Ministry and Medical Missions in Central America
By Silvinia Gonzalez
I just returned from a medical missions ministry trip to Central America, visiting Guatemala and Honduras for the first time.
I was able to attend the South American Holy Convocation in Guatemala City, organized by the director for South America, Rev. Victor Pagan. Also, I was able to attend the third Latin American Educators and Leaders Fellowship Conference held in Guatemala City, where I shared with leaders and educators from all over Latin America and the U.S.; it was a great blessing for all.
I visited Guatemala City, Antigua, Quetzaltenango and Almolonga. In Almolonga, I saw God’s blessing upon the land and the people; at the market I held in my hand the biggest carrots I had ever seen. At the same time, I was able to visit Casa Shalom, the children’s home founded by Dr. Rick and Janice Waldrop.
After that, I traveled to El Peten in north Guatemala with that area’s overseer, Rev. Jose Estuardo Clara Vera, and his wife Mirza. I was able to preach to pastors in the territory, visit several churches and attend a youth retreat called “A Stop to Sin,” which had a great impact in San Benito, El Peten. The more than 175 pastors in El Peten touched my heart. Many of them are in remote places and do not have the resources for food, clothing and medical assistance. They are our Church of God pastors. I will return there to support our pastors in El Peten with medical assistance and social help.
From Guatemala, I traveled to San Pedro Sula, Honduras. I was there with Dr. Roman Cruz and his wife Elsa. They pastor the Nueva Vida Church in San Pedro Sula, and Dr. Cruz is also the national director of the Christian social ministry. This social ministry is carrying out a great work in Honduras. Getting medical care at the public hospitals is not easy, and the Christian social ministry is developing Church of God Christian medical clinics in remote and needy areas of Honduras, giving free medical care to Honduran pastors. God moved my heart there as well because many of the pastors’ children are malnourished and cannot attend school to learn how to read and write because they have no uniforms or school supplies. Pastoral families have an average of five children, so it is very difficult to get them an elementary education. We should help our pastors and their families in Honduras obtain medicine, education and food, and support the Christian social ministry that is already helping pastoral families with medical care, nutrition and school supplies.
In Honduras, I offered medical care in several places such as Chamalecon in San Pedro Sula and a place called Casa Quemada. I was there with a missions team from Good Shepherd Church of God in Pahokee, Fla., pastored by Rev. James Brewer and his wife Lola. They went to build a church in Casa Quemada pastored by Edgardo Caceres. One of the days I was there I gave medical care to 83 patients, both adults and children, referring about 35 to the Christian medical clinic in San Pedro Sula. There is a great need because of the poverty, but we are glad that we were able to reach them with the gospel of Christ and medical and social assistance.
I was able to visit El Paraiso, Copan, Olanchito, Tela, La Ceiba, Puerto Cortez, Omoa and Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. All of these places have Church of God Christian medical clinics that, through a great deal of sacrifice and prayer, are reaching needy people with the message of Jesus Christ.
I have several trips planned for 2008. Thank you for your prayers and support and for being a part of medical missions in Latin America. I will continue to preach Jesus Christ, integrating medical assistance, social help, theological education and evangelism as I offer the love of God to needy people and support our pastors.
Dr. Silvina Gonzalez
Medical Missionary to Latin America
Project Number 0650502
Dunamis Medical Missions Ministry
Project Number 1022043
