Foot pain initially brought Valter to Grace in 2017.

Valter remembers, “When I first came (to Grace) with Miss Kit (former Patient Registration volunteer), after I did the paperwork, I said ‘Ok, bye,’ and extended my hand. Miss Kit looked at me and said ‘We don’t shake hands here – we hug people.’” And then she gave him a big hug. “I have this in my mind forever,” Valter said with a big smile on his face.

“Grace is like the word says – grace -- something special,” Valter continued. “Even if I had the money to pay an expensive place, I don’t go. What I feel here is you care about the person. It isn’t just a regular patient at a regular clinic. They have something attracting you here. Caring, dignity, and self-esteem -- all this we receive here.”

Valter serves as Pastor at United Hearts Church for Nation. Every week, they provide food for 200 people through a food bank ministry. “I always have a lot of pain to carry boxes. My arms can’t handle it anymore,” said Valter.

Grace physician, Dr. Kirsten Carter, recommended that Valter lose weight and he initially ignored her medical advice. After much encouraging and support, he realized, “I don’t make time for me. I need to take care of myself. If I don’t take care of me, I don’t take care of others.”

“I went to the gym,” Valter said. “The first week was terrible. My feet hurt. My knee hurt. But I started and then kept going. Two months passed and I lost 30 pounds. I got it. I hear Dr. Carter’s voice. And now I can better help the families.”

Valter’s church recently received the generous donation of a forklift to help move the food boxes. It was truly an answer to prayer. “I am so happy,” said Valter. “I learned how to unload the boxes from the church. They inspired me to use the forklift.”

Valter summed it up best, “Everything is possible when you have faith. If your faith is just a little – it is enough.”