In May I finished up my junior year at Wheaton College. I don't really remember the classes I took, but I can tell you what I do remember. I played a lot--IM (intramural) outdoor soccer, IM inner tube water polo, club lacrosse and pick-up soccer games every Friday afternoon. I had the joy of preparing for and taking the MCATs this spring. While it was a ton of work on top of a full course load, I have to admit that it was kind of fun. It's one of the bonding experiences for all pre-meds: organic chemistry and the MCATs. And deep down I have to admit it was kind of fun reviewing all of the science I had ever studied in my whole life.

I came home in May for about three weeks before leaving for Honduras. For several years now I've been preparing for this internship as part of the Human Needs and Global Resources (HNGR) program at Wheaton College. This program involves classes that have to do with third world issues, poverty and development. It culminates in a six month internship with a Christian NGO in a third world country. (Here's Mom being brave as she sends me off at the airport.)

I spent my time with the Luke Society in Olancho, Honduras. You can check out www.lukesociety.org for more info on my site. I was living with a wonderful family in the nearby town of Catacamas. This photo is of Daniel, my little brother in my Honduran family. The doctors at the clinic were wonderful teachers and in no time they had me doing and reading EKGs, performing a lot of abdominal ultrasounds, giving shots, taking patient histories, cleaning ulcers and even giving a few stitches.

Another intern at the clinic, Michel, was a youth pastor in Chile for several years. We attended the same church next to the clinic and he asked me to help him start up a youth group with all of the high school kids that went there. We got together every Saturday night for Bible studies led by him and me and sometimes the kids. We even did a little fundraising (making tacos and horchatas to sell at church) in order to go on a little weekend retreat. It was fun to see the kids bond together and become excited about growing in their faith and taking more active roles in the church. Since then, Michel and I have both left the country, but I stay in contact with a few of the kids and they have told me that the group is still going and doing well. 

I worked on an independent research project about medicinal plants in the area, asking if they used them, what symptoms or sicknesses they  used them for, how they prepared them and where they obtained the plants. I'm now busy putting together a pamphlet according to the health problems they listed most with the plants that can by used to treat those problems. Hopefully this will increase knowledge about medicinal plants in their area, and facilitate the transfer of this knowledge to the younger generation who are not as aware of them. We're also hoping it will make people more aware of some of the cautions that must be taken when using medicinal plants.

One of the doctors told me that to truly experience Honduras, you must experience its diseases. I accomplished this at the end of September by obtaining a fun little virus from a nice little mosquito friend--Dengue fever. That was definitely one of the low points of the trip. I had a horrible fever with aches and pains all over, and the usual digestive problems I think I thoroughly scared my parents--but I greatly appreciate the quick prayer chain they got going all across the country. It definitely helped me to feel better quickly, although it took a very long time to recover completely.

I returned home right before Thanksgiving. It was great to be able to come back and spend some time with all of my family again. I ran around the country a bit doing interviews for some med schools. (I managed to finish all the applications while down in Honduras.) On my birthday last Saturday I got my first acceptance letter. So, we are waiting to hear from the rest of the schools and are looking into creative ways to pay for more years of schooling.