Good news. We did finally get our medicines through customs! It was a harrowing experience and we were put through a huge 24 hour runaround! We made it to San Lucas about 8 pm last night and joined the rest of the group. They had a nice day touring the mission projects.
Today we had a great day. We started with outdoor prayer focused on charity. Susan, Steph and John all contributed inspirational messages. After a good breakfast, we headed out into the country in the back of a pickup truck and we worked a medical clinic. The pharmacy team was amazing, especially Nick and Maggie. Thanks too to Teri! The whole team settled in and did their jobs and had fun. Our doctors Cathy, John and Bob are super. We were in a small village and to tell the truth I can´t remember´its name tonight. The people were happy and gracious and we worked hard. It´s always so neat to see how everyone pitches in and works together. The children came and played and that is joyful to see and to hear their laughter. Thanks for the message Melissa! Of course we think of all of our MDP friends and are so thankful for your gifts and goodness!
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Greetings from Guatemala! Our team left Mankato at 3 am. We gathered for a short prayer before we boarded the plane and arrived in a very rainy Miami three hours later. Stephanie flew all night from Peru (8 hours) and joined the team in Miami. The flight to Guatemala City was a little bumpier than normal but all in all was a great flight. And then it got interesting.
Recently Guatemala has adoped some new laws regarding bringing medicines into the country. We actually had our paperwork done from the Ministry of Health (or the Ministry of Magic as Jill calls it). The folks at the airport took all of our medicines and told us that we needed some further documentation from the Ministry of Health. Susan and Lia ventured to get this done while the rest of our team basically waited on the sidewalk outside the airport building. Everyone was exceedingly patient and good as we passed the three hours. Nick and Maggie entertained us with soccer antics and baggage cart rides. Cathy and John struck up a lively conversation in Spanish with an airport worker. Shannon pulled out Bannanagrams and walla! There was even a game of that going on. We all wondered how Bob managed to keep his eyes open since he just had returned from another stint in Haiti some 24 hours prior to taking off for this mission. Susan and Lia returned finally with new documents in hand. As they sprinted with glee into the airport to claim our medicines, they soon learned that there was some red stamp that was missing and that we wouldn´t be able to get it that day. Meanwhile our drivers said that it was too late to head out to our destination of San Lucas that day. John and Bob made arrangements with the driver of a van for a hotel and a very tired team climbed into two vans to head to the hotel. We met for supper and lots of good conversation and laughs last night. After a good nights sleep we are ready for the day. Nick, Cathy, Steph, Dave, Maggie, Shannon and Teri headed out in the van to San Lucas after breakfast. They will take a tour of the parish and see the many wonderful projects there. Bob, Susan and Lia headed back to the Ministry of Health this morning. John, Jill and I are still here at the hotel. We will see what the day has in store for us. If we can´t get the medicines we will head out for San Lucas and buy medicines and start our clinics as soon as we can. We remembered at prayer time this morning how Fr. Greg of San Lucas (who is back in the states celebrating his 50th year as a priest) told us that a village elder had advised him that we need to have patience with ourselves and patience with the people if we are to serve well. God Bless all of you who are following us. Our MDP Team leaves from Mankato, MN bright and early at 3 a.m. on Wednesday, March 17. We are under the leadership of MDP President Susan Peller. Other team members include:
Dr. Bob Christensen Dr. John Norris Dr. Catherine Davis David Coughlan Lia Price Stephanie Price Stokman Teresa Simonette Shannon Juergens Jill Frentz, Maggie Coughlan Nick Davis Helen Peterson We'll fly to Miami and then into Guatemala City about 1:40 p.m. From there we will have a van ride for about 3 and a half hours. It will be a long day of travel. But we are fired up and ready to serve. We had a packing and planning meeting Sunday night at the Peller home and feel pretty organized. Two of our team members are fresh off of helping in Haiti, so it will be interesting to hear about their experiences. Susan and Bob will have much to share. We do love our opportunity to also serve the beautiful people of Guatemala. |
Author Helen Peterson Archives
April 2010
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