It's that time again!!!

Well it is Monday, we are about to go to Marvin's and Cristina's home that they are renting for fellowship. Tomorrow is our travel day, it will start early yet again, with the bus leaving at 5am! Many of the participants are ready to go home. I am mixed. Although I miss my bed and hot showers, the cold shower was perfect when I woke up with a migraine today. Yesterday was our relaxing day to the waterfall and the nice bus trip of 6 hours. Today we went to the feeding center in la Esperanza, then we went to go see how the construction is going on Marvin and Cristina's house. It is farther than January with the retention wall finished but they still need the kitchen to be done and a front door to be placed. They are going on 7 years of trying to build their home.  We walked the ministry property that they hope to build several things but there is also property next to them that is for sale but they do not have the funds to obtain. It all be a great ministry place one day. Please pray for all of us as we travel several of us are havering sniffles and head colds.
Fun thing: today the boys decided to buy fireworks then shoot them off this afternoon. It was very loud and I laughed very hard. It just reminds me how dangerous fireworks are and I will not be lighting anytime soon, but it was fun. My nursing skills were not needed. I am pretty sure Josiah got some white hairs. ;) well I hope I post more but we will see!!






That's right beth got out of the bus to go look at a pig.

Guest author for today.....

Hello! I would like you all to meet my friend Beth, I asked her to write some thoughts about the trip.

Before I share, I would like to say that Nicole convinced me to take part in this trip to La Esperanza, Honduras, and I'm so glad she did! La Esperanza has taken a piece of my heart; the people are so kind, and the city and "department" of Intebuca breathtaking. However, medical and dental brigades in the villages left us with up to 12 hour days of work and travel, hot and sticky rooms with little space made it uncomfortable, and mental/physical/spiritual fatigue ensued. I had the privilege to act as one of the providers during this trip, examining and basically prescribing medications to many patients, and I experienced all of the above challenges mentioned. Although these challenges existed, there were constant reminders of God's presence in all of them: His promises to cover, protect, provide, heal, and just BE with us were spoken through our morning devotions; promptings and encouragement from team members gave us the courage to reach the Honduran people on a spiritual level after meeting physical needs. Even though our days were long and my body was tired by the end of the brigades, I somehow felt rest and rejuvenation in this place. It is a rest that God can only provide in the midst of work when we dwell and abide in Him. This rejuvenation was much needed in my heart, and I now have a glimpse as to the purpose behind the Lord bringing me to La Esperanza. I'm so looking forward to my next visit to Honduras (after taking a few Spanish classes), and thank you to Nicole, my team, Hands Giving Hope, and those who have supported us through donations and most importantly prayer. :)

Another day done

Well we are all done with the clinics! And we are exhausted! Throughout the week medical saw over 500 people!!! Yesterday was the most trying! It was very hot in the clinic, with hardly any breeze, it did not let up until it rained. Then it was very enjoyable! I also decided yesterday was the day Daniella would start seeing patients on her own with me there to answer questions. At first she didn't really want to but then I got called away with my fist aid kit for a scraped knee, so it was a forced "you are ready". She did fine and then I got called away for a boy who accidently nicked himself with a machete. Once I cleaned it I though it would need 2-3 sutures so I found the nurse who runs the clinics and she place 3 sutures on the laceration of course without any numbing agents. The boy did well, just covering his face, only feeling a little bit of pain. Our ride was very interesting going back to base camp, there was rain, muddy roads, and steep inclines. But we made it back ok! Today we went to market, I went with Christina buying fresh fruits and vegetables for the team for the rest of the week. In the afternoon we went to a Lenca village and bought some hand woven items. We got to watch some of them weave the blankets/scarves, it was really cool! We then went to the festival of mushrooms and wine. I had seen the parade when I was at the market earlier but it was. I obviously did not try anything but it was cool to look at things. I was interviewed by the department of tourism. I was picked out very easily, and asked how much Spanish I knew in espanol. It was interesting and made just want to learn my Spanish better.
Tomorrow we go to the waterfall pray for our safety and that no one is hurt. I can't believe we are almost done!!!

Long day does not prescribe it!

Long day does not describe it
Today started like any day, by the sounds of pigs squealing, rooster crowing, and dogs barking. Our devotional was led by Blaine. She was very nervous and worried about it all during breakfast, and was great! She spoke about spiritual gifts and that we need to fit together for the body of Christ to work. It was well done. So then we went to a town that I again cannot pronounce, and set up our clinic at a school that is nestled in between banana trees and coffee plants. It is the most beautiful scenery but the school is the smallest. Between Beth, dra. Gladys and I we saw 207 patients. Dental saw 57 patients. We ran out of our rationed medications with running out of children's vitamins around 2. Around 3:30 everything I wanted to prescribe for people we were out of. Then I wouldn't even have vitamins to give to people after I tell them they need to see a specialist. Dental even ran out of the dentist paper towels, they were using napkins at the end of the day! Around midday I had a patient who asked for us to go to her house to see her daughter who can't leave the house. I told the woman to talk to Christina who arranges our transportation, I figured that we could go see her this weekend or they might decide she was in to a obscure place to go see her. As we loaded up, and hour later than normal, I found out we would go see the lady on our way out of the village. So the bus stopped at this house on a hill I could see how a person who can't walk could not leave the house it was a hike for us. The woman there had really bad rheumatoid arthritis and had an infected ulcer in her leg and foot. We grabbed medications and tried to explain to the family what needed to be done. We then prayed with her the salvation prayer. It was amazing and intimate with only a few of us there. 30 minutes we were back on the bus and heading back to base camp. We got back around 6:45 and we were all exhausted we have one more clinic tomorrow!
Prayers:
Please pray that we will have enough medications and that God will guide us to who will receive the correct medication.
Prayer for safety we have some interesting roads and bridges tomorrow!
Pray for health of the team members people are starting to get sick and still have one more clinic.
Pray for restful sleep, as the rooster starts to crow at 10:30 at night.

Another day, another milestone!

Nurse Beth became dra. Beth!
Today we went to a Asagualpa, don't ask me how to pronounce it! Today Beth saw patients by herself!! Carlos was her interpreter and I was sad to lose him, but I was excited to see my friend learn and I had fun teaching  Daniella who is a premed student at GCU. Daniella was my interpreter and I had her take blood pressures at the same time! Between dra. Gladys, Beth, and I, we saw 121 patients, dental saw 40! We had a lot of fun there! Dental was out side, I was thinking it was like a show for all the people waiting to see the docturras!
The driving today was crazy!!! We had to get out of the bus so it could make it up a hill! The when we were headed back we found a huge dead snake in the middle if the road, of course one of the boys though it would be good to bring the snake onto the bus, Beth did bit like that all. It did not stay on the bus for long.  I am getting to joke the Pure heart team. There are a set of twin boys who are hilarious! They have me in laughing fits!
Please pray for travel, and that we will continue to see people pray to except Christ.
Till next time!

Pictures

Our soundtrack is Indiana Jones!

Our soundtrack is Indiana jones!
Hello!!!
Today was a clinic in a school and it went very well!! Pray for Beth tomorrow she will be on her own as a doctura with Carlos to translate, I will be with Daniella a premed student as my translator and nurse and we will see if she can start seeing patients on Friday.
The roads to the village are very narrow, sloped, rocky, and pot-holey so Beth and would sing the theme song to Indiana jones, who needs Disneyland? More tomorrow- pray for our travel the roads are different!

Went to prison again!!!!

Went to prison again!
Well as you can see we made it to Honduras! After taking a bus to our base camp, we found our suitcases got soaked but very randomly. All of my medical supplies were fine, praise God! My clothes were variously soaked. The dorms are interesting at the ministry land. The girls are on one side with two rooms with bunk des and two bathrooms the guys are on the other side with there bathroom out side. We have an outside kitchen/eating area that is surround by wood for the cook fire. The night sky is filled with various noises of the town and every single animal in a five mile radius, or that's what seemed like!
Today was the day we went to prison and served the prisoners. It was very interesting, especially to see the same people that we saw 6 months ago. The complaint of the day was tos-cough, gripe-cold, and athletes foot. As soon as they found out we had clear eyes everyone of them started asking for anything for the eyes. So of course we ran out. But we did ration our supplies so we will have some for the rest of the week. I was a doctora today and my friend Beth was the emfermerra between myself and the other doctora, we hope Beth will start seeing patients soon. Today we realized all the medical supplies we will need for future brigades. This trip I brought my pulse oximeter . I put it on one patients fingers and his eyes got all big, he just saw like a Star Trek move with flashing red lights reading his vitals. Well I will right more later, we don't have very good internet so we will see how soon next time will be ! Below are prayers that our team can use throughout the week!

Prayers during our trip
1) unity among our team and with our ministry partners, pray against a spirit if division.
2) Protection (psalm 91 and Ephesians 6:10-18) and safety of our team.
3) health
4) for our vehicles we will travel in that no issues would occur and they would run well and safely.
5) god would soften the hearts of the perople we will minister to.
6) that we can meet physical and spiritual needs of people.
7) divine appointments, that God would bring people in our path to minister too.

Back to Honduras!

Going to Honduras
And we are off!!! Heading to Honduras, started with all of us meeting at 3 am at the airport! Today will just be the long tedious day of getting to La Esperanza. After we fly into the capital it will take 3-4 hours of drive time to reach our home base. Pure heart brought a large team this summer, I am excited to see how the dynamic will be different not only with the size of the team but the difference of our home base being at the old children's home. I say bring on the humidity, and I will write as soon as possible!

Prayer requests:
Safety with travel.
Monday is prison day, so to be able to minister to the prisoners.
Team unity, Beth is one of my best friends, and then there is every one else I don't know. ;) pray we all get along and be able to handle conflicts appropriately and with grace.

Also check out the pure heart face book page for long and lengthy posts done by my good friend Josiah, known to the pure heart team as, pastor Josiah. As my father said, "I recognize that beard from your pictures." You won't miss it, :-P

Till next time!

Going to Honduras in June!!!!

Bienvinedos mis Amigos y familia! Hello to my friends and family!

I hope you all are enjoying spring my favorite time of the year! I cannot believe how fast 2014 is going. As many of you know I went to Honduras in January and participated in medical clinics. I learned so much and was renewed with my own job that I signed up to go again in June. This time one of my best friends is coming with me. Beth Nowatzki, she is a nurse at Good Samaritan in Phoenix, and we have been on several medical mission trips together.

The Lord has truly blessed me these last few years with my job and the opportunities to go and share the good news. This trip in June has again been covered by me and my family, Praise God! Because my trip has been covered I am trying to raise money for a dental chair. This chair is portable and will help the dentist who goes with us be able to use helpers efficiently. It will also allow the dentist to set up a practice at the children’s home where she can see the children on a regular basis, instead of just pulling out teeth she can clean their teeth and perform preventive care. The chair is $2700 and I hope to raise the money, with any extra money will be ministry money. In January we were able to bless a woman who had a form of a flesh eating disease whose daughter started having seizures, she needed money for the specialists and tests that they needed to diagnose the seizures and then the transportations. The mother had saved money for her transportation costs for her medical problems but was going to use it for her daughter instead. We were able to give them the $150 that was needed for the tests and transportation. Extra ministry money allowed us also to buy a man in jail his psychiatric medication. The prisoners had chipped in his first month’s doses and he ran out while we were there, It was very moving seeing the other prisoners being concerned about this young prisoner, several of them asked if we had extra medication for him. We were able to order the medication and have it to him by the end of the week.

I am also asking for prayer support, being out on the mission field things can go wrong and vey wrong. I truly believe that with prayer support the police are more incline to give us a warning then to arrest us. Or they decide we are not suspicious and not pull us over. And I know that the only way our car stayed on the road was with the power of God. June will be the rainy season and that sometimes means heavy fog on the muddy mountain roads that have no guard rails. Please pray for car safety. Of course it wouldn’t be La Esperanza, Honduras without a flat tire.

I hope you all have a lovely summer 2014! Below is a list of prayer requests, supply requests, and the information for donations. We are trying to receive all financial donations by the end of May. Supplies can be dropped off at my parents’ house in Mesa or I can come get them from you as needed. Thanks you all for your support it means so much to me! Please follow me on my blog, nicolemissions.blogspot.com or email me with questions, Nicole.k.hill@gmail.com

Thank you so much!

Nicole Hill

Prayer requests:

Safety in travel

Team communication/unity

Open hearts of the Honduran people

Healer’s hands among the medical staff

Trip Dates: June 21^st- July 2nd

Supplies needed:

Otoscope with covers

Adult vitamins

Prenatal vitamins

Herbal supplements

Blood pressure cuff

Support:

Give online: Hghope.org

Or mail checks with memo:

     HILL HONDURAS 2014

To: Hands Giving Hope

3152 W Meadow Dr.

Phoenix, AZ 85053

View of La Esperanza and the waterfall. Click on the picture if you can't see it.

The waterfall as tall as niagra

Baptisms

Baptisms
Yesterday we started off with having baptisms at a river. It was chilly with a breeze but yet warm with the suns and of course my face burned. There were four girls being baptized and it was lovey. The Hondurans sang a beautiful song as the women were baptized. And like that it was done. Then we went to the children's home. This was a place were the children of the outskirts villages could live while they went to high school. The home has served its purpose, the government has now built highschools in the outerlying villages. There are a just a few children there now, with a couple being orphans. They grow a lot of their own food. And raise most of their  meat.
We then headed to the mercado which was closing so we walked to an old Catholic Church that was built into the mountain. On top of that you could see all of la Esperanza. It was a beautiful view.
We close out the night at Christina and Marvin's home. It is the one they are currently renting while they are finishing up their house about a couple  miles away. When I was here in 2009 they had their foundation laid. Now they have just a few steps left. We had a good visit and went back to the hotel and caught up on some much needed sleep.
Today we went to a waterfall the same height as niagra falls, and we walked behind it. It was crazy! It definitely took my breath a way!
It was along drive and heading back there was a lot fog with 30-50 feet visibility. But we made it back fine! Tomorrow we head back to Tegucigalpa.
Till next post!

Team pictures

Pictures of the dental instruments and how they are sterilized

Last days of clinics!

Clinics 4&5
Thursday and Friday were at the same clinic.
We did the same we had done in past days except it was just the doctor and I and we both saw patients. It was interesting we had several people with extremely high blood pressures. Yesterday a lady brought in her daughter. First she needed tests for the child to see if she has seizures, the 2 tests cost about $100 of American money let alone the cost of medications or the transportation. Then she wanted the cold and infection of the child seen to. All during the examination I kept looking at the mother wondering what happened to her with her disfigured face. We later found out that she has a  incurable disease that starts as a boil like this and then it starts to suck in the surrounding tissue bone and all. On her face you can see the remaining but it happens all over body. She came back today and we were able to help her out with funds for her medication and her daughters test. The pastor prayed with her and it really warmed my heart.
Our last day of clinics was short with less people but still full of excitement. Tomorrow we go go back to pastor Carlos church  for baptisms.
Praise The Lord my hears are healing. Today I was able to hear better.
Pray for the doctors who are traveling back tomorrow and Sunday by bus. Pray for the people who received the gospel this week that they may develop their faith.
Till next time!

Days 2&3

Days 2&3
We'll these two days have flow by!!!! Yesterday we we at an actual clinic. So the doctor and I were in a clinic room to see patients. The clinic had a full time nurse but they never know when they will have a doctor present. The dentist saw 40 patients total. And the dentist does not clean the teeth all she does is pull teeth. She pulled so many that she had to tape her fingers and her hands and shoulder were sore by lunch. Yesterday the medical side saw about 58 people. Which is amazing! After cleaning up the clinic we went to the future house of Marvin and Cristina. When I was here 5 years ago it was only a foundation. Now they should be able to move into the house some time this year, there are just a few inside things they need to put in and a few construction items needed.

Today we went to a school and had our clinics. Today I was a provider with frequent consulting with the doctor. Between the doctor,  the med student, and I, we saw about 100 people.
It was interesting, I had to constantly ask what to prescribe. It was good. We went to another pastor Carlos house for lunch and pan Nd cafe after  the clinics. In there little living room, our team of 13 sat with only a few elbows touching, they fit 50-60 people for church. It was very interesting and they dreams of a church and a feeding kitchen but the funds are little, yet they were able to  buy the land.

Pictures! I apologize for not many captions.

Josiah and I at the medical clinic

Me in prison

Two bimbos at the ruins. We have had multiple bimbo trucks at our hotel so the question is, "is there a bimbo convention?

Our dentist team at work!!! And yes they are in a storage room.

Add caption

Traveling and going to prison....

Travel days and day 1 We'll we made it la Esperanza! After some hiccups with the plane in Houston. We got a new plane and arrive to Tegucigalpa only two hours late. After setting our course we drove on a newly divided hogway for half of the trip was nice compared to the past of trying to pass semi trucks with oncoming traffic. We stopped at afamily of one of the past providers and they have a coffe plantation. They grow, process and roast their coffee. It was interesting to see dogs walk through the beans while they are on the ground but the beans aren't washed until two steps later. It was a nice little pit stop on the 4 hour drive. We arrived to la Esperanza around 6:45pm and there we met up with Christina and Marvin the missionaries we work with here. After fellowship over dinner, we started sorting all of supplies for the week. Today we went to the prison in la Esperanza. It is a jail with the capacity of 75, population of 250. They took our passports and cell phones when we came in. (I was worried I would not see it again) they "checked" our bags and medicines, but I was still allowed to being in my trauma shears. We were helped out all day by two young men who I thought worked the only to find out as we left they also were prisoners. We were stationed in the small chapel. All of the men congregated in the yard where it looked like they did everything except sleep. Some men were knitting baskets r hammocks while others were hanging up clothes on wires twenty feet above the ground. On the north wall about thirty feet above the ground was a gaurd tower. So we started about 1030 and ended around 5:30 and the doctura and I saw about 80 patients and the dentist saw about 30 but I think they pulled twice as much teeth. About 4:00 these men, who were prisoners, brought all of us coffee. The first one walking in had a bright red gcu shirt that I recognized immediately. It made me smile. All in all the day went well with no prison riots or pushing and shoving in line. It was a good day. Prayer needs: tomorrow we will be sound clinics in a village. They want to have me as a provider with consulting the doctura. I do not feel ready but they think I am. Also my ears are giving me pain with a constant ringing, and they are plugged so it is extremely are to hear people talking to me while I am multi tasking. What is weird is my left is getting better with my right getting worse. I compare the feeling to walking around with earplugs in with an extremely bad case of tinnitus. Also for safe travel as we go to the village. Our team is meshing really well and we are teaching each other new things. Write more soon! If you want to see more go to the Hands Giving Hope page. Hghope.org

Prayer Requests for the trip. :)

Last night I met with the team and the team is small but it is diverse. Here are some prayer requests that we would like to ask. 1) Pray for unity among out team and with our ministry partners. Out of the six memebers of the team I have been on at least one trip with four of them with one of those four I went to school with at GCU and is a good friend. 2) Pray for protection and safety of our team. (Psalm 91 and Ephesians 6:10-18) 3) Pray for health, pray against sickness and digestive issues. Another team memeber and I are both dealing with colds. Please pray that the other memebers do not catch anything and that the other memeber and I will heal fast. 4) Pray for the vehicles we will travel in that no issues would occur and they would run well and safely. 5) Pray for all those we are going to minister to. Pray that God would soften hardened hearts to hear the Gospel. 6) Pray that we would not only be able to meet the physical needs but the spiritual as well. 7) Pray for divine appointments that God would bring people in out path to minister to. My last trip to Honduras we met a lady who had been praying for over ten years for God to bring someone in to thier lives to minister to her husband. It was truly amazing! 8) Pray for wisdom and discernment while on the trip that we would meet the needs God is calling us to meet. Pray for the provision with our finances on the trip. 9) Pray that God would reveal new things to us. To move upon our hearts and show us what we are to learn on this trip. 10) Pray that we can learn from out brothers and sisters in honduras, that God would prepare them to teach us how He is working in their lives. I am very excited for this trip and I hope to keep you all updated with the trip it is going to go by fast!

Going to Honduras

Dear Family and Friends, Merry Christmas! I hope you all are doing well! I am truly blessed this year! I have reached my two year mark at Gallup Indian Medical Center Emergency Department in Gallup, NM. The hospital is now a Level 3 trauma center and I am learning tons! Being a Level 3 center means that any trauma within the area would come to us versus the hospital across the street. Gallup is surrounded by rural area, mostly Indian reservation of Navajo and Zuni Pueblo People and it is off the I-40 so there is a great diversity in patients. This year I am also blessed with a beautiful niece, and the recovery of my sister after the complicated delivery. With the Government shutdown this year I am truly blessed that I was paid and not furloughed. I am truly blessed to be working, and in January I am hoping to pass on that blessing. January 11-21 I will be traveling to Honduras and participating with other professionals running medical clinics and some days of dental clinics. I will be participating with some Pure Heart church members, but I will be going under the flag of Hands Giving Hope organization. Hands Giving Hope is a new non-profit organization that Pastor Denis has started. I have worked with Pastor Denis on several occasions for other service trips. I am very excited for the trip. I have not been able to do a long short term trip since graduating from college. The last two years I have been able to participate in the Christmas ministries in Kaibeto, AZ, and Puerto Penasco, Mexico. I have really missed going out and helping people. Oh the problems of having a full time job! J I would like to thank you all for the prayers you have supported me with the last few years, I really am grateful for it. If you could support me in prayer for this trip I would appreciate it! Prayer Requests: Safe travel to Honduras and on the roads in Honduras, driving is crazy in Honduras! That the people we work with will be able to have open hearts when they hear the gospel.