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Contents
- Baby Sam
- Behind the Curtain
- Health Classes
- NewLife Behavior Ministries Seminar at MPRC
- Poncaya, a New Congregation
- Remote Teacher Training Update 10 January 2009
- Remote Teacher Training Update 29 January 2009
- Wazzup with the MPRC
Baby Sam
We want you to know about the struggles of little Jorge Samuel Zambrano-Funez, the baby whose mother from Aguaquire, Olancho, Honduras died in his childbirth on the 22nd of September. We first came to know of Baby Sam soon after he was born. At that time no one knew the problems that had already developed due to lack of proper care - Sepsis symptoms are very difficult to diagnose. Because the father was an agricultural worker who was only able to come home infrequently and the family was unable to take care of him, we were glad to be able to help by caring for him for the first few months of his life.
Hall of Honor: Our list of those who helped financially with the cost of saving Baby Sam's life. Those of you who prayed for Him will not be listed here, but our Father knows your name.
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Update Friday Jan 30: Goodbye to Baby Sam
On Saturday, Dec. 6, the Tomkinses ended their 10 week custody of Baby Sam
and passed his care on to Dra. Xiomara Irazo after the graduation ceremony
at Baxter Institute in Tegucigalpa.
The Tomkinses committed to care for Baby Sam until their Dec. departure
for the U.S. Baby Sam weighed a whooping 11 pounds on Dec. 6th,
and said farewell with his usual beaming countenance.
No one would ever suspect the near fatal beginning of this small one's life.
Dra. Xiomara Irazo is a native Honduran and is bilingual.
She was baptized in the summer of 2008.
Her family lives in Tegucigalpa and she is currently the Director of the
James Moody Adams medical and dental clinic connected to Baxter Institute.
It was her facilitation that arranged for Baby Sam's transport
and medical treatment at the private hospital in Tegucigalpa.
She was also the doctor that removed the stitches from his jugular site
the week following his hospital discharge.
Dr. Xiomara and her husband have two children of their own; a daughter, 7, and a son, 4. She has agreed to care for Baby Sam for a period of 6 months and Papí, Baby Sam´s father, has signed full custodial rights to her for that period of time.
Though we have not seen Baby Sam since Dec., Dra. Xiomara says he is still a very easy baby to care for, and a mutual friend tells us that Dra. Xiomara always has a funny story to tell about him. He weighed 14 pounds at 4 months old.
But Dra. Xiomara would ultimately like to adopt the baby. Because of a dangerous incident during the baby's overnight visit to his birth home in mid-December, our prayer continues to be that God will work through the situation and that ultimately Dra. Xiomara's family will be permitted to adopt him.
One wonderful side note, or maybe all this is just the side note to
the most important event, is that Papí was baptized into Christ
in December. For all this, give thanks and praise to our God. Amen.
Update Saturday Nov 22: Baby Sam turns 2!
Months, that is.
On Saturday, Nov. 22, Baby Sam commemorated his two month milestone
with a good laugh!
Since then he has suddenly increased his formula consumption greatly
and is gaining weight accordingly.
He has discovered his fist, but it keeps getting away from him.
So he has to concentrate while trying to locate it again and then suck on it
before it escapes once more.
He will often lay contentedly looking around his environment
for an hour or more without fussing,
but sometimes jabbering to himself happily.
Update Monday Nov 3: Happy Birth'Date'
Today, Nov. 3, was Baby Sam's proper due date. He is six weeks old today and even has a crib now, complete with musical mobile; both on loan from the warehouse of Por Los Niños ("For The Children") orphanage here in Catacamas.
Baby Sam weighs 8 pounds, 3 ounces and is a happy, laughing, joyful baby.
He drinks 4 ounces of specialized formula every 3 hours from 6am-9pm,
and only one bottle during the night sometime between 2-3.
We thank God every day for His loving kindness and for the spared life of Baby Sam.
Thank you, also, to all who have contributed to his survival through praying,
donating, spreading the word and in every other capacity.
You have ALL been servants of our loving, giving God.
Update Wednesday Oct 29: Little Man Sam is in Danger of becoming a Couch Potato!
He won't go jogging with us, he won't walk around the mall, and he hasn't seen the inside of a gym. We just can't seem to get Little Man Sam to do anything except eat, sleep ... and smile. He has such a precious, beautiful smile, and is a very joyful baby. He even laughed in his sleep recently.
What a great blessing and gift from Our God!
Update Friday Oct 24: Thank you to All
A wonderful thank you to all of you who found a way to financially help the Tomkins family in a difficult situation. They had to pay the money upfront via their credit card to the Clinica San Jorge in order to save baby Sam's life. We received money from many - from college students to Christ's Fellowship Church in Victoria, TX. And we have received sufficient funds beyond his doctor bills for his needs for several months.
We will contact those who gave in order to see if you want to be listed by name or anonymously.
We again and again want to thank you who have taken Baby Sam's name
before our Father in heaven. And thank You, our God, for having answered
in such a sweet way.
Update Monday Oct 20: Baby Sam weighs in at 7 pounds
On the date that he celebrated four weeks old, still two weeks before his actual due date, Baby Sam weighed 7 pounds exactly; a jump of 2 full pounds since his hospitalization 18 days earlier and a great indication that he is "on the mend."
Update 2 Thursday Oct 16: Papí holds his son
Jorge Zambrano holds his son at our house and says goodbye before heading back up to his home in the mountains to see his 11-month-old daughter, Christy Joanna. Jorge, whom we affectionately call "Papí", rode in the ambulance with Baby Sam from the public hospital in Juticalpa to the private hospital in Tegucigalpa and stayed by his bedside during his entire hospitalization. Papí came to visit again the following day, and knows that he is welcome to visit him in our home.
Update Thursday Oct 16: Baby Sam is home!
The doctor called Tuesday night to say they were releasing him from the hospital a day earlier than they had expected. He arrived back at our house, along with his father, Jorge (but we call him "Papí", which is what Honduran children call their father, since we already have a Jorge in the office), and his aunt, Ismari.
He is a totally different baby; looking around for hours at a time, watching faces and smiling often. He is taking 3 ounces of newborn formula every 3 hours, just like a newborn should.
What a wonderful, wonderful blessing from God is this redeemed life that was literally on the brink of death.
Papí and Ismari left for their mountain home this morning about 8:15 and he once again left the baby in our care for the next two months. But he hopes to return each weekend to visit, and also has hopes to look for a job in Catacamas so he can be closer to his son.
Please continue to pray for this baby and his family; most of whom, including Pa-pi, are not Christians.
Update Wednesday Oct 15: Baby Sam is on his way back to Catacamas.
He was released from the hospital this morning. Thank you, our God, and thank you for all those praying. Please continue to pray.
Update Tuesday Oct 14: Baby Sam is sleeping......lots.
I suppose fighting for your life for nearly two days can wear a body out.
He lost his sucking reflex during the fight, but has regained it now and started drinking from a bottle on his own on Thursday. He is still not drinking as much formula as an infant should, but the doctors are all expecting that to improve rapidly. He will finish his two IV antibiotics tomorrow and should be released from the hospital on Thursday - after 13 days.
Everyone who sees him now says he looks like a "real baby". And he sounds like one when he cries, as well. It is a beautiful sound.
The father has asked Joanne to continue caring for the baby, so we are looking forward to having him back at our home.
Financially, we are a bit discouraged. So far we have received only $440 for the support of Baby Sam. We know that many have intentions of sending support for his hospital bills and would really appreciate it if those checks could be put in the mail this week. The total charged on our credit cards or spent out-of-pocket are right at $11,000, to date.
Update Friday Oct 10: Baby Sam was moved to a private room out of ICU at 6am this morning. He looked around and stared intently at the accoutrements in his room for an hour after the move, so he is much more aware and interested in what is going on around him. At 8am he drank 2 oz. of formula from a bottle. He has a private nurse constantly with him as is standard procedure in the Clinica San Jorge.
Again we praise our God for Sam's marvelous rescue from the brink of death.
Note that Joanne Tomkins had to pay for the 2nd 5 days today (around $5555). She already paid the first 5 days several days ago (both payments coming from the Tomkins´ credit card). If you would like to help with this expense, please see the update for Tuesday October 7 below.
Update Thursday Oct 9: Baby Sam is still in ICU. Because his veins are so tiny, they had to move the IV to his jugular vein. They have lowered the oxygen saturation to 2 (a good thing, though not sure of units) and he took 1½ oz. of formula this morning.
Tara Ulmer, a volunteer teacher at School of the Good Samaritan here in Catacamas and her good friend, Ellen McDoniel, are going to Tegucigalpa Friday morning, the 9th of Oct., to assist and take their second night shift. They are both recent graduates of Freed-Hardeman University in Tennessee.
Update Wednesday Oct 8: Baby Sam continues to improve, but the Doctora says he will have to remain in the hospital for 7 to 10 days to finish his IV antibiotics. He will still need to stay in ICU for another couple days since his lung capacity is still not sufficient for him to breathe on his own.
Thank you God.
Papi (Baby Sam's father) and his aunt will spend the night at another aunt's house in Tegucigalpa and Joanne Tomkins will take the night shift to watch over him.
Update Tuesday Oct 7: Two week old Baby Sam, is a fighter. He fought for every single breath he took from Friday night until Sunday evening (3rd thru 5th Oct). He did not close his eyes for over 24 hours, and even when he finally did close his eyes for a few moments it did not seem that he slept at all. He fought and fought to breathe, flailing his arms and pitching his back to get more air in spite of the high density oxygen tent he was under. He took tiny, gasping breaths through his wide open mouth. Baby Sam's underdeveloped lungs were being pressed by fluid build up, caused by Sepsis.
Born Sept. 22, about 2 months premature, Baby Sam was dying at the community hospital on Sunday. His teenage mother died soon after he was born up in her mountain community. Late Saturday night Sam started passing large amounts of blood from his mouth and from his bottom. The nurses put a tube down his throat to keep the blood drained from his stomach. Then the incubator that was maintaining his body warmth, stopped functioning.
The doctor and all of those caring for him knew he clearly had less than one day to live. The doctor there said he needed to have the poisonous fluid build up drained from his abdomen and needed a mechanical respirator to counter the fluid pressure in his chest. But neither was available at the inexpensive public hospital.
As a last chance for his survival, we commissioned a private ambulance and nurse to transport him to a private hospital in Tegucigalpa, Honduras (the capital city). In retrospect, most people did not think he would survive the trip. But Our God is Good, Gracious, and Merciful.
Two doctors met the ambulance upon its arrival Sunday at Clinica San Jorge in Tegucigalpa. He was immediately placed on a breathing machine, his abdomen was soon drained, and his antibiotic was increased. By Monday morning he was a totally different baby than we had seen over the past week.
The pictures attached are NOT of the dying baby we saw over the weekend.
That image was far too heart wrenching to even consider memorializing in a photo.
The pictures attached are of the Fighter finally sleeping; resting comfortably, with his eyes and his mouth closed. It was taken on Monday the 6th in the Intensive Care Unit of the private hospital where he will spend at least a week.
His skin color is no longer the hard, mottled red of poisons from Saturday, or the chalky white of blood loss from Sunday, but the healthy color of a sleeping newborn. What a wonderful, glorious, praiseworthy event! Such a simple thing that we often take it for granted in our healthy, modern world. And his aunt said this morning that he is even better today. But in Honduras this baby would have died without the money necessary to purchase his life through the private hospital.
Baby Sam will need to have IV antibiotics for at least 10 days, which means a hospital stay of at least that length. Each day at the private hospital will cost in the neighborhood of $1,400 and we are asking everyone to prayerfully consider helping with this situation.
The baby's father (We call him Papi, which is what children in Honduras call their fathers.) came down from the mountain as soon as he heard of the situation, and rode in the ambulance for 3 hours to Tegucigalpa with his infant son. But Papi earns less in a month than most Americans earn in one day. He has never even been inside of a private hospital, much less been responsible to pay for one. He cannot even afford to buy second hand clothes for his other child, Baby Sam's 11-month-old sister.
In spite of our limited finances, we simply COULD NOT put a price limit on this sweet baby's life.
If you can help in any way, please send checks made out to:
Maple Hill Church of Christ
ATTN: Reed Thomas
102 Maple Hill Road
Lebanon, TN 37087
In the memo line please put: BABY SAM
We commit to keep accurate records of all expenses and of all monies received at the above address. If any money is left over it will only be used for Baby Sam and for his 11-month-old sister.
In the meantime, please praise our God with a loud voice for the life of an infant who was given up for dead only two days ago. Our God is indeed Good!
And keep praying.
Previous Updates
As of 5pm on the 6th of October, Sam is in intensive care in the private clinic, San Jorge, in Tegucigalpa. He is now stable. Amen!
Sam was moved to a private clinic in Tegucigalpa via private ambulance at 11:40 on the morning of the 5th of October. It was his only chance of survival. In fact, the doctor has been expecting him to die at any moment. We had finally gotten contact with his father, so he rode in the ambulance with one of Sam's aunts and Sam so that they could give all the proper documentation to admit him.
Joanne Tomkins and Jeannell Johnson took the early bus to Tegucigalpa on the
6th of October to minister to the needs of little Sam.
Joanne will stay with him until he is ready to come home and Jeannell will
return late on the 6th.
On October 3rd Sam, who was almost 2 months premature, was diagnosed with a systemic infection (Sepsis) and very difficult breathing problems. He was ordered by a doctor here in Catacamas to be entered into the public hospital immediately. After a difficult trip over the rain drenched roads to Juticalpa in the middle of the night (about an hours trip under the best of circumstances), he was admitted to the Hospital de San Francisco in Juticalpa.
The doctors there felt that he had little chance of survival, but they did admit him and put him under an oxygen tent. They started IV feeding about 4 in the morning. By 6 in the morning (4 Oct), the color in his feet looked better, though his hands are still blue and purple. Since that time they have transferred him to a respirator and he has taken a little food.
There is no doubt that Sam is a fighter and is working hard at staying alive. Please continue to beseech our Lord on his behalf.
We are also very thankful to Les and Jeannell Johnson from the orphanage Por Los Niños, who have done a wonderful job in guiding us through the wilds of health care in Honduras and in transporting us again and again in tropical rainstorms and slow drizzles, past horses and cows who decided to walk down the road in the middle of the night, and avoiding drivers who wanted our side of the road more than we did. And then staying up all night at the hospital with Sam.
We thank our God for them and for brothers and sisters like you.
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Behind the Curtain
As a "technology-based" Resource Center we, naturally, rely heavily on our modern technologies to accomplish the tasks with which we have been commissioned. And, of course, as with all technology, many things can break and need repair. That is where our Technical Director, Dwight Tomkins, comes in. He is "The Man Behind the Curtain" that is not publicly recognized.
It is known by most that Dwight teaches computer classes,
ranging from introduction to computers to web page design.
But what is not well known is the work that goes on away from public view.
Since mid-January, Dwight has needed to replace one UPS that failed while
under warranty, refilled the toner reservoir on our copier,
connect a personal printer, assist several people with questions or
problems on their personal computer,
and redesign our network and computer lab
preparatory to delivery of more donated computers.
He is truly the "Man Behind the Curtain" without which the MPRC
could not continue to function.
In addition, he is the Web Master for the MPRC site and makes all additions, updates and changes. While the MPRC is his primary responsibility, he also is the Webmaster for several other mission sites. Included in that job is manipulating the graphics for their greatest impact and a quick loading time. We thank Dwight for all of the work he does for all of us here in Catacamas, but more so for the work he does to the benefit of God's Kingdom.
P.S. I was made to put this on the web. Please take with several grains of salt.
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Health Classes
| We have started a new series of classes at the Mission Point Resource Center thanks to Peace Corps volunteer, Kendra LeSar, from New Mexico and Joanne Tomkins, Mission Point Resource Center. |  |
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Kendra normally teaches hygenic topics to students in the public schools, but since this is the ´summer vacation´ for most Honduran students, she gladly volunteered to teach a series of classes for the MPRC. This helped her to get this very important information distributed through channels she would not normally be able to reach. | |
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The first class on Hygiene was well attended and Kendra did a great job. She taught both techniques and practical applications (don´t ask me about the fly). And she taught both in the classroom and in the kitchen. We were very glad to have her here and look forward to the next class on the 24th of January, discussing nutrition. | |
| We were also pleased that this was the first class filmed by Jose Adán Canaca, a professional filmmaker and brother from Culmí, Olancho, Honduras. He will both show it on his TV station and make DVDs for us to distribute. |  |
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NewLife Behavior Ministries Seminar at MPRC
Dr. Hilary Motsinger, founder of
NewLife Behavior Ministries,
has been scheduled by the MPRC to lead a 3 day seminar
from the 2nd to the 4th of March 2009 on relationships
and understanding one´s self.
This seminar will be for EBH students and staff, preachers,
church leaders and those involved with prison and addiction ministry.
He will also be preaching at Las Casitas on the 1st.
We are excited to have this outstanding speaker give this seminar in Catacamas as this will be his first time in Honduras.
His topics will be:
- A Sense of Self: Who Am I?
- A Sense of Self: Why Did I Do That?
- A Sense of Family: Relationships
- A Sense of Self: Human Needs and Values
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Poncaya, a New Congregation
A new congregation of the church of Christ is starting in La Colonia de Poncaya, Olancho, Honduras. José Pagoada, Marlon Molina and Davíd and Suyapa Chacón from Olancho were joined by Frank Hodges from Naples, TX to start visiting households in this thriving community far distant from Catacamas, but still in Olancho. Fifteen people from Catacamas went on the first Monday, the 12th of January. That first Monday devotional had 12 people from the community.
The MPRC was able to supply these fine workers for the Lord with tracts and New Testaments to give to their new contacts in this town. Five families have also received full Bibles. You can see three of the families in the photo above.
Note that you can click in all the pictures below to see a larger picture. Please use your browser Back Button to return.
 | Team working in Poncaya, Rio Tinto, and La Trinidad consisting of José Pagoada, Efren Nuñez, Francisco Duarte, and Anibal Nuñez. Also in the picture is Estefany, who was just baptized. | |
| Road to Poncaya |  |
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 | Terrain around Poncaya | |
| La Colonia de Poncaya |  |
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 | Evangelist José with Bible courses | |
| The first worship in Poncaya; José bringing the message. |  |
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 | The current home where the meetings are held. | |
| Another meeting |  |
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 | Francisco preaching the Word | |
| Baptism of Ana Raudales |  |
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 | Baptism of Marta Lidia | |
| Baptism of Juana |  |
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 | Baptism of Estefany | |
| Worship 15th of March, 2009 |  |
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 | 3 families receiving Bibles from the MPRC | |
Where is Poncaya?
You can see La Colonia de Poncaya in the bottom right corner
deep in the mountains
and Catacamas in the top left corner of the map below.
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Remote Teacher Training Update 29 January 2009
This second class in La Unión, Olancho, Honduras was attended by all those who were at the first class. The first photo shows the students in class listening diligently and the second photo shows these wonderful teachers of children with the printed information they received in this 2 hour class. In this photo you also can see their dedicated teacher, Jorge Vargas, the Director of the MPRC (Mission Point Resource Center).
This remote training is important to the congregations around this area.
In fact it is so important to them that this last picture
shows the preacher of La Unión, Alcides Ortíz,
teaching the children while their mothers learned some excellent techniques
in order to better teach the children of the church.
Note that Alcides, the father of 5 children, is the man who lost
his wife during childbirth in October of 2008.
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Remote Teacher Training Update 10 January 2009
We are pleased to announce that the next remote teacher training
has finally (we hope) been rescheduled.
Jorge Vargas will be conducting this second class in La Unión
on Saturday, January 24th and a second class in San Esteban on Saturday,
January 31st.
Between impassable roads, extensive electrical outages, and the death in childbirth of the wife of the preacher, it has been delayed again and again.
This class is only for those who participated in the first class.
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What has been happening at the MPRC
There are many, many activities that take place within the MPRC that are invisible. In the past 3 weeks we have:
- Copied over 1000 pages of evangelistic, Sunday school and Bible study materials requested by preachers and other church workers,
- Inscribed and given away 12 N.T. and 18 complete Bibles, one commentary, and 65 songbooks,
- Assisted an average of 7 visitors a day (not including class or meeting attendees) with various tasks such as translations, Internet or computer work, and more,
- Hosted a meeting of the preachers to discuss current issues, Given away Sunday School Themed packets on The Birth of Jesus, the Raising of Lazarus, The House on the Rock, and more.
- Held 2 Saturday classes on Health, and
- Loaned a Veggietales DVD to one church.
These are the tasks that keep us busy, and also help us feel that we are blessing the work of God's church and His Kingdom in this departmento (Honduran state) of Olancho, Honduras.