Many of you are familiar with our dear friends Mama and Papa Jones (Marie and Leonard) who operate Casa Cielo near Cacao, Honduras. Some of you are also aware that Marie’s nephew, Jaimito, was the victim of a kidnapping in Mexico in early June of this year. During one of our visits to Casa Cielo Papa had told us about how the entire family was so distressed. I just found out that the family did manage to pay the ransom, but the kidnappers killed Jaimito anyway. Mama is just back from the memorial service in Queretaro, Mexico.

Reflecting on this tragedy, Mama writes “We have made a commitment to the Lord that the 24 children that we have in Casa Cielo, the children in this village, and the surrounding ones WILL have an opportunity!!! We hope to make a difference and prevent the future generations from being polluted by delinquency that would lead them to commit crimes. The Solution is to create an environment:

WHERE the word of God is shared with children

WHERE they are educated to believe in themselves

WHERE they know that they have potential to do great exploits!!!

Mary and I have been so very blessed to have witnessed the wonderful work that is being done by Mama and Papa, and their daughter Joy and daughter Jeannie and son-in-law Dell at the Casa Cielo orphanage and the Christian Institute of Creative Learning (the bi-lingual school that is associated with Casa Cielo). Their dedication to the children in their care and their commitment to the Lord is a true inspiration. Mama’s response to the violence and corruption that plagues the entire third world is so consistent with her lifelong ministry. They will continue to raise up Christian leaders amidst the turmoil. Working through the “Touch the World” organization, you can choose to sponsor a child’s education. Go to www.touchtheworld.org  and click on donate, and choose Honduras child sponsorship. Or you may contact me directly. I have brochures that are child specific. You or your small group or Sunday School class can select a child and sponsor that child’s education for $40 per month.

PRAYER WARRIORS NEEDED

Mary and I are in the process of planning and preparing for our 2012 mission trips with the Alabama Honduras Medical Educational Network. At this point we expect to spend two weeks in March in the Garifuna villages of Limon and Plan de Flores on the northern coast. We’ll do eye clinics and oversee a project to install vented cook stoves and water filtration systems. We’ll then return to Belaire, Honduras, for three weeks during June to work with the people of the cloud forest. Our primary focus during the first two weeks time will be to conduct eye clinics. The third week we’ll be trying to facilitate the filming of a documentary. Our late summer trip is usually to the edge of the Moskitia but this year we think we’ll be traveling with an exploratory team for a couple of weeks. Our immediate task is to solicit prayer warriors. We need persons willing to commit to praying that God’s will be expressed and His love shown during these missions.  Let us know if you are willing to do this and we’ll put you on our list.      

The AHMEN Eye-Care Program needs an ophthalmology surgical microscope

Over the past six years AHMEN’s Extended Eye Care Program has made considerable progress in our ability to measure visual acuity and fit both near and far vision glasses. Today our eye care teams can deploy our mobile unit anywhere with reasonable road access. Using Kendall Optometry Ministry’s handheld autorefractor and computer aided technology we are able to match a patient’s optometric needs with one or more pairs of clean, used glasses that we carry within our inventory of 3840 pairs of donated glasses. Whenever we find that we do not have a pair of used glasses that will help the patient see, we can often build a pair using our backup system of “Harry Potter” style frames and lenses. Recently we have launched a program whereby we train community agents in the SIFAT/AHMEN Leadership Training Initiative to use both positive and negative single vision glasses to provide good approximate fits for persons needing glasses in areas too remote to access with our larger mobile unit. In addition we helped computerize the eye glasses clinic at the Hospital Loma de Luz and we have equipment to establish one or more permanent eye care clinics in the future. Employing this more flexible approach augmented with a cadre of well trained volunteers within several AHMEN teams, today we do a pretty good job of fitting eyeglasses.

The standard protocol that we use includes several tests that permit us to detect problems that glasses alone will not help. Cataracts, Pterygia and Strabismus are most common amongst these. Since we are not trained professionals, we refer these cases to in-country ophthalmologists who may in turn schedule some surgeries for visiting U.S. surgical teams that periodically come to Honduras. This approach has not been as successful since the in-country physicians will only examine a few patients one at a time each year from AHMEN.  Moreover, each patient, or an AHMEN team, must first pay travel expenses, hotel and food costs, plus exam fees for one or more visits before being scheduled for surgery. This solution is entirely too expensive and extremely insufficient considering the urgent need.  Cataracts are so prevalent that 20 – 30 % of our adult patients are affected. Children with strabismus, and it is all too common, must have corrective surgery by the time they are seven years old, else they will lose sight in the aberrant eye.  Even if we could get the children scheduled early enough, this would incorporate double the expense as each child would be accompanied by an adult.

For several years we have searched for a better solution. Last year we met Dr. Young Choi, an ophthalmologist from Birmingham. Dr. Choi is a mission minded Christian who has been looking to establish a continuing presence within the two-thirds world. We took Young on a tour of the facilities at Loma de Luz and introduced him to Dr. Jeff McKenney, the founder of the hospital. At that time it was agreed that Young, and other ophthalmologists that he would recruit, could use Loma de Luz’s staff and surgery unit to perform eye surgeries on needy patients within AHMEN’s general service area. To complete this arrangement we must acquire and ship an ophthalmology surgical microscope to Loma de Luz. 

Since that time we have been looking for an affordable microscope that we can dedicate to this effort. New scopes cost between $20 – 35K and are clearly out of our reach. Recently, however, Young has identified a used microscope at a Birmingham area surgical unit and has just discovered this morning that we can purchase it for $8,000. We have received donations and pledges for $4,100. We need $3,900 more. We would like to purchase this microscope in time to have it boxed and in the AHMEN warehouse in Decatur, AL by October 22, 2011 so that it can be shipped on our Christmas container. If you would like to contribute, or are willing to conduct some form of fund raiser, please let me know.  If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to the AHMEN Eye Program, please mail the check to us:

Mary or Hugh Guffey

8088 County Road 22

Waverly, AL  36879

AGENDA

Alabama Honduras Medical Educational Network

Agenda

Annual Meeting September 30 – October 1, 2011

SIFAT Lodge, Lineville, AL

According to the United Nations, Dirty water is killing more people than wars and other violence. The UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) states there are annually “2.2 million people whose deaths are attributed to diarrhea, mostly from dirty water, and 1.8 million children aged under five who succumb to water-borne diseases every year. This equates to one infant every 20 seconds.” The agenda for Friday afternoon focuses exclusively on positive actions that AHMEN teams can take to combat the number one killer in the two-thirds world. It is imperative that every potential team have persons in attendance during this time.

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Friday, September30, 2011

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Noon till 3:30 PM – Early Bird Reception and Registration.

Attendees arrive, register, pay fees, receive name tags and lodging assignments, and mingle with other attendees in hospitality area.

Peggy Polhemus is responsible for providing coffee and refreshments in the Snack Bar area of the Lodge. If you would like to help with refreshments, please contact Peggy . Lou Altman is responsible for taking reservations for the meeting. Please notify Lou as to how many people you are bringing . Linda Tripp is the registrar. Please pay in check or cash upon arrival at the meeting.                     Full Package (Cookout, Lodging, Breakfast and Lunch) - $45                    Day Package (Full Package without Lodging) - $35                    All day Saturday (Breakfast and Lunch) - $25                    Saturday (Lunch only) - $15

3:30 PM – Invocation and Review of the Most Recent Board of Directors Meeting.

Invocation is to be given by Larry “Bucket” Guthrie. Richard Bowie is to offer a report on the September 8, 2011 Board of Directors’ meeting. Tom Camp will also have a roll call of teams. Each team is asked to indicate their best estimate as to when and where their teams will go to Honduras during 2012.

4:00 PM – “Worms and Germs”

A presentation of an informative handout and video for team use. Presented  by Lela Aaron-Vicente.

4:30 PM – Bio-Sand Filtration.

Presentation of a video on the program to date. Q&A on setup, maintenance and acceptance of the filters. Presented by Cliff Hardy, Joe Jones and Tim Rodgers.

5:30 PM – Bonfire and Outdoor Weiner Roast.

Before adjourning to the outside, Bucket Guthrie will return our thanks for our food and our manifold blessings. Outside we will enjoy roasting hotdogs on an open fire. S’mores will be our dessert.       The SIFAT staff and their families will be our very special guests. If available, the most honored amongst our guests will be Sarah and Ken Corson, co-founders of Servants in Faith and Technology.

Arrangements and conduct of the cookout will be made by the 316 Fellowship of Hoover, Alabama. Anyone wishing to help with setup or cleanup contact Pat or Cindy Richards .

6:30 PM – Progressive Round Table Discussions.

A principal activity for the Friday evening session will be the group’s participation in a series of round table discussions. Seven distinct discussion areas will be set up within the lodge area. Each of these designated areas will be moderated by an AHMEN member. We will begin the first round of discussions at 6:30PM and then will call for a rotation to another table and topic area every 30 minutes thereafter until four rotations are completed. Thus participants are to select the four of the seven topics that are of most interest to them.

The purpose of these discussions is not necessarily to find solutions to any problems, but to explore the problem and stimulate thought on the topic. The moderator for each table will keep notes and make a summary report to the complete group on Saturday. This exercise will conclude at 8:30 PM. The topics and moderators are listed below:

Discussion Topic	AHMEN Moderator
Table #1: Best Pharmacy Practices – Providing the right meds without killing anyone.	Bruce McFadden
Table #2: Recruiting Honduran Doctors, Dentists, Pharmacists – dangers and safeguards.	Cindy Richards
Table #3: Managing Teams – recruiting members, splitting teams, revitalizing dwindling teams, starting a team from scratch.	Jean Boshell
Table #4: Financing Teams and Projects – fundraising, allocating costs, grants, endowments.	Ezekiel Nichols
Table #5: Attracting/Incorporating Local Volunteers – Shalom girls, community agents, pastors, LDS “Elders”	Bucket Guthrie
Table #6: Soliciting Young People to Go on Mission Trips – Advantages, potential pitfalls and suggested precautions.	Casey Farrington
Table #7: The Need for Treatment Protocols and Standardized Record Keeping – Advantages, difficulties and potential approaches.	Mary Guffey Lynn Giedinghagen

8:30 PM – Break and Networking.

Participants are invited to mingle and to enjoy refreshments in the hospitality area.

8:45 PM – Evening Devotional.

Larry “Bucket” Guthrie will lead a brief devotional for those attendees who wish to participate.

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Saturday, October 1, 2011

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6:30 AM – Coffee and Voluntary Devotional.

7:30 AM – Breakfast in SIFAT Dining Hall

8:30 AM – Registration for Saturday Attendees only

9:00 AM – Invocation and Presentation of the “State of the Organization”.

Invocation to be given by Larry “Bucket” Guthrie. Tom Camp will outline the order and “rules” of the day’s presentations then briefly report on recent actions by the BOD and plans for 2012. This will include presenting plans for container shipments and also a report on the probable dates and locations for teams during 2012.

9:15 AM – Summary Reports for each of the Round Table Moderators:

·         Best Pharmacy Practices – Bruce McFadden

·         Recruiting Honduran Doctors, Dentists, Pharmacists – Cindy Richards

·         Managing Teams – Jean Boshell

·         Financing Teams and Projects – Zeke Nichols

·         Attracting/Incorporating Local Volunteers - Bucket Guthrie

·         Soliciting Young People to Go on Mission Trips - Casey Farrington

·         The Need for Treatment Protocols and Standardized Record Keeping – Mary Guffey and Lynn Giedinghagen

Team and Project Reports: Presenters are encouraged to focus upon any specifically unique aspect, opportunity or problem confronted by the team. Emphasis should be placed more on sharing “what you learned” rather than simply “what you did”.

10:00 AM - Report from Team Belarie. Gregg Rushton presenting.

10:10 AM - Report from the Spring “River Excursion” Team. Bruce McFadden reporting.

10:20 AM - Report on the 316 Fellowship Team. Pat and Cindy Richards reporting.

10:30 AM – Presentation/Update on the AHMEN/SIFAT Initiative – Status of first class of Community Agents. Potential plans to expand the program. Michael Franklin reporting. To include 5 minutes of Q&A.

10:50 AM – Report from “It’s a God Thing” Team. Bucket reporting.

11:00 AM –Presentation on Heartprints 4 Honduras. Presented by Leisha Boulware  .

11:10 AM - Report from Utila/La Esperanza. Tom Camp presenting.

11:20 AM - Report on the Limon Nurture Center - Anna Hines-Capron reporting.

11:30 AM - Report on the “Jane Cox” Team. Peggy Polhemus presenting.

11:40 AM –  Report from La Ermita “Feed my Sheep” Team. CD and Linda Tripp reporting.

11:50 AM – Blessing offered for the noon meal by Rev. Dale Hyche.

Noon till 1:00 PM Lunch will be served in the SIFAT Dining Hall.

1:00 PM –  Meeting Reconvenes - Praise Music. Kala Cooper and Michelle Hallmark.

1:10 PM – Report on the Christmas Shoebox Project. Rev. Ray Crump reporting.

1:20 PM – Report from the 2011 International Medical Seminar at Ciriboya. Tom Arnold presenting.

1:30 PM –  Report on the Deaf School. Lela Aaron-Vicente reporting.

1:40 PM –  Report on the Sewing Schools. Lou Altman reporting.

 1:50 PM – Report on the Extended Eye-Care Program – Plans for the future. “guf” Guffey presenting.

2:00 PM – Report on Stop Hunger Now - Paul Renaud reporting.    

2:10 PM –  Report on the August Team to Limon, Cusuna, Pueblo Nuevo and Palacios. Lexie Hilton reporting.

2:20 PM –  Presentation of the BUV (Basic Utility Vehicle) collaborative with Calera HS. Presented by Peggy Polhemus and Brian Copes. To include 5 minutes of Q&A.

2:40 PM –  Presentation/Update on UMVIM. Designating selected AHMEN projects as UMVIM projects – advantages.  Implications of traveling under UMVIM auspices.  Cristin Farrington presenting. To include 5 minutes of Q&A.

3:00 PM – Report from the “Baptist Connection” Team. Richard Bowie reporting.

3:10 PM – ROC (Reach Out and Care) wheelchairs report. Rev. Ray Crump reporting.

3:20 PM – – Report from Ceiba/Roatan Team.  Debra Rodgers reporting.

3:30 PM – Summary, Announce the winners of the Silent Auction and Dismissal. Tom Camp. 

This table lists the specific Work Area Captains for the 2011 AHMEN Annual Meeting and their contact information.
AREA	CAPTAIN
Hospitality: Procuring supplies and overseeing snack bar. Preparing morning coffee and refilling snacks.	Peggy Polhemus
Friday Night Cookout: Procuring hotdogs (buns and condiments), chips, baked beans, drinks and s’mores. Build and extinguish fire. Also provide setup and cleanup.	Pat Richards
Note Takers/Minutes: Record minutes of the meeting for both Friday night and all day Saturday. Produce final minutes for posting on the website.	Mary Guffey
Preregistration Notification and Publicity: Contact 2009 and 2010 attendees, team and project leaders. Establish estimates of number of participants in each aspect of meeting.	Lou Altman
Registration: Record attendees (names and contact information) at the meeting and issue name tags.	Linda tripp
Collect Money: Collect all fees at time of registration. Full Package - $45 All day Saturday - $25 Saturday lunch only - $15	Peggy Polhemus
IT Committee: Receive any audio/visual aids from presenters prior to the meeting. Check these and have them ready for each individual presentation.	Bruce McFadden
Photographers/Videographers: Document the entire meeting experience – presentations, fellowship, etc.  Candid shots.
Devotional Leader: Arrange for Friday evening and Saturday morning devotionals, invocations at beginning of each segment of meetings, blessings of all meals.	Larry “Bucket” Guthrie Email via Laura Faull
Moderators of Revolving Round Table Discussions: Each moderator will briefly introduce the discussion topic and solicit comments/observations from attendees. Moderators will not attempt to influence the discussion. Each moderator will summarize all the inputs from participants and make a brief report on Saturday to the entire group. Participants will select four of the seven topics to attend.	Table #1: Best Pharmacy Practices – Providing the right meds without killing anyone. Bruce McFadden Table #2: Recruiting Honduran Doctors, Dentists, Pharmacists – dangers and safeguards. Randy Lee Table #3: Managing Teams – recruiting members, splitting teams, revitalizing dwindling teams, starting a team from scratch. Jean Boshell Table #4: Financing Teams and Projects – fundraising, allocating costs, grants, endowments.      Ezekiel Nichols   Table #5: Attracting/Incorporating Local Volunteers – Shalom girls, community agents, pastors, LDS “Elders” Bucket Guthrie  Table #6: Soliciting Young People to Go on Mission Trips – Advantages, potential pitfalls and suggested precautions. Casey Farrington Table #7: The Need for Treatment Protocols and Standardized Record Keeping – Advantages, difficulties and potential approaches. Mary Guffey and Lynn Giedinghagen
Miscellaneous: Be responsible for everything else.	“guf” Guffey