April Surgical Clinic in Montellano

We had a very busy week in Montellano during the surgical clinic.  Unfortunately, the two GYN surgeons were not able to make the trip due to health care issues and a motorcycle accident.  The Guatemalan staff called all of the GYN patients and made plans for them to attend another surgical week.  We found other patients to keep the three general surgeons busy and we finished the week with seventy-one surgeries.

Three of the group were able to visit in the mobile medical clinics.  One day, there were two baptism in the river.  A day to rejoice!

Klay, our family therapist, needed to go Chichi for a seminar that he would lead.  Juana and Gaspar came down to Montellano to take Klay up to Chichi.  This gave them the opportunity to visit with Carlos and Sylvia, who will be shortly moving to Nashville.  Carlos has plans to study theology at the David Lipscomb University.  We wish him, Sylvia and their two children the best of transitions in their new phase of life.

 Some of the nursing staff being a little goofy!  Imagine that!

On Thursday, after all of the surgeries were completed, several were able to visit the chocolate farm. This is the large Ceiba tree on the chocolate farm and it is the national tree of Guatemala.

We never want to forget the spiritual side of healing.  Elaine praying with one of her patients.

On Friday morning, we headed to Antigua for the day to relax a little.  We had safe travels and were thankful for that.

 

The board meeting is this weekend in Antigua.  Many of the board members have arrived and we look forward to seeing them over the weekend.

On Monday, I will fly to The States.  It is time for me to change my role a little and I think it will be very exciting. I will be in The States for about three weeks this time, speaking at seven different congregations or professional meetings.  The goal is to share the work with more people to boost participation of medical, nursing and operating room staff.  Please follow my adventures!  If you know of a congregation or school that would be interested in hearing more about Health Talents International, please let me know!

Continuing in Lemoa

Several of us were in Lemoa today. We started our morning cleaning and then our team devotional.

Visiting Kemmel and Lisa, for about a month, is Kemmel's mom, Roberta.  It is good to have her with us again.  Gaspar talked about harmony within yourself and how it affects harmony within the workplace, church and community. If you are struggling within yourself, you are not likely to have harmony in other aspects of life.  So very true............

Kemmel was able to purchase some plastic diabetic teaching sheets for us.  We will hang them before each clinic.

It will help increase awareness of diabetes and also reinforce the teaching that we do during the consult.

Lisa, not too long ago had a diabetic patient that is only sixteen years old.  Today, I had a new diabetic patient that is only twenty-four.

One lady came in today with the complaint of a breast mass.  After I collected the history, I was helping her on the exam table and when I looked over at the neighbor, I noticed that she had a black bag. Often times, these black bags are filled with goodies. So I ask her if she has anything to show me and she already has had an ultrasound done!

The ultrasound showed a small mass that is suspicious of being malignant.  She is 42 years old, with two small children and she had not returned to the clinic since they told her that surgery would cost 7,000 Q.  The mas has grown quite a bit.  We all talked to her and told her what she needed to do on Friday.  I wrote out a reference for her so she could be seen at the national hospital.  We will see what happens.

Saturday, Kemmel and Roberta are going to drive Carol and I to Montellano for a surgical week.  I look forward to seeing everyone.  We pray that the team from the states arrives safely and that all of the patients do well next week.

Stay tuned..........I will keep you posted.

Tomasa and Drew's Poem about Quiche

Tomasa's mom and grandmother came to visit us today in Lemoa.  She was born with a cleft lip and plate and she is currently six months old.

If she continues to do well, she will have surgery in Montellano in August and Alice will sponsor the surgery.

Tomasa with her mom and her grandmother.

A few weeks ago, we had groups from Harding University and David Lipscomb University.  Drew was a translator on those trips and he wrote a poem about Quiche.  He also made a video of when he was in the market and he spotted a small lady pulled some coins out and gave them to a man in the street.  It was a very touching video.  Here is Drew's poem and it has great insight to the Mayan Culture.

El Quiche Today

In these dusty hills covered with pine and oak,

the Quiche Mayan live lives of hope.

The martyrs of the past they mourn,

as they birth their children and grow their corn.

They remember the days of fear and war,

with peace today, they hope for more.

The wish for peace is still ongoin',

they even put it on their quetzal coin.

They go to church and pray to El Señor,

to change Guatemala to Great Mejor. 

Drew, thank you for the work that you did in Chichicastenango and we hope that you return!

Back in Chichi

Not too long after I returned to Chichi, I headed to Mexico with Kemmel and Lisa.  Their sponsoring congregation, Eastside Church of Christ had asked me to join them as they went to Cozumel.  They are a main supporter of the orphanage there, Ciudad de Angeles.

We arrived in the late evening and then jumped on a small plane to go to Cozumel.  We were going to take a ferry over but they have been having safety issues with bombs.........so we thought it was best to fly over and it was a lot of fun!

We walked out on the runway and took a seat behind the pilots.

 I stole a couple of Lisa's photos since hers turned out better than mine.  Thank you, Lisa!

 Lisa getting ready to enjoy her quick flight!

 Kemmel is also ready for an adventure!

When we landed, we took a taxi to an Airbnb that Kemmel found for us.  As we waited for the key to the house, we found a taco place that Kemmel and Lisa knew about.  I had porkchop tacos.........so you ask, "Were they good?"  Well, my response is, "Yes!  They were so good that I had porkchop tacos three times that week!"

It was a good week.  We worked with Eastside and also had a day to chill at the beach.

Then it was time to return and get geared up! 

Last week I had a Pap/ IVAA class and Brenda translated for me. We already have sixteen ladies scheduled for a clinic already.  Tomorrow I will be in clinic and then have a class in Chuchipaca in the afternoon.

Life in the Wind!

Since I returned to Guatemala, it feels like I have been running..............but it has been good and exciting!

We finished up with the spring break teams from Harding and Lipscomb Universities.  Dave and Susan Melllor did a great job of leading those teams and we had the opportunity to meet Jana, Susan's sister. 

The following Monday, the roads were closed to to protests so it pretty much shut everything down for the day. They had threatened to continue for the rest of the week but thankfully, it was only on Monday.

Then it is time to do laundry and pack for another adventure!

Kemmel and Lisa's sponsoring congregation, Eastside Church of Christ from Colorado Springs work with an orphanage and they invited me to go along this year. 

We left Chichi yesterday at 0700 and it took thirty minutes to get out of Chichi due to the traffic.  Then on the highway to the capital, it was pretty much stop-and-go a few feet.  But, we safely arrived and in time to grab a lunch of McDonalds and Subway.

After landing in Mexico, we needed to jump on a small plane to fly to Cozumel.  We sailed through customs without delay and then had just minutes to find the next terminal......we were filled with fear because we thought we may miss the flight.  Kemmel grabbed a taxi and explained our situation so the driver stepped on it and we arrived in time!!

We walked out to the twin prop and climbed on!  There was excitement in the air from making the flight!

 Getting ready for the props to fire up!

 Photo very blurry due to the vibration as were were getting cranked!  I shared my desire to fly and we talked about my conversations with Brenda, Doyle and Cary in Montellano..........another dream that I have!

 Ready for take off!

It was a quick thirty minute flight over to Cozumel.  Kemmel and Lisa had told me about pork chop tacos near where we were staying.........so we stopped over there and all I can say is, "If you do not eat there, you are really missing something!"  It was delicious!

The owner of the Air B&B found us as were were finishing dinner........of course it was not hard to spot us!  She and her husband helped us settle in and gave us a tour of the area.  Very nice and maintained.

A dream-catcher in the tree with a swing........good sport for afternoon reading.

We will play for the day and then meet the group for a week of work.

Stay tuned for more adventures!

Lipscomb meets Chutzurob!

Several of the Lipscomb team went with us to Chutzurob, which is one of my favorite clinics.  We saw the ABC Children and a few regular patients.

Getting the ABC Children checked in.

Heights and weights are important to see how the children are progressing.

We do not want any children to have a fever.

After the children have their consult, they colored and read books.

Then before they left the clinic, they had a photo taken, so their sponsor could see how they are doing.

I met Nelson.  He is doing great in school and his physical exam was good.  He is sponsored by some of my friends, Brenda and Doyle.  I told Nelson that I knew his sponsors and that I had just seen them last month in Montellano.  Thank you, Brenda and Doyle!

OK, I will brag a minute.  This is one of my new ABC Children, Rosita.  Her names is Rosa and she also has about four other names. I asked her what her friends call her and she told me, "Rosita."  So, Rosita it shall be!  She is nine years old

When it came time for lunch, I think that everyone was ready!  We enjoyed beef soup and tamalitos!  These are some of my favorite foods, with some of my favorite people!

Tomorrow, it is another day and another adventure!

Harding in Mactzul VI!!

Harding went with us out to Mactzul VI for an ABC clinic today.  We had 46 ABC children and everyone was doing good.

We had three stations to see the students and the families.

The Harding students started with a patient and joined them in the consult and then in pharmacy.

Ana started joking when she saw I had my camera.  I got a fine photo of her hand!

Brenda, our new nurse with some students.

Susan, Jana and Dave busy with their work.

Taking a few minutes just to chat.

Dave and the ladies..............

Kemmel, at work..........he never runs out of things to fix or do.

Look mom!  My tattoo is as large as my hand!

I saw Jose today!  He sure has grown in the last few years.  He is sponsored in the ABC Program by Glenn and Neva!  He said to tell you hi!

It was a fast clinic and a good one.

I met a young lady that has epilepsy and will follow her in our regular clinic in Mactzul I on Fridays.  A very sad situation but hopefully, we will be able to help her.

Harding heads to Antigua.  They will enjoy the night there and then fly home.  Thank you for your work and we look forward to your visit next year!