The Clinic (March 4, 2000)

Finally, at long last, on Feb 21, the first permanent clinic at Hospital Loma de Luz opened.  One delay after another, problems with weather, problems with construction, repairs, and hiring personnel, all contributed to the delay.  But we are now open for patients.

 

We have not advertised, other than word of mouth, for now, since we didn’t want to get inundated with people before we worked out the bugs and got our routine down.  We have had a full clinic every Monday and Wednesday.  We started with 18 a day, and moved up to 24, plus emergencies and urgencies.  I think that will be our limit for now.

 

It works something like this.  The people begin showing up early.  We had some folks walk 4 hours down from the mountain the night before, so they could be first in line.  We assign the first appointments to the sickest, and then those who had been here the last clinic day, but didn’t get an appointment, then first come first served.  Emergencies, and we have had a few, take precedence throughout the day.

 

Sonia, our “hostess” helps people fill out forms, keeps the TV running with Bible programs all day, and directs traffic flow.  On non-patient days she bags medicine, prepares forms, and whatever else needs done.

 

Elmy, our receptionist, puts the chart together, makes ID cards for the patients, and enters data on the computer.  She sends the patients to Luis, our chaplain.

 

Luis is a missionary from Costa Rica, working in Honduras.  He counsels and prays with each patient, and mentors the area pastors who will be working at the clinic on a rotating basis along side him.  Luis also will be teaching leadership training and discipleship classes to the area church leaders, developing our network of follow-up for those who want to know more about Jesus Christ.

 

Chrysti, our missionary nurse checks the patients in, asking about their presenting problem, giving them a small bottle of Clorox, eye dropper and instructions on how to purify their water for drinking, and takes their vital signs.

 

The patient next sees me.  I tell them that Jesus is the Great Physician and ask them to pray with me.  I ask God to help us understand each other and to give me wisdom with their problem.  Then we have our interview and exam.  We dispense the needed medicine, give instructions, and offer literature.  The patients then return to Elmy to pay for their appointment, a small token amount that preserves their dignity, and helps improve their compliance with our instructions.  After all, you are more likely to take medicine you paid for.

 

Honoria, the “mom” of the clinic, cleans and cooks us lunch, as well as directs patient flow and helps with everything she can.

 

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we prepare for the next clinic day, and move through the endless stacks of boxes of supplies and equipment that have been sent down from The States.  We have a new stock pharmacy, thanks to Larry Pullin, Michael Jones and Levi Tkach from North Central Ohio.  We are filling that up quickly, and overflowing into the next room with supplies. 

 

Fridays, Chrysti and I plan for morning surgery at the government hospital in La Ceiba, and surgery clinic there in the afternoon.  So far, despite trying for more than a month, we have not been able to get that off the ground.  Once they didn’t schedule any clinic patients for us, then we were stuck in Balfate by rain and swollen rivers.  The last two weeks the hospital employees have been on strike.  We will see what the future holds.

 

For me, the highlight so far has been the little Catholic girl from Satál, four hours walk up the mountains, who saw the stack of reference books in the exam room, thinking them Bibles.  She asked if we sold Bibles.  I told her no, but asked if she wanted one.  Her enthusiastic answer

was “Yes”!  She left with a Bible of her own and a smile on her face!  We trust that God will reveal Himself to her as she reads His Word!

 

Dave Drozek with,

 

Thoughts from Honduras