Today, I was able to do clinic here at Ezell.  We had nineteen patients, so that is a good number.

 

The other morning when I was walking around the clinic, I had a morning visitor. He was the fattest frog that I had seen in a long time. He was roaming around the dental area.

 

Some cultures see frogs as a sign of good luck and power.  I could have used some good luck today with the patients that we saw.

 

As many know, we are in the process of getting the hospital license for Ezell.  It has been a struggle on many levels but progress  is being made. It has been a challenge of patience and perseverance.  When I was in Santiago, Atitlan a few weeks ago at another hospital, I was explaining what stage that we are in and the director just put his head down and shook it.  He said, "I know the struggles that you guys are going through."

I have only been back since October so there are others, as Lisa and Kemmel, who have been in the battle longer than I.  I am thankful that they and the board of HTI have not given up  I am sure that there have been many times when they bowed their heads and moved them in non-belief of what was currently happening.

Of the nineteen patients today, 7 needed surgery that we could easily provide here.  Two were young children with hernias.  They hurt.  They are unable to run.  It is a struggle for them to play with their friends.

Five needed eye surgery for cataracts.  Some of those were so dense, I am not sure they will be able to find a place, while surgery is still an option.  A couple of those patients will have struggles traveling two hours to another area.  One of those patients, was 78 years old and was abandoned by his family.  A younger family took him into their home so he did not have to live on the street. While they are kind enough to give him a place to sleep and provide food for him, I doubt that they will be able to pay for his surgery.

 

We may not have the license now, but we can not give up. We will continue to comply and to meet all of the requirements needed before the inspection.

 

Every day at 5:15 pm, people take a moment to pray for Health Talents and this license process.  Please join us in prayer so that eventually, I can give more hope concerning a surgery. I do not want to give a phone number of a hospital two hours away.  I want to be able to give the dates of when that type of surgery will take place here, at Hospital Ezell in Montellano, Guatemala.

 

IVAA Clinic with Faith in Practice

 Last week, we had a joint clinic with Faith in Practice.  Kemmel, Lisa and two of the nurses, Ana and Brenda also were here to participate. Also this week, we had a group from The States that Bode brought down.  It was a busy week and a lot was accomplished.

Dr. Todd worked in dental with a new translator, Angie.  They saw 37 patients during the week. The Guatemalan staff enjoyed having him.

Dr. Kris went out daily to medical mobile clinics, with different people and he saw 80 patients during the week.  He also had a new translator, Melva.

None of our regular translators were available this week but Angie and Melva worked hard and we hope to see them again.

Faith in Practice provided a training class for IVAA.  It is an exam for women that will detect cervical cancer at an early stage.  Those who completed the training, which included class material, an exam and several hours of clinic, received a certification.

During the week, the patients were screened outside before they entered.  Sections of Guatemala remain in the red zone. with increasing cases of COVID.  We continue to wear masks and take steps to prevent the spread.

The group that Bode brought down were very helping in taking vital signs and screening the patients.

 It was a busy week, with providing the IVAA exam for 488 ladies.

 

The students were ready for the week to come to an end.  The days were long and hot for both the students and the instructors. They were very excited when they received their certificate.

 

On Friday, it was time for Bode and the team to head to Antigua.  Everyone had done a lot of work and many people appreciate of their service.

Thank you, everyone!

Sheri is Back in Guate!

Greetings again from Guatemala!

It has been a long time since I have blogged and as with everyone, so much has happened.  I did not intend on leaving the blog behind, but I did. As with everyone, many changes have taken place since COVID.

I was in Guatemala in 2020, when the the first few cases of COVID were detected in the United States.  I was with a team of students from Harding University and by the end of the week, all other teams had cancelled their visit and my return flight had been cancelled, without my knowledge. I decided to return to NC and was able to get a seat on the second of the last three flights out of Guatemala.

As time passed, we were less sure of when we would be able to return with teams. It did not feel right to continue to receive pay, when there was not a lot for me to do. I decided to take a job as an agency nurse with a state psychiatric hospital.  

What a ride those six months were!  My life inside the institution......it is just something you would have to experience with me, to understand.  For example, dropping my key card, and being in a locked area with NO way of getting out!  I was in the bowels of the basement! There are no words to do it justice.  I made it because the nurses and nursing assistants had my back. The patients receive wonderful care, due to the hard work and dedication to those staff members.  I learned a lot from them and continue to think of them often. 

Now, I have returned to Guatemala and I am living in Montellano at Clinic Ezell. I have been back since October 2021 and these months have gone quickly...........I will slowly catch you up on what has been going on.

The spark that got me wanting to blog again, was the baptism of Javier and Evelyn, his wife. 

Javier is a contracted worker at Ezell and I heard about him, before I met him. I heard he was recently married, an orphan and a really hard worker.  The staff took Javier under their wings and it was great to meet him.  Rigoberto took an extra interest in Javier and has been talking about how a good husband and father should treat their family.  He has told Javier to leave the macho image behind and to instead help his wife in the house, give her some money so she can buy something for herself, help with the children and to even change diapers. For those of you that do not know a typical Guatemalan home, these suggestions are out of the box.

Javier mentioned on day that he would like a church song book. I asked him if he had a Bible and he did not.  He really did not know anything about the Bible but started attending worship with us on Sundays...........after a few months, he sent word that he wanted to talk to me and he told me that he and Evelyn wanted to be baptized on Sunday.  

That Sunday, just happened to be when Carlos and Sylvia were visiting the clinic so Carlos was asked to do the baptisms.

Carlos baptizing Evelyn.

Next, Javier.

Carlos and Sylvia with Javier and Evelyn.

 What a day of rejoicing that was!

OK, so now the blog is up and running again!  So many good things are happening here in Guatemala and I can not wait to share them with you.

My email remains the same, fscubarn@aol.com, if you have a question or want to discuss coming down on a team.

 

Packed Week in Nashville

This week, I will have my skates on!  I have been invited to Nashville and will be staying with Pat.  I am looking forward to our time together.

The first two days, I spent at Healing Hands International, packing duffel bags to be sent down to Guatemala.  I was very appreciative of Linda, Mary, Alice and Julie who came to help me.  We packed the eleven bags in two days. 

On Wednesday, I went to David Lipscomb with Pat.  Alice and Julie met us there and helped us set up the booth for Summer Celebration. Alice, Pat, me, Oliver and Julie.

 This is where we had the HTI luncheon.  Before the festivities started..........

The line continued to grow and tables filled.

People starting to eat and then Carlos offered prayer before we began the program.

Not the best photo but the only one I have.  Elaine, the president resenting to Julie.  Marie, the vice-president introduced Julie before the presentation was made.  Alice, board member, presenting a huipil to Julie.

I am hoping that others took better photos than what I have.

I think the final count was 139 for lunch and the presentation.

Alfred led the slosing prayer.

Carlos, me, Sylvia and Julie before we finished the day.

It was a very exciting week for me.  I saw many people that have been down on HTI trips.
In addition to those above are Harriett, Kassi, Sarah, Alfred, Linda, Jane, Jeff, Nancy, Steve, Mary, Erik.......and I am sure others.

Thank you to everyone for your support of Health Talents International in Guatemala.

We Shall Do This Again!

This will be the last post from my house in Chichicastenango.  It has been a little over twelve years since I found several homes for all my belongings and moved to Guatemala.  I have countless, wonderful memories. I never have regretted moving here.

I will be returning to lead teams and to help out whenever I can.  I will just be in the states a little more and also in Montellano a few more times a year. I will be visiting places that want to hear more about Health Talents and recruiting staff for the surgical clinics.

It is impossible to reflect on everything that I have leaned and how I have changed. Kemmel, Lisa and those that we work with have made significant impacts on my life.  Thank you!  I never say it enough.

When you think of those that influence your life, sometimes it is not those that you would think.  Someones, it is not someone that you see often.  Below is one lady that I think of often and when I think of her, I think of humility. An attribute that is of value and one that is worthy pursuing. Humility should impact our actions.  It is not a weakness but it is a strength. Our worship should be filled with humility. Our relationship with family and friends should reflect humilty.  Christ was covered in with blood, perspiration, pain and humilty as he walked to the cross.

 I never want to forget these twelve years and the experiences that we have had together.

So, this will be my last blog as I pack up the house.  Tonight, we will have a dinner together and I look forward to it and I also dread it. I knew this day would come.

Kemmel will swing by and pick me up in the morning. He told me, ¨There is no bus for this trip to Antigua.¨  Lisa will need to stay back for clinic with the MET Interns but they have a raincheck for NiFu-NiFa and I look forward to that!

So, wanting to end on a positive note, I will return in October and, "We Shall Do This Again!"

Proverbs Finished!!

Today, I finished the Proverb class in Chuchipaca with the ladies.  It was a good day.

I started having coffee with Jule and then met one of my ABC Children, Roxana and her mom in Chichi.  She is the daughter of Manuel and Juana and it is fun when we tease about sharing Roxana.

Below are some of the photos that I have used for my my classes the last twelve years that I have been in Guatemala.  All three of them came up today so it was a good way to end this phase.

I like to use this photo when I talk about wisdom in James.  I also used it for the Proverbs class on wisdom.  I encourage the ladies to ask God for wisdom.  Our relationship with God, in many ways is like our physical relationship with our parents.  Parents like to give their children things that are good for them, especially when children ask.

I use this photo a lot when we talk about being content, friendships and having joy.  Everyone should have a mentor and someone that encourages them. This photo just makes me smile!

Proverbs 31:28-----Her children arise and call her blessed.  Something that all mothers dream of---love and respect from their children. 

I closed the class by asking the ladies to continue in their studies. Before two years ago, the ladies in Chuchipaca did not meet on a regular basis. Now they have a service every Monday afternoon. How encouraging is this!

I was excited today when Kemmel and Lisa asked me to do the Ladies Seminar this fall in Paxot II and Montellano. It will be here before we know it and I am looking forward to it.

Time For the Babies!

The last few weeks have been busy but they have been good ones.  I would like an extra couple of hours in the day but I have not yet learned how to make that happen.

Monday, the babies came to see us in Lemoa.  In the future, I will not be in Guatemala as much as I am now.  I have been spending time with Brenda and showing her how we evaluate babies, so she will be able to do this in the future. She will do an excellent job and I have a lot of confidence in her and also in Ana.  We have the best team that we could ever have. I know that they will do well and the ministry will continue. 

We had eight babies come to see us today.

First, we had Eliezar Geraldo and here he was when we was close to a year old.  He has had his lip and palate repaired since this photo and was sponsored by Danny.

Look at Eliezar now at five years old!  He will be going down to Montellano for a consult to see if we can help him with a small hole that remains in the palate.

Second, was Carlos Enrique when he was about seven months old.  He also has had his lip and palate repair and he was sponsored by Danny.

Now, Carlos is six years old and is doing great!  He also has a small hole in the palate and we will see if this can be repaired.

This is Jose Luis, when he was about six months old.  Don and Jessie sponsored his surgeries.

Now, Jose is six years old and doing fantastic.  He says that he really enjoys school and has two girlfriends!

Jaime Lizando was about seven months when we first met him. His surgeries were sponsored by Danny.

Now, Jaime is full of energy at six years old and is ready for the world!  He is doing great and will not need anymore surgery. His mom brought him today just to say hi and to let us know how well he is doing.

Randy came to us for the first time when he was about a year old.  His surgeries were sponsored by Terry and he has done real well.

Randy now is five years old and will return to Montellano to have a small hole in the palate repaired. His mom said that he is also doing very well in school.

We were excited to see Dilon again.  His parents brought him to us when he was about six months old.  His surgery was sponsored by a very special girl, Ava.  Ava sponsored Dilon's surgery by making and selling bracelets.  Her actions, taught a lesson that has several applications.

Dilon went to Montellano in February, but he had developed a fever so his surgery had to be postponed. We were very sad but knew it was the best for him.  Now he is one year and nine months old and will have his palate repaired.

This little girl is Debora, when she was four months old. She needed to wait until she got a little older and her mother said that she would return. 

She came back today and now is nine months old.  She is old enough to have her lip repaired but still needs to gain a few pounds. Her mom said that she is often sick so I think that it is better for Debora to wait until February 2020 for her surgery.  She will be a little stronger and Carol will sponsor her surgery. 

The last child of the day was Yoshuar and he is four years old.  His grandmother brought him to see us.  He had his lip surgery in Antigua when he was only a few months old.  He now will have his palate surgery and the Lenoir Church of Christ will sponsor his surgery.

Yoshuar, also has a sister who was born with a cleft lip and palate.  She was in school today but the grandmother said that she will bring her to the clinic next Monday to see Brenda.

That is the lineup for August and we will see what happens.  The parents will return to the clinic with the lab work and Brenda will finish the process.  Please pray for the team that will travel to Montellano, for the patients and for those who have sponsored the surgeries.  Sometimes the process is not easy but it is worth it.  As you can see,the results are life-changing for the child and the family.