Texas hits Chutzurob

Pat and the group from Texas went to Chutzurob today and it was a true adventure. The team rode on the bus and we followed in the truck. The bus could not travel the last 0.5 mile so we loaded the truck a few times and eventually got everyone and all of the equipment where it needed to be.

As we were unloading and reloading, we started celebrating Irene's birthday. She and her husband, Steve, have been down for two years and are a big part of the team.

The members of the church had everything ready for us, as they usually do. The church building was divided into sections for medical and dental. It continues to be exciting to see a group of people so active in helping their community both physically and spiritually.

The team again had activities for the children......they colored, sang, acted out skits and painted t-shirts.

After the group activities, these boys wanted to continue to color while sitting in the road.

Ceaser lives in Chuchipaca but he has been a big help to us for two days. He helped us translate into K'iche', directed the flow of patients and even held babies as the mothers needed to be weighed.

We were able to make one house call today to see a young lady with a fever. We had one patient with significant high blood pressure. While he was waiting to see the effect of some medicine, the members of the church took the opportunity to pray with him and read some scriptures. He seemed very interested and possibly will visit with The Church on Sunday.

We had a total of 62 medical patients, 35 dental patients, 11 patients had dental fillings and 10 patients had dental cleaning.

Everyone had a safe return trip to Chichi and enjoyed dinner at the hotel.

Tomorrow, the Texas group will go to Xepocol and some of us will go to Mactzul III.

Pat's group..........from Texas

We look forward every year to Pat and his group from San Antonio. Juan, Gaspar and I worked with them today in Chinique. We had a great response from the community. When we first arrived we did not have many patients so Gaspar and I drove through the community announcing the clinic...................and the patients followed us back to the community building.

This is Pat with some of the Christians in the area. The man in the center is Enrique and we have clinic at his house twice a month in Choacaman IV.

This little girl played outside after her consult.
Barb and her friends acted out the Bible story about the man who planted seeds on different types of soil. This little boy was the farmer who planted the seed.

These children all wanted to blow bubbles and chase them.

This mother and her child are waiting for their consult.

It was a busy, fast paced day. We had a total of 66 medical patients, 42 dental patients and 12 patients for dental cleaning.

Tomorrow we will have clinic in Chutzurob with Pat and his group again. Another day.........another adventure!

Friday in Antigua..........

We left Montellano about 0830 this morning for Antigua. We had a quick breakfast, shot the group photo, loaded the bus and Marie called the last roll. No one wanted to be left behind..........all of the patients were well, Antigua was ahead and the cooler air was calling our names!

I think everyone enjoyed lunch at Sky Cafe..........JoLee and I had great salads...............

We then divided up into groups for the rest of the afternoon. I arranged my return shuttle for Sunday morning and then I walked to the market. Everyone was doing well and there were enough people who had been to the market before, I felt it safe to return to the hotel and relax before dinner.

At 7pm we enjoyed a dinner buffet at the hotel. This is Jessica and Sharon, both from Texas.

This is Eddie and Trudy from TN......they have been down several times.

You have met Charles and Marie.

This is Katie (OK), Emily (AL) and Naomi (Antigua).

Marie went from table to table to let everyone know the plan for the next morning......breakfast at 0700, bags in the lobby at 0730 and departure at 0800...........just like clock work.

Naomi and I hung out talking after dinner with some others.

It was a great week...................mission accomplished. We had several first-timers and we hope they will return again. While it was good to make new friends, it was also nice to see the "regulars." While being able to help others that have less is a great opportunity, it is also a commandment. We know that we have touched many lives this week. We pray that the work has been a physical blessing but even more important, a spiritual blessing. No matter where we are.............the opportunity and commandment remain for us that follow Christ.

Thursday........a little relief fom the HEAT

Today was the clinic in Xejeup, where there is a waterfall. During every surgical clinic week, people have the opportunity to go and visit the falls. I have never gone before and since there were enough nurses, Marie asked me to go along........sure :)

We entertained ourselves while Dr. Walter and the MET student did clinic. We walked around, drank a Coke, played some games just to pass the time and then headed to the falls. Here we are sitting in front of the church building. The lady, who only speaks K'iche', wanted to sit with us while we were taking photos.

While Cody (TN) is taking this photo, we have Michael (NC), the K'iche' patient, myself, John (TX), Lauren (TN), Jared (MN) and Josh (NC).

When it is time to go to the falls...........it was time. This is Cody and Lauren. This is Lauren's second trip to Guatemala and Cody's first.

This is Jared and his birthday is this week..............Happy Birthday!!

This is John............I told him to strike a pose and he did :)

This is Michael and Josh. Unfortunately, Josh was not feeling well this day and later we found he had a 102 temperature :(

It was a fun day.......and we returned to the clinic without any problems. Of course, we had to make a run to Chicaco for some icecream...........

Today there were 14 patients. Even though it was heavier in numbers, the procedures were shorter. As always, we want to say Gracias a Dios for His love, mercy and care.

Wednesday.......the heat and heavy rains continue....

The heat and the heavy rains continue.......we had very little internet access but the patients continue to do well.

Someone brought what was needed to bake a cake and we celebrated. We sang Happy Birthday to Charles and Jared.

Charles is on the board of HTI and was our chaplain this week. This evening he discussed the pyramid of Health Talents and what that involved. The surgical clinic this week is only the peek of the pyramid.......there is much below. There are ongoing relationships with the local churches, daily medical mobile clinics, ABC program, other educational programs, the MET program and scholarship opportunities. God has continued to bless the work in Guatemala and we pray that He continues. We are thankful for this and never want to take it for granted.

Tomorrow is another day and another adventure................

Tuesday........the surgeries continue.......

The schedule was a little lighter today with 9 patients. Again, gracias a Dios, everyone did well.

Marie, continues to help out in the recovery area.

This is one of the surgeons, A.D. and his wife Sharon. They have been involved with HTI for many years and are from Arkansas. Sharon paints during the week and this year she painted in the dental area.

On Marie's left is JoLee from NY. JoLee and I shared a room during the week. She slept during the night and I slept during the day but our paths crossed in the afternoon when we would run to Chicaco for ice cream. She knew I slept during lunch, so she would surprise me by having a snack ready for for me when I woke up..................thank you, especially for the Chile Reano's!!

Yes, it is still HOT here...........and we have heavy rain every afternoon........because it was a light OR day, many were able to go and visit the chocolate farm that is near the clinic.....and they got drenched. The farm is owned by a family that enjoys having visitors from the clinic.

Monday..............it is still HOT in Montellano

On Monday we had a total of 12 patients. Everyone did well and the day ran smoothly.

During the week, some of the visitors will have the opportunity to help with the distribution of ABC supplies. We just received word that there are 720 children now in the ABC program.

This is Katie (OK) and Rosario who have known each other for quite awhile. Katie's father, Mike, was a physician with HTI in Guatemala for several years. I frequently hear his name and positive comments, even though I have not had the opportunity to meet him. Later in the week, Katie was able to visit the area that she and her family had lived in and also visit with some friends of the family.

Marie stayed close to the patients and helped with their needs during the afternoon.

This is Patrick (AL) who entertained this child during the afternoon before his surgery. This was Patrick's first trip down to Guatemala and he will be attending med school in the fall. Good luck, Patrick!

This little boy had hernia surgery and enjoyed coloring as soon as he was able. Someone had drawn him a picture of his purple hippo and he was detailing it.

Sharon (TX) has been to Guatemala may times and always finds something to do to be helpful. She continued to practice her Spanish and prayed with the patients. This lady was the last patient of the day and only spoke K'iche'. Even though Sharon does not speak K'iche', a special bond was formed and this lady will remember Sharon for a long time!

This is Naomi and she lives in Antigua. We needed another nurse for the week so she volunteered to work at the clinic.......and she even worked 2 nights with me. We decided we wanted to be role-models.............this poster even with becomes more interesting when we go to Antigua......you shall see........

We survived the night..........and looked forward to the next one!