Ripening coffee fruit pods

Greetings from the Meads! Muy Buenos Dias! We are here in the warm, rainy country of Honduras. The coffee competes well with the Kenya AA; I have selected several bags to add to my collection for Al Ain. Our time here is drawing to a close. We will soon fly back to cool Michigan for a time of packing and then off to Al Ain, UAE.

The weeks have been very interesting for us. The CURE Honduras Hospital resides in an industrial area of San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Looking at the map, you see CURE is in the northwest portion of the country. As you stand on the stairs from the guest area, you see the distant mountains rising above the buildings. As the day progresses, the temperature and humidity rise steadily, causing clothing to stick and foreheads to dampen and weep into the eyes. Thankfully, the operating theaters are air conditioned, as are our sleeping areas.

Children are very similar across the world. CURE International hospitals see children in need of emotional, spiritual, and physical care in all locations. I find smiles and tears wherever I travel. Clubfeet are neglected in Honduras just as they are in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, India, and elsewhere. Talented CURE staff members share their hearts and skills with those in need. Sweets bring smiles to young children here in Honduras just as they do in Kenya. Information can be shared across our CURE system to improve the care of children in all CURE Hospitals. Young surgeons can learn from those more experienced in developing world medicine; talented sub-specialty surgeons can teach new methods to those willing to learn. CURE offers a great opportunity to improve the care in a holistic manner across the world; I am proud to be a member of the CURE Team.

Mayan carving

Last Friday was a holiday here in Honduras. We decided to go exploring. Jana and I asked two young women, Katie and Anna, if they wished to travel with us. Out of many choices, we selected Copan, the site of Mayan ruins. Thursday afternoon we climbed aboard a bus, and off we went. The roadway is much, much smoother than Kenya. The roads are still only two lanes, though, with very narrow shoulders. Fewer people and animals crowded the roadway. The challenge of travel involved the pathway through the mountains. We circled up, up, up and then circled down, down, down. In the middle of the trip we took a break as the bus started spewing diesel smelling fluid and stalled. Eventually, the driver got the bus running again and we puttered to a small town. More repairs restored the function. The green hills, thickly covered with trees, were stunning. Muddy brown rivers cut their way through the valleys between the slopes. We entered a cobbled street marking our arrival to Copan. The bus eased through tight corners and arrived at the station. We hired two tuk tuk style vehicles to finish the ride to our hotel.

The small hotel was situated on the corner of the Copan Town square. Jana and I had a room on the corner with a small balcony. Early morning I would awake and select a seat to watch the town awaken. We planned to go to the Mayan ruins, but there was a demonstration going on closing the entrance. The people were protesting the governmental decisions regarding some land ownership. Land titles are a vexing problem in the developing world, I find. So we elected to go tour a coffee plantation called Welche.

coffee trees in forest

We traveled by van about 45 minutes from Copan. Arriving at the plantation, we met our guide, a handsome, young Honduran. Traveling with three beautiful women, the tour morphed into one group of Jana, Katie, and Anna with the guide and Tim tagging along. The farm grows “eco-friendly coffee.” They may use some fertilizer and some pest control substances, but the farm is designed to fit better into the environment. They use a technique called ‘shade coffee growing.’ The coffee trees are pruned short — about six to seven feet tall. They grow within forests of mixed species tall trees. When you look from a distance, the hill looks just like any other forest. The trees were very fruitful; the coffee was excellent. We walked down the hill through the forest in the rain. Although we all got quite wet, the walk was an amazing experience. We had a great lunch with Honduran classic foods, added to my coffee collection, and wandered back to the hotel. Copan is an interesting city filled with small shops and eateries. We had dinner of grilled meats with tortillas, beans, and guacamole that was great!

Copan ruins

Saturday morning we were at the gate when the ruins opened. The Mayan ruins are found in Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico. The ruins in Copan date from about 200-900 AD. We found an English-speaking guide to improve our tour. The ruins have steep, rather slippery stairs, interesting crypts, aqueducts, and housing units. I especially liked the playing field with its surrounding stands. The Mayan hieroglyphics decorated altars, ceremonial steps, and statues. As I look at the complexity of structures, I wondered what happened to end the Mayan influence. Egypt likewise has the pyramids and buildings that are amazing, yet life appeared to regress after the apical times. I enjoyed wandering through the grounds and hearing the history. Copan was an unexpected treat during our adventure to Honduras.

This week has been filled with interesting surgical procedures. I learned some new ideas to carry home with me. Hopefully, I will leave some of my experience here that will assist in the work. The time is passing very quickly. Soon we will pack to return home. I think this has been a time well spent. As I discussed the uncertainty of my plans recently, two months ago I had not thought I would ever be in Honduras, yet here we are. The Bridgemans and Meads have gotten closer as we share our experiences and share our lives. We part with sadness but are thankful for the time together. As they start out here in CURE Honduras with three young girls, I think to our start with four kids in Kenya. So much has taken place. We have had good and bad times, but always we know no matter what is going on we remain firmly, securely in His grip.