Fran and I had a quick breakfast before leaving for the airport. The hotel has a great continental breakfast with fresh fruit, toast, strawberry jelly and coffee.
Our shuttle was on time and we arrived at the airport without any problems. We helped Fran with her luggage and then she was off. There are no goodbyes, only "catch ya later!" Right, Fran?
I drove back to Chichi without any problems and met up with Pat and Al. They studied in Antigua during the time I was there. After they finished language school, they moved to The City and now have the opportunity to visit us in Chichi. They work with different teams that come down to Guatemala and want to learn more about Health Talents.
All of us had dinner together and planned our clinic day tomorrow in Chutzurob.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Sunday in Antigua with Fran
Fran and I left Chichi early enough to attend worship in Antigua. After the Bible Class, we were standing and talking to Glenn and Neva and suddenly there was a quick but forceful jolt........but I did not think anyone else felt it. Then in about 15 seconds, there was a second jolt. It registered as a 6.1 earthquake and I was glad that that it did not last any longer than it had.
After worship, Fran and I checked into the hotel. We spent the night at The Aurora. It is a nice hotel with a pretty fountain and beautiful flowers. We had lunch with Glenn and Neva at The Sky Cafe. As usual, it was wonderful!
This is Fran relaxing in the hotel court yard.
These are some of the flowers around the fountain.
We settled in for the evening.......drank some coffee and watched tv..............what a peaceful evening.
After worship, Fran and I checked into the hotel. We spent the night at The Aurora. It is a nice hotel with a pretty fountain and beautiful flowers. We had lunch with Glenn and Neva at The Sky Cafe. As usual, it was wonderful!
This is Fran relaxing in the hotel court yard.
These are some of the flowers around the fountain.
We settled in for the evening.......drank some coffee and watched tv..............what a peaceful evening.Saturday, May 2, 2009
Visit to Diego's home and Panajachel
Kemmel, Lisa, Fran and I left early for Panajachel. We checked into our hotel and scoped out a few places to use for shuttle services and hotels.
Fran found her store in Pana.......
We met Lloyd and Melanie at Solomen's Porch. They and Hector helped us with the transportation of Diego and his family. We decided to have lunch there and we had a few options. Lisa was brave and ate Lebanese food. I would tell you what she had but I have no idea. All I know is I tried some of the octopus.........and I am glad I can say I have tried it.
After we had lunch, Hector drove us to the home of Diego's family. I knew it would be difficult but I felt strongly that we needed to go. I wanted them to know they have been in our thoughts and prayers. Josefina talked for a long time and it is good for her to able to be able to do this. Alex, Diego's father, is dealing with his grief and he is also sick with chicken pox. We talked to them about possibly going to Montellano in the future during a surgical week and talking to other families and being a support for them.
We spent the night in Pana and were prepared for our clinic in Chuchipaca. We could not leave on time due to a biathlon. The streets were blocked and we could not pull the truck out of the parking area. The people ran, swam in the lake and finished with another run.
Fran found her store in Pana.......
We met Lloyd and Melanie at Solomen's Porch. They and Hector helped us with the transportation of Diego and his family. We decided to have lunch there and we had a few options. Lisa was brave and ate Lebanese food. I would tell you what she had but I have no idea. All I know is I tried some of the octopus.........and I am glad I can say I have tried it.
After we had lunch, Hector drove us to the home of Diego's family. I knew it would be difficult but I felt strongly that we needed to go. I wanted them to know they have been in our thoughts and prayers. Josefina talked for a long time and it is good for her to able to be able to do this. Alex, Diego's father, is dealing with his grief and he is also sick with chicken pox. We talked to them about possibly going to Montellano in the future during a surgical week and talking to other families and being a support for them.
We spent the night in Pana and were prepared for our clinic in Chuchipaca. We could not leave on time due to a biathlon. The streets were blocked and we could not pull the truck out of the parking area. The people ran, swam in the lake and finished with another run.
We finally made it to Chuchipaca and had a clinic with 17 patients. We had some interesting cases. One child was a year only and only weighed 10.5 pounds. There seems to be some neurological damage so Lisa talked to the mom about taking the baby to the hospital. We hope the baby receives some care.
One small child had penetrated his hand with small piece of wood. We numbed it and then removed it.
One lady has had problems with one eye so Lisa sent her to a eye specialist. Lisa felt there was a possibility that there was a fungal infection which could cause her to lose her vision.
It was an interesting clinic with various illnesses........and as always, Lisa is very patient and teaches me as we go.
After the consult, Fran prayed with each patient. She prayed in a combination of Spanish and English addressing their needs. We know that God speaks all languages so we are confident those prayers will be answered.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Clinic in Lemoa
Fran and I left for Lemoa this morning and met everyone at Clinica Caris. We had a busy day with 27 medical patients, 13 dental patients and 3 dental cleanings.
We first met with Kemmel and he reviewed some changes in the calender with some new clinics being started and different opportunities that we will have. Marcos let us in a devotional and then Tomas led us in prayer. We then went out on the porch and welcomed the patients.
Josefina talked with the group for a few minutes about basic hand washing and how it helps prevent illness. The papers here are full of information about the swine flu. The people have many questions and fears about this illness. Gaspar then led us in prayer and then we started seeing the patients.
Fran and I basically held a diabetic clinic today. We had one patient with a blood sugar of over 500 and another with a 320 glucose. I spent a lot of time talking about diet, daily activity, taking the medicine possibly for life and addressing other questions they had. The gentleman with the 320, agreed to meet me in two Sundays for worship in Santa Cruz. I hope he will be there.
We had another lady with a glucose of 147.......not real high but still some room for improvement. She and her family are costumbre or do not have a place of worship. We talked to them about spiritual concerns and that without God there is no hope. When I asked them if we could pray, they all got on their knees. Fran and I joined them and then we prayed. They talked to Manuel about directions to La Iglesia de Cristo or the Church of Christ in Chichi and I hope they will attend there.
Tomorrow morning we will go to Panajachel and visit the the family of Diego. If you have been following the blog, he is the young boy that died a few weeks ago. Please remember us in your prayers as we travel tomorrow.
We first met with Kemmel and he reviewed some changes in the calender with some new clinics being started and different opportunities that we will have. Marcos let us in a devotional and then Tomas led us in prayer. We then went out on the porch and welcomed the patients.
Josefina talked with the group for a few minutes about basic hand washing and how it helps prevent illness. The papers here are full of information about the swine flu. The people have many questions and fears about this illness. Gaspar then led us in prayer and then we started seeing the patients.
Fran and I basically held a diabetic clinic today. We had one patient with a blood sugar of over 500 and another with a 320 glucose. I spent a lot of time talking about diet, daily activity, taking the medicine possibly for life and addressing other questions they had. The gentleman with the 320, agreed to meet me in two Sundays for worship in Santa Cruz. I hope he will be there.
We had another lady with a glucose of 147.......not real high but still some room for improvement. She and her family are costumbre or do not have a place of worship. We talked to them about spiritual concerns and that without God there is no hope. When I asked them if we could pray, they all got on their knees. Fran and I joined them and then we prayed. They talked to Manuel about directions to La Iglesia de Cristo or the Church of Christ in Chichi and I hope they will attend there.
Tomorrow morning we will go to Panajachel and visit the the family of Diego. If you have been following the blog, he is the young boy that died a few weeks ago. Please remember us in your prayers as we travel tomorrow.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Fran meets Mactzul III
Fran, Gaspar, Juan and I went to Mactzul III for clinic today. We had a small clinic of 6 medical patients and 3 dental cleanings for Gaspar.
For those who have been in Mactzul III before you will remember Sabastiana, who is below with Fran. Her skin is clearing up well and she feels much better. She no longer has any drainage and she said very little itching.
These two little girls were playing and Gaspar grabbed my camera........and then the little girls lost their smiles......oh well.......
Here they were trying to help Juan stay organized.
One young lady came today just wanting more medicine. She chatteed for awhile and I asked her if there was anything else that she needed or wanted to talk about........that led to another issue.......and then another isue......and then Fran leaned to me and said, "If she stays here much longer, we will be taking her to ICU!"
We had one lady today that was very sad. Her husband and her son have both died and she is very lonely. We talked to her about her relationship with God and that only He can take her sadness away. Life is full of difficult circumstances, no matter the country in which we live. In the US we may be concerned with our economics or the political struggles. Here in Guatemala, the concern may be not enough or too much rain for the corn........or how we are going to feed the children through the week. No matter our concern, we need faith that God can handle any circumstance and that He will provide.
Tomorrow we will have clinic in Lemoa with Josefina and her group. I plan on taking photos to Santos in the hospital during visitation and I hope that he likes them.
For those who have been in Mactzul III before you will remember Sabastiana, who is below with Fran. Her skin is clearing up well and she feels much better. She no longer has any drainage and she said very little itching.
These two little girls were playing and Gaspar grabbed my camera........and then the little girls lost their smiles......oh well.......
Here they were trying to help Juan stay organized.
One young lady came today just wanting more medicine. She chatteed for awhile and I asked her if there was anything else that she needed or wanted to talk about........that led to another issue.......and then another isue......and then Fran leaned to me and said, "If she stays here much longer, we will be taking her to ICU!"We had one lady today that was very sad. Her husband and her son have both died and she is very lonely. We talked to her about her relationship with God and that only He can take her sadness away. Life is full of difficult circumstances, no matter the country in which we live. In the US we may be concerned with our economics or the political struggles. Here in Guatemala, the concern may be not enough or too much rain for the corn........or how we are going to feed the children through the week. No matter our concern, we need faith that God can handle any circumstance and that He will provide.
Tomorrow we will have clinic in Lemoa with Josefina and her group. I plan on taking photos to Santos in the hospital during visitation and I hope that he likes them.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Fran and I visited around today.......
Yesterday, when we saw Magda in Santa Cruz she mentioned that she would like to have her eyes checked. Kemmel tried to make her some glasses the other day when he was running his eye clinic but was unable to help her.
We picked her up this morning and she knew exactly where to go. We walked with her through Santa Cruz and she would stop and chat a few minutes with people that she knew. The eye clinic advertised computer eye exams. She walked right in for her exam and it seemed to take quite a while.
Eventually, they returned to the waiting room and he said he could help one eye but she may need surgery in the other. He seemed very confident that the glasses would help. We may return and get those for her on Thursday. Magda said we would pray for her eye that needs surgery and that God will fix it for her.
We ate a quick lunch and then went to the hospital to visit Santos Elias. He is the 7 year old that saw Lisa last Thursday at the clinic. She persuaded the parents to take him to the hospital and he looks very good!
He was sitting up in a wheelchair with his pajamas on and his chest tube was draining a small amount of red drainage. The parents are not sure when he will get to go home but they seem very comfortable there and Santos did not seem to mind the attention he was getting.
I took some of the coloring books and crayons that the South Fork Church of Christ sent with me to him. This is Santo with his parents. Yes, they wanted the photo when I asked them but then the mom looked down.
Santo starting to color with his new book and markers.
Fran and I returned to the house for the afternoon. We did our laundry and then Fran made us some guacamole and a salad with cucumbers, tomatos, onions, cilantro and vinegar. How do you like that??? Invite someone to stay with you and then have them prepare dinner for you!!! What a treat. Thank you, Fran!
We picked her up this morning and she knew exactly where to go. We walked with her through Santa Cruz and she would stop and chat a few minutes with people that she knew. The eye clinic advertised computer eye exams. She walked right in for her exam and it seemed to take quite a while.
Eventually, they returned to the waiting room and he said he could help one eye but she may need surgery in the other. He seemed very confident that the glasses would help. We may return and get those for her on Thursday. Magda said we would pray for her eye that needs surgery and that God will fix it for her.
We ate a quick lunch and then went to the hospital to visit Santos Elias. He is the 7 year old that saw Lisa last Thursday at the clinic. She persuaded the parents to take him to the hospital and he looks very good!
He was sitting up in a wheelchair with his pajamas on and his chest tube was draining a small amount of red drainage. The parents are not sure when he will get to go home but they seem very comfortable there and Santos did not seem to mind the attention he was getting.
I took some of the coloring books and crayons that the South Fork Church of Christ sent with me to him. This is Santo with his parents. Yes, they wanted the photo when I asked them but then the mom looked down.
Santo starting to color with his new book and markers.
Fran and I returned to the house for the afternoon. We did our laundry and then Fran made us some guacamole and a salad with cucumbers, tomatos, onions, cilantro and vinegar. How do you like that??? Invite someone to stay with you and then have them prepare dinner for you!!! What a treat. Thank you, Fran!Tomorrow we will go to Lemoa for our educational day.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sunday in Chichi
Yesterday, Fran and I drove back to Chichi without any problems. We had dinner with Kemmel and Lisa and we had an enjoyable evening.
This morning we went to the market and had lunch at San Juan. They have a buffet that is good. We walked through Santo Tomas Hotel and everything, as usual, was very pretty. This is Fran near the lobby of the hotel.
We also went to the fruit and vegetable market and bought a few things to have at the house.
We worshipped with The Church in Santa Cruz and then we went for ice cream before driving back home. It was a full day but very enjoyable.
Tomorrow, we are going to take my friend in Santa Cruz to have her eyes examined and then also visit a little boy that is in the hospital.
You may remember the little boy from the blog on April 16th. He was the 7 yr. old that was having respiratory problems but the parents wouldn't take him to the hospital. Well, he returned to the clinic last Thursday and Lisa persuaded them to go.........Gracias a Dios, they listened to her. He was admitted and had a chest tube placed in the left side. I will give you an update tomorrow.
This morning we went to the market and had lunch at San Juan. They have a buffet that is good. We walked through Santo Tomas Hotel and everything, as usual, was very pretty. This is Fran near the lobby of the hotel.
We also went to the fruit and vegetable market and bought a few things to have at the house.
We worshipped with The Church in Santa Cruz and then we went for ice cream before driving back home. It was a full day but very enjoyable.
Tomorrow, we are going to take my friend in Santa Cruz to have her eyes examined and then also visit a little boy that is in the hospital.
You may remember the little boy from the blog on April 16th. He was the 7 yr. old that was having respiratory problems but the parents wouldn't take him to the hospital. Well, he returned to the clinic last Thursday and Lisa persuaded them to go.........Gracias a Dios, they listened to her. He was admitted and had a chest tube placed in the left side. I will give you an update tomorrow.
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