Report From Honduras / Wednesday, January 25th

As many of you are aware, my brother Francis has been in Honduras since late December preparing for the medical/nutrition team as well as the three high school teams. While in Honduras he also works for Mission Honduras LeMars and Then Feed Just One.

Over the years Mission Honduras LeMars has been involved with many mission outreach programs involving very sick or debilitated young children. Please visit www.missionhonduraslemars.org for a look at some of the children we have assisted over the years - 7 into the United States for example. It is amazing when I think of the totality.

The following pictures are of Santos Sevilla, his dad Lorenzo, and Francis Seivert. You can see that Santos' feet are badly deformed (club feet). Santos is 8 years old and he is from Lavendaros. Lavendaros is high in the mountains of Montana de la Flor and very close to where the combined medical/nutrition/Joint Task Force Bravo team will work in early March of this year. Actually, we met Santos during last year's combined team and have worked throughout the year to get him help. The first pic is from a year ago when he was 7 and being seen during that mission trip. The last photo is of Santos and his dad from yesterday.

Francis Holds Santos

Santos with his dad

The story is simple. Frank and Julio Rivera arranged to get Santos to a hospital in Tegucigalpa for a consult. Thus, when they were in MDLF yesterday, delivering supplies and equipment for the upcoming medical/nutrition brigade, they stopped and got Santos and his dad. They have an open appointment today for this consult. I spoke with Frank at 6:30 A.M. this morning and he, Julio, Santos and his dad were already waiting in line for this first analysis. They might stand there all day long waiting to see a doctor. This hosptial is a couple blocks from the U.S.Embassy and is a place that I also am familiar with. Hopefully this first appointment will result in further analysis to fix Santos' badly deformed club feet. If today's consult goes well, then the plan is to bring Santos back to this hospital in the coming months where a team of U.S. Orthopedic Surgeons will begin the long process of straightening his feet. Say a little prayer today for Santos and his dad.
Take Care,
Richard Seivert