Pray, Be Joyful, Be in Communion, and Give Thanks

Greetings from the Jefferson College Education Team in Honduras!

 The morning began with a lesson on teaching hand washing for the mothers of the infants and children here to be evaluated for cardiac surgery in May. We are impressed by the number of children being treated by the Foundation. We also noted that most of them had multiple health issues in addition to their cleft lip/cleft palate or cardiac problems. Lisa was holding an infant who appeared to be less than a month old, until she opened her mouth and showed off her two bottom teeth! We are so blessed to be part of an organization that provides consistent excellent care with limited resources. Thanks to all who so generously support this ministry.

Soon after the hand washing lecture the team piled in the van to go to La Escuela de los Angeles. This school for children with a wide variety of special needs was founded by a single father of three, two of whom are deaf.  The children were a delight. Tayler spent a lot of time working with the mother of a boy with cerebral palsy teaching her some new exercises that she can use to stretch his muscles.  It must have felt great because the boy was sure smiling! Jennifer and Kaylee repeated their hand washing lecture for the volunteers and parents. We are killing germs in Honduras, one hand at a time!  The school is run totally by volunteers. The parents, volunteers, and children all had lunch with our team - 70 in all. It was a sandwich assembly line! Our visit to the school ended with a piñata, which the children (and the adults) loved. 

 When we returned from the school it was time for the great mural unveiling. It is a product of long hours and lots of teamwork from the Honduran staff, the children and the Community Health Promoters and the members of our team. We think it turned out very well and hope that the children enjoy it. Kaylee led the mural effort with Jennifer as her second in command. 

Our hard working maintenance crew finished working on a gate to keep the children safe and away from the outdoor stove outside the Barnabas House kitchen.    

 The final time of devotion for the week, led by Melvin Martinez was based on Philippians 1: 3-11 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18. He encouraged us to pray, be joyful, be in communion with each other, and give thanks. It was a very moving occasion, made even more so by the realization that today is our last day with our friends and colleagues at Barnabas House.    

Tomorrow we plan to visit the beach at Tela and prepare for the long trip home. This will be our final journal entry for this trip.  This has been a time of learning together, for healing and hope, for a vision of the future as we are in communion with each other creating a future with hope for the children we serve.