Sunday -We got up and went to church with our neighbors. We had intention of picking up Freddy on our way and although we called, he was not waiting when we arrived so we moved on. As customary here, we went out to eat after church with some church friends and then to finish grocery shopping. In Honduras you can almost never get all you need at one store. Once we arrived home and put the groceries away, it was time for dinner. We had sandwiches as we had eaten our big meal out at lunchtime. An hour later our neighbor invited us over to visit so we went and talked about what we needed to do to get a water pump. It seems they have have an extra one we may be able to buy from them but we still need to check to see if we have all the connectors.

Monday-It looks like another trip to town to get internet cable, a toilet valve, and possibly parts for the pump.These stores were not opened yesterday so we could not get them. We typically do not go to the hospital the first week in order to get everything up and running here. We had planed ahead to do the rice and beans this week also but things don't always go as planned and it looks like we won't be able to do that. We will try again next week to see if Scott is free to take us. 

We arrived safe and sound around 6:30 pm. Our kind neighbors had mad us dinner and we were grateful. After eating and unpacking just a few things we went to bed. We woke up at 4 am and started unpacking the remainder of our stuff. We found our water pump was not working and appears to be broken. We have water but only a trickle. We ate breakfast with a few groceries the neighbors had gotten us and continued unpacking. Then we set off to the city to get minutes for our phone and internet. We ran into friends from the hospital at the mall and gave them a ride into town and while there asked them to show me where I could get a wedding chord that is traditionally used  in a Honduran wedding for Bryanna. Than went to get a few groceries. Everything in Honduras takes more time than in the states to do. We didn't get home until 4:30 and needed to unpack the groceries. We did not get everything we needed done so tomorrow after church we get the remainder of the items. We are both exagusted and will eat a sandwich for dinner and go to bed.

And we are off..we'll sort of. We are sitting in the airport waiting for our flight. We both had very little sleep as karl ended up working late last night and Bryanna had car trouble so once he got home, he had to look at her car. Our last minute items were on hold till morning. We got up at 3:30 and quickly got all the last minute things packed and before we knew it the Huzzards who graciously agreeded to bring us to the airport and were at our door. We loaded up the truck at 4;30 and were off. Once we arrived at the airport Karl could not find his drivers license and card holder. After searching he did find it but somehow after the security check lost it again! Backtrack to security and the men's room along with lost and found left us disappointed as he would not be able to drive in Honduras and I don't drive there, not to mention you need 2 forms of ID to get in and out of Honduras. After searching for a 4th time all the backpacks and 2 carry on bags, we found it! Praise God!!! Hoping we can both get some sleep. I can not usually sleep on the plane. Our first stop is Houston, then after a 2 hour delay, we head off to San Pedro Sula Honduras where we will meet our driver, Sergio, who will take us the 3 hour trip to our house. We should arrive there around 5-6 pm.

Bags packed and arrangements made to the airport with thanks going to Dick and Louise Huzzard picking us up at 4:30 am! Except for a few last minute things we are ready with three large suitcases, two carry on bags and two backpacks. Very little are personal items. We are taking lots of donated items the hospital needs and shipping the things we can not take. It's 6:30 pm and Karl is still at work finishing up some things there. Hopefully we will be in bed early tonight.

Getting ready

    As we prepare to pack we realized how blessed we are with many medical supply donations. Unfortunately it presents a problem as we can not carry it all in our suitcases. We will take as much as we can but it is very expensive to ship so we are asking for help with the shipping cost. We need to get these supplies the hospital needs to them. If you would like to help with the cost you can contact me or donate through our website pokropmissions.com and earmark it for shipping. We are so grateful for any little bit we get towards this.  

  Please begin praying for us even now before we leave. Every year Satan attacks us in different ways from health issues,finances, busyness or things breaking down. This year has been no exception. We are trusting in God to get us through this period we face before we go. Pray also as we pack and decide what we need to bring and what we can leave behind. Packing is always stressful. Please pray for the people we will serve there and for opportunities to share Gods love and plan of salvation as well as Gods plan for our future in Honduras. 

Our tickets are purchased! After searching for 6 months for reasonable priced tickets, we finally found them! We will be leaving July 7 and returning August 5. We are very excited to see what God has in store for us this year. Each year is so very different and each year has different trials and new joy. God has taught me that no matter what we do there, if it is what appears to us as trivial as sorting medical equipment or as needed to care for babies, He placed us there and planned for us to do that job. I have learned no matter how important or unimportant it seems to me, I am doing it for the Lord. Please pray for us as we prepare to pack and get ready go, making all the necessary plans that go along with that. Pray for the Honduran people that we will come in contact with and pray for our work there that God is preparing for us. 

September 8, 2016 Thursday 

 This is our last day down the 8 mile asphalt road and 13 mile  very bumpy dirt  road which takes an hour total to get to the hospital.It is our last day at the hospital and we will leave at 12.I cry as I write this and those that know me, know  I am not a crier and only do so about 1-2 times a year. I will miss this life and Jose also. On the plus side, I talked to another doctor today who agreed that Jose's roommate should be moved. Praise the Lord for answered prayers. Hopefully he didn't already catch what that other baby has. The pastor came in as usual to see all the patients and pray for them and prayed for me as well.Everyone thanked me for coming and wants to know when we will return. Lots of hugs were given.It is sad indeed to leave. We will stop on our way home to eat lunch at a typical restaurant. Then head home to start packing. This will most likely be my last post. All of our plans didn't fall into place this year, but then again they rarely do. God's plan and protection were way better than what we could plan but there was a few disappointments with places we had hoped to go. All in all we got a lot accomplished and enjoyed ourselves doing the work He has laid on our hearts before us. 

Mary Ann is with the other baby today that was moved to a different room today.

Glen still working on the shelving for the files in X Ray but recently ran out of work so he is finished for the day. Karl was  working on  a defibrillator but has no parts to fix it. He has .finished all the projects he can do without parts which is always a problem to try to get here.

Please continue to pray for our health and safety as we prepare to pack up, take the 3 hour bus trip to the airport, the flight, and the 2 hour car ride to arrive home( about 20 hours in all). Pray as we adjust to life back home. 

It is our desire to return and spend 6 months a year here once we raise enough support. If God has laid it on your heart to support us you may do so through our website or contacting us. We sincerely thank each one of you for your prayers,support and financial assistance to allowed us to come. 

September 7, 2016 Wednesday     

Today for the second time, someone asked me if I was Jose's mother. I sure must be looking young these days! The nurse asked me how long I would be here and I told her until tomorrow. She told be Jose will cry when I am gone. I said I will also. The pastor was in as she is everyday and prayed for him. Jose is not very hungary today but is content to just look around.  

Mary Ann started in the pharmacy counting pills this morning but  Dr. Judy asked her to come be with Jose's roommate. He has several issues thrush, urinary track infection,stomach issues ( from drinking the cows milk )and possible pneumonia. Please pray for him also as well as that Jose does not catch anything from his roommate as he is so weak still.

glen is still working on the shelf for x Ray files and Karl still working on finding a part for the x Ray as well as the someone's car.  

September 6,2016  Tuesday 

Karl was busy working getting the old X-ray processor up and running while we wait for parts for the newer one, which probably won't come while we are here.Fortunally it is working now.He helped work on a car and later took apart  and fixed a drill that wasn't working.

Mary Ann is working on the pharmacy counting pills again. Happy she in the airconditioning as she is not a big fan of the heat down here. 

Glen finished the bow wrench he made yesterday and today was working on making shelves for the many files in the X-ray room.

Jose vomited once again when I first arrived. His blood sugar is staying up. They changed his IV early this morning from his foot back to his arm. His face is filling out and is getting stronger little by little. I am blessed to be  here with him. This afternoon Jose got a little roommate, a 28 day old. I'm not sure of the exact problem but the mother was giving him cows milk and he got sick but probably won't be here long according to the doctor. They are going to have the mom use a breast pump to build up her supply as they can not afford formula. He is coughing a bit so I am praying Jose doesn't get sick.

September 5 Monday

When we got to the hospital this morning, Mary Ann had a new job. She was working in the pharmacy counting bottles of pills and organizing them. She likes her job especially because it is air conditioned in there

Karl fixed the refrigerator that goes on the lab then worked on someone's car. 

Glen finished and attached a shelf he started last week and then made something else which I do not know the name of. It was a tool of some sorts. 

 I was with Jose all day. His blood sugar was up to 90 ( yea!) this morning and his ng tube is out so he gets to drink by mouth. He gained a little weight, although he did vomit his second feeding all over me. All in all, he is doing somewhat better but has a very long road ahead. Please continue to pray for him as well as us as we spend our last week here. I will certainly miss Jose and it will be even harder to leave this year.