Expected to be operational late this summer, the clinic will provide essential health care services to the 5,000 residents of the village of El Pino. A Honduran nurse will staff the clinic, providing hands-on medical care as well as preventive health, nutrition, and prenatal educational services. The nurse's salary will be funded by the North Georgia United Methodist Conference.

The Providence mission team also conducted two Vacation Bible School sessions each day for the children of El Pino, who eagerly participated in songs, face painting and other activities.

Pam Todd, who helped with the children's programs, said, "Many of the children came through the line several times - they would just point to what they wanted painted next. None of us were fluent in Spanish and they could not speak English, but we made up for the lack of a common language with lots of gestures, songs and smiles."

This was the first mission trip for Todd, wife of the associate pastor at Providence.

"My husband always comes home from a mission trip excited about all they had done, so I wanted to give it a try," she said. "It was amazing how you go there thinking you are going to help these desperately poor people, yet you come away from it having received so much more than you gave."

Philip Foster, who chronicled the trip with video and photos, came