Family Time

We get so caught up in ministry work that more often than not we lose out on family time.  So much of everyday is spent on either planning or implementing a ministry event.  Friday nights has been dedicated home made pizza / movie night for a long long time.  We treasure this time to just be together as a family.  This week Mike and I will be traveling to Nicaragua for a leadership meeting and Madison will be holding down the fort at home.  So last night we went out on a family date night.  Yummy dinner, and a visit to the theater to watch X-Men.  As our time in Honduras comes to a quick close before we head to the States for furlough, and Madison off to college we treasure these moments, even if I can't take a good selfie!  My camera on my phone only has flash on the reverse side of the phone, so I can't see what I am taking a picture of....hence the lame attempt in a dark theater.  You can tell Mike was done with my numerous attempts at getting a good shot!

Food and clothing for the hungry

This sweet family came to clinic this last week.  After speaking with this single dad, it became immediately clear that he and his children were in a desperate state.  I put together some clothes for each of them, and provided them a food basket.  Please pray that this dad is able to find work to be able to care for his young children.  Not shown in this picture is his other child at home.

anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none...

I have written a few posts about clothing.  The reason may seem a little odd, but hear me out.  When you have a limited amount of funds, food and shelter will always be the first choice.  That leaves things that are not "imperative" as a priority - and that includes clothing.  When people come to my clinic they always dress in their "Sunday Best" - so when I see someone come to my clinic in tattered, holey, or worn through fabric, I know that they have a severe need.  So I started my clothing closet where I provide them new or gently used clothing.  This is such a huge need, and one that I am thrilled to be able to provide.

After I wrote a number of blog posts related to this, the sweet mom of Michelle Cain (one of our team mates), Deb Hagenbuck, took the need and ran with it.  She is holding a clothing drive at her church.  She took it upon herself to put up a stand in the back of the church, and was given an opportunity to speak in front of the church to promote this ministry.  How cool is that?!  Awesome how God uses His people to advance His kingdom.

Luke 3:11 John answered, "Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same."

Clothing closet

When you are very poor, your priorities become very simple....feeding your family.  "Extras" like tooth brushes, clothing, even shoes are not high on the list at all.  I have collected baby clothes for quite some time, and give them out to my pregnant mommies to have when they deliver in the hospital as they are not allowed to hold their babies until, "properly dresses."   I also have an odd assortment of adult clothes, but what I am lacking are all those sizes in between....toddlerhood through pre teen.  These kids often come in without shoes or clothing that are so tattered you can see their skin beneath the thin clothing.  A church has heard my plea, and is currently collecting clothing.  I can't wait to be able to serve the folks at my clinic in this way.  Today I had a mom come for vitamins for her three children.  You may remember about the family who lost their two year old to starvation....this is the same family.  We have been closely monitoring the children's height and weight and providing them with protein enriched rice and daily vitamins.  Today I was able to scrounge through the last of my young childrens clothes and find something for each little one.  

"And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”  Luke 3:11

Please pray for little 6 year old Eilyn

Please pray for little 6 year old Sandra

And for little 5 year old Gladis

Foot Washing

I have reported on this sweet man before. He arrived to our clinic with a severe wound on his leg.  I provided him with some socks to protect his feet.  He returned again for additional wound care, and while I was caring for his wound I took the time to look at the rest of his foot.  It was clear that he had been unable to wash his foot or trim his nails in a long long time.  It is times like this where being a nurse isn't about delivering medicine, drawing blood, or giving instuctions.  It is times like this where it is about connecting with someone, offering the gift of touch, or, a time like this, to simply wash someone's foot that hadn't been washed in months.  To trim nails, and give care that is not necessarily about physical care, but emotional and spiritual care.  It is times like this that I am privileged to be a nurse.

Matthew 25:34-40 (Do for the least of theses)

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

John 13:10-17 (foot washing)

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean,though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Our reputation

Well...it is official...our reputation for quality medication and quality services is getting out there.  We had a family come to clinic today to treat their 9 month old son.  To see a pediatric specialist is about $25 dollars, which for most people is more than their daily wage.  We charge a nominal $2.50 to be seen.  Then, if medication is required, depending on the type, even good 'ol run-of-the-mill amoxicillin, other pharmacies will charge $8.00 for that, much less if the child needs Tylenol, or anything else, that incures additional charges.  In otherwords, a trip to the pediatrician with antibiotics will cost $40 -$50 dollars...now we are talking two days wage or more.  For medication our clinic charges $1.00, and that is not per medication, that is for ALL of their medication.  So, an average trip to the pediatrician at our clinic will cost a nominal $3.50. It is no wonder our good reputation of quality has gone near and far.  As of yesterday, our farthest traveled person came from the island off the coast, Roatan.  A good 1 1/2 hours by boat then another 1 1/2 hours by bus to get to our clinic.  As of today, we just saw a family that came all this way from the city that neighbors Guatemala called Santa Rosa de Copan, more than 200 miles from La Ceiba.  They started their treck yesterday so they could arrive today, early, to be seen.  Pictured here is the mom with her little boy.  The other three are not in this picture.

How an old pair of socks can change someones life.

John Bunyan wrote, "You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you."

A sweet man, Ruben, 71 years old, came to clinic this week.  He has very high blood pressure, and this was the first time we had seen him.  Our first concern was to take care of his blood pressure, but that soon was followed-up by caring for his really bad leg ulcer.  As he was removing his shoes so I could clean his wound, I noticed he had no socks on his feet to protect himself from the rubbing of his shoes to his delicate feet.  I asked him about that, and he just looked up at me and said, "no tengo."  (I don't have any).  If you know me at all, you know what that means.  I immediately went to my clothing closet and scrounged for some socks.  I am still awaiting shelves, or some other means of putting up the clothes so organize and sort them, so currently they are still in bags.  Anyway - after looking through all my bags I didn't find any socks to give him.  With him promising me to return the following day so I could clean his wound again, I wrote myself a note to bring him some socks from home.  They aren't new socks, but they are good quality, with a lot of life left.  I brought him three pair.  His face lit up in joy over his "new" socks.  I had to give my heart a second to catch up as seeing the joy in his face made it skip a beat.  Amazing how something as simple as a pair of socks can literally change a mans life - by helping to protect his feet from this happening in the future.