There are Angels Everywhere

Dear Friends:

I know, I know. Interesting title for this letter of the week, but it's appropriate as you will see. Sometimes I wait for inspiration and sometimes it just slams into me like a freight train. I have one more story that I want to share with all of you before the New Year. I've certainly got my resolutions ready now.

Don Marcos is a man who is the same age as my Dad. Yet, each time he comes to the clinic I notice that he is aging rapidly. The wrinkles of his face are permanently etched lines like the creases in a well worn pair of leather boots. The hard life of physical labor here has taken its toll on the old man and his health. The last time I saw him before his latest visit he was asking for medicine to calm the pains of his arthritis. He asked for something that would kill the pain enough that he might continue to work. He works with the earth as they say. It is work that requires repetitive motion such as chopping grass and shrubs with a machete. It is difficult work beneath the unrelenting blare of the sun. It makes old bones and joints ache I am sure even without the complication of arthritis.

When I called his name I noticed that Don Marcos was unusually slow to rise to his feet. He shuffled in to the exam room taking careful steps. He seemed to be more stooped than usual and his eyes were dull and lifeless. "What's wrong Don Marcos?", I asked. "Well, I'm not sleeping and this arthritis is killing me", he said. I looked at him and could hardly believe that he was really only 63 years old. He looked to be about 100 years old going on 200. I looked at his weight written on the chart. He weighed 79 pounds...down 20 pounds in two months. A change like that really concerned me so I asked the obvious. "Are you eating well Don Marcos?" "No, that's why I'm not sleeping. I'm afraid to go to sleep because I don't think I'm going to wake up." "Why aren't you eating and why do you think you are going to die", I asked. "Well, this arthritis hurts so bad I haven't been able to work...so, I haven't had any money to buy food...and because I haven't been eating I haven't had the strength to work to get money and so forth. Don Arturo sometimes brings me tortillas but he hasn't been able to do that lately so I've just been lying in my bed wishing I could die but not wanting to die. I thought I would come here and see what you could do for an old man like me."

He was so dehydrated that his skin stayed in its place when I pinched it. He told me that he had nothing to eat for five days and that all he had been drinking was water. When he finally broke down and cried he made the sound but yet no tears left his eyes. I was stunned. "Don't you have any family to help you. What happened to your wife and your children?" "They died a long time ago...all of measles...and left me all alone...I have no one", he said. I tell you all, his pain was deep and it affected me more than I wanted it to. It was only two days before Christmas and I could hardly believe that this poor man was not only alone ... but was starving to death.

I could do a few things to alleviate his pain for the moment, but I have to tell you that I didn't have the foggiest idea what I was going to do. Some of you know Estella, one of the nurses who works in the clinic. I have come to rely on her advice. She knows how to help in ways that I could never imagine. She knows the system here and I have found that when I am out of ideas she always saves me ,,,sometimes from myself. I explained the situation to her and she quickly provided me with a possible solution.

There was a woman who runs a restaurant close to where Don Marcos lives. Perhaps I could pay her to provide him three meals a day so that he could recover. She is a good Christian woman and would be the likeliest to help. Estella offered to go with me to ask for the favor and to obtain the best possible price for a month's worth of three square meals a day. We arrived at the little restaurant which was buzzing with activity. It was full of mostly local men who seemed to be wondering why the gringa had invaded their sanctuary.

After some discussion about price and the quality of meals an agreement was made that Dona Maria would feed Don Marcos for the next month three times a day to help him recuperate. I was so relieved because I thought perhaps we could get his pain under control, fatten him up and in the meantime look for options about providing him social service support so that this situation would not come up again. Just as I was about to take a big breath of relief we all realized that Don Marcos did not live where we thought he lived. It was too far away. Dona Maria could cook the food, but she could not take it to his house because it was too far away and she was too busy with her business to be able to make the trip to his house three times a day. I saw the hope in his eyes quickly fade away. He was too weak to walk and we were right back to square one.

I don't know what came over me in that moment. Perhaps it was his age. I just looked at Don Marcos and thought of my own father. I thought about how I would feel if this gentleman was my dad....alone, sick and without the resources to simply acquire those things which sustain life. We weren't talking about a fancy nursing home here. We were just talking about providing food for this man. I felt kind of desperate in that moment and wondered how in the world was I going to help Don Marcos a man whose very future was being discussed in an open air restaurant two days before Christmas. Maybe I was tired but the whole thing just "got" to me. I started to cry because I just couldn't help it and I felt so bad for this kindly old gentleman.

All of the men in this establishment were staring at me. They seemed to be bewildered by my "display" for lack of a better explanation. I heard them whispering, "what's the matter with the gringa". Then a young man stood up there in the restaurant. "I'll take his food to him. Don't worry. I can do it, it's not a problem for me", he said. Thank goodness for Estella because she just jumped right in there. "Thank you Professor, that's very kind of you. We would be so grateful if you could do that for Don Marcos.", she said. "See...all fixed up Lisa...don't cry anymore."

The "Professor" (I'm sorry to say I don't remember his name) a young man in his mid 20's who is a grade school teacher in Pinalejo, followed us to a little adobe hut outside of Pinalejo in the mountains. He made arrangements to take the food to Don Marcos every day. He explained that it really wasn't any trouble because the kids/students are on vacation right now and he would be glad to help out. "What kindness and generosity", I thought. To commit to hauling food to the mountain three times a day for at least two weeks was no small sacrifice and yet he did it with such gladness and charity. It was one of those really special things to see.

We all sat outside of the house together with Don Marcos while he ate. It did my heart good to see him eat and to see that he was enjoying the food so much. It was a great Christmas present. As I sat there with Estella, the Professor and Don Marcos I felt really happy and content inside. I thought, "there are angels everywhere". Estella provided the solution. Dona Maria provided the service of cooking the food and only asked "at cost" price. All of you provided the funds to purchase the meals. The Professor provided the transportation and care. Without each one, Don Marcos' near future would be much different. For me, everyone involved is an angel straight from heaven! Now that's something SPECIAL. I am so grateful for real life angels.

Hebrews 13:1-2 Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.

God's Peace and Happy New Year,

Lisa

Gifts for All

Dear Friends:

It's Christmas here in Honduras. The atmosphere is a little different in comparison to the States, but it's still Christmas. Since this is the season of giving I thought it would be good to give a little back to all of you who have given so much. It's true that with the birth of Christ, God gave us the ultimate gift which I like to think of as "love". It's seems to me that every time each one of you has opened your heart to the people of Honduras you have reflected that same kind of "love" which God gave to us not so long ago. Please enjoy the below stories and rejoice with me in our successes over the past 10 months. I hope they will be little gifts that the people of Honduras can leave beneath your Christmas trees.

"His leg is broken", said Dr. Espana. I watched the mother and father's eyes cloud over with the uttering of that phrase. The doctor explained that the child's leg had a fracture and that he would need to go to the hospital to at least have a cast applied, possibly surgery. I could practically read their mind as I watched them stare at the floor. "Yes, doctor" they agreed. "We will take him to the hospital." They were worried about the money...actually, they didn't have any. "I'm going to San Pedro Sula," I said. "I will take you." We arrived at the hospital with note in hand about the fractured leg and high hopes of being seen by the next day. "Pass this way," said the nurse. They were going to see the child right away! "I have to go now," I said. "However, I have 200.00 lempiras that are for you to take care of your little boy and pay for your passage back home as well as food while you are in San Pedro. It comes from the people of the church for just such an occasion. They want you to know that you are not alone and that they are thinking about you." "God Bless You," said the mother as her eyes filled up with tears. "We didn't know what we were going to do!" She hugged me so tight I couldn't breathe. Thank you FUMC Foundation, Salina for providing an emergency fund to pay for medical care that can not be provided in the clinic!

I had never felt so alone. We had one week to go before the grand dedication of the clinic in Pinalejo and I had enough work ahead for 10 years. It was midnight and there was no sign of time for sleep or rest in sight Every space within the clinic had to be cleaned, organized and ready for presentation by Friday. How in the world was I going to get it all done? I thought to myself, "This is too big of a job for me". I still had a few boxes to unpack which were shipped to me while I was home in August. "I'll start with that," I thought. I began to unpack the boxes to put the wonderful things away. Suddenly I realized that some people who had donated items had placed little notes with their donation. One note said, "We are thinking of you". Another note said, "We are proud of you". Yet another said, "Keep up the good work" and still another said, "God Bless the people of Honduras". Some donations just had names on the tags. So many people had come together to provide for this project. Suddenly, I was not alone!!! I felt energized like I had a never ending source of energy and strength. The clinic quickly became organized. I was overwhelmed with the quiet yet powerful words of support. Thank you all for your tremendous support of prayer, notes, resources and gifts. You are my strength and a precious blessing from God.

"My heart is doing something funny. I think I'm going to die," said the little old lady of 80 years. "I came out here on the porch to die because I didn't want to die in the house where no one would find me until they smelled me," she laughed. She was gray and cold and indeed her heart was doing something "funny". "What medicines do you take", I asked. She handed me a list of medicines and the boxes of medications she was currently taking. I noticed that she had many medicines but did not have a bottle of potassium which was prescribed to replace the potassium she was loosing because of other medicines she was taking. "Haven't you been taking your potassium?" "Well, I can't afford it and the pharmacy didn't have any", she said. "You wouldn't have any in the clinic would you?" Thank you Merle Homman for you donation of potassium pills! She still sits on her porch to wave to me as I walk by. She has enough potassium to last quite a while and her heart stopped doing "funny" things.

"And my candy?" The little 6 year old boy was assuming the position to receive his shot of antibiotic when he asked the question. Every day for five days he was to receive a shot of antibiotic for his pneumonia. "Here it is", I said as I handed him a ring pop. "I'm ready!!!" He didn't so much as whimper. His mother just smiled and said, "Lisa, before you came here Juan cried every time I had to bring him to the clinic, now he runs ahead of me and says, "Hurry up Mommy!!!",". Yes indeed, the ringpop ministry is working really well.

She was a 16 year old mother with a 9 month old child who weighed 8.5 lbs. She refused to look me in the eye but instead studied the pattern in the tiles of the floor. "Are you breastfeeding", I asked. "No, I don't have any milk...I am feeding him a bottle." "What are you putting in the bottle", I asked. "Well, because we are Pobrecitos,(poor people) we don't have much money. I have to use powdered coffee creamer in his bottle and water drained from rice after it is cooked." " Your baby will die without formula for humans...he is very sick", I said. "Do you have the money to buy formula now?" Then the young father spoke up. "I will get it somehow." "But what will you do when you have no more powder", I asked. They both looked at the floor and did not answer. It wasn't that they didn't want to take care of their child, they lacked the financial resources and education to take care of their child. "I just want to help you. You as parents have a big responsibility to take care of this little baby...I'm not blaming you. Tell me what I can do to help." "Formula is so expensive", she said. "This exam is free, so is the medicine and I will see what I can do to help. Will you wait for me here in the clinic?" I walked to the pulperia and bought two months worth of baby formula with undesignated donated funds. I walked back to the clinic trying to comprehend what it must feel like to be in their shoes. Their little boy was a skeleton and had monkey-like features because of his severe nutritional problems. "I want to make a deal with you, do you think you can help me with this", I asked. They both nodded as they eyed the clear plastic sack of formula. "I will give you all of this formula if you in turn promise to buy formula whenever you have money to keep ahead of things. I also want you to bring your little boy to the clinic every week for the next two months so that he can be weighed to make sure he is getting better. You have to use boiled or Clorox water so that he doesn't get sick from amoebas again as well. What do you think? Can you do this for me so that I can help you?" They both smiled so wide they beamed. Every week they all came together...faithfully. "Look, we have been buying formula just like we promised...see!" I absolutely squealed with delight each time we weighed the baby. The parents puffed up with pride as I proudly showed them their child's progress on the weight graphic chart. "You guys are doing great...keep it up...see how beautiful your little boy is...see how bright and shiny his eyes are?" This child is now one year old and weighs 24 pounds. God bless all of those who have entrusted me with their hard earned money that I might be able to go to the store and provide for a young couple's need. They have completely turned their child's health around...with just a little bit of help from you. The young mother has brought other young mothers to the clinic with similar problems. She later confided in me, "I just tell them to tell you the truth and not to have "pena" or "verguenza" (shyness or shame). I tell them that you really want to help, not just yell at them and that you will understand." I told her that the help comes from the churches there. She said to tell you, "thank you".

There are so many more stories to tell! Each time we are able to help someone in need here I stand in awe of what God has accomplished through all of us. For me, this Christmas will be the most special Christmas of all. It is one full of thanksgiving and joy. God blessed us with his Son who became the example. How lovely it is to know that His example has not been forgotten. May you all have a beautiful and special Christmas this year. I am profoundly grateful to you all.

All my love,

Lisa

One Shining Soul

Dear All:

Her name is Edna. She is a 22 years old Honduran woman with a degree in education. She is an intelligent, beautiful and sensitive soul who has been coming to the clinic regularly for about the last six months. She has AIDS. I don't remember when it was that she first relayed her story to me but as I have had the opportunity to get to know Edna, her story has impacted me more with each retelling.

How did she become HIV positive? "Is that really important?", she asked. "Is it important to you?", I asked. She sighed and quietly explained that her husband had relationships outside of their marriage and had subsequently infected her with the virus. "You see, I will be the last one to die. My husband and our beautiful baby girl are dead now. I am the only one left. I came to this clinic because I thought that you might have something to help me with these infections and fevers." That was the first of many conversations we had. Usually the conversations were polite and pleasant. I did what I could to alleviate her symptoms which were causing her problems but there always remained the understanding between us that in truth, there was very little I could do.

Last week she came to the clinic very ill. Her eyes were wide with fear and she was fighting for each breath of air. By this point in her illness Edna weighed 80 pounds, had lost much of her hair and was plagued with open sores all over her body. She was near the end of her life and she knew it. We did some things to make her comfortable and to take away her anxiety. Once she was more comfortable and breathing easier I sat down beside her bed and began to listen to her. "Do you know why I come here? It's because you are the only ones who will help me. I went to the hospital before. I was bad like I am today and they sent me away because they said I was going to die anyway. They said it would be a waste for them to give me treatments, more or less a waste of time etc. and so they did nothing. They wouldn't touch me at all. I suppose they have a point, but I'm still human. I want to live just like everyone else. Do you think that makes me a terrible person? It's not that I don't understand what they mean, it's just that I didn't commit some great sin to deserve to have AIDS. I don't think God is trying to punish people anyway in this way. If God were using AIDS to punish people a lot more people SHOULD have AIDS." And with that thought she began to laugh.

Edna shared so much that afternoon with me. She shared her profound faith. She told of holding her dying baby girl and praying to God to end the sufferings of her innocent child. She demonstrated a Christ like forgiveness when she spoke of her husband and how she had forgiven him. She made me feel like all of the work we do here is not in vain. She expressed a sincere gratitude for the services provided by the clinic. She said since she became aware that she was HIV positive those around her who were also aware of her illness treated her as though she were a "leper". She said that because she was able to come to the clinic for comfort she felt like we really cared. "Thank you for taking care of me", she said. "I can come here and not feel ashamed."

As I reflected on this I thought, "how appropriate". If the mission of this clinic is to spread the good news and care for the children of God then most certainly Edna was saying to us that we are succeeding. Praise God for such a gift. Edna died this week. I am glad that her suffering has ended. I thought it appropriate today to share her story in celebration of her life and in celebration of all that God can do through us as we work together.

God Bless,

Lisa