Clinic in Chuchuca

This morning, Gaspar and I met Josefina and Tomas and we headed for Chuchuca. We did not have any problems in the road and we are always thankful for that. When we arrived, the doors were closed and no one was waiting for us. This is unusual so we sat in the sun and waited.

Within a few minutes someone came and opened the door for us. As we waited for a patient, we walked to a house and bought a Pepsi. We had our first patient in about an hour.

It was a slow day but we eventually saw 7 patients.

This dog was hopping around today. At first, we thought the dog had broke his leg or hurt his paw and the owner had tied his leg around his neck for support. Well, we were wrong!!! The dog was caught eating the corn that belonged to his owner so he tied his leg up for punishment!! What can ya say?????

These little girls sat with us for part of the morning.

Even though it was a small clinic, it was a good day.

The week has gone very quick. It is almost the weekend! Tomorrow, I will be in Lemoa with Lisa for pap-clinic day and the babies will bring in their labs.

ABC Nutrition Class in La Palma

Today, Juan and I went to La Palma to do the Nutrition Class for the ABC Program. We had about 30 people in attendance and it was a good class.

The main thing for any class is to be flexible. Kemmel had warned me that they probably did not have electricity in the church building so I would not be able to use the projector......and he was right. We put the benches as close as we could to the computer and hoped for the best. The parents huddled around and they also had questions.

Since these are smaller communities and farther away so we had Las Cuevas and La Palma together.
This is the congregation from Las Cuevas. It is a small community and very poor.

This is the congregation from La Palma.

After class, we shared a lunch together and then Juan and I returned to Chichi.

Tomorrow, I will go with Josefina and the guys to Chuchuca.

Clinic in Xepol

Today we had clinic in Xepol with 10 patients.

The excitement of the day was seeing two HUGE tractor trucks flipped up on their side. I am not sure how they will ever get them flipped back up. Did I say that they were HUGE??

This little boy always hangs around the clinic looking for some excitement.....can you see it in his eyes??

This family comes to see us every few months.

More children around the clinic.

The guys are always good with the children. Here, Gaspar is teaching some math to the children.
I had dinner with Lisa and Kemmel tonight. It was good to see them and catch up on all of the events. They showed me the new office and I am really excited about it. It will be a good place for us to work, study and prepare materials. We will also be able to store water filters and smokeless stoves there. The space will be put to excellent use!

First clinic of 2011!

Today, the guys and I went to Chutzurob for our first clinic of 2011. We had a busy day with 24 medical patients and 4 patients for dental cleaning.

We saw a variety of patients.

The first was a young man who was beaten up last week. Being assaulted was not a good thing but maybe something good will come from it. His eye was in bad shape but he is lucky he was not hurt worse. After the consult, I realized that he did not have a church listed. When I asked him about that, he became uncomfortable. He hung his head and said, "The truth is that I use to attend the service here regularly but now I do not go any where." I told him that I was very sorry that he had been hurt but this might be a good time to reconsider his life choices. The brother from the church also talked to him so hopefully, he will think about his current relationship with Christ.

We saw a lady with severe anemia and also a family with scabies.

It was a good clinic and now we are back in motion...................................

Chichi-----day of catch up

Today was a day to catch up on stuff before the real work starts :)

I went to Lemoa today to see everyone and say hi. Everyone is doing well and the clinic looked busy with 18 patients.

Tomas gave me the good news that we have dates for the last of the 4 communities that need the ABC Nutritional class. The response from the communities was good and the families seemed to enjoy it. Eventually, the promoters will be teaching the class.........step-by-step. We are ready to roll out the diabetes classes and I think we will begin to prepare the prenatal classes.

After Lemoa, I went to Santa Cruz and signed up for K'iche' classes! They can not teach classes the days I would like them but if I don't study, I will continue to be frustrated. I will have classes Sunday afternoons for 4 hours, for 5 months.

This is Nakko. I think he was glad to have me return. He has sat in front of my door since I have been back. I know..........probably just wanting some bread.

Kemmel and Lisa fly back to Guatemala today and will arrive in Chichi tomorrow. It will be good to have them back.

The guys and I have clinic tomorrow in Chutzurob..................it will be a good clinic!

OK, time to go and give Nakko some bread.

long time.......no blog........

Well, can you believe my blog yesterday was the first in three weeks? Now, I am back on track. I went home for the holidays and it was great! I had time with family and friends, visited with my sponsoring congregation, had Christmas with my family, a few extra lunches with my brother, enjoyed some snow and the list could go on.

I returned to Guatemala yesterday afternoon and to Chichi today.

My land lady, Tomasita, knew when I returned and she had brunch set up for me! What a welcome home. She brought me a tamalito, bread, fruit cake and coffee. She told me not to start working today and just to rest. She opened my door wider so the sun could come in as I ate and then in a few minutes, she returned with a rose for my table.

I miss my family and friends very much.............very much but now it is time to get back to work.

Happy 2011!!

Happy New Year!!

I hope that this year is a good one. How do you define good? Less sickness, more money, an exciting vacation or a better job? The answers varies depending on what you want TODAY!

How many have already broken their New Year's Resolution? How many do not make a New Year Resolution because you know in ADVANCE that you will break it?

I think many people break them because they make the resolution and do not think about it again, until they realize it has been broken. What if we conscientiously, recommitted to the resolution everyday? Would that change our behavior?

When Christ was asked which was the greatest commandment of the Law? How did He respond?

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself."

How would our life be if we made this commandment our New Year's Resolution and consciously committed to it every day?

Just something to think about........................