My First Eye Clinic and View of Fuego

Even though I have been associated with Health Talents for almost twelve years, November was my first surgical eye clinic. This week was done somewhat differently than other surgical weeks but the outcomes were the same.  People had come to the clinic, in search for answers and hope..............seventy-two patients had surgery and left better than when they first entered the clinic.  What a great week it was!

Eye exams were done in the entrance of the clinic and then patients were taken to their bed to wait for their surgery.  Sunday after worship, we went from bed-to-bed and visited with each patient and then prayed with them.

The morning after surgery, the physicians made rounds with all of their patients.  Eye dressings were removed and the patients were able to see.

They were instructed on post-op care and when to return for their post-op visit with Dr. Walter.

A group of us served in different capacities. Rita admitted and placed all of the patients in their beds.  Several volunteered to administer eye drops before the surgery. Some prepared meds to be administered before surgery in the block-room. Some cared for the patients post-op until discharge.  Everyone had a role in the patient care.

Tim served as our chaplain through the week. He talked about our one mission, one goal and one purpose as Christians.

We never want to forget those who keep the instruments sterilized....................even if they are a little wacky!

On Thursday, after we finished the surgeries, some people were able to go to the chocolate farm to enjoy the afternoon. The weather was great and they all came back a little tired from their adventure.

On Friday morning, we headed to Antigua for the day.  We drove through an area that had just reopened after the June eruption of Volcano Fuego.  You can see it continue to puff in the distance and there is still some pink lava flowing.  Thousands of people were killed and hundreds of homes were destroyed this day.

The sad part is that it has not finished.  Under all of this ash, remain bodies that will never be recovered and homes that are forever buried.

You can see in this photo the depth of the lava flow.

There were many flowers and crosses on the side of the road to remember those who were lost.

We continued our way to Antigua but during this section of road, the bus was very quiet........except you could hear a few tears being shed.

Thank you, Dr. Haller for 50 Clinical Trips to Guatemala

A small group came to join us a couple of weeks ago, to do a few days of medical and dental clinics. This trip would be special in many ways but mainly, it would be Dr. Haller's 50th trip to Guatemala.  His wife, Barbara, often accompanies him but was not able to make it this trip.  Barbara's last trip was her 25th trip to Guatemala.

I was only able to have one day in clinic with the group and that was a disappointment but we made the best of the day!  We loaded up three trucks and headed to Mactzul 5 for an ABC Clinic.  While we were seeing an ABC family, the mom gave her baby to Debra to hold as she sat with her other children.

Julie was able to see one of her ABC Children, Galindo.  He is doing very well is school and enjoys studying.

Julie works as Dr. Haller's assistant when Barbara is not able to be here with us.  They love to cut up and joke around.

That evening at our devotional, Julie wanted to present Dr. Haller a gift that she had made.  She had taken several of the Health Talent T-shirts that she has collected over the years and made a blanket for him, to honor his 50th trip.  His first trip was in 1990 with the Abilene University group

Dr. Haller is a true servent and we have been very blessed to have him working with us over the years

Colossians 3:23, 24-----Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people.  You know that it is from the Lord that you will receive the inheritance as a reward.  It is the Lord Messiah whom you are serving.  (ISV)

Dr. Haller's years of service reflects this verse by the way he always treats his patients.

Lisa watching as the blanket is pulled out.

Marcos and Tania were able to join us for dinner.  Marcos was a scholorship student and worked with us a few years.  He now has his dental practice in Quiche but continues to serve with us when we have groups.

It was a small team that came but it made it very personal

Thank you, Dr. Haller for your years of service, for touching many people over the years and for being an example of Jesus.  We will look forward to trip number fifty-one!

A Huehuetenango Get Away

A few weeks ago, six of us were able to go and visit Huehuetenango.  It is about 2 hours from Chichicastenango so it was not a bad drive. We got a small house on airbnb!  Andrea found a great deal for us and we all had a wonderful time

When we arrived, we ate dinner at a great place......and we had grilled lamb.  I would love to return to Huehue, even if it was for only that.

Josias, Andrea's brother, Andrea and Maria getting ready for some stiff competition!

We left the next morning at 0500 to watch the sunrise at Mirador Juan Dieguez Olaverri.  It has an elevation of 10,100 feet above sea level so the view was awesome.

We walked to the other side and saw a totally different view.

So this is Maria, Andrea, Edward and fernando.

We had stopped at the Despensa the night beforee we went up just to get a few things.  I bought some potato chips, to take up with us. I always thik of my dad when we have this bag of chips.

Maria and I waiting patiently for the sun to come up!

And there it is!  The first sight of it...................

We then loaded up to go have breakfast......and then to be on another adventure.  We drove a couple of hours to walk to the Magdalena Lake.  The terrain was beautiful and we were met by a herd of cows and sheep.  The sheep really caught my attention since this will be my next job in life. I just need to get a hat, as this lady wore.

These were my favorite photos of the day!

When we neared the lake, there were clean streams.

This gentleman collected our admission fee as he continued his work.

The terrain was very hilly and rocky.

The lake Magdalena.

The next day we went to see some ruins.  They were small but interesting.

They have been maintained and there were not a lot of people there.

Maria thought she could fly......and I bet she could!

We had a really good time.  Huehue is much cooler than Chichi is so I am thankful that I live in here.

ABC Children from Chuchuca

For starters, the last two days have been a struggle due to political activities.  Yesterday, all main roads were blocked from 0400 to 1700, so we had to cancel clinics. People are upset at the road situation, because there is no maintenance.

Today, we had an ABC clinic scheduled in Lemoa so a bus brought fifteen ABC Children and a few others that needed a consult. As soon as I arrived to get the truck, the phone was sounding off from people who could not get a bus to come to clinic. I told them to be safe and no worries.  We would find a way to make it work.  Ana and Brenda called called Tomas to pick them up. Aura had to walk from Pacaja Xesic to Quiche to connect with Tomas.  I went to Chichi to pick up Cesar.

We had a good clinic with the patients and families.  One young boy, has had fever for fifteen days and we found the source of infection.  He received antibiotics and his parents know to follow-up in their community in two weeks.

I want to introduce you to Agostin.  He is only thirty-three days old and he was born with a cleft-lip and palate. Someone called me last week, to tell me they would visit so I was looking for them.

He was born at home and weighed seven pounds at birth.  His mom is doing well and today, he weighed eight pounds.

This is Agostin, his mom and his sister.  They will return to see us in a month to be sure that things are still going well.  We may be able to slide him in on the Febuary clinic but we will reevaluate as we get closer.

We had a few patients that could not keep their appointment today due to the road situation.  There were and still are 500 vehicles, plus an unknown number of people, walking to Guatemala City from Quiche!  They are doing so in protest of the road situation. They are driving very slow to cause problems in the road and their goal is to get to the city and camp out in front of certain businesses and homes. They left Quiche at 0900 and at 1600 had only made it to Las Trampas..............unbelievable.  We do not know what time they will return tomorrow. Our main hope is that there is no violence and we can continue tomorrow with our planned clinics.

Clinic in Lemoa

We all met in Lemoa this morning for our clinic.  We had a good number of patients waiting when we arrived. 

We began our morning with our devotional before we went out to welcome the patients.  Gaspar spoke a few minutes about how we should be a living sacrifice as mentioned in Romans 12:1,2.

Any living creature senses fear at the thought of being killed. Dying and suffering is not something a psychologically-well person looks forward to.  Even Christ, before his death prayed to his father, hoping that there was another way to reconcile the relationship with man.................but as we know, the only sacrifice that would wash away our sins, was his blood.

So Gaspar mentioned a few ideas of how we today present ourselves as a living sacrifice.  We should think of others and their needs before ours.  We do things that are difficult, when it is the right thing to do. He mentioned people that do not participate in worship because it is raining too hard............and then other days they decide not to because it is too sunny. Decision making is a conscience effort.  Life as a Christian is not always the easiest road. We were never promised that it would be.

We finished with prayer and we have a lot of people within our team with sick family members. We also prayed for the people of Honduras and the struggles that they are having.

I met a young lady that has not been able to have another child.  The more we talked, I found out that she is having marital problems.  We talked for a long time and then I introduced her to Gaspar.  My hope is that she will invite him to speak to her and her husband.

Another great day and productive clinic!

ABC Clinic in Chajbal

We all headed out for Chajbal this morning.  We really needed an ark to get there and I was thankful that the rain slowed down. It has rained hard since yesterday afternoon so I have been watching for the sun but as of yet, it continues to hide.

Manuel, Mike, Teresa and I headed down the highway.  Cesar was a little later since a trailer had got stuck on the main highway before Chichi.  He will have to wait until they clear it off the road before the traffic can pass.  Andrea met us there with her dental supplies.

We quickly unloaded the trucks and set up clinic. It was an ABC clinic for the communities of Chajbal and Pacaja Xesic.

We had 19 children from the ABC program and a few others that popped in. 

The ladies from the congregation brought us fried chicken, salad, rice and tortillas for our lunch. I think we devoured everything but the napkins.

All of the children were doing well.  I do not think that we saw anyone underweight or sick.  The children from Pacaja continue to impress me.  They all have a goal in mind and have a plan for their studies.  Someone from that area is really working with them.

Tomorrow, another day and another clinic.  As always, we pray for safe travels!

Back in Chichicastenango and All is Well

I am back in Chichi after the surgical trip at the coast.  During the trip, I saw some awesome people and that I already knew.  I also met some wonderful people, who responded to our need and they signed up for the clinic at the last minute.  They said, "Here I am.  Send me!"  They had a powerful experience with the HTI team and I believe they will return and bring others with them. 

That last comment reminds me of Sandy, who came on an HTI trip by herself, back in the early 2000's. She did know know Spanish but she was determined to learn it so she could return the next year and translate for patients.

During the next year, she studied Spanish and returned with her husband.  Later, she returned with her children and her sister.......who then brought her husband and then their children.  Later the children married and now they have returned with their spouses.........and the story is still being written.

This is the photo of the OR team from the October 2018 Surgical Clinic. Those who worked in the OR, could not wait to return to tell others what a great group of physicians that they worked with.

The Trip Report will soon be out and I will let you know when it is published.

I have to share one more...............Mark, a caregiver, went above and beyond! He had a cake prepared for a patient, when it was her birthday!  I apologize that I chopped his head off but I had to stand on a bed to get the photo.....there were so many people surrounding to sing, "Happy Birthday!"

 And as for everything that HTI does, we want to remember that is all for the Glory of God.