Archive: May 2016

Monday, May 30, 2016.

What a busy trip!

We certainly felt the prayers of everyone as we (the surgical team) flew in from different areas of the country and met in the Guatemalan airport and managing to find everyone! Especially when we had to get the remaining medical supplies through customs. They searched through each bag, checking all expiration dates, carefully inspecting the dental fluoride three times and insisting that we had medicine we didn’t have. Finally they let us and all the supplies through. After the five hour bus ride and a wonderful dinner we were all ready for bed to start the first day of surgeries/dentistry.

Sunday, we started the day with beautiful worship in English and Spanish, followed by a

sweet time of devotions and breakfast, of course. The hospital’s clinics were closed which allowed us to stretch out a bit. We had everything set up from the night before and were able to hit the ground running! In the dental clinic we were able to take a slower pace, seeing 38 patients, but able to spend more time with the patients and getting to know the team. What a blessing Erin is! Having a dentist that is fluent in Spanish is such a help and so very calming to the kids. The kids that were waiting were always entertained by coloring, hygiene teachings or wonderful kids’ worship songs led by Kelly and Bethany! The kids loved it!

Monday everyone was feeling the long day of travel and the start of the first of the late nights. But when we began our day at 6 am with worship led by Rudy, everyone present came alive, energized and filled anew by the Spirit. We enjoyed another wonderful time of devotions. It’s so amazing seeing everyone come together and talk about their struggles or even how the work here is moving them. The LORD is definitely at work in both team members and the people of Guatemala.

The dental clinic was hopping with 58 patients, some needing simple sealants, some needing fillings, some needing multiple extractions. Despite everyone being crammed into a small and very hot room, the day went smoothly! We even had a few new volunteers to try their hands at dental assisting! Despite everyone feeling the heat and tiredness from the day, we ended in song. It was such a great and rewarding day, I can’t wait to see what the LORD has for the rest of the week! – Dr. Sarah

Saturday, May 21, 2016.

Amazing Week!

May 20
We had a great time of worship and devotion this morning. The team reflected on the past week and how blessed we all were to serve here in Guatemala. We shared about how humbling it was for all of us to visit little Romeo’s family in their remote village home yesterday. So many infants and children die every day here from malnutrition and preventable diseases. We were privileged to witness the incredible transformation of Romeo, who was rescued from death’s doorstep by the great mercy of God using His servants from AVIS Salud as His hands and feet. This left a lasting impression upon each of us!

We met the movers this morning at the warehouse to move the rest of the medical supplies to the hospital. We then said our goodbyes to 5 of our team members heading back to the U.S.. We were so sad to see them go! The rest of the team got a lion’s share of the hospital set up for the dental / surgical team that’s flying in tomorrow. This has been an amazing week! Please pray for safe travels for everyone returning home and those flying in.
Jackie

Thursday, January 1, 1970.

STJI provides purified water, Jesus provides living water…

May 19th:
Thursday kicked off at 6:30 AM with an egg and sausage breakfast. Then at morning devotions we discussed the power of the Word of God. Scripture is so strong that the truth can hurt. It’s the blinding light turned on in a dark room; it hurts at first, but it allows us to see and it can reveal the mess that was kept hidden in the darkness.

This morning we all went to la Escuela Oficial Cantón Pampur for a special ceremony in the schoolyard. The children all sat on green pine needles spread across the concrete floor waiting for our arrival. Some children dressed in traditional garb danced, sang and presented the Guatemalan national anthem. Cesia and Kevin presented a puppet show encouraging good hygiene featuring Mr. Soap and Ms. Water. Lora, Cesia, Brooke and Sydney led the children in fun Christian songs with lots of hand motions, and Sam gave an object lesson showing how the living water that Christ provides washes out our spiritual filth.

Then we all gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new water purification system. The school director filled up a large bucket of purified water and brought it out for the children. After that it was time for more pictures with all of our new friends.

We then went to lunch at a park alongside a large lake and enjoyed the cool of the shade. After lunch we traveled to Casa Gloria, a newly built orphanage by American missionaries Geoffrey and Jenna Haynes. The building is amazing and will provide quality apartment-style living for orphans. The orphans will be raised in small groups like families instead of like a large boarding school. I’m so excited about the work that the Lord will do here.

Intense rain fell while we were indoors. We had planned on going hiking prior to visiting the orphanage, but were fortunate to not get caught out in the rain. We then took an hour drive past Coban and up a gravel mountain road to look for Romeo’s house. There are no signs, addresses, no concept of getting mail around here so we had to rely on Rudy and Sam’s memory on how to wind through the mountainside farm land to find this hut. We were running out of daylight and had to move quickly. Eventually we came across the huts to find little Romeo, a once malnourished baby who had been days away from death, looking healthier and happy. It’s almost completely dark in Romeo’s home, save for the light cast by the small TV. Next to the TV is a shrine with multiple photos of Jesus Christ. Romeo’s grandmother holds him until his mother returns. Rudy tells us the story of how he found them originally and helped them get formula. Romeo, who was born with a cleft lip and palate, is scheduled for his first surgery next week.

A couple more children ran about the home. We gave them crackers and beanie babies, which they really enjoyed. We prayed with Romeo’s family. They don’t speak Spanish (I think they speak Pocochi), but they prayed along with Rudy in a very powerful, tearful moment.

With daylight waning, we couldn’t stay long. We hiked back out and just as we got back to our vehicles, the sky burst open with a powerful thunderstorm. Rain and hail pelted our vehicles and the dirt and gravel path flooded. I’ve ridden in the back of the pickup truck on pretty much every trip, but was glad to be inside this time.

Tired and sweaty, we made the trip back to the hotel. We listened to praise and worship music. I was struck by the song “It is well.” It’s easy for me to sing “Whatever my lot … It is well” when I have a very good job, good health, loving family, and all the comforts of my American life. But could I sing that if I were in Romeo’s family’s condition? Could I praise God if I lived in a wooden hut making only a few dollars a day struggling to feed my family?

God, please give me a new found appreciation for your provision, for your mercy, and for your grace. Please give me the faith and the strength to trust you in whatever situation I’m in.
Brandon

Wednesday, May 18, 2016.

Great 4 Days…God is Good!

Saturday May 14,2016
Saturday the team traveled to Guatemala and met up with Jackie, Cesia, Rudy and the rest of the volunteers. Travel went smoothly praise God! Although it was a very long day, a 5 hour flight and 5 hour ride up to San Cristobal, and a 2 hour time difference in the mix. We rested well and looked forward to a full day’s work the next day.

Sunday May 15, 2016
After a hearty breakfast and a sweet devotional time our team set out for the day. All the clinic and surgical supplies were moved from the warehouse to the hospital. God has blessed this ministry with safe housing for our supplies this year right In the village of San Cristobal. No more hiring a truck to bring everything up from Guatemala City which is 5 hours away! Our friend Rudy right here in San Cristobal looks after our equipment during the year. It definitely is less wear and tear on the medical equipment and on ourselves! The supplies were moved into the rooms the hospital in San Cristobal has generously donated to us for our clinic.

While some of us were sorting out the clinic supplies Tom, Gary and Debbie, our water treatment team, gathered their supplies as well. They set off for the school where we were installing a new water treatment system. Cesia, Lora, Brooke, and Sydney were learning how to teach the kids the importance of good hygiene to prevent illness and disease.

One of the biggest highlights of the day was when we all met up later at the school. At least 100 kids showed up and we played games and taught them about spreading germs and we taught them songs in Spanish about how great our Jesus is! It was a hot one that day but everyone had a blast!

It was truly a blessing to see how God not only brought our team together but works out all the details! Tomorrow is day one of clinic! We are looking forward to it!

Monday May 16, 2016
Clinic day One! We started with an early breakfast at 6:30 am, a wonderful devotional to start us off right and off the day raced! Our friend Rudy was so great at scheduling patients all day for us to see, and many walked in having heard about our clinic from advertising or word of mouth.

We saw at least 23-25 children all ages, from 21 days old to age 19! These little month old infants were too tiny for surgery but they were treated for malnourishment and one little one was even admitted to the hospital that day. The parents were patient and waited with their little ones, often coming from hours away. After the children were examined, vitals taken assessments done and scheduled for a procedure for next week they were prayed for and given clothing, shoes, a bible, and sometimes, baby formula, micro-nutrients, or other supplies.

It was a crazy busy day, getting into a rhythm and organizing ourselves. The translators and local volunteers were great with all the parents, it helped us a lot! It was another hot day and all of us felt like we had put in a good days effort when we went back to hotel for the evening.

At the same time the clinic was hopping our water team was hopping too! They continued to work on the water project at the local school and also started building a stage for the Paneste school. The community likes to have dedications for all sorts of events such as these. Thursday, the school where we are installing the water purification system is having an inauguration for the entire village school and their families. The children will perform all the songs we have taught them and there will be puppet show to illustrate the health and hygiene teaching program.

Tuesday May 17, 2016
Clinic Day 2
Another busy day with seeing patients! God is so good to bring back some of our previous patients which we received with much love and joy. You can see the trust and happiness in the parent faces of our repeat kids. It is such a privilege to be serving here. In most cases we are able to follow them for years and can see them develop and grow and are able to do all the necessary repeat procedures on them that enable them to live happy lives.

The second day we were in a groove and things went so smoothly! The water team and construction crew continued on the stage building. Debbie being a seamstress by trade sewed up some panels for the stage when we do the puppet show at the dedication of the water project this week. The team also visited another school about an hour away in another village to check on a previously installed water system.

All in all it was a good day! The surgery schedule is almost full. We will be doing about 30 -35 surgeries. And a few others in between! Not to mention all the patients the dentists will see when they are here next week.

We have our last clinic day tomorrow and feel blessed that the Lord is bringing just the right patients he wants us to work on next week.

Sunday, May 15, 2016.

Visiting Casa Gloria

May 10, 2016
Today we went to visit Casa Gloria. This is a beautiful new orphanage that our friend Rudy is helping to administrate. It is Mother’s Day in Guatemala. They asked us to Bible study for the caregivers as part of the Mother’s Day celebration. They are waiting for their final approval from the government to begin receiving the children. Please pray this would be received soon.
We got to visit some of the children that STJI has been helping with nutritional support. These severely malnourished babies would have died if not for God’s great provision through ministry partners like Living To Serve.
Please pray that these precious babies would be healthy enough for surgery next week!

Romeo’s before and after:

Romeo today:

(Below) Meet Franklin. He is another baby who has been provided nutritional care. We went to his village to meet his entire family and check on him today.

This is Edgar below. Sadly he is too malnourished for us to do surgery yet. We have admitted him to the hospital for an infection. We are providing him with nutritional support and will continue to monitor his growth. —Jackie

Saturday, May 14, 2016.

We’re Here – Recap from Day 1 and Day 2

May 7^th. Day 1-We arrived in Guatemala! This is the time when my heart is pounding so fast in anticipation to see what God has in store for us. Our brother in Christ, Rudy, was waiting for us in the airport It was so good to see his face. He is a great example of Christ-like humility, patience and kindness. He had a surprise for us! On the back of our ministry van was a phrase with our logo that reads “IN GOD WE TRUST”!  Little did we know that God was going to teach us to do just that. So our first day in Guatemala seemed to move in slow motion due to lack of sleep and the stress of months of preparation for this trip.

Cesia

Day 2- By our standards, this day started off on the wrong foot. We overslept so our plans were all behind schedule. But God had other plans for us. After a great breakfast meeting filled with updates on what God is doing in each of our ministries we went to our rooms to get ready to check out of the hotel. When all of the sudden, Jackie experienced this incredible sense of fear that seemed to come out of nowhere.  So we started to pray. At that moment we heard music and it sounded like worship music. It continued to get louder and louder so I went to see where it was coming from. I asked an employee what was going on and he told me that the hotel rents space to a church. We decided to check it out. The worship was so beautiful and believe it or not, the message was about fear! So, with joy in our hearts, we headed off on our 5 ½ hour drive to our mission site. As we were driving, we passed multiple broken down cars sitting by the side of the road.  I thought about how great it was to have a ministry van that is in very good condition and wouldn’t leave us stranded in the middle of the mountains. I was asking God to reveal His hand at work in our lives as I prayed and listened to worship music. Oh how faithful is HE!!!! We continued up the mountain about two hours from our destination when our van started to smell like smoke and came to a dead stop because Rudy couldn’t switch gears. While Rudy went to see if he could get some help from the people of the little village, Jackie and I began to pray.  I confess. My heart almost stopped in fear when I realized that it was almost dark and we had a bus full of supplies for our missions and a blonde haired, blue eyed, gringa with us!!!! We prayed and asked God to help us to see His hand at work and to trust Him in that moment. Rudy came back with news that we can’t get it fixed there. So he called Samuel to come to pick us up. Rudy made arrangements with the insurance company to send a tow truck.  Jackie and I went to the Word. I am reading the Chronological Bible. What do you think the reading of the day was?  Psalm 23!!! “…Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil for you are with me…”

He is quick to comfort us!  Then Jackie was reading Jeremiah 18:1-12. The part that caught my attention was “…so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.”

He is shaping us, as it seems best to Him.  We need to trust Him as He places His hand upon us. He is showing us He is in control over ALL our circumstances. We need to be completely surrendered to Him.

After 45 minutes of sitting on the road, Rudy tried to start the van and drive it.  It worked!  ‘Wow! When we are at the end of ourselves, God shows Himself powerfully. I started thinking that we are on the road again not because we have a good working van, but because God used this situation to remind us in whom we should put our trust.  Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”

We arrived to our destination around 9:00PM. As we went to open the back of the van to unpack, we all read aloud the words that summed up our day: “In God We Trust”!!

Cesia