LAST DAY OF SPANISH SCHOOL!

Today was my last official day of Spanish Language School!

…In a week from now I will be moving to my mission hospital!

I am so blessed to have had the chance to spend almost 9 months being supported by such an amazing group of missionaries.
I cannot believe that I have learned as much as I have! Not just in regards to language but also culture. These teachers are not only unbelievably great people but also truly gifted in what they do.

The following is a brief summary of my past few months in Honduras and my answer to the question that many people think but only few ask.
…Why…?

I have been part of an amazing church full of national and international missionaries. It is a blessing to be serving in a local church, especially one that sows into the local community.
As far as my medical service. I have become sort of a missionary concierge doctor. I am available to help when needed. I’ve given health talks and have also gotten connected with a local missionary clinic to serve in a few brigades during my time in Siguatepeque before moving to my mission hospital. This has given me a chance to grow my medical Spanish and has kept my medical skills active. Through my medical experiences here, I’ve realized that there are many similarities and differences between Honduran and US allopathic medicine. With guidance and wisdom from the lord, I am figuring out how to balance the difference in treatment guidelines and in resources.
My second week of language school was Semana Morazánica. (This is week is pretty much three holidays in one honoring Honduran soldiers and the military.) This meant that the language institute along with many schools and businesses had a week of vacation. Taking advantage of this unexpected time off, I was blessed to be able to travel to Rio Viejo for a few days. While there, I saw patients in the clinic and also was able to see the progress of the houses being built for long term missionaries.
From performing a paracentesis using a bucket to debriding a extensive gluteal pressure ulcer in a diabetic patient, those few days of clinic were not at all benign. After my couple months off after residency, it felt great to practice medicine again. I did not realize how much of an ingrained habit practicing medicine has become over the past decade. I thought that I lost my hobbies during medical school but I am now realizing that one (emphasis on one) of the activities, I actually enjoy doing is what I have been trained to do for a living. Practicing medicine.
I have since had another short trip to my mission hospital in order to introduce the hospital to another medical missionary from Siguatepeque that was looking for a place to serve long-term.

My past several months here have been nothing at all like I have expected. I honestly assumed that I would spend my days studying Spanish with my free time spent in isolation. However, God has provided unexpected friendship, mentorship and family. Almost nine years ago, I moved to another country called Dominica for two years and was blessed with lifelong friends who also happen to be amazing children of God. In every stage of my journey from Texas, to Dominica, to Georgia, to Florida, to Louisiana, and now Honduras. God has brought into my life mentors, supporters, prayer warriors, friends, and family. God has brought you all into my life to guide, teach, mentor, support, and encourage me along this journey. I cannot thank you all enough. This stage of my journey is just beginning I can not wait to continue it with you all.
If you would like to keep up with what has been and will be done through my medical mission work. Please subscribe at the bottom of this page.
There is also a support page that lists the many ways you can support my mission work here in Honduras.

I truly feel at home here in Honduras and remain expectant for all that God is going to do during my time here.

Now to get to the tough questions… or really tough question (singular).
The question that many people ask when hearing about my current path is why.
Why sacrifice over a decade of hard, grueling and expensive medical training only to get to the point of finally being “free” and able to earn a six figure salary (mind you this would mostly go towards loans) and instead turn down dozens of job offers, choose to leave all of your family and friends….again, and work for free in a foreign country.
I would like to refer to Luke 18:18 -30.

“Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.” So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

I do not at all believe that this verse is saying not to have riches on earth. When I read this, I envision this antique scale with two sides.

On one side are treasures in heaven and on the other riches on earth. I believe that Christ wants us to realize that the scale is tipped so heavily in favor of treasures in heaven that there really is no comparison.

There is no comparison.

May the grace of God be with you wherever you go.

Onto Rio Viejo I go! 🛻 🇭🇳