Loma de Luz

 Greetings from Honduras...

The Scace family outside the hospital.

The light on the hill...

For the past two weeks, the Scace family had the honor of serving with the Cornerstone Foundation at their hospital, Loma de Luz.  Loma de Luz and their surrounding foster children’s center and bilingual Christian school are situated on the coast of mainland Honduras near the town of Balfate, Colon.  It is a beautiful mix of mountainous jungles, tropical flora, and spectacular beaches.

One of the many beautiful views from the campus.

 

With all the surrounding beauty of this area, though, comes poverty, crime, and major disparities.  Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America and access to health care, schools, and clean water continues to plague its citizens.  Hence, Loma de Luz, the “light on the hill”, was started in 1991 by Dr. Jeff and Roseanne McKenney in response to the lack of healthcare within a day’s travel.  It has grown over the years to include the foster children’s center, bilingual school, and African Palm farm, each serving the people of this area in unique ways, keeping the Gospel at the forefront.

The hospital:  primary care clinic, emergency room,
inpatient hospital, surgical suite, delivery room, ENT,
ophthalmology, dental clinic, and more.

Outside the Camino Bilingual School.  There are over 200 students
in preschool through grade 12.  The primary language spoken is English.

Another view of the school.  There are foreign missionaries that
 commit to teaching for the school year, local Honduran teachers,
and even former students who have returned to teach.  

Such a nice campus for the kids!  They currently have job
openings, please see the photo below. They also have an Amazon
wish list where donations are sent directly to their container in Mississippi: 
 https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3PMQQT9JS2U5P?ref_=wl_share

The sad reality of health disparities...

 

I (Andrea), was blessed to serve in the hospital alongside local Honduran doctors, and other medical missionaries from around the world.  It would be impossible to write in a short update all of the crazy things that walked through the door of that hospital during my time there.  But, one thing that remained constant, was the tension of the health disparities these people face daily.  While this hospital provides much needed healthcare where there is none, there is only so much they can do.  When one of the Honduran doctors was stabilizing a patient having a heart attack in the ER, my first question was, “What are our options?”.  There are no cardiac cath labs, no thrombolytic medications, nothing that a patient in the US could easily find within about an hour or less.  The patient was started on a few medications to stop the clotting, open up his blood vessels, and help with pain.  He was stabilized and eventually discharged, with the high likelihood that this condition would bring him back soon, or worse, kill him.

Dios Obra Aqui (God works here)...

 

These are hard things to digest when you come from a country with so much access to, not only healthcare, but schools, infrastructure, and opportunities.  These were the things we discussed around the dinner table with the kids.  What is different here?  What is the same?  The kids were given the opportunity to spend time at the school, the children’s center, the African Palm farm, and Rosie even spent time in the hospital with the midwife and me.  We also spent time packing bags filled with clothes, blankets, and baby items for the 350+ babies that are welcomed into the world each year at the hospital.

 

This experience has had a profound impact on me, and I know it has for the rest of the family too.  Honduras is only about a two and a half hour flight from the states.  So close, but so different and so much need.  I pray that maybe one day, the kids will feel the call to serve in an impoverished nation after seeing the great need.  I also pray that our presence there had a spiritual impact.  Being a part of praise and worship with the patients and listening to the chaplains speak to the patients as they waited for their appointments was so encouraging.  The hope that is being given to these patients goes beyond the here and now, beyond the material, it is the hope that one day Jesus will return.  And when He does, He “shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelations 21:4. 

Prayers and Praise...

Thank you to all of you who prayed for us, who encouraged us, and who gave financially for this trip.  I had one sweet local Honduran worker who works as a cashier at the hospital tell me she is always so surprised that, not only do we leave our lives to come work for free, but we pay to do it.  She was even more surprised when I told her that our church and many people in our lives gave money so that we could come and serve them.

Please continue to pray for Loma de Luz, the workers, the missionaries, and their impact on the people of Honduras.  Pray that they are able to give a lasting hope and that they do "not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Gal 6:9

The kids standing behind the huge pile of baby clothes
and items donated from church's in the US to pack layettes for
new mothers.

Please let me know if your church would be interested in
hosting a baby blanket drive or clothing drive.

One of the highlights of my time was being a part of the
doctors leading praise and worship with the patients before
clinic starts. 

On our way to praise and worship!  Two suspension bridges
connect the living quarters with the hospital.

Rosie was able to spend a morning with our new beloved friend,
Carolien, who serves as the midwife at Loma.  We included the
pregnant hospital cat in the photo because it is only fitting! 

Rosie also spent a morning with me in
clinic and quickly determined that primary care is
boring and being a midwife is much more fun!

Another part of the ministry is the African Palm farm. 
The palm fruits (see in the background) are harvested and sold to
support the ministry and the local community.

Caleb attempting to lift a bundle of palm fruits,
which weigh nearly 40 lbs each!

A visit to a farm would not be complete without time on a tractor.

On the weekends, Jeff would drive us around in the campus'
beloved vehicle, "Goldie".  The area has many beautiful sights,
from rivers, to beaches, to waterfalls, to jungle hikes. 

Swimming in the refreshingly cold waters of the Rio Coco.  The
temperatures were in the high 80's to mid 90's every day with, what felt
like, 100% humidity.

If you are a teacher or you know someone who is and you are
considering serving in an impoverished nation, please
consider El Camino Bilingual school.