UPDATE June 22, 2006.

6:00 AM

     Yesterday was another incredible day at the Salud y Paz clinic.  More lives were changed.  It was a day of new beginnings again.

     Tomasa, after her brush with death on Tuesday night, finally sat up in a chair and was eating.  Her smile was worth a million Qui’che words.

     Pam’s prayer with the group after the day shift arrived brought tears to many after an emotionally and physically draining 24 hours.

     Two more cleft lip patients and another cleft palate patient had their appearances, their speech, and their eating abilities changed.  A woman with an unbelievable fistula was repaired, and another’s huge fibroid uterus was removed.

     When these folks heal up, they will truly have different lives.

     Yesterday morning, Charlie Stump had a special moment, courtesy of his wife JoAnn.  Since she knew that he would be in Guatemala on their 54th anniversary, she secretly recorded a message for him and sent it to Guatemala with Brenda S.  After a morning prayer at the clinic, Charlie looked a bit puzzled as he was asked to sit in front of a computer.

     More than just Charlie’s eyes were misty as he (and many surrounding him) listened to JoAnn talk about their 54 years together.

     He was able to call her later in the day.

     Last evening, we had a special celebration for Martin and Mackenzie, courtesy of our new Guatemalan friends (and our translators) Lucy and Kevin.  After planning and scheming all day in secret, they pulled off an amazing ceremony with Martin.

     As is the traditional Guatemalan custom, a large round basket was obtained, and in it were placed several items, each representing a special event or having a special meaning for the engaged couple or the woman’s parents.

    

Tomasa, Arlen and Charlie this morning.

Charlie intently listening to JoAnn wishing him a Happy 54th Anniversary.

Traditional Mayan reliquica canasta (engagement  basket) presented by Martin to Arlen, asking for his daughter.

The happy families.

 

 

The contents in the basket include: a live chicken, representing "The only thing alive is true love"; candles, representing peace (white), the light of God; chile, representing spicy (love); bread, noting that Martin is to provide...; fireworks, representing celebration; Cokes (usually they use rum), to be used for toasts; scarves, representing the union of Martin and Mackenzie; chocolate, used to make a dipping sauce for the bread; and dreamcatchers, with puppets to be placed under the pillow, and a wish to be made that comes true. (NOTE: to the ASPCA folks: the chicken was unharmed and was returned to its natural habitat after the celebration>)

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