Serving At The Crossroads

President’s Message (Fall 2008)

Experiencing the unexpected

I don’t recall exactly how many trips I have made to Honduras over the past five years. I know the number is more than 12 and probably closer to 20, but I never ceased to be amazed about what can happen in this country – this is the land of miracles and surprises! Here are a few examples of what I mean:

A team of doctors, healthcare workers and specialists from Geisinger Hospital returned for a third week of volunteer service at the Manos Amigas Clinic. These visits mean that hundreds of thousands of dollars of additional medicines, goods and services are provided to residents of La Entrada and the surrounding areas. Because of these visits, an additional 2,200 patients were able to be treated.

During this latest visit, random acts of kindness and generosity were witnessed. Upon encountering patients with needs greater than their own, members of the Geisinger team took off their own socks to give to patients who had none; they purchased shoes and tennis shoes to protect wounds that were in need of healing and to reduce additional tissue damage – these were the first footware that their patients had ever worn!

Access to an audiometer and the training of a nurse from West Chester, PA enabled Crossroads to conduct free hearing tests at the clinic and to make ear molds for patients who were in need of such protocols in order to qualify for hearing aids that are to be distributed by the Starkey Foundation later this year. Upwards of 85 people are candidates to receive hearing aids as a result of the testing conducted.

Because of a matching grant and donation, a new 15–passenger bus has been ordered. A medi-transport system will soon be started in the community to bring patients to and from the Manos Amigas clinic.

Our clinic is privileged to extend its outreach services to provide medical care for Amigas de Jesus (Friends of Jesus) orphanage, a school and home to 65 boys who had lived in trash dumps or as street children. We are happy that we can share our blessings with them.

I am sadden to report that we are experiencing delays in going ahead with starting construction of our new clinic. Escalating world prices for steel, concrete, gasoline and materials has pushed the cost of the building beyond the funds that we have available for this capital project. Given the uncertainties of the global financial picture and the economic conundrum we are witnessing, it is prudent to exercise care in managing our funds, making certain that we have adequate resources available for operations of the existing clinic.

Manos Amigas continues to seek in-country support for the construction of the new clinic. Presentations continue to be offered in La Entrada and local business are being solicited to help in fund raising efforts to build the new clinic. Welchez Coffee Plantation near Copan Ruinas has offered to sticker its coffee bags showing support for the clinic and to provide a donation. Purchases of their coffee in the US will also result in funding for the clinic.

I am pleased with the many blessing we have received and along with the Board of Directors of Crossroads, we remain optimistic that we shall find a way to overcome those challenges we are currently experiencing, knowing that we place our faith and trust in He who is the light of the world.

                                                                            
                                                                             Robert L. Sumner, DDS
                                                                             Serving at the Crossroads

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