Sports & Medical Sites

Sports Site

At San Miguel after an intense game of soccer

At Magdalena community court, warming up and
stretching before starting pick up games.

The Sports Site has blessed us so very much!  The site leader, Danny, is a full-time staff member at SI and also a part-time reserve firefighter.  Danny brings the sports ministry team members to different towns around Magdalena.  We start off by getting to know the kids in whichever town we may be in for the day (Magdalena, San Miguel, or El Tablon), we have a brief teaching, and the rest of the time we play with them.  It has been fascinating to see all of the kids have such talent while playing soccer with them.  The kids were often way better than us, and they have such an ingrained passion for fútbol!

At El Tablon with SI staff teaching about "Identity in Christ"
before playing kickball and a game of soccer with the local children

We had the opportunity to grow close to a lot of the little kids who were about 10-12 years old.  Their untainted joy have given us such encouragement!  We loved talking with them, playing with them, joking with them, and laughing with them.  We were sincerely humbled and blessed to have spent our time here investing in relationships and bringing joy to kids by enjoying time together!

- Jack Lockhart and Paul Chong

After a long day of ministry, resting and hanging out at
La Casa Grande with teammates from other groups

Medical Site

Here at the medical site, we have been privileged to work alongside and learn from Paqui and Dr. Sara, two women who love the Lord and their patients.  The medical clinic is right inside the community center and receives patients Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (which is especially for children).  We have been able to take turns working in the front with Paqui receiving patients, taking vitals, getting patient records ready, and dispensing medication based on Dr. Sara's prescriptions/what is available.  If we're not in front, we are with Dr. Sara in the back rooms, observing and assisting her when possible with the patients.  Dr. Sara is a pediatrician, but sees and helps patients of all ages.  She plays worship music throughout the day and on Tuesdays and Thursdays, she goes out on home visits where she checks up on and prays for her patients and their families.  Outside of the clinic, she has also started a diabetes program and a malnutrition program in the community of El Tablón.  Twice a month, she goes out and works with those in the programs, striving to meet their needs while educating them with how to manage and improve the situations.  This is what we got to do yesterday, which was such a special time and a blessing for all of us!

One special time during our time here was our first Friday when we went on a home visit with Dr. Sara.  We went to an elderly woman's home that had many medical problems.  She was open and vulnerable about the difficulties of her life, medically, emotionally, and spiritually.  She told us that because of symptoms of her diabetes (like uncontrollable migraines), she had visited the hospital numerous times, and each time they didn't give her any long term solutions.  So, she just kept going back.  But then she went into a story about how God helped her - she said that one day she had such a bad migraine that she just began to cry out to Jesus.  She asked Him to take her if it was her time, but if not to please help heal her of her headache.  And, she said while chopping onions later her horrible headache suddenly disappeared.  It was at this point that Dr. Sara started suggesting a spiritual sickness rather than a physical one.  We were all blessed and challenged as we heard Dr. Sara speak on the power of prayer and all that is possible when we faithfully surrender to the Lord and continually cry out to them!

- Sam Lew and Maggie Khoury