Big Adventure

Hi faithful Honduras readers! This is Kristen writing. Various people on staff have been in touch with the team at camp and have told me some new info to post.

On Saturday, half the Blackhawk team went with some people from camp on a scheduled camping trip. Kike is the camp director and was leading the hike; he's sort of like their version of Jon Anderson... with hair. One of the common camp team building exercises includes rappelling down a waterfall, which all went great. It started to rain unexpectedly, so they stopped for safety reasons. Those that had already gone down the waterfall climbed back up the path to the top, which is where the rest of the group was waiting.

On the way up, Hannah Fricke (rising sophomore) slipped and tumbled. Kike was behind her and broke her fall.

Hannah's leg twisted and her femur (the big thigh bone) was fractured. She also hit her head.

When they got back to camp, Jon rode with Hannah to the hospital, and she has been in really great spirits. She got some stitches on her head, and she needs surgery to fix her leg. She hasn't been in much pain (other than when they reset her leg). While at the hospital, Hannah said things like, "It's so exciting to be on an adventure! I know that pain is normally a part that makes something an adventure." Gotta love the resiliency of teenagers!

The other students have been amazing. Even before this accident, they have been praying more on this trip than on any other, which has been bonding them together as a team. They feel very close. The group has been taking a lot of time to process what happened, and they have been acknowledging that this is what it means to do missions -- it involves some risks outside of everyday life.

Jen Bagley (one of the other adults on the trip) spent the night with Hannah at the hospital.

Kike broke his clavicle (collar bone) and a rib, and his face had some stitches and is swollen.

Hannah will be transported back to the States for her leg surgery. Right now, she is en route to Florida on a medical evacuation flight. Our main missionary in Honduras is Ken, and his wife Sue is accompanying Hannah to Florida. Also, Hannah's mom, Carol, is en route to Florida.

The other half of the group was scheduled to go on the camping trip tonight, but instead everyone is going to stay at the camp to help with other preparations. (Plus, it has been raining a lot.)

What can ya do? Pray.
--Pray for Hannah, particularly her air transport, surgery and recovery.
--Pray for Kike, particularly his recovery (both physically and emotionally).
--Pray for Hannah's family, particularly her mom and grandparents who will see her soon yet probably after surgery.
--Pray for camp. This is a lot for the permanent camp staff to process because nothing like this has ever happened. Already the plan has started to shift (with no camping trip tonight), which can be discouraging to students.

The team will certainly continue processing these events. They are encouraged by Hannah's attitude. Her biggest complaint is that she won't be coming back after her surgery like she wants. That has certainly helped give us perspective on her optimism!

The team would love to hear some encouragement, so please leave fun comments!