PREPARATION FOR THE CELEBRATION!!

Preparation for the Celebration!!

We have been planning and making purchases for tomorrow.  I trust that all will go well as everyone has pulled together and worked hard.

I had posted a photo of barrel a few days ago and asked what people thought we would use it for. Some of you have very creative imaginations!! Now, it is in action!!

Our friend arrived earlier today and rested in the shade. My (poor) sense of humor was not appreciate very much, as I wanted to give it a name, play with it a little and then offer it a final meal. My thoughts were frowned upon!  ha ha ha

 

I was respectful and did not take photos of its last moments.

The guys worked very hard preparing tomorrows meal. This is Obdulio's brother and he is helping us today and tomorrow.

This is a lot of work. This is Milton and he is preparing the oranges and other seasonings that will be used.

 

The first product is chicharrones. The guys did the prep work today and then started at 0500 in the morning.

 

Lots of the guys worked together to accomplish this before the celebration in the morning.

Dr. Walter checking out the action.

We are ready for tomorrow!

Metting Lisa' s Parents in San Pedro

I have been looking forward to the weekend and it was wonderful!  After a busy week, it was good to be able to escape to San Pedro on Lake Atitlan.  I stayed in my usual place, Mikaso.  I highly recommend this hotel. 

I met Kemmel, Lisa and Lisa's parents for lunch.  I have never had the opportunity to meet Martin and Mary Louise so it was a special day!

Mary Louise and Martin live in Texas and it was good to have lunch with them.  This place usually has a buffet but today, they did not.  We enjoyed a variety of different food, including ribs, fish & chips and a rueben sandwich.  Mary Louise had potato salad, which I will return one day to try. As you can see, they did have Diet Coke!

 

The temperature is different in San Pedro than in Montellano. It actually was a little chilly, while we were sitting in the shade.

When we finished lunch, they headed across the lake to Panajachel for the night.

I walked up to the center of San Pedro and started a good book.

 

It was a great weekend and I hope that Lisa's parents will return again!

Another Baptism

As I mentioned last night, there was another baptism on Sunday in Chicacao.

His name is Rivaldo, and his brother is Rafael.  Rafael, is one of our night-time guards and is a very talented painter. When you come down to Hospital Ezell, you will be able to see his artwork.

We have been praying that Rivaldo would accept Christ and be baptized.  Here he is with Baldemar, one of our evangelists.  

 

Rafael and his family are very excited.

Rivaldo has some health care issue,s so I know he would be grateful for your thoughts and prayers.

Baptisms in Chocola

This afternoon, I went with Luis and Evelyn to Chocola for their worship service and for four baptisms.  Again, for those who have been coming down to Guatemala for many years, Chocola is the community where the previous clinic was before Montellano.

It was a nice day and very warm.

There were 4 young men who had reached a point in their lives that they wanted to be baptized.  After the worship service we all made our way to a public pool.

The park was very pretty.

 

Before the baptisms we sang some songs. Rigoberto, is to the far left and he works with us.  His son is Nehemias, in the navy blue shirt.  Then, Martin, George, Luis and Eva.  Eva also works with us and George is her son.

 

 

Nehemias'  baptism.

Martin was next.

George following. 

Last was Martin. 

 

It was a wonderful day!

 

There was another baptism this evening in Chicacao and I will share that information later. It was the brother of Rafael, who is one of our guards. Many have been praying for Rafael's brother because of his health issues...........now, he has also made the decision that he wants to follow Christ.

 

Cleaning up the RIver

Early this morning, Nico and Teodoro arrived at the clinic to help clean the trash out.  We are in a drier season, so the river is low and the trash that people put in the river stays with us. It is a big problem and will take a lot of changes and education to make things better.

 

They cleaned out 20 large garbage bags and then they were picked up by the garbage truck.

I told them how much I appreciate their work but sadly, in a few days, it will be as before.

MAGA (Guatemalan Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food)

MAGA, the Guatemalan Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food, visited us a few months ago to discuss possible future projects.  Later, they returned to finalize plans and now they are at work.

They planted small trees and shrubs, then removed them all.........now they have prepared to plant 4,000 more plants, including different species than what we had before.

They are planning on bamboo, medicinal plants and different fruit trees just to name a few and will total 4,000 plants.

As you can see, this is to the left side and closer to the apartment area. 

It is hot and hard work, but these guys love it.  The guy on the right, is Javier.  You may have heard me talk about him before.

 

The second guy on the right on the left, with the large hat is Obdulio.  He is our main guy with gardening and agriculture.  He is one that also worked with the mushrooms and now is sanding/ refurbishing the doors of the hospital. He is a man of many trades and enjoys learning new ones!

 

When March arrives and the team is here, it will be fun to share the accomplishments here at Ezell.  There are many activities going on and I think that everyone will be pleased.

Lab Update

The removal and rebuilding of the wall between the consult rooms is completed.  The equipment and materials are set in place.  Everyone is excited and looking forward to our first surgical clinic in March.  It will be an eye team and many patients will be served.

Darling, Marta and Dulce are setting things in place.  Darling, oversees all of the nursing areas.  Marta, primarily works with the pharmacy, ordering and maintaining inventory but also has other responsibilities.  Dulce, is working with us on the days that Pascual has classes.

 

Equipment is in place and ready to be used.

 

  

Kevin, is in the area that between the lab and where the patients will have their blood drawn. Kevin primarily works in the pharmacy, but always willing to do what is needed.

 

The time is ticking down and March approaches. When I was in the market the other day, a man with a dense cataract asked me when we would have surgeries again.  My heart soared, because the first time since I have returned, I have been able to give some real hope!  I said to him, "We will be doing eye surgeries in March.  Please come and see us next week for a consult!"  I hope to see him soon.

Nutrional Program

Why are these mothers and babies gathering?  They are part of our Nutritional Program and are here today for their consult.

It is an exciting program for these families.  They come for a visit, exam and we follow their growth. These babies have been in the program almost one year and maintain certain requirements.

 

All of the babies and mothers are doing well.

 

As they become school-age, they will have the opportunity to apply for the ABC Program.

 

If you would like to know how you can help in any of these areas, please let me know.

We Have the License for Hospital Ezell!

Last night, we heard that we will be able to start the surgical trips again at Clinica Ezell Hospital!! 

 

While making rounds this morning and walking over the compound, the environment was joyful!  There was a lot of hugging and excitement! Everyone was thankful and not forgetting to be mindful, that it all was possible because of God. There is no doubt in our minds.

We did not have a lot of time to prepare a large celebration but I wanted to do something during our usual Wednesday afternoon devotional.  We ran and got some cakes and drinks.........and I had a roll of fireworks in the apartment, just waiting to be burned!!

We began at 3pm with our devo. 

 

I had asked Darling to make the grand announcement.

 

 

Darling thanked everyone for their hard work during the last 2-3 years.  She mentioned Kemmel and Lisa, how they have been faithful through all of this and thankful for their support. She also thanked the board of directors. 

I asked Baldemar to offer a prayer of thanksgiving.

Afterward, it was time for the roll of "fireworks!"

 

 

The dental group put some celebrating music on the PA system.

The guys were deciding who was going to light it.

Elmer won!

 

Off they went and they made some noise!

 

 

 

It was a small celebration but we will have a larger one later.  For as small as it was, it sure left a mess but I promised Rigo that I would clean.

 

Everyone enjoyed the cake and dental never turned off the music!

 

Dr. Walter, Oscar, Oscar and Javier.

 

Above is Ada, Rosalia and Eva.

Darling, Amelia and Evelyn.

Above is Lorenzo, Obdulio, Sergio and Milton.

 

Baldemar and Kevin.

Rafael, with Miguel, Karina and Leslie behind.

 

Jayro and Luis.

 

We are so thankful for this step!  It will allow us to get back to where we want to be.......being able to serve patients with surgical options. The need is great...........and we continue to thank everyone for their support and prayers during this time.

If you are interested in coming down for a surgical week, please see the Health Talents website at:

www.HealthTalents.org

The 2023 calendar is there and if you have any questions, please let me know!

Celebration in Chocola

On Saturday afternoon we were invited to a celebration in Chocola.  Many people who have a history with Health Talents Internation, will remember that name.  This is the community were HTI started doing surgeries, many years before the land was purchased in Montellano. I have heard stories for many years!

Today. we were invited to celebrated the 3rd birthday of Sergio.  Sergio is the grandson of our Rigoberto.  Rigoberto has been associated with HTI for many years. For many years he cleaned the surgical rooms and now he is responsible for the hotel, that houses the volunteers that come down on surgical trips.

Luis, who leads the ABC program in this area and his wife, Evelyn picked me up at 1pm so we would arrive at 2pm. We arrived a little so they could get everything connected but then they announced we would start later..........yes, we are on Guatemalan time.

Luis started the celebration and thanked everyone for attending.

 

Baldemar talked about the importance of the family and it was a very good lesson.

 

Milton, one of our new employees, led some singing.

 

Rigo thanks everyone for attending and how much it means to his family.

 

 Elmer, one of our evangelists, prayed for young Sergio and his family.

 

It was time to celebrate Serio's 3rd birthday.

 

 

We went outside and there were two piñatas.

 

 

Luis got the action going with Segio.

 

 

No birthday celebration is complete without a birthday cake.  In this case, it needed to be several since there were about 60 people present.

It was a fun evening and it was nice to learn a little more about Chocola.