“OUR VERY FIRST MEDICAL TEAM”

By: Michael J Miller Jr.

We want to first thank God for His continued faithfulness in making this team happen and for performing all the miracles from the beginning of formation to the last patient. We also want to thank Al Erickson for taking the role of leadership/coordinator in the States in guiding the team through fund raising, hotels, flights, and so much more. We want to thank Cheryl Cleveland for handling all the finances and keeping track of the donations. We also want to thank Colleen LaDelia for taking the leadership role for our first Medical Team. Our team is in the first photo: Top left to right- Dr. Guerry Howard, Dr. Bob Armstrong, Dr. David Arkin, Nurse Sue Dunlap, Dr. Tom Bowman and his wife Vicki, Nursing student Joy Halliday, Nurse Nancy Piccirillo, Dr. Gary Enders and his wife Becky who kneeling below Gary, Nurse Kathy Lindsay, and Nurse Colleen LaDelia. They all came from 4 different churches and when they arrived they worked as one body in Christ. From the first day they arrived to the last day when they left, this team worked day and into the night in making sure they gave their very best. The first day was organizing all the medicines and making a list of possibly what we will need for the 1^st day of serving the Honduran Communities. The first day started at 7:00 am and we had to set up the Pharmacy as seen in the 2^nd photo and setting up the classrooms for our doctors as seen in the 3^rd photo. By 8:00 am we had lines that extended out on both sides of the main gate at the Fuerzas Armadas School as seen in the last photo. The doctors worked alongside with our 5 translators and us in seeing various kinds of patients well into the night.

The medical team consisted of 3 doctors specializing in family medicine, 1 orthopedic surgeon, and 1 podiatrist. The doctors were assisted by 5 nurses and 1 nursing student. We had 5 Honduran ladies and sisters of the faith working alongside our team in making sure the patients went to the correct doctor and then to the pharmacy. They also made sure the lines moved forward and no one tried to budge ahead. Marvin who works for the ministry was our “ambulance driver” and made sure he took patients that needed more extensive help to local hospitals. Marvin also took various patients to have blood work done and x-rays taken. All these places were close to the school. The team was like “Rock Stars”. As they traveled in the back of the truck people would wave and say thank you for their help. Many were blessed like one family who came in around 8:00pm and asked if their son could be seen. Dr. Gary took the boy in and he had a temperature of 104 and was suffering from pneumonia. The Dr. injected the boy and observed him while he lay on the mattress that was on top of two desks. I saw the fear in the parents’ eyes. The next day the father came and thanked the team because his son was doing better. The last devotion before the team left for the States was on the 12 disciples going out and casting out demons and healing the sick. I told the team that they were the 12 disciples and they healed the sick in the name of Jesus Christ. I also challenged each one of them to believe in the miracles that had come forth and to carry that kind of faith for all things and all situations that will come in their own lives. Each person they saw was a blessing. Many came looking to fill their prescriptions because the hospitals that are free to the public didn’t have any. We are talking about High Blood Pressure and Diabetes pills. Many went without for a month or more. All those they saw were in need because of the lack of work and funds. Our own translators who are Honduran were impacted by all the needs.