Mission Trip Report (with pictures)

SATURDAY (day 1)

The flight to Guatemala City took longer because of a detour around Hurricane Nate. Because of a mudslide along the usual route, we had to take the LONG road to Jalapa -- five very bumpy hours!


SUNDAY (day 2)

One of the highlights was singing The Old Rugged Cross in Spanish as a congregational hymn. The words were beautiful in Spanish, and the musical arrangement was moving.


MONDAY (day 3)

At the Los Laureles clinic, 207 patients were treated. It's amazing how the promise of one month of vitamins and one parasite pill can motivate people to come, some walking 1-2 hours one way.

Of all the visits to the garbage dump (above), the conditions on this day were perhaps the worst. There were more trash piles, pigs, vultures, flies, and stench than ever before. The people who live and work there were given juice and cookies.

TUESDAY (day 4)

At Los Pinos, 125 patients were treated. Many could not get to the clinic due to rain and muddy roads. Here is a lady with a large neck mass:

The picture below is of the new clinic and and adjacent church at Los Pinos, both under construction.

WEDNESDAY (day 5)

At the Los Laureles clinic, 226 patients were treated. Twelve of these patients were babies from the dump who received a bath, a new outfit, and a week's worth of diapers as part our new Operation Amalia project.

THURSDAY (day 6)

At Los Pinos, 130 patients were treated, including the delightful little girl below. In the background is Lilian, the nurse who works every week at the Los Laureles clinic.

That night, the youth choir of the Jalapa church presented a worship concert. Here's a picture of Caroline Sparks singing with the choir:

PLEASE PRAY FOR JUAN

He's the young man at the far left in the picture below. He is seventeen years old, plays the keyboard in the worship services, and is the son of Patricia, the lady who cleans the clinic every week. Since the mission trip, he has been diagnosed with kidney failure and is now on the renal transplant list. In the meantime, he is traveling twice each week to Guatemala City for dialysis. Please keep Juan and his mother in your prayers.

On December 4, you will receive the last update of 2017. 2018 should be a wonderful year of ministry. One of the highlights will be the dedication and opening of the Los Pinos clinic.