Our theme for today is "Connecting two worlds as one team to care....just for the health of it!" We woke this morning all wearing our shirts from the clinics we work at in Minnesota! We are now a "well oiled team machine" = working together better than ever. We have the setup/take down routine down to a science. Today we cared for 40 patients in San Andres', Guatemala. This was a village founded in 2006. All the homes were cement blocked homes. Our clinic was set up in an empty dwelling, which gave us an opportunity to see inside what a typical home looks like....usually 3 bedrooms (no closets), kitchen area, living room and outside wash area. There is sometimes a bathroom (toilet) inside a tiny room inside the house. Clinic ran from 10am to 1pm today. Our providers with their interpreters, nurses and pharmacy staff looked forward to caring for and connecting with the patients. The topic of childhood nutrition is a common theme. Mothers expressed their concern that they worried that their children may not get enough food to eat. The local health promoter from Guatemala shared that there is continual efforts to monitor the growth of children in each village. This issue of "not enough to eat" tugs at our hearts. The local hospital here in San Lucas takes great measures to assist the people here. Susan, our nurse practitioner, stated that some patients she cared for have common problems that she also sees when she cares for patients in Minnesota. For example one woman that came in today stated that she had "Delor de Cabeza" (a headache)....when asked what made this pain worse, the woman stated it worsens when she fights with her husband! A universal connection we all understand. A connection with school children! We have all had the experience of going to school...and to hear the singing of the school children today at the church while we were eating breakfast opened our heart to the Divine Spirit that is so alive in these people. Also while some children waited in line today at our clinic, our MDP intake people (Katie and Barb) led the small children in the Spanish and English version of the song "Head, shoulders, knees and toes...etc." The "connection of two worlds" from kids to kids in two different countries came today when Dr. Cathy walked to the local grade school in San Andres and presented two brand new soccer balls from the youth group at the First Presbyterian Church in Mankato. After hugging Dr. Cathy and posing for a photo.this group of grade school boys put the new balls to use on the playground! At the close of clinic today a priceless moment came when three children peered through the pharmacy window to say good bye to Cindy, our MDP pharmacy crew member. Our MDP group spent the later part of the afternoon touring the special projects of San Lucas Mission...the JuanAna coffee processing plant, the Women & Childrens Community Center and the San Lucas Hospital. Even though we may live miles apart from each other...connection through caring for "the health of it" makes our world a little kinder of a place for all of us! The pictures of today are worth more than all the words we could possibly write! We hope you enjoy and feel our connection in caring! God is so good all the time and we close this day recounting the blessings we have received! God is "The Great Connecter of Care" to all. Thanks for your prayers and support. shared by Barb Traxler
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Today was our second day of medical clinic. We traveled approximately 1 hour from San Lucas through the highlands to reach the village of Panimaqiup. The roads we traveled were very steep, narrow and curvy...but our trusted driver from the mission delivered us safely to our destination. As we reached this remote village the air was cool, the smell of woodstoves burning filled the air and you could hear the rooster's crow in the distance. There were a handful of village people awaiting our arrival. We cared for approximately 34 patients...mainly Mayan women and their children. Today's clinic ran very smoothly and was at a calm pace so we could take in this moment in time. Each member of our team will share today one "positive experience" from clinic for them:
That was our day #2! On our way down the mountain we were sprinkled with the cool mist of rain It felt like a blessing from above! Thanks for sharing this day with us and for your prayerful support. Buenos Noches! Day 1 of clinic: we were excited to have our first day in clinic! A total of 77 patients were cared for...and two of those patients required referral to the hospital (due to the severity of their condition)
To name just a few highlights of today in 3 categories: What touched my heart:
What inspired me:
What surprised me today:
My words just touch the "tip top" of this powerful day in clinic day#1. As I savor this day...I realize it is the prayers and support of people from home and those who support MDP who make this clinic possible, for people who would not have basic care, which we take for granted at home. Am grateful to our compassionate God for this opportunity to care! It has been a long but successful day for our team. We left Mankato at 2:30 this morning and had an uneventful day of travel.
Thankfully we breezed through customs and arrived in San Lucas around 4pm. It is approaching the end of the dry season here and it is hot and dusty! Heather met us at our hotel. We are staying at the Iquitui, which is an old favorite. We spent some time organizing our meds and supplies and Cathy and I visited with Julio the administrator at the hospital. We are all set to start our clinics tomorrow. We have turned in early tonight. Thank you for keeping us in your prayers. Peace, Susan March 2017 San Lucas Toliman team is packed and ready to go! We will head out in the wee hours of the morning on Monday March 27th. Please keep the team in your prayers.
I am excited to see San Lucas through the eyes of many who have never been there before. Only 3 of our team members have traveled with MDP before and been to San Lucas. I am also excited and quite nervous to work as a provider for the first time. For me this is a dream come true and my prayer is that God will guide me, grant me wisdom to do what is right for the people we serve, and steady my nerves. Check back for pictures and stories of our adventure. As always I am humbled and grateful to have the opportunity to serve. Peace, Susan |
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