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The Deluge
I don’t think I have mentioned to 
much about flooding INSIDE the clinic, but it has been an issue. There was a plumbing leak upstairs that was causing it to constantly drip (more than drip) in the patient waiting area. We kept a couple of large trash cans to catch the water and emptied them daily. Thankfully that was fixed back in February. We finally found someone who knew what the problem was—a leak in the upstairs floor. This required breaking up the concrete and tile and finding the leak. Thankfully they found it quickly—only about 6 large tiles had to be chiseled out along with the concrete. However, when they found the leak, water gushed up like “Old Faithful” flooding the commons area and running down the stairs. At that time Nancy and Keith were here and along with Nellie, we “scooped” the mass of the water with dust pans and then mopped. Only a couple hours work and in less than 24 hours the leak was fixed. Flooding ended, or so we thought.
At this time we are putting a new roof on the clinic. It was damaged several years ago during Hurricane Mitch and had never been repaired. Anytime it rained we had buckets out to catch the water. A new roof was long overdue. Recently we got approval from Luke World Missions to have the roof replaced.
After the contract was signed, which is a major ordeal with the language barrier, work began last Thursday. Now, it has not rained much here in about a month, but yesterday, the bottom fell out. Once again we were flooded inside. This time the commons area flooded, running down the stairs and flooding the clinic. Two of the dormitory rooms were flooded getting mattresses and furniture wet. Thankfully in the commons area, Nellie started moving the sofas so that they did not get wet. With four of us working, it took about 3 hours to get it all cleaned up. I have had enough indoor flooding!
Nellie as most of you know is our housekeeper and cook. She is so much more: teacher, philosopher, a walking encyclopedia of the area, naturopath, a woman of God, and a dear friend. I wish all of you could meet her. Things about Nellie:
She is patient with my terrible Spanish. She will pantomime or even look up things in my dictionary to make sure I understand.
I love to hear her say “yaesss”. She says it such so much promise.
She is spoiling me. She brings oranges from her many orange trees and makes fresh squeezed orange juice for us to drink. WOW! Even David is drinking orange juice.
She is a great cook. She cooks most things fried. She also cooks “typical” food. That is what is Honduran whether it’s dress, customs, or food. Yesterday she made “papusas” for us. I don’t how to explain what this is but two tortillas made together and stuffed with something that you think is cheese, but she says is not. “It is natural.” I get the idea that this means no preservatives and is better for you. Similar to our organic. With the papusas she had chimichuri and chimol. Chimichuri is made of finely chopped garlic and celery with lime juice and olive oil. Chimol is similar to “Pico de guio.” Both were muy rico, the term for very good. While we are eating she tells us about a “concoction” (my term) her 105 year old grandmother used for her heart and circulation. It consisted of finely chopped garlic, lime juice, and a teaspoon of honey. She said to take it every day and it will lower your cholesterol and triglycerides! So much for expensive drugs!
She boils orange tree leaves for making a rinse she washes hair with. She says it is natural and makes hair shiny.
Nellie is a worker. She knows how important it is that we let people know the clinic is open 5 days a week now and that there is a doctor. She has put up more than a hundred fliers. Yesterday she wanted to go put up some more fliers. It was a
bout 4 in the afternoon and I was tired, but I asked if she wanted me to go with her. She said, “Yaesss” with a big smile. I told her I did not have the car. She says, "Va a pies!”—that is our feet will take us. Okay! So David asked her if she was going to protect me. She responds, “No machete, Jesus!” and points heavenward. We can’t argue with that. So she and I, her children Olga and Xavier and Dr. Mirna and Sara and I start out for Colorado. Yes there is an aldea (small village) named Coloardo. It is about ¾ of a mile down the highway. (I’ve never really left Colorado!) We walk much of it on a back road that is little more than a muddy trail. We put up about 30 fliers during the couple hour trek. When this ministry is a success, it will be because of God and Nellie’s hard work and persistence. 
This is a picture of Nellie and Sara putting a flyer inside a cantina(bar)
One of roads we walked down. These are what the majority of the roads are like in the aldeas--unpaved, muddy when it rains with hugh pot holes and lots of rocks and ruts. Many of the rocks are beautiful quartz.
Sunday afternoon, Nellie came over and was all excited. She had been to a vigilia. She cannot make plain to us what this is, so she looks it up in my Spanish dictionary. It is a vigil or a church service where you stay up all night and pray. She begins to tell and pantomime with so mirth explaining about the vigilia. She said dansar (dance that is just for church) and cantar (sing) and oracion (pray) tota al noche (all night). There were Milagros (miracles and deliverance) and sanar (healing). She talks and talks about what had happened and does it with lots of expression and body language, something all Hondurans do no matter what they are talking about. She told how she “fell out in the spirit”. Here she just raises her hands and falls back!
much about flooding INSIDE the clinic, but it has been an issue. There was a plumbing leak upstairs that was causing it to constantly drip (more than drip) in the patient waiting area. We kept a couple of large trash cans to catch the water and emptied them daily. Thankfully that was fixed back in February. We finally found someone who knew what the problem was—a leak in the upstairs floor. This required breaking up the concrete and tile and finding the leak. Thankfully they found it quickly—only about 6 large tiles had to be chiseled out along with the concrete. However, when they found the leak, water gushed up like “Old Faithful” flooding the commons area and running down the stairs. At that time Nancy and Keith were here and along with Nellie, we “scooped” the mass of the water with dust pans and then mopped. Only a couple hours work and in less than 24 hours the leak was fixed. Flooding ended, or so we thought.
After the contract was signed, which is a major ordeal with the language barrier, work began last Thursday. Now, it has not rained much here in about a month, but yesterday, the bottom fell out. Once again we were flooded inside. This time the commons area flooded, running down the stairs and flooding the clinic. Two of the dormitory rooms were flooded getting mattresses and furniture wet. Thankfully in the commons area, Nellie started moving the sofas so that they did not get wet. With four of us working, it took about 3 hours to get it all cleaned up. I have had enough indoor flooding!
