Chiquimula, Guatemala 8/2022

Returning to Guatemala and reconnecting with Jorge and Pili Camposeco (GO Internationals partners) was wonderful!

Our team was made up of roughly half medical and half non from around the USA. We were joined by a Guatemalan doctor, Gregorio, who joined us each clinic day. We were blessed to have 5 translators with us each day as well!

Our first day in Chiquimula we spent a few hours doing street evangelism in the park square. Being a group of gringos often brings inquisitive looks and makes striking up a conversation easy, since they want to know why we are there. One elderly lady, Evangelina, was so thankful that we had come to 'my country' to share Gods love, 'they need to hear it'. She was so kind and thanked us profusely for praying with her and her family. After, we were able to attend Jorge & Pili's church, Casa del Alfarero (The Potters House).

Day 1 of clinic brought us to the village of Lela Chancoj, where Pastor Mario had made his community aware of our arrival. We saw ~140 people that day. The very first patient had a large tumor in his throat making it difficult to breathe, swallow, and eat. Dr Gregorio was able contact a surgeon he knows and the team all worked together to problem solve a way to get the patient to the city. We were so thankful that Dr Gregorio was on our team, originally he was not going to be a part of it because we had a second doctor from the USA that was supposed to be on the trip; but, due to a family emergency he was not able to make it. God still provided us with a second doctor and it was a blessing that he knew other physicians in Guatemala who could help the gentleman with the tumor. (Pictured below: Mary teaching a nursing student about ear irrigation)

Day 2 of clinic was held at the church we had attended. Many of the church members helped us facilitate a smooth clinic day. The pastor of the church spent the day driving back and forth to a village that had been flooded recently by the river, causing many to be homeless or living in very poor conditions. It was a blessing to see the Pastor serve his community this way and for us to be able to help provide some basic medical care. We saw ~160 patients on this day. Many people from this village were living with terrible anxiety, depression and domestic violence issues. That morning in devotions we had studied Matthew 6:25-34, titled in my Bible as 'The Cure for Anxiety'. Gods Word was the encouragement people needed, and they left with peace in their hearts. We ended the day with the sweetest little toothless Grandma (pictured below) who just wanted vitamins, had no complaints and hugged each of us 2 times, giggling and chatting the whole time.

Day 3 and 4 of clinic was a hour drive away at the village of La Libertad. We saw ~150 the first day and ~170 patients the second day. Saw a variety of cases, including: scabies, impetigo, liver cirrhosis, irregular menses, chronic pain, depression, headache, malnutrition, dehydration, arthritis, etc. Some home visits were completed by Dr Larry and some other members of the team. One home visit was to a mother and daughter, the daughter (pictured below) has a history of seizures and per the mother had not spoken in months. The medical team checked her out and then prayed with them, after the prayer the girl looked up and spoke! Her mother was moved to tears and the girl said 'the doctors ask for money to heal, God is free'. What a miracle! (This was shared with me by a team member who witnessed the event).

La Libertad was a village I had visited in 2018 on my trip to Guatemala as well. I was informed by our team leader that on our 2018 trip two guys from our team had spoken with a guy named Juan extensively about God and Juan was having nothing to do with it at the time. We had prayed for Juan as a team that night back at our hotel (I remember praying for him). Four years later Juan is now a leader in La Libertad and shared with us that 3 days after our 2018 team had prayed for him, he accepted Christ and became a christian. Since then he has become a prominent member of his community and his family has also been transformed by Gods love. He has a desire to continue to grow and become a pastor. It is a beautiful reminder that we don't always see the result of the impact God can have on a persons life. I'm so blessed to know Juan's story but I am confident there are many others I will never know of how God changed lives. (Pictured below: reading glasses station offered for adults at every clinic)

Day 5 of clinic was held at the Highland Park School, which is the ministry school that Pili's mom started 21 years ago. We were welcomed by the kids and teachers in their best dress, clapping and waving home made signs. They gathered us to the front and then sang songs for us, prayed over us and the student president spoke a welcome blessing over us (pictured below). It was a beautiful way to start clinic and we saw ~150.

A hilarious moment for me was when I was using a tongue depressor to see a Grandmas throat when all of the sudden her lower dentures popped out of her mouth. Claudia lunged to catch them and there was a brief second pause where we all looked at each other and then all had the biggest belly laugh of the week! We laughed for at least 5 minutes and the grandma was telling us about other times her teeth have popped out and she kept saying the look on my face was priceless. It was so funny!

My favorite moment of the week was when a 15 year old boy named Anderson came through my station. We got talking about his anxiety and shared the gospel with him. He made the choice to accept Christ and we were able to lead him in the prayer of salvation! It was a beautiful moment and you could see his countenance change. We had a leader of the school come over and speak with him as well so we could be sure he would have follow up as none of his family believes in God. It was such an amazing moment and he was beaming with joy as he walked out. I love seeing God transform people right in front of us.

On our last day in Guatemala we were able to travel to Antigua and see the beautiful city, volcanoes, and do some shopping. I had a great conversation with our driver Elder (all in Spanish). It was a great way to relax at the end of the trip. Here we wished Jorge and Pili farewell and prayed over them and their ministry. Even with many airline delays and cancellations we all eventually made it home. I am so thankful for Gods hand on this trip and the prayers and support from all of you.

Thank you!