Medical Care to the Poor of Honduras

Over the course of six days this spring Bless the Children and members of the Church of the Epiphany served more than 600 poor children and community members in areas of Honduras where no medical care is available.

 

Bless the Children has had a presence in Honduras for over 15 years, with many ongoing programs on the ground.

 

Please visit our website www.blessthechildreninc.org to learn more about our work to help children and get involved! 

 

"Shantytown" Clinic - Monte de Olivo

Our first clinic during this year's Bless the Children - Church of the Epiphany Mission Trip was delivered in Monte de Olivo, otherwise known as "Shantytown".  It is a place of the most severe, heartbreaking poverty.  For those who have never witnessed true poverty this place will stop you in your tracks.  Your eyes will fill with tears.  There is no escaping what you see here.  It is a scene that will change your life and give you a perspective on human resilience you won't find easily in America.

The approximately fifty families in Monte de Olivo live in homes constructed of cardboard, scrap metal and wood...and pretty much anything the families come across that could serve to build a wall.  The floors are dirt and when the rains come they turn to mud.  When it rains in Honduras it downpours and this rain can last for days on end.

The families who live here do not have electricity.  There is no water system or well, making personal hygiene and staying hydrated almost impossible.  Since there is no running water there are no toilets which leads to serious health concerns in the area.  Just outside Shantytown is a palm plantation with a running creek by its edge.  Because there are no toilets both are used which creates a serious problem when the rains come.

But the people are gracious and welcoming; their children run with faces smiling wide when visitors come.  They welcome all as family and when it is time to go you will want to stay.  In life there are always lessons to learn, and the poor have much to teach about humanity and kindness.   

The site of our clinic where we served approximately 100 people...

Everyone in the pharmacy worked quick as lightening to serve all the needs of this community which has no access to medical care.  There are so many needs...from arthritis, heart trouble and high blood pressure, parasites, malnutrition to skin fungus, rashes and infected wounds... 

Thank you to everyone who made this clinic possible for the children and their families.  It was an amazing day.  How blessed I was personally that this clinic was on my birthday.  It is the best one I have had yet!

Please make a donation today to help these families with their basic needs and to help their children go to school.

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A common sight in Honduras are beautiful highlights in the children's hair...but these striking color variations are a sign of advanced malnutrion.

Your donation will also help provide food to poor children.

Check back frequently...more updates coming soon!

Honduras Mission Trip - March, 2011

In early March, 2011 Bless the Children traveled to Honduras and while there hosted a medical and construction team from the Church of the Epiphany in Richmond, VA.  Together we delivered medical clinics benefiting the poorest of the poor in the villages of Monte de Olivo and Mezapa, the El Progreso prison, the coastal area of Tela, and Las Crucitas and Fuerzas Vivas high in the Mico Quemado Mountains.  The communities we serve in Honduras are abundantly blessed by the long-term support of the Church of the Epiphany.

The medical team served an average of one hundred children and adults at each clinic.  The construction team worked hard to make much-needed improvements to the Bless the Children - John Grove High School in the Mico Quemado Mountains.  Our high school students and adults from the church worked hand in hand to accomplish the job.

On the ground our mission trip was organized by our dear director of programs in Honduras, Mr. George Mealer. 

Mr. George Mealer and Colonel Nunez

We extend our great appreciation to the Honduran Air Force for their tremendous support of this mission.  Throughout the week they provided transportation, security and clinical support.

We are excited to share this mission trip to help the poor of Honduras with you in the next several blogs.  The children and communities have been a major part of our lives for a very long time and it is an honor to introduce them to you...

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