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Click here to jump to the daily blog entries from the trip!
Jefferson College of Health Sciences Faculty and Students Undertake a Community Health Education Mission to Honduras
JCHS Associate Professor Ermita Linda Rickabaugh and her husband Dean are leading a team on a community health education mission to Honduras from March 2-10, 2013. The team left Roanoke on Saturday, March 2.
In addition to Linda and Dean, the team is composed of a mix of JCHS students and faculty, as well as employees from Carilion Clinic. Team members include Betsie Johnson, Lindsay McIntosh, Tayler Shull, Stephanie Tito, Kaylee McMahan, Jennifer McPherson, Paula Prince, Dr. Lisa Allison-Jones and Bruce Jones.
This year, the group’s mission will be to provide basic education to a group of community health workers from Honduran villages. The JCHS students involved participated in a three-credit course, Transcultural Healthcare, to prepare for the experience and were responsible for preparing the teaching plan and materials for the project.
See below for daily blog entries and photos from the Mission trip!
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Days 1 & 2: March 2-3, 2013
Our Jefferson College Mission team is ready to serve in Honduras. We will be leaving in the  morning for a week to teach community health promoters from many of the villages served by the Friends of Barnabas Foundation, to help them promote the health of the people in their villages. We have been commissioned by Nancy & Kip Robinson, Presidents of FOBF and the students have practiced their presentations by Skype with Pascuala, the Foundation's Honduran public health nurse and Dra. Moncada. Bags are packed and we are ready to go! Please pray for our team!
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Day 3: March 4, 2013
Hola amigos, the 2013 Education Team has arrived safely!
 We arrived Saturday afternoon after some delay at the airport, welcomed by Nury and Melvin Martinez. Some of us are returning to this beautiful country; four new team members are in awe of the beauty of Honduras, seeing it for the first time. No matter whether new or returning we are all happy to be here and are soaking in the culture. On our way to the Alfredo House we were surprised not to see more political advertisements than we did as this is an election year in Honduras.
Although the weather is cooler than expected we are thankful to be warmer than we were at home and hope for warm temperatures throughout the week.
 Sunday started early with a wonderful breakfast before heading out to the market in San Pedro Sula. We 'shopped till we dropped' and bought little pieces of Honduras to take home. Afterwards we enjoyed a family style lunch at a little "tree house" restaurant called Chedrani located in a car wash! We had a great time and took lots of pictures. Our excursion to San Pedro Sula ended with a visit to Nury's home. Back at the Alfredo House in the afternoon, preparations for the week began in full swing. Education materials were organized and the sorting of donated materials began.
Sunday evening included a visit to a local church for their evening worship service. Warmly welcomed we met several other mission teams also in attendance and working in the local area.We were moved by the hugs, positive words and warm smiles we received. Smiles are the universal language, reflecting the deep love of the One watching over us, our gracious healing God.
Full of energy to begin teaching, we look forward to Monday morning and meeting the Community Health Promoters!
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Day 4: March 5, 2013
Monday at the Barnabas House - Lessons Begin
Monday blues? Not at the Barnabas House! We started out the day in full swing with excited faces eager for the week ahead. After a delicious breakfast prepared by the Barnabas staff, the education team and staff participated in a 'blessing of the hands' ceremony. While waiting for health promoters from eighteen different communities to arrive the team interacted with patients and  families of the extended care clinic who had traveled to see Doctora Moncada for follow-up care. Several of the children had both congenital heart conditions as well as recent cleft palate surgeries. After coming face to face with these children and their families, we feel proud to be a part of the larger effort helping children to get the medical assistance they need to lead a more normal life.
As our lessons began the community health promoters were each asked to share why they chose to participate. This was an important decision made in light of the hardships not only in leaving their jobs and family for 3 days, but also in finding the transportation. Many expressed a desire to help and improve the health of people in their communities. From there, Melvin Martinez led a bible study in Spanish which the health promoters thoroughly enjoyed.
With Stephanie translating, Betsie kicked off the presentations with a lesson on diabetes. Topics included the importance of exercise, healthy eating and the signs and symptoms of diabetes. Tayler followed with a lesson on hypertension. The students particularly enjoyed having their blood pressures checked and learning deep breathing techniques as ways to reduce hypertension. Behind the scenes Jennifer and Kaylee began working on the mural at the extended care clinic. Bruce worked with Elmer on the bus, while Dean prepared the water tank to be painted.
After lunch, Osiris, one of the health promoters, gave a moving testimony expressing her gratitude for the education she has received thus far and how it has benefited her community; she was able to help save a little boy´s broken arm. There was a review of what to do if someone began to choke and they enjoyed practicing techniques to stop choking.
We would like to thank the health promoters for taking the time to travel to the Barnabas house to be here this week; Rosa, Camilo, Adriana, Gloria, Elda, Rutilio, Roberto, Osiris, Nazario, Digna, Margarita, Nely, Gloria, Leonidas, Ingris, Pilar, Josephina and Suyapa. May these days together and lessons learned bring a blessing for the future for all of us, especially in the lives of their families and communities.
Much love to all of you reading this. The JCHS Education Team:
Lisa Allison-Jones
Betsie Johnson
Bruce Jones
Lindsay McIntosh
Kaylee McMahan
Jennifer McPherson
Paula Prince
Dean Rickabaugh
Linda Rickabaugh
Tayler Shull
Stephanie Tito
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Day 5: March 6, 2013
Hola!!
This year, our Education team has three principle responsibilities. We work together to meet our goals for each day. Some of us work with the health promoters, others work on the mural, and Bruce and Dean complete various maintenance tasks on the grounds of the foundation.
For all of us, including the health promoters, the day starts with a Bible study led by a member of the FOBF staff, Melvin Martinez. Tuesday, after a few songs and prayer we dove right in to the day by playing a name remembering game with the health promoters. We all learned a lot of names.
We then moved to the classroom for a mini review session, asking the health promoters questions about Diabetes, Hypertension, and the Heimlich maneuver, which were the topics we taught on Monday. We incorporated the use of iClickers for this review, so we were able to determine how well the concepts were grasped. The health promoters responded well and had retained a majority of the information we taught Monday. Lindsay, with Stephanie translating, continued with a presentation about asthma. All the health promoters indicated that they were very familiar with the signs and symptoms of asthma and were eager to learn more about how to prevent asthma attacks. Pascuala led a discussion about the role of the health promoter in the community. Lisa taught about menopause and was dubbed "La Reina de Menopausia" (The Queen of Menopause). Then in a horrible accident, Lindsay developed a machete wound. Luckily the health promoters were on hand to demonstrate appropriate wound care before we washed the red sharpie marks off of her leg.
Kaylee, Jennifer, and Tayler continued to work on the mural. Each of the health promoters painted a leaf on the tree. They will also write their names and their community name within the leaf they painted to represent the education they have received and the material they are able to pass on within their community. The staff and education team also painted leaves and we will write our names within a leaf as well. The children visiting the extended care clinic loved watching the girls paint and were able to participate in painting if they chose to. Paula and Linda painted butterflies, Jennifer, Tayler, and Lindsay painted the balloons and flowers, and we will all chip in to finish the mural tomorrow.
We finished our day with dinner and dessert, followed by The Little Nemo in Spanish with the health promoters. Time is flying and we are deeply blessed. Thank you for your prayers and support.
Much love to all of you reading this.
The JCHS Education Team:
Lisa Allison-Jones
Betsie Johnson
Bruce Jones
Lindsay McIntosh
Kaylee McMahan
Jennifer McPherson
Paula Prince
Dean Rickabaugh
Linda Rickabaugh
Tayler Shull
Stephanie Tito
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Day 6: March 7, 2013
Greetings from the Jefferson College of Health Sciences Health Education Team.
Today was our final day of teaching the health care promoters from the mountain villages. After a brief tutorial on the use of the iClicker system, the health promoters took their final exam this morning and did very well. Many of the questions were answered correctly by everyone. A good laugh was had by all when some of the promoters answered that Pascuala, the Community Health Nurse, controlled female hormones. Several promoters attended the classes for the third time and are getting more and more confident about their ability to increase the health and general well being of their communities.
After the exam Jennifer and Kaylee did a review of the hand washing material presented two years ago. Part of the teaching involved using Glo-Germ, a material that will simulate any germs left over on the hand after washing. It seemed to be a good idea to try this with both hand sanitizer AND soap. Oooops! Glo-Germ does not work with hand sanitizer. Students were very perplexed to find their hands continued to glow after much washing. Again, lots of laughs all around.
After lunch the team did some sightseeing at local attractions and made a grocery store run for munchies. We close now to continue working on the gorgeous mural. There will be photos posted when it is completed! 
Pastor Alfonso, from a local church in Peña Blanca, began our graduation ceremony with a wonderful sermon on family values. He and Linda then put everyone in a circle and blessed the hands of the health care promoters as well as some of the staff. This blessing was very moving and several of the participants became very emotional, even crying. After the blessing of the hands students were given their certificates, a wooden cross and the group picture in the frames they had decorated on their first day here. Each participant posed for a photo with their certificates and with Lisa and Paula. Before leaving for their home villages, the promoters were asked to jot down a few ideas for future educational topics. Some of those suggestions are tuberculosis, cancer, mental health and communicable diseases. Many of the promoters expressed their appreciation to the JCHS students and faculty for their efforts at sharing important health information.
Much love to all of you reading this.
The JCHS Education Team
Lisa Allison-Jones
Betsie Johnson
Bruce Jones
Lindsay McIntosh
Kaylee McMahan
Jennifer McPherson
Paula Prince
Dean Rickabaugh
Linda Rickabaugh
Tayler Shull
Stephanie Tito
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Day 7: March 8, 2013
Armed with a strawberry piñata, crafts, crayons, snacks, toothpaste and small gifts, we headed up the mountain to Las Nieves. We were so happy to see Osiris, one of our community health providers again. Osiris has attended all three educational sessions and we understand there has been much improvement in the health of this community since she was selected as community promoter. We were honored to be invited to her home and meet her family. We were also introduced to the community's pastor. He explained that he and the community leaders were working closely together to help the community to improve the spiritual health of the people in the community. He asked us to pray that they would be provided the resources needed to build a community center for the community to meet for education and fellowship.
Once again we divided our labor. Betsie and Stephanie led a teaching session on diabetes for the adults and babies in the school. The generator was used to show the PowerPoint slides, since this village does not have electricity. At the same time, the children gathered in the church for a morning of activities. Melvin led in singing and a Bible study. Team members helped with coloring and a craft activity. When the finger nail polish came out, the boys quickly exited and played ball while the girls were enjoying their manicures. Then chips, cookies and drink were enjoyed by all. Team members enjoyed holding and playing with the babies. The children in Las Nieves were quiet and sweet and shy....until the strawberry piñata came out!! Some of the littlest ones had strong swings. A fun time was had by all, even the team and staff members.
After we returned to the Barnabas House, we were able to take an excursion to Las Glorias, a local resort on Lago de Yojoa. The weather was perfect! Lots of birds were on the lake. The young people, Stephanie, Betsie, Lindsey, Tayler, Jennifer and Kaylee rode horses and when they returned, they declared that they were "real Hondurans" now!
The evening activities consisted of completing the mural- to be revealed tomorrow, an informative talk by Nury about Honduras, our special surprise of making our dessert of Bananas Foster, devotion by Bruce and Lisa and our team sharing time. Bruce shared a quote from Edmund Burke that was especially thought-provoking and generated discussion, "the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Each day in Honduras has revealed special blessings for each of us. We miss you all but do not particularly miss the recent weather in Virginia. Please continue to pray for our team and the people we are serving.
Much love to all of you reading this.
The JCHS Education Team
Lisa Allison-Jones
Betsie Johnson
Bruce Jones
Lindsay McIntosh
Kaylee McMahan
Jennifer McPherson
Paula Prince
Dean Rickabaugh
Linda Rickabaugh
Tayler Shull
Stephanie Tito
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Day 8: March 9, 2013
Greetings from the Jefferson College Education Team in Honduras!
The morning began with a lesson on teaching hand washing for the mothers of the infants and children here to be evaluated for cardiac surgery.jpg) in May. We are impressed by the number of children being treated by the Foundation. We also noted that most of them had multiple health issues in addition to their cleft lip/cleft palate or cardiac problems. Lisa was holding an infant who appeared to be less than a month old, until she opened her mouth and showed off her two bottom teeth! We are so blessed to be part of an organization that provides consistent excellent care with limited resources. Thanks to all who so generously support this ministry.
Soon after the hand washing lecture the team piled in the van to go to La Escuela de los Angeles. This school for children with a wide variety of special needs was founded by a single father of three, two of whom are deaf. The children were a delight. Tayler spent a lot of time working with the mother of a boy with cerebral palsy teaching her some new exercises that she can use to stretch his muscles. It must have felt great because the boy was sure smiling! Jennifer and Kaylee repeated their hand washing lecture for the volunteers and parents. We are killing germs in Honduras, one hand at a time! The school is run totally by volunteers. The parents, volunteers, and children all had lunch with our team - 70 in all. It was a sandwich assembly line! Our visit to the school ended with a piñata, which the children (and the adults) loved.
.jpg) When we returned from the school it was time for the great mural unveiling. It is a product of long hours and lots of teamwork from the Honduran staff, the children and the Community Health Promoters and the members of our team. We think it turned out very well and hope that the children enjoy it. Kaylee led the mural effort with Jennifer as her second in command.
Our hard working maintenance crew finished working on a gate to keep the children safe and away from the outdoor stove outside the Barnabas House kitchen.
The final time of devotion for the week, led by Melvin Martinez was based on Philippians 1: 3-11 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18. He encouraged us to pray, be joyful, be in communion with each other, and give thanks. It was a very moving occasion, made even more so by the realization that today is our last day with our friends and colleagues at Barnabas House.
Tomorrow we plan to visit the beach at Tela and prepare for the long trip home. This will be our final journal entry for this trip. This has been a time of learning together, for healing and hope, for a vision of the future as we are in communion with each other creating a future with hope for the children we serve.
Lisa Allison-Jones
Betsie Johnson
Bruce Jones
Lindsay McIntosh
Kaylee McMahan
Jennifer McPherson
Paula Prince
Dean Rickabaugh
Linda Rickabaugh
Tayler Shull
Stephanie Tito |
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