07/17/2026
Honduras 2026 – Day Six
Today was our final day in the clinic. We knew when we started the morning that, in addition to caring for patients, we would also be packing everything up and preparing to leave the village by the end of the day. That is always bittersweet. Over the course of the week, we build relationships with so many people. Many of them return year after year, and even throughout the week they stop by to visit, say hello, and simply spend a few moments with us. Those relationships become one of the most meaningful parts of the ministry.
Today we had the opportunity to serve a little over 200 patients, making for another full and rewarding day in the clinic.
As we wrapped up our work, we also began preparing donations from the medical and dental supplies that would expire before we return next year. Each year, we carefully look through our remaining inventory to determine what can best be left behind to continue serving the people of Honduras after we are gone.
We were able to prepare care packages for our three Honduran dentists, as well as for the dentist at the San Marcos health center. The donations included both dental and medical supplies, and they were incredibly grateful. It was a blessing to know these resources will continue helping patients long after our team has returned home.
We also assembled a much larger donation for the local health clinic. The clinic is severely underfunded and operates with very limited resources, yet the staff faithfully serve their community with what they have. By God’s provision, we were able to donate an entire truck bed full of medical supplies and medications that they will be able to use on a daily basis.
One of my favorite moments of the day happened while we were figuring out how to get those supplies to the clinic. We had already gathered everything together and sent a couple of team members to let the clinic know about the donation. Jennifer, the head dentist, offered to walk down with them, but explained that the clinic had no way to transport everything back.
As our team walked back toward the clinic site, they passed the local Honduran National Police station. Ernesto explained what we were doing and asked if they could help. Without hesitation, one of the officers agreed. They drove their police truck down to our clinic, we filled the entire truck with supplies, and together we delivered everything to the health clinic. It was a wonderful picture of the community coming together to serve others, and the clinic staff were deeply thankful.
Later in the day, we traveled to the remote village of Aguacate, about four or five kilometers away on the other side of the mountain. Although the distance isn’t great, the winding gravel and rock roads made the trip about thirty minutes. Aguacate is a very small village with a simple school consisting of only a few classrooms.
There we were able to provide backpacks for 200 children, along with shoes for many of the students. Seeing their excitement and gratitude was a tremendous blessing. It was a privilege to invest in those children and encourage a community that has very few resources.
While there were many joyful moments today, there was also a difficult one.
One of our physicians identified signs that a 10-year-old girl was being abused. Situations like these remind us that our ministry extends far beyond treating physical illnesses. Dr. Michael and Ernesto immediately went to the local government offices to seek help for her.
Initially, they were told that the two women responsible for handling these types of cases were not there, and no one knew when they would return. But as Ernesto was explaining the situation, those very two women unexpectedly walked through the door. They immediately engaged with the little girl and asked Dr. Michael to prepare a physician’s report that would allow them to begin the proper legal process and provide the care and protection she needs.
It was another powerful reminder that God places the right people in the right place at exactly the right time. He already knew this little girl would need help, and He had already prepared the people who would be there to respond.
As I reflect on this week, I am reminded that this is why we come. God already knows the people we will meet, the needs we will encounter, and the opportunities He has prepared for us. We simply have the privilege of joining Him in the work He is already doing.
I would also ask you to pray for a young man we met this week. He is 18 years old and has special needs. Despite his challenges, he works a physically demanding job and faithfully came by the clinic every evening after work to help us however he could. He has such a gentle spirit, always wore a smile, and never waited to be asked before jumping in to help. Because of his disability, he is sometimes taken advantage of by others, whether through deception or having his money stolen. Please pray that God would protect him, provide for him, and surround him with people who will care for him well.
By late afternoon, everyone came together to break down the clinic, pack our equipment, and prepare for the journey home. Thanks to an incredible team effort, we were able to leave the village around 4:00 p.m. and return safely to the hotel.
Tomorrow will be our day of rest. We’ll have an opportunity to visit the local market, enjoy some fresh fish by the lake, spend time relaxing together, and reflect on everything God has done this week before we begin our journey home on Saturday.
Thank you for continuing to pray for our team throughout this mission. Your prayers have made a difference, and we have seen God’s faithfulness over and over again during our time here in Honduras