Colonia III de October

After a busy few days in service to others and to one another, we praise the One who gives us grace each day. Our new favorite lesson is wisdom shared to us by Bettye’s father “Today we woke up clothed in our right minds and still having the many activities of our limbs.” Praise indeed after bumping along muddy roads, waiting on Honduran traffic jams [cows in the road], and being continually challenged by having to adapt our minds and our limbs to using non-American style facilities.

We have much to reflect on after sharing joy, love, community, and medical service with 5 Honduran mountain communities this week. Five communities who have blessed us far more than we could have ever imagined. It has been a humbling experience to see the joy of the people of Honduras who have so little of what we would consider necessary. Yet they respond by humble acts of kindness to others, open hearts, smiles, hugs, flowers straight from the garden and freshly baked bread with coffee.

Today we visited the community of Colonia III de October. The school was prepared for us to arrive, and the principal of that school not only greeted us, but she personally and carefully prepared the toilet facilities for us. She and the leader of the community were the first to arrive on site and the last to be seen by the team. Their humility and pride for their community was a touching testimony of the best of humanity.

As we shared our final stories around the dining table tonight many of us were touched by the oldest patient. He was 91 years old and still quite a handsome specimen. His daughter was lovingly caring for him in his old age. He brought us all a little joy today.

Shar was blessed to see a child she had seen on her last trip to this community. And we all delighted in the best dressed and sweetest little girl in her pink tulle dress. The greatest demonstration of loving kindness was from Doctora Moncada who took the time to calm an autistic child.