Clinic in Mactzul II

For the last two days, we have been in different communities doing our physical and dental consults with the ABC Children.  I would like to introduce you to Sandra, who use to be an ABC Child of my friend, Jeanie.  Jeanie sponsored Sandra, who lives in Mactzul V,  for many years.  She now has graduated and is working at the desk in Hotel Santo Tomas.  She has become quite a young lady and has developed self-confidence over the years. I am very excited for her and her new opportunity. 

We headed out to Mactzul I today, for our last clinic with this group.  They have been fantastic and have worked hard!

This is Gabriela that lives in Mactzul II.  She is sponsored by Jodi and has had the opportunity to meet Jodi twice.  Gabriela is doing well in school and wanted to say hi to Jodi.

Julie and Dave are with us today and they saw again, their ABC Child, Esvin.  Julie is here with Esvin and his sister.  Thank you Julie and Dave for sponsoring a child!

When Jeanie finished with all of the vital signs, she started showing the children photos that she had on her camera.  She developed instant friends!!

At the end of the day, we had seen thirty ABC Children and seventeen regular patients.  Everyone stayed busy and it was a good day.

Before we left, we had to have a photo of Dr. Jim and Dra. Aura.  They have known each other for a few years now and it is always good to have people return and to share in the work of Health Talents.

We finished the day with thirty ABC Children and seventeen regular patients.

One group shot before we close..............what a great time we had.  It is always a little sad when people come down for a few days of clinic and help us.

Ephesians 1:15-16........Therefore, because I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of the saints, I never stop giving thanks for you as I mention you in my prayers.

We will remember in our prayers, those who came to help, those who came to serve and those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We pray for your safe travels and that God will continue to bless you and your work, always keeping Christ the center of your life.....................until we meet again.

Another ABC Clinic in Mactzul I

This morning after breakfast, we met in the parking lot for our instructions.  I do not know what what was said but you can tell that whatever it was, it really cracked them up!  Who said that work can not be fun??

Today we split in two groups and our group headed to Mactzul I.  We quickly set up the clinic and started seeing patients.

Dr. Dave is with Julie again.  Julies is translating for Dave as they begin to see ABC Children.

This is Dr. Mike and he begins with patients who are not ABC Children so that we can see anyone that comes to the clinic.

 Enrique is back to his dental cleaning and doing a fine job!

Dr. Jim and Julie talking as they wait for the anesthesia to take effect.  Micaela is helping them today and she is Martina's sister.  Micaela does not always work with us but helps out when there is a need.

This is Aura and Martina with an ABC Child.

Jeanie continues today to do heights, weights and vital signs on the children.

Alicia doing a dental exam on an ABC Child with red dye.  The students brush first, then apply red dye.  This way, we can evaluate if the child brushes well or if there is a lot of plaque. Lidia reviews the students book and completes the information after the exam is done.

We finished the day with fifty ABC Children and six regular patients.  A very good day with safe travels, which we are always thankful for.

We enjoyed dinner and then a devotional time together.

This is the fireplace in our room.  It has been chilly so this was a special gift from a friend, Debra.  Thank you!

Tomorrow is another day and more adventures!!  We will have groups going to two different locations and continue to see ABC Children.

Jornada in Chichicastenango

Last night a group of people arrived in Chichi for a three day jornada with us.  We will have clinic in two places each day.  The clinics will focus on seeing the ABC Children in a five areas.  We will provide medical and dental care and dental evaluations.  We have seen improvement in the area of dental care over the last few years.  It has been slow and not an easy process..........but it is happening.

Our group walked to the Chichi Church of Christ and set up clinic.  Most people in our group have been here multiple times so it did not take long to set up and get cranked.

This is Dr. Dave with Julie, who is translating for him.  Dr. Dave is a pathologist in the states and steps out of his normal routine to do this once a year.  Julie and her husband, Mike, will be staying with us about a month and we look forward to that.

This is Jeanie, as she takes vital signs and weights before the consult.  This is her first time to Chichicastenango but has been coming down for several years.  She usually works in the OR at Clinica Ezell and loves the work of HTI. This year alone, she will make FIVE trips to Guatemala!

This is one of our happy patients!

This is Dr. Marcos, who use to work with us full-time. Now he has his private practice in Santa Cruz del Quiche but continues to work with us when we have groups.  Maria is assisting him today.

This is Dr. Jim who has been coming to Guatemala for many, many years.  Julie is assisting him and she also has been coming down for a long time.  This is Jose, who is the brother of our Andrea.  He helps us at times when there is a need.

This is Alicia. She worked as an intern with us for a few weeks.  Now she is sterilizing dental instruments between patients.

Kemmel and Tomas supply patients with their medicines before they leave the clinic.

Enrique doing what Enrique does best...........dental cleanings.  He really can do a lot of things but he seems to really enjoy this.

The ladies of the congregation provided us with lunch and it was very good.

We saw 45 ABC Children, 12 regular patients, 9 dental patients and had 3 dental cleanings.

When we finished clinic, we returned to the hotel for dinner and then a devotional time together.  Poncho is leading our devotions and he asked us to share how we first heard about HTI and what prompted us to participate in the work.

Time for a night of rest...........as we will have another full day tomorrow!

Happy Birthday, Carol!!

Tonight, some of us had dinner to celebrate Carol's birthday!!  We made reservation for a restaurant that was awesome in the past and then closed. So, when we heard that Carlos was serving dinner again, that is where we ran to!

So, yesterday was Carol's birthday but we will celebrate tonight.  The little lamb is a gift they brought me from Antigua.  He will have a spot in my house next to a lamb that Lisa gave me several years ago.

If you have ever been here in Guatemala and have taken photos, it is not uncommon to get a photo as this.  People are joking around and having a good time and then pull the camera out and "Bam!!!"  NO more smiles or laughter. I had asked them to give me their best Guatemalan look.  I love it!

Now, these are more like my friends!

Dinner was fantastic.  We had limeade and soup with bread.

Steak, guacamole, french fries and black beans.

Carol getting ready to blow out the candle.

We had apple pie for dessert.........yum.

Then Carlos built us a fire to sit by.  It was a chilly evening.  This is Erin and Carol.  Erin is a physical therapist that visits Guatemala once a year.

It was a good evening.  We do not have many opportunities for diner so tonight was extra special.
Happy Birthday, Carol!  May God bless you with health, happiness and many friendships!

Last Day in Lemoa with Tomasa, Lidia and Alicia

We have had three young ladies intern with us over the last five to six weeks and they have done a great job!

They have worked with us every day, carried boxes as we packed the trucks and prepared for clinics, have taken vital signs, learned how to do some labs and even carried out urine when the patient did not understand what to do :)  Today was their last day with us so they wanted to share some cake with us.

Tomasa is on the left.  She is the daughter of our Manuel.  Lidia is in the middle and she is the daughter of our Enrique.  Alicia is on the right and she lives in Mactzul II.  I found out last night that she is a cousin of one of my sons (in the ABC Program) Esteban.  Of course, we can not forget our medical leader and mentor, Lisa!  She has the patience of an angel with all of us.............including Ana and me.

Tomorrow, we are headed for Panajxit.  I will be with Tomas, Enrique, Aura, Martina and Lidia. Aura always has more patients than I do, I need to find a way to reverse this :)

September Surgical Week in Montellano

What a week we had in Montellano for the September surgical trip.  The logistics of the trip were a nightmare for Rick.  Hurricane Harvy on one side and Hurricane Irma on the other.  During the week we packed in seventy surgeries and survived an 8.1 earthquake.

On Sunday morning we walked across the street and worshipped with the Montellano Church.  Carlos preached in the morning about the Holy Spirit and how it should dwell in our life. For a close relationship with the spirit, we need to have nearness, familiarity and be open to influence.  It was a very applicable message. When we finished, we we able to be there for Antonio's baptism.

 Antonio dying to self and raising to walk in a new life.

 Patients brought out to the immediate post-surgery area.

 Rita full of energy and some of the nurses.

Rita checks patients in and also helps with the discharges.  One happy patient with the nursing staff.  Lauren, on the far left was the head nurse for the week. She is from NC, is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and has been coming down for several years.

Jeff served as the trip chaplain.  He is also from NC and has been the minister at my parents congregation for many years. He spoke during the week about all things being possible.  We need to replace anxiety with trust, fear with courage, doutbts with confidence and ignorance with understanding.

 

On Tuesday, Jeff and Haley, who is a nurse, went out with Dr. Walter to a clinic.  Jeff was talking to a lady who previously had surgery at Montellano and now was making arrangements for a family member.  Jeff started asking her about her faith and she told him that she was not a Christian. He introduced her to Baldimar, the evangelist at the coast.  They began to study the Bible for the remainder of the clinic and during that time, said they would like to be baptized on that Friday!  Days do not get any better than this.

During the week, Todd led us in some singing.

One night we celebrated Carlos' birthday.  I feel bad that I chopped Rick's head off as he lit the candles on the cake.

 Carlos and Sylvia.

This little boy, Danny won the hearts of the nurses.  He was a very late case on Sunday night.  As we knelt before him and his mother, we prayed for safe surgery.  Rachel, CNRA promised the mother that she would take good care of Danny, as if he was her son.  It was one of those moments you will never forget.  Here Joanna, spends some time with Danny.

 

 Christina listening to the little boy before taken back to the OR.

 Rachel carrying in another child.

This trip, I roomed with Lisa and it was good.  She is on the board and has been coming down for many years.............she is full of energy and I enjoyed the talks we had. 

Thursday, about midnight, we experienced a 8.1 earthquake.  The epicenter was in Chiapas, Mexico.  It was strong and rocked us out of bed.  Everyone in the coast was safe and also my friends in Chichicastenango were ok.

This lady was the last patient of the week.

 This is the group photo before we left for Antigua.

When we landed in Antigua, we checked into our rooms and people scattered fast to enjoy the day.  I went with Jeff and Todd to the market and then we went up to La Merced.......that place is fascinating to me.

We enjoyed our dinner at the hotel and then it was time to get some rest.

Thank you to all those that came down to help with the clinic.  Thank you to the Guatemalan staff for their hard work.  Thanks to Rick for helping keep all travel arrangements as organized as possbile with all of the events.

Please remember to pray for the patients, who are still recovering..............and to God be all of the glory!