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Hello Everyone! We hope that you are having a wonderful and blessed Holy Week! Have an amazing Easter as you celebrate the Resurrection of King Jesus! 
The Fields Family Update

I've come to accept...

“How are you doing with all of this, son?” Dave asked Ben. It was a beautiful Caribbean day in January as we sat down to our afternoon coffee together (yes, we really do suffer for Jesus!). Shrugging his shoulders, Ben answered, “I’ve come to accept that saying goodbye is part of our lives here as missionaries.” Wow! We were astounded at his answer. As the days passed it was clear, our boy was growing up and taking it all in stride.

A missionary expects the difficult ‘goodbyes’ to family and friends when they leave for the missions field. It is the ‘goodbyes’ that occur while on the field that you didn't anticipate being so difficult. When your fellow missionaries leave the field they leave a hole in both your lives and the mission where you serve. This past December and January were filled with “goodbyes” for our family as 4 families left the mission field and one left on furlough. The biggest change for us came when the Pirkle family left for the states. Their family has been an integral part of our kids’ lives with Phillip, Ben’s best friend, and Sarah, one of Mariah’s best friends. Our kids spent most of their spare time at the Pirkle home. Now that they are gone, they are sorely missed.
This group of kids grew up together.
I bet you can pick out which one is Ben's best friend. Ha!
Ben is the only MK left from this group.
I wanted to share this with each of you to help you understand another aspect of our lives as missionaries that you may not be aware of. Just as Ben said, “…saying goodbye is part of our lives.” Since saying goodbye is such an integral part of our lives here, it is really difficult to continue to "love deeply and hold lightly" in each of the friendships that the Lord has given us. Jesus told us to love one another as He has loved us.  This isn't easy for anyone, regardless of location or vocation! It is often easier to guard the heart and only love so much, which is not how Christ loved us. Please pray for our family as we strive to love in the "here and now" of our relationships with other missionaries. 
For the whole story please go to: http://davefields.blogspot.com/2016/03/es-la-vida.html


La Conferencista 
Marinajo Fields
 
A weekend away with a good friend ended up in an unexpected and challenging invitation. During one of many deep conversations that weekend, I shared with my dear friend, Teri Riley, that, “I think my desire to share everything I learn through the Word may mean that I have a gift of teaching that I never realized I had.” Within moments Teri invited and encouraged me to be the “Conferencista,” or the Main Speaker, at a women’s conference in Tegucigalpa. It was an amazing prospect for me to branch out and do something new and a wonderful way to serve the body of Christ in Honduras. Upon returning home from our weekend away, I told Dave about her invitation. Within days we agreed that I should go for it. Dave encouraged me saying, “It’s an incredible opportunity for you, hon. I know you’ll do a great job.” The theme for the conference was “Binding Wounds” therefore, I knew exactly what I would share, my story. I put down my testimony in words for the first time and opened my heart. By doing so I allowed my story and His Story to mingle that I might speak the truth about the Power of the Word of God to these lovely sisters in Christ. Oh, it was a lot of work but it was so worth it. I loved teaching; I felt comfortable and confident and never once nervous. What a joy and a privilege. God is Good! 
Please go to our Blog for the full story:  http://davefields.blogspot.com/2016/03/la-conferecista-marinajo-fields.html
 

Spring and Fall...The Busiest Seasons of All


Can you believe that we've been here in Honduras since 2008?  Neither can we!  Aside from the duties (mostly technical in nature, like computers and such) that we "came here to do," we find ourselves very busy throughout the year hosting visiting teams.  Dave's gifts in communications and logistics and Marinajo's gift of hospitality really lend themselves to this part of our ministry here.  This is especially true in February and March, and September and October as we have several "frequent flyer" teams that comes down twice a year.  These four months of the year tend to be the busiest ones for us!  Here's a quick snapshot into three of those teams and how they've become both close, close friends and a real asset to the ongoing work of Loma de Luz.  

Orthopedic Surgery Team


The Orthopedic Surgery team from Oregon has faithfully been coming twice a year for many years. This year the team consisted of an Orthopedic Surgeon, a Physical Therapist, a Prosthetist, an Anesthesiologist and two nurses. Their trip in January was another success with 7 Orthopedic Surgeries, many prosthesis molds made, and many injured patients taught physical therapy exercises to help them recover. Throughout the years, they've also become some of our dearest friends in the world! 

Ophthalmological 
Surgery Team


Dr. Reichert and his wife, Jill, comprise our Ophthalmological Surgery team. Dr. Reichert has come three times, each time for two weeks. During his trip in February he performed 20 surgeries and conducted clinic and post-op appointments with his wife. An extra special opportunity for Ben also came to fruition with Dr. Reichert’s visit for he began training to translate for visiting doctors. There is a special Valentine's Day story about this happy couple pictured here (they are not the Reicherts) that I’d like to share with you, but it is much too long to share here. Please go to our blog under “A Sight for Sore Eyes” to read this heartwarming story. http://davefields.blogspot.com/2016/03/a-sight-for-sore-eyes_21.html

Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery Team


The Ears, Nose and Throat surgical team from Seattle, WA arrived this past week. It was their second trip to LDL and we look forward to hosting them for many more years to come! Kaalan Johnson, the team leader, has served with another ENT team that has been coming to LDL since 2004. The ENT surgical team has performed many standard as well as very intricate and lifesaving surgeries here at the hospital over the years. This year they were busy with approximate 20 surgeries in less than a week as well as a very busy clinic. We're thankful that they were able to come and share their time, skills and gifts with us! 

IT Update: New EMR Software and
Laptop Donations 

 

Since our arrival in 2008, Dave has been looking for a quality EMR (Electronic Medical Records) software program that fits the unique needs of Hospital Loma de Luz to replace the outdated system that they've been using for these many years.  Late last year, the Lord graciously led him to a replacement package and since then he has been diligently working with the programmers, who are based in India, and the missionary medical staff to customize the software. We hope to go live with the new software around May 1 which will mark the end of a long road. Dave received some much needed assistance with this substantial project from Stephanie Miller, an IT intern, pictured below. Stephanie learned about the need for an IT intern at the recent Urbana conference and came down to offer her IT skills to help us further this project. We are grateful for the support she gave towards the completion and implementation of the new system. Thank you Stephanie!
 
A heartfelt thanks to all of you who generously donated funds toward the purchase of refurbished laptop computers for Loma de Luz. You helped us reach our goal of thirty laptops! (pictured below) Dave has been placing the newly donated laptops in the hospital to help prepare for the implementation of the new cloud-based EMR system. Dave has also been troubleshooting some internet links to outlying homes and campuses, such as El Camino Escuela Bilingual and the Children's Center, that have not been working as expected. In order to repair them he has been designing a new fiber optic trunk line which he hopes to have installed by the end of April.  Thank you for holding up Loma de Luz and the IT department in your prayers! They are much appreciated.
How is Ben Doing...?
 
Ben is doing well. There is a silver-lining in the cloud of his best friend, Phillip Pirkle, leaving (see first article). Ben has a lot more time on his hands and has shown a heart to learn new things and serve others.  A few afternoons each week he is working with our Maintenance Department doing whatever is needed. We saw a great opportunity with the Ophthalmologist's, Dr. Reichert’s, visit for Ben to learn a new skill that is always in demand at the hospital; Ben began training to be a translator for visiting doctors and specialists. He began translating during Dr. Reichert’s clinic hours and within days was translating in the O.R. He also had the opportunity to observe cataract removal through the microscope. Ben is in the dark blue scrubs in the background of the picture below.
 
Benjamin is also beginning to learn to play the bass guitar thanks to Dr. Isaac and continuing to learn jiu-jitsu with Dr. Peter. Ben is still a 14 year old who loves a good nerf-gun fight, computer games, and vegging out in front of a movie. We sure are proud of him!

...and Mariah, How is She?


This past Christmas season Mariah returned home for three weeks. It was absolutely wonderful having her home. The following is an excerpt from Mariah’s blog where I’ll let her tell you how she’s doing:
 
"A few months ago I would have wanted nothing more than to get on the flight I’m about to board. I’m headed home. There’s a single plane ride between me and mi hogar. And I do want to go home; I’m excited beyond belief. But as I flew out of Tennessee today there was a part of me that didn’t want to leave at all, and I didn’t see that coming.

I’ve been extremely guarded these past few months in Smyrna. I haven’t committed because I didn’t want to get attached and then find out that it wasn’t the place for me. I don’t know if that’s a wise way to live or an extremely cowardly way to live. You can decide that for yourself, I suppose.
 
But, the good news is, I think I’ve found out that it is the place for me. 

I’m not sure at all what next year is going to look like yet, but I can say with confidence (and hours of prayer on my side) that it’s going to be spent returning to and staying in Smyrna. The Lord has provided me with a home, a ministry, a job, and a community there. All of which are stretching me and challenging me in all the right ways. And for now, that’s plenty enough reason to go back and dive into what the Lord has for me in 2016, whatever it may be."
 
Since her return to Tennessee, Mariah has been busy with the childcare ministry at Community Servants & Wherry Housing, where she both lives and serves. This opportunity has allowed her to love greatly and use her Spanish more than ever. She works at Chic-fil-a a few days a week and is helping in childcare at church, meeting a whole lot of new people, studying music: guitar, voice, song writing, and keyboard, attending bible study and college aged church service and will soon begin participating in the Worship Team at her church. This past week Mariah had her first live music gig at her favorite coffee shop! We are so proud of her. Coffee and Mariah together – what a combination!