MIRACLES AND CHANGED LIVES

June 20, 2006

     It’s impossible to really know just what effect our work has on the Guatemalan people.  We try to imagine…

     Pastor Sebastian told us yesterday that what we’re trying to do here is considered to be miraculous by many of the local people.

     There is a rudimentary mural on the wall in the entrance room to the clinic.  On the highest end, a clean river flows down, while in the middle portion some business run-off enters the water.  Further down, a man is defecating on the edge of the river, and at the lowest part someone is getting a bucket of water for their family.  A straightforward message for people without water or sewer systems in their villages; it’s a message that could change their lives…

     Infections are common around here.  It could be diarrhea from contaminated water, or a skin infection from a scrape in a tree, or regular old pneumonia.  Many people die of infections in Guatemala.  A medical clinic such as Salud y Paz can save some of these lives.

     The indigenous Maya Indian population here has been discriminated against for many years.  During the Civil War, which lasted 36 years until 1996, hundreds of thousands of Maya were slaughtered and buried in mass graves in a corrupt government’s attempt to “cleanse” the country.  They still uncover grave sights out in the jungle every month.

     Out of this long history of discrimination, these people really do feel second-class.  Add to that a disfiguring anomaly like a cleft lip and palate, and it promises a life of depression, shunning, and rejection.  Correct those troublesome facial features, and a life will change.  Correct that big hole in the palate (roof of the mouth), and they can speak without the slurring and nasal sounds, and they can eat without the food coming up and out of the nose.  That is life-changing.

     After suffering full-thickness burns to her right arm and chest as a young child, Ruth’s skin contracted and scarred up, healing with her right elbow permanently contracted.  She could not straighten out her right arm.  The most beautiful smile came over her when Larry Slade told her Sunday afternoon that he would fix that contracture.  She’ll have a usable right arm again.

     Charlie Stump examined the worst case of uterine prolapse he’s ever seen today.  Her uterus has been hanging completely outside of her for years after the pelvic musculature gave way, and it is painful and ulcerated.  She’s been walking around like that day after day, year after year.  Charlie and the team are going to change that woman’s life today.

     Treating parasites can change a life, if only temporarily.  Treating scabies can stop the miserable itching. 

Watching/assisting a surgery, Wayne, Pam, Kevin and Lucy.	Steve, Esther, David and Larry in a neck dissection.
Translators, Ynge, Maaike, Lucy, and Kevin	Arlen excising a skin tag.
Pam, the patient's mother, patient and Cheryl in recovering.	Cindy preparing to give Rocephin to a pre-op patient.