By Alison Fram
From July 7-11, a team of nine of us from Nativity traveled to Honduras to visit El Colirio and Monte Verde clinics—the two new locations supported by Nativity through Operation Starfish. If I had to describe the week in one word, it would be unexpected. Our journey began with 48 hours of travel delays, but even that brought unexpected blessings—Fr. Bennett was able to anoint a parishioner who was very ill, and our group bonded through the crazy airport travel experience (and plenty of jokes about our time spent in Newark). Meanwhile, Patty and Carlos, already in Honduras, represented Nativity by helping pack care packages at the CEPUDO warehouse. Food For The Poor partners with CEPUDO in Honduras so this was the perfect connection for us.
When we finally arrived Wednesday, we traveled three hours up a mountain to El Colirio Clinic. It felt like a homecoming. Fr. Bennett, Rebecca and I had been there last year. We reunited with familiar faces and introduced our young adults to the community.
As Rebecca shared, “Wednesdays at the clinic serve mothers and children… we greeted the women and babies, passed out newborn kits, and heard firsthand how the clinic is changing lives… There were many emotions present—joy over seeing familiar faces that had grown healthier over the year, sorrow upon hearing of the declining health of the Mayor’s father who provided the land for the clinic, and deep peace knowing that God had so beautifully aligned our paths in that moment.”
An early departure due to weather gave us a glimpse of the hardships locals face daily—and an unexpected chance to visit the CEPUDO warehouse, where we loaded the care packages Patty and Carlos had prepared.
Our final day took us to the remote Monte Verde Clinic in Santa Barbara, soon to be the site of a second building funded by this year’s Operation Starfish. What was meant to be a 3.5-hour drive turned into a six hour drive each way due to recent rains, including three hours off-roading in pickup trucks. As Carlos from CEPUDO said, “We go where no one else wants to go to help those most in need.” It also gave us insight into what it must be like for the many locals who have to walk up the mountain for medical care without access to an air-conditioned vehicle.
When we finally arrived, the Lenca people welcomed us with open arms. They are an indigenous community who have lived on that mountain for generations. Their one small clinic currently serves 36 communities—clearly in need of renovation and resources. Though our time was short, we all felt a deep connection and a strong desire to return. We promised to bring back their stories and their needs to share with our Nativity family.
Meanwhile, one member of our group, too motion sick to make the mountain trip, spent the day at a local school for orphaned children. A teacher herself, it turned out to be the perfect fit—a detour that was clearly God’s plan for her that day.
In summary, it was an honor for us to represent Nativity in Honduras. As we greeted mothers and babies and shook hands with mayors and doctors, we did so through the impact of Nativity’s Operation Starfish and its partnership with Food For The Poor. This was made possible through your prayers, support, and generosity. From coins donated by children to Lenten offertory gifts, your contributions have made a real, lasting impact.
Please continue to pray for the communities at El Colirio and Monte Verde Clinics. In the coming weeks, we’ll share more reflections from our team, and we look forward to seeing you at the Fall Festival in September, where we’ll have Honduras coffee, stories, and photos to share!
