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MISSION PREDISAN • CATACAMAS, HONDURAS • WWW.PREDISAN.ORG
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SPECIAL PREDISAN
MESSAGE
U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT LIFTS TRAVEL ADVISORY. IF YOUR TRIP LAST YEAR WAS CANCELLED, PLEASE COME THIS YEAR!
THE NEW YEAR AND A NEW DAY HAVE COME TO HONDURAS! We are filled with renewed hope and faith, and have GREAT NEWS!
On Dec. 8, the U.S. State Department completely lifted the TRAVEL ALERT for Honduras! We will once again we able to welcome all the great friends and groups from the U.S. who work with us on vital projects.
And, on Jan. 27, Porfirio (Pepe) Lobo was peacefully sworn in as Honduras' new president, ending months of political turmoil! If you had to cancel your trip last year because of the political unrest, PLEASE plan to come this year!
Another wonderful development is the return of Dr. Amanda Madrid to Honduras, as planned, to serve as our medical director! For the past three years Amanda has worked with Predisan-USA and Oklahoma Christian University in the U.S. She recently welcomed her first grandchild, Leyla Rebekah Madrid, daughter of Marcos and Rebekah.
As you experience the new year, we pray every good thing for you and your family in 2010.
FOR CONFIRMATION THAT THE TRAVEL ALERT IS LIFTED:
CLICK HERE FOR A U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT E-MAIL.
CLICK FOR ALL OUR LATEST NEWS:
PREDISAN NEWSLETTER - WINTER 2010
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FAMILY ALBUM: Latest Photos of the Predisan Staff
FROM THE NEWSLETTER: AMANDA AT WASPARANI INAUGURATION:
Dr. Amanda Madrid at the inauguration of a new water system in El Porvenir in Wasparani. She is presenting Don Celsor Flores, town council president, a portion of a ribbon from a ribbon cutting.
FROM THE NEWSLETTER: BERTHA'S STORY:
Bertha Euceda was gravely ill, and this single mother of five (below) found medical treatment and love at Predisan. A surgical brigade from Jackson Healthcare, Atlanta, performed surgery on her for a malignant tumor. They also took Bertha into their hearts. One Jackson volunteer, Ed McEachern, arranged for a prayer shawl to be made for her. The Predisan staff reached out to her and her family. Below, Bertha proudly shows off the prayer shawl.
2009 WALKS RAISE MORE THAN $350,000
The 2009 Walks for Honduras raised $350,000 to help those in need in Honduras, and more than 1,800 Predisan friends walked or donated in Chattanooga, Atlanta, OKC and Dallas.
Thank you wonderful Predisan friends for the $352,611 donated to the four walks in Chattanooga, Atlanta, OKC and Dallas! This total was very close to the amount raised last year, and that's despite the economic crisis, the political crisis, and Predisan's being without a development officer. That says volumes about the love and spirit of the Predisan family. Total walk participants numbered 1,848 – walkers, phantom walkers, donors and sponsors – a huge increase over the 1,100 participants last year! This outpouring of love for the people of Honduras will enable Predisan-USA to finish the 2009 fiscal year in the black and repay monies borrowed from Mission Predisan's small reserves. We thank God for all of you and your amazing hearts!
Above, The annual tradition of the Oklahoma City Walk wave.
Above, Kyle Huhtanen, Predisan's wonderful director of international relations, enjoys the Atlanta Walk along with a young participant, who carried a baby doll to represent the mothers who carry their children long distances to Predisan's mountain clinics. Kyle, his wife, Bety, and baby daughter Mia were in Atlanta for several weeks for a furlough with their sponsoring congregation, the Northlake church, Tucker, Ga.
NEW CONGREGATION IN TULIO MOYA
This young boy lives in Tulio Moya, a very poor barrio outside Catacamas. Last summer,
Santos Espinoza, director of spiritual development, and his family began a new congregation there.
It meets twice weekly under a spreading tree next to a small home with a dirt floor. Today, through Predisan's work, this boy has access not only to medical care, but to the story of Jesus.
ENRIQUE WALKS AGAIN!
HONDURAS, KENTUCKY, ATLANTA: It truly took a village of Predisan friends from all over to save Enrique Pagoada from a life-threatening infection and help him walk again!
Enrique Pagoada's long journey began when a drunk driver hit him on his motorcycle in Catacamas. His leg was crushed and broken, and lack of sufficient care resulted in the amputation of his leg below the knee. But with that, Enrique's troubles had only begun.
READ MORE: ENRIQUE WALKS
MORE NEWS AND YOUTUBE VIDEO COVERAGE
KEYDY'S FAMOUS SMILE
PREDISAN HAS BEEN BLESSED BY THE WORK AND SPIRIT of longtime employee Keydy Flores (left), who was baptized this spring as part of her growing life of faith. Keydy Flores arrived at Predisan's door in 1998 as an 18-year-old in order to complete a required month's practicum for a vocational degree as a bilingual secretary. A year later, a secretarial position in Predisan was open and Keydy was hired as the new secretary.
READ MORE: SPOTLIGHT: KEYDY'S FAMOUS SMILE
YURI'S STORY: Her life began with a mother trapped in drug abuse
FOR THE FIRST SIX YEARS OF HER LIFE, Yuri Faviola Hernandez was raised by a mother trapped in drug abuse, alcohol use and prostitution in Honduras' capital city, Tegucigalpa. Eventually, her aunt, who lives outside Catacamas near Predisan, interceded and took Yuri to raise in her own household. But it, also, was fraught with trouble.
REACHING THE POOREST OF THE POOR: Santa Rita Barrio
A pilot program in Santa Rita barrio trains local leaders - from a patriarch to a bright teenager - to identify the sick and refer them for medical care. (Above, Predisan nurse Frank Lopez leaves the last training session.)
ALL ARNOLD WANTED WAS A BETTER LATRINE
His desire was to have a better latrine for his family, and a Georgia church and new friends supply that and much more.
OUR DAY IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH KYLE
The day started very early for the five gringos heading to the mountains with Kyle Huhtanen, Predisan missionary and leader in Predisan's growing Healthy Communities Program.
It was an early 6 a.m. when Kyle Huhtanen and trusted driver Don Gil Martinez loaded us up, and we began our bumpy and winding journey across hill and river. Kyle was generous to share his day with us, visitors from Oklahoma City and Atlanta.
Our Land Cruiser stopped often as he greeted community leaders, consulted quickly with mountain residents or checked on work progress. He is viewed, obviously, with affection and respect.
So what did we do that day? We stopped early at the Las Cabas mountain clinic, and met nurse Marlen Soto as she walked up the hill to open the clinic for the day. Then we were on to CEDECO, Predisan's mountain work center, where a delicious breakfast was waiting.
We spent a large part of the day at the Froylan Turcios elementary school where nurse Irene Ramirez, Predisan health worker Alvaro Escobar and others were involved in the Healthy Schools Program. Each child received a fluoride treatment, a basic physical exam and a height and weight check, plotted on a growth chart.
Local mothers prepared the daily snack, a vital supplement to the children's diet.
Later, Kyle led some of us on a narrow path uphill and down to the home of a woman renown for her clay pottery. Kyle hopes to help her market it as a source of much-needed income. We saw latrines and other projects Predisan and local citizens have partnered on, and heard about the work of Bernardo Cobos, Predisan's new mountain chaplain.
As we rode along, Kyle talked and we listened. His passion for the Healthy Communities Program - a collection of initiatives that partner Predisan's people with local citizens to bring physical, spiritual, and economic health to the 49 communities Predisan serves - is great. We were inspired at his commitment and his ability, with the Lord's help, to make wonderful things happen.
We returned to Catacamas, dusty, sore, tired and deeply thankful that Kyle had shared his day with us. – Lindy Adams
Above, Kyle at the mountain school with Irene Ramirez, one of the first nurses Predisan trained for the mountains. Kyle is supported by the Northlake church, Tucker, Ga.
To donate by Paypal or Credit Card, click below.
Mail checks to Predisan-USA, 1625 Cooledge Road, Tucker, GA 30084.
DONATE ONLINE HERE
Mission Predisan • Catacamas, Honduras
In 2007, Predisan provided more than 42,000 health and educational contacts through our nine clinics and health centers.
We thank God for all of you whose donations and sacrificial service have sustained us!
Martha Rivera, executive director
Doña Doris Clark, founding missionary
Dr. Amanda Madrid, medical director
Kyle Huhtanen, missionary, and director of international relations
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