Clinic Chichi and Burial of a Young Man

This morning, I met Andra, Tomas, Enrique and Maria in Chichi at the Iglesia de Cristo.  There had been a recent death of a young man that lived in Chichicastenango and his home was near where we have clinic.  The roads were blocked in the morning as the family and friends gathered around the house.  We were about an hour late unloading since we had to wait until they walked the casket up to the large Catholic Church and then walked back down to the cemetery. It was a very, very sad procession. The mother was at the front of the group and I am not sure that she was going to make it or not.

The ambulance slowly followed the crowd.  I think they were expecting to need to give people a ride.  It was a very emotional event.

We did not have a large clinic today.  The numbers of all the clinics decreased this week and I attribute it to the political issues going on.  I hope that things get back to normal next week.

As we were getting ready to pack up, the streets were closed again as the family of the young man returned from the cemetery.  They had a band playing out in the street and it was open-mike singing. Apparently, he had gone to the fair in Quiche on August 19 and told his parents he was going to spend time with his friends and that he would be home later.  The next morning, he was still missing so the community started looking for him.  They found him severely beaten but alive.  He was admitted to the Santa Elena Hospital in Quiche and then died a few days ago.  How sad............one of those situations that is so very painful.

Lisa and Kemmel are in Guatemala City with Rick and a few others.  They will return on Friday afternoon.  Then on Saturday morning, Kemmel will drive me to the airport to meet the surgical team that arrives. Jeff, the minister at my parents congregation will be the trip chaplain.  I look forward to him being on the trip with us and seeing first-hand the work of Health Talents International.