Sunday, October 18, 2009

Hamburgers For The Hospital

Yesterday some of our friends from California arrived. We look forward to a great time with these folks and a productive week.

Today after church, we went to Tegucigalpa and had lunch. We then decided we would visit Hospital Escuela. Marc thought it would be fun to buy hamburgers and distribute to the families in the hospital. We went on the hospital with a bagful of toys, while Marc went to McDonald's.

There were more children in the hospital and more children with serious illnesses than I ever remember seeing. One little four year old girl looked maybe 18 months and had a heart condition. Her hands and feet were blue. Another baby girl that was two years old, looked six months old. She was atrophied. No one was with her and I don't really know all her problems. It was so sad to see so many children that were so sick.

When Marc arrived with 100 hamburgers, he was the hit of the day. Maybe more popular than the toys. Many people have travelled long distances from home and have been in the hospital for day, weeks, and even months with their sick children. Many of these parents have used every bit of money they have to get their child to the hospital and there is nothing left for food.

Marc said the people at McDonald's were saying you want how many hamburgers. And you want them for what reason. When Marc told him what he wanted the hamburgers for, the people at McDonald's that it was great and wanted to give Marc a coke while he waited.

We were not allowed in the pediatric neur0-surgery ward when all we had was toys. But when Marc arrived with food, one of the nurses escorted Marc and I into that ward. She knew those parents were hungry.Many had been with their kids for days. And some had had not food in that time. It was neat that the nurse cared so much. There were tiny little babies in that ward. Really sick babies. The worry lines were showing in the faces of the parents. They were so grateful for a simple hamburger.

The only problem was Marc only bought one hundred hamburgers and they were gone in no time. We could have easily given away 300 hamburgers. Or more.

It was a hard day emotionally. But we know a few people were happy because they had something to eat that they probably were not expecting.

Terri

2 comments:

Donna said...

Terri, dear, just think of the hearts that were warmed by your kindness....many more than the 100 hamburgers that you gave away!

You filled a great need with this simple meal, and I'm sure you walked away with all kinds of emotions not just because of the sights and smells you witnessed, but the memory of faces of the people that you served.

Great is the love that the Father has lavished on us! Thank you for sharing and caring!

Ginger said...

High Five to you and Marc for caring so much and making a difference every day of your lives.
love you both.