Hoosiers in Honduras
(Indiana Lions – VOSH
Comayagua Connection)
Written and Photographed by: Frank N. Moore
I must admit, until recently, I knew very little about
Honduras. I knew very little about the work of the
Lions Clubs around the
world. And, I admit, I knew nothing about the work my hometown Lions club had
been doing in Central America. But all that changed when my associates at
WANE-TV, NewsChannel 15
produced a documentary on the Fort Wayne area Lions’ work in Comayagua,
Honduras.
I knew Honduras was located somewhere in Central America and vaguely
remembered something about Hurricane Mitch ripping apart that countries several
years ago causing massive death and destruction. Other than that, my knowledge
of Honduras and the surrounding area was very limited.
NewsChannel 15’s awarding winning news anchor Karen Hensel and videographer
Lou Cucinelli produced a documentary last year about the Lions’ efforts in
Comayagua. I was deeply touched by what I saw and heard from the Honduran
people. The caring and dedication by the Fort Wayne Lions club members for the
poor moved me even further.
I was haunted by the images I saw, despite over 30 years in the television
business. I was so moved by the program, thoughts of traveling with Karen and
Lou on a return visit to Honduras obsessed me for months. I have a passion for
still photography and wanted to do a photo-essay on what it’s like to be REALLY
POOR (no food stamps, little medical services, no SSI, no housing, and no
welfare checks) in a third world country. I felt this was a golden opportunity
to help bring about more awareness to the problems in Honduras. In the fall of
2000, I asked permission of the local Lions club to travel back to Comayagua.
They graciously invited me along.
Comayagua
(clicking here will open a web in Comayagua) is a mid-sized city, population around 50-thousand. The city is located in
central Honduras between the two coasts, the Caribbean Sea to the east and the
Pacific Ocean to the west. For 300 years, Comayagua was the capital of
Honduras. In 1880 the capital moved to Tegucigalpa, a move that would have a
tremendous affect on people of Comayagua.
The Lions VOSH
(Volunteer Optometric Service to Humanity) Comayagua connection started in
early 1980, with John Tew’s efforts to locate Carlos, a college friend from
Honduras he hadn’t spoken with for 25-years. Tew, a Fort Wayne native, met a
relative of his classmate, named Yuja. He got Carlos’ address and made a trip
to see his old friend in Honduras. Ironically, Carlos’ wife had, for some time,
recurring dreams of men dressed in white coats coming to the aid of her people.
The two men became aware of VOSH in developing countries and it all began.
The late Dr. Jim Wellington of Goshen, IN., an optometrist and Dr. C. William
Trubey of Bluffton, IN. an optometrist and his wife met with Yuja. Wellington
and Trubey had been on a 1976 mission to Honduras. The reoccurring dream story
was so irresistible, both doctor’s vowed to lead the VOSH mission to Comayagua.
The Comayagua Lions offered to host the mission and invited the Trubey’s to
share their home. It was the first VOSH mission, to anyone’s knowledge, where
the participants stayed with host families. This became a priceless component
for all later missions.
Whirlwind plans raced back and forth between Honduras and the United States
via telephone to finalize the mission, scheduled for January 17-25, 1981. More
than 40 volunteers, including ten optometrists, arrived in Comayagua for the
first VOSH mission to provide eye care.
By week’s end, the doctor’s saw nearly four thousand patients. Most left
with improved sight and a new vision of hope.
In 1988, Dr. Don Bollheimer joined the mission and for the first time
doctors were able to provide surgical care. Dr. Bollheimer and Dr. Parent did
extensive cataract surgery with intraocular implants during the 1990 initiative.
In 1988, Lion District Governor C. William Trubey tapped Sam Armstrong as
the 25-B’s district chairman of the International Understanding and Cooperation
Committee. Through his savvy, Sam purchased numerous vehicles, ambulances,
trucks, and buses.
Sometime in the 1990’s the mission added dentists to provide much needed
dental care on every visit. Chiropractic care also became an important addition
to the array of health care services.
In 1995, the Lions of Comayagua began construction of an Eye and Visual Care
Clinic, complete with two operating rooms, two examination rooms, and other
useful areas. Three years later, the mission group found the clinic ready and
waiting and doctors performed surgeries for the first time in the new facility.
In 2001 the mission went one step beyond seeing patients, they installed
more modern medical equipment donated by Northeast Indiana hospitals and
clinics. Six-thousand pairs of glasses were classified, filed, and put into a
computer data bank for faster service in future Lions VOSH missions.
A whole new dimension was added in the 2000 and 2001 missions with the
arrival of WANE-TV, NewsChannel 15, the CBS affiliate in Fort Wayne, IN. The
station chronicled the mission activities and the lives of everyday Hondurans.
Karen Hensel’s news stories and documentary aired on NewsChannel 15 after the
2000 trip. This prompted a dramatic leap in local awareness. WANE-TV led a
drive that filled a tractor-trailer with food, clothing, medical supplies,
equipment and children’s toys. Thousands of dollars was also raised from
various events and contributions. (For her efforts, Karen’s program has won a
prestigious regional RTNDA, Edward R. Murrow Award). Fort Wayne Lions and
NewsChannel 15 delivered the much needed food, clothing, equipment and medical
supplies to Comayagua in January 2001. For the VOSH and Lions of 25B, this was
the link that completed the circle of love and service to surround those in
need.
On a personal note, this author and photographer was so deeply touched by
the plight of the poor in third-world countries, especially Honduras, he has
prepared a photo exhibit of over 60 photographs. So far, this display will be
shown at three different exhibits around Fort Wayne. This exhibit is available
should any group around the country want to put them on display. It’s my hope
that these touching photographs may inspire others to give of themselves as well
as raise much needed money, food, clothing, and medical supplies.
And finally, I want to extend thanks to my most gracious host family who
took such good care of me. Mr. and Mrs. Narciso Rodriguez, PDG, fed me too well
and treated me like one of their family. They are such caring and wonderful
people. Honduras is lucky to have them.
