Many friends in Antigua...........

After our clinic today I went to Antigua to meet the group who just finished a surgical clinic at the coast. When I travel back to the highlands tomorrow, I will bring with me Fran, Rebekah and her husband Seth.

It was nice to see many people again in Antigua. I apologize because my photos are of poor quality and I am not sure why. They are blurred and the color is off.

This is Jerry. He wanted to show you his pie but the lighting is bad. Jerry, guess you will have to return for another photo and eat some more pie!

This is Elaine and Dennis with their daughter Lisa.

This is Rachael, Leslie, Brenda and Fran. Leslie is Fran's daughter and she is a physical therapist. I am trying to talk her into coming up to the highlands and helping us in some of our clinics. Leslie, are you ready??

This is Brenda and Doyle, whom I think you will remember from a previous trip in February. This trip they had two of their friends come down to visit them in Antigua. I apologize that I do not remember their names.

This is Benny and his granddaughter Rachael. Benny has been coming and helping HTI for many years and maybe this will be the first of many for Rachael.

I love it when people come to Guatemala and visit and you have heard me say that before. I think that knowing people from all over The States is just a taste of what heaven will be like. It will be a renewing of friendships and praising God together. I know how much I enjoy the devotionals that we have when people are here for a short time. Can you imagine what eternity will be like?????

Clinic in Zacualpa.......

We left Chichi about 0700 for Zacualpa. It is an area on the other side of Quiche that we will be going to once a month. We had a good clinic here last month with the students from Harding.

When we arrived, there were not many patients but they slowly came in. Marcos was with us so we offered dental, medical and cleaning services.

Tomas cleaning a patients teeth.

This little lady visited us last month. I emphasize little because I am on my knees!!

We saw 41 medical patients, 13 dental patients and Tomas had 6 for dental cleaning.

We will return again next month and maybe even have twice as many patients!!

Diabetic class in Lemoa

Today was our monthly class in Lemoa. We had 21 people in the class and it was a continuation on diabetes.

The class was able to answer the questions that reviewed the previous class. I was very encouraged by their responses.

Today we studied the different medicines used, the importance of exercise and then practiced with making a diet for the day. As usual, we broke up into groups when it came time to practice the diets.

Lisa offers some helpful advice to her her group.

Gaspar writing for his group.

Josefina trying to stay out of the sun.........we did move the group.

When it was time to explain the diets, they did great! As usual, improvements can be made but everyone participated.

Enrique, from Panajit, explained his groups diet. He hit is limit with having Corn Flakes and milk for his afternoon snack but he was willing to eliminate dinner. He was not going to give up his Corn Flakes!

Today was the first class for this lady and she did great!

The ladies really went all out explaining their diets!

When one group went over on their carbohydrate allowance, the others in the class quickly let them know and that is ok. It was a learning experience for everyone and people learned how to be a little creative with their diet. The true test will be when they try to teach the patients! I do think that after today they have a better understanding after today.

Sunday in Chichi

This morning about 0730, I was awakened when the bed rocked................I do not even think I opened my eyes or lifted my head off of the pillow. I knew what it was and later found out it registered 5.6 on the Richter Scale.

About 0830, Joe called me and told me he had hurt his foot last night and thought he had broken a toe. I told him that we could get some good medicine in the pharmacy and that I would come to their hotel.

I found Jane and Joe in good spirits even though they were missing their day in the market. We propped Joe up on pillows with his computer Jane and I made our way through the market. Jane told me about their morning. They had gone for breakfast and while they were eating, Joe said, "Jane, I think the building is moving." Jane replied, "Joe, I think that they call this an earthquake!" I knew that my mother would be jealous since they had experienced one before she has :)

Joe thought he would do better if he had a cane so Jane and I went to find one, with only having about 40 minutes before the shuttle arrived. We heard that we could fine one in the park. We made it to the park but did not find any but I did find a little man that was very willing to help us for a few quetzales.

He wound us though the streets asking as we went. I could tell that he was really on a hunt for his few quetzales and he was working hard for them! He led us to a store that had a couple to select from and I loved them!

Joe was just as excited as Jane and I were!


I connected them with Victor, who took them to Xela. They will be there for two weeks, living with a family and studying Spanish.

Evelyn's Baskets of Love and Life

The day was full of unexpected problems but everything turned out ok. I went to get the suk from Lisa and Kemmel's and when I was about 5 minutes down the road, it just stopped. I mean stopped! Lucky for me, the suk is light weight and I was able to push it off the road.

I thought it might be out of gas so I got a ride to the gas station and returned with a liter of gas but that was not the problem. Juan and Gaspar got a ride from a micro-van and came to my rescue. We went to the garage of a mechanic that Kemmel uses. He was not there but he sent someone to help us.

He told us that we needed a part but was not sure where they sold it. He was able to get the suk started again so we drove to Quiche looking for this part. Gaspar protected the suk while Juan and I walked to 5-6 different auto-part stores........but no one sold this part. They only sold Toyota and Mitsubishi parts.

We drove back to the clinic and had our class, as we had originally set out to do this morning. After all this had happened, I felt like the class should have been yesterday.

But all ended up ok......we covered the material Lisa had prepared for us, prepared material for our class on Tuesday and got the suk back to the house.

Tonight was a planned dinner with Jane and Joe from Winston Salem, NC. They started the Evelyn's Basket of Live and Life a few years ago when their first granddaughter was born with a cleft lip and palate. Jane provides us with baskets and specialty bottles for the babies so they can receive proper nourishment until they are old enough for their surgery.

Lisa and Kemmel would have had dinner with us tonight but had to make a quick trip to The City to get a computer cord from Rick. It sounds as if the surgical week at the coast is off to a difficult start. One group of people missed a connecting flight in Houston due to problems and those that had arrived to Guatemala had difficulty reaching the clinic due to flooding.

Jane and Joe are on the right and on the left is Cathy. Cathy works with ASELSI and is also very involved with helping parents arrange surgery for their babies.

After dinner, it felt good to be in for the night and to also know that everything is all right on this end. We pray for the safe arrival of those that are still in Houston and those traveling to Clinica Ezell.

Clinic in Chuchuca

We had a hard storm last night. According to my professional weather lady, Lisa, we had 1.5 inches of rain fall in 3 hours! It is nice to listen to the rain on the tin roof but sometimes it is very loud. I continued to lose power from time to time so finally just called it a night.

Due to the rain, we were not sure how the drive would be to Chuchuca. We left about 0700 with two trucks, filled to the brim. We were lucky and made it without any problems.

Here, the guys are walking down the road to scope out the area that could be the problem. There was a lot of mud at the bottom and making it back up would be the problem...........but God took care of us.

We had 24 medical patients, 8 dental patients and 2 patients for dental cleaning.

We had some time to play around with the children and of course, they wanted their photos taken.

Rebekah charmed this little baby and she was able to hold her after she was weighed.

I could not get enough photos of this little girl. She wanted another one and then another one.....eventually I was able to get her to smile for me :)

After all of the patients were seen, we collected the letters that the ABC children had written for their sponsors. There was 100% compliance from the children! Lisa and Kemmel work at collecting the letters and the names of the children.

As aways, it was a great day.......have you heard that before??? ha ha ha

Tomorrow is a study day and a day to prepare for class on Tuesday.

Thursday in Lemoa

Today, was the clinic in Lemoa and it was a good one. Have you noticed how I say that every clinic "is a good one"? That is because in one way or another it is a good. We may have a ton of patients or only a few but you never know how you may have impacted someone.

I have not introduced you to Rebekah yet. She is doing a 6 week rotation here with Lisa. She is a PA student and lives in Nashville. Currently, she is living in Paxot II with Manuel and his family. If anyone near the Nashville area will be looking for a sharp PA in the next few months, let me know and I can connect you with one!

Today, we had a 28 year-old man come to the clinic. His name is Jose and he has been in significant pain for 2 months. He has been to different physicians and has had lab work and xrays done. Yet, no one can tell him what is wrong. He has difficulty walking and therefore is unable to work. He has continued to take large doses of medicine to control his pain.

Lisa suggested that he get some exams done in Quiche so Gaspar and I drove him there. I hope to see him in Chichi at worship on Sunday. Please pray for him and that he will be able to find out what is wrong.

Tomorrow we will leave early in the morning for Chuchuca. I am sure that it will be a good clinic, since you know that they all are :)