Something Of Value
Report
Pan American Health Service, Inc. Box 888, Keene, TX 76059 www.panamhealth.org
June 2011 Dear Friends – Warm greetings from Peña Blanca, Honduras! In the background I hear the cheerful songs of unseen birds ringing through the trees, and as I listen, I savor the knowledge that many happy, healthy children reside on the PAHS campus; most rode the little blue bus to school today, and a few – the ones recovering from malnutrition – are napping or playing in the Casita Feliz, ready to cheerfully sing out: “Hola, amigos!” to anyone who walks past their window. This is a place that is blessed with beauty, love and the joy of children who are touched daily by your generosity! May has been an eventful and exciting month on campus! Grades for the first quarter of the school year are out, and we are delighted to report that 7 of the children who live in our home are on the Honor Roll for having earned a 90% or higher average in their studies. Many more have maintained an average of above 80%. We are especially proud to see that several who struggled last year have turned a corner and dramatically improved their grades! It is a triumph for our children and a source of encouragement for their caretakers.
Some of our Honor Roll children pose by the “Little Blue Bus”.
The older girls were home between semesters from their university in Costa Rica, just on time to catch a trip to a remote beach – 5 hours walk from the end of the road – to improve the well at Punta Sal. Stephen and some of the team worked at the well, extracting mud then preparing concrete, while others hauled rocks up from the beach to use around the well. There was time, of course, between hauling rocks up from the beach and preparing concrete, to enjoy swims in the light blue-green waters of the placid bay, to sip fresh coconuts growing overhead, and watch colorful sunsets at day’s end. Special thanks to you who are sponsoring these young ladies’ nursing and education training! It was a treat to have them home briefly, as they encourage the younger children and set a great example of what is possible. The Central Texas Medical Center, in San Marcos, Texas sent their Mission in Motion medical team, once again, to spend the week of May 16 – 22 blessing communities in our area with their loving professionalism. In four days the team, including 5 physicians and a nurse practitioner, treated 1,960 patients. The first day on our campus they treated 690 patients. The other 3 days were dedicated to going to remote areas where high transportation costs limit access to health care. The love and Punta Sal beach where our children built a well & enjoy time in the sun. gratitude seen on humble faces touched our hearts and made primitive working conditions seem trivial. The hearts of the givers, as well as the receivers, overflowed with joy, bringing Proverbs 17:22 to mind as we bounced home over rocky roads: A merry heart is like good medicine. We are grateful for the partnership with CTMC to share medical care and love with communities around us!