LOTWC Annual Luncheon 2012

On Saturday, October 20^th Light of the World Charities held their 8^th annual luncheon at Manero’s Restaurant in Palm City.  One hundred ten guests enjoyed their meal while listening to Dr. Rene Loyola express what he considers his privilege to surgically help people in need both inside and outside our borders   He said he finds his work extremely rewarding but expressed appreciation to all the people who contribute their time and money to Light of the World Charities as he would be unable to do this work without them.  Theresa Banks, president, gratefully accepted a check for $25,000.00 donated by the parishioners of Holy Redeemer Church.  Raffle tickets and door prizes were read off by Laurie Schwab, chairperson of the event, and everyone went home with full tummies and content to have been a part of helping a worthy organization.

Two of our wonderful supporters checking the jewelry tree

Dr Rene Loyola and Theresa Banks

More of our wonderful supporters enjoying the luncheon

Dennis Banks offering the invocation

Thanks to Manero's Restaurant of Palm City,  FL for once again offering their fine establishment for our  Annual Luncheon.

Isaac Rolls Water Into Light of the World's Doors!

THAT ISAAC WAS NOT A NICE GUY.

Light of the World Charities of Palm City had an unwelcome visitor last Monday. Isaac quite suddenly sent water pouring Through the front door and the garage doors of its offices.



All electric machines needed to be unplugged and "raised above sea level," and furniture, where possible, lifted to dry spots. Twenty two duffle bags filled in preparation for the next surgical mission had to be lifted to high grounds. Walls and carpet were ruined. It looks like the offices will be closed for the next five weeks.

Unfortunately, the free dental clinic housed in the offices will be closed also. And the next Stateside Surgery was canceled as the pre-op work would not be done.



Isaac made a lot of work and upset a lot of plans, but LOTWC will be back in action as soon as possible and is presently working out of the home of its president, Theresa Banks.

Exhauasted , Theresa Banks and many other work to keep the light burning!

We are still needing massive donations for all of our work and now this! God will make a way! Please donate now! We can use all the help we can get!

"A Pilgrimage"

2012 Honduras July Surgical Mission

by Dr. Mario Loomis

I love Honduras, the people, the mountains, the simplicity and beauty of human life, lived with an open and natural affinity for religion and respect for God.  There is poverty certainly, violence and suffering.  If there were not, they wouldn’t need us. But there is a calm, peaceful gentleness as well.  Our recent Light of the World mission to Comayagua provided needed orthopedic and plastic surgery for over sixty poor Honduran adults and children.  They in turn, provided us with an opportunity for pilgrimage.

A mission trip is much like a pilgrimage.  One doesn’t need to go to The Holy Land or Rome to be close to God.  But having been to Rome, I can certainly say that remarkable things can happen on a pilgrimage.  I remember visiting the Church of the Scala Santi, the “Holy Steps,” the marble stairway our Lord climbed to face Pilate, brought to Rome from the Holy Land by Constantine.  Such a remarkable thing, to touch the steps our Lord climbed.  Equally remarkable was seeing the Pantheon, an ancient temple, built before the time of our Lord, touching the bricks that witnessed the times of Peter, Paul and the early martyrs.  Mortal flesh, touching brick and stone of the past, is to touch and become one with the reality of history and of our faith.

More remarkable yet, is touching the poor.  As Mother Teresa had often said, when we serve the poor, we serve our Lord in the poor.  One can serve and help others anywhere, anytime, just as one can pray without going on a pilgrimage.  But to go to a country that has many poor, and to help those in great need, is to be with and touch our Lord in the poor.  Looking into those beautiful Honduran eyes, their kind and gentle way, their overwhelming appreciation, is a wonderful thing.  But, to receive a blessing from the poor, is like receiving a blessing from our Lord Himself.  We had performed a relatively small procedure on an elderly man who had a skin cancer on his chest.  He spoke no English and our Spanish was marginal, but his message was very clear.  Pointing to the sky, he motioned that he would pray to God for us.  The tide of gratitude turned and it was we who were overwhelmed with appreciation.  Many times we were told how those we help in Honduras pray for everyone involved with Light of the World Charities.

Each time I go on a mission with Light of the World, the joy of the experience surpasses the time before.  I encourage everyone to become a part of these missions, to go on them if you can, to support them to the best of your means, and to pray for their ongoing success. The people we help there will pray for you always.  They will become a part of you, their touch remaining in your heart forever. 

2012 HAITI January 15-20 Mission Report



Dr. Rene Loyola

The experience of going on a surgical mission is, at the same time, overwhelming and empowering.  It overwhelms you because you realize how desperate some people’s lives are and how much there is to do for those that are not as fortunate as we are.  It empowers you because you feel uplifted as a human being when you willfully donate your time and skill to go and try to change people’s lives.

Most of us that give of ourselves understand the feeling; that ability to, in a short period of time, impact positively on people’s lives.  The good that you do allows you to tolerate the sensations of helplessness that you are exposed to.

Those feelings themselves are enough to keep you going back for more.  Sometimes you feel like there is not enough you can do for these poor souls.  However, another reason to return is to discover that special moment that each trip seems to have.  The personal situation impacts you so powerfully that it stays with you indefinitely.

Jerry Glattfelt, CRNA

This trip to Haiti had it poignant vignette.  It was in the form of a poor homeless man whom we helped in many more ways than just fixing his medical problems.  I do not know who found him or how he found us, but he showed up to our small hospital wearing dilapidated, filthy rags, and he had a huge inguinal hernia.  He lived on the street around the market where he performed menial tasks helping lift crates of food and performing whatever task was required of him.  He apparently was very well liked by everyone, and other people cared for him in the streets.  The hernia was totally incapacitating to him.  I think one of the things that affected me most about him was the fact that he did not even know how old he was. 

He got cleaned up, had his surgery, and had some very nice people look after him that night in the hospital, and the next day, we got him all dressed up in new clothes and most importantly, a spot in a halfway home.  Maybe his situation will be short-lived, and he will wind up again on the street, but at least he will be able to function without pain.  He will have had at least, for a short while, food and a roof over his head; he will always have a special place in my heart.

Sincerely,

Rene Loyola, M.D., F.A.C.S