2022 Medical Brigade Newsletter #3

APRIL NEWSLETTER

Information for Brigadiers

This is the third in a series of newsletters intended to assist with your participation in Honduras Good Works Medical Mission Trip. Please make sure you have read the previous newsletters and be on the lookout for upcoming monthly newsletters.At this point, you’ve registered for the medical mission trip in July (applications closed April 8). You should also be in the process of obtaining or updating your passport. Your passport must be good through January 2023. Make sure you are receiving the proper immunizations as discussed with your primary care provider.Please note the payment schedule. A non-refundable $50 deposit was due April 8th to hold your seat. You may pay the full amount anytime but if you would prefer to make smaller payments make sure that the amount you have paid or fundraised meets the following due dates:

• April 8 – $50 Registration Fee (mandatory & non-refundable)
• April 30 – $1,000 (Includes the $50 Registration Fee)
• May 31 – $2,100 (Total for the Brigade, includes all previous payments)

What to packIt’s time to start thinking about what you need to pack. We really need as many of you as possible to only bring a carry-on for your personal items, as we need to assign you 2 team bags to check. These will contain all the medications, medical supplies, and hygiene care bags that the team will be giving out during the week. If you must check a bag for personal use, please let us know as soon as possible. If we can’t carry all our materials with us, we will need at least 2 months to allow for shipping.When thinking about your packing list, keep in mind that you need to dress modestly, nothing too short or revealing, as we are guests and representatives to the Hondurans. Pants and capris are appropriate for the field. Comfortable walking shoes are a must since the terrain in many of the villages we visit is rough and uneven. Many people pack gently used clothes/shoes that can be left and donated at the end of the trip.We usually can have clothes washed one time, depending on the weather, so you don’t need to pack a whole week’s worth of clothes.Remember, you will have the team T-shirt to wear to and from the airport and on picture day. Team T-shirts will be provided at the last packing party or at the airport on the day of travel.Towels are not provided, so plan on bringing your own. Some people choose to donate their towel at the end of the trip.You will also want to pack soap, shampoo, and bug spray. In the evenings at the center you may want to dress more comfortably, but again please keep in mind that we are guests of the nuns and will want to be respectful.Pack for a weeks’ stay in a temperate climate. Honduras is temperate year-round. While we are there, you can normally expect daytime temperature to reach 80-85, occasionally to 90. Nighttime will cool down to 75 or below after midnight. In the summer, the rainy season starts. Some prefer to bring a poncho and/or a light jacket. Nights can be cool but not cold.Everything (meals, transportation, lodging) will be provided for you, but if you would like to buy extra snacks/gifts, bring spending money.IMPORTANT: Pack a towel and refillable water bottle! These two items are commonly forgotten, and they are a must!Packing party datesMedication is donated and purchased in bulk and separated into individual packages at the packing parties. Volunteers, such as yourself and friends and family, meet on several dates before the medical mission trip to prepare all medical supplies/medication for the mission trip.

• Our first packing party was not as well attended as needed to get this work done. Please try to attend our future ones and bring/invite help! This is a great way to involve folks in your mission experience without them having to travel to Honduras.
• The next packing parties are
  • May 7th at Christ Episcopal Church in Temple. 300 N. Main St. 76501, from 9am - 2pm.
  • May 14th at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Austin. 8134 Mesa Dr. 78759, from 9am - 2pm.
• Future packing party dates will be announced when they are scheduled.

CoVid UpdateAs of April 5th, the health department of Honduras is reporting very few hospitalizations for CoVid, only 48 in the public hospital system. Only 6% of ICU beds are occupied. HGW will try and update these figures in future emails, as they become available.MentorsNewbies can expect contact from an experienced missioner by email in the next few days, so you will have someone who has “been there, done that” to assist you in anything you have questions or concerns about. If you haven’t received this email, please do contact the email below and let us know.To answer questions or for technical help, please contact us through brigade.info@hondurasgoodworks.org