A Journey to Peace in Honduras
by Diane Gohsman
Have you ever prayed about finding real peace?
Would you be surprised if I told you it could be found from a half-day flight to Honduras, navigating customs in a foreign language without air conditioning, and no doctors on your mission medical team?
Surrendering all that is comfortable and easy has taught me a new peace. It came from the hospitality of our Honduran hosts in Limon, the safety felt in the care of the Honduran CHHF team, and the beautiful restful view of the Caribbean Ocean for devotions. Not to mention the delightful food, the rich coffee, and the amazing people we encountered every single day. All this, coupled with an unshakable faith that God always provides.
We met children, seniors, and mothers, with the assistance of translators who helped us serve everyone to the best of our abilities. Thankfully, the Hondurans were forgiving of my imperfect Southern-style Spanish, and on most days, God provided “Google translate” to bridge the language gap!
Surprisingly, a bumpy trip on an unpaved road to a small village an hour away became a mesmerizing experience. Mangoes dangled from trees by the hundred, palm kernel nuts were harvested all over the land, and farm animals wandered freely along ditches and roads. At times, children joyfully clinging to their dad as he zipped along on their family moped would pass and at stop lights, I marveled at the vibrant fruit stands and children eagerly selling beverages.
I had anticipated finding impoverished and sorrowful people, what awaited us was a revelation. Their happiness and joy in pursuing life that day opened my eyes to the depth of our daily blessings. I had assumed too much, and letting go of those preconceived notions was a gift from God. I began to accept each moment, each day, and each task as the joy it was for that moment. From holding a baby while their mother went for a blood test to blowing bubbles for giggling children who had just received vaccines and had no word for ‘bubbles,’ but loved them!
Every day, we witnessed God’s miracles unfold before us – our safety, the beauty of the surroundings, and the heartwarming interactions with translators, local medical professionals, and the vibrant CHHF locals in Limon who made everything possible.
Despite facing challenges, our small team always found God’s guiding hand. The locals placed their trust in the teams that came through CHHF. Even the government sent a team to our clinic in a small crossroads (Plan de Flores) to ensure children received their vaccines. Their accompanying doctor graciously stepped in to help with our patients, as we were short of medical staff. Every day brought new wonders, and we never turned anyone away. Despite the dwindling supply of glasses, we always managed to find a pair that brought tears of gratitude to the recipients – much like the story of Loaves and Fishes unfolding right in front of us.
Despite facing challenges, our small team always found God’s guiding hand. The locals placed their trust in the teams that came through CHHF. Even the government sent a team to our clinic in a small crossroads (Plan de Flores) to ensure children received their vaccines. heir accompanying doctor graciously stepped in to help with our patients, as we were short of medical staff. Every day brought new
wonders, and we never turned anyone away. Despite the dwindling supply of glasses, we always managed to find a pair that brought tears of gratitude to the recipients – much like the story of Loaves and Fishes unfolding right in front of us.
The locals, our team, the land, the smiles, and all those we encountered were a miracle and changed me forever. If you’re searching for peace, I encourage you to jump in feet first when God presents the opportunity to surrender.
OVER THE FIVE DAYS OF SERVICE, THE TEAM SAW 404 PATIENTS, AND DISTRIBUTED 2,129 PRESCRIPTIONS,108 READING GLASSES, AND 196 SUNGLASSES. THEY WERE A SMALL YET MIGHTY TEAM OF 8!
