Saturday, February 22, 2014

Midweek Medical Brigade Update

What a time!  We've been very busy and the medical brigade is only half over.  We asked someone from the team to write a guest blog spot for us so you can hear from one of the professional staff of the IHS team.  Dr. Mark Spiro was delighted to take pen to paper to help us out.
Say Ahhhhhh....

Is There Value in Medical Missions?
By Dr. Mark Spiro

     I am a part of a medical team sponsored by International Health Services (IHS) providing medical care for the population of Rus Rus and the surrounding area in the Mosquito Coast area of Honduras and Nicaragua.  Our team included me (a physician), nurses, a dentist, pharmacists, a radio operator, translators, and other helpers.  A team where any of us can and will step up and do whatever is necessary to fill a need.
This won't hurt.
     But before writing about what we are doing, I want to address the overall value of medical missions.  The detractors call it “medical tourism” – a group of comfortable westerners that come in for one or two weeks.  The detractors claim we are not here long enough to understand the needs of the population.  Our medical treatments are meaningless as it will not change the lives the locals.  They say our efforts should be geared to larger public health issues, such as vaccinations of the children and sanitation issues.  I can’t argue with that logic.  Water purification can drastically reduce many common illnesses.  Ascaris is a worm that affects over one billion individuals or 99.9% of developing countries with poor sanitation.  Fixing these problems care indeed most important.
     During our two weeks here we will touch well over 1000 individuals in just this area ranging from infants of two days to very senior citizens.  We are treating so many of the children with the round belly of worms and other minor trauma.  We are removing teeth that reduce pain in these individuals and a multitude of other medical problems both acute and chronic.
Look here.
     If we were not here, maybe the one month old infant with a fever and difficulty in breathing still will have survived – but maybe not.  The out of control diabetic, the hypertensive patient with malaria may have still done well – but maybe not.  Maybe our patient education efforts on sanitation will be of no value – but for some it will be. 
     I feel the individual personal connections of two very different cultures do make a difference, for both the medical team and the rural Honduran/Nicaraguan population.
     Maybe it is “medical tourism” but I know that we have made a positive difference (even if small) for many of these individuals.  That is what much of what I believe medicine should be all about; a lot of individual connections.  Besides, it’s very satisfying to see their smiling faces alight with thanks as they leave.

We have until February 25th to see as many as the team can see. There's not much time left.  Please continue praying for the IHS team as they help this under reached people group.  Pray also for the safety of those traveling to and from the hospital.  

We will include an end of the week report when this brigade is finished with more photos.  Thank you for your continued love, prayers, and gifts of support to help us reach out with His love extended.

Joyfully In His Service,
Westley and Denise Wiles


Wednesday, February 19, 2014

First Days of the Medical Brigade

IHS Team getting ready to come.
          It begins by the team gathering in Puerto Lempira.  They bring their supplies and themselves to be flown over to Rus Rus.  Wes is an expert packer and made 5 trips to carry everything and everyone needed.  The IHS team plus MAG personnel team up together to make this medical brigade a much needed impact in this region.  

          They unpack and ready themselves and the supplies for ministering to the sick. Some travel for days to get here from both Honduras and Nicaragua.  Some will come by boat, by truck, or by walking (or some combination).

         We pray that they will have good traveling weather as they come and go from the hospital.





Patients waiting to register while......
a truck filled with patients from Suhi arrives.


It's a wonderful opportunity to reach out to an under reached people group, the Miskito Indian. We begin radio announcements both here and in Nicaragua so that many can take advantage of this much needed service.


Registration
What is IHS you may ask?  International Health Services has been serving all across Honduras with multiple medical brigades twice a year for many many years.  We are and have been delighted to host them for the last 4 years.

In the Exam Room.
Dr. Mark listening to the children's hearts.
The dental team at work.
Last stop, pharmacy to pick up the meds.
          We have a team that's helping those with eye glass needs.   They also give sunglasses to those that should have that little extra protection from the harmful sun while they work and travel.
          Westley has been taking pictures of family units and printing them right there and gifting them with the photo.  For some, that's the only photo they may ever have of their family.  He also uses the four wheeler to ferry folks up to the hospital when they arrive at the end of the runway that's far away from the hospital.
          By day the people receive help for their physical needs. At night, those that stay over for treatment or will be seen the next day receive teaching and prayer from MAG pastor Carlos Paz and his team of volunteer teachers.  What a blessing to minister to the "whole" person!
          IHS/MAG will be holding the medical brigade until February 25th.     We hope to see many, many people.
          We will try to keep you updated on the progress here and include pictures so that you can feel a part of what's going on.  We appreciate your prayers and your gifts of love so that we can host teams like this one that reach out with God's love and show His heart so very well.

Joyfully In His Service,
Westley and Denise Wiles



Friday, February 14, 2014

Vacation Bible School - Guest Blog Writers

Vacation Bible School Ministry

February is a busy month and we started off with the VBS ministry. We were blessed to have this team come and minister to the children.  We asked a couple of them to write a little about their experience.  ENJOY!

        From Brett and Tammy White, "As members of the MAG “East/West” team to Rus Rus, who came to minister to the children of the community with a 5 day “Vacation Bible School” program, we were blessed by the ministry we received as well!  Both of us agreed that we hadn't been this well taken care of since living at home with our own mothers. (And we've been married for 20 years!)  Westley and Denise provided a most hospitable home to us and the rest of our team.  We thank them both for the blessings they provided.
        We were thrilled with the turnout of 60+ children to our VBS over the course of the week, averaging between 45 and 50ish each day.  We began with the very basic tenets of Christianity from Creation to Salvation with the hopes that we will be able to return with lessons and activities that will build on that foundation in the years to come.  All the children were eager to learn, play and sing with us.  The activities that we planned were well received and it was a joy to watch them throughout the week wearing or carrying items that they had made during craft times.  It seems like the week came and went more quickly than time should be allowed to pass! 
        Thank you to all who support the ministry of MAG and specifically the Wiles in this precious community of Rus Rus and the extended area.  We pray that the medical team on their way in next, and Pastor Carlos Paz and David Pulzetti (who were part of the East/West team and will be staying while the medical team works, too) will have the ability to serve tirelessly and effectively over the next several weeks.  We know they will likely have a challenging number of patients in need of treatment, which means a lot of people to serve spiritually as well.  May God’s blessings, strength and wisdom be upon you all." 

     Carlos Paz had this to add, "We ranged between 50 and 62 participants with 5 local adults adding to our ministry team.  We taught them songs and did hands on crafts/activities as well.  We started with basic Bible stories which ended in a Gospel presentation at the end of the week. 
     The children enthusiastically responded in great number.  The children had received a special 'care' package made up with unique bracelets made by my grandchildren, two pencils, a box of crayons or colored pencils, the Gospel of John in Spanish, and candy. They loved their bags.  
     We taught them to play baseball and also played volleyball with them after the VBS activities.  Our team was also able to minister to the youth and military in the afternoons.  It was a blessed time."

Registration
1st Day


Creation Teaching

2nd Day - They came to get the team early!
Story Time


Baseball



Volleyball


We are making preparations for the medical clinic coming next week.  We hope to get some good pictures for you soon.
Joyfully in His Service,
Westley and Denise Wiles