Macuelizo

Tuesday, April 8th 2025

Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! - Psalm 46:10

Clinic day 2 brought cooler weather, rainy skies and a beautiful mountain community.  Our team was warmly welcomed and invited to set up in a school.  Our medical clinic was situated in a covered outdoor area, with a view of the surrounding tropical trees.  Many of the team physicians remarked that we wished we could work outside like this all of the time!  We also commented on just how smooth the setup, clinic day, and take down were today - we had worked out a few kinks yesterday, and in a surprising turn of events, everything went almost exactly as planned.  

Many noted the good behavior of the children today, remarking that they were patient, friendly, and full of smiles to share.  Many families in the community were interactive and good humored, making it an enjoyable day.  One team member shared a story of a man who came to her station with a pack of cigarettes in his pocket.  She teased him about it and spent some time educating him on the dangers of cigarettes.  When she finished, he explained to the translator that although he knew about the dangers already, he had learned something new today - to hide his cigarettes better next time!

When we sat down for a time of devotions and reflection at the end of the day, we discussed Psalm 46:10, reflecting on opportunities we have had to be still and experience God’s presence both in our own lives and in the community today.   As I cared for a single mother and daughter, the mother told me about some serious health concerns her daughter had been having and the trip to the city hospital they would make tomorrow for her daughter to see a specialist.  She was very concerned for her child, and she asked me for help handling her anxiety.  After talking for a while, I discovered that she liked to go and sit in the church to pray when she was feeling anxious.  Our team’s pastor joined us, and we prayed together for the journey they would be making to the hospital and for a good outcome for her daughter’s visit. When we finished, I gave her my agape cross to take with her, to help her to remember God’s presence on her journey.

As it turns out, many crosses were left floating around this community today.  Our team leader found some palm branches growing nearby, and made crosses out of palms to give away as reminders of God’s presence.  Another team member also gave his agape cross away today, to a child who came up to him and asked for it.  He remarked that if a child asked him for a cross, he was going to give it to them.  How different life would be if we were all so bold in inviting God’s presence into our own lives, as this little child in the mountains of Honduras was today.

-Dr. Gabbi Beck