Well, we’re on our way, but when we checked in to get our boarding passes, somehow half our group got bumped up to First Class on an extremely full flight. The rest of us are crammed into the cattle car class with the other 3 or 4 mission groups flying down on our flight…moooo
It’s getting close to time to head out to Central America and the Central American Travelers (also known as CATs) gathered at First Presbyterian in Union to pack the huge black crates that will be our only checked luggage to Honduras
in them we are packing medicines for 1000 people many of them children. We also packed the hygiene kits that churches so generously donated to, as well as toys and fun things for kids.
Then we had to carefully balance and weigh all 16 to make sure we could take them with us. It was also exciting to receive the brightly coloured Honduran money, called Lempira that we had ordered in preparation for the trip. Somehow that just makes it seem so much closer.
We made time to gather with former travelers and well wishers from all over the Presbytery for a communion service in the sanctuary. Then everyone was invited to stay for a potluck supper! A
Then we began hauling the crates to begin their journey to Honduras.
We have been told that we will be living and working in a remote village called San Framcisco in the departement de Valle in the southern part of the country.SF is close to Langue if you are looking at a map.
We were just about to depart Greenville Spartanburg Airport for Honduras. When the pilot announces that the FAA has grounded all flights in Atlanta for about an hour.This means that we will miss our connecting flight to Tegucigalpa, (4 hours later) Sure enough, we are stuck in Atlanta till tomorrow morning! Ralph Brown tried every route he could think of with theairline supervisor,including routing through Arizona,Cancun,or Belize,even, but connexions were just not possible at this point in the day;
But, God is good! As it turns out,our doctor, Ken Hill was not able to go with us due to a last minute snafu with his passport! He is expecting his passport literally at any moment, and the airlines told us that if it arrives today, they will honour his ticket to fly down and join us! We will also be joined in Tegucigalpa by a local doctor, but we miss Ken!
This has been the season for passportfluenza–our nurse, Mary Kathryn also couldn’t lay her hands on hers as well. She and her family spent the day turning the house upside down with no luck. We all said a sad goodbye and started towards GSP airport, only to get a call late at night that the passport had been found and that she was racing up to GSP, even though it was midnight! THAT is dedication!
Greetings from the Greenville Spartenburg Airport, where we arrived at 5:45 for our flight to Atlanta. We had packed 11 huge black crates with medicines, supplies, toiletries (thank you Providence Presbytery!)and toys. Luckily the folks at the GSP airport were marvelous.. it was like checking in from your living room, they were so friendly and laidback. The only thing that could’ve been better would have been to pass us a bacon biscuit and some coffee! Please keep us in your prayers. We also welcome your questions and comments as we travel in common mission!
Well, it’s all about soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes. The 2009 Medical Mission Team is rolling hygiene kits to take down to Honduras later this month. Youth Groups, Girl Scout Troops and Central American Travelers and Hunger Action team members met at the Presbytery offices on Thursday, May 7 to make up 800 kits for distribution. We filled 4 or 5 big black trunks with these multicoloured sweet smelling gifts!
Folks from Allison Creek Presbyterian Church are hard at work making hygiene kits for the upcoming Medical Mission Trip to Honduras
…The whole week was, for me, a delicate balance of conscience: bearing witness to the work of the Co-op and the Proyecto weighed against the inherent voyeurism of mission-tripping. I can better understand my parents’ unease in their mission years. They came to feel that they were being asked to inflict US culture on the community rather than address the needs that were mandated by their understanding of Christianity –feed the hungry, clothe the needy, heal the sick, and teach the love of Christ. Read Jenny’s BLOG at http://presbygrl.blogspot.com/
Welcome home Medical Mission Team!
After serving over 500 people with about 200 teeth extracted, the Medical Mission team is back in South Carolina. Arriving on Saturday at 8:15 pm from San Salvador, the team was thrilled to be back home with no earthquakes, lava flows or anything that would hinder their opportunity to serve the poor in Honduras.
More information will come later as we post our video blogs the team worked on while they were away!
Our team of travelers is on the move … with yet another set of travel plans. I spoke to Fred during my lunch hour on Friday and he said they were leaving shortly for San Salvador, El Salvador. They will stay there overnight and then depart Saturday morning for the states.
Sorry you haven’t heard from me, folks. We have been having a few e-mail troubles and I have been out of the office on a leadership retreat. I returned this evening to find things had not been sent out. Hopefully this one will go.
I spoke with Fred last evening. They had returned early and were going to take Jennifer out for her birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jennifer!!!). Each day they are moving closer and closer to their home base and will spend the last day or so in La Esperanza. So far everyone seems to be healthy and happy, tough exhausted from long days.
The only matter of concern is the details of their return home. As of last night, the flights from Tegucigalpa have not been canceled but the airport has not officially reopened. The local contact with heifer international has been working daily to try to determine if they will be able to fly out as planned or if they will need to travel to another city and when a flight would be available.
Please remember these folks in your prayers and I will send additional information as soon as I have it.
Keith
The gang left San Pedro Sula yesterday morning and finally
made it to Tegucigalpa. At 6:00am this morning they
departed for La Esperanza. Upon arrival they immediately
set out for their first clinic about a mile away. They are
all very tired, but doing well and in good spirits. They
do not have access to the internet in the hotel, but are
hoping to find an internet cafe in town so they will be
able to send and receive personal e-mails. In addition, I
have been able to speak with Fred every evening for a few
moments and I’ll be glad to share any news with them as
well. Please let me know if you would like to pass on any
news from home.
