Honduras Reflection

As a young physician considering a career in global health and medical missions, my mind quickly turned to visiting a missions hospital when I found out my residency program would allow me a month to pursue my individual medical interests. My wife and I began researching and praying over multiple potential sites before ultimately deciding to visit Hospital Loma de Luz in Balfate, Honduras. There were several motivators for our decision. Lauren, my wife, works for World Vision as a Vision Trip Manager and would be able to see some incredible World Vision projects and beneficiaries in Honduras that her donors fund as well as meet some of her international colleagues in person. I have also always felt a strong calling to serving the Hispanic community and wanted to develop my medical Spanish skills. Finally, both my father (a physician) and my sister (a nurse) had previously visited Hospital Loma de Luz and spoke highly of the work that was being done there.

Upon arrival to the hospital, we were warmly welcomed by the Harris’, a missionary family who had recently started medical missions after completing family medicine residency. One highlight of the trip was being able to meet and learn from a family that had so recently entered the mission field as we consider entering it as well. At the hospital, there were plenty of opportunities to serve as many of the longtime U.S. missionaries were returning home and there was a reduced hospital staff. Most days, I would start by rounding on the inpatient adult medicine patients and then managing the emergency department throughout the day. I was fortunate to learn a great deal from the national staff at the hospital regarding facets of medicine that were new to me. I was taught how to manage several obstetric and pediatric emergencies that I had not previously encountered in my internal medicine residency. I also received firsthand experience in managing global health conditions such as dengue and rheumatic heart disease for the first time. In return, I was able to share some ultrasound techniques and applications with the local staff. During my time in the hospital, I grew especially close with Gerardo (pictured with me and my wife below), a Honduran medical student who is preparing to enter residency next year. Gerardo shared that he had recently rededicated his life to Christ and it was so inspiring to hear how he felt especially called to demonstrate Christ’s love to both his patients as well as his family.

Lauren was able to continue working for World Vision while in Honduras and was fortunate to visit multiple World Vision projects in the cities of San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa. She met with multiple beneficiaries, including the children at several community centers and children’s homes living in areas stricken by poverty and gang activities. She was especially touched by the story of Milton, a young man who through the assistance of World Vision was able to start a barber shop out of his home in order to pay for college. She also was able to engage in great fellowship with multiple members of the national staff that she had previously only worked with over Zoom.