We are family

DEEPLY ATTACHED: WE ARE FAMILY!

By: Angelica Lupiac,

Medical Director of Clinica El Ayudante

It is incredibly hard not to fall in love with the little ones. For me, it all starts when they break into a smile upon discovering the toys that I share with them make noise! Their face lights up and I am hooked. Maria Rosario is just such a cutie. She is 13 months old and came to the clinic for the first time in February 2015. Upon examining her, we discovered that her size and weight were far behind for her age. We were able to enroll her in our Malnourished Children Program.

Maria Rosario comes to the clinic once a month to attend the Nutrition Class with her mother and receive the Peanut Butter Supplement that we give out called Nutributter. Some months she comes more often because she is so malnourished that her immune system can’t fight properly. Last month, we had a team serving with us in Clinica El Ayudante that included a pediatric nurse. What a blessing! While they were here, Maria Rosario came in with pneumonia and shortness of breath. Since we are not yet an emergency type of facility, it was a difficult case to treat. We did absolutely everything we could utilizing some of our in stock medicine and having awesome people caring for her. Despite our best efforts, we still had to send Maria Rosario to the Public Hospital – Hospital Santa Teresa. Since we knew how difficult this was for the family, leaving the rest of the children behind at home and having no money to spend for the many days in town (Comayagua), it broke our hearts to see them go. We did all we could to provide medicine and transportation to the hospital.

Maria Rosario at the Hospital Santa Teresa, Comayagua

WE ARE A FAMILY: During the 7 days they spent at the hospital, many staff members took time after work and on the weekend to visit and bring them money, diapers and medicine. I must admit that this made me feel so proud of the great people we have working at the clinic. It is one thing to do your job. It is another thing to go the extra mile!! We all love Maria Rosario so much that it just comes naturally. It comes naturally because God is our center. I was also impressed with how connected the team from the States became. After they went home, they emailed us asking about the baby and let us know that they were actively praying for her health and recovery. This warmed my heart and reminded me that people are different when Christ is in them. We are all parts of the body of Christ. It doesn’t matter which part you are, God can and will use you to bless others if you only allow Him to use you as His vessel. We give God all the glory for this precious baby’s recovery.

 “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:27

 “So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”  Romans 12:5

Mrs. Juliana, Sabino and Maria Rosario with her big sister in the consult room for follow up after her stay in the hospital. She is playing with the toys again!

I am so appreciative to God for this ministry where He has me currently serving. The consistency of care is priceless… To see this family so frequently is such a blessing. Every time they come it’s like family is coming to visit. I see Maria Rosario playing with the toys in the consult room, and I smile, thankful to God for His love and mercy for the Honduran people. My heart is full and I cannot effectively express how incredibly rewarding it is to work in this place.

My baby girl is better!!! And I cannot thank Jesus enough for her!