We arrived and carried everything down to the clinic. There were a few patients waiting and then a few more arrived. We ended up with 16 patients for the day.
These two girls wanted their photo taken inside the church building where we have clinic.
I think this is only our 4th clinic in this area and it continues to do well. Tomas always helps me with the translation to K'iche' and today another brother also helped. When I asked this gentleman to pray with the third patient, he prayed, " God, thank you for this grand privilege that I have to help in this clinic today."This mother and her baby came to see us.
The area of Xepol is about 90 minutes from Chichi. It is a very poor area and does not have access to a lot of medical care.We saw one lady today that only weighed 75 pounds.
Another lady came and brought 4 of her 8 children with her. She started by saying that her 2 year old child had recently died. Her family told us about her sadness, inability to eat and to complicate the situation even more, that she is about 7 months pregnant. We talked for quite a while and the brothers really focused on her spiritual needs...........they were very patient and kind with her and she was receptive. As the conversation progressed, she told us that she had not felt the baby move for about 20 days...............heavy sigh.
We shifted gears to the need of going to the hospital. I offered to take her with us when we finished with the patients. I like to take patients to the hospital because it gives us the opportunity to spend more time with them and for follow-up. Through the afternoon she changed her mind twice and told me that she would go later in the day when her husband returns from work. We prayed with her and the family and again emphasized the need. I asked her to please return to the clinic in August. All of the children are very sick and I want to see that they are gaining weight and are doing better.
These are some of the children that always come and see us when the clinic is over. They help us carry our equipment and backpacks to the car. Then they run down the road and wave until we are out of sight.
It was a good day but one of many emotions. We saw one family that was doing much better than last time we were here. We always give God the thanks and the glory when we see that. It is not our doing but His love and compassion that heals. We pray that as the clinics continue to grow, the members of The Church will have the opportunity to reach out and minister to their community.
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