My first week of clinics in Guatemala

As you know, I can not return to Tanzania until the administrator there has obtained a residency visa for me. So, I have been using my time in the states to learn as many things as I can which will help us be more successful when I am able to return.

I decided I would spend some time with Dr. Lisa Dunham, her husband, Kimmel and Sheri, RN in Guatemala.  These 3 musketeers work with Health Talents International (HTI) in Chichicastenango.  They have been providing health care, mobile medical clinics and education in this area for more than 5 years.  I am certain they have a wealth of information which will help me as I strive to work in these areas at the Chimala Mission.

I spent Monday and Tuesday with Sheri doing medical consults.  Although there are some differences in the countries, many of the common illnesses are the same as well as the available treatments.  I took many notes and Sheri was able to show me several of the educational tools she uses with her patients.  Many of these will be great for me to develope and use as well.  Yesterday and today, I spent the day with Dr. Lisa.  As a nurse, there are many things I will need to know when seeing people in Chimala which I was not taught in school or practice.  Some of those assessment skills only  doctors do in America.  She taught me how to perform eye exams and what to look for...what things to look for which would need emergent care and those which aren't.  It was very helpful and knowledge which I am sure will come in handy. 

The warm, wonderful fire in my room every night!

My hotel room in Chichicastenango at the Hotel Santo Tomas

Lunch one day at clinic.  Black beans and boiled egg.  We did have hot tortillas with it as well.  Yummm, Yummm!
I wanted to add more pictures, but alas!, the internet is getting really slow and not cooperating anymore, so will have to post more later.

Sheri wrote an article about one of our clinic days.     I think you will enjoy reading it. 

www.sheriinguate.blogspot.com/2012/09/another-clinic-in-chutzurob.html

Tomorrow, Sheri and I are heading out for a new adventure.  We are going with another group to Coban, Guatemala for three days.  This is an area Sheri has not been to before.  We have been told it is a very poor area with no water and no electricity.  We will be "camping-out" so to speak.  We are told they are expecting a couple hundred medical patients.  In our group, we will have 2 doctors, 2 nurses and a dentist.  I am so excited!

Chichicastenango is just above Guatemala City.  Coban is a couple of cities above that.
 Please pray for our safe journey and a successful ministry.  We pray for God's guidance, protection and wisdom.  We pray that all we do will bring honor and glory to HIM.



Comments

  1. SheriSeptember 20, 2012 at 6:19 PM

    Cheryl, what a cozy room you have........we may wish we had that fire when we are in Coban!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FAREWELL TO CHIMALA MISSION

Image
Today, I post my last post to this blog site.   I am extremely sad to have to do this.  Chimala Mission, especially the Chimala community, have been my family and friends for the last 6 years.  I came to Chimala believing God wanted me to help this community with the talents He has blessed me with.  Chimala Mission was an existing mission where I could help both the mission and the community.  My plans were to be there in this work for many years, even possibly the rest of my life. Unfortunately, the situation at the mission changed and my plans were then not my own.  I am back in Oklahoma where I will put my life back together and find a job.  I will also see what God holds for me next.  Even when things go badly wrong or we get knocked off our path, God is in control!  He will and can change an unfortunate event into something Great!  We, you and I, with the help of God provided much great assistance to the Chimala community.  Many improvements were made, many were taught the Bible
Read more

OC Students leave their "mark".....

Image
On May 4th, nine students from Oklahoma Christain University (OC) in Oklahoma City, OK arrived here in Chimala.  Three of these students have been here before, but the rest were newbies.  It was very exciting for me to see the returning students and to meet and get to know the new comers. The students always bring a sense of excitement and adventure with them when they come.  The goals were for the students to get to know a little about the culture, become familiar with all the works of the mission, hold VBS at several of the small village churches and complete a project which would help one of the works at the mission.  The bus ride from Dar Es Salaam to Chimala Mission is a hard 12-14 hour drive by bus.  We left Dar at 5am and arrived at the mission around 7:30pm.  During the trip, the students were able to see miles of plains, mountains and small villages.  They also had a small glimpse of some of the animals of Tanzania as we drove through Mikumi National Park.  This time o
Read more

From Tanzania to Oregon

Image
The support for the work I do at Chimala Mission comes from many people and many places in the United States.  Most of those who send financial support do not know me personally and neither do I know them.  There is one person who sends support from Oregon.  Just before I left to come visit the states, this lady contacted me to see if I would be interested in visiting her in Oregon.  She told me that she would like to help me raise support by setting me up with places to speak. At first, I didn't think I could make the time to go all the way to Oregon...I have family to spend time with, I am already making two trip to Texas to meet people and speak, I have several presentations to do in Oklahoma City/Edmond.  There just wouldn't be time.....or would there? God puts people in our lives for different reasons.  Could this be a door He is opening for me and the Chimala work?  I spend 11 months away from my family, but my dad sat down with me and told me he didn't think I sh
Read more