Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Feb/88

Contributor - Marti Van Hoeve

Title - A Billion Dollar Vacation With the Medical Group Missions to Honduras

Topic - Missions

When I came back in May 1987 from a Study Tour to Mexico and Nicaragua with the Reformed Church in America (Pioneer, July/August 1987) 1 had a kind of unsatisfied feeling. I was grateful for the opportunity that had been given to me, but I did not know how I could apply that kind of experience. How can 1, as a Christian and an older person, help the people in Central America?

Then I read about the Medical Group Missions (MGM). MGMs are two week trips to Lation America and the Caribbean, to provide medical, dental and vision care in the name of Christ. I am not a doctor or a nurse. No problem, they told me I could join anyway. On every project there are some general helpers, with no medical skills, needed.

Twenty-five to thirty projects are organized every year. All participants are volunteers and pay their own air fare and living expenses. In addition they bring their own medical supplies and items necessary for the project.

The information we received said that all kinds of medical supplies were needed. The ones most in demand were antibiotics and vitamins. I had collected two suitcases with medical supplies. My church (Hamilton) had been very generous in their donations toward this cause.

In November 1987 1 was on my way with an MGM project to Honduras. Honduras is a beautiful and wild country north of Nicaragua in Central America. It is a political island of peace in the midst of a Central American storm. We flew to San Pedro in the northwest of Honduras and travelled by bus to San Marcos in the southwest.

We were stationed in a school with dormitories. The winter holiday had just started so the school was empty. On this project there were 36 participants. Two-thirds were American, from 21 different states. One-third were Canadians, most of whom came from Ontario. We were divided into three teams; two medical-dental and one surgical. I worked with one of the medical-dental teams.

MGM has years of experience working in Third World countries. I was very much impressed with their high degree of efficiency. Due to the fact that most participants were "repeaters", everyone knew what they were doing, such as Gabriel and Gladys Rodriguez, who were born in Honduras. Gladys is a direct descendant of the Mayas. Gabriel is pastor of a Spanish speaking congregation for the Reformed Church in New Jersey. Every year they spend two weeks of their vacation working with MGM in their native Honduras as coordinators and interpreters.

We worked in four villages high up in the mountains. When we arrived in a village the whole town prepared for our coming. The patients were lined up waiting for hours. For most of them, it was their first visit to a physician or dentist.

Every patient was registered, examined and cared for. When medication was given, its use was explained. They were also taught the rudiments of health care. Dr. Rodgerson, from Weston, Ontario, explained before we started out that there were three reasons for our being there: 1) we want to be here because we love the Lord and love the people; 2) we are here to treat the people; and 3) we want to teach the people the importance of health care.

After approximately one week, the medication was gone, but the knowledge the people had gained remained with them.

The first day I did traffic control, directing patients from registration to (a) health talks, (b) doctor and dentist clinics, and (c) the pharmacy. The second day my job was taken over by local people. Then I helped in the pharmacy, counting pills, filling and dispensing small bottles of shampoo and bars of soap. Worm medicine for treatment of parasites was also given.

A lot of Christian witnessing was done. New Testaments and tracts were distributed for a small cost. Health care papers were also given out. When I was not busy in the pharmacy, I helped in these areas. I also had opportunities to interact with the people. They asked me about myself, my family and my country. I brought some photographs along of my family, my granddaughter and my son's wedding. The villagers loved these pictures. Everyone wanted to see them.

We had daily bi-cultural lessons of Spanish and English. The local people tried to learn our language. Our bilingual Bible and dictionary were two tools we could not do without. It was great fun for everyone. The doctors and dentists had an interpreter with them at all times. At night the villagers entertained us around a bonfire with singing and music. Their singing is just beautiful and they enjoy social activities.

Frequently people thanked us. Our reply was "gracias a Dios" (thanks be to God). We were actually able to do something to help these people. Third World countries are no longer abstract.

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