So I have brought my old blog back to life to update everyone on my latest adventures in Honduras. I'm only here for a short visit this time (3.5 weeks) and time is flying by.. we are basically in the home stretch and I'm only getting time now to write my first blog of the trip! Its been a whirlwind of seeing all the people I love and getting back into 'island life' and of course working in the clinic. I'm here this time with 2 UPEI Nursing students who are doing a community health practicum and it has been tons of fun to introduce them to medical missions.
The clinic has grown quite a bit since we were here last (in 2012) and now there is 2 shifts (mornings and afternoons) and there is a large group of volunteers here at present. We have been working mornings and I was a bit apprehensive on our first day.. but after 10 mins I was back into the swing of things and LOVING it! I spent the first week in triage and had a blast! I love connecting with the locals and having to use my Spanish.. its definitely a bit rusty but I'm learning/remembering more and more every day! I was so surprised at how easily the rhythm of things came back to me and how much fun it is! I'm honestly loving every minute we are in the clinic (and I will admit, some of this is part of the 'honeymoon phase' which wears off after being here for a month, but with a trip this short, it will just be super happy the whole time :) ) So we spent our first week in the clinic then we spent most of this week doing outreach and other tasks. We went to the east end of the island to do vision screenings, which was a bit of an epic fail because the school asked us to test the vision of their kindergarteners.. which is difficult with a Snellen chart because the children didn't know their letters very well. Most of their eyes were good anyway but we struggled a lot to determine which children had vision issues and which had issues more related to literacy. Then in the afternoon, we helped pass out TOMS shoes (as part of their 'one for one' campaign). Hopefully I'll get to blog better about that later on, because its a great story! We had a blast and gave out over 8,000 pairs of shoes! Then on Wed we did a huge health fair in the capital city, Coxen Hole with a mission team from the US. It was also a long day in the heat, but also rewarding! I spent today organizing meds and supplies at the clinic.. its not a glamorous job but its such a blessing to have it done and hopefully will make things smoother for the longer term volunteers once we are gone.
I'm really just enjoying the opportunity to serve the community I love.. both locals and clinic volunteers whom I've perhaps never met before. I have been really struck with how much I feel this place is a part of me.. and how it felt like I was coming home when our plane landed here. I'm still a proud Islander and Canadian (believe me, the American volunteers are well aware of where we are from :) ) but I feel so alive here too. The days are full, long and busy.. but I wouldn't have it any other way! I'm hot, sweaty and often stumbling along in a language I only kinda speak.. but again, I wouldn't have it any other way! For today, I feel right where I am supposed to be!
Power is flickering and RECO (electric company) has been rough the last few weeks.. so I'd better post this before I lose it! Thanks for sharing this adventure with me.. hopefully I'll have a few mins to post some other updates and pictures this weekend.
