Spring HTI Board Meeting in Antigua

Katie and I drove to Antigua on Friday afternoon.  It was so good to see people that I have not seen for several years.

Several of the Guatemalan team members were able to come and have lunch with us. It was nice that everyone was able to meet them and get to know them a little better.

Matt and Kara were able to come from Winston Salem, NC

Several of us had lunch at El Tenedor. Katie and I walked back down to Antigua after lunch.

Week with Katie and Two Weeks with Jodi

As I had mentioned in a previous post, Jodi is an RN who is going to stay for two weeks and help in the May GYN/ General week.

Here she is in the pharmacy prepping medications.

 

Keeping the medicines packaged for dental, medical mobile teams and for the clinics here three days a week is almost a full-time job.  People miss the "old days," when we use to sit around a table and chat for hours as we bagged medicine.  Now things need to be done in a different manner.

Katie is a NP that has been down several times and has helped in ABC Clinics in Chichicastenango. Today, she went to an area called Santa Clara and they had a busy clinic. She went with Jose Manuel and Diego.

 

During this week, we found out that we had received the lab license for the hospital.  We are a fully licensed hospital now!!  I asked Darling to announce it at our devotional on Wednesday. Of course, all celebrations need to have a special treat, so we made a cake run before the devo.

 

 

Everyone enjoys the cakes from this place in Chicacao.

 

In the photo above Silvia, Katie, Leslie, Victor and Marta.

When the cake was all gone, it was time to finish off the frosting.

Everyone was able to have a section of the plate. Jose Manuel was able to get the last section taken care of.  We had NO double dipping.......all was done on a sanitary basis.

One afternoon in Chicacao as we were out making a run.

 

Katie made a delicious dinner for us her last night! It was so good!

 

In the morning, Katie and I will drive to Antigua for the Spring HTI Board Meeting. It will be nice to see everyone again.

Jodi will remain at Ezell and help prepare for the surgical team that arrives next weekend.

This is a sunrise photo that Katie took.

I pray that everyone arrives in Antigua safely for the board meeting and the planning/ preparation for the surgical team goes well

Jodi, thank you again for staying these two weeks.

Katie, thank you for coning and helping with the medical mobile clinics.

You both are a blessing to everyone that knows you!

Clinic Finished---Mom and Sally Returning to the States

Well, we finished with the busy clinic week and have two weeks to prep before the May GYN and General team arrives.

When looking over the staffing for the May clinic, we realized we were short a couple of nurses.  I asked Jodi if there was any chance that she may be able to stay for two weeks and help us in May.  I kind of held my breath, as I told her to take her time and think about it.

She called her family and they were able to do the things that needed to be done so Jodi could stay.  Thank you Jodi and many thanks to your family for helping with this process.

We all traveled to Antigua to have dinner with the group before they left.  Mom and Sally will return on tomorrow, Sunday.

Sally and I goofing around to prevent mom from being in the photo.

Awwwww, Mom........so sorry.....

 

Jodi with with us to the capital and we all spent the night in The Barcelo.

 

Saturday evening, Kattie arrived and she will be with us for a week.  She will be doing the clinics of Dra. Nidian Patricia, who has had to cut back her hours.

 

I will miss mom and Sally, when they fly back tomorrow. It has been great having them here and I look forward to their next visit.

Beginning of a Busy Week---GYN/ General Surgical Team

The team arrived safely on Saturday evening.  We had dinner, a short meeting and then ended the day.

Sunday morning began with worship in Montellano and as always, it was wonderful.

Oscar translated through the service.

 

Rick led the congregation in some English songs.

 

 

It was arranged so I could meet my new ABC daughter Julisa.  She live near Montellano.

 

 

Pink is her favorite color and she brought several members of her family with her.

 

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This week, we will be running two operating rooms.  This is the first time that we will be utilizing the anesthesiology machine since COVID.  We have had them serviced and maintain but now it is show-time.

We never want to forget how important prayer is.  I can not tell you how many times a week, we as a team join in prayer. It is also touching to know that patients do the same. It is humbling and reassuring to know that it is not all left up to us and our abilities. Our God is the ultimate power.

 

Anne is a nurse that has been on several surgical trips and here she cares for a patient post surgery.

 

 

Below, Susan also cares for a patient post op.  We know that the care that we give patients physically, spiritually and emotionally is very important.  Susan will also return to care for patients during the May surgical trip.  Thank you, Susan for your care to the patients!

 

 

Below, Jodi is with a young patient that had surgery.  Jodi has offered to stay in Guatemala for two weeks to help us during the surgical week, as Susan.  She will be a big help to the staff in preparing for the clinic that we will have in two weeks.

 

During the week, we have to have a few minutes to enjoy different things.  Kemmel, our director, calleda bakery that is about 45 minutes away to deliver a fresh truck of pastries for us to enjoy.  Thank you, Kemmel!

 

 

During the week, we accumulate  a lot of laundry.  I will post photos later of the work that several of the ladies do, to prepare us for the next surgical team.

 

On this team, was my friend Sally. This was her first surgical team in Montellano. It was wonderful having her here to experience the surgical week and to have her see all that happens.  We have a longggggg history in ICU together and she has been such a big supporter of me and HTI. Thank you, Sally!!  I hope that you return!

 

 

We never want to forget or minimize the spiritual outreach of the ministry.  Victor, visiting with patients after their surgery.  This is such an important time. They have been seeking relief from pain and problems and now we can offer spiritual and emotional comfort. Great is our God!

During the time of COVID, we did a couple of campaigns to maintain the clinic. One of them was a Cross Walk Campaign.  Susan, found a brick that was purchased in her honor, for the work that she has dedicated here in Guatemala.

 

What an honor! We appreciate so much the time and dedication that people give to the ministry! Thank you, Susan!

 

 

A few of the nurses gathered.

 

 

We never want to forget the cooks.  What an awesome job they do, starting at 4:30 am and going until 10 pm.

 

Friday morning came quickly..........and it was time for the team to head to Antigua. We will pray for their safe travels and that they will return again.

Thank you, Lord that our second surgical trip went well. You gave us strength to continue and complete the week. We want to continue to serve and to grow closer to you. 

It will soon be time to be preparing for the May surgical team!

Mom and Semana Santa

Mom returned to Guatemala with me to experience a little of Semana Santa and also be here during a surgical trip. We spent 5 nights in the capital and also visited Antigua.

As usual, the alfombras were beautiful.

People lined the streets as the parades passed.

It is always pretty in front of La Merced.  It is my favorite cathedral in Antigua.

So much work and energy go into making the alfombras.

There are some interesting people.

Mom and I visited Violeta and the congregation that she worships with on Sunday.

We also ate at a restaurant near the clinic.

Tomorrow, the group will arrive and we will begin a Gyn and General Surgical week.  It is the first big surgical week since COVID is under control and since we have obtained the license for the hospital. We are praying that all goes well and I believe that it will.

PAP/ IVAA Clinic for Tiquisate Patients

Today, we had a special clinic planned for the ladies of Tiquisate.  This is a community that Dr. Nehemias, Jayro and Karina visit.  Several months ago, they started talking to the ladies in this area about providing a special PAP and IVAA clinic for them.

Usually, our Dra, Nidian is at Ezell on Tuesday and Wednesdays, doing woman's health screens but today did not turn out as expected.  Last night, the communities announced that several large highways would be closed today and that would make travel very hard. The main highway leading out of Xela, where Dra. Nidian lives, would be closed at 0430 and that she would not be able to travel to Montellano.

When I went to the clinic, patients were waiting and there was a lot to do.

Darling screening and preparing the ladies from Tiquisate.

We had a total of 16 from Tiquisate and 31 general medical patients.

Marta and I saw the 31 medical patients, while Darling and her team provided the woman's health services.

We are thrilled to be offering surgical care again but the clinics are filling fast.  The April, June and July surgical weeks are almost filled. 

We look forward to the next team arriving on April 15th, to provide general and gyn surgeries.

More on the Wheelchair Jornada

I want to share a little more with you over the wheelchair team with Faith and Practice.

This morning, the nursing group had our weekly devotional together.  Darling led the devotional and she selected verses from Job for us to read. For those who know the story of Job, know that he suffered issue, after issue and loss, after loss.  He questioned God, and why God allowed him to struggle.

Last week, we were able to help 106 patients by improving their mobility and hopefully, their independence. I am sure that the majority of this population have questioned God.  Why did God allow this accident to happen to me and I will never be able to walk again?  God, would it not have been better for me if I had died and then I would not have been a burden for my family? Lord, what did I do wrong to cause my child to be born like this?

The list of questions will continue until the of this world.  People will continue to wonder why things happen and the majority will never have a sufficient answer that brings peace. This is the reality, of a non-perfect world.

The only peace that we can achieve is through Christ. It is the only way.

Many of the patients left during the week, excited with their walker.

 

Some were very excited with their new wheelchair.

 

 

Some were very inventive on the way they would get it home.

 

Faith in Practice also donated two wheelchairs to the local Red Cross.
 

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If you have read about our collaboration with the Guatemalan Ministry of Agriculture, this area is of great interest.  They are here several times a week, caring for the plants and watering them as needed. 

Recently, they placed the bamboo fence to prevent any damage to the young plants.

It is our faith that keeps us going. Our knowledge that this world is temporary and eventually, our struggles on this earth will pass, gives us hope for the eternity.