Hospitals Of Hope

by Fatima Neves Ferreira

First of all I would like to mention God’s amazing provision. Choosing a place to go on elective can seem so daunting but God is faithful and He never fails to guide us through His word and His people. I knew I wanted to go to South America. I had this burning desire to go to a mission hospital out there. I longed for God to allow me the opportunity to do so. First, I had the hurdle of Written Finals (Medical exams) to get through, then finances. I struggled to pay rent and other bills here in England, let alone have funds to go to a mission hospital in South America. So I prayed and prayed and prayed, and roped people into praying for me.

Yearning to trust in God and longing to know whether it was God’s will for me to go. Whether this burning desire I had in my heart to check out medical missionary work was something I wanted or a desire that God had placed in my heart. I longed to please God and to do His will, whatever it took. But I truly had to trust Him with all my heart. I struggled to, initially, thinking “it’s impossible, I have no money.” But it was as if God kept reminding me, through my quiet times and through others, that I should trust in Him, seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things would be added… That He has good plans for me.

Being in a prayer triplet and part of Bible study group at church and having all my Christian friends around me helped me grow in my trust in Christ.

It’s like one of my friends said, ‘If it’s God’s will, it will be. The money will somehow become available.” And God was very gracious and loving and provided the finances.

I had a 36-hour journey in total! Having paid for the cheapest ticket possible meant having many stopovers. Finally, I was in Cochabamba, Bolivia at midnight. Two friendly faces approached me, an American by the name of Michael Warzewski (CEO of Hospitals of Hope) and a Bolivian guy called Guillermo Delgado (National Director). How down to earth they were! And so welcoming! The drive to the hospital and accommodation (guesthouse on site) took approximately 20 minutes in which Mike filled me in on as much as possible about the hospital and the patients they had. He also asked what I would like to do. Guillermo cracked jokes, and so did Mike. They were so warm and welcoming. We talked about how we came to Christ and why I had chosen to go to Hospitals of Hope. My room was lovely and there was a note from Elizabeth, Mike’s wife, welcoming me to Bolivia. I loved it! Mike had mentioned that there was surgery happening the next morning on a 12-year-old boy with suspected osteomyelitis at 9 am.

Elizabeth knocked on my door the next morning, to wake me for surgery. She showed me the kitchen where I could help myself to breakfast. I could then walk over to the hospital when I was ready and she would show me around.

When I stood at the kitchen sink, drinking water, I gazed out the window, curious to know what this new country looked like at daytime! I spat the water out of my mouth as there before me was the most beautiful sight ever—the mountain ranges that are part of the Andes! What a truly awesome God we have that is able to create wonderful nature! We were further out of Cochabamba, near the mountains, where it was a serene, calm place, ideal for recuperating patients. A beautiful sight!

I felt daunted at the prospect of speaking Spanish, which I hardly knew. I had taken a few lessons many months back. I hoped my Portuguese would help me understand.

As promised, Elizabeth took me on a tour of the hospital. First she introduced me to Pastor Nestor, who everyday without fail was preaching to the crowd of patients in the waiting area. He is an amazing man of God who showed me the number of people who have come to Christ. The need is great with most people, especially the ones living near the mountains, having no idea about Christ. They believe in a mixture of Roman Catholicism and superstition, gods of the Incas, etc. Most people don’t seek medical help either, not believing in white man’s medicine.

I did end up observing the surgery planned that day. The orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Rodriguez, was so warm and in his limited English, welcomed me with open arms. They all spoke Spanish and I struggled to understand at first. But I was so glad I was there. I had felt so at home from the minute I landed. With each passing day, I got to know every member of staff. I longed to communicate effectively and by the end of my time there I could hold whole conversations. They were all amazed… so was I! But it was all thanks to them. They were patient enough to repeat themselves time and time again and teach me.

I went to a Spanish-speaking church where most of the staff attended. They became family to me. I stayed on late at the hospital shadowing the on-call doctor, and thus had the opportunity to know them better and truly become part of the family. I saw lots of surgery. The hospital, which was opened in September 2006, thanks to many donations over the years to Hospitals of Hope, was state of the art. The operating theatres are amazing, perhaps even better than some in England. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was a common thing, amongst other laparoscopic surgery.

Unfortunately whilst I was there, there was civil unrest in Cochabamba city centre. It affected the hospital in sense that there was no transport to bring staff or patients to the hospital. The fact that the hospital hasn’t been open too long also meant that there weren’t as many patients. But, day-by-day, patient numbers increased. The hospital provides treatment at much lower cost than other hospitals, and it has amazing facilities with specialist doctors and dentists.

Whilst I was out there, I felt the biggest thing I came away with was a family. The Lord had given me tremendous opportunity to love people and develop friendships—even crack my not so funny jokes—in another language!

Mike and Guillermo, married to Elizabeth and Claudia, who are sisters, I got to know very well. Especially the girls’ family and also Guillermo’s. And I love them dearly. I was considered one of them. To me, they are my Bolivian family.

At the end of my trip Mike asked me to return to Bolivia. He said my personality worked well with them. They long for me to return as a Doctor and work there. What a privilege. I hope I can, God willing.

A friend from church was curious to know whether my excitement when I got back and desire to return to Bolivia, was just a honeymoon period. OR would I feel the same 6 months or a year later? My heart still burns with deep desire to return, to learn Spanish, that I may be extremely fluent and to grow in Christ, more and more that I may be a vessel for him to shine His light through me. Wherever that may be. I was told that it’s rare to go somewhere and feel so at home, to feel a part of the family. Could this mean that this is part of God’s plan for me?

I have learnt that if I put Christ first in my life, He will carry out His will for my life. His plans for me are even more amazing and awesome than I could ever imagine. I couldn’t plan my life better that God can. He is totally awesome, totally sovereign, totally Lord of my life. I urge you to allow Christ to use you, and believe me, He will not only do that but He’ll blow your mind!