This report is for Tuesday, February 21, 2023, day four of the 2023 Frankfort Honduras Mission. The word for the day is serve. The related scripture comes from Galatians 5:13 which says, “Serve one another humbly in love.” I also like Psalm 100:2 which says, “Serve the Lord with gladness!” Serving the Lord is indeed what we are here for this week. It is a glorious day here with a nice temperature, but the direct sun is brutal. This was the first day the clinic was open and the start was slightly delayed by additional last minute setup tasks. Despite the slightly late start, we had a very successful day and saw 199 medical patients, 56 Dental Patients, 80 optical patients, and filled 690 prescriptions. As you will see in some of today’s images, we began the day with a circle of team members in the sanctuary (where dental is set up) to do introductions and begin with a prayer. It is a pleasure to work with our Honduras team members from past years, particularly our patient educator, Alexandra; Dr. Betsy, Elmer’s wife and another dentist, translators Danilo, Kelvith, Bismark, and Nelson; and Dr. Sandra. We have many new excellent team members including a new Honduran pharmacist, Valeska, and Victor, the optometrist who has been here for two years but who we had not met previously. The people here are joyful despite their poverty and much laughter is heard throughout the crowd and team. As you will note in today’s images, there is a tent devoted to “evangelism.” This is to make sure we offer spiritual healing as well as physical healing to those who come to the clinic; this is, after all, first and foremost, a house of God and we are his ministers. Images of the dental clinic, kitchen, patient education, medical clinic, patient education and optical clinic in operation are also included in today’s pictures, as well as street images and personalities around the clinic. In previous locations, the host church has chosen to charge the patients a small fee (US equivalent of about 40-50 cents) which the church used for administrative costs. This church has chosen not to do so. The dentists go out into the waiting line in the street and triage the patients such that the most needy are seen first; we are doing both extractions and restorations (fillings) this week as well as cleanings and fluoride treatments. One set of photos near the end shows Dr. Elmer and Pastor Wilmer around a man in a red and white striped shirt who asked for prayer due to his spiritual distress; the result was the man committing his life to Jesus and the reconciliation with God he provides. You will see the tears of Joy in his eyes. As always, your prayers are greatly appreciated, and we wish you great blessings! Roger
Click here for today’s images: FRANKFORT HONDURAS MISSION PHOTOS 2023 DAY 4 | Flickr
PS Did I say the weather here is great?