Dr. Green's group left today. We had a great week. Altogether the doctors saw about 400 patients. Of those, 40 accepted Christ for the first time! We were able to give most of them a Bible and have names and locations for follow-up. On Friday we were supposed to go out into the jungle but before dawn we had very high winds and torrential rains so we had to change our plan. Nicolas, Nicki Collins and I met with Flor at her house, and arranged for her to bring those with greatest need to the bridge in Campana we shuttled them back and forth in the pickup. It really worked quite well and allowed us to see others who came to the center from other villages.
Today was payday, and as usual we were not quite sure where the money was going to come from. The salaries, pay for extra workers, car registration, and other expenses came to $3208. We had a small check from one of the churches; $79 cash on hand, $158 collected from the clinic, and $2971 balance in our checking account for a total of $3260. We made it with $52 to spare.
We pay $10 a month for a pretty feeble cable service out here. I think we get all the programming that nobody else wants. For example, our main news station is from Casper, Wyoming. However this afternoon, Cheryl turned on the TV and there was the University of Tulsa playing Notre Dame. Made us feel kind of like we were back home.
A recent development has been the inclusion of the OSU-EWB trip to Honduras as an official study abroad class in the College of Engineering. This allows the students to take advantage of travel stipends and scholarships offered by individual engineering departments, the College of Engineering, and the Provost’s office to support international travel and study abroad.
I wrote last week that I talked to Alfredo Orillana in North Carolina and asked if he plans to return to Honduras soon. He is the one who is an excellent woodworker, but moved to the states five or six years ago to find work enough to support his family. When we ended our conversation last week he said "I'll call you next Tuesday." I was curious to know if he really would, but knowing Alfredo, I really expected a call. Well, tonight as we were in the middle of our sharing session he called and we had another conversation about his and our future plans. We have not arrived at any agreement yet, but we will be talking again within the next couple weeks. Our hope is that he would come back now and assume leadership of our woodworking classes.
Another of the patients today was a young man who seemed very cold and hard. Every chance I got I spoke with him and eventually asked him if he had a church. He said he goes to church in Campana and his pastor's name is Samuel. Well, that is the church where the 21 young men came forward in 2006 when the Baptist Chapel youth group was here. As some of you know, we have had a hard time following up on those guys because, being gang related, they are hard to find. I called him into my office where I have a large picture of them on my bulletin board. I asked him, "Do you know any of these guys?" He broke out in a broad smile and said "I know every one of them." I think he will be our contact to follow up on these guys.
2nd Day of the Medical Clinic - Today there was a baby, 5 pounds, that had stopped eating...10/26/2010
Today was the second day of the medical clinic. Doctors Green and Krauter have seen about 100 patients each day. Today there was a baby, 5 pounds, that had stopped eating. The doctor said that if she did not begin eating soon she would not live. We had Nicholas go to Puerto Cortez and find baby milk powder which we mixed up and started feeding the baby in a syringe. At first she couldn't even swallow, but as the ladies worked with her she improved and before she left was drinking out of a bottle. Praise the Lord. BETTY JO GREEN AND HELEN RUTH SNIPES WORKING WITH A PATIENT
The medical clinic continues; there have been several people who have accepted Christ. We have had people in medical clinics over the years who are seriously ill or how are dying, but this case breaks your heart. These twin girls, Alison Mariela and Yenesis Michel are twin born to a 17 year old mother, Ivis Osaris, One of the twins is starving to death. The other one has a large growth on her forehead. We are providing formula for the mother to give to the baby, but will need to closely monitor both the babies and the mother so she does not mix the formula with the contaminated water. Do pray this baby will make it. Helen Mories shares Christ with all of her patients. MARK BULLARD, TULSA BIBLE CHURCH, HELPS WITH MEDICAL CLINIC REGISTRATION
We are keeping a close eye on Hurricane Richard which is currently south and east of us. Hopefully it will pass to the north, but we are still in the situation of red alert. We are praying that we will not get involved.
Five members came on the Continental 11 o'clock flight and another couple on the American Airlines one o'clock flight. I brought them back to the mission center for dinner and then we went and checked in at the hotel in Port Cortes. This morning we all went to church in San Pedro and then out to Pizza Hut for lunch. This evening everyone was back here for dinner and set up for the clinic which will begin tomorrow morning at nine and runs through Friday. The first four days we'll be here at the mission center and the last day out in the jungle. The members of the team are Dr. and Mrs. James Green, Dr. Paul Krauter, Nikki Collins, Helen Morie, and Mark and Linda Bullard. This is the Bullard's first time; the rest have been here before.
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