In the days leading towards the trip we were busy trying to locate sources of cheap medicine and other things we could bring with us to bless the people we would be seeing - toothbrushes and toothpastes for the kids, coloring books, etc. We also get a donation of stationery from staples as well as 2000 POUNDS of Tindamax! We didn't get to bring any of it because it arrived late and are now trying to discern God's plans for 2000 pounds of anti-parasite medication! Wow! We asked, and He really opened up Heaven's doors for us!
t minus 5 days to departure: We are busy distributing the medicines into individual packets and packing our suitcases with them. Thanks everyone who helped out! We couldn't have done it without you!
Here we are on the morning of April 14th, 4am in the morning that is, on our way to the airport. We each have with us two 50 pound suitcases with tons of medications inside, stationery from staples, coloring books, toothbrushes, toothpaste, glucose testing kits, etc. etc. The bus ride to the airport and our immunizations were sponsored by Dr. Kuperman's office. Thanks Dr. Kuperman! And Dr. Olson from anatomy gave us the gloves we needed.
Here we are on the other side, arriving at Guatemala City. We then took a 5 hour bus ride (although it did seem longer) up to El Rodeo.
Some scenery along the road.
Team picture at a gas station stop. Faces from L to R: Sonja, Mark, Dave, Holly, Wyn, Dr. Hawkins, Sylvia, Jason, Magalie, Deb, Sophia, Miguel, Tina, PC, Do Eun, Roger, Mike, Ps Nelly, Helder, Ps of the church in El Rodeo. Missing: Juan who's taking the picture.
We got to El Rodeo at night and had dinner at the church before setting up for the next day. Here are some pictures of the layout of the clinic which was held in the church building. The individual doctor's rooms are behind the yellow curtains and the rest of the hall was divided into a pastor's area, lab, pharmacy, and triage areas.
Take a look inside one of the "rooms" (left). Magalie doing some health ed (middle) Some of our patients and Jason (right).
Here is the patient waiting area outside the church. Some shade was provided by a large "tent" using a big flag of Guatemala.
This is the area at the back of the church where we ate our meals and one of the ladies that worked very hard cooking for us all day!
After lunch, it was back to work. Here are some of the doctors and some of the patients we met throughout the day.
In the evening after a full day of clinic, there was a service held at the church. Miguel preached and some of us had the opportunity to pray for some of the people who came up for prayer.
This is the family that moved out of their newly built house to let the girls stay there. The hospitality of the people there touched all of us. They worked hard to feed us and make sure we had everything we need for the clinic.
The next day, we spent the morning in clinic and the 2nd half of the day on the road again, this time down to Antigua, a 5(questionable) hour bus ride away. Antigua is very different from El Rodeo, it is a more touristy place, with cobblestone roads and many magnificent cathedrals built by the Spanish conquistadors. While in El Rodeo, there were many more patients with parasite and diarrheal problems, there were more cases of diabetes and hypertension in Antigua. Here is our setup in the local church.
The pharmacy
Toothbrushing lessons and diabetes workshops were held in the open on the street in front of the church.
Here some kids with their staples notepads.
Flushing out cases of impacted cerumen!
For our meals, we were hosted by a family living next door to the church for breakfast and another family living a walking distance away for lunch and dinner.
Again! The hospitality blew us over! They also put us up in a hotel during our stay in Antigua.
The main mode of transportation from the hotel to the church was by pick-up truck. It made for some sore bums but also for a scenic ride through town everyday.
All of us were touched and transformed during this trip, in different ways. Just to watch God work in the lives of the people we met and in each other. There were many miracles that took place during the trip, including the changing and molding of our hearts. There was a precious sense of community in the group that we all miss now that we are back to our regular lives. But our lives are all the richer because of this experience the Lord gave to us. We hope that you are all also blessed and challenged by what the Lord has done, is doing and is going to do.
This medical missions trip is the first, but we all hope, not the last for ECF.
