Change of Seasons

Here in the Land of Eternal Spring we do actually have season changes. As many of you know there is a rainy season and a dry season. November is the beginning of the dry season which is also known as "summer" around here. The interesting thing is it is also the coldest time of the year--at least at nights. It has started getting cold at night and we are going to have to throw a second wool blanket on the bed to keep from freezing to death as the house temp plummets into the 50's. Come December we will get a few nights in the 30's. Thankfully we have a fireplace that keeps things a little toastier. We tend to get more sun during the dry season and the flowers will soon be exploding with color. It's kind of disorienting to see the usual pumpkins and chrysanthemums and vivid lighting of fall afternoons combined with spring-like flower gardens, roadside wildflowers and crackling fires on cold nights. But that's what makes Guatemala unique!

Weekend Update

We actually don't have anything to update which is a nice thing sometimes. We have been working hard for over 2 weeks, and it was nice to be back in town just beginning a restful weekend. We went to worship services with some American friends in the morning and again at the Chichicastenango Iglesia de Cristo in the afternoon. Sheri made it back to town in time for worship this afternoon, so we saw each other there. One of the brothers who is usually pretty no-nonsense came up and asked us when we were going to teach him some English. So we started with "good afternoon, brother" and then, "see you later, brother". He got a pretty good laugh out of that. Then, some of the little boys (ages 6-8) who run around together, came up to Kemmel and asked, "so how are things going for you at the clinic?" Kemmel had to try not to laugh as he gave them a quick ministry update. He also got a peek into one of the little boy's wallets (Roberto) and saw 8 Quetzales in it. Roberto said he has been helping out at his family's market stand and they pay him a little bit. Kemmel asked if he put a 1Quetzal in the offering, and he said, "No--2Quetzales!" Good job. 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Matthew 25:21
Today we catch up on housework and other work projects that have neglected.

Education Day

We had our last education day of the year yesterday. It was cloudy and cool and only a few of the volunteers could make it because of various end-of-the-year activities. But, we enjoyed the company of the ones who did make it.



Our lesson was on worry and anxiety--something as common here as it is everywhere else. The lesson plan led us through verses like Philipians 4: 4-9, 13, II Timothy 1:7, Psalm 56:3-4 and Matthew 6:25-31. The class divided into groups to present the biblical advice. It was definitely good counsel for all of us and to share with our patients.

Here is the homework assignment we left with.
1. Present you requests to God (actively list them) in prayer and petition with thanksgiving.

2. Make a list of things in your life that are TRUE, NOBLE, RIGHT, PURE, LOVELY, ADMIRABLE, EXCELLENT OR PRAISEWORTHY (think of an example of each one). Keep this list in your Bible or desk or anywhere handy, and review it often--"think on these things"--especially when worries or anxieties creep in.

3. Encourage others to put this into practice when they struggle with fear and anxiety or worry.

What great advice.

November Medical Team

Each year we host two moblile medical/dental teams here in Chichicastenango. Our November team is primarily made up of brothers and sisters from the Memorial Road Church of Christ in Edmond, OK. But we had additional team members from New York, Tennessee and Texas and Guatemala. It was a great 3 days of hard work in both medical and dental clinics.

Despite the 3 days and nights of rain from hurricane/tropical storm Ida, we had patients in all sites. The rain made for very slow going down the muddy adobe roads. Our rented minivan barely made it to Xepocol, so Kemmel took his half of the team back the long way hoping for and easier descent. They made it back 3 hours later, after getting behind a stuck semi-truck (already on the paved highway!). Thankfully we found better roads to travel the next few days and the rain finally let up on Sunday--as the team was heading home!

Quiche-to-Spanish-to-English-to-Spanish-to-Quiche........Mary and Gaspar helping Dra. Barb Slee in the all-important tranlator role! Amber with her back to the camera getting a blood sugar on this patient.


My friend from medical school/residency Dra. Lesca Hadley

Drug pushers Juan and Gaymarie. Looks like Dr. Brandon Burger is supervising the situation.

Mike Herndon, Jon Nickerson, and Sandy Ferguson readying the dental area.

The sick and afflicted patiently waiting their turn

Dr. David Batres and Ashley Anderson attending their dental patient.

The thing we really enjoy is the fellowship with friends we have made from year's past and new friends as well. This is definitely one of the fringe benefits of this job--getting to know so many Christians here on this earth. It makes us think about what it will be like in heaven as we all reunite together with God. We also enjoy the little gifts everyone brings us. This time canned pumpkin and cranberry sauce! Thanks to Sandy and Donna and Robert for the goodies! And to Barbara for the magazines! You guys know how to spoil us!

We saw over 500 patients in 3 days, but more importantly we worked together with brethren from the local churches to treat physical illness, listen to and pray for peoples' family problems and worries, and invite them to know God's will for them. It was a great trip!

End of a Saga

We finally finished registering my medical license here in Guatemala--nothing short of a miracle! We went to the RENAP office to show my certified birth certificate and lo and behold they accepted it! It was so easy, we were shocked! So we went ahead and took the diploma to the Narcotics office for one last registry. They were very nice and helpful and showed me to a legal book of declarations where I had to hand write my statement listing all of the seals and signatures and their dates that are decorating the back of my diploma. It was like a little walk down memory lane as I listed the Rector's office, the Controller's office, the Ministry of Education Office, the Ministry of Health Office, the diploma number, the College of Physicians and Surgeons and the RENAP office and signed and sealed it myself. As I got started, another physician walked up and was asked to wait as I finished my seat work. (No pressure!) By the time I finished there were six people waiting to get their turn at the big book. Great timing. We are thankful to God for this little victory--what a relief. And also thankful to all of you who have prayed for us--GRACIAS.

We celebrated at our favorite sushi place--YUMMY.

Seminar Circuit

We've been away from the blog board for a while, attending to a marriage seminar and youth conference that have been in our area. Health Talents sponsored a guest speaker, Leonardo Rojas from Venezuela to lead the seminar and participate with the youth. His classes were excellent, and despite the conservative audience, he was able to get people to open up considerably. He was sought out by several people for individual counseling during his down time. At the youth conference he was equally straightforward about being prepared for courtship and dangers of and ways to avoid premarital sex. At the marriage seminar, 17 churches sent representative couples and the youth conference was attended by over 1500 people. What a great week for spiritual edification.

One of the couples at the marriage seminar who was asked to read from Song of Soloman to each other. It was pretty brave of them to read the steamy passage in front for the audience. The class was focused on using loving and affectionate words as couples. There were quite a few giggles in the background!

Another giggling crowd--the 13-17 year-old set at Leonardo's sex education workshop.

Of course our physical strength was totally sapped by the time we made it to the Capital to drop off Leo for his flight back. But we are enjoying a nice couple of nights in a hotel with top notch bedding and 5-star shower!

Today we are going to try to get some errands done including haggling over my license registration at the local RENAP (National Registry of Persons) office. They don't want to accept the diploma for registration because my middle name (Rene') has an accent mark on the diploma, but doesn't on my passport. The passport is written in all caps which technically shouldn't have punctuation. I even presented my birth certificate which has the accent, but the lady wasn't satisfied, saying it looked doctored up! So, after obtaining new certified copies of the birth certificate, we are going over today to see how accommodating they are. Pray for us please. It is easy to get impatient and irritated in these situations (with reason!), but it doesn't help the process along.

Tomorrow we pick up our visiting medical team to go back to Quiche. It will be a great week working in God's kingdom!

We are in the midst of fiesta season around here which seems to start at the end of August and winds up on New Years' Eve. As we entered Xepocol today we saw the tell-tale signs of a party about to start at the Catholic church. It was for their youth group but a good time was being had by all. But, we did see a few patients including one little 9 month old with periorbital cellulitis, whose parents agreed to a shot of Rocephin and a change in antibiotics since he wasn't getting better with the amoxicillin he started 3 days ago.

We also saw Josue, the 12 year old son of our health promoter Gaspar. He has had nausea and dizziness for 2 days. He denied any earache or headache or other symptoms, but when I checked out his ears, I found a bug's rear end staring back at me. He doesn't remember anything flying in. After a quick lavage we watched two halves of a bee wash out. Ouch!

Kemmel and Josefina and Tomas had an even worse day. They headed out early this morning to the Capital to get some errands done but only got 30 minutes down the road before running into a road block/ manifestation by one of the polical parties. It was one of many affecting major crossroads in the country. This was a real downer as they were going to pick up Leo Rojas from Venezuela who is teaching the marriage seminar we are hosting tomorrow and Thursday. So, they turned around and came back home, asking Alex in Guatemala City to pick up Leo and find him someplace to stay the night. Kemmel will head out tomorrow morning early to pick him up. Since there are only a few major highways in this country, they are easily pirated by those who have a beef with the government. Nothing gets attention like stopping traffic all over the Republic!

Well, we're back home safe, enjoying some apple crisp and coffee right now (thanks for the recipe Mama!). Wish you were here!