Macuelizo

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Tuesday Sept 1 

Meeting Christ Here ❤️✝️🇭🇳

We arrived in Honduras believing we were coming to bring blessings, but from the very first day, the people we came to serve began blessing us in ways we never expected. Their prayers, stories, laughter, and kindness are reminding us that sometimes the greatest gift of serving is discovering how much we, too, are receiving.

Tonight, after dinner, we gathered together and reflected on the unexpected joy we experienced throughout our day in the clinic. As we talked, a common theme became clear: Christ is meeting us here…in the people we came to serve.

Throughout the day, several of our team members had the opportunity to give a small cross to someone they had connected with. What happened in those moments was anything but small.

Dave gave a cross to an elderly woman who expressed her deep gratitude. She then asked if she could pray for Dave and our entire team. She shared that she had already been praying for the team. In that moment, the giver became the receiver, and we were reminded that prayer is one of the greatest gifts we can give and receive.

Diane gave a cross to a woman who was saddened because she had been unable to bring her elderly father to the clinic. As a caregiver herself, she and Diane connected through their shared experiences. What began as a simple encounter became a moment of understanding and compassion between two caregivers from different worlds.

Emily gave a cross to a remarkable 93-year-old woman whose pride in her health and strength left a lasting impression. Her spirit and vitality reminded Emily of why she loves medicine and reignited a passion that brought her back to the heart of why we serve.

Susan gave a cross to a mother who entrusted her by sharing an incredible story, one filled with fear, unfortunate circumstances, and challenges her family is facing. 

As we reflected together, we realized that the greatest gifts of the day weren’t things we could put in a bag or carry home. They were the smiles and laughter of children playing around the clinic. They were the sound of their laughter and the joy of watching them interact with us—with curiosity, trust, and gratitude. They were the simple hugs that seemed to say more than words ever could. And they were the moments when someone reached out to pray over us, reminding us that we are not simply here to give—we are here to receive, to listen, and to be changed.

Tonight, we are reminded that sometimes we go somewhere thinking we are bringing Christ to others, only to discover that Christ has been there waiting for us all along. He is in the elderly woman who prayed for our team. He is in the caregiver who found someone who understood. He is in the 93-year-old woman whose strength inspired a renewed love for medicine. He is in the mother who continues to hold onto hope. He is in the children whose laughter fills the spaces between our clinic stations. And He is in every smile, every hug, every prayer, and every person who has welcomed us with open arms.

We came to serve. We came to give. But we are discovering that we are receiving so much more.

Christ’s love is coming to us through everyone we meet.

And perhaps that is one of the greatest blessings of all. ❤️✝️🇭🇳

~Amy