Parka Weather

It's been really cold today with 24 hours of constant rain from Tropical Depression 16 hanging over us (Thanks for the email updates, brother Charles Campbell). Everyone came to clinic shivering today and totally bundled up, which is really funny to think about when its only about 53 degrees outside!

Here's a couple of good-lookin' Guatemalans with plenty of layers on.
Anyway, today we saw a fair number of patients for a rainy day here at Clinica Caris. The theme of the day was anxiety and insomnia. Two of my patients related having left the church for various reasons and both were looking to reconcile themselves back to God and the church. We spent time talking about having faith in God even when we can't imagine things turning out well, and asking God to help us trust him when our faith is weak. Both men were optomistic at the end of the visit and we prayed together for their spiritual strengthening.

My last patient of the day was Josefa, a sister from one of our clinic congregations who was operated on for a prolapsed uterus last week. She and her husband said they were both so appreciative for the help, and she was feeling much better. Her husband said he wanted to thank us because he always hurt to see his wife suffering like that for so many years, and now he feels as relieved as she does. So thanks to all of our Gyns last week who worked hard to help her.

Kemmel and Josefina and Tomas headed out to Xatinap today--mud central! They got to haul clinic supplies in across the muddy path and in the rain. But on the up side, they saw a lady alcoholic patient who came back and told Josefina she had quit drinking for two months now. She was doing much better and just wanted to let her know.

To top off the day, we got to enjoy an earthquake after lunch that lasted about a minute and a half. We found out it's center was on the Mexico-Guatemala border measuring 6.5, but thankfully no major damage.