The Light on the Hill
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
— Matthew 5:14,16
Perched on a hill above the city of Santa Elena in Belize’s Cayo District sits La Loma Luz Adventist Hospital—a name that means “The Light on the Hill.” True to both its name and its location, the hospital quite literally brings light and hope to the community it serves.
Each day, 30 to 50 patients walk through the doors of La Loma Luz. From the early morning prayer shared by the staff and the worship provided for waiting patients to the end-of-day checkups, it’s clear this is no ordinary medical center—this is a mission.
In the past, the hospital attempted to compete with other healthcare options in the area, but they soon realized that the only way to truly meet the needs of the people was by involving the Ultimate Physician. Since then, La Loma Luz has been intentionally refocusing—incorporating faith into every department, every diagnosis, and every conversation.
Healing doesn’t stop at the hospital doors. La Loma Luz offers help not only for the body but also for the mind and soul. As patients are cared for, they are shown the love of Christ at every turn. When their visit is over, the hospital’s Chaplin offers to provide a Bible worker to visit them at home and bring Jesus through Bible studies.
In addition to their Bible workers, every Thursday you can see a group of staff members leaving to go directly into the homes of the community. “If they will not come to the hospital, then we will bring the hospital to them.” Unfortunately, some of these people—due to poverty or lack of education—wait too long before seeking care. In many cases, the La Loma Luz staff have been able to catch life-threatening conditions early because of these home visits and send patients to the hospital to receive proper care just in time.
On occasion, for those who may not be able to afford the necessary treatment, the hospital provides assistance through a special “Blessing Fund”—a donor-supported account that offers care to the most vulnerable.
Belize faces a public health crisis. Over 72% of adults are considered overweight or obese, and many health complications are lifestyle-related. La Loma Luz has realized that, in order to truly make an impact, they need to start at the root of the problem. In response to rising health concerns, and burdened by a conviction laid upon their hearts, they are currently working to build a Lifestyle Center. At this center, guests will be able to stay for up to a week and be “immersed in a health-promoting environment,” learning how to properly care for their bodies through preventive measures such as physical, spiritual, and mental health practices—including a whole-food, plant-based diet, cooking classes, spiritual support, healthy exercise, natural remedies, hydrotherapy, therapeutic massage, counseling, and support groups. It’s not just about avoiding disease; it’s about living abundantly.
Our time in Belize, partnering with the hospital, was such a blessing and a spiritual revival for both of us. Seeing individuals with a true Christlike love for others is always uplifting, and we greatly appreciated the kindness shown to us as we worked alongside the hospital to highlight both its successes and current needs.
During an interview with Dr. Jeffrey Cho, a physician from Loma Linda, California, who is currently serving at the hospital, he shared:
“I feel that my mission at this hospital is to help it become a mission hospital once again. Unfortunately, the story of a mission hospital's struggle to survive is not unique to this one. Many mission hospitals have closed because they haven’t been able to find a way to serve like Christ served and also be sustainable. This is something that the hospital is still struggling with, but by God’s grace, we are seeing things come together to stay sustainable—and I praise God for that.”
This is only a brief, factual write-up of what we experienced during our time in Belize last month, but there is so much more we wish we could share with you. Be sure to keep an eye on our YouTube channel—we’ll be releasing several videos from the hospital over the coming weeks.
We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Mission Projects Inc. for working with us to make this trip possible, and to all those at the hospital whom we were privileged to work with in telling its story.
If you feel led to support La Loma Luz Adventist Hospital—especially the lifestyle center, which is currently in need of both prayer and financial support—you can donate directly through Mission Projects Inc. Visit missionprojectsinc.org, click Donate Now, and be sure to specify “La Loma Luz Hospital” in the message box provided.
