A blessed Friday.  Almost all of the team left early headed to climb a volcano – Pacaya.  I am told they had a good time.

The afternoon was spent with dedications for the building team while the medical folks did another few hours in El Rodeo which is where they were yesterday.  Everything went very well for both teams.

Lisa and I spent the morning at a private hospital in Antigua.  One of our team members fell Thursday afternoon and gave us a good scare.  Long story short – Dr. John Gissal was on site within a few minutes and he then went with him to meet Dr. John Nicely who then took him to the hospital.  The end result was a fracture of the hip with the diagnosis being eight weeks of rest.

Lisa and I went to bring him from the hospital this morning as he was discharged around 11:00AM.  He is on crutches but is resting well in the mission house.  Pray for his flights home tomorrow.  (We did not post this last night as we were waiting for his wife to be told by him today)

We had a share time tonight before supper and it was a blessed time.  This has been a really great group!  Several have already followed Don Redder’s lead and signed up for next year’s trip.

Thanks for checking on us.  Pray for us as we fly home tomorrow at 7:45AM, 8:45AM, and 1:47PM respectively.

Our Thursday was a long day.  The medical folks got back to the mission house around 8:00PM after seeing 587 folks in the clinic.  What a day of ministry for them!

The building team completely finished all 20 houses which means they are now ready for the dedication.

We will update on Friday night as to the day’s activities and bring the week to a close.  Thanks for checking on us and for your prayers.

As I am typing this blog, I am sitting next to two guys that seem to enjoy giving me a hard time (Teddy and Spencer)… luckily it doesn’t bother me one bit. Anyway, today we traveled to a village in the mountains where they literally have built their houses into the side of the mountain. They cancelled school for their kids today so that we could set up our med clinic in the school courtyard. I got to see quite a few patients on my own today which was nerve-racking, but at the same time very fun. One patient had part of his jaw removed by the oral surgeon, it was quite amazing. The people of this village were so appreciative of everything that we were doing, and it has been such a great learning experience and blessing for me to be here. God has been so good.

Betsy

My experience for the day was very similar to Betsy’s except that rather than providing medical care I was translating for the medical staff. The village we were in today was one of the poorest villages we have ministered to all week. The houses are literally built into the side of the mountain (we gained a greater appreciation for the building team who has been climbing the mountain to build houses all week). The view is absolutely spectacular and the people are some of the most beautiful people I have ever met. This week has been an amazing week and every day bring new surprises and adventures!

Emily

I also was with the Medical group.  Today was slower than Mon & Tues.  Since we were in the same village as where the building team has been we had the opportunity t take a walk through the village and see some of the houses the team had built already this week.  We also got to get a glimpse at how these people live-doing laundry outside, women carrying firewood on their heads, meat hanging in the market, etc.

There was also time to play with the kids-blowing bubbles, doing the Hokey Pokey, and more.  They love to play and have the biggest smiles and are so easily entertained. They hang out every day at the clinic where ever we are.

The Guatamalan’s are very grateful for anything we do.  They appreciate getting the little things like vitamins, Tyl, parasite nd  cough medicine.  There are a lot of lessons to be learned from these people who have so little, but are so happy, gracious and thankful.  Many of he things we have seen are minor, but there is one patient that will stick out for me-a 38 yr old female who said she had a breast lump.  I expected to find a cyst and instead found a very large breast mass-this would not be good in the US, but here in Guatamala is probably a death sentence.  She will be in my prayers for a long time.

This has been a great spiritual experience already between morning devotions and clinic.

Kristie

All is well!  Everyone is doing great.  Another good day of medical (207 patients) and ten houses have been completely finished including the installation of the light.

I plan on getting the insights of some others on this blog Wednesday night.

Pray for us.  Thanks for checking on us.