“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mohandas Gandhi
I had always read these simple words, but never really thought about applying them until I decided to embark on this journey to Honduras.
Our mission consisted of about 80 volunteers working in one of several teams: medical, dental, eye, hearing, education, evangelism, and construction. Though divided into different groups, we shared one common thing: the purpose. Our purpose was to serve the people of Honduras.
Medical clinics were set up in the villages of Los Leones, Maranones, and Santa Fe while the surgery team worked at the hospital in Trujillo. The hearing and construction team worked at various locations throughout the week. I worked with Dr. Cannon in the eye clinic at Chapagua, which was about 25 minutes from Trujillo, where we all stayed during the week.
With the help of my wonderful translator Susie, I was able to screen the patients before Dr. Cannon examined them. After they were examined, they were fitted for eyeglasses selected by Dale Winthroath and the rest of the eye team, including Jim Badami and Stephen Selig. I had the pleasure of working with a very efficient and enthusiastic team. The musically gifted Mr. Selig and his trusty harmonica kept the eye clinic (especially all the children) entertained! By the end of the mission, our eye clinic had examined about 565 patients who were given sunglasses, artificial tears, and if needed, prescription glasses and/or glaucoma drops.
Most patients work outside in the dusty environment and hot sun with no UV protection; naturally, the most common ocular findings were cataracts and pterygia. Several patients had severe to complete loss of vision in one eye secondary to trauma. Later, I learned from our translator Nora that rock throwing is common among children in Honduras and unfortunately results in injury.
The most memorable patient that I can recall was a 22-year-old woman who, upon examination, was found to have had a previous corneal transplant. According to her history, another missionary group had performed the transplant but she could not recall who had done it. It was surprisingly in great condition, even with no adequate follow-up care. Her successful transplant was more than enough to make me a firm believer in missionary work. No matter where we are, what we do, or what we believe in, we are here for the patient.
I already miss seeing the bright-eyed, smiling children and the patiently waiting Hondurans who traveled from x to y miles to be seen at our clinic. Honduras, and its seemingly happy inhabitants left us with the intangible gift of appreciation and compassion. Prior to this trip, I never really had an appreciation for simple things like adequate nutrition, drinking tap water, air conditioning (or just fans), and available health care. I feel very blessed to have had this opportunity to help those less fortunate, and I hope I succeeded in providing you a glimpse into my unforgettable week in Honduras.
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