Today we are very honored to be in Guatemala to celebrate the Bicentennial of Guatemala’s Independence from Spain on September 15, 1821. It was appropriate that our morning Devotional was opened with the Faith In Practice in-country staff singing a hymn in Spanish. Vera continued to explain the infancy of Faith In Practice which was founded on the Biblical verse “Faith without deeds is dead” James 2:26. We were again happy to have Luis Flores, the Chief Operations Officer, of Faith in Practice in Guatemala visiting with our team.
To give you a report of our sharing last night, Dr. Davidson reported on a patient with severe diabetes who had a blood sugar over 525. She required saline IV to dilute the sugar and help her dehydration subside. It is hoped she will be able to return to oral medications since Insulins are scarce in Guatemala.
When we arrived at our clinic in an elementary school today there was a beautiful mural depicting the components of the Flag of Guatemala. Despite the importance of the day, the clinic was bustling. It was not long until Jill and Beverly, both RNs, creatively moved the Laboratory from the classroom to the outside walkway when the electricity went off and they could not read the lab tests. The patients did not seem phased to have such a novel location for their tests. Guatemalan people are very understanding.
Pediatrics was bustling as usual. Selvin is the cutest one year old little boy with a severe cleft lip. He loved the little stuffed animals and stickers we brought for the children. In the States this child would have an operation shortly after birth, but he was growing appropriately despite his handicap. He was one big smile. With surgical intervention being planned through Faith In Practice, he will continue to do well and overcome his deformity.
Dr. Dimmick, a Pediatrician, spent a lot of time with Bea, a four-year-old little girl, and her mother, who was born with Strabismus, or misaligned eyes. He did thorough eye and neuro exams to determine the extend of her double vision and to ascertain any neurological damage.
Dr. Dimmick was explaining to Maggie, one of our wheelchair assemblers, who was observing him for a time and plans to attend Medical School next Fall, how early treatment is necessary to prevent blindness. They discussed Neurologic and Surgical options appropriate and needed in a timely manner.
The Faith In Practice Guatemalan staff was as busy as the volunteers. Jessica and Julissa, in referrals, were very busy processing and teaching the patients for Surgery. Hector and a local volunteer Sarbelio were busy throughout the day preparing a delicious lunch and snacks that we all enjoy. Hector is famous for his delicious spicy Guatemalan lunches as well as the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches he makes for the less adventurous and vegetarians. Even the bus drivers, William and Estuardo, who deliver us back and forth to the hotel are not idle and during the day help doing interpreting for the pharmacy staff teaching the patients needing education on their medications.
The day went by very quickly as every service was active. To add to the significance of the day, we were treated to cannon booms every few minutes to remind us of the day’s importance.
This morning Vera had asked us to think about the importance of living our “Faith In Practice” throughout the day. With the many needy patients seen and treated in the different services, it was not hard to realize how we were actualizing our Motto this week. As we close out this fruitful day, it is hard to believe we have only one more day to be with the beautiful people of Guatemala.
