From the humble beginnings of two trailers and a thatched hut used to provide services to the community, now this 15,000 sq. ft facility now boasts two operating theaters, ten hospital rooms, an imaging department, laboratory, pharmacy and other services. This was the vision of a missionary family.
Raymond Mundall emerged from lowly beginnings as the son of a farmer, who gave living proof of his unselfish love towards his fellow men and cultivated in him the desire to serve humanity. He later attended Loma Linda University where he emerged as a medical practitioner. In the early 1970’s, Dr. Mundall was petitioned by the Pacific Union Conference to come to Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, as a medical missionary. He knew this was the beginning of great things to come. In 1972 the entire family relocated and the operations commenced.
They purchased a hill in the dense forest in Santa Elena, Cayo District of Belize. “Light on the hill” was the name given to the facility, translated to its name in Spanish, “La Loma Luz”. The initial idea was not only for a medical hospital but for schools, a bakery, and anything that could add value and could impact the surrounding communities. Unavailability of basic utilities such as running water and electricity among others, were not a hindrance for this purpose driven family. Delightedly they received blessings through extensive charitable donations of construction materials by the esteemed Escander Bedran. Local and international volunteers from the U.S., Canada, and around the world were all eager and equipped to assist in any way possible in the construction of this little enterprise. These people made it possible for the hospital to be fully functional in the late 1970’s.
Crucibles encountered
Sadly in the early 1980’s, the hospital was closed for a period of approximately two years because the applications for medical licenses for the physicians were not approved due to a language barrier. The physicians were Spanish speaking physicians and the medical interview was conducted in English. However, under the leadership of Mr. Darland Edwards as the new administrator, the hospital was reopened and was on its way to success.
New Light
The hospital was adopted by Mission Projects Inc. (MPI), based out of the state of Washington in the United States of America, and a supporting organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church dedicated to spreading the gospel by way of medical, educational and evangelistic endeavors.
Through this partnership major developments started to occur and the hospital grew to the point of having 20 employees on staff, and mission houses were also built.
Increase of staffing and the addition of a cafeteria were some of the highlights of the 1990’s. In the 2000’s massive advancements were made through the evolution of a new imaging center, a new hospital wing, new equipment and units, upgrading of the kitchen, the laboratory and the pharmacy. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between MPI and the Belize Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Church in 2010, making La Loma Luz Adventist Hospital one more valuable asset for the spreading of the gospel in Belize through the means of several Bible Workers placed all over the country.
La Loma Luz Today
In 2011, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between WORTH (World Organization of Renal Therapies), the Government of Belize, Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (the main referral hospital in the country of Belize), and La Loma Luz Adventist Hospital. This is how the first national hemodialysis program in the country of Belize was established
La Loma Luz Adventist Hospital has endured numerous crucibles; nevertheless, God has been faithful and we have proven His never ending care, mercies and blessings throughout the years. Our desire has always been to provide service not only to the surrounding community and Cayo District, but to the entire country of Belize at large.
Presently we are proud to say that we still continue growing in the number of staff and services which we offer. Striving for excellence we are propelled to offer exceptional health care and customer service, with our unbeatable prices and our wide range of medical services.
