International Christian Hospice
Newsletter August 2010
Honduras
Prior to our arrival in Honduras two representatives for ICH attended the Central American Christian Medical Conference. 200 doctors and medical students from all of the Central America gathered in Tegucigalpa.

ICH Country Director, Pastor Francisco Ilias and ICH Volunteer Director Lourdes Argueta manned a display table offering information about ICH. One key note speaker was an MD practicing in Palliative care which is a specialty of pain and symptom management for end-stage illnesses. This area of medical care goes hand-in-hand with hospice and is a new concept in Central America. This is an answer to a seven year long prayer that end-of-life care would be recognized and addressed by the medical community. Many important contacts were made at the conference and we are praying for God to burden likeminded Christian physicians to work with us.
It is always a pleasure to return to Honduras! We welcomed Chuck McCurry, one of our ICH team leaders from S.C., accompanied by Pastor Ken Freeman as they arrived at Tegucigalpa airport. By the end of our travels we have logged 1,800 miles in our car, both in Guatemala and Honduras. Thank the Lord for His gift of safety for which we know many of you are praying!



Home visits are always a highlight. Many of you have followed our stories about our young friend, who lives in Tegucigalpa, Ever who is now 19. Lourdes, our Volunteer Director in Honduras, has been faithfully visiting him and his family since we met him two and a half years ago. He was a victim at age 16 of a gunshot wound to his back resulting in bone infections and lower extremity amputations. Although his body continues to fight chronic bone infections, worsening pressure sores and weight loss, Ever readily testifies of God’s blessings in his life. His church youth group and trained ICH volunteers come every Wednesday to sing and worship in his home. We brought supplies for his care, Ensure and a new hooded sweatshirt to him. He tells us that he is always cold and cannot eat very much. Our time of prayer with him, his grandmother and two small sisters was very sweet. Please continue to pray for Ever’s comfort and for the ICH volunteers who are serving him. We know that he has given his testimony openly in the community and that God has a special plan for the rest of his life.



We were successful in presenting four out of six ICH training seminars to a total of 140 people. This is the rainy season and Honduras has suffered much damage to roads, bridges, churches and homes. It was unfortunate to have two seminars cancelled but God gave us safe travel throughout the capitol city. Sometimes this required detours through “not so safe” areas. We were also welcomed by Pastors, church leaders and youth in the small towns of Guaimaca and Tolonga in the central region of Honduras. Thank you Chuck and Ken for the flexibility and leadership you showed while faced with challenging situations. One thing we always can testify to is the divine appointments God orchestrates for us. Everywhere we go people are ready and looking for peace and comfort during times of suffering and loss. International Christian Hospice ministry transcends any geographical or cultural differences with the message from God’s Word that there is hope in Christ!


We want to share about one of those divine appointments. We spent a wonderful Sunday morning teaching about hospice care with believers in Salem Baptist Church in Guaimaca. Pastor Luis opened his home and we were served a delicious meal prepared by his wife and ladies in the church.

We are so honored by the warmth and hospitality offered to us everywhere we go. A lady who attended our training that morning invited us to her home after lunch. She is caring for her mother-in-law, Julia, who is dying of liver disease and renal failure. The doctors have said that all they can do now is to keep her comfortable. Julia and her family told us of the legacy she is leaving behind. Two of her sons and her grandson are Pastors in nearby communities. We discussed her physical problems and talked about things to do that would help. We read Psalm 139 together and rejoiced together that God knows and loves us so intimately! As we were leaving her daughter-in-law asked questions about the disease progression and tearfully admitted that she will miss Julia more than her own mother. With much encouragement we told her she was giving Julia the best gift. To be cared for at home, honored and loved by her family will give her the peace and dignity that we all would want. Hospice care in Jesus’ name gives true meaning to the words hope and comfort that the world cannot give!


We were able to travel to Seguatepeque and visit the SEBCAH seminary as well as the Evangelical Hospital. Chuck and Ken were a part of the ongoing discussion with Dr. Aguilar about our common dream of a Hospice/AIDs facility. We toured the hospital property and viewed possible sites which we are praying over for the future. Ron and Mark Fittz, a CAM missionary architect, are continuing to work with Dr. Aguilar on a presentation for the hospital board in October. Please continue to pray with us for God’s guidance and timing in this project.

We continue to look to God for His provision financially to continue the work of ICH around the world. Hospice is a well known and readily available service in the U.S. But what about the rest of the world? What about the people who are dying with no opportunity to know there is a Savior? The pictures we include are only a small representation of the believers in other countries who are eager to learn how to reach their own people. You have the unique opportunity to take God’s message of hope to people through ICH now working in:
South Africa, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, Nicaragua, Peru, Dominican, Republic, Ukraine and Moldova.
You are invited to join us on mission by becoming an ICH volunteer, prayer partner and donor. We welcome team members who feel God is calling them to go beyond the borders of the U.S. with an extraordinary mission.
Serving Him together,
Ron & Susan Naish
Ron & Susan Naish
Directors, International Christian Hospice

Tax exempt donations received at:
ICH 145 Chillingham Rd. Irmo, S.C. 29063 803-781-0656