The week that the last team came was very tough. When the team of 19 got here from Due West UMC in Mariette, GA, we started immediately jumping into ministry. They arrived Saturday afternoon and that night we were out on the street of Guatemala City ministering to the homeless. There unfortunately weren’t many out that night, but it was great getting to see those who were. We heard some testimonies from those on the street and also one from a boy on the trip. He told about how his father lived on the street for two years battling addictions to drugs and alcohol. But then the Lord saved his father and he is now off the street and no longer has addictions to drugs and alcohol. He also told about how God restored this boy’s relationship with his father. It was great to be able to have a testimony that fit so closely with those that we ministered to.
Sunday afternoon we had church service. There were a lot of people there. The team had prepared a lesson about David and Goliath. They had little cards with Goliath printed on them to color and then they were given a bag of little koosh balls to throw at him. This represented knocking over the obstacles we have in our life with the help of God.
Monday was a big Medical clinic day. The whole team went to Zorzoya to set up a clinic that had two doctors, a dental hygienist, and a women’s health nurse practictioner for pap smears. Some of the youth did triage to get the name, weight, age, and main concern from each patient. There was also a hair-washing clinic to de-lice some children. At this station they could also get their hair cut. We stayed there for about 7 hours or so and saw about 150 patients.
Tuesday was the first day the group did construction. Most of the guys and the interns went to do that part while the rest of the group went to the village of October 20. Those on construction were also responsible for the kids for Christ club. The construction team went down to the church and first thing they had to do was cut the grass with machetes. The weeds were so high they were at least 4 feet tall. The group had fun cutting the grass but it was definitely hard work. There was only one machete accident. An intern sliced open her thumb while sharpening the knife. There was a lady who owned a store who helped her clean up her wound. What a blessing she was for her. It was one example of seeing God work through others to take care of His children. That afternoon we had the kids for Christ club. The story of Jesus walking on the water was told by Elizabeth, and then they watched the movie Robots and ate popcorn. There were about 75 children that day and God provided just enough food to feed them all. The clinic at October 20 went well also. We saw many patients again and were blessed to see the joy the people had even though they are one of the poorest villages we work with.
Wednesday the whole group went to Embaulda for more construction and time to play with the kids. Part of the group scrubbed rebar with a wire brush while the rest of the team handed out bags of toiletries, beanie babies, and bracelets. On that night, we had our Wednesday night church service. The group prepared a lesson on Noah’s ark that night. First they read the story, then read it again doing an interactive puppet show, and then made Noah’s ark necklaces. The kids were divided into small groups and helped by those on the team.
Thursday was another medical clinic, this time in the Guatemala City Dump. We set up in a house right outside the dump. That day we actually had three doctors (which was good because they saw about 200 patients). Unfortunately our nurse practioner was very sick and couldn’t do the women’s health check ups. We were able to hand out many articles of clothing there that day. The men especially loved the jerseys we gave them. Unfortunately this was a very sad day for us as well. There was an old lady that we had gone to see and pray for before who was very sick. She was 72 years old when she died today. That was really sad but her wake was a celebration of her life and was joyful.
Friday we had the breakfast that morning with the street people at the Mary Magdelena house. Then we went next door to the clinic and had a medical clinic. Cindy, our nurse practioner was still sick. We had Cherylleigh’s cousin and two of her friends to come translate for us. How nice for our doctors and triage workers to have so many translators! At this clinic when the patients went to get their prescriptions, they were taken into a back room to pick out a new pair of shoes. It was so wonderful to see the joy in their faces when they tried on a pair and got to take it home. Then that afternoon we went to Gorrion for another clinic. We set up in a small home so it was a very tight squeeze. The dental hygienist did about 10 patients in the dental clinic and the doctors saw about 50 before leaving after 6 that night. We gave the people of the village clothes, toothbrushes, tooth paste, and floss and they were very thankful.
We have really had a great week and saw God move in the lives of so many! Please pray for us still! Our three interns will all be returning home by the middle of the month. We have enjoyed their time here just as they have enjoyed theirs.
