Clinic with MET Students and Ladies Class

This morning we were all in Lemoa for clinic together.  It was probably a record number of people but all went well.  I think we ended up with about thirty-five patients. I had several patients with visual problems, diabetics and muscular pain.  Lisa stayed busy with her ultrasounds and IVAAs.

Speaking of which............................I had a scheduled class in Mactzul IV on Pap and IVAA.  This is the congregation that Brenda worships with so she went with me to translate.

We left in time to do a 2pm class.  Bethany, from Searcy went with us.  She will be a senior next year at Harding University and she is studying Spanish.

The class went well and then it was time to head back to Lemoa.  I had skipped lunch..........for those of you who know me well, you know that I do not like to eat before a class or presentation.  So as soon as we saw a store, I asked Bethany if she was hungry.  We jumped out and ran inside to raid it!  Then she tells me that it is the first time that she has been to a "tienda."

So, I ask her what she would like to drink and they have California Coconut in a bottle.  Well, here in Guatemala, you can not leave the store with the bottle, so they pour it in a plastic bag.  When I told her that she had to have her drink in a bag, she envisioned a brown paper bag around her bottle.  She thought it was very funny and it was a good laugh.  So this is Bethany and her first drink-in-a-bag experience in Guatemala.  It is also her first Tortrix and Club Cracker event.

I think that she will be eating more Club Crackers before she returns to The States.

We saw a beautiful rainbow and it watched over us as we drove to clinic. Unfortunately, the photo does not do it justice.

Tomorrow, we will head to Panajxit.  It is Enrique's community and dental (Aura and Martina) always beat me there on patients :(  Aura can be a little competitive! Maybe tomorrow will be different but I doubt it.

Stay tuned!

Lori and Brandt Meet Patzite

I finally returned from the states and have the blog ready to go.  When I returned, I met up with the MET Students for this year and they returned to Chichicastenango with me.  They will be with us for about a month. They have already had one week of language school and have done well.

This is Lori and I was looking out the window of the room that we do the consults in.  It is a beautiful area.  Lori attends ACU and is studying biology.  She is in her junior year there.  I hope to stay in contact with her since I will be in Abilene in September.  I may run into you, Lori!

This is Brandt and he was looking out to see what he could see.  He attends TAMUK and is a bio-med student in his senior year.  He has recently taken his MCATs and we hope that he receives excellent scores on that.

We saw nine medical patients.  Brandt and Lori did the vital signs on the patients and then sat in on the consults.  We had a few diabetics so they were able to practice with the labs as well.

We had this patient come today and she has been hurting for a little over three months.  She had an appointment for some surgery but backed out at the last minute. I encouraged her daughter to take her back this week and I wrote a referral for her.

There are some clinics tomorrow but I will be home studying.  It is time to renew my nursing license with the state of North Carolina.  I wished Brandt luck, now I need some luck!! 

Stay tuned for more stories and photos of the 2018 MET Students!

Trying Out the RV for the First Time

My parents and I tried the RV for the first time and we considered it a success!

We arrived in plenty of time to get set up.  Dad was always working on something and staying busy.

 Mom stayed busy too..................I just kind of messed around :)

We had a very private site next to the pond.

I was toasting a marshmallow and was very intent on making sure it was the right color.

Mom giving Dad a post for Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!  I can not remember when I was in The States for the last Mother's Day.  This year, it was very nice to be with Mom.

Just goofing around!

Mom and Dad searching for something on the GPS.

It was a great trip and I look forward to the next time that we will be able to use the RV.

It is almost time to get back to Guatemala!

Jericho Church of Christ

I was invited to the Jericho Church of Christ in Mocksville, NC to speak about Health Talents.  Tom is the minister there and we have known each other for several years.  Also attending that congregation, are Janet and Tony who are long-time friends.  We had a great evening and I was thankful for their questions and participation.

My parents and Sally were able to join us.  Sally has had a death in the family and it has been very difficult for everyone.  I know that she would appreciate your prayers of comfort and peace for all of her family.  Thank you.

This is Tom.  We have both been associated with the Carolina Bible Camp for many years.

 The presentation from behind.

 My parents and I also visited on the Sunday morning, prior to Wednesday evening.

 I must have been trying to make a point.

Many thanks to the Jericho congregation for the invitation.  Always feel free to email me:  fscubarn@aol.com

Thank you!

Spending Time with Pine Ridge Presyterian Church

Today, I was invited to speak at the Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church at the "Mothers-Others Banquet."  There was a good turn out and we all had a great time together.

Sally and I before we headed over to the dinner.

Sally lives so close that we did not need to drive..........we enjoyed the walk!

Enjoying dinner, which included salad, spaghetti, garlic bread, cake and drinks.  It was all very good and it was obvious that the ladies had worked very hard to prepare the meal.  The men of the congregation served the dinner to us.

I love to share information about HTI and the work that is being done in Guatemala.

It was a very good day!  It was nice to visit with Sally in Pilot Mountain and I will have the chance to see her one more time before I return to Guatemala!

Visiting With Roanoake Church of Christ

My parents and I enjoyed being in Roanoake, VA over the weekend and worshiping with Roanoake Church of Christ.  This is Keith and he is the minister of the congregation.

Susan, introducing me to the congregation.  We met in Montellano in 2006, at a surgical clinic.

Speaking about Health Talents and the work in Guatemala.  I love to share the information with people who are interested!

The congregation.

In the basement, there was a board with several photos posted of ABC children that are sponsored by the congregation and photos of Gaspar and his family.  These photos were taken around 2005-2006.

Megan visiting Chichi in 2006, before I moved down.  She was there today and it was fun talking about what she remembered from the trip.

Also, there was a photo of Harriette, who is on the board and of Lisa, who are with Megan.

Mercy came to visit today. She and her family drove about two hours to see us.  She has been down to Montellano one time to translate.  She has hopes of visiting again.

This is Erma and she has known Pancho, from OK for many years.

The invitation to visit was from Susan and Lyn.  My parents and I had dinner with Susan and Lyn on Saturday evening when we arrived in Roanoake.  We had a fabulous dinner together and appreciate so much the hospitality of Susan and Lyn.  We look forward to seeing you guys again in December!

It was a great visit and we appreciate the welcoming from the congregation. I hope to visit again in the future!  On the behalf of Health Talents, thank you very much!!

Walked NC Zoo----North American

This morning, Sally and I took off for the NC Zoo and visited the North American section. We had a great time and the weather could not have been any better!

It was not too crowded and the flowers were blooming.

Around and around and around.....................

Basking in the sun...........

 Enjoying the sun.........

 Around and around...............

I could take him home with me!

Bears doing what bears do best!

Calm and peaceful.

New growth.

Dainty fingers.

All creatures enjoying the sun.

Camouflaged in the sand.

We had a great day walking around.  We enjoyed a seafood dinner and then studied in the evening.  My kind of day!  Thank you, Sally!