Monday Part 2, and the Rest of the Story

Our clinic in Monday ended up being a “light” day.  And, given that we were about an hour late arriving, it proved to be a good thing.  This clinic in Mateo was held at a school building, but there was a fence all the way around the school, so we could control entrance into the clinic area.  Crowds do not seem to bother the Honduran people, but it makes it difficult for us Americans to do our best work!

We were done by about 3:00.  We had seen 334 patients,  treated  43 dental patients and pulled 76 teeth.  We distributed 64 pairs of eyeglasses and 4 pairs of sunglasses (mostly given to men that work all day outside in the equatorial sun).  Additionally, we gave away 700 lbs of beans, rice and corn.

Perhaps the most touching for me was the mom  who came in with a child that had a development syndrome.  It is hard to know what exactly it was, but the child was 18 months old and probably only weighed 12 lbs.  He had multiple teeth, a full head of hair, and it was obvious he was loved.   That’s what touched me the most.  In this harsh environment, this mom had found a way to take care of her child and she loved him.

We had to wait for the bus to come back for us once clinic was over.  We thought perhaps they were getting the bus worked on so that we would not have starter problems again.  No such luck….more on that topic in another post.

Once back at the compound we had a little down time and were able to get showers (some had the luxury of the hot water ).  After a good dinner of homemade chicken chow mien and fried rice (made by  Letsbi & crew),  we received the “good news” that breakfast would once again be served at 6:00 a.m. so that we could be on the road by 6:30.

As we were working on pictures and this blog in our room, Nellet came by to visit.  Nellet is the 17 year old daughter of Letsbi and pastor Nelson.  She wanted me to know about the work her mom and her church do when medical clinics aren’t on the premises.  She showed me pictures of them distributing beans and rice to the poorest of the poor.   

She told me how Letsbi visits families “up the mountain” and finds children who need to be in school and parents who are willing to commit for them to go.  Letsbi and the church agree to purchase uniforms and book bags for the children, if the parents will commit to keeping the kids in school.  Most of these students are around 1st-3rd grade, but Nellet said that some of them have gone on to middle school because they fell in love with learning.  Letsbi’s desire is to break the cycle of poverty in the mountains by helping children receive an education – children who would otherwise have dropped out of school to help with the family farm.  

Nellet told me that the money we paid to stay at this compound goes, in part, to help with these two ministries and the nursing home. Our accommodations have been very good, and the food has been excellent.  Knowing that we will be a part of these ministries to the Honduran people even after we leave is a very gratifying feeling.  I feel like, through Letsbi and the ministry of the church, I have witnessed the miracle of the five loaves and two fish.  A little becomes a lot when willingly and lovingly shared.