Sunday Aug 27, 2023 

     That is a picture I never wanted to see!   Let alone post on the blog, but nevertheless this is our experience here and this past week has been a week not to be forgotten.  So two weeks ago we went to Guatemala on Tuesday, like I mentioned last week.  Then on Wednesday we went to zone conference in La Lima and came home to Tela that night.  On Thursday we both got sick.  We had stomach ache, cramps, and diarrhea.   Merrill took loperamide a couple of times and got a little better but then it would just come back the same.  We both took Pepto Bismol and Tums but just didn't get much better.  So this week on Tuesday we had zone conference on Tuesday in Progreso, so we went to a Dr. there after the conference and he talked with us a while and he gave us some medicine, and probiotics and said it was probably a virus that would get better soon.   Interesting story about the Dr. in Progreso Dr Dubón.  He is a wonderful man who was baptized into the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints back in March of this year.  He is married to a lifelong member of the church and they have two children.  He was a something high up in the Catholic church.  Maybe a Priest, but I am not sure, I thought that their priests we not married, so I don't know but anyway he lived a faithful active Catholic life, with his wife living an active LDS life.  I don't know what it was that finally helped him decide to join the church in March but he is such a help for the medical needs in Progreso at his medical office.  He told us that during his entire career he has offered  free medical care to the Priests and nuns, as well as the missionaries of our church, because he knew that they were men of God here helping to spread the good word and he said that he continues in the same practice to help both Catholic and LDS preachers.  So he did not charge us anything for the visit, we are so grateful to know him and to feel of his good spirit.  It really was a great experience to get to know him a little bit.   

We started on the medications and by the next day Merrill started feeling better but Colleen did not improve.  We are so grateful for Dr Chappell, Jeff, who is in Lima Peru serving as area medical advisor for several missions in south America,  He has been so good to visit with us almost any time about what we are going through here.  He has been such a help to know what to watch out for and what to take and when to look for more specialized medical help.  He suggested that we should probably get more help because of the seriousness of Colleen's condition especially because of her diabetes and the needs there to keep her safe and well.  So by Thursday we decided we needed to get help for Colleen so Friday morning after the English class we got in the car and went to San Pedro Sula to a hospital where we send the missionaries that need medical attention.  There they drew blood for labs, did a urine and fecal analysis and gave her IV fluids and medication to settle her stomach.  Her labs all looked good, and after receiving a litre of fluid and the IV nexium, she actually started feeling better.  They prescribed medication to take for the following week and let us go home.  We stopped at Denny's and Colleen actually ate a pretty good meal, the first time in over a week.  She is still taking the medications and is slowly improving.  She is not at 100% yet but she is slowly getting better.  We are so glad that she is feeling better.  I think that her stress level here is creating a lot of her stomach issues,  I am no Dr. but I wouldn't be surprised if she had an ulcer.  If we can survive another 10 months we will be back on our usual diet and we will have a whole new set of stresses to deal with, but at home it will make a big difference in how life goes.  So as of today she is feeling much better, eating almost back to normal and hopefully we will not have to go through that experience again.  They have decent medical care available in San Pedro Sula, nothing like at home but we are grateful for the help we received.  

Funny story, while in Guatemala we bought a bottle of water while we were waiting at the airport, the brand name is "Salva Vida" purified water apparently a national brand of water, since that was the water they had all over there for sale.  Translated to English, the name of the water brand is "Life Saver".  The funny part is that here in Honduras there is a brand of beer made here in Honduras with the name of "Salva Vida" , "Life Saver" how they picked that name for beer is anyone's guess but I thought that was crazy that their beer here has the same brand name as water in Guatemala.  The story in the mission is that there was a sister missionary recently arrived here in Honduras who was from Guatemala who went to the local "pulperia",  the local stores they have everywhere that are like little convenience stores and she asked for a "Salva Vida", they gave here a "Salva Vida"  which is a beer here,  she looked at them and asked, 'Why are you giving me a beer when I asked for a water?"  Well that is what a Salva Vida is here,  it is a beer, 😆😆😆😆😆.  

Picture of the Progreso Zone with President and Hermana Ostler, and picture of the two Hermana's of Tela with Hermana Chappell and Hermana Ostler.  What wonderful memories and experiences we get to have here.  All these missionaries will forever have a piece of our hearts.