🤍

Our last day in clinic was bittersweet. We were excited for the day, but also looking forward to returning home to our loved ones.

We started as usual, prepping for the day and then seeing patients, spending time with each and every one, regardless of how simple the need.

We continued with the home visits and witnessed the conditions the people live in. Yet, the homes remained faithful, with signs saying, “Bless this home” and “Jesus is the answer”

The local physician, Dr. Vilma, was everywhere, caring for her community and learning as much as she could from us before it was over. Little did she know how much we admired her dedication and knowledge.

We came here to serve, but received so much more. We have seen the peace in being patient, the joy in their faces when grateful, and the way in which this community looks out for one another. The love here is palpable.

We come to provide medicine, but we leave having learned that caring for people means understanding them as a whole. It means listening. It means respecting the wisdom of local providers and nurses. It means combining our training with their knowledge of their community.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10

Our busiest clinic day so far, but as we gathered in the evening and shared our experiences, one theme stood out. We have all been blessed with different skills, but together, we have been able to do so much more.

In Pediatrics, a mother received reassurance and answers. She had the chance to learn more about her baby’s head shape (brachycephaly) with the help of our ultrasonographer and baby doctor. Children arrived smiling, many dressed in their Sunday best and hairs perfectly styled

Our ortho team with OT & PT helped a child walk. A woman who had suffered a stroke was given the skills to walk again which she had otherwise given up on. Ortho provided cupping and hand therapy for long-term pain. We sutured acute wounds, drained abscesses, and even treated valuable members of our team.

But some of the deepest moments came as patients shared stories that medicine alone could not fix. We heard heartbreaking stories, including one from an older diabetic woman with inoperable abdominal hernias who had traveled by ferry from the mainland just to see our doctors. We also treated a young mother who had a baby at age 12 and whose baby was taken from her by the father a few years later. This beautiful lady is now 20 and has not seen or heard from her child since. In moments such as this, we prayed together, trusting God to bring peace and reminding each person that they were not alone.

We were honored to be invited to homes of elderly patients, unable to travel to the clinic. Seeing their living conditions revealed to us the struggles behind that Sunday best. Yet, the people here continue to be gracious, kind, and selfless.

Today was a reminder that serving means meeting people wherever they are. We are so grateful God has allowed us to be His hands and feet here in Honduras. ❤️🇭🇳

We arrived to clinic with lots of women & children ready to be seen. Among the various encounters, we treated abscesses, repaired lacerations, managed chronic illnesses, and cared for orthopedic injuries. 

A woman arrived to our clinic today in need of a laceration repair after being attacked by her husband that very morning. Moments like that are a sobering reminder that medicine is about far more than diagnoses and procedures. Sometimes it means simply showing up, listening, and offering care when someone is hurting in ways that go far beyond the physical.

🤍 Our OBGYN & ultrasound techs had the special opportunity to scan many first-time moms who got to see their babies for the very first time! 🥹🤍

The quality of care being provided here is exceptional.

The people of Utila have been incredibly gracious, kind, and patient. There is a beautiful humility in the way they wait, receive care, and welcome us into their community. We are continually reminded that we may be here to serve, but we are also here to learn.

And because every clinic day apparently needs a little adventure…

Allison managed to get herself locked inside one of the clinic rooms. Thankfully, Luke came running to the rescue. Every good medical mission needs a hero. 😂

Meanwhile, Dorian discovered that his professional experience as an educator served the people in other ways. He spent time teaching the clinic staff how to make repairs they hadn’t previously known how to do.

And then there are our servant volunteers.

They have worked endlessly in the hot, humid air—caring for the people waiting to be seen while somehow also managing a dozen other responsibilities. They have translated, transported, supplied, organized, encouraged, cleaned, problem-solved, and cared for patients and one another. 

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” — Colossians 3:23 🤍

Sunday was all about learning, unpacking, organizing, and getting ready for clinic. We rolled up our sleeves and worked as a well oiled machine. 

And thanks to YOU, our incredible supporters, we have a lot to work with!

💊 $16,000 in pharmaceuticals were purchased for this mission.

Which means…

📦 Count.

📦 Sort.

📦 Pack.

📦 Count again.

📦 Pack some more. 😂

Every medication was carefully organized and prepared for the patients we’ll be serving.

But preparation wasn’t just about medications.

We spent the day learning about the culture, the community, the needs, and the logistics of setting up and running a medical clinic in Utila.

We learned that the people of Utila have been without Metformin, A medication needed to help manage Type 2 Diabetes. We have brought over 3000 tablets to share! 

In the afternoon we had a chance to take a golf cart ride to the clinic to set up our stations for the week. The total absence of cars is replaced by an abundance of scooters and motorcycles that whizz by at high speeds without warning. ⚠️ 

Friday - Our final day of clinic was bittersweet as we felt the sadness of saying goodbye to new friends and a place we’ve grown to love, alongside the sweetness of having held nothing back. Close to 600 patients were seen this week from a 7-day old home-birth baby to a 90-year-old lady who lives alone on a tiny island.

Parkinson’s, Hand/Foot/Mouth, diabetes, high blood pressure, open wounds, back pain, sore knees, and so much more were all treated with the same love, care, and purpose of bringing relief, healing, and a better quality of life to the extent possible.  Thank you for your service Dra. Tran, Dr. Davis, Dr. Weinberg, Dra Marsh, Dr. Omire- Mayor, Dr. Zhu, Mai-Chi, Tracy, Brita, Heather, Chris and all local volunteers to each and every patient who came through our doors this week!

The beauty of the Bay Islands with their turquoise waters teaming with brightly colored fish and coral, green mountains offering spectacular views of the Caribbean, and natural sandy beaches only served as the backdrop for a people rich in culture and storied history asking the same question we are, “Do you see me?” They are the reason we are here. John, one of the followers of Jesus wrote, “We love because He first loved us.”  We share in common with the people here our status as image bearers of the One who made us all and answers the deepest longing of our hearts, “Yes, I see you!”  He sees and knows each man, woman, and child we locked eyes with this week, and it is in His care we leave them.  Until next time, Guanaja, we hold you in our hearts!

Guanaja - Day 6

Thursday, September 9 - We took the clinic downtown today to a tiny island called Bonacca, or El Cayo, where almost 6000 people make their home. Down an alley a short distance from the dock, a church opened its doors to host the clinic and we were warmly greeted by the clinic staff and vice mayor.

What a fun surprise it was to see friends we’d made just the day before, as well as old friends who have come over the years, waiting at the clinic when it opened!  Many came by to give us updates on their lives and families as well as health, like the little boy who has been wheelchair bound beginning to take a few steps, a little girl with ventricular septal defect still hoping for life-saving surgery, or a local shop owner stopping by with her son for preventative care. It brought so much joy to our hearts to see patients out in the community on the street and in shops waving to say ‘hello’ or ‘thank you.’  The community expressed their appreciation and support of the team by sending over locally caught lobster for dinner one night.

Perhaps one of biggest milestones of the day was our cardiologist training local health professionals how to use and read an EKG machine!  Having this skill set will greatly benefit the community long after our team has gone home. Thank you, Dr. Davis, for your investment in the next generation of care providers in Guanaja!

At the close of day 2 the team is ready! After early morning wake up calls from the resident roosters and the delightful surprise greeting of a dozen or so hummingbirds surrounding the main porch, the team got to work preparing thousands of meds for distribution over the course of the next few days. Our clinical pharmacists, Tracy & Mai-Chi, did a phenomenal job researching and planning the formulary from which we worked. Thank you, Tracy & Mai-Chi, for the hours of thoughtful care you put into which medications to bring and how much. Your time & effort already communicate how much you care about relieving the suffering of other people, even those whose faces you’ve never seen.

Around mid-day we met two local colleagues who will be joining us tomorrow…Lisa & Karen. Lisa & Karen both live on the island now and will be assisting with the organization and direction of the clinics as well as triage. We’re so thankful to be partnering with them…and it doesn’t hurt that they tell us all the local secrets like where to find great small batch Honduran coffee!

As the day came to a close so did the boxes. Dozens of boxes were taped up, labeled, and set aside to be loaded onto boats early in the morning. We have another early wake up call (we’re counting on you, Hei Hei!) in just a few hours and will finally get to meet the people for whom we’ve come!