Monday blues? Not at the Barnabas House! We started out the day in full swing with excited faces eager for the week ahead. After a delicious breakfast prepared by the Barnabas staff, the education team and staff participated in a 'blessing of the hands' ceremony. While waiting for health promoters from eighteen different communities to arrive the team interacted with patients and families of the extended care clinic who had traveled to see Doctora Moncada for follow-up care. Several of the children had both congenital heart conditions as well as recent cleft palate surgeries. After coming face to face with these children and their families, we feel proud to be a part of the larger effort helping children to get the medical assistance they need to lead a more normal life.

As our lessons began the community health promoters were each asked to share why they chose to participate.This was an important decision made in light of the hardships not only in leaving their jobs and family for 3 days, but also in finding the transportation. Many expressed a desire to help and improve the health of people in their communities. From there, Melvin Martinez led a bible study in Spanish which the health promoters thoroughly enjoyed.

With Stephanie translating, Betsie kicked off the presentations with a lesson on diabetes. Topics included the importance of exercise, healthy eating and the signs and symptoms of diabetes. Tayler followed with a lesson on hypertension. The students particularly enjoyed having their blood pressures checked and learning deep breathing techniques as ways to reduce hypertension. Behind the scenes Jennifer and Kaylee began working on the mural at the extended care clinic. Bruce worked with Elmer on the bus, while Dean prepared the water tank to be painted.

After lunch, Osiris, one of the health promoters, gave a moving testimony expressing her gratitude for the education she has received thus far and how it has benefited her community; she was able to help save a little boy´s broken arm. There was a review of what to do if someone began to choke and they enjoyed practicing techniques to stop choking.

We would like to thank the health promoters for taking the time to travel to the Barnabas house to be here this week; Rosa, Camilo, Adriana, Gloria, Elda, Rutilio, Roberto, Osiris, Nazario, Digna, Margarita, Nely, Gloria, Leonidas, Ingris, Pilar, Josephina and Suyapa. May these days together and lessons learned bring a blessing for the futurefor all of us, especially in the lives of their families and communities.