“Dude, you gotta come over here now!” Peter interrupted, as I was seeing my 3rd patient of my Honduran career. ‘Lo siento, un momento por favor,” I told her—sorry, just a moment. Peter was seeing a little guy, 5 yrs old, with a ‘lump’ on his head. “Tropical medicine, man, whatcha think? “Human Botfly, I fired.” “Bingo,” Peter confirmed.
We grabbed Maria, the 3rd year resident, and scrutinized the lump a bit more. There was a little opening, which Peter explained was the air hole. “Let’s open it up and squeeze em’ out.” Maria cut an opening and we did some squeezing, but to no avail. I started to wonder if it was just a sebacious cyst (an overactive oil gland). As Maria pulled some membrane to the surface, I was more convinced it was a cyst. But then a plump, squirmy Botfly Maggot emerged at the end of her forceps, the size of a pistachio.
That. Was. AWESOME!!!!
When I arrived this morning at the hospital the plan was for me to shadow Isaac, to continue to learn the flow of how things work here. My first official day on the job is this coming Monday, so all week I have been trying to prepare for that moment. However, when Peter poked his head into Isaacs office and said they were buried with patients today, I offered to carry some load, and they were happy to have the help.
I am supposed to have a helper next week to assist me with some interpretation until my Spanish improves a bit. But since this was not planned, I had to just dive into to the ice cold river. One lady I saw got my attention, because it was a perfect example of how our emotional situation can affect our physical body.
She told me that she had 3 problems. Pain in her throat, headache, and pain in her abdomen. When did this all start? A month ago…
Hmmm. So I went through all my stomach pain questions. Does eating exacerbate it, is your period normal, are you having and urinary problems, do you have nausea or weight loss, et? No to all of these.
Then, thank Goodness, she offered to me that her husband had recently died of a brain tumor. (Cancer seems to be more common down her, BTW). ‘Oh, I’m so sorry, when did that happen?” —“a month ago.” Jah Veo (oh, I see!)
She was having tremendous grief, which was causing her to have stomach pain/gastritis with reflux (acid going up your throat) which caused her throat pain. She also had a headache which is common with grief and depression. I expressed how sorry I was that this had happened, and she allowed me to pray for her (In mostly English). I set her up for some treatment of her acid reflux, and more importantly I had her go to the ‘Consejeria,’ which is the counsellor who prays with each patient and gives them some guidance. She will return in a month and we will see how she is doing.
This sweet woman was a good reminder that there are key pieces of a person’s history that we need to extract if we are to competently treat a whole person. We are made of body, mind and spirit, we are not just a hunk of tissue that functions independent of our soul. We are fearfully and wonderfully made…
And now, some more pictures…
This is the “Dirty-Booty Bad Girls club” left to right, Kenzi Stockton, Juliet Moultray, Kenna Stocktion, Carolina Cash, and Koley Stockton. These girls be BadA**…
Kenna Stockton taking a run down our organic mud slip-n-slide
This Iguana showed up in our front yard. Hard to tell, but he’s about 3 feet long. I tried to catch him and he took off like a jackrabbit. He was so quick! Game on, Mr. Iguana, you going’ down… I will find a way, and I will catch you. like a butterfly, oh wild butterfly, I will collect you and capture you.
TeeHee. That monkey has really big Nards…
This is a Honduran traffic Jam
So, this is a fence. What you do to make a fence is cut off or gather branches and stick them in the ground, then attach barbwire to them. However, when you live in such a wet and fertile place, your poles come alive, like fence-post zombies. They are sprouting new trees and limbs. It’s alive! ALIVE!
Big Ol’ Toad we caught. about the size of your fist.
Typical transportation situation. Can’t quite see the guy sitting on the bag of goods, sitting on the seat of the motorcycle on the right.
Playin’ some twister at the Hotz home, with Maddy and Josiah, ages 3 and 1 1/2.
This is a ‘prescription from God for Anxiety,’ that one of the docs likes to give folks. Matthew, Phillipians, and 1st Peter. Check them out, especially Philipians 4:6-8, one of my favorites.
Cool beetle. This is not one of the big ones here, but mark my word, I will find one of the Rhinoceros Beetles and share it with Y’all. I am assured we will see them.
Until next time 🙂 Hasta Pronto
Moultraysbuildanark.com 
That maggot looks like some sushi. Sweet buttery jesus that is amazing. Love the pics.
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Rod,
hey man, thanks for the note! yeah, next maggot I find I just might need to dice up and try with a little salsa, eh?
cheers!
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Love it Moults! You’re doing incredible stuff. What an amazing adventure–keep posting!
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Matt, Hey buddy, good to hear from you, Chappy! How are you and your family doing? I regret to say I have not kept up with the ‘gang,’ although I did get to connect with Tim this past Fall, just before he and his wife had their daughter. Was cool to hang out. So I believe you are practicing Law, but I can’t remember what kind. Let me tell you, there is probably a ton of work that you could do down here—so many justice issues going on… However, I’m not sure it would be as safe for a lawyer here as for a doctor—apparently the drug cartels react swiftly to any perceived threats. That would be bad.
But anyway, thanks for checking out the blog, its been fun to write. I’m getting busier, so unfortunately it may be a little less active.
Take care buddy, good chattin’ with you 🙂
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Ryan and Heidi, Denny ans I are thoroughly enjoying your blog. So proud of both of you and your beautiful family.
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Hi Barb, thanks for following our adventure! Thank you for your encouragement as well. We will try to keep up with the Blog, it’s been fun to share all our discoveries. Hope you all are doing well, Blessings! -Ryan
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I check for new posts daily! Thanks for sharing your humor, your family, and your example of the amazing joy, journey and adventure God presents when you follow His call. Blessings!
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Awesome posts! We check for new ones daily! Thanks for sharing your humor, your family, and your example of the amazing joy, journey and adventure God presents when you follow His call. Blessings!
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Scott, thanks for following our adventures, and for the encouraging words! I know you understand how mind-blowing it is to insert yourself in a 3rd world country and walk in their shoes a little (can’t remember if you and mason went to el salvador, or somewhere else?) Anyway, hope you guys are doing well. I’ll try to stay up with the blog…
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So glad you are all doing well! Praying for you!! The Berremans
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Cool not fly! Loving your stories and a little jealous! We miss you guys!
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Ross, great to hear from you, thanks for the message.
We miss you all as well, hopefully my patients are behaving. This experience so far is blowing my mind… I know you understand from your visits to Africa, which has even less resources I think.
I will say this, it is definitely recharging my batteries. I love the medicine here, it’s so raw and real. And the people are appreciative and in great need. It’s weird to be the ‘ivory tower’ that people get referred to, and I am the last stop on their journey, the specialist for all things internal medicine… scary 🙂
Take care friend, Blessings to all, talk to you soon.
Ryan
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Wow! It looks like you are adjusting. We miss you guys and we are praying for you everyday. Natalie wants to know if she can send a letter to Juliette?
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hey guys, thanks for the note. We are starting to get the hang of this, but school hasn’t started yet so we will see. starts in less than 2 wks. Thank you for your prayers, we have felt them!
Sending a letter here is tricky, it turns out. some of the other missionaries have PO boxes in the city closest to us, i will find out what the address is and get back to you on that.
boy, sure are a lot of cars that need fixing’ down here… and kids that need to be taught…
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We miss you all tons, but it’s so great to read and see all that you are doing and experiencing. God has some great plans for you there, and it looks like the kids are finding their way pretty quickly! God bless you all for your love and compassion for all of God’s people! Can’t wait to get some mailing information so the kids here can write!
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Susuie,
Thanks for the note! Yes, the kids are having a blast so far (but they are still on their ‘summer’ break here). School starts next week, so we’ll see how that goes. We will forward you a PO box address as soon as we have it. Blessings to you all! -The Moultrays
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