Off the map and radar in Guatemala........

OK, who needs sleep???  Last night the guys who patrolled the area kept us awake with their talking.  When I finally was asleep, I barely heard the other group arrive.  I was told that they arrived around 2:00 AM.  We are thankful that everyone arrived safely!!

Josefina, Sandra and her mom Sandra.  I love the cap that Sandra slept in since it is very cool here.  Sandra's mom, Sandra is giving me a "wake-up" stretch.

The cots are very comfortable so it was a good night......just not enough sleep.

We now have Sandra's mom, sister Gaby, Randy her brother-in-law and several friends that went with her to dental school.  Our team is complete and ready!!

We carried all of the clots to another room and set up for clinic.  Then we walked down the road for breakfast.  We were invited into the home of man in the community that is known for his witch-craft.  He puts spells on people, performs magic and they pay him for his services.  He and his family are very nice and we enjoyed a breakfast of beans, a slice of grilled beef, tortillas and coffee.

We walked back to the school to begin the clinic.  Jeff talking to the patients before we begin the day.

Patients waiting for the dental and medical clinic to begin.

Cheryl, talking with a family and Sonia translates into the Poqomchi'.  It sounds like K'iche', with many similar words. The difference here is that they speak a purer form of the Poqomchi' language.  In the communities that we work, Kiche' and Spanish are combined.  Here, I hear very few Spanish words.  This tells us that the people in this community do not travel or have businesses in other areas.  They are very isolated.

Gaspar praying with a family after the consult.

Josefina, teaching a family.

We did not have a pharmacist, so we bagged out own medicines after the consult.  Then we returned to give instructions on the medicine.

It was a busy day but a wonderful day!!  The guy that organized the patients did a superb job.  We saw over 160 patients today!

The health of this community is very poor.  There is a great need for hygiene classes.  I can not tell you how many families had scabies.  Guatemala is known chronic malnutrition, but here there are many acute cases.  Many children are several pounds underweight, with worms. Many children are without shoes and have distended abdomens.  

Dental also stayed very busy with 90 extractions, 30 dental cleanings and 50 fluoride treatment.  I am very excited for this community!  To have 30 dental cleanings is quite and accomplishment for a new community!  The dental group stayed very busy.

The dental team had problems with the generator toward the end of the day.  The community did not want to cancel the clinic for Sunday morning, so they went out in search for another generator.  They were able to find one, so the dental clinic will continue!

When we finished, it was dark so we ate by candle light again. We had eggs with hotdogs, beans, tortillas and coffee.

We were all pretty tired tonight since last night we did not get much sleep................back in the flannels and sleeping bags...................good night!!!