New Contacts

     Our clinics have been up and down all month.  Some have had booming numbers and other just a trickle of patients, probably a reflection of both increases in GI bugs going around and visiting medical teams in the area.  We are also looking to add some new churches to our clinic ministry and have been making some good contacts.  Yesterday our team was invited to go visit and help host a clinic with the church in Chiul, about 2 hours from here.  It was a big day with lots of patients from the community and good collaboration from the church members.  Although it is pretty far, we would like to make regular visits there and help the church make new contacts for home visits and evangelism.  Kemmel took 4 of the MET students with them.  They were all well received and although thoroughly exausted at the end of the day, had great reports of the work. 
     Yesterday was also a day for Gaspar and Manuel to meet with the church in San Jorge to help iron out some interpersonal issues that have been brewing for several years.  The church had dropped so low in numbers that it had decided to close its doors.  But, recently there has been talk of reconciliation and renewed desire to worship and serve together.  So we pray that this will be just the start of a great work and that our clinic will be a tool for reaching new souls.
     Last but not least to report, we heard from the church in Mactzul V that one of the couples that came to clinic last week invited the elders to come talk to them more about Christianity and now are deciding to be baptized soon. What started as a medical consult quickly uncovered a void in their lives, and with the help of our volunteer elder that day, we began talking about the importance of our relationship with God.  What  music to our ears!  God is surely pleased.

Changing of the Guard

Last week we did our student exchange, bringing up the six students who started out in Clinica Ezell.  We all met in Xela at the mall for some quick Walmart time and a foodcourt lunch.  This is a good time for the students to compare notes and share tips on life with the host families.  We ended the day with our whirlwind visit to each of the host families, dropping off their new students and sharing refreshments (several times) along the way!
Here are some scenes from the day. 

Parking lot reunion. "How many bites did you get?"

"Burger King and Subway!"

Whitney in her new space (complete with new bed!).

Jeremy has a nice tall doorway!

Ruth with two of her admiring little brothers.

James sizing up his threshold.

Rachel checking into slumber party central (three teenaged sisters in this host family).

Meredith in her quiet casita (I'm sure Rachel will be jealous!)

The Lake Life

To reward our students for all their hard work and good attitudes we like to take them on a tourist day. Lake Atitlan is close and always enjoyable so we showed them around and went kayaking and hiking around the little towns of Santa Cruz la Laguna and Jailbalito and Tzununa. Lunch was a pasta feast at Lomas de Tzununa high on the cliffs above the Lake. Ahhhh, this is the life!

Roadside waterfall on the way to Panajachel.

Windswept on the water taxi.

Quote from one of  the Olympic kayaking hopefuls, "how do you turn around?"

Stairway to heaven, between Jaibalito and Tzununa.

Ready for the 350 steps back down to the boat dock.

We've gotten behind on blogging our MET interns' visit. Here's some action pics.We practiced exam skills and giving shots--good times!

Gabby and Anna looking for reflexes.

"Trust me..."  Kyle and Easton practicing

Kelsey shooting Anna while Aubrey gives moral support.

Just a few pictures from our MET interns.  On Monday we enjoyed some good old-fashioned American fellowship with burgers, cold bottled sodas, and chocolate chip cookies, and watched two movies together (We Bought a Zoo and Braveheart). Several even took advantage of the hot shower.

"Roughin' it"

I'm not sure how these two scored the recliners.  That's Kemmel in the kitchen whipping up a batch of Ahi Poke (a Hawaian raw, marinated tuna dish).

 Today it was back to work in clinics. I got to work with the Paxot group (Anna, Gabby and Kyle) and they did a great job with our patients, and we got to see some interesting cases as well.    The Mactzul team went to Patzite today and had a great clinic, including 5 dental patients for fillings using our new mobile equipment!  Tomorrow--"same thing, just a little bit different."

Kyle expertly checking Leonardo's temp.

Today was pap smear and procedure clinic day at Clinica Caris so I had our female students join me while the guys accompanied Sheri to mobile clinic in Chicua.  They did a great job with vital signs and assisting with the paps and EKGs and a cyst removal.  At lunch time, Kemmel came out after delivering some water filters to a ladies group of our neighbors here in Chichi, and he treated us all to carnitas and chicharrones-a real local treat.  These are pieces of moist pork meat and pork rinds rendered in a vat of grease until crispy on the outside.  Served with green onions and jalapenos and tortillas and washed down with India Quiche cream soda--delish!  We decided this was kind of a guy meal but agreed that it was still great. The girls also did a great job catching us up on pill counting--Josue was amazed how many they did while talking--hopefully the pill counts are correct.  :)


Pill counting professionals Kelsey, Aubry, Gabby and Anna hard at work.

Tomorrow we enjoy a day off.  The students get to come into Chichi for market and will meet up with Roger to see some of the local sights before heading back to their homes for lunch and church.
So far everyone is relatively healthy (no severe GI symptoms yet...).  I think their only concern is the language barrier.  I can see where this month is going to serve them well someday when they sit on missions committees.



"Now let's video Easton singing!"