In 2014, Hands4Hope had the pleasure to join with International Medical Aid for the first ever medical clinic to this location. To be able to return again this year made us so very proud. This area welcomes us and always makes us feel as if they really do appreciate our time spent with them. And they show this by their smiles, their concerns for their families, and by returning to visit with us each year. Each team member has a special memory associated with this location. And this year was no different.
After sitting up our site, arranging the pharmacy table and the triage area, as well as the provider tables, we opened the doors and began our days. With us,it is if you set up the clinic they will come, and this they did. Hundreds and hundreds of patients arrived to wait outside the door. The heat was high, the patients plentiful, and the days went by quickly. And the love we found ourselves surrounded by was almost more than a person can imagine. Think about people waiting for hours to be seen, and instead of being upset at the time they waited, they were grateful for having the opportunity. This is what we see when we do these clinics. People so happy to have someone take a look at them, they are willing to wait in the heat, and sometimes in the rain. And seeing the difference that can be made, the number of lives we touch, and with reinforcing that they indeed have not been forgotten, well this brings us back each year.
As always, this is the location that seems to break our hearts the most. Tiffany was able to see her "girl" from last year. Dustin found the one to melt his heart. Sharon was able to spend time with her girl again. And Lilias was able to renew a friendship she has had for several years now. All these are wonderful memories to have. But with this comes the pain. Treating children with high temperatures, where the outcome is probably going to be not so great. Children who can't hold their heads up. And children who are dealing with conditions which make a future seem very hard to believe. But, as we found out last year, we do what we can and than leave the outcome in the hands of someone who knows so much more than we do. Our Heavenly Father decides the outcomes in all things. Sometimes He takes the wee one home to be with Him. And sometimes His decision is to have that child remain here, and places them back in our hands. So to Him goes the praise, no matter the outcome. Save the ones you can, and leave it all in His hands. Such a lesson to learn, and to be reminded of not only with each trip, but in our daily lives.
Please take a look at some of the ones we worked with, some that touched our hearts in ways we never imagined, and all that left impressions in our lives. And we look forward to our next trip to the land that will forever have our hearts!
