March 29 Hospital Visit

Our hotel is just around the corner from the Presidential Palace. Whenever any dignitaries are expected at the Palace, the roads are shut down and the National Policia man the road blocks which delayed our departure slightly this morning.

We eventually met up with Jim and Francis Martin from Honduras Ministries who took us to one of the Government sponsored hospitals called Hospital Escuela. The team includes several other women who weekly visit the pediatric inpatients and their families. The children are fed while they are in hospital but often the family has no means of getting or buying food so the Team brings in food for them. While distributing the food they also have an opportunity to pray for many of the children and their families. If you would like more information on their Ministry, Child Sponsorship Program, Skill Development Program or Hospital Visitation Program  CLICK HERE to be directed to their web site.

Jim and Frances (on the left) speaking with Maria and her daughter Valerie!

As it happened, Nellie Anderson from Manos Extendidas was also at the hospital. See the Blog for Tuesday, March 27th for more information on their Ministry or CLICK HERE to be directed to their web site. She goes in weekly to visit the mothers of newborn babies. This was heart breaking. Many of the mothers have no clothes for the babies, no blankets, just nothing. Nellie and her group of women do up bundles for the mothers which include a blanket, a sleeper and a few diapers. We (the visitors from Newfoundland and the Honduras Ministries team) were able to accompany Nellie. The two Mission groups jumped right in and went to work. Some greeted; some prayed; some changed babies; some took pictures; some distributed food.

A friend of mine, Nicole, just had her sixth baby. I always refer to Nicole as a woman made to be a mother. I happened to be in Minneapolis when she delivered the sixth baby and had the pleasure of watching her love on her baby and how her husband and other kids interacted with the newborn and each other. You could just see and feel the love she has for her family and her family for each other. The thing that struck me the most today was how disconnected from their newborn babies many of the new mothers seemed to be. The babies were just bundles on the beds. Few were held unless being fed and many mothers had not even chosen names for their new babies on the day of discharge - which was about 3 days old. I could only pray that some of Nicole's love could cross the miles and penetrate the hearts of these new mothers. But you know, you could see a softening of hearts as the groups dispensed the blankets, food and gifts, Bibles and prayed for the young mothers and their babies.

Jim and Francis have pulled together a powerhouse team who prepare the food and distribute it to people along the corridors and to the children's parents in their rooms. In between patient rooms, Jim was able to enlighten us more about Honduran Ministries.

Again, you just have to be there. The hospital is old and well worn. The hallways are lined with people waiting to be treated or waiting for family. Many have traveled for miles without food or water. Many have not been able to contact family to tell them where they are. One young child (15) was ready to go home with her newborn and had not been able to phone anyone to say she had delivered her baby and did not know how she was going to get back home!

The hearts of Missionaries like Jim and Francis from Honduras Ministries and Nellie from Manos Extendidas do not see the mountain. They see they can help one person at a time and one person is better than not helping anyone. With great people like these Missionaries, their work, and their prayers, they will help shape a new Honduras in years to come!