mission trip to La Ceiba, Honduras
02/23/2007 04:37 a.m.
See Ya in La Ceiba!

In the wee hours of the morning of Saturday, February 3rd, 31 people from various churches around the Dallas area assembled at DFW Airport. We said a prayer, then checked in 64 duffle bags full of medical, educational, and hygiene supplies and headed to La Ceiba, Honduras for a week long mission trip. The mission team is divided into 3 branches; Medical, Christian Education, and Construction. In La Ceiba, the medical team staffs the Episcopal Church's clinic and pharmacy, Christian Ed. teaches bible stories and crafts to the children of Holy Trinity Parish School in the morning, then to neighborhood children in the afternoon. The construction team created classroom space, bathrooms, and refurbished walls in the church and school.

Last year I was on the construction team, but this year I was on the medical team. Even though I have no medical knowledge and my only medical experience is volunteering in the clinic at Brentfield Elementary School - this was a great fit. I loved it! I got to interact with so many people, my Spanish vocabulary grew exponentially, and I made new friends.

I worked in triage where I said the following about 200 times:
"Yo voy a tomar la pression." - I am going to take your blood pressure.
"Yo voy a tomar el temparaturo en oido." - I am going to take your temperature in your inner ear.
"nessecito su peso . . . y altura . . . por favor, pone su espalda de la pared." - I need your weight and your hieght. Put your back against the wall." [and a few times I said "nessecito su pedo" which means, "I need your fart." I should never have learned that word "pedo."
"Cual es su problema?" - What is your problem?

Now, all you people who took Spanish classes might be cutting holes in my dialogue, and marking your computer screen up with red pen at all the errors. But this script worked for me for 5 days. Asking "What is your problem" sounds odd to us, but that is what started the interview. I learned all kinds of new words in Spanish, like the word for constipation, diarrhea, itch . . . and when asked medical questions I had to clarify "No se, no soy una doctora." But my biggest contribution to la clinica was - crayons.

Last year I heard about all the families with kids who brought no diaper bags or toys. Maybe because they are young, inexperienced mothers, or perhaps because they just don't have toys. So I brought markers from home, and a hand full of cheap little toys my kids don't play with anymore, put them in a baggy marked "For Clinic Waiting Room." I would look out from my triage station and see these 2 - 12 year old kids being so good, sitting in their chairs, waiting. So I would go out with markers & paper and tell them the markers were mine, but I will share if they will bring them back to me when they were done. Most came back. So I asked Lali, my room mate & head of the Christian Ed. team, for a bag full of crayons, and extra paper. She threw in squishy stickers as well. All were a big hit, and the kids were SO delighted and appreciative, as were the parents. And we never ran out of crayons, thanks to my 10-year-old friend Denny. Denny's Mom volunteered at the clinic all week, so he hung out with us all week. He would make sure the kids returned the crayons. So at the end of the week I gave him the crayons and 2 pads of paper.
What was really rewarding were the drawings. About half were drawn as gifts for the doctors, nurses, and staff. We were all very moved, and we hung them up on the walls turning a cold cement and cinderblock clinic into a warm, family friendly place.

Last year's mission trip was the first time I had been away from my family for so long. They left for Orlando 2 days before I left for La Ceiba, and I was already missing them. I also didn't know if I could communicate with them or not without it costing an arm & a leg. This year - no tears. I knew I could call them at an internet cafe during the week, and I did. I even talked with the birds one evening. So I kissed my sleeping fellas goodbye (at 3 a.m.) and I knew what to expect in La Ceiba.

Here are some memorable anecdotes compressed into bullet points:

Lows: ~ More puppies in cages sold by the side of the road.
~ I saw scabies for the first time. One of the first families we saw had a baby and a toddler just covered in itchy, pus filled, bleeding sores.
~ One 17 year old guy I took vital signs from just smelled ill. Not B.O., but he had that sour breath, and just smelled sick. He was diagnosed to be H.I.V. positive.
~ Most of the kids 3 and under didn't wear shoes, and many of them had "Parasitos." That's right, parasites similar to tape worm.
~ On the last day, 3 policemen came because of the crowds of people trying to push through and over the gate to get into the clinic.
~ One lady couldn't handle the culture shock of working in Central America verses vacationing in Central America, and she went home after 2 days.


Highs: ~ Families would be waiting outside for hours before they got in. But once they were in, I made many kids smile, and even cracked up some adults by just being goofy. I am not bilingual yet, but I am bi-goofy.
~ The kids from the school were so smart, and learning english so well.
~ People who have almost nothing are extremely happy when they receive almost anything.
~ I made a new friend, Denny, who drew pictures for me and signed them "To Susan, from your best friend Denny."
~ I made many more new friends. I was especially close to anyone who had Cipro (a powerful antibiotic).
~ Ziplining on a canopy tour [link http://www.roatanonline.com/honduras/laceiba_photos.htm] . This was GREAT! You are zipping through the trees in the jungle on cables. You have to use your core muscles though, or you will smack a tree or two. Yep, those pilate classes paid off that day.
~ Una Salva Vida por favor. Beuno cerveza.

What did I learn from this mission trip? I learned about the 3 kinds of infections a person can get, bacterial, viral, and fungus. (luckily, I learned this second hand) I learned that with a little confidence, I can speak and understand a lot more Spanish than I thought I. I learned that our kids in the states - heck, adults too for that matter - are spoiled rotten. I learned that I don't want to be a nurse. I don't mind doing pregnancy tests, but poking people for blood sugar readings felt awful to both parties. I learned that if you put God in the center, and serve Him, beautiful things occur.

I plan on going again next year. If you are interested in going with me, just let me know and I will put you in contact with the right people.






I am listening to White Stripes