Clinic in Mactzul VI

Today and I met Gaspar and Juan and we drove to Mactzul VI for our clinic. As you can see from the photo below, they are progressing with their building project. You can see the arch of the original building and how they have extended the wall by several feet. The roof is completed and today they were placing the cement blocks in place. They do not have any special equipment so when they need the cement block to be smaller, they use a small axe to chisel it away until it breaks.

We had 13 patients with a variety of needs. It was not a cough and fever clinic as yesterday was.

One lady came today and she has a very sad situation. She has had several family members die in different accidents. Then only 8 days ago, another family member was killed in Guatemala City. She says she does not have any family. After having 11 children, she used different forms of birth control for a few years and now feels that she is punished for that. She has developed painful arthritis and feels that she is all alone.

One of the brothers from the church helped me translate K'iche' today and we talked for quite awhile with this lady and then prayed with her. We assured her that her arthritis is not caused from some of the decisions that she has made. Sometimes our decisions do affect where we are in life or impact our physical status........but not in this case. She has been suffering physically and mentally. We also invited her to Lemoa next week for a special clinic we are having with a visiting rheumatoidologist.

This little girl wanted to try my glasses........One of my neighbors is a little lady............a very little lady and she has been having headaches for two days now. She knocked on my door last night wanting some medicine. I took her some more tonight and she told me how bad she is feeling. I have invited her to clinic but I am not sure that she will come...........maybe I will start running a shuttle service :)