We conducted two days of clinics at Las Marias. The physical toll is showing on the team members, but everyone remains upbeat and focused on the job at hand. The doctors set up examination tables in one room of the two room schoolhouse. Registration is conducted under a canopy in the schoolyard. The other room houses the pharmacy which is a very busy place.
While the doctors and staff are seeing patients, another team set out to distribute the Sawyer water filtration system. This simple system effectively filters out organisms down to .01 microns. It has been said a child dies from dirty water every 20 seconds somewhere in the world. Reportedly, it was previously every 15 seconds, so progress is being made and this team is part of it.
Our team consisted of two Honduran pastors, one fluent in seven languages as he visits many of the villages along the river. If it is in your heart to support two men with vitally important ministries both for the spiritual and physical needs of the people in this part of the world, please contact me and I will tell you how to help. (Hkenson@cox.net). Support to either of these pastors is greatly appreciated!
The leader of this group and overall AHMEN (Alabama Honduras Medical Education Network), Dr. Tom Camp was with us. He is an affable and genuine man with a huge heart for the people of Honduras. If a reader is so inclined, look up AHMEN on the Internet and peruse the many ministries of this organization....because Dr. Tom Camp has passion.
The two Las Marias school teachers were with us and their support for the water filter distribution program was invaluable. These two individuals, a young married couple from the area, provide a level of "buy-in" to the program which goes a great length toward acceptance by the community.
The last two members of the team were Robert and me, two men who have chosen to be a part of something bigger than themselves and simply want to help.
The first stop we made was at the neighborhood store. Compared to grocery stores in our world it is not much but it is the largest store in the village. The storekeeper was very receptive to listening to our presentation and her store is an excellent meeting place. On the second day we had an audience of approximately 30-40 men, women and children.
In the two days in Las Marias, we distributed 50 filter systems. As we ask them to share the water from each system with two other neighbors and we conservatively estimate each house at six persons, we guess-timate upwards of 900 people will now have clean water to drink.
It is EXTREMELY satisfying to be a part of a team making such a difference
This is so exciting!
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