Liason

I have a new job!

"Liason" is the title I've been given for my new responsibilities with the Honduras Medical Mission. I will be coordinating the work and scheduling of our Honduran translators. I am thrilled with this new assignment. To me, the young men and women who served as our interpreters this year are the model of what we wish for the children we meet in La Villa San Francisco. They are intelligent. They are hard-working, goal-oriented and focused. They know the value of education. There were seven of them working with us in January, mostly falling into the ages of 17-21. Each of them was a lot of fun, too! One young woman was Esley. She assisted often in the dental clinic, and I think that if Fred and Cyndi could have taken her home, they would have! I had a hard time catching exactly what her name was. Finally, I said "spell it". When she did, she told me she was named after her mother. I said, "Oh, so your mother's name is Esley as well?" and she said, "No, it's Lesley". :) I guess I should have named my daughter Atty.

Carlos is an on-fire born again Christian who is studying to be an architect. Wensen (pictured) is a handsome 21 yr old who is going to Bible school to become a pastor. Wensen deeply desires to visit us in Pittsburgh this summer. I hope that happens! Melissa was the youngest of the translators at age 17. Both of her parents are ministers, and she began University in February to study medicine. I had a very soft spot in my heart for Melissa. We worked together the first day in the clinic and we bonded. She called me on my cell phone two weeks ago and told me her studies at University are very hard! Melissa missed her parents and her younger brother a lot while we were at the mission compound. Her uncle, Marlon, was our bus/van driver, so I am sure his presence is why her parents let her take this assignment.

Elias is tall, skinny, and handsome (the majority of men in Honduras are). HE LOVED MIRRORS and he was always primping! If it was 70 degrees out, Elias was freezing. He had a knit ski cap on many mornings because he thought it was cold. Amelia was the biggest challenge we had among the translators. Her father is a politician in Tegucigulpa (she said it would be similar to a mayor here) and she is spoiled! Her major at University is world economics and political science. She is following in her daddy's footsteps!

Malinda was the oldest and wisest of the group. She probably is 27 but looks as young as the others. Malinda is married and was on the cell phone a lot with her husband. Her maturity helped to anchor this group.

I don't know if we will get these same seven back as translators next year. Probably not. Maybe some of them. But I am up for the challenge of making sure they are utilized in an efficient manner and that the experience is well-rounded and rewarding for them as well. These gifted young men and woman will make a difference in Honduras!