Day 4 in Honduras: The Brightest Light
The hospital room seemed extra dark and damp since the only light that entered it came from a dingy window. All heads turned in our direction as we peeked our heads in the door and then stepped inside. At first, they seemed apprehensive of our visit, unsure of what we were doing as we stepped into their hospital room.
But all it took was a wide, bright smile and an enthusiastic "hola" to send a beam of bright light into the darkness. As soon as we reached over and touched the hand of the sick child in bed and gave her a lollipop, all apprehensiveness vanished. When we patted the mother on the shoulder and introduced ourselves, her worried frown transformed into a gentle, relaxed smile. At the presence of love and compassion, the darkness in the room fled. I could almost see it run into the corners and try to hide as we pushed it out with our joy, generosity, and loving care. I think the light streaming in from the window even shone a little brighter.
We spent our fourth day in Honduras roaming the halls of the hospital. We entered as many rooms as we could to talk with the patients and their families and to pass out gifts to the sick children. We colored with them, painted their fingernails, or tossed balls back and forth. We held newborn babies and gave backrubs to the women who had just given them life. My favorite part of the day was getting to pray with a family whose child was about to go in for cancer treatment. We ended the day by giving hundreds of Burger King hamburgers to the hungry parents who had been at the hospital for days without eating.
Although the hospital was a dark and difficult place to spend an afternoon, God gave our team the joy and energy to spread light in a dreary place. At the beginning of the trip, I prayed that God would cause His light to burst forth, and today, I saw just how powerful that light is. His love is so great that there is no darkness too deep for it to illuminate.
After visiting the hospital, we stopped by the school for the blind. Here, we were serenaded by the blind children, who had the most angelic voices I might have ever heard. Their first song was the Spanish version of our English song, "I Will Call Upon the Lord." These seven and eight-year-old boys and girls were singing harmonies better than we do in chapel at Harding! After they sang several songs to us, we in turn sang several songs to them. Then we spent several minutes hanging out with them, passing out gifts, playing soccer, painting fingernails, and making crafts.
Once again, I saw the light of Jesus burst forth in that place as his praises were lifted in beautiful songs. It was a light brighter than any blindness could ever contain.
When I prayed at the beginning of the trip for God's light to burst forth, I know He looked upon me and smiled. Just wait and see what I have to show you. I have never seen God's light so clearly.
But all it took was a wide, bright smile and an enthusiastic "hola" to send a beam of bright light into the darkness. As soon as we reached over and touched the hand of the sick child in bed and gave her a lollipop, all apprehensiveness vanished. When we patted the mother on the shoulder and introduced ourselves, her worried frown transformed into a gentle, relaxed smile. At the presence of love and compassion, the darkness in the room fled. I could almost see it run into the corners and try to hide as we pushed it out with our joy, generosity, and loving care. I think the light streaming in from the window even shone a little brighter.
We spent our fourth day in Honduras roaming the halls of the hospital. We entered as many rooms as we could to talk with the patients and their families and to pass out gifts to the sick children. We colored with them, painted their fingernails, or tossed balls back and forth. We held newborn babies and gave backrubs to the women who had just given them life. My favorite part of the day was getting to pray with a family whose child was about to go in for cancer treatment. We ended the day by giving hundreds of Burger King hamburgers to the hungry parents who had been at the hospital for days without eating.
Although the hospital was a dark and difficult place to spend an afternoon, God gave our team the joy and energy to spread light in a dreary place. At the beginning of the trip, I prayed that God would cause His light to burst forth, and today, I saw just how powerful that light is. His love is so great that there is no darkness too deep for it to illuminate.
After visiting the hospital, we stopped by the school for the blind. Here, we were serenaded by the blind children, who had the most angelic voices I might have ever heard. Their first song was the Spanish version of our English song, "I Will Call Upon the Lord." These seven and eight-year-old boys and girls were singing harmonies better than we do in chapel at Harding! After they sang several songs to us, we in turn sang several songs to them. Then we spent several minutes hanging out with them, passing out gifts, playing soccer, painting fingernails, and making crafts.
Once again, I saw the light of Jesus burst forth in that place as his praises were lifted in beautiful songs. It was a light brighter than any blindness could ever contain.
When I prayed at the beginning of the trip for God's light to burst forth, I know He looked upon me and smiled. Just wait and see what I have to show you. I have never seen God's light so clearly.
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