Family Affair: Groves of Fruitful Trees
Since its inception, Faith in Practice (FIP) volunteers have had the heart to return year after year. So much so that it becomes part of the family’s identity; it takes a village to serve a village. Here are a few examples.
Reed Brook’s children and wife understood the importance of his twenty-year association with FIP. Reed served as a pharmacist and his wife as a scrub nurse. When Reed passed in 2022, his daughter sent a cross to be hung on the famaica sign to remember him. We thank the Reed family with grateful hearts for sharing his gifts and the camaraderie he provided for his colleagues. His family legacy lives on in the patients served and the support that still bears Reed’s name in donations.
Peter Thompson, a Houston gynecologist, volunteered for 16 years. Post-retirement, his credentials were kept current so he could continue to serve. Borrowing from other developing countries’ procedures, he implemented protocols to screen for cervical cancer in the field. Not only did he train other FIP staff to continue the screenings, but he also trained the local Guatemalan professionals.
Grandpa Thompson invited his young granddaughter to tag along on one of the many trips. The experience shaped her and set her goals—she will graduate from Medical school in May. His wife, Nancy, still graces the FIP team as a translator. The women of Guatemala say gracious and Dios los bendiga to the Thompson family.
Annie is a faithful volunteer from Guatemala City. Her command of English, learned as an exchange student in the United States makes her the perfect translator. She spends the week with the clinic team taking time from her studies in hospitality. To make this volunteer work feasible, her parents, both in the medical field, support her charitable endeavor. Sometimes the touchstone to FIP is direct, and sometimes it involves a web of family relationships.
Only some have a history. Dr. Renny, five years young in his practice, is on his maiden medical mission voyage. He found out about FIP from another team member. We hope Dr. Renny inspires other young attendings to consider joining the family tree of volunteers for the people of Central America.
I would be remiss if I failed to mention the founders, Vera and Joe Wiatt. Their thirty year history spans helicopters, PT boats, vans, buses, and a walk through a river bed carrying trunks. Their story deserves a Netflix series more than a blog post. TBC.
Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus. The scriptures say he was short. Could it be a double metaphor? Short in stature, affirmative; and, lacking in his intimacy with the Lord? What is Jesus’ response when he spies the man in the tree? Come down. Now. I want to stay at your house. Today. What happens to Zacchaeus when he lets Jesus in? Transformation. He gives generously. He shares enthusiastically. He sees clearly. (Luke 19:1-10)
Today Jesus speaks the same words to us. Clearly. Come down. I want to stay in your house. Now. Let the transformation begin.
Day 4, and it was good.
-Suzanne
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