Prayer Team

How can I begin to describe the awesome sauce of today? Scott and I served together on the prayer team. 

Every Ward/Unit Decorated for Christmas 

Waiting at the intersection to cross over to the hospital

The first unit or ward we visited was the children's oncology. We passed out Beanie Babies, coloring books, crayons, and smiles. We prayed with the children receiving their cancer treatment. A wealthy benefactor built this section of the hospital, and it was the only section of the hospital that was not in subpar condition. 

Next, we visited the maternity ward. We presented the new moms with a gift bag with an outfit, a blanket, and diapers. The wards consisted of eight beds per room. We asked the new mothers if they had any specific prayer requests and then prayed for them as a group. 

The most heart-wrenching, for me, was when we walked into a room with two forlorn women with empty arms. Empty arms... As we prayed with them, my heart swelled with grief. I wept. 

The third unit we visited was the women's orthopedic ward. This is my cup of tea. I spent many of my 22 years in healthcare as an orthopedic nurse. The wards consisted of six beds per room. We passed out personal hygiene kits and handheld fans.

As we paused by each bed and introduced ourselves, we asked about their injuries, and they shared their stories. The most common injury was from a motorcycle accident. In Honduras, motorcycles are everywhere. Oftentimes, it is their primary mode of transportation. One woman shared that she cooked dinner for her father and was delivering the meal to him when she lost control of her motorcycle. Another woman shared that she was riding as a passenger on a motorcycle when the driver didn't see a speed bump and the motorcycle went airborne. We honored the telling of their stories with a focused prayer and sometimes a song. 

As a nurse (and the only nurse on the prayer team today), I really enjoyed meeting and talking with the hospital staff and nursing students. When I mentioned the subpar condition of the hospital building, the excellence of the nursing staff, food service, security team, etc., was impressive. The nursing students' eyes gleamed with excitement to learn and lean in for every learning opportunity. 

It's too early for tomorrow's assignment, but today was a two-thumbs-up day. 

My Scott 

Not a doctor. The local 

pastor's son and our translator.

Hospital security looks a little 

different than in the U.S.

Don't you just love her smile #lunch

The hospital lobby 

Maternity provider

 assessing her patient 

Hola nino 💙

Nursing staff documenting