Hands to Care, Hearts to Act—The Gift of Medical Hospitality

Pat and I spent this past week at the ranch/farm with the Give Ye Them To Eat team, helping facilitate a week of training with a truly picturesque backdrop. Árbol Vida (Tree of Life) is always the perfect setting for an outdoor classroom—you simply can’t beat the beauty of God’s creation, fresh air, and the sense of peace that fills this sacred place.

Alongside the training, we also carved out time to continue preparing the ranch house that we will begin calling home, part-time, starting in September. We both were indoctrinated with hornet stings (and learned several homeopathic remedies that work!) and visits from scorpions and tarantulas.

 

We also have been learning how to do our laundry-ranch style. Let me know if you need any pro tips for outdoor washing to prevent sun streaks!)

But back to the heart of the week—the Community and Family Health Program, Course #2- MORE THAN A BANDAGE. This was a remarkable session, gathering 20 eager, energetic, and passionate women, who came ready to learn with and from each other. Over six full days, guided by health educators, lived-experience experts, and a nursing student (who has a scholarship from GYTTE), they journeyed through life-saving lessons. Days began with cafe y pan at 6:45 a.m. and ended with lights out at 9 p.m.—long hours filled with knowledge, energy, and the Spirit at work.

A few highlights included:

A hike across the 40-acre property led by Estela, a 27-year veteran of the team, who shared wisdom on medicinal plants and their traditional uses. (I learned so much!)

Hands-on training in administering injections (using apples and each other!), responding to choking and respiratory crises, and performing CPR.

In-depth lessons on hemorrhages, mosquito-borne diseases, fractures, parasites, digestive health, wound care, prevention strategies, and the importance of vaccines.

Attention to holistic care: from treating pain and illness, to stabilizing patients until 911 arrives, to considering the mental and emotional burdens that accompany physical suffering.

Women sharing bandages, stitches, butterflies, laughter and hugs as they learned together and built a trusted community of care workers who will serve those who haven't access to medicine and care.

At the close of the training, each woman received her own first aid kit (botiquín)—but this was more than just a gift of medical supplies. These kits were blessed and prayed over, a visible sign of empowerment and service. As I experienced this portion of the training, I couldn’t help but think of the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25–37. In many ways, the Samaritan became the first recorded “first responder”—he not only treated wounds with the medicine of his day, but also transported, provided resources, and ensured ongoing care. He had the hands to care and the heart to act. That is the very essence of this program: equipping women to step into their communities with both skill and compassion, offering hope and healing in Christ’s name.

Each day began with a devotional, beautifully weaving together faith and medicine. Themes such as “Serving through Our Hands,” “Good Health as a Gift from God,” and “Serving Others with Gratitude” set the tone for the learning that followed. Participants

 grew not only in knowledge but also in friendship, faith, and fellowship. We danced in the rain during a scavenger hunt celebrating God's creation. Of course, we were also fed in body—Vero and her gifted kitchen team kept us nourished with incredible meals, reminding us that hospitality and sustenance are holy ministries too.

For me, the most moving moments came in hearing each woman’s story (ages 15 to 57!) of why she joined: one attorney longed to give back to her community, another wanted to care more effectively for her medically fragile granddaughter, some dreamed of pursuing medical careers, while others simply wanted to be equipped to save lives in their villages or at their churches, even though they already have full-time jobs. Some were sisters or cousins, and we had a mother-daughter duo! Every testimony was a glimpse of God’s hope, planted and growing in these women. We also honored the 360 graduates from the program through the past 4 decades!

Even though I only understood about a 1/3 of the Spanish being spoken (I'm improving!), I understood something far deeper—the Spirit was alive in that gathering. The energy, compassion, and faith that filled the week expanded not only the women’s knowledge

and abilities, but also my own heart.

This is what Give Ye Them To Eat is all about: empowering God’s people with practical skills, spiritual grounding, and the confidence to care for one another—so that when the work is done, each woman can proudly and joyfully proclaim, “We did it ourselves, by God’s grace.”

Give Ye Them To Eat and the "More than a Bandaid" program are part of a 501 c 3 ministry serving the people of Mexico, helping at the grassroots level for people live and thrive in their homes and communities through education and hands-on programming. For more information or ideas on how you can help grow these programs let me or Pat know!