A new group at a familiar place

This week we are at Palencia. Despite the pouring rain, the team from Houston arrived safe and sound on Saturday. I got to meet all 9 of them on Monday upon arriving at the school in Palencia. In the mornings we have been doing the medical and dental clinics and in the afternoons the group puts on a VBS for the kids. I have been helping in the Pharmacy and lab area. Yesterday I had another great opportunity to see an ultrasound of one woman who was worried that something had gone wrong with her pregnancy. We were able to show this woman her baby′s hands and feet and reassure her that her baby was alive and moving. This beautiful glimpse of life is one of my favorite parts about helping here. Most of the pregnant women that we see are about my age or younger. As much as I love children, I do not know what I would do if I had to raise 3 or 4 of them right now. The strength that these women have is truly amazing. 

It has been great to see the changes that have been made and are still being made in Palencia. The group that is with us this week is helping to paint more of the classrooms and outside walls and is doing a beautiful job. Toilets for the school were also purchased this week. What is so great about each group that comes is that they bring with them a different personality and desire to work hard. It has been great for me to experience the other side of working with the team. There is really so much behind the scenes work that the doctors and other leaders do to keep everything in order. These men are truly godly men who want nothing more than to serve Christ through serving others. They sacrifice time with their family, sleep, food, and comfort and are not working to glorify themselves in any way. These are men who are following closely behind Jesus and I am so thankful to be learning from their example.

Thank you for your prayers and please continue to pray for the team here, especially daily strength for the doctors. That the people we are serving may experience Christ′s love in a new way through these people and that we do not take any opportunity for granted. 

Well, it is way past my bedtime, which is usually more like 9pm nowadays, so until the next post, ciao! 

En Christo,

Stephanie

‟Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eye not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.″ -2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Patience

This last weekend we have had time off from clinics and hosting church groups. It has been a time of rest and also a time of patience. For me, it is sometimes harder to do nothing than to work hard. However, God has blessed me continually in this time of waiting. Firstly, He has blessed me with a roommate, Ellen, to speak English with and to share with each other about life experiences and families. He has also blessed me with a loving family to spend this down-time with. During this time, I have been sensing the Lord′s pull to grow closer to Him through just being still. One thing He is trying to teach me is to pray with out ceasing and to be joyful in all circumstances. Even the least exciting of these. By His grace, He has given me an attitude of thankfulness and I can see how He has prepared me for my experience here in all its fullness. Tomorrow we begin work again at the office and I am grateful for the change of pace to come and I am eager to learn more each day. One of the books my parents gave me for my trip is by Mother Teresa. It is called “No Greater Love.” I have learned much from one who lived her life so close to the Lord about living life in every day. One of the quotes that really spoke to me these past few days was this, “At the moment of death, we will not be judged by the work we have done but by the weight of love we have put into our work.” This is such a beautiful reminder of how love is so essential in all of our work. It is because of love that we have purpose to live. It is because of God′s love for us that we may have this love to give us purpose. He calls us to make it a part of everything. He calls us to love especially in those times when we are still and not busy, especially when it is easy to slip into a mood of self-pity and complaining for what is not happening. He calls us to love through praying to Him constantly. Another thing I have learned through reading this book is to listen when praying. There is no other feeling than being still before the Lord and listening for Him to speak to your heart. How powerful and great our God is who seems to enjoy using the still moments of our lives to speak to us. Or is it because those are the only times we have left open to hear Him? 

God bless those who are reading this blog and praying for the work being done here in Guatemala, for your prayers are very much appreciated and needed! Please keep the doctors here in your prayers, along with all the others involved with working for La Mision. May this time off from hosting groups be restful and renewing. Also, that the other groups that come are prepared for working whole-heartedly for the Lord. May the Lord bless the families who are hosting us and serving us with great love and generosity. May the Lord give the other 5 interns and myself hearts of contentment-even in the not-so-active times- and an honest desire to serve the Lord through serving those here, in whichever way God desires of us. Thank you again, until next time (which according to my aunt, needs to be sooner rather than later☺).

En Christo,

Stephanie

Hola from Guatemala !

After writing a quite elaborate version of what has happened so far on the trip here, a little girl(Lucy) who is the daughter in the family I am staying with erased it just before I could post it. Well this is really about the worst thing that has happened since I have arrived so that will give you a good picture at how great this trip has been thus far. I will try and give a more concise version of what has happened in the clinics and what God has been doing here through his people. 

We have had clinics at multiple locations starting the first day after arriving. The first day we were at a school in a small town called Palencia. At each clinic we have a dental, medical, and pharmaceutical area. There are Guatemalan doctors and dentists at work constantly through out the day and the missionary group assists wherever is needed. There are many children at the clinics which provides a great opportunity to build relationships with the kids and tell them about Jesus. My first day I was placed in the Pharmacy where I attempted to teach our clients about how to take their medicine and how to make lifestyle changes to improve their health. I learned so much just on the first day and was blessed greatly by the patience and understanding of the Guatemalan people. The other clinics that we set up were at rural villages about 5 hours away from Guatemala City in San Miguelita and San Pedro del Palma. We stayed at El Faro in Punto de Palma which was built for the purpose of housing missionary groups and being used as a retreat center for church groups. Although you are constantly covered in a layer of humidified sweat, this is one of my most favorite places to be. The beauty is not only seen in the dramatic skies or lush landscape, but also in the faces of the Guatemalan people and in the loving spirit of the people doing mission. 

During my time traveling to these exotic locations, I have had the chance to build relationships with the 5 other interns who are here for most of the summer and the church group from Spokane, WA. Although most of the people from spokane knew who I was, I was at first overwhelmed with the amount of people to connect with. Thankfully, the group was amazing and the other interns and I related well with each other, being that there are 3 of us who are from Whitworth University. 

What has amazed me the most is their perseverant compassion that the doctors here have to serve the Lord. They sacrifice so much time with their families and literally put themselves last in every situation. One example of the humility I have seen was when Dr. Tito Palacios, the jefe (or boss) of La Mision, asked us if a few could help him clean the bathrooms at the school we were at in San Miguelita. At first I thought he was just asking us to clean them, but instead it was him who did the dirtiest work and he did it with joy. I am so thankful that God has allowed me to work alongside such great followers of Christ. It is amazing how Christ bridges the gap between languages and cultures and there is no need for words when radiating Christs love. 

Only a week has gone by, but I feel like I have been here much longer. I am enjoying every moment and am trying to soak up the language either through looking up obscure words like renacuajo (tadpole) and having embarrassing conversations with the Guatemalans here. 

As for the next week, I really have no idea what we will be doing. It is a week of rest from having consecutive groups come down and there is really no set itinerary ever anyways. I know the Lord will work through even the less exciting downtime that is ahead and I wait in anticipation to see how He works. 

For a quick update on the NCLEX Nursing Board exam... I found out today that I am now an RN!!! This is clearly to Gods glory, for it is only Him who could have worked all the details out. 

For now, I am heading to bed listening to the sounds of the street and the chirping of crickets outside my window. 

En Christo,

Stephanie

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord. ‟He  is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.″... He will cover you with his feathers, ad under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. ~Psalms 91:1-2, 4

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. ~ Ephesians 5:1-2