As the date of our departure rapidly approaches (T-minus 46 days team!) I wanted to start our promised blog to keep everyone up to date and in the loop. I was unable to make an open edit blog that would have allowed the entire team to add entries, but feel free to fill the comments section with questions, general information and more of that awesome team bonding! There are so many different groups within our team, that this entry will be primarily focused on specifying what is going on. For those of you who missed the April 24 meeting, we heard from Diana about the exciting opportunity of offering a clinic at the orphanage this year, a project that the team is hoping to build a long-term, sustainable relationship with. I ask that you all recall, this is the one place where are asked to not take photographs of the children. Let's do all we can to make this visit as positive as possible to be able to continue going back and improving the health care the residents receive. We covered finalities on flights, remember the item has changed to a 15:49 departure, money exchange is still being determined, if Dana is able to arrange the withdrawal from True Disciples, the checks will be due by the next meeting, but plan on LAX if worst comes to it, voted on T-shirts, learned Spanish (¡excelente!), and I will be doing warm-up Spanish on the bus in morning, be ready to sing and learn super early everyday team! We also heard from Beth about her nutrition education in Belize and Brit about her parasite project. We are working on ways to leave behind copies of
Where There is No Doctor in the towns we visit, Dr. Cooper has five Spanish hard copies printed, and I will be saving the Spanish PDF to flash drives to leave behind as well. David and Shannon asked that if people are able to contribute an additional $20-25 to help cover the cost of the ointment that was not free this year, they do so. Stephanie reminded people that are missing their Medical Forms, that you are late Try to get this into her ASAP (I will get mine to you this week Steph, oops). Finally, if you have not yet started your vaccines, and plan to do so, your deadline is about to pass. Hurry on over to Travel Medicine!
The terms from the meeting will be emailed to the group along with Marylynn's minutes. Remember the next meeting is May 30, location TBD, and we will be packing the tubs for the clinics and children's team. It is the final meeting before our departure, try your best to make it.
I am so excited to be apart of this year's team. We are going to do so much good work together, especially with this group being the strongest medical team yet. Expect to come back as changed and impacted as you leave the people you are helping. There is truly no better feeling than a Honduran high, the legal kind you guys, and no place more beautiful or so full of beautiful people in the whole world. Don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have about packing, culture or language as you are preparing yourself for the best ten days of your life.
Sunset from our resort in Tela (La Ensenada)
Yes, all the niños are this adorable
