Newsletter - August, 2018
| August, 2018 Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." Matt. 25:40 Published by the Society of the Good Shepherd, P. O. Box 122, Amberson, PA 17210. (717) 349-7033 |
When she was still a dental student, Alisson Portillo had the dream of operating a community dental clinic that would help meet the needs of the poor. With equipment being so expensive and having no building to house a dental clinic, Alisson trusted that the Lord would open the doors to bring this dream to fruition in His due time. While waiting on God to open the needed doors, Alisson served others through various ministries such as the Evangelical Hospital in Siguatepeque and a local children’s home. She also worked with a Christian mobile clinic that provides dental care to poor villages. 
After Alisson had demonstrated her faithfulness over several years, God at last brought things together for her to be able to open a dental clinic for the poor. He did this in a marvelous way: Bethel Church in Siguatepeque had begun a program to help poor children through a school and day care program. But the church wanted to be able to also provide dental care for these children, who otherwise couldn’t afford it. Alisson was just the person they needed! The church provides free space to Alisson to use for a dental clinic, and she provides the children in the day care program with free dental care. The facilities donated by the church used to be a Sunday school classroom. So doing electrical work, painting the walls, building a new entrance, installing a water line, and more had to be done before the clinic could open. The next challenge was obtaining the needed dental equipment, which is quite expensive. However, God provided. Some of the equipment was donated; other was purchased. Of course, one of the basic needs for a dental clinic is an x-ray machine. Purchasing a new one was out of the question. So Alisson began looking for a used machine. After several months of scouring ads for used dental x-ray machines, Alisson at last found one in excellent working condition for only $1500. However, even this was more than she and the clinic could afford. But a friend told her about the interest-free microloan ministry of the Society of the Good Shepherd. So Alisson and her husband applied for a loan to buy the x-ray machine, and the Society granted her the loan.
What a blessing this x-ray machine has been! The same day the machine was set up, a lady came to the clinic in a lot of pain. An x-ray was crucial to properly assess the problem. This woman could not afford a regular dental clinic. So without the x-ray machine she would most likely still be continuing in excruciating pain. The day after this, a Honduran missionary and his wife came in for a procedure for which x-rays were needed. They, too, would not have been able to afford to go to a regular clinic. Each day that passes, so many more people continue to benefit from this machine.
Alisson’s husband Abner is actively involved in the clinic, doing much of the accounting and office work to keep it running. Their hope is that the clinic will eventually become self-sustaining, by charging fair prices to those who are able to pay—which will, in turn, cover the costs of those who can’t pay. At the moment, the numbers make no sense from the world’s perspective: the clinic runs an accounting deficit of about $150 a month. Yet, at the same time, there have always been sufficient supplies in the drawers to treat patients in need, and there is always just enough money on hand to pay the bills. So please keep praying that God will continue to bless Alisson and this wonderful dental clinic! Becky Vega
The Society of the Good Shepherd, P. O. Box 122, Amberson, PA 17210 • (717) 349-7033
Click on the following link if you would care to make a donation to the work in Honduras: Donations
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