Students for International Mission Service (SIMS)

Outlook 2001

Investing in a life
Louis Ritchie, MD
Associate professor of family medicine
School of Medicine

Our time with Carmelita

SIMS called one day—they have called us several times in the past when a child from some developing country and his or her family needed a place to stay while undergoing open heart surgery at Loma Linda University Medical Center and Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. The last child we were privileged to host was Carmelita Hernandez, a delightful three-year-old girl from the Foundation for His Ministry mission in Baja California, Mexico.
Her mother, who is the sole support for four children, had to stay to work in the fields and so was unable to accompany her. Marisol, a social worker from the Foundation for His Ministry mission accompanied her for the first two weeks.

Carmelita was a joy to be around. She is so outgoing and bubbly at the same time kind and thoughtful. She fell in love with my husband, her adopted “Abuelito” (grandfather). She also enjoyed playing with Vashti, our black Labrador. She bounced back rapidly after surgery. Coloring pictures was her favorite pastime, which she did very well for a three-year-old lady. She was thrilled with some crayons and coloring books she received as a gift during her recovery period.

The second two weeks she was here, Marisol needed to return to her job at the mission. So BJ, a retired American lady from Vancouver, Washington, came to keep her company. BJ and her husband volunteer at the Foundation for His Ministry mission frequently. Both of these ladies are such lovely people, and we were privileged to make their acquaintance.
Carmelita had so much fun at the children’s Sabbath School at the University Church and also at the Sunday School at BJ’s church. Friends from SIMS brought her some lovely clothes; she was completely awed and overjoyed with them. The “fashion show” she put on with clothes from Goodwill to take home was one of the neatest fashion shows I’ve ever seen.

We missed Carmelita, Marisol, and BJ when they left. All three are really neat people. We were glad the Ronald McDonald House was full when they came; this gave us the privilege of hosting and getting to know them.

[Outlook 2001]

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