Remember Your Creator in the Days of Your Youth...

Today we worshiped with the youth group from the Xepocol Church of Christ and the Oklahoma Christian University team.  Spending time with this great group of brothers and sisters, we were reminded of Jesus' promise that the gates of Hades would not prevail against His church. It seems like at least once a week we read an article about how this generation of young adults is leaving the church in record numbers.  There are fears that churches will die off and that no one will be left to share the good news to the world.
But as brother Dave Mellor shared last night, the church will live on and grow because of believers like these young Christians from two different countries who are full of love for God and others.
In addition to getting join in on some new praise songs, we were encouraged by Brother Noe Chan to fully sacrifice our lives for God to use, so that we can discover His spiritual gifts for us and realize our full potential and purpose in this world. It was an uplifing message for all of us as Kemmel translated for the group as well.
After worship we shared some group games of Ninja and "El Rey Pide" before chowing down on pizza for lunch.  It was a great morning of fellowship!
Joining us this year is journalist Erik Tryggestad from the Christian Chronicle.  He did several interviews of local members, and we look forward to reading his reports and thoughts in upcoming articles.

Getting ready to worship together.

Group of youth leaders from the Xepocol Church of Christ

Nathan leading some English hymns.

Xepocol singing group--unplugged.

Crazy games of Ninja!

Catching on to it.

One more game...

Prenatal Care

One of the patient populations that we serve is women of childbearing age.  We see a large number of women for prenatal care and follow-up after delivery.  

Many of our patients deliver at home with the help of a lay midwife from their community, and our goal is to identify the patients that are at high risk for complications.

We offer education on nutrition, warning signs in pregnancy, and breastfeeding with each of our expectant moms and round out the visit with a prayer for their safety and development as a parent.

Anyone who presents with diabetes or elevated blood pressure or breech presentation during their pregnancy gets referred to the National Hospital for care and delivery.  

If all is well we gift them a Clean Delivery Kit with supplies for their midwife and a change of clothes for the baby. 

We love taking care of our prenatal patients, and they appreciate the attention and prayers that we offer on their behalf.   It is such a blessing when they proudly bring back their newborns for a visit.

Good Times with Abilene Christian University

In March we enjoyed a week with a team from Abilene Christian University, Kemmel's alma mater. They did a great job helping us knock out some more well child checkups for our ABC kids in the Highlands and also helped paint one of our clinic sites and deliver water filters.  Some of the most enthusiastic comments came from the team members who got to deliver Tiva water filters to new ABC families.  This involved hiking, visiting, and setting up the filter and demonstrating how to use it to the families. They also had Drs. Sky and Louise Forrister join us, which was fun because they had been interns here back in the 80s with Dr. Mike and Julie Kelly.  So it was a little homecoming of sorts. Good job, Wildcats!

Diana getting a game started

David checking vital signs in mobile clinic

The Forresters and us

Hauling the equipment back to the trucks after a long day.

Hailey prepping patients at Clinica Caris

On the road again

Tiva water filter with one of our new ABC families

Pass the tamalitos please!

"How tall am I?"

Fellowship with local Xepocol youth group

Drs. Mike Kelly, and Louise and Sky Forrester

Our clinic building in Mactzul I is an old school building--we got a fresh coat of paint!

Time for some hiking to install water filters with new ABC families

Teaching family how the Tiva filter is set up