Group Meets Mactzul VII

Yesterday, a group arrived and will spend about four days with us.  We are always excited when new groups come and are here to share the work that we do.  It is helpful to hear what they say and to have them participate with what we do on a daily basis.

Today, several of us went to Mactzul VII.  I have been to this community before but I do not remember being at the church.  It was much larger than I thought it would be.

So, it always takes time to prepare.  This is Brother Dave as he extends the electrical cord for the dental area.  Meslisa is a new dentist on this trip and she was introduced to us through Andrea, one of our regular dentists.  Good job Dave!

This group is also getting ready.  Dustin is checking out the medications that are available.  He will be prepared!

Tomas is taking the names of the children since this is an ABC Clinic but we will also see anyone that walks in.

What an opportunity the ABC Program is.  Many children would not have the opportunity to remain in school and have dreams that students have.

Gary and Kathyln seeing a family. Gary is a physician and has been down several times.  Kathyln lives in Antigua and is here helping translate.

When the truck is unloaded, it makes for a great seating area.

We stayed busy through the day. All of the students arrived and our travel was uneventful........Gracias a Dios.
As we are out in the communities, Harriett and Jenny remained at the hotel and are interviewing young people who want to continue with their education and those who already have scholarships. This also is a very important aspect of Health Talents.
Tomorrow is another day...............and another adventure!!

Parade in Chichicastenango

I walked up to the soccer field to watch the parade and take photos.  When I arrived, it looked like the Angry Birds were taking over.  

 

The streets were packed!  It was fun to move around and try to find people that I know.

Here are my second set of parents, Tomsita and Jaime.  I have lived in their house now for almost 8 years.

Their daughter, Kira, from Xela is visiting.  I found her down the street.

 This Erika and Elana and they also live in our neighborhood.

The group of mimes saw me on the side and waved!

 I got a thumbs-up from this couple.

 This group of girls, who carried kites were very colorful.

The back of the kites were equally as colorful.  A lot of work goes into making and flying them

All of the vendors were out.  The popcorn  people, ice cream pushers, balloon blowers and people selling hats and sunglasses-----even though not many people wear them.

I had been watching this serpent weave its way through the street, back-and forth.

He wanted me to know that he saw me.

I think that this is a Guatemalan version of The Walking Dead!

This was the only horse, but it made me think of Sandra, who use to work with us.

This group actually stopped to strike a pose!

I have no idea how many blocks of parade this was.......it was huge!  This was the end of the trail so I am sure that some were not as energetic as when they first started.

It is good to see everyone enjoy the day and be excited about their independence.

Leaving Early for Chutzurob

We all met a little earlier than usually since we are getting close to the September 15th, Independence Day Celebration.  As we were leaving town, the entrance was blocked for all incoming traffic.  People were lined on the streets preparing for the parades.  They seem to start the celebration a little earlier each year.  We know to cancel our clinics on the 14th and 15th because we would be sitting alone.

Manuel, Teresa, Maria and Andrea and I headed out to Chutzurob in two trucks.  We heard that some of the roads were blocked due to some maintenance work so we took some different roads in.  As we entered, they pulled the board with the nails across the road to block us.  Oh No!!  Ten guys leaned on the truck to make it clear we would not pass.  Manuel talked to them and they were asking a pretty steep price of 200Q per truck.

I do not mind paying but it was the attitude and how it was handled.  We do not want ANY problems! So, we pulled over to the side to see if we could collect between us.  Between four of us, we had enough so we received the ticket to pass.

We had a good clinic with fifteen medical patients.  All of the diabetics were controlled so that makes Sheri content.  We did not seen anything unusual. Dental was slow with only three dental patients.

We packed the truck with a little rain but not a lot.......but because of the construction of the church building, we created more mud. It felt like ten pounds were added to each foot-------getting it off was horrible.

We laughed a little at Manuel, as his method was using the grass.

I tried the concrete.  I felt the worse for Teresa (in the pink) because she had opened toe and heel sandals on.  Maria is in the back and she is using the grass and stick method.

Oh well.........................another adventure for sure but it ended well, as they all do!

Joas Visited Us Today in Lemoa

Today, I had the opportunity to see Joas.  Many of you will remember him from the August clinic in Ezell.  What a week we had!

So, I received photos last week that still showed a hand I was very concerned over.  Last night, I asked Hector if he would be willing to bring Joas to the clinic and he was more than happy to do so.  He said that since we had stopped using the dressings, the hand was much drier and looked good.

We still have some room to improve on the left hand but it will happen.

He is moving them wonderfully!  The parents are so thankful for this blessing!

Day with Sandra

Yesterday, I had the pleasure to spend the day with Sandra, who use to be my ABC child.  She is now, quite a young lady.  She spends her Sunday mornings helping students in Quiche because there are no teachers..  During the week, she watches a little boy who would wear me out in 35 minutes!!

Sandra recently passes her entrance exams into a university and wants to study to be a nurse. She passed her exams on the first round!!  Because of this, I wanted to celebrate!  I took her to Panajchel for the day. It was very cloudy and we were not able to see the volcanoes.

We walked by a hotel, that I have stayed at several times. It is Rancho Grande. I highly recommend it!!

 We walked in and had the opportunity to play a little.

 Higher Sandra, higher!!

We had a great lunch and then ran into LIsa and Kemmel!  They were there to meet a director of a nearby clinic.

It was a fun day and it was nice to spend it with Sandra..............she is a great young lady!

Clinic in Panajxit

Today, I had the opportunity to do the clinic in Panajxit.  Usually, Enrique is here with us but he is sick so he was not able to join us.  He is in the coast, so please pray for his quick and full recovery.

I picked up Martina on the way and Tomas had Aura and Maria. Maria is a student, who is doing her project with us and then she will be completed with her studies.

So, Maria hung out with me through the day and since we only had three patients, she kept me from being bored.

The second patient had problems with her ears and could not hear.  I looked into them and well............I knew this was not going to be good.  So, I asked Tomas if he would irrigate them and he said, "OK."

Well, this this what we were gifted........

So, I hope this poor lady feels and hears better.

Clinic in Chajbal

We had a great clinic today in Chajbal.  We had 18 patients and one dental cleaning.  Not sure how many dental patients they had but they stayed busy too.

When we arrived, we had patients waiting.

 We quickly unpacked the trucks and set up shop.

Manuel, Teresa and I worked with the medical patients.  Andrea and Maria worked with the dental patients.

Something so simple and yet so strong...........I Corinthians 11:23-26......Paul is talking about the Lord's Supper or Communion.

 ²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

I really like to think about the last verse.  It is a continuation of this practice to proclaim to the world that we believe that Christ died and that He will return for us.  Yes, it needs to be a respectful time but also a joyful time. It is His death that gives Christians hope of eternal life. Without His death and access to His blood, we have no forgiveness.

Update on Joas

For those that were in the August surgical clinic, I heard today about Joas.  He is the little boy who had hand surgery.  This photo was sent to me today.

Joas and the family are doing well.  They are very thankful for all of the care that Joas received.