Monthly Archives: January 2016

Due to weather conditions I did not make it to Honduras until three days after the rest of my group.  I tried to be conscious of the group and how they had already been working because in these groups dynamics are often established in the first hours and days that carry the group through the week.  Everyone knows their rolls and the things that have to be done and we anticipate each other so things flow easily.  The sum of us adding up to more than it’s individual parts.  

Below are the photos from Wednesday’s clinic.  We had visited this same church two years ago so it was fun to see a few familiar  faces.  It was very hot and sunny, we saw around 170 people. 

    
 
  These two asked for their picture to be taken.  Below Ron playing with the kiddos  coloring and doing magic tricks.  Their favorite was when he turned a newspaper strip into a 20 lempira bill then back again.  
  The last group leaving the pharmacy. Below: when this little girl and her family came through our station she asked if she could sing a song to me then she leaned in as to whisper in my ear and sang “His Banner Over Me His Love” such a sweet heart.    
    Loading everything back up in the vans to go back to the Campamento. Below a little tienda on wheels that someone parked right out in front of the church. 
    
  We may look at this picture and see poverty, but why are possessions so important to us.  We have way more than we need.  Often all our unnecessary things just get in the way of putting our trust fully in Christ.  
 The Campamento, getting ready for Thursday’s clinic also in a church we visited last time.  Efrainsito helping us unload the vans.  He and his whole family manage the Canpamento and assist the mission teams that come through their facility.  It is a big job.    
  Ron loving on the kids.  
  Gisselle and Samara both local to Honduras, willing to assist their help with interpreting.  Gisselle helped me and Samara who is a medical student in Honduras took histories also making us a pretty efficient team.  Really they could have done it with out me, but I appreciate how they included me and taught me new Spanish words.   
    Heart sisters. 
  
    

    Two kids who were friends from the last visit.  They hung out with us all day. 
Friday: final clinic…we saw 259 people. 

 It seemed like we had more time at the nurses station for each family as the groups were big and so they needed more of the Dr.’s time causing a bottle neck. This allowed me more time to play with the kids.  The favorite two toys of the day were the stethoscope and the BP cuff.

   
    These two girls were learning how to take my bloodpressure.  They were so cute. 
     

A priceless face from Jameson.  He was our group chef and Ron’s right hand man with the kids.  The kids are all gathered around talking to Papa Noel and Mary Beth.   
    
    
   This picture is the normal sight in the middle of the streets.  There is litter everywhere and a lot of scrawny dogs as well.  
I didn’t take very many pictures this time as we were busy and my number of days was short.  The group saw 918 people over the 5 days of clinics.  I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to love on these people this week, and know that they have also ministered to me.  God is amazing in the way that he works.  He doesn’t need me to do his work, he has allowed me to be apart of it.  

Today was Caleb’s birthday. He woke up early and was asking to open his present before breakfast.

I was a old softy and agreed.

He got a bushcraft knife for when we go hiking and camping.

We had a lazy day and watch Charlotte Web. Then time to start dinner. Caleb had requested crayfish.

The kids really enjoyed it.

Abdul for dessert was banana cream pie.

Happy Birthday to my awesome son.

~Chad

I must be enjoying being shut up in our apartment.  Both Chad and I slept in until almost 9:00am.  The kids had some breakfast and then headed outside to play with their friends who must have had their schools closed still due to the snow. They were out from 9:30-1:30.  We kept peeking out the window to check on them and watching them sled down the little hill between the apartments.  They were having a blast.  So much so that we decided not to call them in for lunch, we would feed them whenever they came in of their own accord.  Hannah ended up being the first one to show her face and that was only because she thought she had heard us calling them.  It was nearly 2:00pm and we had planned to leave for the airport at 3:00pm so at that point we had her round up the rest of the troops for lunch and to change into dry clothes.  That was when we discovered that Eve had been out in the snow in her church shoes with no socks for 4+ hours! Crazy girl, her feet were a little red but she seemed no worse off for the wear.  I pulled things out of my bag that I would no longer need and changed out of my pajamas.  We had recleaned the house while the kids were out, planned our route back west and contacted the people we hope to see on the the way.  It was a relaxed and productive day.  In some way it was wierd at that point to step out of our neighborhood and into the airport fast lane.  Only one leg of my flight was today Richmond to Laguardia.  Now for a long overnight layover (but not long enough to get a hotel).  Good thing I am practiced up at pulling all nighters. 

Day three of being snowed in and the sun was out.  It was such a beautiful morning we decided to go on a family walk to the store.  There we no sidewalks cleared but we took the back roads and there was very little traffic.  One car did stop and offer us a ride.  On the walk back more people were out doing what we were doing.  Walking out on the snowy sunshiny day.  

I probably should have posted an update yesterday.  Our plan was for Chad to take me to the airport in the morning and get back home (one hour’s drive) before the snow started to fall.  I was aware that my flight would most likely get cancelled or at least delayed, but we had called the airlines Thursday morning and they had told me that if I wasn’t there at the airport I would not get refunded for my flight if it was cancelled and the reschedule timed they were offering me were ridiculously late in the week (like there was no point in going for so few days).  There was no way I would make it on Saturday, besides that, I just didn’t want my family on the roads.  We got up early and took a shower.  Then we recieved this text from our Virginia Sunday school teacher’s wife.  “I must say this..the airport in Richmond will be closed. You would be sleeping on a chair for a day or two at least. Our area has not seen anything like this. Not just snow. Wind. Blizzard. I feel led to say, I wouldn’t risk it. Snow is going to start soon. I totally understand about wanting to be there so u can possibly go, but I feel led right now to urge you and your family to not go. Praying right now for the Lord to give you peace about a decision..whichever it may be…as He leads. ”  I have to be honest and say I don’t take the advise of the wise adults in my life nearly as often as I should, but we did listen to this one.  

We called the airlines again and they were more willing to work with us this time.  The very earliest they could get me to Honduras is Tuesday afternoon. The week would be half over by then and it was way too early to call the West coast to talk with Roger our team leader to see if it would still be worth me coming.  In the mean time I talked to Mary Beth who would be filling my shoes in Honduras as she is an early riser and was already up at 0500.  She had already text me to ask what questions I normally ask and so I called her as it was easier than texting it all.  When my alarm went off to call Roger he wasn’t suprise by my news as he had been watching the forcast as well.  He was glad to hear that I had already talked to Mary Beth.  He said that one of the interpreters that we would be working with was a med student so they would pair those two up.  We decided that if they can get me in on Tuesday I would go and if the flight get’s pushed back any more due to weather it would no longer be worth my while to go.   

At that point I felt all dressed up with no where to go.  My bag was all packed.  I had showered and was all dressed and ready.  So I started cleaning the house.  It was a little weird to be at “home” (our apartment) as I had not yet spent s whole day at our apartment.  I was always either at work or gathering everything to leave for our next adventure.  Needless to say our space was in much need of some focused cleaning.  Around 10:30am the snow started.  

   The kids were just a little excited. The snow is the small dry powdery flakes that you would not associate with quick accumulation, but when it snows 27-30 hours even dry powdery snow can account for some deep snow.  
    
    
    
 I took a much neede nap and we had pizza and snow cream for dinner.  

 Snow cream is ice cream made from snow mixed with sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and milk.  It tastes a lot like vanilla ice cream and is a fun way to enjoy the snow.  We watched a movie about a swamp man and then all went to bed.  This morning we were eager to get up and see how much snow had fallen when we were sleeping.  The Honduras mission group called me on their stop in Huston to ask how much snow we have.  The cars are buried but it isn’t 3′ more like 15″.   

    
    
    
 We have cut the boys’ hair, makeup practice, kids yoga and kick boxing on YouTube,  and the kids have made their own edible snow concoctions as well as face timing most of our family members.

    
   
 It seems like now at 5:00ish pm the snow has stopped.  The next two days are forcasted to get above freezing during the day.  I am curious as to how much time it will stick around.

I have four shifts left in this assignment and only one stands between me and a mission trip to Honduras.  Well that and a predicted snow storm.  I have heard anywhere from 10″-33″ to fall before my departure time on Saturday.   I know I can do this up coming shift, but I am curious as to how the whole snow storm bit will play out.  It is all in Gods hands and I’m ok with that, he has the best laid plans anyway. 

Other news is, we have been so looking forward to Chuck and Donna (Grandma and Grandpa Owens) visiting this weekend as well.  As much as it pained us to do it, we called them and recommended they see if they can get the flight cancelled and refunded.  We don’t want them to get stuck in Denver or DC where they are predicted to have not only deep snow but flooding to follow.  Caleb has decided that he won’t celebrate his birthday this year(1/28), or at least until the 31st (when I’m supposed to be back home).  He said, “I’ve never celebrated my birthday with out Grandma Owens…”  Poor guy.  

On a positive note, we are getting stocked up on snow cream ingredients and hot chocolate in preparation for the snow, and we don’t have to solve our “we have no furniture for guests to sit on” dilemma. 

Despite snowy roads we have made it home from Indiana in time for me to go back to work.  I love snow and would like to be somewhere with a short commute to work that has a fair amount of snow, but when we were looking at a nine hour drive I was praying it would hold off.  Thank you for the prayers for traveling mercy.  We stopped in Charlston West Virginia for the night, getting us to Charlottesville around 2:00pm. 

There are hundreds of pictures from the funeral that I could look through for hours.  I am posting a few of them that I have saved all though they are all worth posting.   I would like to think we took advantage of all the time we were given to spend with Grandma, but it doesn’t mean I don’t wish we could have just a little bit more time.   
    
    
    
    
  Grandma and Grandpa’s wedding photo, 50th anniversary photo, and 65th anniversary photo all taken in the same place.  The last picture taken about a week and a half before grandma passed away.  The funeral was held on their 65th anniversary.  
I took a few photos of the yard at their house.  I remember that the yard at my Grandma and Grandpa Sherman’s house has never ever been even close to how I remember it.  So I wanted to capture it as it was so I could remember it better. 
   
    
    
    
   
   
    
    
  Going out for breakfast the morning of the funeral.  
    
    
    
    
  Lynn making spring rolls for the funeral.  
    
    
Grandma and Grandpa liked to invite new people from church over for banana splits.  We celebrated her life with banana splits. 

    
  Picking up the urn… Chillaxing with the family after an emotionally draining day.  
  A popcorn fight with Sam at the backyard fire pit.  I love all my family, and would love to have them close all the time. When I was in Cali for the funeral it was decided that the best course of action would be to head back to Southern California for our next assignment.  This flying solo thing is a new and scary adventure for my grandpa as he and grandma had been dating since the 8th grade and had been attached at the hip that entire time.  The next week I was offered a job at San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital in Banning CA and although it will be a bit of a commute it is close enough that we can stay with Grandpa and help him get his to do list done of all the things he wants to do to the house to have it ready to put on the market.  I know it is not an exciting new place, but it is where we need to be and to be honest I can not wait to hug that sweet man again.  How lucky am I to get to be his granddaughter. 

This is now the 4th time over the last two years we have gotten together with my cousin Micheal and his family.  Really the 4th time in my life that I remember.  It was so weird because in my head I knew that we have barely known eachother but it really felt the same as hanging out with the family we have known our whole lives.  This trip we just did life with them.  The food pantry, family game night, rootbeer floats, singing to Cora who’s birthday was today, Sunday morning church service, and a potluck lunch.  A little snow was thrown in the mix of all that so Eve is convinced that it must be Christmas.  It couldn’t have been a more perfect way to spend this weekend.  The problem is that Oregon is so far from Indiana, and with only a few weeks left in Virginia it will be the last time for a long time that we are all together.  Thank goodness for FaceBook and text messaging, and next time we get together hopefully we can do some camping or hiking.  Happy 14th Birthday Cora!!! Goodbye for now Micheal, Kristen, Cora, Olivia, Naomi, and Josiah we will be missing you guys for sure.  

We just happened to be in Muncie on the right day to volunteer at the food pantry with my cousin and his family!  We all had our separate jobs, Chad was at the front door, Hannah and Naomi were at the bread station with me and I didn’t get to see what everyone else was doing.  It was a great way to spend the morning.  We all had so much fun.  I only have one picture because I didn’t know what I was allowed to get picture of and what I wasn’t.  Here are the girls hard at work.