Marcos Manzanaras - 6 years later

Marcos is now finishing 2nd grade. Now has his own bed, thanks to Lisa and Bill Pieringer, who are also his Sponsors for school.
Marcos was operated on at St. Charles Hospital for Spina Bifida in September or October, 2003. Marcos lives with his Mother, Jennay, Sisters and Step-Father in a cinder block home, donated to him by the Latin Community who took care of Marcos and built by PPH. His real father, Marcos Tulio Manzanar was killed right after Hurricane Mitch destroyed Honduras, when someone took his bicycle. Marcos Mother was pregnant with Marcos at the time his father died. One year later, November 4, 1999, Marcos was born.

In 2002, Dr. Raul told us about Marcos, who visited his Medical Clinic with his Spina Bifida problem. Dr. Joe Farrell and I visited Marcos and his Grandmother in Dr. Raul's office for an examination that year. At that time, Dr. Joe said that he would make arrangements for Marcos to go to St. Charles Hospital. With the permissions by Bill Casey, then President of St. Charles Hospital, Marcos was accepted for surgery.

This great miracle of Love, caught the eyes of the reporters when Marcos returned to Honduras with Bill Casey and Dr. Joe Farrell. They put Marcos' Homecoming Picture on the front page of the Honduras Newspaper with Bill Casey holding Marcos in the airport and Dr. Joe Farrell and myself looking on. The inside story took the reporters to Marcos Homecoming at his home outside of Sta. Rita.

GREAT MEMORIES.
THANKS TO LUISA AND NENE -- who send food and gifts through me each year.
THANKS BILL AND LISA for continuing helping Marcos by being his Sponsors.

Photos of Marcos in 2002:





(update from Sr. Laurinda)

Update on new offices in Honduras

The heat has not let up for a long time here in Honduras, with a 99% humidity and 115+ in the sun, we have been living a very "steamy" time.

One week after I returned from Honduras the owner of the PPH Office and my home in La Lima, Colonia Oro Verde, came to visit me. He told me that he and his wife need to sell their house to build a house near his work.

Since we were near the end of the month, August, we decided to try to move quickly and thought it would be good to have the house-office in the area of El Progreso since we do most of our PPH business and buying in El Progreso.

We found a house with two bed rooms and bathroom attached by a bath, living-dining room and kitchen. Attached to the house-- but with separate entrance, is an office, with bath and storeroom. It has a fenced-in garage that we have always wanted for my truck. Rent is $60 more each month than what I was paying.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009, with a crew of 6, one large and one small truck, and our two PPH trucks everthing was moved from the La Lima house and into the hew house in El Progreso--three and half hours in a blistering heat.

It is a very good change and we all like the house and area for many reasons.

God bless each of you always.
Peace, Prayers, Love,

Sr. Laurinda

More than 72,000 Poor Patients in 15 Years

Over the past 15 years, our Urraco Clinic has offered professional and caring Health Services, plus health education for the 65,000 plus people who live in the Urraco area for more than 51 villages.

Our Urraco Clinic is PRO-PAPA’s Greatest Mission

I remember a Saturday in 1990 like yesterday. A cattle truck pulled up at our home in Urraco. We lived right across from the Government Health Center. The driver knocked on our door and then he opened the back doors of his cattle truck. There was Dona Maria, with blood all over the truck. She was hemorrhaging profusely.
The Government Health Center was closed. It was Saturday. All Government Health Centers are open Monday through Friday from 7am to 12pm. Often the Centers are closed during the week if there are strikes, or meetings or the staff is visiting villages.
Dona Maria lived in a village, 45 minutes north of Urraco in a stick house 8’ X 8’. No one could come with her. I asked the driver to take us to the emergency ward at the El Progreso Government Hospital and I would pay him. He agreed. The ride was very rough in that cattle truck. Made me wonder how a sick person could take all the bouncing. After a long hour, we arrived at the Emergency Ward. The Doctor on call was busy and there were no extra beds in the Emergency area.

The Doctor told me to put “her” on the floor. He continued to tell me that “she” did not deserve a bed anyway because she probably was bleeding because she was a prostitute. The Doctor did not know Doña Maria or me.

As happened many times in the Government Hospitals, I began to cry. I begged the Doctor to take care of her. The Doctor told me that I would have to buy a list of medical materials that the Hospital did not have before he could examine her. I found everything on the list. When the nurse received the materials, the Doctor began to examine Doña Maria. She had to be admitted and stayed at the Hospital a few days. When I visited her, Doña Maria told me she could not go home until she paid the Hospital fee of Lps. 300 ($15).
Over the years, many similar medical emergencies took place while I lived in Urraco (1988-1995).

In 1992, PRO-PAPA got word that a wealthy man in New York, Jack McCrane wanted to help build a Clinic under the direction of PRO-PAPA’s Foundation in Urraco. He heard about our people’s need for a Medical Clinic that could be open 7 days a week, for 24 hours. Was I dreaming or did I hear correctly? It was true! December 4, 1994, the Urraco Clinic was finished and blessed.
For the last 15 years, since March 15, 1995, patient after patient was taken care of --all hours of the day and night, 365 days each year. Many Babies, Children and Adults near death were saved. Children with terrible Asthma attacks were relieved by our Nebulizor machine or oxygen tank. All kinds of emergencies were taken care of immediately—cuts, gun shot wounds, dehydration, respiratory and urinary infections, high fevers, children with coughs and colds, minor surgeries, terrible allergies, snake, animal bites, stomach or intestinal problems, high blood pressure and diabetes, etc. etc. Our Urraco Clinic has all the necessary medicines and materials thanks to PPMA’s monthly subsidy of $3,000.
The patients who need major surgery, or a Specialist and Mothers with serious birthing problems were stabilized and sent to one of the Government Hospitals—1 to 2 hours from Urraco. Now there are more specialists and surgeons in all Government Hospitals.

The Urraco Clinic is not a free clinic. The Clinic has a Pay Scale for each patient.

Pay entire fee. $2.00 Doctor visit plus Medicines and Hospitalization if needed.
Pay 50% of fee for those who can pay part of the Medical Fee.
Pay nothing -- extremely poor.

Urraco Clinic Expenses each month: 11 Employees: $3,525.00

Medicines: $3,000.00 (PPMA)

Surgical Team Trip Update

In February a surgical brigade team traveled to Honduras. Here's an update on their experiences:

We travelled many miles, laughed a lot, told all kinds of stories, shared our philosophies, our callings, our ideals, etc plus, A mixture of numerous examinations, some serious decisions, some candidates for orthopedic operations, future planning for Surgical Teams at the PROGRESO HOSPITAL and LA ESPERANZA HOSPITAL, traveling to LA ESPERANZA to examine a number of Indians who may be Candidates for future Orthopedic Surgeries there, being with Sr. Margaret's friend, Jim and wife who help run an Orphanage in the State of Sta. Barbara, meetings and meals with the Director, Administration folks and Dr. Ricardo Chinchilla, Honduran Orthopedic Surgeon, tours of the Hospitals and meeting some of the Staff Members, having a "Christmas Day" on top of the Mountain as children appeared from nowhere, visits with the students Sr. Margaret and Anna Marie Sponsor. Actually, being with this Team was a touch of Heaven. I was deeply touched by each one of them--their kindness, solidarity, goodness, generosity, professionalism, love for the people and for each other were outstanding. Many times I felt God's Great Spirit with us.

Suyapa Clinic to celebrate 15th Anniversary

An update from Sister Laurinda:

Greetings from warm to boiling Honduras--at least on the North Coast.

Wanted you to know a little about the Orthopedic Pediatric Examining Team and General Surgeries Team Plans for this year and/or next. There is a lot more to share about that. But the six days Dr. Joe's Team was here were wonderful, successful and hopeful for some future operations for sure.

Also we wanted to share the date we have set for the
CELEBRATION OF THE SUYAPA CLINIC'S 15TH ANNIVERSARY

MARCH 13, 2010 SATURDAY

MIXED WITH A MEDICAL, EYE, DENTAL TEAM GOING TO LA ESPERANZA
after the celebration and a BLITZ BUILD IN URRACO to continue celebrating
March 14-19--HEALTH, HOUSING, AND EDUCATION. (SEE BELOW)

Please let us know any ideas, suggestions, or whatever you may have regarding these ideas. We feel some folks would like to come for the celebration, especially Board Members who have not been in Honduras or Urraco, past volunteers. We would like to offer some vacation days at ROATAN AND/OR COPAN RUINS after the celebration--then go home for those who would like to do this.

Others may want to join the Medical Team or Construction Team. Certainly we would need Team Captains for the Medical, Dental and Eye Team and the Construction Teams.

All for now.
Hoping this finds you well, happy, peaceful, knowing the joy of loving, serving, and being one with our God.

Travel the world and make a difference

Fulfilling dreams through volunteering with Propapa:



- Taylor LaRosa, Long Island, NY

Why are you involved?

As part of a focus on our dedicated volunteers, we've been asking them each, "Why are you involved with Propapa?"


Every year or two I take a group of high school seniors to Urraco to build a home for a family. My greatest joy is watching these privileged Americans defy all teen stereotypes and immerse themselves fully in selfless acts of giving. They spend every available moment with the local children, work hard in the sun and heat, and adapt to every change of food, environment, culture, housing, and circumstance with acceptance and generosity. They always tell me how the trip changes their life. Mine too. Every time.

- Tom Farrell

To view photos, click below:
Photos from Tom's February 2009 Brigade trip

Medical Clinic Walk Through

If you've ever been on a brigade, then this will bring back lots of memories. If you're interested in learning more about the work of Propapa, this walk through of a medical clinic will provide some great visuals of the in-country clinics that are set up on brigade trips to Honduras. Typical brigades include a variety of clinic setups, unique to the available sites, spaces, and village needs.



Thanks to a brigade participant for sharing this video.

Field Clinic Walk Through

If you've ever been on a brigade, then this will bring back lots of memories. If you're interested in learning more about the work of ProPapa, this walk through of the dental clinic will provide some great visuals of the in-country clinics that are set up on brigade trips to Honduras.



Thanks to a brigade participant for sharing this video.

Urraco 2008 Brigade Trip Video

This is photo slide show from a brigade to Urraco, Honduras in April 2008. The photos and story capture the energy and experience of attending a Propapa Brigade trip.



Thanks to a brigade participant for sharing this video.

If you've attended a brigade and have photos or videos to share, please provide a link in the comments section.

Brigade Experience

I write this on Thanksgiving 2008 waiting for family to arrive. My two healthy, beautiful children are home from college. I sit here thinking of my trip several weeks ago to Honduras for Propapa Missions America.

I have a son who has broken two legs and one wrist at different times in his life. American football has not been kind to him. In Honduras, children walk on their ankles with their feet turned in at ninety degrees due to club feet that should have been fixed when they were babies. Is my son any better than the children of third world countries, such as Honduras? Absolutely not, he is just luckier. He was born in a country were first rate medical care was available to him. Many children in this world are not that fortunate. That is just not right.

Our Ortho brigade arrived in Honduras Saturday night. I only knew several of the team prior to going, but by the end of the week I admired and loved every one of them. I have never met such a group of caring, hard working professionals. We all had the same thought, let’s just make a little difference. On this trip I also met the most amazing person ever in my life, Sister Laurinda. Every minute of her life is devoted to these children.

Sunday was clinic day. That is the day where we see the children that are scheduled for surgery during our brigade. X-rays are reviewed, patients are examined and they are told when to report. Fifteen surgeries are scheduled for the week. Surgeries will include several club feet repairs, knee injuries (two teens that have had knee tendon tears from soccer injuries a long time ago) and children that have contracted legs due to Cerebral Palsy.

Word gets around that we are here and people arrive, hoping that we can do something for their children too. Two of these walk-ins stand out.

A mom brought in her young son. He was born with his fingers attached to each other, like a ducks webbed feet. The doctors examined him and then gave the mother the good news, the fingers on the left hand could be detached during this brigade. The surgery on the right hand may be able to be done on a later brigade. The smile on the mom’s face when told we could help was priceless. Tuesday he had his surgery and he did well.








A dad brought in his teenage daughter. She was very skinny and sad. She walked with a terrible limp. Our translator informed me that she does not go to school as she is too embarrassed with the way she walks. Dad had an x-ray and he gave it to the doctors to review. After looking at the film the patient was examined. It was determined that the patient was born with such a deformity in the hip socket area that surgery could not be done. I will never forget the feeling in my gut as I watched dad and his limping daughter walk out the front door, knowing that this young lady is sentenced to a life like that. Had she been born somewhere else, her story may have had a different ending.

Last week I watched my son play football with his college friends, running like the wind, with all that hardware in his leg. I can only think of that teenage girl in Honduras.

- Brigade Member Larry Loewy

PPH was there again because of YOU!

In an update from Honduras:

THE ANGRY RIVERS, CANALS AND FLOOD GATES could take no more. In early October, 2008, the destruction began again. The rain pounded on our tin roofs so hard that the sound became sickening. Now the entire country was beginning to feel the affects. The rainy days turned to weeks then months. Even the area of the PPH Office was threatened as the water reached the edge of the banks of the five- year- old River built by the Japanese. I asked my neighbors, “Where do we go when the water comes.” The answer was--since we can’t get out, we have to go up where we can in anyone’s home or our roofs. This lasted only three days and nights. And we did not have to leave our homes although many did.

The highway from San Pedro to El Progreso was crowded with plastic shelters. Any school, center or church that was dry was used as a refuge in the entire country where it was flooding..

The Modern Day Blessings immediately became the beacon of hope. Cellular phones, emails, TV stations, reporters were getting word out to everyone where people were suffering the most. Phyllis Casey was with me constantly during the entire ordeal, telling me about the donations coming to PPMA that could be transferred.

Word came from Urraco asking me to try to contact the El Progreso TV station. With fear in my heart, I started out for El Progreso.. It was dark and some lanes were not flooded on the highway. When I told Juan Bendeck, the owner of Canal 48, he asked me to talk on the TV. I told the viewers there was no food for the newcomers who just arrived in Urraco. Simultaneously a huge truck drove up from a Progreso Bread Co. with sandwiches. Juan sent them to Urraco in the dark, in the water. What a joy to get the phone call an hour later saying that the truck actually arrived at our Clinic Warehouse in Urraco where 300 women and children were not being housed. There was enough food to feed them all from Pavon II and I and other flooded areas.

Most people had to evacute their homes for a month or more in Urraco—70% of the families, Pavon II and Pavon I—all the families, Esterio Indio, 80%, Batan, 80%, Aldea 28 and 29, 30%, Mealer and Cayo 70%, La Fragua, 50% and Vera Cruz, 90%. Just to mention a few that some of you know well. Naturally there were many more in our area.

Besides the $11,215 that we received from PRO-PAPA MISSION AMERICA donors, help also came from Honduras businesses, churches, TV stations, individuals, Police, Military, the Honduran Emergency Committee called COPECO.. Several times, Honduran people stopped me to give me clothes for the people in Urraco. I saw individual cars stopping on the highway to share plates of food with the people who were in the plastic shelters there.

As ULUA RIVER came more and more angry, all of Urraco was threathened. We made the decision to buy 3,000 large sacks and sand to fill them. Men, women, children, young and old worked around the clock to prevent ULUA from flooding the center of Urraco.

Our Clinic was able to see 950 patients GRATIS during this time, with the help of the donations received. We were also able to help buy food that was cooked by a group at the Catholic Church, St. Anthony. Fr. Chavelo, the Pastor and the Team worked around the clock on a four burner stove. 2,700 plates of food were prepared daily with a total of 64,800 plates for 24 days. Another group of Volunteers from a Church in el Progreso also cooked around the clock and delivered food daily to our area.

COPECO, the Emergency Committee in SPS called Benigno Ramirez, our PPH President, telling him that had 15,000 little boxes of milk for the poorest children in our area. With PPMA donations we were able to hire trucks to get the milk in SPS and deliver it to the poorest in and around Urraco. COPECO also delivered sacks of food for 250 families in the Military trucks, 250 cylinders of gas for the poor and 110, 6” pipes to help finish the Water Project for Urraco and the 6 communities connected to the Water system. Now we only lack 36 pipes to reach the source of the water in the mountains.

The stories are too many to share here. Driving into Urraco is still a challenge with the main entrance closed due to deep holes and 2-3 feet of very wet mud. One has to take a route north to get into Urraco from the North side.

How can we thank you again?

The generous donations came quickly from our PPMA/PPH friends. . .

Recently a Church in Indiana, PA helped pay some pending emergency bills with their large donation. .

We got constant emails telling us of prayers, solidarity, that they were trying to find donations, wanting to do more for our Honduran friends many of you know so well.

To all who donated for the flood Victims—THANKS A MILLION.

For any of you who would like to help keep our incredible 24 hour PRO-PAPA Health Center to continue our health services the poorest, please continue to donate for our Clinic this 2009. Any amount will help--$10, $20, $50, $100, $500. If you want to spread the word to others please do. We are celebrating the 14th Anniversary of our Clinic in March 2009. We need your help to buy the needed medicines. Please help. The aftermath of the flood, rains continually brings all kinds of sicknesses, especially to the young and elderly.

Yesterday, I was at our Clinic when a Mother was receiving help for her two little girls. Both suffered an asthma attack at the same time--a very common illness in Urraco especially after rains, floods, dampness, and all the dust, etc. The happy look on the Mother’s face told me so much. She was so relieved as she took her girls home. She thanked the Doctor over and over for all she did.
Immediately after this, a Father brought in his little boy who fell off his bike and had a bad cut on his forehead. The Doctor and nurse rushed the little boy to the Clinic’s Emergency Roomto clean and stitch the wound. The Father said to me—Sor Laurinda, I thank God and your organization for this Clinic. Where would I have gone on December 31 for help?

Where would people go in the middle of the night when sickness strikes their child?

Where do they take an elderly woman whose blood pressure is dangerously high?

Where does a poor husband take his pregnant wife who is in labor late at night or any other time? Our Suyapa Clinic has helped save hundreds of lives over the years.

THANKS FOR HELPING US HELP THE POOREST IN OUR SUYAPA CLINIC! GOD BLESS YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE -- WILL DO!