Well, another week has passed with new experiences and many blessings through out each day. The group and I traveled to the beautiful town of San Pedro, which is located at the base of one of three volcanoes in the area and is only a short walk from Lake Atitlan. Although the water looks clean, we were not advised to go swimming during the rainy season due to sanitation reasons. The people in this area wear older, more colorful dress and most of the older population speaks one of the many indigenous languages of the area.  Most of the streets in this small town are made of stone and are usually full of street-side fruit stands and small car-like vehicles called “Tuk-tuks”.  Each morning we would walk to the church were we would hold the same clinics as we have in the other places and the church group would put on a VBS for the kids in the afternoon. The team would also help continue the construction of the buildings surrounding the church. This has been a three-year project and it has been interesting to hear how things have progressed since the first year. At night the team prepared a series of talks for young couples in the area about the importance of having a Godly relationship. The first night was beautiful in multiple ways, from watching the impact the speakers had on the young men and women to talking with some of the youngest kids there about Jesus. I really became quite attached to some of these younger kids, who probably just came because there was nothing better to do until dinner. However, I was amazed how one of these young boys, probably about ten years old, took such good care of his younger brothers. We would see these boys through out the week at the VBS and it would both break my heart and warm it to see the malnourished faces of these children and yet how strong they were despite their state. I brought a Spanish Bible on this trip to give to someone here and ended up giving it to one of these boys, Pedro. It was so amazing to see how grateful he and his friends were to receive it and how eager they were to listen to some of our favorite verses. Of course this blessing came unexpectedly as most do and my eyes were open to the reality of how some are forced to live. Though they had little, these boys showed joy just by being with us. There was nothing I could do to remove them from pain or sickness, but I could share with them the love of Jesus. I will never forget these beautiful children and I pray that God does an amazing work in them.

On the medical side of things, I worked in the Pharmacy and lab area again, teaching those from the church group where to find the Albendazol and confirming with the doctor′s exactly how much Pepcid they wanted to prescribe. It was rare when I wasn′t counting pills, reading a urinalysis, or trying to explain in Spanish how a patient needs to take their prescription. Since some of the people in this town only speak the indigenous language, it was important to find someone who could translate these instructions to the patient. During the afternoon, I was able to assist in the dental part of the clinics. This week we were blessed to have three dentists/dental students here to help, Victor, Carlos A., and Carlos P. All of whom are fun to work with and also great to practice spanish with. 

On Friday, we took a boat to the other side of Lake Atitlan to the town of Panachel. The team from Houston requested another day of shopping here, so we were able to practicing our bargaining skills for yet another time. It was during this time around with clinics that I realized how much time and patience is put into caring for the needs of the visiting group from America. The staff of La Mision really goes to great depths to provide for the wants and needs of these people and there is much of it that goes on unnoticed. This team of Guatemalans, not only serves the people of their country, but also serves each person who is in the short-term missions group from the U.S. This is a beautiful thing to observe and a great example for anyone to learn from. 

As for the upcoming week, tomorrow I get to celebrate the 3rd birthday of Lucy, the daughter of the family I am staying with, and get to hit yet another piñata. I have a new roommate now from SPU who came with a group that will be helping with a school here called America Latina. They will be joining La Mision in September to help out with the “Jornadas” (medical missions). The next church group that is coming is from Eastpoint Church in Spokane, WA. I have met a few of these people before and am excited to see them again. We will be setting up clinics in Palencia and traveling to Punta de Palma again the following week. I can not wait to see how God will choose to work next. Please continue praying for the people here, it is really so powerful. May there be still less of us and more of God. 

En Christo,

Stephanie

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” - Isaiah 64:4

“How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?” -John 5:44

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under His care.” -Psalms 95:6-7