And so, It Begins…
The queue of patients had already formed as our bus pulled into the dusty parking lot of Ecclesia de Dios, the House of God. Unlike Team Estes, who dressed in drab—but comfortable—scrubs, the Chapines were wearing their traditional bright colors. Our team disembarked. I watched from the bus window. They resembled ants as they passed the quietly, patiently queued clients along the wall. Buenos dias. Buenos dias… as mamas try to get shy children to raise their hands in a wave. Long braided black hair showcased ribbon. Proud mamas turn so the precious cargo on their backs could be admired. Our day begins.
The advantage of being team 760 – that is, the 760th team to descend upon the Guatemalan people—is that the clinics quickly became well-oiled machines. Today was no exception. Weeks before we arrived, the churches of Paxtoca spread invitations to the sick locals. Faith in Practice (FIP) hired volunteers to drive through the village to collect those that had accepted invitations. The church grounds quickly became an organized melody of medical ministry. Everyone doing their specific task—the day does not seem burdensome.
It took only a short time before patients were fitted with wheelchairs. Reclaiming mobility. How would one describe that gift? A client carried to the clinic in a hardwood chair had a smoother return. Her life changed, but so did the life of her loving family. The youngest recipient of a wheelchair, Evelyn, radiated joy. As did the family that had carried her in. Crutches and walkers and wheelchairs, oh my.
Donated toothbrushes and stickers were clutched as prize positions as pediatric patients left the office. Yardira had a positive pregnancy test—too early for the pink or blue reveal—but her smile revealed enough. Ears were flushed, blood pressures taken, eye charts studied, temperatures monitored, and hands were held.
The pharmacy, too, was a hive of activity. Even Estuardo, the bus driver, helps during his downtime to patiently read directions in Spanish to patients as they picked up their prescriptions. Estuardo has been going the extra mile—figuratively and literally—for FIP for eight years. He is grateful in turn for the assistance that we give to his people.
Theologian Frederick Buechner has some words for us today, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Healing does not always look like what we imagined. Or wanted. Healing can be separate from a cure. Maybe we did not heal everybody today, but with God’s grace, we cured the world ever so slightly to reflect the Kingdom of God as it should be.
Day 3, and it was good.
-Suzanne
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