Sunday strolling

Sunday was such a beautiful sunny day after a week of dreary clouds and cold (See the Guatemala snow pictures on Sheri's blog!).  We decided to go have buffet lunch at the Hotel Santo Tomas and do our grocery shopping before worship services.  The hotel is a beautiful Colonial-style structure with rooms along the periphery and a courtyard garden that always makes me want to be a better gardener (but not badly enough to do much about it)!    We enjoyed a beautiful spread of local fare including the fantastic salad bar.  The hotel and market seemed to be full of tourists which is good news after the last couple of weeks' trouble with the mayor.  We finnished up our meal and headed out for some grocery shopping in the market and had time to spare for a walk around town before church.  This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Doña Inez is the owner and is always so hospitable and kind to us and our teams that stay.

The entry to Hotel Santo Tomas  (I borrowed this picture from Rebekah Daggett)

One of the many bird friends that call this garden home.

Pictures of recent activities

This is the HTI Highlands team through Jan 2013 - everyone except Sheri - we always are missing at least one person when we have our photo ops.  Josue, far right in front, started medical school this month and we have a scholarship graduate, Maria Cecibel, who will replace him this year.  Her plans are to continue on to nursing school the following year.  We also have a new employee this year who is Cesar (not pictured).  Cesar is a teacher and will be involved with the ABC program and education.

We are very proud of and blessed to work with each of these people.  The "old" guys are all deacons or elders and leaders in their communities.  The professional staff are all very involved in their local churches and we are excited that all of the younger team members continue to enhance their knowledge by studying on the weekends, one accounting in university, 2 are in adult education to finish middle school and high school and want to continue to dental school and one teaching in university.  

Please continue to pray for the ministry team in 2013. 

People from Chichi blocking the highway in protest of actions taken or not taken by the mayor.  All is calm for now.

Pictures from the dental hygiene classes with the ABC coordinators and staff.  The class was lead by Mauri and Martina with Manuel explaining why having teeth cleanings with a cavitron is important.

Martina in action

Agustin from La Palma and Juan from Mactzul I checking out the results.

Everyone flossing! 

Sandra's mom also participated in the class. 

Kemmel and Enrique in action and even, Anastacio Alvarez, an elder from Pacaja Xesic took part in the action.  All in all, a good day!

What a week

We spent last week down at Clinica Ezell so I (Lisa) and the other docs could study and practice sonography with a visiting ultrasound tech, Chad Stacey.  I have to say it was every bit as complicated as I imagined!  But by the end of the week I was beginning to get the hang of some things. We announced that we were offering ultrasounds so we could get some practice, and boy did we get practice!  The last day we had at least 20 people show up (keep in mind that it took at least 30 minutes for us to work through all the organs we want to see!)  I am so thankful for Chad and his wife Leann (a nurse) coming down so we could have this opportunity.  I am also grateful for all the work that Kemmel did to write the grant for the ultrasound unit we received from the SonoSite sompany who donated the machine.  We also received a donation from doctor friends of ours to purchase ultrasound transducers. So now we are ready for action!

Meanwhile back at the ranch...Chichicastenango had a day of outrage on Wednesday over alledged embezzlement on the part of the mayor.  There were houses burned down, roads closed  and manifestations demanding he step down.  The government sent helicopters and military in to try to keep the peace. Our staff had to park vehicles at a local hotel because they were forced to stop and turn around.  So far there have not been anymore violent manifestations, but there have been meetings in local communities trying to get a petition signed for his removal.  We'll see what this week brings, and for now we will try to stay on the down-low!

After getting home on Friday we had a class for the ABC coordinators on oral hygeine.  Maury and Martina and Manuel gave the class on proper brushing and flossing and the reason for doing so.  Then we practiced after rinsing with dye to show all of the food between our teeth--gross! It went over well and Kemmel talked to the coordinators about the goals we have this year for the ABC kids and improved oral hygiene. 

That evening we crashed in our recliners and enjoyed some down time with our sweet cat. She must have missed us because she has been glued to our sides all weekend.  It's nice to be home!

Hit the Ground Running

Well we are definitely back into the swing of things!  We have had some good clinics and lots of new patients which is a good sign that the churches are still announcing the clinic and patients are telling their friends about us.  This week Kemmel and the dental team have been working hard to get all of the ABC kids and their families in for a check up and one-on-one education on oral hygeine and dental health.  It has been hard work and long days, but so far they have had great comments from the parents. It is not glamourous work, but we think it will impact their health and hopefully save money in the future. 

On a humorous note, the dentists decided to try food coloring to help stain the food particles left behind in the kids' and parents' mouths and show them how to brush better, and it worked great!  But Kemmel said everyone walked out of the church with bright purple or red lips and mouth!

My favorite medical consult this week is a patient of mine who has been married 3 years and struggling with infertility.  She came in accompanied by her sister-in-law, complaining with nausea, headache and breast soreness and a missed period for two weeks.  Of course we offered her a pregnancy test and it turned out positive.  The funny thing is her little 1-yr-old niece has been coming up to her for the last week and pointing at her chest and asking to breastfeed! She and her sister-in-law were so excited when they left--something I don't see here very often.  God is good!

Happy 2013!

If there's anything better than Christmas and Thanksgiving, it's the New Year!  Although I (Lisa) am not an organized person by nature, (unlike my sweet husband), it is the perfect time for me to at least pretend to be!  I love throwing out old stuff and cleaning out drawers and thinking up new ways to use my limited cabinet space.  I know the orderliness won't last, but I can dream!  Plus I now know that we have plenty of ketchup and mayonaise and canned tuna to last a while!  Who new those were back there? 
We are back home from a really great visit with our family. What a great time of much-needed rest and fellowship and catching up.  It's hard to believe we have been in Guatemala for almost 8 years now.  It seems like a long time when we see nieces and nephews growing up so fast, but when we look at the work that is still needed it is just a drop in the bucket.  This coming year has many changes coming in personnel and operations but we are looking forward to them.  We pray that we follow God's guiding and use this motivational season to rededicate our efforts to bringing people into God's presence and salvation.  Happy 2013!