'We were there to relieve pain'

Medical professionals from the Chambersburg area had strong emotions about their recent Honduras medical mission.

"To see how they live, and their desperation, tears a hole in my soul," said Dr. Paul Quesenberry, who went on his first mission trip at age 15. He has since been on many mission trips around the United States and abroad. "It forever changed my perspective of how blessed we are in this country."

"I was touched by the fortitude and resourcefulness of many of the people we served who managed to find hope and joy despite life's circumstances that most of us would be overwhelmed by," said Dr. Michael Gaudiose, a family physician for 30 years with Cumberland Valley Family Physicians, Chambersburg. This was his fourth mission to Honduras and he hopes to return there again.

From Oct. 30 to Nov. 6, 20 local medical professionals and translators took part in a medical and dental mission effort in the village of Guadelupe Carne, Honduras.

The team provided medical and dental care, including dental extractions and fillings. Physical therapists provided advice and instructions for people with chronic muscular disorders.

The trip was organized and directed by Dr. Jeff Landon, a Chambersburg dentist, and Dr. Scott and Diane Karper, Chambersburg, longtime missionaries in Honduras.

Translators were recruited from the Chambersburg area and Diane Karper recruited translators from the area near the mission. The missionaries bought all the supplies

and medicine needed and took it with them.

"Mostly we served people who were living in pain, we were there to relieve pain," Landon said. "We saw a lot young people with badly decayed teeth and we restored smiles."

Quesenberry, a physician with Cumberland Valley Family Physicians, Chambersburg, treated many patients with infections, skin infections, high blood pressure and diabetes and their medical problems tended to be more severe, he said.

This was his second mission trip to Honduras. He was struck by how much time each day people spend looking for food and water.

"What impacted me was the desperation of their lives," he said, adding that some don't have safe places to live. "Unlike the United States, in Honduras those who can't pay for care up front won't be served," he said.

Landon found the dental problems in the village also more severe than here. This was Landon's fourth time in Honduras.

The dental clinic was set up in the town's Catholic church. People were extremely grateful, Landon said.

Every morning before the clinic opened the group started with a prayer and a song.

The Karpers and others in the team have been in the village several times, so the missionaries and townspeople have developed a relationship with one another.

The mission team felt a deep sense of graciousness from the people, Landon said.

The group were even served meals in the homes of women featured in the book, "A Walk in My Shoes: Our Lives of Hope," written by Diane Karper, who has helped a number of Honduran women develop skills that can be marketed to help support their families. Her book tells the story of 18 of those women.

"That was a very powerful aspect of the mission," said Landon of the meals served by local women. "The women weren't used to entertaining people in their homes and the group learned a lot about the women from the experience."

Landon added that it meant a lot to these women that people were interested in their lives as they shared their stories with the mission team.

The dentists saw 20 to 30 patients a day.

"We sought to give the people the same quality of care as in the U.S.," Landon said. "I was very moved by the faith of these people, their hope is in the Lord -- you can see that good things are happening for these people."

Iris Hersh can be reached at 262-4757 and ihersh@publicopinionnews.com .

From Oct. 20 to Nov. 6, a mission team of 20 people from the Chambersburg area gave medical and dental care to people in the village of Guadelupe Carne, Honduras.

Members of the mission team included: Robin College, Thomas Dahbura, Juan Espinosa, Dr. Michael Gaudiose, Dr. Thomas Good, Jan Good, Leslie Hanks, Wanda Hutchings, James Kinton, Mary Jill Landon, Dr. Jeffrey Landon, Diane Longfellow, Katie Longfellow, Tammy Maclay, Jeanna Moats, Jenice Palachick, Marsha Quesenberry, Dr. Paul Quesenberry, Patt Weidner and Joyce Zimmerman.

Source: http://www.publicopiniononline.com