February 15, 2002

White billowy clouds fill the bright blue sky as the sounds of the Caribbean Sea gently lap the shore just feet from us. There is a promise in the clouds, a promise of blessing and miracles to fall upon the island of Guanaja. The Lord is at the finish line cheering us on. We are not alone, we see Him with His arms outstretched and our strength is renewed.

We are at the last day of our physical work. All of the clinics will be held here at our compound today. We have taken several of the rooms and using sheets or heavy white plastic have divided them into exam rooms. Yellow caution tape has been strung in lines with the hopes of keeping the process orderly. The people started to line up over an hour before were to open. They know that our time here is coming to an end and now they have started to ask for our belongings. This is a common occurrence with Latin America. They have no shame or hesitancy to ask for what they need, and they need everything. This can be a hard thing for some Americans to accept with grace as we look upon asking anything for free with a disdain and shame. We would rather go without than to ask. But these people know that they are at our mercy, that if we do not give, they will have no chance of ever attaining, they will never be able to make it on their own. Now I want you to look at the spiritual side of this and not through the typical proud mindset of an American. How easy it is for these folks to fall prostrate at the feet of Jesus, pleading with Him to save them, knowing full well that He is their only chance. No reserve of pride getting in their way of the cross, no past history of fixing things themselves. They can't do it and they know it. It is easy for them to admit their need for the mercy of Jesus. In this one area, we rich, self-sufficient Americans are to be pitied.

John Livergood has a 7-month old baby at home with his wife, and as his work here is coming to an end his heart if filled with longing to be with them soon. The Pelote's have a 10-month-old baby that is being shared between the grandparents, now you know he is being loved up on pretty good! Susan Bugbee has been carrying large heavy buckets of concrete each day and has impressed many people with her strength. Dynamite comes in small packages as they say. Michael Dreos has been busy with his video camera and has really enjoyed taking pictures. Courtney Rousseau feels blessed that she made a new friend the first day.
Our clinics are open now and people have filled our compound. We have far to many dental needs to ever be finished this day and we have limited it to extractions and cleaning only. Petche our guard just introduced me to his granddaughter, she is suffering from diarrhea and he waits in line with a prescription in his hand. People are sitting under the shade of our meeting tent waiting to for their number to be called. Mothers with nursing infants feed their babies with nary a thought of modesty, older children are slapped for their inpatients as they try to leave the line. Dogs lie lazily in the heat not wanting to miss the excitement. Off to the side of us is a small dump and a few vultures congregate along with the dogs that make their daily visits there. Directly behind us is a field where a horse stands, head lowered as he chooses his next bite of grass. Off to the back a bit farther is a mountain range, rocks showing bare from where the storm stripped it. The vegetation is slowly coming back and already coconuts are growing on the palm trees. To the front of us is the ocean; not at all pristine as the poles that once held homes stand alone as a reminder of the disaster that over took this once beautiful island. As we behold the pain and poverty in the eyes of these people we are reminded of the cost of sin in the world. But we are not left without hope. Jesus Christ has paid the price for our re-admittance to the Garden of Eden. We are almost home.

The medical clinic is starting to wind down now. Dr. Evans Daniels has treated most of the children. He has found the children of this island to be in much healthier condition than in other places we have been. We are not seeing cases of malnutrition here, but rather mild anemia due to parasite infestation. Chet Parboo P.A. was called over to the dock to treat a man that was brought in by small motorboat. He was lying in the bottom of the boat in pain with an ulcer that is inflamed and also some burns from hot water they put on him thinking it would help. Chet has given him some medicine for it and he will be going back to his home shortly.
The dental clinic seems to be the place for excitement for lack of a better word. Kathy Stairs was working with a very uncooperative child this morning that needed a tooth pulled. Because of the hotness of the day they had taken off their surgical mask. As Kathy bent over the child to work on him he spit right into her mouth! She remained a lot calmer than most and put her hands on his shoulders and firmly yelled no!
Most people don't even think about the physical endurance that it takes to be a dentist, but extracting teeth is hard on the muscles in the arms. Bending over a patient all day is also hard on the and back and after a full day of it you kind of feel like you have worked on a chain gang
The dental clinic extracted 30 teeth, filled 3, performed a full exam on 2, cleaned 20 and scaled 1 All by 3:30p.m.
Dr. Bainum saw the child whose mom and sister run the little store across from us. The little girl has some sort of heart valve problem, after he did an initial workup on her he decided he would sponsor her medical care and will pay to have her fly over to San Pedro Sula for more test and will then look in to sponsoring her heart operation.
Last night the sister of this mom who owns half the store, was beat up very bad by her husband and cut in the face. Then the brothers of these sisters went out looking for him and a fight with guns took place although no one was shot. Drugs have become a serious problem on this island as they have in other parts of the world.
The medical team treated 272 people today.
When asked how many blocks were put down today the reply was “the rest”
WE FINSHIHED THE BUILDING, let there be a drum roll please! There now sits in Guanaja an 80ft. by 88ft. Evangelism Education Center! We are praising the Lord!
Thank you Maranatha International, thank you supporters and workers.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 19:20
There is no doubt the Lord has been here with us.

Smiling joyously,

Jennifer Young,
Mission Reporter