Mission Honduras LeMars director, Richard Seivert, announced today the organization will be sending a medical / dental team to Honduras in late January 2015.
Preparations for this mission trip began in earnest during the summer of 2014 and continues to today.
He said all things are in place and the team is simply waiting for the day of packing all the medicines and equipment and beginning their mission work in Honduras.
It is estimated the team will see over 1500 patients, including many hundreds of children.
The team is composed of 19 members: 5 medical doctors, 2 dentists, 4 nurses, 1 pharmacist, 1 dental assistant, and 6 translators and support personnel.
The team will locate in Nueva Capital and set up a 5 day clinic right on site.
Francis Seivert greets assessment team in Montaña de la Flor
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Thursday, February 13, 2014
13 February 2014 at about 1700 hours (5pm)
Hi to all from Gehlen Mission Honduras, Mission Honduras LeMars and Then Feed Just One. Today Julio and I traveled to Tegucicalpa (Tegus) to the Cerro de Plata Foundation. There we met up with Marta, Olga, Dennis and Claudia. All have helped us in the past in Nueva Capital. I drove up to Neuva Capital and then Julio drove back to Cerro de Plata. He doesn't like driving in Tegus.
A few quick observations: The government (or probably another country's govenment) has been fixing the road around Tegus. It has a name, but it is known as the "ring road" and that is what I call it. This road will sometime this year connect from the north to the east, to the south and then back to the north and west to the main road, Highway 5 going to San Pedro Sula. Believe me this will be a big improvement. I have traveled the road down from Neuva Capital towards Hwy 5 before and...you can guess the conditions. Part of it is still bad. For those that have been to Nueva Capital, Sister Joan, Carolyn, Linda and Pat you will notice some very start changes.
Anyway, I want to report to all that once we turn off the big road and start our climb up into Nueva Capital I remember what I remember about this road. It was bad and it has not gotten any better. What was a cool morning in VoA turned into a very hot day in Nueva Capital. The road winds up and around and is very dusty and steep. Even though the road is winding it is not like the mountain roads we have traveled on in the past. It is gravel. I was amazed to see a motor taxi trying to make it up the big hill leading to the turn to the school. Every now and then the people got out, the driver went a little further, they got back in and the same thing happened again. I will remind everyone you will not be taking a motor taxi. For our Toyota Hilux 28D no problem. For the other Toyota buses like Carlos has, no problem. People walking everywhere. I always will remember Julio (who has and still at times lives in the jungle) saying who would want to live here with all the rocks.
Rocks, rocks, and rocks. The digging will be tough. Our group visited the 2 homes that ACOES has picked. Both homes are very worthy. Julio took 41 photos, and I will send some to Dick. I think he has already sent out photos, but maybe these are different. I have also sent him the exact coordinates of the homes you can use to see on Google Earth. When Dick sends them to you just draw back a little and you can see the school where you will stay. In 1 photo you will see the owner of house #1 with a stocking cap on. It was about 100 degrees but I also had on a long sleeve black shirt.
Both families were told that their homes would be rebuilt. They were very happy. Marta will give me the names of the people that live in these homes. I have no idea how many adults and kids live in them, but many. This is one of nice things about doing this advance work. I get the benefits of being with the families early on. Now the team will have to live up to the expectations that I gave to the familes.
I promise you an incredible mission. It will be high, hot, dusty and tough, but...worth it! Each home will present many challenges. We hope to have all the supplies in place early in March. I know we have to make changes. Marta and ACOES will select the chief contractor and he and 1 helper will be around each day. All the preparations for the homes will be completed. The floors will be poured or changed. We spent time talking with each of the proposed contractors talking about the fact we will follow their lead with an occasional exception. They understood. It will be a great mission.
It is starting to rain so I better quit. I am sitting outside so my signal can be better. I will post again. God bless and pray for the poor of the world. You will see it from Nueva Capital.
Mr. Francis
Hi to all from Gehlen Mission Honduras, Mission Honduras LeMars and Then Feed Just One. Today Julio and I traveled to Tegucicalpa (Tegus) to the Cerro de Plata Foundation. There we met up with Marta, Olga, Dennis and Claudia. All have helped us in the past in Nueva Capital. I drove up to Neuva Capital and then Julio drove back to Cerro de Plata. He doesn't like driving in Tegus.
A few quick observations: The government (or probably another country's govenment) has been fixing the road around Tegus. It has a name, but it is known as the "ring road" and that is what I call it. This road will sometime this year connect from the north to the east, to the south and then back to the north and west to the main road, Highway 5 going to San Pedro Sula. Believe me this will be a big improvement. I have traveled the road down from Neuva Capital towards Hwy 5 before and...you can guess the conditions. Part of it is still bad. For those that have been to Nueva Capital, Sister Joan, Carolyn, Linda and Pat you will notice some very start changes.
Anyway, I want to report to all that once we turn off the big road and start our climb up into Nueva Capital I remember what I remember about this road. It was bad and it has not gotten any better. What was a cool morning in VoA turned into a very hot day in Nueva Capital. The road winds up and around and is very dusty and steep. Even though the road is winding it is not like the mountain roads we have traveled on in the past. It is gravel. I was amazed to see a motor taxi trying to make it up the big hill leading to the turn to the school. Every now and then the people got out, the driver went a little further, they got back in and the same thing happened again. I will remind everyone you will not be taking a motor taxi. For our Toyota Hilux 28D no problem. For the other Toyota buses like Carlos has, no problem. People walking everywhere. I always will remember Julio (who has and still at times lives in the jungle) saying who would want to live here with all the rocks.
Rocks, rocks, and rocks. The digging will be tough. Our group visited the 2 homes that ACOES has picked. Both homes are very worthy. Julio took 41 photos, and I will send some to Dick. I think he has already sent out photos, but maybe these are different. I have also sent him the exact coordinates of the homes you can use to see on Google Earth. When Dick sends them to you just draw back a little and you can see the school where you will stay. In 1 photo you will see the owner of house #1 with a stocking cap on. It was about 100 degrees but I also had on a long sleeve black shirt.
Both families were told that their homes would be rebuilt. They were very happy. Marta will give me the names of the people that live in these homes. I have no idea how many adults and kids live in them, but many. This is one of nice things about doing this advance work. I get the benefits of being with the families early on. Now the team will have to live up to the expectations that I gave to the familes.
I promise you an incredible mission. It will be high, hot, dusty and tough, but...worth it! Each home will present many challenges. We hope to have all the supplies in place early in March. I know we have to make changes. Marta and ACOES will select the chief contractor and he and 1 helper will be around each day. All the preparations for the homes will be completed. The floors will be poured or changed. We spent time talking with each of the proposed contractors talking about the fact we will follow their lead with an occasional exception. They understood. It will be a great mission.
It is starting to rain so I better quit. I am sitting outside so my signal can be better. I will post again. God bless and pray for the poor of the world. You will see it from Nueva Capital.
Mr. Francis
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Sunday 9 February 2014 @ 1500 hours
Hi to all. Just reporting in on this Sunday. What started as a beautiful day has turned into a cool, windy, rainy and then sometimes sunny weather. Julio and I went to mass at 0915 hours today. It is a 17 minute walk. We had 2 dogs following us that eat at our house but they went different directions. Linda, our girl dog, left yesterday to stay with other relatives of her owner. Linda is just 1 of many dogs of the street.
The owner was here today to do some work around the year of this house. Julio and I then went into Valley of the Angels to have something to do Tomorrow we go to Talanga and meet with the mother of the 3 year boy from near Acote. He has been in the hospital. Hopefully we can get a better idea of what is wrong. Each time I ask Julio and he calls the mother, I do not get an answer that I am looking for...that is...what is the Problem?
I am attaching 2 photos. After all these weeks of feeding this girl chicken, we now have results. This will be a first for me...eating the eggs this girl chicken layed. I have 9 of them. Julio and I will ea
t 4 of them tomorrow. You can also see a photo of our simple little kitchen. The stove is electric, but is really slow in heating anything. I bought other pots and pans the other day to use. Don't feel bad for us because we are eating good. Lots of protein. We have beans almost everyday, but like the one's you see in the photo. I like them more than the street beans, although I eat them as well.
OK. For now that is that. I will visit with you another day.
Mr. Francis
Hi to all. Just reporting in on this Sunday. What started as a beautiful day has turned into a cool, windy, rainy and then sometimes sunny weather. Julio and I went to mass at 0915 hours today. It is a 17 minute walk. We had 2 dogs following us that eat at our house but they went different directions. Linda, our girl dog, left yesterday to stay with other relatives of her owner. Linda is just 1 of many dogs of the street.
The owner was here today to do some work around the year of this house. Julio and I then went into Valley of the Angels to have something to do Tomorrow we go to Talanga and meet with the mother of the 3 year boy from near Acote. He has been in the hospital. Hopefully we can get a better idea of what is wrong. Each time I ask Julio and he calls the mother, I do not get an answer that I am looking for...that is...what is the Problem?
I am attaching 2 photos. After all these weeks of feeding this girl chicken, we now have results. This will be a first for me...eating the eggs this girl chicken layed. I have 9 of them. Julio and I will ea
OK. For now that is that. I will visit with you another day.
Mr. Francis
Monday, February 3, 2014
Fecha: (date) 03 /Feb/2014
Tiempo: (time) 11:30 am
Hello to all from the same location I've been writing from these past few days in Valley of the Angels (VoA). It's a nice sunny morning so far but with strong winds. I have just tried my hand at washing my clothes again and with the sun and wind maybe they will be dry by nightfall.
Julio returned at 0915 hours this morning. All is well in MDLF. He picked up Norma Sevilla the young mother of 3 year old Milton Avila, that has the bad heart valve, in Acote/San Francisco at 0600 hours this morning. She traveled there from LaLima yesterday and stayed with some friends. He left her in Talanga to catch a bus to Tegucigalpa (Tegus) for another heart consult and special medicines for the little boys condition. She is pregnant and is very appreciative of Mission Honduras LeMars (MHL) help. I look forward to hearing more about this little boy once she returns. I will have Julio call her.
I attended mass yesterday at the church of Divino Nino Jesus. The church was packed because the people had just finished a new shrine to Mother Suyapa. Today is the dia Festivo (the day of the festival) of Suyapa. She is the patron saint of Honduras and the celebration marks 267 years of honoring her in Honduras. Julio and I were watching the Cardinal say mass at the Basilica of Suyapa earlier. The church was packed. I was watching television Friday evening during another mass held in advance of the festivo and I was amazed with all the politicians, including the new president and his wife, plus hundreds of military and police. The Archbishop was talking about all the problems etc. in Honduras. I could not help but think of all the corruption in this country.
VoA is pretty dead again on this Monday, as it is during the week. The weekends are very busy especially if the sun is out and it's warm. I was there yesterday. Those motor taxi's are rough riding bums out here on these rural bumpy roads. I will tell one thing about riding in these taxi's, not all drivers are created equal. Some will pile in a number of people which makes it a little dangerous. Then, when they go downhill they turn the motor off. I'm sure they think they are saving fuel, but I'm not so sure because I don't think these motors have fuel injection systems, plus it sometimes takes a bit to get the motor started again.
I am going to try and attach a few photos which Julio took over the past few days. They show Julio providing school supplies to Mayveline, Yesenia, Francesca and Franci. In some of the photos Julio took a photo of the limperas MHL provided to them since he was not able to get a factura (invoice). You will also see a photo of Norma Sevillo the mother of little Milton (the boy with a bad heart), Hilana the mother of little Maynor, Franci along with her mother Gloria. Then there are 2 photos of the little indigenous kid that has a cleft lip and pallet. He had his lip fixed late last year by Operation Smile with help from Mission Honduras LeMars. You can see this little boy is healthy looking. He loves the 'Then Feed Just One' food, according to his mother. Julio saw them last Saturday in LeCeiba, MDLF.
By way of information, the club foot brigade at San Felipe hospital has completed its trip. Remember this brigade treated young Santos from MDLF 2 years ago. It's hard to imagine 2 years have already passed. Julio tells me you would never know Santos had those terrible club feet. He plays soccer and lives a normal life for a kid his age with the only exception he lives in terrible poverty. Also, Operation Sonrisa (Operation Smile) brings another large team to Honduras and San Felipe hospital starting 27 February. Mission Honduras LeMars assisted greatly with little Santos and his family during the operations on his feet. The little boy from MDLF (Manuel) will need another consult later in the spring to repair his palate. There are US doctors arriving often at San Felipe. He will need the palate surgery later this year. I'm glad all the milk MHL provided, and now with the rice food, he will be able to have the corrective surgery to his palate without problems.
I have some shopping to do so I'd better quit this message. I wish everyone a happy day. Be safe, God bless and peace. I'm glad Julio is back so my laundry will get washed better. Scroll down to look at the 9 photos I sent.
Mr. Francis
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| Franci (multiple leg surgeries) |
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| Mayveline |
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| Francesca |
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| Manuel (split lip and cleft palate) |
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| Milton |
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| Norma (mother of Milton - little boy with bad heart) |
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| Yesenia and her family |
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| Hilana with Maynor (distended abdomen) |
Saturday, February 1, 2014
01 February 2014
Hello from the same location as the other day in Valley of Angels (VoA) many kilomters away from Neuva Capital and Internet Tree Central. I walked to VoA again today (21 minutes from my house to the big road) where I can get a motor taxi. I think these things originated in India, but I'm not sure. Along the walk I talked with a former US marine from Texas that lives in the area with his family and works in a block factory close to VoA.
I've got great news for you in the USA. It is pouring rain now, as it did earlier, and Gracias Adios I got the walk done before I really got wet. It was really cool again last night but unlike so many I had blankets to stay warm. My girlfriend showed up at the house this morning. I have not seen her for a couple of day. She is a beautfiful young dog that has over the past many days has had many male friends into the yard. I think she will now be having some puppies in about 3 months. I have spoken with the owner and he thanks me for feeding her each day. She really likes me. Along with feeding the girl dog I also have to feed a rooster and his girlfriend. I give them corn everyday. I am becoming very domesticated. Now if I can only do a better job of washing my clothes. I miss Julio. He usually does them for me. It took 2 days for them to dry.
Julio will return on Monday in the afternoon. He had to return to Montana de la Flor (MDLF) to check on the conditions of his coffee farm as well as attend a special meeting of the LaCeiba tribe earlier today. I am unsure of our schedule, but Julio and I will probably drive in Tegus on Tuesday for a better food selection...things that are not so frozen and have labels on them. I plan to go to mass at the Iglesia (Church) tomorrow at 9 am (a 17 minute walk from the house) and then walk to the big road and catch a motor taxi to VoA to use the internet. It has just quit raining and the sun is coming out. Weather in the mountains. By the way it is 1206 hours currently. I was supposed to meet with Marta today in VoA to talk about our schedule for next week but she has just called and had to cancel the trip. She needs to meet with some school officials about 1 of the 2 kids from Neuva Capital that we recently bought uniforms for to attend a very special school. These are older kids. The school gives them scholarships if they meet certain conditions. These 2 kids qualified. I guess the problem is transportation daily. It's so sad when kids want to go to school to better themselves but can't because of issues like uniforms, transportation etc. It's a lousy system.
Our cable in the house is working again. I had to reset it a couple of times. Maybe a power outage. This is one time it's nice to have owners that have a few $$. I may be able to see the super bowl tomorrow night. Can you imagine!
Well, God bless. I must go. I have to start working on my 2013 Tax Return. Since I use Tubo-Tax I can do it all online. I have to watch my battery life. Talk again soon.
Mr. Francis
Hello from the same location as the other day in Valley of Angels (VoA) many kilomters away from Neuva Capital and Internet Tree Central. I walked to VoA again today (21 minutes from my house to the big road) where I can get a motor taxi. I think these things originated in India, but I'm not sure. Along the walk I talked with a former US marine from Texas that lives in the area with his family and works in a block factory close to VoA.
I've got great news for you in the USA. It is pouring rain now, as it did earlier, and Gracias Adios I got the walk done before I really got wet. It was really cool again last night but unlike so many I had blankets to stay warm. My girlfriend showed up at the house this morning. I have not seen her for a couple of day. She is a beautfiful young dog that has over the past many days has had many male friends into the yard. I think she will now be having some puppies in about 3 months. I have spoken with the owner and he thanks me for feeding her each day. She really likes me. Along with feeding the girl dog I also have to feed a rooster and his girlfriend. I give them corn everyday. I am becoming very domesticated. Now if I can only do a better job of washing my clothes. I miss Julio. He usually does them for me. It took 2 days for them to dry.
Julio will return on Monday in the afternoon. He had to return to Montana de la Flor (MDLF) to check on the conditions of his coffee farm as well as attend a special meeting of the LaCeiba tribe earlier today. I am unsure of our schedule, but Julio and I will probably drive in Tegus on Tuesday for a better food selection...things that are not so frozen and have labels on them. I plan to go to mass at the Iglesia (Church) tomorrow at 9 am (a 17 minute walk from the house) and then walk to the big road and catch a motor taxi to VoA to use the internet. It has just quit raining and the sun is coming out. Weather in the mountains. By the way it is 1206 hours currently. I was supposed to meet with Marta today in VoA to talk about our schedule for next week but she has just called and had to cancel the trip. She needs to meet with some school officials about 1 of the 2 kids from Neuva Capital that we recently bought uniforms for to attend a very special school. These are older kids. The school gives them scholarships if they meet certain conditions. These 2 kids qualified. I guess the problem is transportation daily. It's so sad when kids want to go to school to better themselves but can't because of issues like uniforms, transportation etc. It's a lousy system.
Our cable in the house is working again. I had to reset it a couple of times. Maybe a power outage. This is one time it's nice to have owners that have a few $$. I may be able to see the super bowl tomorrow night. Can you imagine!
Well, God bless. I must go. I have to start working on my 2013 Tax Return. Since I use Tubo-Tax I can do it all online. I have to watch my battery life. Talk again soon.
Mr. Francis
Thursday, January 30, 2014
30 January 2014
Hello to all from GehlenMissionHonduras, MissionHondurasLeMars and Then Feed Just One. I have finally figured out how to once again use this blog (with much help from Carolyn and Dick). It's been almost 2 years since I used this blog, and since I have gotten older and my memory is not what it used to be I needed remedial training. The last post I made to this blog was from Internet Tree Central in Nueva Capital with the team from Heelan.
I arrived in Honduras 2 weeks ago today, 16 January 2014. Marta Sosa met me at the airport. Marta and I had a nice meeting that day about many items. Julio joined me on the 17th of January. Marta had much trouble trying to find me an apartment like the last 2 years. I will be in Honduras until 1 April 2014. She was able to find a small house (owned by the owners of the apartments I have rented the past 2 years) which is about 10-12 minutes Southeast of Valley of Angels (VOA). Julio and I moved in on Saturday 18 January 2014. It's comfortable but I have no internet access there so I need to come into VOA each day to use the internet. This is where I am at today. There is a Catholic church about a 10 minute walk from the casa so that is really nice.
We can either walk about 15 minutes to the big road that leads out of VOA towards Tegucigalpa (Tegus) and catch a motor taxi ride into VOA or drive. We can also catch a motor taxi in the area we live if one is traveling by. The ride to VOA from either location is limpera's 20 ($1.00 U.S.) and the same for the return.
Julio and I traveled to Esquias (our former base of operation) on 20 Jan 2014 and spent the night there. Tacha was in the USA. We visited with her elderly parents. Thanks to Carolyn and Linda all the supplies in the bodega were well sorted, and in tubes or bags. We left a few items for the Central De Salud in Esquais along with some other supplies for people in need. Julio and I returned to VOA and the casa on Tuesday 21 Jan 2014. We then left for Julio's casa near Acote. I stayed there with his family until Sunday 26 Jan 2014. It was special for me to be there with his family and his wife is a great cook.
On 24 Jan 2014. Julio and I visited the communities of LaLima and Aguacote. These are where 2 water projects we recently completed. I have been to LaLima 2 times before but with our medical team and JTFB (Joint Task Force Bravo) [the U.S. military] but, the road, if any existed, was very bad. Julio said that ours is the only truck that has been there in about 2-3 months. If you were on the road you would see why. Thank God for Toyota Hilux 28-D. Here we found a little 3 year old boy that has a bad heart valve. MHL began helping that little boy and pregnant mother that moment. She will be in Tegus on Lunas (Monday) of next week. She will meet Julio at the bottom of that terrible mountain road and he will take her to Talanga to catch a bus to Tegus. We will follow up. Dick has probably mentioned this kid along with others in some of his messages. I always look at these types of rides with their difficulty as something special because this is where you can find kids, or adults that would never get help. It has happened so many times. We also gave the school in both communities notebooks for the kids from MHL. In both communities the people were very thankful for the water project and the books. Of course, along the way 3 other communities asked for help with a water project. These are always difficult for me, but maybe in the future.
On Friday Julio and I went to LaCeiba in MDLF for market day. What a wild day. And of course, it was raining. I will never forget my lst ride (I was driving) off the mountain in the rain. The road from Acote to LaCeiba is as bad as I have ever seen it. The rains have been terrible. The people get so isolated. The big trucks carrying up supplies to trade do not help, but these people would not have access to food and other items. Of course if the rivers are to big, they don't go. Incredible day. Many old friends seen. Many indigenous needing help with food especially. Also others needs $$/lps to get to Tegus for medical care or visit a family member in Hospital Esquela. We also handed out notebooks to 2 more communities. They were well appreciated. On the way back to Julio's casa we visited with little Francesca who was seen and treated during our clinic in San Juan in 2009. Her mother had died that morning and she was very sick, malnourished and next to death. She received Plump Nut from Mission Honduras LeMars and 2 boxes of Then Feed Just One food. Each time we pass where she lives, we check on her. Julio always makes sure she gets boxes of Then Feed Just One rice when MDLF (Montana de la Flor) gets the food. She will also get new shoes for school. I also saw little Mayveline (surgery a year and half ago). She has dengue fever. MHL bought medicine for her and her little sister. We then saw Franci that continues to need other surgeries to lengthen her leg. I saw Yesenia's family along the trail. Yesenia stayed home with her brother. All 4 of these kids will receive special school supplies from MHL when Julio passes, which is either today, tomorrow, or maybe Saturday.
Julio and I were in Tegus on the day of the new presidents inauguration on Monday 27 Jan 2014. We knew the police and military presence would be big with many roads closed so we got there at 7 am and got our business finished and left by 10:30. We watched some of the celebration on TV.
Well guys, I better sign off and check other stories. I think we will meet with Marta next Monday or Tuesday and travel to Nueva Capital and probably pick the families in need of a new house that you will work on.
God bless. Pray for heat. I left a very cold South Dakota with lots of snow to get warm and so far its been really cool to cold. Those mountain people are very cold. Believe me they will get some blankets.
Well from my location many kiloments away from Internet Central I say goodby for now. Soon you will be reporting from Internet Tree Central. We will have all the logistics completed for your trip when you arrive. Peace.
Mr. Francis
Hello to all from GehlenMissionHonduras, MissionHondurasLeMars and Then Feed Just One. I have finally figured out how to once again use this blog (with much help from Carolyn and Dick). It's been almost 2 years since I used this blog, and since I have gotten older and my memory is not what it used to be I needed remedial training. The last post I made to this blog was from Internet Tree Central in Nueva Capital with the team from Heelan.
I arrived in Honduras 2 weeks ago today, 16 January 2014. Marta Sosa met me at the airport. Marta and I had a nice meeting that day about many items. Julio joined me on the 17th of January. Marta had much trouble trying to find me an apartment like the last 2 years. I will be in Honduras until 1 April 2014. She was able to find a small house (owned by the owners of the apartments I have rented the past 2 years) which is about 10-12 minutes Southeast of Valley of Angels (VOA). Julio and I moved in on Saturday 18 January 2014. It's comfortable but I have no internet access there so I need to come into VOA each day to use the internet. This is where I am at today. There is a Catholic church about a 10 minute walk from the casa so that is really nice.
We can either walk about 15 minutes to the big road that leads out of VOA towards Tegucigalpa (Tegus) and catch a motor taxi ride into VOA or drive. We can also catch a motor taxi in the area we live if one is traveling by. The ride to VOA from either location is limpera's 20 ($1.00 U.S.) and the same for the return.
Julio and I traveled to Esquias (our former base of operation) on 20 Jan 2014 and spent the night there. Tacha was in the USA. We visited with her elderly parents. Thanks to Carolyn and Linda all the supplies in the bodega were well sorted, and in tubes or bags. We left a few items for the Central De Salud in Esquais along with some other supplies for people in need. Julio and I returned to VOA and the casa on Tuesday 21 Jan 2014. We then left for Julio's casa near Acote. I stayed there with his family until Sunday 26 Jan 2014. It was special for me to be there with his family and his wife is a great cook.
On 24 Jan 2014. Julio and I visited the communities of LaLima and Aguacote. These are where 2 water projects we recently completed. I have been to LaLima 2 times before but with our medical team and JTFB (Joint Task Force Bravo) [the U.S. military] but, the road, if any existed, was very bad. Julio said that ours is the only truck that has been there in about 2-3 months. If you were on the road you would see why. Thank God for Toyota Hilux 28-D. Here we found a little 3 year old boy that has a bad heart valve. MHL began helping that little boy and pregnant mother that moment. She will be in Tegus on Lunas (Monday) of next week. She will meet Julio at the bottom of that terrible mountain road and he will take her to Talanga to catch a bus to Tegus. We will follow up. Dick has probably mentioned this kid along with others in some of his messages. I always look at these types of rides with their difficulty as something special because this is where you can find kids, or adults that would never get help. It has happened so many times. We also gave the school in both communities notebooks for the kids from MHL. In both communities the people were very thankful for the water project and the books. Of course, along the way 3 other communities asked for help with a water project. These are always difficult for me, but maybe in the future.
On Friday Julio and I went to LaCeiba in MDLF for market day. What a wild day. And of course, it was raining. I will never forget my lst ride (I was driving) off the mountain in the rain. The road from Acote to LaCeiba is as bad as I have ever seen it. The rains have been terrible. The people get so isolated. The big trucks carrying up supplies to trade do not help, but these people would not have access to food and other items. Of course if the rivers are to big, they don't go. Incredible day. Many old friends seen. Many indigenous needing help with food especially. Also others needs $$/lps to get to Tegus for medical care or visit a family member in Hospital Esquela. We also handed out notebooks to 2 more communities. They were well appreciated. On the way back to Julio's casa we visited with little Francesca who was seen and treated during our clinic in San Juan in 2009. Her mother had died that morning and she was very sick, malnourished and next to death. She received Plump Nut from Mission Honduras LeMars and 2 boxes of Then Feed Just One food. Each time we pass where she lives, we check on her. Julio always makes sure she gets boxes of Then Feed Just One rice when MDLF (Montana de la Flor) gets the food. She will also get new shoes for school. I also saw little Mayveline (surgery a year and half ago). She has dengue fever. MHL bought medicine for her and her little sister. We then saw Franci that continues to need other surgeries to lengthen her leg. I saw Yesenia's family along the trail. Yesenia stayed home with her brother. All 4 of these kids will receive special school supplies from MHL when Julio passes, which is either today, tomorrow, or maybe Saturday.
Julio and I were in Tegus on the day of the new presidents inauguration on Monday 27 Jan 2014. We knew the police and military presence would be big with many roads closed so we got there at 7 am and got our business finished and left by 10:30. We watched some of the celebration on TV.
Well guys, I better sign off and check other stories. I think we will meet with Marta next Monday or Tuesday and travel to Nueva Capital and probably pick the families in need of a new house that you will work on.
God bless. Pray for heat. I left a very cold South Dakota with lots of snow to get warm and so far its been really cool to cold. Those mountain people are very cold. Believe me they will get some blankets.
Well from my location many kiloments away from Internet Central I say goodby for now. Soon you will be reporting from Internet Tree Central. We will have all the logistics completed for your trip when you arrive. Peace.
Mr. Francis
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