The Recruiter

If I could have posted the reactions of all the permanent staff here at the jungle hospital as they were responding to Zach's return, I sure would have. They all kept saying "our brother has come home" or "it's like having a son return back home!" It was just the sweetest. And everyone was so thrilled to meet me. The doctor here, a few days after our arrival, said, "Zach, you told us that we would love her and I never fully believed it. She could never be as great as you. But you were right, we just love her!" However, now he has gotten one more name down here in the jungle. He was brother but now he is also 'the recruiter.'

Three days after we got to the jungle, one of the visiting doctor's and his wife went home and in exchange, they picked up Shell (Zach's mom), Coachie (Zach's Dad), Bosher (Zach's Grandpa), Galen (Zach's classmates twin brother) and Kelsey (Galen's wife). We joked about how in one foul swoop, Zach filled up the volunteer housing but in reality, this "recruitment" is just a snapshot of the deep love and support Zach has for this place.

For organizational purposes, I am going to break this up into two sections: Zach's family and our friends.

Zach's mom had been down here before as a nurse. In fact, she is coming again at the beginning of next year to teach a class to the permanent nurses so that they may be more qualified for labor and delivery. It was excellent having her down here because she knew some of the ropes and was sure to tell me how many drink filler packets I would need, how to rock the awkward fits of scrub clothing, which bathrooms I needed to take toilet paper with me, etc. All the important stuff! Now Coach and Bosher had never been here before; so, on top of the thrill that comes with putting names and buildings into years of stories to make the life- like, it was a huge blessing to have them help with DIY's here on campus. The hospital is working hard on trying to finish their labor and delivery facilities and as a result, Coachie and Bosh were able to help out with putting in sinks and toilets and fixing gutter problems, etc. Their handy work was considered an extra dose of gold as many of the volunteers come for medical assistance.

One of my favorite things we did while they were here was hike up to a rural village deep into the mountains. To get there, we had to take a bus for several miles and then finish the trek on foot. Now brigades usually take a hardy amount of luggage as we bring all of our own supplies: glasses, medicines, water, lunches, antibiotics, shots, toilet paper, etc. In light of this, the town usually brings down a horse to help with the totes. But sometimes, instead of providing a horse, they just provide an animal of a man... much like they did this particular time. He set that tote up on his back and went up the steep slopes while we crawled on all fours behind him.  Now, any Honduran would tell you that this hike we took was a 20 minute hike, but to the talented American, we were able to stretch that puppy out to a quick 50 minute hike with absolutely no time to spare. One of my favorite parts in particular was being passed by a 3 year old boy wearing crocs. Before we went on the hike however, one of the nurses caught wind of Bosher coming along (ps. for this brigade, Bosh and Coachie came along and put off their ground keeping duties for a few hours in exchange for seeing the rural countryside of Honduras). She went to Zach out of the goodness of her heart to have a little chat with him... making sure that Bosh understood how strenuous this hike was and getting a second opinion on his ability to complete it. Zach assured her, if anyone can do it, it's Richard Gray. And sure enough, we had exhausted our camel backs before he had even take his third gulp of water. The amount of sweat on our shirts told us we were far closer to diabetes than he is. After that hike, and having our giant water jug be carried up by Coach and Zach, everyone understood just how manly the name Gray is :)

If medical school has taught me anything, it has taught me that the notion of planning your future with your classmates is something you never outgrow. You know what I'm talking about... my very first neighbor and still life long best friend, Summerlyn Wells, and I used to live by some duplex houses. We always dreamed about living in one of them with our husbands and children. Thankfully, we have outgrown the duplex part but not the idea itself. It's a 24 year dream in the making. Zach has done the same thing with his medical school friends. He has talked all of them into studying different branches of medicine so that they (we) all can come down to Honduras to be the staff. Well, our one friend Gavin, is getting married this summer and so he could not use this time to get the first taste of his future BUT, he does have a twin brother who gladly stepped in to take his place. He is starting medical school next year and so, coincidentally, was also talked into the club of potential jungle folk. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Galen and Kelsey Mills!

Zach and I were the link between Galen and the hospital but we actually had never met them. Or contacted them in any form. (Let this be a testimony to the persuasive ways of "the recruiter"... just kidding, let it actually be a testimony of the Kingdom seeking hearts that are held by these sweet two: That they be so eager, willing, flexible, and determined to see all that the Lord is doing and take such delight in partnering with Him in whatever ways He allows). Nonetheless, we were ultra stoked to meet them. And then we did... and absolutely no amount of hype could talk these two up properly. They were such a treat to work beside. I mean, they came in knowing absolutely no one but straight up cannon balled it. No testing out the waters for these two champs. They traveled something of 14 hours by bus and then some to get to the hospital. Knew everyone on our team by the time they got up the mountain. Helped with dinner crew. Jumped in during clinic time. Helped with clean up. Answered to the surprise siren song of the talent show and rocked it! Gems. They were absolute gems. I considered it such a complete joy and blessing to work alongside them as they reminded me of the importance of words. It seemed as though each thing that came out of their mouths were either drenched in wisdom, or as sweet as honey. Each thought chosen delicately and used to build up, encourage, and glorify. I am incredibly thankful for their positive influence, humility, stewardship, and gratefulness as they raised the bar for humans everywhere.

Zach's creating quite the little team for down here ;)