Seivert
Mission Honduras

From Seivert - Home In Iowa

Greetings to all blog readers from LeMars, Iowa.

We arrived home very late Thursday night. Very tired but energized by the wonderful experiences we had this past week. A great deal of work to do in the coming days, weeks, and months.
Many thanks to all of you that keep us in your prayers and thoughts. Knowing that we are not alone in these missions gives confidence and hope.
The planning mission review: thoughts.
Representing Gehlen Mission Honduras, Mission Honduras LeMars, and ...Then Feed Just one (fulfilling to say the least).

It seemed like we were always on the road - physically hard.
Many emotional moments.
Emotional memorial Mass for Illich. All of his family were present. A great reunion with them.
Lots of very poor, destitute, and sick children and adults.
A great deal of dengue fever in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. None or very little in the outlying villages. Very Hot and humid - hard to deal with.
Many children being taken care of through Mission Honduras LeMars and the Illich Foundation.
Gift of Mary Don de Maria children's home run by Mother Teresa's Sisters of Charity is amazing - many volunteer opportunities if you would like to go. We can make arrangements. 4 of Mother's Sisters are stationed there at all times.

Hole of la Pena San Francisco is also amazing - right in Tegucigalpa - run by Fr. Ramon from Spain - many volunteer opportunities here as well.
Introducing Plumpy Nut and Supplementary Plumpy to the medical people and the Minister of Health was awesome.

The visit to the Tolupan was special. It would take hours to explain the significance. Received a 'peace pipe' from Jefe Julio, chief of the Tolupan. In return I gave him one pack of Marlboro Lights as a sign of the strong bond between our two peoples. We then smoked a cigarette together - amazing feelings knowing we are the only people that have full access to the Tolupan. Loved hearing Tolupan being spoken between the people. Introducing Dr. Kemmer - nutrition specialist (retired military colonel and now professor) and Dr. Coello (U.S. Military base at Soto Cano and Task Force Bravo) and the new health initiatives was gratifying to us. Francis has been working toward this end for years. Amazing stuff.

Seeing the completed water projects just finished by an international Rotary water grant - 4 projects completed. The 5th will be done next spring by high school teams - we made that deal with the village.
The Cerro de plata foundation and the work they are doing for us and ...Then Feed Just One meals into the country. 3 full containers this past spring. Wow!
More requests for water projects in MDLF - will probably begin another application with Rotary.
Some of the children we are helping: These are all very severe medical cases - we will continue to work with them throughout the year through Marny Rivera and the Illich Foundation.
Jarmi, Nelly, Santos, Francisca, Yesenia, Cynthia, Alexi, Pablo, Oscar, Franci, and Kelvin
We got to see most of them on our trip.
Meetings with various groups all went well - as productive as we have ever had.

One of the most emotional experiences occured Thursday morning - we left Esquias very early and stopped for a small breakfast break in Dona Blanca's village. Much to our surprise in walked Ligia Erazo and her father. Ligia (23 three years old as I remember) was a young mother of two that Mission Honduras LeMars brought to the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland four years ago for a stem cell transplant. The pics of this reunion are amazing. I remember sitting in El Guante 5 years ago when she and her entire family came to our compound for help - otherwise she would die. Much thanks to Frank who pushed and pushed for this to happen. She comes back to Bethesda once a year for a check-up but is very healthy and well. She cried and cried before we had to leave.

Great things but a whole lot to do. Will send numerous photos via your email address when I get a chance. Will try to place just a few on this blog when I figure out how to do it.

Take Care,
Richard Seivert

In Esquias

Hi All,

Good day yesterday into Esquias. Very ill little boy. We saw him yesterday afternoon. Today we had a long day of bumpy travel to Vallecillo. Made a deal for next year's water project. Then drove to La Florida to check the water project. Everything is fine. Next we visited El Junco to check their water project. Things are okay but they need a little work after the heavy rains. Visited numerous sick people along the way that are being helped by Mission Honduras LeMars. Look forward to putting up more information tomorrow. We have awesome photos. We will try to blog or email tomorrow.

Carolyn

Montaña de la Flor

Hello Blog Readers,

What a spectacular day we had. As you can see from the above photo of Richard and Francis Seivert, the 2 docs, and the chiefs of the tribes, the meeting with the Tolupan in Montaña de la Flor ended on a very positive note.

Our day began at 4:30. Those Seiverts really like to get going early. It was a very smart thing to do, though, as Francis well knows. It took us around 4 hours to drive to the mountain over very rutted roads. We drove through streams approximately a dozen times. Once Sr. Val came close to getting stuck, but she gunned it, and we shot right out  of there. We all breathed a sigh of relief because pushing a truck through one of those streams would not have been fun, and we'd all have gotten quite wet.

Dr. Miguel Cuello - medical doctor with Task Force Bravo, Dr. Teri Kemmer - USD nutrition professor/retired military, Vanessa - a nurse, Marny - Illich Foundation, Marta - Cerro de Plata Foundation, Sr. Val Knoche - translator who spent 32 years as a missionary in Honduras, Richard Seivert - president of MHL, Francis Seivert - team leader of all mission teams, Linda Reichle & Carolyn Bickford - representatives of MHL travelled in two trucks. After a brief stop for a breakfast of fruit, yogurt, and sandwiches, we continued to a small village where we visited a little girl with osteomyelitis. She has a rod in her leg and it is much shorter than her other leg. The doctor examined her, and Marny will follow up with the required work of scheduling appointments and arranging for the girl's and her mother's transportation into Tegucigalpa.

Upon reaching La Ceiba, our friend Julio reintroduced Richard and Francis Seivert to Chief Julio. Chief Julio presented a pipe he had made to Seivert in thanks for his continued support and the support of the Le Mars Rotary and Mission Honduras LeMars  for the water projects, and to MHL and Kids Against Hunger for the life-saving food packages that have been sent to them. After greeting the other chiefs - Thomas and Alvero, all moved to the meeting room. Francis, Richard, Dr. Cuello, and Dr. Kemmer welcomed everyone to the meeting. They then spoke in turn to ask permission of the Tolupan to allow them to do a nutrition study of the children, and to bring medical teams in through Task Force Bravo. MHL also plans to bring in Plumpynut, in conjunction with Drs. Kemmer and Cuello. Pumpynut is a nutritional supplement for extremely malnourished children, of which there are quite a few on the mountain. The Tolupan leaders were extremely grateful for this opportunity for their people. All people in the meeting signaled their agreement through a show of hands.

We spent some time touring the school on the mountain and speaking with some of the people. Two village leaders requested water projects for their villages. The village leaders of the three completed water projects voiced their gratitude, relating that MHL and Rotary has done for them what their own government has not.

The trip down the mountain was also bumpy, but the treks through the various streams proved quite easy for the drivers. However, Seivert and Linda were almost bounced out of the back of the truck and into the stream. Fortunately, they were holding on tightly enough to avoid being bucked out.

We said a farewell to all of our Honduran friends. I am sure we will be seeing more of all of them, as we all work together for the poor in Honduras.

This evening we enjoyed a meal at Chili's. At this point most of the group is either already in bed or taking a much needed shower after that dusty ride. I plan to join them shortly. It was a wonderful day. The agreement that was reached today with the Tolupan promises to greatly improve the health and well-being of the people of Montaña de la Flor, thanks to the efforts of a group of caring and dedicated people, most especially Francis and Seivert.

Tomorrow Francis says we can sleep in a bit. We'll eat breakfast around 6:30 and then head to Esquias for the next leg of our journey. Hopefully, I will be able to continue these blogs there, but there may not be internet service there.

Adios, Amigos!

Carolyn

Eye-Opening Sites

It is Saturday; well, not for much longer as I write this blog. It will be hard to tell you about some of the things we saw today. If I can get it to work, I will upload a couple photos. I hope it will work.  (Photo on left was taken in the place called "the hole" in Tegucigalpa.)

This morning we met some Honduran friends who would take us to a place that was in Tegucigalpa, but way UP on the edge. It was the home of Cynthia, a little girl who suffers with a heart condition. At this time Cynthia is living at the orphanage run by the Sisters of Charity. The doctors are unable to help her, and they say she has months, perhaps a year or so to live. Her mother would like to take her home to die. However, the mother requires a latrine and pila - a place to do the wash - so she does not have to leave Cynthia alone. Cynthia needs someone with her all the time. Marta took us to visit her home. It was a small shack with a hotplate for a stove, a table just large enough to hold it was the kitchen. There was a table just barely large enough for two. A sheet hung from a string to hide the twin size bed that served the mother and 2 children who are living there with her. The mother was off working. She does laundry for some families in the city and makes very little money. With that money she pays her bus ride to work and buys drinking water for the family and a small amount of food. Marta is getting funding for a pila and latrine. We are hoping to help her family with enough money so the mother can stop working and stay home with her children until Cynthia dies. It is a very sad situation.

The priest who is also helping this family and many others - including the school I blogged about yesterday - showed us another place he is building in that area. They showed us the progress on that building. Then the volunteers and Marta took us to another school that is what you could call a supplemental school. All the children must be in extreme poverty to be there. 1700 children attend that school. Some of the older children stay on after a certain age to work and teach the younger one, as well as take care of the grounds and go to university themselves. It was an amazing place to see.

This afternoon we picked up Dr. Teri Kemmer, the professor of nutrition from USD, and her son Nick. They attended Mass at the Basilica with us. Afterwards we all went to Marny's house, which she share with her parents, Fabio, and Graciela. They served us a delicious supper of chicken, beef, rice, bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and more. We had cake for dessert. We all enjoyed lots of conversation.

It is now 10:30 in Honduras. The rest of the team is sleeping. We will rise at 4:30 a.m. to start our drive to Montaña de la Flor. It will be another special day for us. We hope to meet with all the chiefs of the Tolupan to set up a medical/nutritional connection of some type that will help the Tolupan with much better health. It was raining when I came to the computer. We hope it will not be raining in the morning or we will not be able to travel up the mountain.

Until tomorrow,
Carolyn

Welcome to Honduras

Hi All,

Our trip from Houston to Honduras was fairly uneventful. All of our baggage arrived; a rather new experience for me. Sr. Val and Marny met us at the airport and we all headed for Leslie's Place, our bed and breakfast.

It is a little toasty here, but not too bad. It is definitely cooler than when our team was here at Easter time for the water project. AND, we are staying in comfort for the first three days as our room has air conditioning!

Our first project was to visit the Sisters of Charity and their orphanage (as well as a place for sick elderly people and pregnant teens). We toured the facility, visited with Marta, who supports the orphanage, discussed our continued support through our food packing programs and plumpy nut, and played with the children for a bit. We then took an eye-opening ride to a place called "the hole." I have been many places in Honduras, but this place was still something new for me. There is a school that is run pretty much by volunteers from both Honduras and Spain. They run a before and after school program. The teachers there give them more instructions and they are fed a small mid-morning or afternoon snack as well as a lunch at noon. The children who attend morning public school come to this school in the afternoon. Those who attend afternoon public school come in the mornings. It keeps these children from roaming the streets and gives them a better overall education. I am glad we had the chance to see it.

After returning to our hotel, we prepared for Mass. This was a Mass for the little 4 and a half-year-old Illich, who died on June 10. The family was in attendance and many friends, as well. We gave them a DVD of photos of Illich and a Shutterfly book full of pictures of him. We hope they will treasure these keepsakes. Seivert gave a nice speech to let them know how special Illich was to all of us. He will never be forgotten. And his Aunt Marny also expressed how Illich will live on through the Illich Foundation, which will help many other young children with special medical or other needs.

On our way back to the hotel we stopped at Burger King and ate like Americans. PLUS, Linda had a chance to get her ice cream fix. With the travelling both in the air and on the busy, crowded, bumpy streets of Tegucigalpa, we are all ready for a good night's rest. Our saga continues tomorrow.

Hasta mañana!
Carolyn

On Our Way

Hey Everyone,
We left Le Mars around 9 a.m. enroute to the Omaha Airport. Francis likes to go through security early and Seivert likes to wait until the last minute. Linda and I stayed 'middle of the road.' We all went through security without a hitch; however, Linda got the experience of the full body scan. There is just NO privacy anymore.

Our airplane was a small one. We experienced a few bumps, but altogether, it was a pretty uneventful ride. We were in the Houston Airport, picked up our luggage, and were waiting for the hotel shuttle before 5. After settling into the Country Inn & Suites, we all walked down the block for some beverages. It's cloudy and extremely humid here in Houston. We noted that the temperature was a bit cooler than last year, and I'm pretty sure it's a lot cooler than what we'll be experiencing in Honduras the rest of our trip.

While waiting for our shuttle at the airport, we all met a newly ordained priest from Kentucky. Before leaving on the shuttle, Seivert had told him all about our mission trips - both student and medical. We left him with a business card with hopes that he will be checking our websites.

After resting tonight, we'll head for the airport at 6:30 a.m. Our flight leaves for Tegucigalpa leaves after 9. Sr. Val will meet us at the airport. It will be great to see her again and to spend some time with her. She has a wealth of Honduran experience and will be our translator throughout the trip.

Ah, you may be interested in knowing that Seivert gave us quite a history lesson as we relaxed this evening. Thus, I'm pretty sure we can already call this a 'work' trip because Linda and I worked very hard at learning our Texas history tonight. Seriously, the real work begins the minute we step foot on Honduran soil. We can hardly wait.

I promise to keep you updated to the best of my ability - as long as I can find a computer with internet. Please keep all of us, as well as those we hope to help, in your thoughts and prayers over the next week.

Hasta luego,
Carolyn

Planning Trip

This morning Seivert, Francis, Linda, and I are heading for Honduras to do some preparatory work for the upcoming mission trips. It will be a busy week of visiting many people and places. I am really looking forward to visiting the Sisters of Charity Orphanage in Tegucigalpa. I have heard a lot of this orphanage but have never had the opportunity to see it in person.

There are also quite a few sick children that we will be seeing. We hope that we are able to help all of them so they can live healthier lives one day.

Friday evening we'll attend a Mass for Illich, the little 4-year-old boy who passed away on June 10. If you do not know Illich's story, I hope you'll take the time to read his story at the http://www.missionhonduraslemars.org/ and click the 'Special People' link.

Weather permitting, we will also be traveling to Montana de la Flor to set up health and/or medical trips for the Tolupan. Dr. Kemmer and a doctor from Task Force Bravo will join us for the trip to Montana.

July 5th we'll head for Esquias to stay at the compound for the remainder of our time. From there we will meet with the mayor of Esquias. We'll also travel to El Junco and La Florida to check the past two student water projects. It gives us the chance to see the completed projects and observe how they are treating the water. It's nice to be able to see the completion of a lot of hard work by students and chaperones.

Finally, we'll make our best effort to find a water project or projects that will keep our upcoming mission trips busy. It becomes ever more difficult to find water projects in the vicinity of Esquias because we have completed so many of them already. I guess that's a good problem, but still a problem we must solve if we are to continue our water projects.

Please keep our little group in your prayers over the next week. Whenever I can get to a computer, I will update you on our progress.

Seivert From Gehlen Sunday, April 25th. Re: La Florida News

Greetings from Gehlen Catholic Mission Honduras, LeMars, Iowa. Great News!
Just this afternoon my brother Francis was able to contact Angel Paz - we have been trying for days. After the Springfield Catholic team left, Angel remained in La Florida to help the village finish the water project. I can now report the project is complete and working beautifully - Angel said it was great. He reported the water collection site, pump, and tank were perfect. Angel said there is water to each home and the people of La Florida are extremely happy.  He has one meeting left with the village leaders - presumably to deal with chlorination and then he will return home.
I hope this finds everyone well, rested, and somewhat back to normal life.
Take Care,
Richard E. Seivert
Mission Honduras

Monday, April 12

I cannot believe that this will be my last post from Honduras.  We are so sad to leave, yet so anxious to see our families and friend.  However, that is the only things they have talked about missing.  It is amazing to see a g´roup of teenagers away from ipods, phones, and computers and cars, and they have not missed these things one bit! Our time is spent working hard, and communicating with one another.  It is amazing how much fun you can have without these things.  They are all at the park as I am typing this playing frisbee, soccer,and talking to the local children.  At night we play cards.  Word of advice.....do not play BS with a nun, especially one named Juanita!

WE had a lot of laughs last night which was nice since it had been such an emotional day for the students.  ONe thing they did was fix Megan up and made a mug shot out of her to further tease her for stealing the toilet paper from the malnutrition center.  They made it quite authenic so yes this mug shot will end up in lots of places once we return.

We loaded up for our last day of work this morning.  We dug for about 2 and a half hours, then we gathered with the village for a photo and final goodbyes.  Several key people from the village said some very nice words of thanks to the group, and then I read a speach I had written in Spanish for the Hondurans.  Turns out, we thought we came here to give and to help, but we were the ones to recieve.  To end the ceremony our students stood hand in hand and sang Sanctuary.  The last thing we did was present the village with a huge bag of childrens vitamins.  Unfortunatley we could only give the team a few minutes for quick hugs goodbye then we ushured them on the bus.  As harsh as is may sound, it is the best way.  It is a VERY emotional moment for the team and the Hondurans, and otherwise we would never get anyone to leave.  So....it was a quite ride home, at least for a little while!

Once we got back we had lunch and showers, and then gathered in front of the church for a team picture.  After that  we packed what little we are taking home, and gathered up the rest of our things we are leaving.  We will be up by 5 am tomorrow, and off at 6am for the 3 hour ride to Tegucigalpa. Our flight does not leave until about noon. 

I would like to thank all of you who have supported us.  Wether that be through money, donations, or your prayers, they are much appreciated.  I would also like to thank Richard Seivert for putting this trip together for us and letting us become an extended part of the Gehlen family.  And of course Frank Seivert who put up with us and guided our mission while in Honduras,

Richard, I would like to take a moment to tell you to relax and quit worrying about how to thank Carolyn and I for the bog idea.  I know you are so happy with its success, and it must just be killing you to try to show your gratitude.  We are fine, we know you appreciate us, however I think flowers and some sort of dinner certificate for Carolyn would be nice. 

Good bye Honduras!  We will be back!

Seivert from Gehlen Monday afternoon 4/12/10

Message For Springfield Catholic Mission Team
Sunday, April 11, 2010 1:50 PM
From: "Richard Seivert" rseivert2@yahoo.com

To: mericac@yahoo.com

Merica, please read to your team on Monday night. Seivert
----------------------------
Dear Merica and Springfield Catholic Mission Honduras,

On behalf of Gehlen Catholic Mission Honduras 'Changing Lives,' let me be the first to say thank you, to each and every one of you, for all you have done for the good people of La Florida, Comayagua, Honduras, Central America. This program, this school and all its people, have been watching your mission each and every day through the blogs. We are very very proud of each of you and we know how proud your own families, friends, and school are with your dedication and commitment to the poor of Honduras. Let it be said today that fourteen young people and adults from Springfield Catholic High School have made a huge difference in the lives of many. Let it be said that you have stepped out of your comfort zone and into the harsh reality of life in the developing world. Let it be said that from this time forward you will never look at anything the same again. Let it be said that you have lived out the words of Christ in the Gospels and served. As Mother Teresa said, "If you pray, you will believe. If you believe, you will love. And if you love, you will serve." I encourage each of you to keep the spirit and love of mission work in your young lives. As you grow older be open and let this mission experience mold and guide you to always help the 'least of our brothers.'

Special thanks to the president and committee from La Florida that has given this group the chance to work side by side with you – two countries – all Americans. Special thanks to Angel Paz, Francis Seivert, and Julio Martinez for all the prepatory work in advance of this team. Special thanks to Sister Joan Polak and Linda Reichle for all the love and continuation they have shown this past week in moving from Gehlen to Springfield. Special thanks to the Rotary Clubs of central U.S. along with International Rotary for their trust, faith in Mission Honduras, and belief in this project – their wonderful financial support has made this possible. Special thanks to Fr. Bonilla, Tacha Alverado, and the wonderful people of Esquias for their continuing support and hospitality – we always know our teams are taken care of.

May the bond between Gehlen Catholic and Springfield Catholic schools, found in the dirt, sand, rocks, cement, and water, but most especially in the people of La Florida, be forever strong. Please continue to pray for the wonderful people of La Florida and the poor of the world. As Christians this is what we are called to do; this is what we must do; as Christians this IS who we are.

With Sincere Regard for You and your Families,
Richard E. Seivert
Director Gehlen Catholic Mission Honduras

Seivert from Gehlen Monday April 12 - 7:12 A.M.

Greetings from Gehlen Catholic and Mission Honduras. Obvioiusly from Merica's blog of Sunday the Springfield team had quite a day.
I wanted to use this forum for the next bit of news involving both teams, Gehlen and Springfield, along with their families, friends, and schools - as I know all will be interested and excited for this news.
Frank and I just spoke 15 minutes ago. The team was up and getting ready for their last day in La Florida.
It will be another emotional day for all of them.

He called to give me an update on the food purchases for the Tolupan people of Montana de la Flor.
Let me begin by identifying Julio Martinez: Julio is one of our closest friends and has been with all our teams over these many years. He is the oldest son of Chief Tomas, one of the five Chiefs of the Tolupan.
Julio stayed in Sulaco yesterday and did not return to Esquias with the Springfield team because he was leaving for the mountain this morning to deliver the food purchased from the students and the wonderful donation from a Kids Against Hunger packing event that occured in Churdan, Iowa a few weeks ago (that was the group that had $2500.00 left over after packing and when they heard about the desperate situation in Montana de la Flor they asked if we could get emergency food aid to the Tolupan people).
Julio and Frank purchased the food in Marale, Honduras, just yesterday. The combined monies from the two groups was just under $3,000.00. With that money they purchased 3000 lbs. of corn, 2,000 lbs. of rice, 4,700 lbs. of cooking oil, 860 lbs. of sugar, and 1,600 lbs. of flower. In 35 minutes from the time I am writing this Julio and the truck we have rented for this purpose will leave Marale for the 2.5-3.0 hour trip to the mountain. Julio has made all the arrangements with the 5 Chiefs and they will all be present for him to execute his plan. Wonderful things are happening because of these two groups of high school students.

On a related note just last Friday I shipped a full container of Kids Against Hunger food (285,120 meals) to Honduras. I have been doing this for years into Honduras, Haiti, and Tanzania. Our container arrived in East Gulf Port, Mississippi yesterday and was loaded aboard 'Dole Ecuador' for transshipment to Puerto Cortes on the northern coast. It will be there in about 7 days.  Once it is in country it will be taken out of customs by members of the Cerro de Plata foundation who work closely with the Sisters of Charity of Mother Teresa. We have a close relationship with them. The entire food shipment will go into Tegucigalpa for eventual transportation into Montana de la Flor. I will be sending a second container within a couple of weeks destined for all the orphanages run by Cerro de Plata and the Sisters of Charity.

Pray for a good last day in La Florida for the Springfield team. They have done amazing things.
Late this afternoon I will again post a message - before Merica's blog. You will understand when you read it this afternoon.

Take Care,
Richard E. Seivert
Gehlen Mission Honduras

Sunday April 11

Exhausting, heartbreaking, and fun.  Three words to wrap up this day.  Because this was a no work day we all got to sleep in a little.  Mass was at 8 but we walked over a little early so everyone could see the church.  Two most memorable moments of the mass were the dog on the altar before mass began, and the way the Hondurans do the sign of peace.  In a Honduran church, you get out of your seats, move all around and hung everyone.

After mass it was on the bus for 2.5 hours to Sulaco.  Our first adventure happened on the way to Sulaco.  Last week the Gehlen group had a flat on the way.  While waiting for it to be fixed, the encountered a lady carrying sticks on her back.  They saw her house she was walking to up on the hill and that it was made of sticks also.  Well, the Gehlen group wanted to help her so they arranged to send supplies to her via our travels.  Today she was delivered rice, beans, sugar, salt, flour, lard and laundry soap.  We had the experience of delivering these items up to her house.  I have never been so stunned.  The structure and conditions she was living in stunned us all and it is indescribable.  Hopefully the pictures will be able to tell the story.,  From here we went to the malnutrition center.  It was touching and emotional to the team to hold these children, and I was distressed to see two of the children I saw there last year were still there.  We had the honor of delivering brand new high chairs to the center that was purchased from the Gehlen team which was here last week.  Gehlen, we were honored to deliver your gift and very proud of your contributions.  The chairs look great, and I promise we took lots of pictures.  The most emotional moment came when it was time to leave and several members of the team had to put the children down and the children cried and clung to them.  The children at the center are in their 3rd stage of malnutrition and if not reversed they will die.  Holding the victims of world hunger in their arms will leave a lasting impression.  Our group has set a goal of raising money for cribs that they so desperately need because apparently they are expecting many more children in July.

We also delivered medicines and supplies to the local hospital, visited the sewing school, woodworking school.  The day ended with a visit to a friend of Sisters for tortillas, sodas, and the most fabulous bread we had ever had!

After such an emotional day, the ride home was full of fun.  For one thing, Chastyn drank a coke, and for those who know her know what that can mean.  Also, we teased Megan relentlessly because it appears she stole a role of toilet paper from the  malnutrition center.,

Dinner of fried chicken was served soon after we arrived, and that brings you up to date.  I would like to stress again how proud I am of this team.  Bob Becker and Chuck and Kim Donica have been amazing, and the students keep surprising me with their strength.  They have yet to however beat Sister in poker!  Tomorrow we say goodbye to the people of La Florida.  As sad as that will be it also means we are one step closer to being back with our family and friends.  It will be a bittersweet day  Thank you for the comments, we love reading them. Hasta Luego!

Seivert from Gehlen Sunday 1:10 P.M.

Good afternoon from Gehlen. Just spoke with my brother Francis. The Springfield team was a few minutes from their visit at the malnutrition center in Sulaco. Am writing this blog in advance of Merica's tonight because of the photo I have posted here. The Gehlen student team named her the 'stick lady.'   Like the Gehlen group on their way to Sulaco the Springfield team just had their emotional encounter with the lady. I will let Merica tell the story when she returns tonight. When she does, the picture is posted here.

Take Care,
Richard Seivert
Gehlen Catholic Mission Honduras

saturday April 11

First of all, thanks to all of you who left comments!  The girls were all surrounded around the computer and got to read them with me and they ment so much!  Then they got too loud.....imagine that, and have left. 

The fish last night was a hit.  I lost track of the number of eyes eaten.  The only excitement last night was a short power loss, and then the return of Fred and Ethel.....I named the roaches.  Kim killed them for us, but Kirsten reminded us that they would have children and friends.  I informed the girls I met the children at 5am!

Today was a hard work day of digging and pick axing.  The ground was very dry and full of large rocks so it was challenging.  The kid were out of school so we had a lot of help and onlookers.  We decided the way Kirsten swung a pick ax today that she has to be part Honduran at least!  WE discovered some angry ants and a taranchula while digging.

After lunch was special today because we got to distribute some items to the villagers.  Our group brought brightly colored frisbees which were imprinted with From Your American Friends in Spanish.  We lined all the children up and passed them out.  They were a hit!  The girls in the group also made up special purses filled with goodies to give to some of the girls who have followed us around all week and have done as much or more work than we have.  Some goodbyes had to be said because we may not see some of them on

every one is feeling fine, but we have a few blisters on the team which are being treated with duck tape and spider man bandaids!  I got some good pictures on the bus on the way home because a few missioners dared to fall asleep!  And the Hondurans are speaking English, their favorite phrase is OH MY GOSH.  It is so funny to hear and they love using  it!  The other phrase is WHATS UP MAN! 

Once again everyone should be so proud of this team.  Their work ethic is amazing, and the benefits we are receiving are truly amazing.  Spanish is being spoken, but our favorite quote for the trip has come from Stephanie Rice.  She told us one night.......It does not matter what language you  speak, a smile is something everyone can understand.   I will leave you with that.  Tomorrow will be mass at 8am, then on to Sulaco to the malnutrition center.  It will be a beautiful and heartbreaking day.  Love to all of our family and friends.  To my boys, I love you and will see your soon.  Bob, please clean the house......and I love you too!

Hasta manana!

Friday, April 9

Hello SCHS Mission followers!  I know Carolyn filled you in on our day, but just a few more things before the night ended.  Bob Becker ended up feeling a little sick, so we just named yesterday the ´Bad Bob Becker Day.  Also, as the girls were brushing their teeth to go to bed they got to meet 3 other part time missioners........roaches! 

Our day started eary as usual, and we were afraid we would not make up all the way up the mountain on the bus, but we did.  Thankfully the rain gave us a cooler overcast day, which was needed since the job was once again carrying bags of sand up the mountain.  We all realized our calves were a little angry with us as we climbed up today.  The most special thing about today was the help we recieved from the children.  They did not have school today so they were all around.  Some of them brought their own sand buckets and carried sand right up the mountain with us.  Some of us had followers that literally took the sacks off of our backs just to give us a break.  Never have we experienced such generosity.  We actually finished by 11 30 and we usually stop at 12.  We used this time for bubbles and some rounds of duck duck goose, or should I say pato pato ganso, and the children had so much fun playing this.  All the girls have special friends that go with them everywhere, and I am afraid hearts are going to break on Monday.  We teturned home hot and very dirty.  Some showered right away, others of us did some more sorting.  Well, unfortunately the water ran out for us sorters. so I am hoping it will come back on!  Tonight we will have our fish dinner.  This is Tilapia served with the head on and the eye looking right at you!  I will keep you posted on how many eat the eye!

Since there will be no school tomorrow, we plan on taking lots of gifts to the children tomorrow.  We have frisbees and a bag of toys, and the girls made purses full of trinkets for the girls in the village.  There is supposed to be a lot of rain again tonight so I hope we able to make it up.  Tomorrow we will dig, whicb will be a welcome break from two days of mountain climbing.

We are safe and happy.  We miss our family and friends and cannnot wait to share with you more our experiences.  Please leave comments on the blog.  I know the students would love to hear from your.  Trace and Bob, thanks for writing.  Trace I love and miss you too.  I am able to check the blog and it looks like now write on it, so we would love to hear from you.  That is all for now!

Thursday, April 8

Hi All,
Unfortunately, the internet is not working in Esquias, so Merica has shared lots with me and I will do my best to give you everything that is going on in Honduras with our newest missioners.

The missioners had a great day. They brought a load of school supplies to the small school in La Florida. They had the sweetest little teacher there, and everyone had a chance to visit with the teacher and the students.

The 107 degree temperature didn't slow our missioners down. They carried bags of sand up the mountainside where the Honduran men are building the water tank of bricks and cement. Everyone was excited to do the work, knowing the difference clean water is going to make in the lives of the people of La Florida. The missioners were awed with the work ethic of Alex & Max. They worked hard at digging trenches today. There just was no 'quit' in them. The adults are extremely proud of all the missioners, but these two young men have been a head above when it comes to working hard.

Mary had a little trouble with dehydration. She got down some gatorade and Francis fixed her up with some rehydration salts in her water. That heat can zap you before you realize it, so I know Francis will make sure she gets fixed up and back to work soon.

On the way up the mountain this morning, Carlos, the bus driver, picked up a man and his young baby. They were glad to help him when they heard he was taking the baby to the doctor.

The missioners took along a couple small bags of ball caps for the workers today. They loved them and immediately began to wear them. It was a blast to see how excited they became over such a simple gift. The girls also took the opportunity to remind everyone to eat just a little less so they could hand out the left-over food to the villagers. The girls enjoyed seeing the pleasure everyone got from sharing food together.

Merica discovered a lot of the children from El Junco were hanging around La Florida. They remembered many of the missioners from last year's trip, especially Merica, and wanted to join this year's missioners in La Florida. Merica admitted she felt just a little guilty when she heard they'd skipped school today to join the missioners, but they did pitch in and dig trenches with the missioners.

Due to the extreme heat, some of the missioners discovered that some of the trees were dripping little bits of moisture and they were enjoying the coolness of it. However, when they discovered that the little bits of water they were exeperiencing was locust pee, they soon cleared out of those areas. Right now the country is full of locusts. They buzz so loud in the late afternoons that it sounds like loud buzz saws all around you. The children like to chase the missioners with the locusts because many of the missioners scream when they see a huge locust in front of their faces or clinging to their arm.

On the return trip to Esquias, the bus became stuck. They figured it must be because of the weight in the back of the bus. So everyone told Kaitlin to move to the front, and sure enough, the bus was able to get out when Kaitlin moved to the front of the bus! I guess even a little person can make a difference.

Once the missioners were back in Esquias, they headed for the little store and purchased some ice cream. It was delicious and a great way to cool off. They also spent a little time in the park with some children.

Coach White: All the soccer girls want you to know they are NOT sore.

Bob Becker had a few problems today. It seems like trouble followed him all around the compound today. The cement bench broke while he was sitting on it. And when he tried to improve the clotheslines after he'd washed his clothes in the pila, that also broke. Bob was afraid to touch anything after that.

Merica sends a big hug to her family at home. All the missioners want everyone to know that they are doing great, loving their mission trip, and making the most of their opportunity.

Please continue to pray for our missioners in Honduras. They will have amazing stories for you upon their return to Missouri.

(Carolyn substitute blogging for Merica today.)

Wednesday, April 7

Hola from Honduras!  I am writing this blog from a police station........but its not what you think it is the only place with internet access.  Today was our first day of work.  After a early breakfast of pancakes, it was on the bus for a 1 and a half hour drive to la florida.  The group enjoyed all the sights on the way, there were lots of smiles and waves from the Hondurans.  Not to rub in in to the previous group, but the temp was very tolerable today.  Even though the themometer read 100, we had lots of cloud cover and a breeze.  The work was tough.  Nothing but digging and pick axing.  Parents, teachers, friends and family of this group, you would be so proud.  I was so impressed by the work this group did today.  They worked hard but seemed to enjoy the process.  It did not take long to have many followers and helpers by the children of the village.  WE were all touched by the way smalll children would come take shovels and axes from our hands and take over the work to give us breaks.  Chastyn and Kaitlin sang, we blew bubbles, and I once again fell down on my first day  Nothing hurt but my pride, and Alex said I did not need that anyway!  It was a quiet ride home, but once we got back the students went straight to the salon to sort all of the donation.  Under the leadership of Kaitlin and Christina, it was done quickly!  I do not have a lot of time with this computer, so unfortunately I will not be able to be as detailed as Carolyn, but here are a few things i need to say.

To the Gehlen group, my girls loved and appreciated the letter you left.  It really made them feel good and laugh and I thank you for that!  Chastyn wants to give a shout out to Peyton, Shelby and Lyndsey, and hello to All my  SPanish classes.  Kolt, your parents are doing a great job.  This keyboard is challenging so please excuse any errors or grammar.  WE are safe, we are having fun, and everyone is loving Honduras,.  The kids are about to go down to the park to play with the kids, they have quite a following here!  To my boys Trace and jack, I love you and miss you!  Hopefully the internet will be back up in the library tomorrow so I do not have to rush, but for now I think the policeman wants his computer back.  Until tomorrow, adios!

Springfield Catholic Team Arrives in Esquias

This is Carolyn Bickford blogging for the Springfield Catholic Mission Team. Obviously, they are unable to get to the internet tonight, so I will do it for them.

The time in Honduras is now 6:12 p.m., which makes it 7:12 p.m. here in Iowa.

The team stopped in the village of El Guante as they drove from Tegucigalpa to their home base of Esquias. It gave them an opportunity to tour the clinic built by Mission Honduras LeMars and local villagers in 2002-2003. They enjoyed looking at the scenery and seeing various birds along the way. It was a nice drive, though bumpy once they got to the gravel road.

The team arrived safely in Esquias at around 4 o'clock U.S. time. Seivert has been in touch with them by phone multiple times. All team members are fine. As soon as the team arrived, they unloaded their bags (all arrived) and got set up in the dorms. They were pleasantly surprised to find such nice accommodations. The girls were really excited when they found a note left by the girls from the Gehlen Catholic Mission Honduras team. The note welcomed them to their mission and told the Springfield girls how much their mission trip has impacted their lives already. It also gave them a list of do's and don't's to help them with their mission experience. It made the Springfield team feel right at home.

Though Tacha had told them supper would be at 5, she rang the bell early. After supper they walked down to the park where they discovered some young boys. It gave them a chance to play a little frisbee with them.

Merica planned to have their 'junta' meeting at 8 to go over the chore list and the tips she has for them. She would like them to retire early and get some rest because it has been a long day. Many of them were up at 3:15 a.m. She wants to make sure they stay healthy by staying hydrated and well-rested.

I hope you find these blogs as helpful as the Gehlen group did. Seivert and I will make sure the blog gets updated if Merica is unable to get to the internet.

Best of luck, Springfield Catholic Mission Team! You are going to have the experience of a lifetime!!

Springfield Catholic Mission Honduras

Group at Fayetteville Airport

5:00 A.M. 4/6/10

Two Days in Tegucigalpa

Hello to all Tegucigalpa,
Frank, Sr. Juanita, Julio, Carlos & I (Linda) have been spending the last couple of days in Tegucigalpa doing a little shopping. We are staying at a nice hotel - I think the mission students would be jealous.  We were able to take a nice hot shower! What a treat that is!!

Yesterday we said some sad good byes to our group of students and fellow team leaders. We watched as they boarded the plane and prayed for a safe journey for them as they were  anxious to see their families again. I already miss them and think of all the fun times and teasing all day. What a great group of people!!

Next we went to an orphanage where Frank wanted to check on a little girl named Cynthia who has been ill for quite some time with a heart condition.
They discussed the different options for Cynthia as far as her medical condition is concerned and her personal care.

We also took the orphanage a few supples and visited and played with the children. They loved having their pictures taken, and held on tight as we tried to put them down.  As usual, they long to be held and loved by anyone that will spend some time with them. They were so very cute and adorable.

Later Marny took Sr. Juanita and I to a few places to try to buy some high chairs for the Malnutrition Center in Sulaco. We did not have any luck as one place had only one chair, and another place had only two chairs. Another place was closed.

Today, Monday - we got to sleep in until 7!  We went to a market to buy some groceries for the poor woman we met on our way to Sulaco with the stick house. I want to stop at her house on our way to the Malnutrition Center and take her some groceries. We bought rice, beans, coffee, sugar, flour, and laundry soap. I will be sure to take a picture so we can show all of you. I hope she is around when we stop.

After the market, we went shopping again for high chairs and were lucky enough to find some at the second place we went to. We bought 12 high chairs. We waited for about 1 1/1 hours for them to go to their warehouse to get them, but at least we were able to get some that we were happy with.

On Tuesday, we will buy some groceries for Tacha to use for the second group. We will then go to the airport and meet the group from Springfield. Will be exciting to be the greeter this time!!

It will be exciting to go back to La Florida to see the children on Wednesday again.

Must get to bed as tomorrow will be another very long day and many new people to meet. It will be exciting to see Merica and her group and continue the water project that Gehlen Mission Honduras has worked so hard on.

Peace and Hugs to All,
Linda

Our Honduras Mission Ends

This morning began at 4:30 a.m. Miguel had purchased one of those cow horns in Valley of the Angels on our shopping day, and he thought he should test it before returning to the U.S. Thus, at 4:30 A.M. all of the guys gathered just outside the girls' dorm window for the blasting of the horn. I have to admit that it was hilarious to hear all those girls jumping quickly out of bed at that hour. It was definitely the fastest they ever climbed out of bed any of the mornings in Honduras.

Though Tacha was told she didn't need to make breakfast for us, she wanted to be there. She, Sylvia, and Noriela made us a final breakfast of pancakes. We all removed the sheets from our beds, did last minute cleaning up, and Fr. Cosgrove did our final prayer before boarding the bus.

There was a cheer when we drove off that gravel/dirt road for the last time. Except for the speed bumps, the ride into Teguc was fairly smooth. We did have one check-point to contend with, but Carlos finally got us through.

At the airport everyone had a chance to look at the shops and purchase something to eat. Many of them headed for McDonald's.

Our plane from Tegucigalpa into Houston was right on time. We had a couple minor glitches getting through immigration and customs, but we made it to our gate in plenty of time. Everyone had time to grab a snack and restroom break before boarding our flight for Omaha. We had already discussed how we would disembark in Omaha as a team. Wearing our mission shirts, we exited the plane last and went up the ramp together to meet our welcoming committee. It was wonderful to see all those faces waiting to meet us. There were lots of hugs and both tearful greetings for their families and friends and tearful good-byes to their mission teammates, especially those from schools other than Gehlen.

It was an amazing trip - a life-changing event for all. Thanks for everyone for reading this blog. I hope you will check out the website in the coming weeks so you can see all the photos and the story that Seivert will write for us.

Finally, thanks to the students and my fellow chaperones. It was wonderful working with all of you. Special thanks to Francis Seivert for having everything ready for us upon our arrival and getting us around safely in Honduras.

Most of all, thank you to Richard Seivert, without whom NONE of this would have been possible for any of us. He puts in countless hours of work preparing for these trips and continues to work on the trip even while it is happening. And then he even does the work required to wrap it up. On top of that, he never gets to actually join us in Honduras and participate with the missioners. So Seivert, though we might forget to tell you in person, I hope you know we all appreciate the opportunity you gave to us!

Farewell to La Florida

Everyone rose a little sad this morning, knowing it would be our last day in the village of La Florida. Tacha and the other cooks made french toast for breakfast. We loaded the 39 and a few extra bags to take to La Florida. That meant we all had to squish into the bus, but we did not mind today.

We spent a couple hours digging more trenches and laying some pipe. Some people even starting covering the pipe. They still have close to three weeks of work to complete the water project. We only got to be a small part of it.

At ten we stopped working to have a small celebration. The leader of the water project for the community, the president of La Florida, the paternoster, the leader of the village women, Angel, and I gave speeches. I basically read in Spanish the speech that Seivert had written. I made only minor adjustments to it. I am going to put it here in its entirety. For our blog readers, I will write the English version only.
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(Today I would like to read a message to all of you from Richard Seivert, Director of Gehlen Catholic Mission Honduras & Mission Honduras LeMars, and me. Please excuse my poor Spanish.

To the wonderful people of La Florida, Comayagua, Honduras, Central America.

Greetings from Gehlen Catholic Mission Honduras, Le Mars, Iowa, U.S.A.

On behalf of our team and our families, friends, schools, churches, clubs, and communities, Gehlen Catholic Mission Honduras says THANK YOU to the wonderful people of La Florida.

Thanks you for welcoming all of us into your life through this water project. The kindness and love yopu have extended to each of us has been felt in the homes of hundreds throughout our communities in the U.S. Make no mistake: the bond that has been forged between the people of La Florida and our team is strong, and Gehlen Catholic Mission Honduras will continue to help you in whatever way we can.

Special thanks to the president and committee of La Florida that has given our group the change to work side by side with you - two countries - all Americans.

Special thanks to Angel Paz, Francis Seivert, and Julio Rivera for their prepatory work for this team. Thanks to the Rotary Club of the central U.S. along with International Rotary for their trust, faith in Mission Honduras LeMars, and belief in this project - their financial support has made this possible. Thank you to Fr. Bonilla, Tacha Alverado, and the wonderful people of Esquias for their support and hospitality - we always know our teams are taken care of. Also thanks to Carlos for driving us safely each day.

We have one other request for you. As our team leaves Honduras tomorrow and returns to our homes in the U.S., we ask you to welcome the next group of young people from Springfield Catholic School of Springfield, Missouri. Please welcome them into your lives like you have our group.

On behalf of our team and our families, Gehlen Catholic Mission Honduras, and Mission Honduras LeMars, we promise to pray for you and your entire community. May the bond that has been created in the ground of La Florida between our two peoples, last forever. God bless all of you.)

The villagers surprised our birthday three with two cakes and a happy birthday song in English. We all got to eat cake and drink soda. The cake was delicious.

The weather was quite cooperative this morning. It was in the nineties by the time we returned to Esquias. We now have cloud cover with possible rain on the way, but we are hoping for nice weather to take our group photo in twenty minutes. After that, we hope they get lots of rain because it is sorely needed.

We are celebrating an Easter vigil mass here in the compound at 5 p.m. We will try to have our meeting after that. We have lots to process tonight to get ready for our return. Supper of hamburgers is planned for 7. If needed, we will meet again. We are also trying to prepare for our return. A pile of our clothes, shoes, and other items is piling up next to me in the salon.

Tomorrow we will rise around four forty-five, eat a little, and load the bus. By six we should be on our way to the airport. The plane leaves around noon and we should be in Omaha around eight. We are anxious to see our families there and at home.

I will write the final blog upon my return to Le Mars that will wrap up our trip. As soon as possible I will get done with the new trip on our website. That page will include up to 250 photos from our mission trip. All missioners will also write a reflection which I will put together into a reflection book for them. Finally, I will create the PowerPoint presentation for our mission trip and we will set a time when we can all come together to view it on the large screen. I look forward to that day.

Please read our final entry on Monday. Thanks for being with us through this blog,. Look for the Springfield trip to start shortly after.