We awakened to the sound of birds, thanked God for a good night’s rest and met for our first breakfast and morning devotional. Team members introduced themselves to folks unfamiliar and learned more about one another. Pastor Steve led us in prayer and remarked how far our group traveled and from so many places, including CA, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MN, NJ, NY, TX, VA! Despite our zip codes, we heard the Call and came together in this one place to help God’s children. Throughout our travels and our time here, God is beside us, supporting us. Steve asked us to think about our objective—how do we want to feel at the end of the week? He challenged us to ask each day, “where did I see God?” Finally, we lifted up names of friends and family members to God and thanked Him for guiding us here and holding us gently in His hands.
It was then time to repack our bags, board the bus, and head to Quinta de Las Floras (The Quinta). As last week’s Faith In Practice Team from Houston bid farewell to this majestic mountain home, we settled in, enjoying the familiar scented air, feeling the sun on our faces and marveling at the view of volcanoes Fuego (active) and Agua (dormant). Our first team meeting began with Lydia, an ER nurse at home, reporting that her village team had seen
2060 patients last week at the clinics set up for Dental, Pediatrics, OBGyn, Cryo (to test for cervical cancer), and Orthopedics! Those who could be helped at the clinics were and those needing more extensive services will be brought down from the mountain villages by Faith In Practice to La Antigua for necessary procedures. I am always shocked and saddened to think about the great need here for medical care. We covered more team business and schedules were discussed, then it was time to get back on the bus!
We left town and climbed up and up the windy roads to visit The Virgen del Socorro Home. This special place was the dream of Father José, who passed away just a few months ago. In a country as hard and poor as this, in a country with no services for those with special needs, there are many children and adults who are given up by their families because caring for them at home is not possible. The 300 Socorro residents formerly lived in the hospital (The Obras) and were well cared for, but the need for space continued to grow. Father José worked tirelessly for these people who have no voice, he sought donations and had this beautiful home built. The views are breathtaking, the buildings receive fresh air and sunshine, the staff never stops caring, cleaning, cooking (1000 meals served a day, 500 bottles of formula each day)for the adults and children who call Socorro home. We were given a tour and encouraged to interact with the patients, to hold their hands, to speak to them (although most cannot answer with words), to push their wheelchairs, and that is just what we did. The residents were happy to have visitors, some laughed and clapped, some greeted us with words, others with sweet smiles, and some did not seem to react at all. Despite the apparent abilities of the residents, team members blew bubbles, clapped and sang, held hands, replaced missing socks, soothed, and gave terrific wheelchair rides!
Steve asked us to look for God each day? I saw God over and over as team members reached out and comforted those who needed comforting. I saw God in the big brown eyes of each resident, young and old, who looked at me and without words told me I was loved.
