So, I made it home safely! I wanted to share with you a few things about my last couple days in Guatemala. On Fridays, we see patients at the main clinic, instead of going out to mobile clinics. Typically, we have about 40-50 patients, but this day, we had over 150 patients to see! They had all come for consults to see if they were candidates for surgery for when the next American surgery team came down.
I saw a 9-month old baby strapped onto his mother’s back. He was extremely burned and had scars all over his face. When he was 1 month old, he had accidentally pulled a pot of boiling water on himself. The front part of his scalp had no hair, like an old man, because it had burned off. One of his eyelids was almost completely shut, but I could see a little part of his eye. His nose and mouth were one jumbled mess, and I could barely distinguish between them. His left hand looked like a nub, and his right hand had only one finger. The other fingers had melted off. It was so sad. His mother had brought him to see if he was a plastic surgery candidate. He was, thank goodness. I smiled really big at the baby, and he grabbed my finger with his one finger. He didn’t look like a human being, but I could almost make out a smile when I said his name.
We also saw a young girl. She brought us her x-rays, which showed something large and solid, lodged in one of her nostrils. We took a look up her nose with the flashlight, and sure enough, something metallic was up there! She said the foreign object had been there for over 3 years, but she swore she never put anything up her nose. Interesting…
One lady with an incisional hernia came in. Dr. Lux had to step out of the office to check on something, leaving the woman and me alone. I guess I look pretty official with scrubs on, because she leaned over and asked me, “Are YOU operating on me next week?” I wanted to laugh and say, “You would NOT want that, ma’am!” but I just smiled back at her and said that someone else would be doing the operation.
After seeing all the patients, a huge storm blew in. The river that runs through the main clinic campus rose and nearly flooded. Macie and I played in the rain until it was time to leave for Guatemala City. The roads to the capital were awful because of the huge storm. I don’t usually do this, but something came over me, and I asked Carlos if I could pray over our road trip. I prayed that God would protect us and get us to Guatemala City safely. Several power lines were down and lying across the streets; however, someone got out and stood on the live wires so that we could drive over them! Also, the line of traffic was backed up for miles, but God was with us and for some strange reason, we got personally police ESCORTED to the front on the traffic line!
This whole time in Guatemala, I have never seen a wreck, even though I have witnessed the craziest driving ever. That puzzled me… tons of wreckless maneuvers being done all the time, but I never saw any wrecks. Well, there was one that Friday night. We were 5 minutes from where we were going, when suddenly a pickup truck reversed into our lane and sat perpendicular to the flow of traffic. Health Talents director, Carlos, who was driving us, slammed on his brakes, but it wasn’t enough. We slammed into the other pickup. It felt like a bad rollercoaster ride. Thank goodness we were wearing our seatbelts and sitting up, because earlier we had been lying down sleeping. We got out of the car, shaken up, but without cuts or breaks, thanks to God. It started to rain, and Carlos’ in-laws came to pick Macie and me up and bring us to their house. We got to see Carlos’ one-week-old baby, Dante Carlos, while we waited. We finally made it to our hotel at 3 a.m. We took showers, slept for an hour, and had to meet the airport shuttle at 5 a.m. Our two flights home went well, and I can now say I am safely home. God was definitely with us in the wreck. I only have a scraped bruise from the seatbelt that held me in place. What a crazy way to end my stay in Guatemala!
I learned so much in Guatemala. I learned that I DO for sure want to be a doctor. I learned a ton of Spanish. I picked up Guatemalan phrases and customs subconsciously. I learned to trust God EVERY DAY. I met amazing Spirit-filled people who pointed me more towards Christ. This was an incredible experience, and although parts of it were very trying, I can say that I am very grateful for everything I went through. Muchas gracias for your continued prayers. I felt them, and they made a difference.
Guatemala
My home for the next 6 weeks!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Last Day in Chicacao
Thursday, July 29, 2010
It’s late Thursday night, my last night here in Chicacao. It’s strange that it is actually almost over. I gave my host mom Angelica a sunflower plate set and my host grandpa, Papa Pedro, an OU shirt. He looked so cute in it! He said someday he’s gonna come to the U.S., wearing his shirt, and ask people where OU is, so he can find me. :)
Today was my last day to go out to the mobile clinics. I went with Dr. David Lux to his mobile clinics all week, and I got to see a lot! I saw patients with a thyroid nodule, a rectal hemorrhoid, an incisional hernia, “caspa” (dandruff), conjunctivitis of the eye, a diabetic ulcer on a leg, sinusitis, a prolapsed uterus, and warts. I saw a preemie baby with “ictericia” (jaundice). There were lots of little kids with scabies (from playing in dirt and dirty things), and lots of adult women with urinary tract infections (from not drinking enough water).
I got to palpate a woman’s abdomen and feel a huge mass in her uterus! I also got to palpate an alcoholic woman who had cirrhosis of the liver… her liver felt huge and hard! I got to measure the belly of a pregnant woman with my hands and a tape measurer and tell her how far along she was… so neat! I learned to look for specific symptoms to distinguish parasites from a bacterial infection from amoebas. I saw a woman with yellowish eyes because of hepatitis. I met a man with one brown eye and one beautifully blue eye. However, his one eye had turned blue because of super high pressure behind the eyeball, and he had lost vision in that eye.
A woman came in with “pica.” I had heard about this disorder before, but didn’t believe it was real. Pica is an intense craving for non-edible objects, such as dirt, paint chips, ice, etc. It occurs mostly in pregnant women, and the cause is unknown. This woman said that she craved ice and salt a lot. She fit the description because she had recently had a spontaneous abortion and was anemic.
The saddest thing I saw today was a 6-month old baby girl named Ama, who had been born with spina bifida. She weighed only 9 pounds (17 pounds underweight!), and the lower half of her body was completely limp. She had an operation in Guatemala City soon after she was born, where they had put in a shunt underneath her skin from her brain to her stomach, to drain excess fluid that accumulated on the brain. I know her mom was doing everything she could for little Ama, but I just wanted to take her back with me to the U.S. and get her all the help she needed.
One woman came in, saying she hadn’t had any of her labs done because she didn’t have money for it. She said she didn’t have the 10 quetzales (US $1.25) for the consult. I looked at her and what she was wearing, and I was skeptical. She needed even more labs done, the doctor said, but she said she didn’t have money to get them done. When she left, I told Dr. Lux, “I think she was lying.” Rather than agreeing with me, Dr. Lux told me, “Maybe she was lying, but that’s not for us to decide. It’s our job to help and treat people with a GOOD HEART. That is what God wants from us… nothing else.” That really hit me, and I was grateful that Dr. Lux corrected me.
Today, our last patient was a house visit. A 40-year-old woman was lying in bed, complaining of painful menorrhea (excessive vaginal bleeding). Dr. Lux felt around on her stomach and decided to do a pregnancy test on her. Her other 7 kids nervously tried to peer into the bedroom to see their mommy. The test was positive for pregnancy. In other words, the excessive bleeding and positive pregnancy test meant that she was having “un aborto en curso.” She didn’t even know she was pregnant, but currently she was having a spontaneous abortion of her baby. It was shocking to watch Dr. Lux deliver that news to her.
In our down time, I watched “telenovelas” (soap operas) with the neighbor kids. I learned how to make balloon animals - tigers, dogs, cats - and even an umbrella! My host brother Manuel, who works out at the mobile clinics too, taught me. The little kids absolutely loved the balloons we made them!
The neatest thing though, was that after each consult, we got to pray for each patient. Only a couple said ‘no thanks,’ but the most patients were grateful as we put our hands on their shoulders and bowed to pray over them. Guatemalans always pray out loud while we are praying out loud for them. It always sound like we’re interrupting each other, but it was also neat to hear both prayers being sent to God at the same time. Some people were very touched and cried with us, and several gave me a kiss on the cheek saying, “Gracias, Doctora.”
Tomorrow is my last day to work at the clinic. After work, Macie and I head to Guatemala City, where we will spend the night, so that we can catch our early morning flight home on Saturday. Thanks so much for your continued prayers, and I look forward to being home SOON!
It’s late Thursday night, my last night here in Chicacao. It’s strange that it is actually almost over. I gave my host mom Angelica a sunflower plate set and my host grandpa, Papa Pedro, an OU shirt. He looked so cute in it! He said someday he’s gonna come to the U.S., wearing his shirt, and ask people where OU is, so he can find me. :)
Today was my last day to go out to the mobile clinics. I went with Dr. David Lux to his mobile clinics all week, and I got to see a lot! I saw patients with a thyroid nodule, a rectal hemorrhoid, an incisional hernia, “caspa” (dandruff), conjunctivitis of the eye, a diabetic ulcer on a leg, sinusitis, a prolapsed uterus, and warts. I saw a preemie baby with “ictericia” (jaundice). There were lots of little kids with scabies (from playing in dirt and dirty things), and lots of adult women with urinary tract infections (from not drinking enough water).
I got to palpate a woman’s abdomen and feel a huge mass in her uterus! I also got to palpate an alcoholic woman who had cirrhosis of the liver… her liver felt huge and hard! I got to measure the belly of a pregnant woman with my hands and a tape measurer and tell her how far along she was… so neat! I learned to look for specific symptoms to distinguish parasites from a bacterial infection from amoebas. I saw a woman with yellowish eyes because of hepatitis. I met a man with one brown eye and one beautifully blue eye. However, his one eye had turned blue because of super high pressure behind the eyeball, and he had lost vision in that eye.
A woman came in with “pica.” I had heard about this disorder before, but didn’t believe it was real. Pica is an intense craving for non-edible objects, such as dirt, paint chips, ice, etc. It occurs mostly in pregnant women, and the cause is unknown. This woman said that she craved ice and salt a lot. She fit the description because she had recently had a spontaneous abortion and was anemic.
The saddest thing I saw today was a 6-month old baby girl named Ama, who had been born with spina bifida. She weighed only 9 pounds (17 pounds underweight!), and the lower half of her body was completely limp. She had an operation in Guatemala City soon after she was born, where they had put in a shunt underneath her skin from her brain to her stomach, to drain excess fluid that accumulated on the brain. I know her mom was doing everything she could for little Ama, but I just wanted to take her back with me to the U.S. and get her all the help she needed.
One woman came in, saying she hadn’t had any of her labs done because she didn’t have money for it. She said she didn’t have the 10 quetzales (US $1.25) for the consult. I looked at her and what she was wearing, and I was skeptical. She needed even more labs done, the doctor said, but she said she didn’t have money to get them done. When she left, I told Dr. Lux, “I think she was lying.” Rather than agreeing with me, Dr. Lux told me, “Maybe she was lying, but that’s not for us to decide. It’s our job to help and treat people with a GOOD HEART. That is what God wants from us… nothing else.” That really hit me, and I was grateful that Dr. Lux corrected me.
Today, our last patient was a house visit. A 40-year-old woman was lying in bed, complaining of painful menorrhea (excessive vaginal bleeding). Dr. Lux felt around on her stomach and decided to do a pregnancy test on her. Her other 7 kids nervously tried to peer into the bedroom to see their mommy. The test was positive for pregnancy. In other words, the excessive bleeding and positive pregnancy test meant that she was having “un aborto en curso.” She didn’t even know she was pregnant, but currently she was having a spontaneous abortion of her baby. It was shocking to watch Dr. Lux deliver that news to her.
In our down time, I watched “telenovelas” (soap operas) with the neighbor kids. I learned how to make balloon animals - tigers, dogs, cats - and even an umbrella! My host brother Manuel, who works out at the mobile clinics too, taught me. The little kids absolutely loved the balloons we made them!
The neatest thing though, was that after each consult, we got to pray for each patient. Only a couple said ‘no thanks,’ but the most patients were grateful as we put our hands on their shoulders and bowed to pray over them. Guatemalans always pray out loud while we are praying out loud for them. It always sound like we’re interrupting each other, but it was also neat to hear both prayers being sent to God at the same time. Some people were very touched and cried with us, and several gave me a kiss on the cheek saying, “Gracias, Doctora.”
Tomorrow is my last day to work at the clinic. After work, Macie and I head to Guatemala City, where we will spend the night, so that we can catch our early morning flight home on Saturday. Thanks so much for your continued prayers, and I look forward to being home SOON!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Blog Catch-Up: Ophth Week and My Last Week Here
Catching up on blogging... here are the last three blogs:
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Last night, every time I closed my eyes, I saw the replay of a cataract eye surgery … it was strange! I guess I had just watched a ton of them!
Yesterday, I got to help Dr. Don Loconte with pre-op and post-op consults. I had the best time! I think I want to be a type of doctor that gets to sit down one on one with her patients in an office. I got to translate between the doctor and the patient. I got to tell the patients where to position their hands, feet, chin, and forehead, in order to look into the eye piece machine for Dr. Don. This was quite difficult. And trying to get the patients to look straight ahead and not look around… wow, tough. I probably said, “Mire recto,” “No mueva la cabeza,” and “Mire la luz” over a hundred times. I would say, “Look at the light,” and some people would look all around. One person even closed their eyes tight! Oh my gosh. Yes, it was frustrating, especially for the doctor, because we couldn’t get good readings on their eyes, but I was getting SO tickled with each patient! I loved to just sit and talk to them before and after the consult. So many interesting personalities!
I got to instruct the patients on how to use the big black spoon to cover one eye and read from the visual acuity chart. You wouldn’t believe some of the things people do! They cover one eye with the spoon. Then, we say, “Now cover the other eye,” and they use their hand to cover the other eye ALSO! And then they say, “I can’t see anything.” Haha!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
So, we had an amazing week at the clinic with our eye surgery team. There were 29 of us, and if you weren’t helping out medically, you were painting the patients’ nails, braiding their hair, or praying with them. It was neat to watch everyone participate.
Last Tuesday, I got my MCAT score back… and I improved and got what I wanted! I was so excited and relieved! The group was so kind and congratulated me and celebrated with me!
I loved translating for the patients all week too. Especially in the OR, where it was critical that I communicate the correct things to the patients. It was my job to relay messages from the doctor to the patient such as, “Please keep still,” “You’re doing a good job,” “It’s almost over,” “Can you see the doctor’s fingers now?” etc. Also, when the patients would muffle something from underneath the tarp, I would have to try to understand what they were saying and translate it for the doctor.
On Thursday, we only had one patient, so afterward, we went out for an excursion. I went to a coffee farm in the middle of the jungle. I saw crazy-looking fruits and a huge tree, which took 55 steps to walk around! Late Thursday night, we played an ultimate Frisbee tournament in the soccer field next to the clinic. It had poured rain all day, so it was super muddy -- we were slipping all over the place and covered in mud by the end of it! It was my first time to play ultimate, and we played past midnight… so fun!
Friday, Macie and I got to travel with the group to Antigua, before they flew out on Saturday. We went with a group zip-lining through the jungle right outside Antigua! We flew over coffee farms and saw the city of La Antigua from above. I got to fly upside down above the trees -- a great time! Our hotel in Antigua was an absolutely gorgeous resort. We had a black infinity pool right outside our hotel room! We went downtown after dinner for a concert in the park, and then came back to hang out around the pool and talk. It was so relaxing and fun!
Saturday morning, we dropped the group off at the airport and said goodbye. :( Dany drove us back to Chicacao. On our way back, we stopped off at a restaurant on the side of the highway for lunch. There were ostriches in a pin right next to the restaurant. We tried to order ostrich burgers from the menu, but they were out!
Today was our last Sunday here! We went to the market and church. I saw my first baptism in the Church of Christ. The baptistery is downstairs below the church, next to the pastor’s kitchen. My “dad,” Papa Pedro, baptized the man, and we got to congratulate him afterwards. Now, I’m waiting for the rain to let up a little, so that I can walk back to my house from Macie’s house.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Today is my last Monday in Guatemala. I am spending this entire week going out with Dr. David Lux to mobile clinics. (I first met him when I was throwing up my first week here.) Today, we went to "Las Margaritas" mobile clinic. I got to talk to Holly on the phone for the first time in a long time... I miss her!
Well, we saw a total of 27 patients at Las Margaritas, which isn't very many. I decided to write down some of the things I saw today, just so that I can remember later...
An older man came in complaining of painful urination. He handed us his lab reports, which said he had an enlarged prostate. Eek. I saw a baby boy with Staphylococcus infection all over his skin. I saw a 5-year-old boy, whose mom had brought him in because of problems with his eyes. I could tell something wasn't right, and Dr. Lux told me the boy had a nervous tick. We sent him off to have a psychoanalysis workup to see if it was a type of neurosis or some other cerebral problem. I got to palpate two people's enlarged spleens... the spleens were huge! You didn't have to be a doctor to know that something wasn't right with a massive bulge in their left side! I listened to Dr. Lux consult a diabetic woman about how to eat. He told her only 5 portions of sugar every day; with sugar including potatoes, rice, tortillas, soda, fruit juice, papaya, bread, cookies, etc. She was shocked that she could only have 3 tortillas at each meal! We also saw a man who came in with a torn cornea. It looked like something had sliced his eye, but he didn't remember ever having been hit with anything. I saw a 3-year-old little boy who had "syndactyly." He only had 4 fingers on his right hand and two of them were fused together. Dr. Lux told me that all embryos start out with their fingers fused together. Then, the cells in between each finger die so the fingers can separate. The little boy is going to have an x-ray to see what bones in his hand he has, to see if plastic surgery is an option. Our last 3 patients were crying babies. Dr. Lux did nothing to them, yet right when they entered the room, they started screaming and grabbing on to their moms. I love little kids and have often thought I would be a pediatrician, but if the very sight of me sends little kids screaming, I don't think I want to do it. It was difficult to hear their lungs and look in their ears. I don't know how pediatricians can make accurate diagnoses without eing about to properly examine the patients! We had some extra time afterward, so I talked with a neighbor girl and got to pet a rooster.
Now, I'm back at Macie's house, drinking coffee while in pours rain outside, waiting for church to start at 6.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Last night, every time I closed my eyes, I saw the replay of a cataract eye surgery … it was strange! I guess I had just watched a ton of them!
Yesterday, I got to help Dr. Don Loconte with pre-op and post-op consults. I had the best time! I think I want to be a type of doctor that gets to sit down one on one with her patients in an office. I got to translate between the doctor and the patient. I got to tell the patients where to position their hands, feet, chin, and forehead, in order to look into the eye piece machine for Dr. Don. This was quite difficult. And trying to get the patients to look straight ahead and not look around… wow, tough. I probably said, “Mire recto,” “No mueva la cabeza,” and “Mire la luz” over a hundred times. I would say, “Look at the light,” and some people would look all around. One person even closed their eyes tight! Oh my gosh. Yes, it was frustrating, especially for the doctor, because we couldn’t get good readings on their eyes, but I was getting SO tickled with each patient! I loved to just sit and talk to them before and after the consult. So many interesting personalities!
I got to instruct the patients on how to use the big black spoon to cover one eye and read from the visual acuity chart. You wouldn’t believe some of the things people do! They cover one eye with the spoon. Then, we say, “Now cover the other eye,” and they use their hand to cover the other eye ALSO! And then they say, “I can’t see anything.” Haha!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
So, we had an amazing week at the clinic with our eye surgery team. There were 29 of us, and if you weren’t helping out medically, you were painting the patients’ nails, braiding their hair, or praying with them. It was neat to watch everyone participate.
Last Tuesday, I got my MCAT score back… and I improved and got what I wanted! I was so excited and relieved! The group was so kind and congratulated me and celebrated with me!
I loved translating for the patients all week too. Especially in the OR, where it was critical that I communicate the correct things to the patients. It was my job to relay messages from the doctor to the patient such as, “Please keep still,” “You’re doing a good job,” “It’s almost over,” “Can you see the doctor’s fingers now?” etc. Also, when the patients would muffle something from underneath the tarp, I would have to try to understand what they were saying and translate it for the doctor.
On Thursday, we only had one patient, so afterward, we went out for an excursion. I went to a coffee farm in the middle of the jungle. I saw crazy-looking fruits and a huge tree, which took 55 steps to walk around! Late Thursday night, we played an ultimate Frisbee tournament in the soccer field next to the clinic. It had poured rain all day, so it was super muddy -- we were slipping all over the place and covered in mud by the end of it! It was my first time to play ultimate, and we played past midnight… so fun!
Friday, Macie and I got to travel with the group to Antigua, before they flew out on Saturday. We went with a group zip-lining through the jungle right outside Antigua! We flew over coffee farms and saw the city of La Antigua from above. I got to fly upside down above the trees -- a great time! Our hotel in Antigua was an absolutely gorgeous resort. We had a black infinity pool right outside our hotel room! We went downtown after dinner for a concert in the park, and then came back to hang out around the pool and talk. It was so relaxing and fun!
Saturday morning, we dropped the group off at the airport and said goodbye. :( Dany drove us back to Chicacao. On our way back, we stopped off at a restaurant on the side of the highway for lunch. There were ostriches in a pin right next to the restaurant. We tried to order ostrich burgers from the menu, but they were out!
Today was our last Sunday here! We went to the market and church. I saw my first baptism in the Church of Christ. The baptistery is downstairs below the church, next to the pastor’s kitchen. My “dad,” Papa Pedro, baptized the man, and we got to congratulate him afterwards. Now, I’m waiting for the rain to let up a little, so that I can walk back to my house from Macie’s house.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Today is my last Monday in Guatemala. I am spending this entire week going out with Dr. David Lux to mobile clinics. (I first met him when I was throwing up my first week here.) Today, we went to "Las Margaritas" mobile clinic. I got to talk to Holly on the phone for the first time in a long time... I miss her!
Well, we saw a total of 27 patients at Las Margaritas, which isn't very many. I decided to write down some of the things I saw today, just so that I can remember later...
An older man came in complaining of painful urination. He handed us his lab reports, which said he had an enlarged prostate. Eek. I saw a baby boy with Staphylococcus infection all over his skin. I saw a 5-year-old boy, whose mom had brought him in because of problems with his eyes. I could tell something wasn't right, and Dr. Lux told me the boy had a nervous tick. We sent him off to have a psychoanalysis workup to see if it was a type of neurosis or some other cerebral problem. I got to palpate two people's enlarged spleens... the spleens were huge! You didn't have to be a doctor to know that something wasn't right with a massive bulge in their left side! I listened to Dr. Lux consult a diabetic woman about how to eat. He told her only 5 portions of sugar every day; with sugar including potatoes, rice, tortillas, soda, fruit juice, papaya, bread, cookies, etc. She was shocked that she could only have 3 tortillas at each meal! We also saw a man who came in with a torn cornea. It looked like something had sliced his eye, but he didn't remember ever having been hit with anything. I saw a 3-year-old little boy who had "syndactyly." He only had 4 fingers on his right hand and two of them were fused together. Dr. Lux told me that all embryos start out with their fingers fused together. Then, the cells in between each finger die so the fingers can separate. The little boy is going to have an x-ray to see what bones in his hand he has, to see if plastic surgery is an option. Our last 3 patients were crying babies. Dr. Lux did nothing to them, yet right when they entered the room, they started screaming and grabbing on to their moms. I love little kids and have often thought I would be a pediatrician, but if the very sight of me sends little kids screaming, I don't think I want to do it. It was difficult to hear their lungs and look in their ears. I don't know how pediatricians can make accurate diagnoses without eing about to properly examine the patients! We had some extra time afterward, so I talked with a neighbor girl and got to pet a rooster.
Now, I'm back at Macie's house, drinking coffee while in pours rain outside, waiting for church to start at 6.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Ophthamology Surgery Team
Monday, July 19, 2010
This morning, I got to walk patients to Dr. Don, an optometrist, for a check-up and then back to their beds. I enjoyed leading the practically blind little women back and forth, trying to get them to position their foreheads correctly in the eye machine, and constantly repeating “No se mueva. Por favor, no mueva los ojos.” Haha, some just couldn’t sit still.
In the afternoon, I got to shadow in the OR. We had an amazing patient named Cesar. He was a Guatemalan, living in the U.S. He flew here on a hope and a prayer that he would be a surgery candidate. He was 47 and already had bad cataracts in both eyes. He was a recent believer, after he entered a church and told the people, “I don’t need food. I need God.” He could hardly see. He spoke English well, and jovially carried on with the doctor while the operation was going on. When the doctor finished, he sat Cesar up in bed, removed the drape, and asked Cesar to look ahead. He looked at Lauren and said, “You’re so beautiful!” and looked at Cal and said, “And you’re so handsome!” It was an amazing miracle to witness this once blind man, seeing for the first time in a long time! When Cesar commented on how handsome Cal was, the doctor joking said, “Oh no! I must have put the wrong lens in!” It was one of the best surgeries to be a part of.
Soon afterward though, we had a patient that was a very difficult case. She was very anxious. She seemed claustrophobic underneath the drape and would not stop moving around. While the doctor’s scapel was in her eye, she squirmed and reached her hand up to her face! We pleaded with her to sit still, but she moaned and loudly complained about the pain, even though the doctor gave her three times the normal amount of local anesthesia. She was so squirmy, we had to have two people hold her arms down, one hold her legs down, and one hold her head down. And even then, the doctor had to pull out early, without inserting the implant. He removed the cataract, but couldn’t replace the lens because she would have jumped off the table in pain. It was a very tense case, and we were all glad when it was over.
In one day, I experienced the blessings AND the hardships that a surgeon goes through each day.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Last night, every time I closed my eyes, I saw the replay of a cataract eye surgery … it was strange! I guess I had just watched a ton of them!
Yesterday, I got to help Dr. Don Loconte with pre-op and post-op consults. I had the best time! I think I want to be a type of doctor that gets to sit down one on one with her patients in an office. I got to translate between the doctor and the patient. I got to tell the patients where to position their hands, feet, chin, and forehead, in order to look into the eye piece machine for Dr. Don. This was quite difficult. And trying to get the patients to look straight ahead and not look around… wow, tough. I probably said, “Mire recto,” “No mueva la cabeza,” and “Mire la luz” over a hundred times. I would say, “Look at the light,” and some people would look all around. One person even closed their eyes tight! Oh my gosh. Yes, it was frustrating, especially for the doctor, because we couldn’t get good readings on their eyes, but I was getting SO tickled with each patient! I loved to just sit and talk to them before and after the consult. So many interesting personalities!
I got to instruct the patients on how to use the big black spoon to cover one eye and read from the visual acuity chart. You wouldn’t believe some of the things people do! They cover one eye with the spoon. Then, we say, “Now cover the other eye,” and they use their hand to cover the other eye ALSO! And then they say, “I can’t see anything.” Haha!
This morning, I got to walk patients to Dr. Don, an optometrist, for a check-up and then back to their beds. I enjoyed leading the practically blind little women back and forth, trying to get them to position their foreheads correctly in the eye machine, and constantly repeating “No se mueva. Por favor, no mueva los ojos.” Haha, some just couldn’t sit still.
In the afternoon, I got to shadow in the OR. We had an amazing patient named Cesar. He was a Guatemalan, living in the U.S. He flew here on a hope and a prayer that he would be a surgery candidate. He was 47 and already had bad cataracts in both eyes. He was a recent believer, after he entered a church and told the people, “I don’t need food. I need God.” He could hardly see. He spoke English well, and jovially carried on with the doctor while the operation was going on. When the doctor finished, he sat Cesar up in bed, removed the drape, and asked Cesar to look ahead. He looked at Lauren and said, “You’re so beautiful!” and looked at Cal and said, “And you’re so handsome!” It was an amazing miracle to witness this once blind man, seeing for the first time in a long time! When Cesar commented on how handsome Cal was, the doctor joking said, “Oh no! I must have put the wrong lens in!” It was one of the best surgeries to be a part of.
Soon afterward though, we had a patient that was a very difficult case. She was very anxious. She seemed claustrophobic underneath the drape and would not stop moving around. While the doctor’s scapel was in her eye, she squirmed and reached her hand up to her face! We pleaded with her to sit still, but she moaned and loudly complained about the pain, even though the doctor gave her three times the normal amount of local anesthesia. She was so squirmy, we had to have two people hold her arms down, one hold her legs down, and one hold her head down. And even then, the doctor had to pull out early, without inserting the implant. He removed the cataract, but couldn’t replace the lens because she would have jumped off the table in pain. It was a very tense case, and we were all glad when it was over.
In one day, I experienced the blessings AND the hardships that a surgeon goes through each day.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Last night, every time I closed my eyes, I saw the replay of a cataract eye surgery … it was strange! I guess I had just watched a ton of them!
Yesterday, I got to help Dr. Don Loconte with pre-op and post-op consults. I had the best time! I think I want to be a type of doctor that gets to sit down one on one with her patients in an office. I got to translate between the doctor and the patient. I got to tell the patients where to position their hands, feet, chin, and forehead, in order to look into the eye piece machine for Dr. Don. This was quite difficult. And trying to get the patients to look straight ahead and not look around… wow, tough. I probably said, “Mire recto,” “No mueva la cabeza,” and “Mire la luz” over a hundred times. I would say, “Look at the light,” and some people would look all around. One person even closed their eyes tight! Oh my gosh. Yes, it was frustrating, especially for the doctor, because we couldn’t get good readings on their eyes, but I was getting SO tickled with each patient! I loved to just sit and talk to them before and after the consult. So many interesting personalities!
I got to instruct the patients on how to use the big black spoon to cover one eye and read from the visual acuity chart. You wouldn’t believe some of the things people do! They cover one eye with the spoon. Then, we say, “Now cover the other eye,” and they use their hand to cover the other eye ALSO! And then they say, “I can’t see anything.” Haha!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Weekend Fun and Eye Surgery Team
This past weekend, Macie and I caught a ride to Guatemala City, two hours away from where we live. My suitemate for next semester, Jessica Castro, actually lives in Guatemala City! We didn’t really know each other; we had just met once. She graciously invited us to stay at her house and show us around the city. Her family was very welcoming to us and even gave US presents… We had a fabulous time with Jessica! We walked to a nearby mall - it was huge with 5 stories, many restaurants, a movie theater, and a carousel inside. We thoroughly enjoyed shopping around, and then we ended up at an aquarium restaurant. There were fish underneath our feet under the floor, and we got to go inside the huge aquarium with a shark, eel, puffer fish, and a scuba diver! Afterward, we grabbed some authentic Guatemalan coffee and went to the theater to watch “Eclipse.” It was in English with Spanish subtitles… so good! :)
The next day, we took a taxi to the airport to meet the American eye surgery group that was flying in. We rode with them in a bus back to the clinic. Three hours later, we arrived at the clinic in Montellano, and immediately we began eye consults. I helped with the visual acuity chart tests. I instructed the patients to stand behind the line, cover one eye with the spoon, and read me the chart, if they could. We couldn’t use the typical E chart, with all the alphabet letters, because many are illiterate, so we just used a chart with all E’s. The patients had to tell me whether the E was facing right, left, up, or down. I got so tickled watching the patients try to mimic the way the E was facing with their bodies, rather than simply telling me the direction. The consults lasted until 10 p.m. Macie and I decided to stay at the clinic hotel with the group this week, instead of with our host families, because finding a ride from Chicacao to Montellano was such a hassle every day.
Today, I got to observe in the operating room. I saw Dr. Jerry Swale from Illinois remove a cataract from an 80-year-old woman. I was the “translator” in the operating room. I got to forewarn the patient what the doctor was about to do, monitor her pain throughout the surgery, and keep her informed post-op. She was so brave. The doctor had to zoom in and focus his microscope manually because we lacked some equipment that we have in the States. Also, we didn’t have an anesthesiologist, so our patients just received local anesthesia. They were completely conscious and their eyeballs were moving around looking at us, while the doctor cut into their eyeballs… it was creepy! I would have definitely required some anxiety medicine! I saw the doctor slip the cataract out and lay it on the patient’s chest. I got to feel it between my fingers… it felt like a hard booger. Then, Dr. Swale inserted the new lens implant, and that was it. Right after he slipped the new one in, he asked the patient to open her eyes. She was able to tell him how many fingers he was holding up. Before surgery, she could only detect up-close hand movement. Crazy cool.
I’ll be working with this ophthalmology team here at Clinica Ezell through Thursday of this week. It’s already so fascinating, and the people are so kind! Thanks for your continued prayers. Please pray that the surgeries will run smoothly and that we will be able to help the patients, despite lack of certain instruments and machines. Dios te bendiga!!
The next day, we took a taxi to the airport to meet the American eye surgery group that was flying in. We rode with them in a bus back to the clinic. Three hours later, we arrived at the clinic in Montellano, and immediately we began eye consults. I helped with the visual acuity chart tests. I instructed the patients to stand behind the line, cover one eye with the spoon, and read me the chart, if they could. We couldn’t use the typical E chart, with all the alphabet letters, because many are illiterate, so we just used a chart with all E’s. The patients had to tell me whether the E was facing right, left, up, or down. I got so tickled watching the patients try to mimic the way the E was facing with their bodies, rather than simply telling me the direction. The consults lasted until 10 p.m. Macie and I decided to stay at the clinic hotel with the group this week, instead of with our host families, because finding a ride from Chicacao to Montellano was such a hassle every day.
Today, I got to observe in the operating room. I saw Dr. Jerry Swale from Illinois remove a cataract from an 80-year-old woman. I was the “translator” in the operating room. I got to forewarn the patient what the doctor was about to do, monitor her pain throughout the surgery, and keep her informed post-op. She was so brave. The doctor had to zoom in and focus his microscope manually because we lacked some equipment that we have in the States. Also, we didn’t have an anesthesiologist, so our patients just received local anesthesia. They were completely conscious and their eyeballs were moving around looking at us, while the doctor cut into their eyeballs… it was creepy! I would have definitely required some anxiety medicine! I saw the doctor slip the cataract out and lay it on the patient’s chest. I got to feel it between my fingers… it felt like a hard booger. Then, Dr. Swale inserted the new lens implant, and that was it. Right after he slipped the new one in, he asked the patient to open her eyes. She was able to tell him how many fingers he was holding up. Before surgery, she could only detect up-close hand movement. Crazy cool.
I’ll be working with this ophthalmology team here at Clinica Ezell through Thursday of this week. It’s already so fascinating, and the people are so kind! Thanks for your continued prayers. Please pray that the surgeries will run smoothly and that we will be able to help the patients, despite lack of certain instruments and machines. Dios te bendiga!!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Looking for the Beautiful and Unexpected in the Day
I called my mom this morning, and we got to pray together over the phone. She prayed that God would show me something interesting or special today. I appreciated that a lot, and God DID give me something amazing today!!
I went to a mobile clinic today that is an HOUR away, and is basically a jungle and waterfalls. It's very picturesque, and I have been begging my co-workers to bring me up to the waterfall. They said it would be too tiresome, so I figured it was a no.
Then, a little boy, 2 years old, came in the clinic. All the workers knew him and immediately welcomed him. His head was wrapped in a white bandana, and I could tell he was a little developmentally delayed. Soon, I found out that "Domingo" or "Mingo" had had surgery 2 months ago in the U.S. Apparently, he was born with "meningocele," a form of spina bifida, where he had a large bulge on his forehead and back, where a part of his brain and his spinal cord were protruding. Today was just a checkup to see how the scars were healing and to make sure that there was no infection. He was the skirmiest little kid, wanting to grab and touch everything. He had the biggest grin and was just a downright happy kid. I thought, "This is the neat thing God brought into my life today, for sure."
Then, Valentin, the guy I have been working with all week, asked the doctor if he could take me to go see the waterfalls, because I had been asking all day. It was really slow anyways, and so we got to go! We drove halfway up the mountain, which was crazy. I thought we weren’t gonna make it up some of those rocky, steep hills! Then we got out and hiked the rest of the way up. I got right up close to the pounding waterfall, and the mist was spraying us like crazy! I got some pictures, and then we sat down and ate our lunch up there. It was so neat! I was sad that Macie didn't get to go though. :( Just the mist in my face and the roaring of the waterfall was amazing. I thought, "This for sure is my special thing for the day from God!"
I love it when God answers specific prayers! Thanks for your prayers as well, and God bless you for praying for me!
I went to a mobile clinic today that is an HOUR away, and is basically a jungle and waterfalls. It's very picturesque, and I have been begging my co-workers to bring me up to the waterfall. They said it would be too tiresome, so I figured it was a no.
Then, a little boy, 2 years old, came in the clinic. All the workers knew him and immediately welcomed him. His head was wrapped in a white bandana, and I could tell he was a little developmentally delayed. Soon, I found out that "Domingo" or "Mingo" had had surgery 2 months ago in the U.S. Apparently, he was born with "meningocele," a form of spina bifida, where he had a large bulge on his forehead and back, where a part of his brain and his spinal cord were protruding. Today was just a checkup to see how the scars were healing and to make sure that there was no infection. He was the skirmiest little kid, wanting to grab and touch everything. He had the biggest grin and was just a downright happy kid. I thought, "This is the neat thing God brought into my life today, for sure."
Then, Valentin, the guy I have been working with all week, asked the doctor if he could take me to go see the waterfalls, because I had been asking all day. It was really slow anyways, and so we got to go! We drove halfway up the mountain, which was crazy. I thought we weren’t gonna make it up some of those rocky, steep hills! Then we got out and hiked the rest of the way up. I got right up close to the pounding waterfall, and the mist was spraying us like crazy! I got some pictures, and then we sat down and ate our lunch up there. It was so neat! I was sad that Macie didn't get to go though. :( Just the mist in my face and the roaring of the waterfall was amazing. I thought, "This for sure is my special thing for the day from God!"
I love it when God answers specific prayers! Thanks for your prayers as well, and God bless you for praying for me!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Randomness
So, we’re back in Chicacao! It’s strange, but I actually felt like I was coming “home”! So, I just have some random stuff to blog. I have learned lately to be careful with my accents and pronunciations, because it makes a big difference. For instance, “vejiga” means “bladder” but it also means “balloon,” like the ones your blow up for birthday parties. “Catarata” means “cataract,” like the clouding of the eye, but it also means “waterfall.” “Año” means “year,” like Happy Birthday (Feliz Cumpleaños), but “ano” without the mark above the n means “anus.” Be careful when you’re asking someone how many years they have. :) “Mamá” with an accent means “mother,” but “mama” without a tilde means “breast.” “Papá” with an accent mark means “father,” but “papa” means “potato.”
Also random, but this made me laugh. The letter ‘x’ in the Quiche language makes the “sh” sound. So, I had a patient named “Xirle,” which is pronounced “Shirley.” How weird!
Also, I found this verse that I really like. I’m trying to apply it to how I live each day:
“He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.” Job 33:28
Also random, but this made me laugh. The letter ‘x’ in the Quiche language makes the “sh” sound. So, I had a patient named “Xirle,” which is pronounced “Shirley.” How weird!
Also, I found this verse that I really like. I’m trying to apply it to how I live each day:
“He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.” Job 33:28
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Last Clinic Day in Chichi
I worked with Melinda the physician assistant today. I was nervous because she was used to having Paco as a translator, and I’m no Paco. Well, I spilt my water bottle all over my pants before we even got going, so I got to ride in the truck bed on the way to the clinic to air out - so fun! My camera got wet and started acting funny though. “Paxtul 2” clinic was really beautiful with an amazing view from the rooftop of hundreds of avocado trees. Guatemalan Dr. Josephina Lux saw 46 ABC patients (sponsored children), and Sherry and Melinda split all the “sick” patients.
One of our first patients was a 6-year-old boy named Manuel whose mom had brought him in because he was so fearful, he couldn’t sleep at night. Every time it rained, he cried because he was afraid of another hurricane or mudslide. I got to translate for Matt Swale, our prayer leader, as Matt told little Manuel about God and how God is big and takes care of us. Then, a man from the village came and we all laid hands on him. As we did, little Manuel knelt to the floor - it was so precious. We all prayed over him out loud in different languages. It was moving, and I could feel the Spirit’s presence. So cool. I learned many new words today, and Melinda was a hoot to work with. She tried to talk me into going the physician assistant route, and she was pretty convincing. We’ll see; I get my latest MCAT results in 20 days.
Rick told us that we do get to stay with the group tomorrow, and we will ride back to Chicacao early Monday morning. That means we get to shop tomorrow at the Chichi market, the LARGEST market in Central America! Then we will drive to Guatemala City with the group and stay in a hotel Sunday night. Dr. Walter Sierra will pick us up on his way to work at the Clinic Ezell Monday morning.
I am feeling much better! Thank you for the prayers! I told some American nurses here my complaints about low blood pressure and lightheadedness, and they said it sounds like a “vasovagal response.” They told me some things to help, and I can already tell a difference. Such a difference!
One of our first patients was a 6-year-old boy named Manuel whose mom had brought him in because he was so fearful, he couldn’t sleep at night. Every time it rained, he cried because he was afraid of another hurricane or mudslide. I got to translate for Matt Swale, our prayer leader, as Matt told little Manuel about God and how God is big and takes care of us. Then, a man from the village came and we all laid hands on him. As we did, little Manuel knelt to the floor - it was so precious. We all prayed over him out loud in different languages. It was moving, and I could feel the Spirit’s presence. So cool. I learned many new words today, and Melinda was a hoot to work with. She tried to talk me into going the physician assistant route, and she was pretty convincing. We’ll see; I get my latest MCAT results in 20 days.
Rick told us that we do get to stay with the group tomorrow, and we will ride back to Chicacao early Monday morning. That means we get to shop tomorrow at the Chichi market, the LARGEST market in Central America! Then we will drive to Guatemala City with the group and stay in a hotel Sunday night. Dr. Walter Sierra will pick us up on his way to work at the Clinic Ezell Monday morning.
I am feeling much better! Thank you for the prayers! I told some American nurses here my complaints about low blood pressure and lightheadedness, and they said it sounds like a “vasovagal response.” They told me some things to help, and I can already tell a difference. Such a difference!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Translating in the Highlands
Today was my first day to translate alone in the clinic... it was so exciting!! We arrived in Chichicastenango ("Chichi") Wednesday night. The hotel here is gorgeous and I have a huge room with a balcony overlooking the misty Guatemalan mountains. Pretty sweet. We are also here with 50+ other Americans, which has been such a nice change! Speaking English and hanging around this American medical group has made me a whole lot less homesick. I am working with some really neat people from all over the States.
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday we go out and do mobile clinics. Yesterday, I observed the American and Guatemalan doctors, and they were very helpful, teaching me things. But today, it was just the patient, the American doctor, a Quiche translator, and me. The Quiche translator would translate the patient's complaint from Quiche to Spanish. Then I would translate it from Spanish to English for the American doctor. Then he would tell me what to ask her and the process in reverse would occur. It took a while, but it was SOO neat to be the intermediate. The doctor waited on me to hear what was wrong.
There are a lot of parasites and gastritis here. I'm constantly learning new medical words and keeping my dictionary handy. Today, I got to tell a 42-year-old woman that her stomach pain was because she was pregnant! Crazy that I got to deliver the news! I learned how to put a stethoscope on someone's chest and scratch around on the person in order to locate the outline of the liver!
I am enjoying American company and hearing them voice things I have been thinking about being here. Very refreshing. Thank you for all your prayers. They are heavily appreciated and please keep them coming!
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday we go out and do mobile clinics. Yesterday, I observed the American and Guatemalan doctors, and they were very helpful, teaching me things. But today, it was just the patient, the American doctor, a Quiche translator, and me. The Quiche translator would translate the patient's complaint from Quiche to Spanish. Then I would translate it from Spanish to English for the American doctor. Then he would tell me what to ask her and the process in reverse would occur. It took a while, but it was SOO neat to be the intermediate. The doctor waited on me to hear what was wrong.
There are a lot of parasites and gastritis here. I'm constantly learning new medical words and keeping my dictionary handy. Today, I got to tell a 42-year-old woman that her stomach pain was because she was pregnant! Crazy that I got to deliver the news! I learned how to put a stethoscope on someone's chest and scratch around on the person in order to locate the outline of the liver!
I am enjoying American company and hearing them voice things I have been thinking about being here. Very refreshing. Thank you for all your prayers. They are heavily appreciated and please keep them coming!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Clinic with Dr. Lux and Heading to Chichi
Below is my journal from yesterday. Tomorrow I leave for Chichicastenango to work with a American surgeon team in translating!:
Monday, July 05, 2010
Today I got to shadow Dr. David Lux. He was really good about teaching me during the whole appointment, as he was diagnosing the patient and after the patient had left. He is genuinely concerned with each of his patients. He touches them on the shoulder and offers to pray for them at the end of their appointment. Granted, getting through our 33 patients today took more time, but it was more rewarding.
I got to see an older woman whose uterus had prolapsed and whose bladder had fallen and was coming out her vagina. Eek. I saw several little kids with staph infection on their skin. I saw one man who was complaining of problems inside his ear. After looking in his ears, Dr. Lux told him that a tiny spider was living in there! We didn’t see the spider but there were small webs with tiny yellow eggs in his ear! We saw one lady who brought in lots of paperwork and rambled on and on for nearly half an hour about her problem. It was obvious that she was disputing Dr. Lux’s opinion. I got lost near the beginning and had to force myself to appear attentive. I guess she had been told by one doctor that she had cancer and it was a difficult case. Anyways, I was ready to move on, but Dr. Lux offered to pray for her at the end of the consult. She teared up and it was apparent that her defenses came down. She cried as we prayed over her for peace and no fear for the future and for trust in God and not what man says. I guess you never know what’s really going on inside a person.
I have concluded that several problems are very common in Guatemala: diabetes Type II, kidney problems, and malnutrition in kids. I asked Dr. Lux about these epidemics, and he told me that diabetes Type II occurs a lot because of lack of exercise and poor eating habits. I’ve noticed that no one here exercises, and Dr. Lux said it’s because many workers don’t have time to exercise. They use any spare time to tend to their kids or work some more. Also, even though a person might have severe diabetes and high blood sugar, I have noticed that they still eat their 4-5 tortillas with each meal. Can’t break a habit, I guess. Also, very few Guatemalans drink “agua pura” regularly. Most Guatemalans prefer to drink frescos (sugary fruit drinks), atol (a corn-based drink), or soda. This lack of water intake is the primary cause of renal problems. My “sister” Veli, whom I live with here, is 29 years old and has kidney problems. She has already had a kidney transplant, and her mother died of kidney problems. Also, many kids here are skinny. It’s not that they don’t eat. It’s that they don’t eat good foods. They will eat tortillas, rice, bread, and cookies, but don’t want to eat their beans, eggs, and meat. Their stomachs get full off of food that doesn’t provide lasting nutritional benefits. But all adults here are NOT skinny. I guess that kind of eating since childhood and the complete absence of exercise catch up with you.
I learned a lot today, including how to make balloon animals, in our spare time. Tomorrow, I will shadow Dr. Lux again at a clinic where we will see ABC kids. ABC is a government program similar to World Vision, where kids are sponsored through patrons’ support. We will measure their height, weight, and nutrition level to see if they are on track for their age.
If you could, please pray that I will feel my best while I’m at the clinics, so that I can put all my energy into absorbing information and helping the patients. Today, I think just because of the “stress” of the unknown and a new situation, I was light-headed all morning. The afternoon was much better, but I don’t like feeling crumby during all my mornings in a new environment. I sincerely appreciate your thoughts and prayers!
Monday, July 05, 2010
Today I got to shadow Dr. David Lux. He was really good about teaching me during the whole appointment, as he was diagnosing the patient and after the patient had left. He is genuinely concerned with each of his patients. He touches them on the shoulder and offers to pray for them at the end of their appointment. Granted, getting through our 33 patients today took more time, but it was more rewarding.
I got to see an older woman whose uterus had prolapsed and whose bladder had fallen and was coming out her vagina. Eek. I saw several little kids with staph infection on their skin. I saw one man who was complaining of problems inside his ear. After looking in his ears, Dr. Lux told him that a tiny spider was living in there! We didn’t see the spider but there were small webs with tiny yellow eggs in his ear! We saw one lady who brought in lots of paperwork and rambled on and on for nearly half an hour about her problem. It was obvious that she was disputing Dr. Lux’s opinion. I got lost near the beginning and had to force myself to appear attentive. I guess she had been told by one doctor that she had cancer and it was a difficult case. Anyways, I was ready to move on, but Dr. Lux offered to pray for her at the end of the consult. She teared up and it was apparent that her defenses came down. She cried as we prayed over her for peace and no fear for the future and for trust in God and not what man says. I guess you never know what’s really going on inside a person.
I have concluded that several problems are very common in Guatemala: diabetes Type II, kidney problems, and malnutrition in kids. I asked Dr. Lux about these epidemics, and he told me that diabetes Type II occurs a lot because of lack of exercise and poor eating habits. I’ve noticed that no one here exercises, and Dr. Lux said it’s because many workers don’t have time to exercise. They use any spare time to tend to their kids or work some more. Also, even though a person might have severe diabetes and high blood sugar, I have noticed that they still eat their 4-5 tortillas with each meal. Can’t break a habit, I guess. Also, very few Guatemalans drink “agua pura” regularly. Most Guatemalans prefer to drink frescos (sugary fruit drinks), atol (a corn-based drink), or soda. This lack of water intake is the primary cause of renal problems. My “sister” Veli, whom I live with here, is 29 years old and has kidney problems. She has already had a kidney transplant, and her mother died of kidney problems. Also, many kids here are skinny. It’s not that they don’t eat. It’s that they don’t eat good foods. They will eat tortillas, rice, bread, and cookies, but don’t want to eat their beans, eggs, and meat. Their stomachs get full off of food that doesn’t provide lasting nutritional benefits. But all adults here are NOT skinny. I guess that kind of eating since childhood and the complete absence of exercise catch up with you.
I learned a lot today, including how to make balloon animals, in our spare time. Tomorrow, I will shadow Dr. Lux again at a clinic where we will see ABC kids. ABC is a government program similar to World Vision, where kids are sponsored through patrons’ support. We will measure their height, weight, and nutrition level to see if they are on track for their age.
If you could, please pray that I will feel my best while I’m at the clinics, so that I can put all my energy into absorbing information and helping the patients. Today, I think just because of the “stress” of the unknown and a new situation, I was light-headed all morning. The afternoon was much better, but I don’t like feeling crumby during all my mornings in a new environment. I sincerely appreciate your thoughts and prayers!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Feeling Better and Heading to Chichi
I just wanted to update my blog, because last time I wrote, I was sick, but I'm feeling much better now! The doctor prescribed me Cipro and that took care of things. This weekend, I also started taking Effortil and iron supplements for my low blood pressure. Hopefully they will help while I’m in the clinical setting and working. We had a 3-day weekend because of a holiday here, so I'm ready to go back to the clinic tomorrow!
I miss home and lots of things about the States, but I was able to buy a phone this weekend that actually has reception, so I can communicate with my parents. Much better. Even with the phone, it's been rough, and I don't know why. I asked my dad today why being here is so much more difficult than other places I've gone. He said either it's forcing me way out of my comfort zone, it’s different than my expectations, or Satan wants me to be discouraged since God has something big planned for me very soon. I know for sure that the first two are true, and I like to hope God does have something big in store for me soon. He wouldn't substantially provide for me to come here and then leave me alone. I'm clinging to that promise right now.
Today was 4th of July and I went to Macie's host family's house. They made us hamburguesas con queso (cheeseburgers) and papas fritas (French fries)… they were SO delicious!! Then Macie and I made chocolate chip cookies for our families. Finding all the ingredients was a big ordeal. We ended using World Cup chocolate soccer balls as chocolate chips!
Tomorrow I shadow a different doctor at the clinic, Dr. David Lux. He is about 30 years old and was the one who came to check on me when I was sick in bed last week. Then Wednesday, I leave for the Highlands about three hours away, where I will be helping as a translator. The people there in Chichicastenango (called “Chichi”) speak Quiche. Someone will translate the patient’s Quiche to Spanish, and then I will be translating Spanish to English for the American doctor team. I’m not sure I’m qualified for that, but I’m excited about the possibility of interpreting. I will be staying in a hotel in Chichi, Wednesday through the following Monday.
I still covet your prayers and knowing that you are praying gives me immense strength. Thank you!
I miss home and lots of things about the States, but I was able to buy a phone this weekend that actually has reception, so I can communicate with my parents. Much better. Even with the phone, it's been rough, and I don't know why. I asked my dad today why being here is so much more difficult than other places I've gone. He said either it's forcing me way out of my comfort zone, it’s different than my expectations, or Satan wants me to be discouraged since God has something big planned for me very soon. I know for sure that the first two are true, and I like to hope God does have something big in store for me soon. He wouldn't substantially provide for me to come here and then leave me alone. I'm clinging to that promise right now.
Today was 4th of July and I went to Macie's host family's house. They made us hamburguesas con queso (cheeseburgers) and papas fritas (French fries)… they were SO delicious!! Then Macie and I made chocolate chip cookies for our families. Finding all the ingredients was a big ordeal. We ended using World Cup chocolate soccer balls as chocolate chips!
Tomorrow I shadow a different doctor at the clinic, Dr. David Lux. He is about 30 years old and was the one who came to check on me when I was sick in bed last week. Then Wednesday, I leave for the Highlands about three hours away, where I will be helping as a translator. The people there in Chichicastenango (called “Chichi”) speak Quiche. Someone will translate the patient’s Quiche to Spanish, and then I will be translating Spanish to English for the American doctor team. I’m not sure I’m qualified for that, but I’m excited about the possibility of interpreting. I will be staying in a hotel in Chichi, Wednesday through the following Monday.
I still covet your prayers and knowing that you are praying gives me immense strength. Thank you!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
First Mobile Clinic and First Food Poisoning
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
I’m at home right now, skipping work because I got sick last night. Macie got sick the night before with food poisoning, and she felt a lot worse than I did. I only vomited once but my stomach was all cramped up for a long time beforehand. But before I got sick, I had a good day at my first mobile clinic! I got to go to Samayac with Dr. Walter Sierra.
We drove 45 minutes to get to Samayac around 9 a.m., and there were already about 50 people there who had been waiting in line since 7:30 a.m. They each had a number. Dr. Sierra set up in a small room in the church there. I helped Valentin, the Health Promoter, find each person’s chart and get their information. I got to take and record each person’s blood pressure and pulse before they saw the doctor. With babies and small kids, I weighed them instead of taking their blood pressure. I took them out back and hung them from a scale!
The waiting room was full of sick Guatemalan people. Lots of women holding their babies and some men. Tons of flies everywhere! The women had washcloths that they wore on their shoulders. I wondered what they were for, but soon found out they were for constantly swatting the flies.
I had warned people that I may pass out because I have fainted during my first day back in the hospital setting every summer. I didn’t actually pass out, but I while I was taking everyone’s blood pressure, I felt very light-headed and dizzy. So I took my own blood pressure. It was 85/56 with pulse of 72. (Normal is 120/80.) Ugh. I had eaten a HUGE breakfast that morning and had stayed seated all morning, trying to avoid a drop in a pressure. Guess that didn’t help. My pressure just drops a lot when I am nervous or anxious about being in a new situation.
Once the initial work had been done on all the patients, I got to sit in with Dr. Sierra while he diagnosed the patients. He would say to them in Spanish, “How are we doing? Tell us.” And then the patients would proceed to ramble off their story, which I could only catch bits and pieces of. We saw several intestinal parasites, an eyelid cyst, psoriasis, tonsillitis, fungus, and urinary tract infections. I learned many new Spanish medical terms while there. After a while, Dr. Sierra said to me, “Okay, now the next patient is all yours.” What?! I could barely understand their full story in Spanish, and I didn’t have all the medical knowledge to make a good diagnosis! Yet he put the chart in front of me and gave me the pen. When the patients entered, I listened intently to them. Thank goodness, Dr. Sierra still asked the patients questions. But then he would turn to me and say, “What do you think?” He would either confirm or question what I said, and then I would write the diagnosis and treatment down on the chart, as he helped tell me what to write.
Once, a young girl about my age entered the room with her mom and with her baby nursing at her breast. She was small, thin, and looked very young to me. She was complaining of lower stomach pains. She was embarrassed to get up on the table for us to feel around on her stomach. There definitely was something hard in her stomach. Dr. Sierra asked me what I think. I said, “I think she might be pregnant.” When he questioned the girl, she and her mom defiantly said there was no way she could be pregnant. Nevertheless, the doctor ordered a pregnancy test. She came back 15 minutes later with her chart in hand. The test result: “positivo.” When we told her, she was in denial. She said she hadn’t had her period for 3 months, but she didn’t have a husband or boyfriend. When we questioned her about her sexual activity, she wouldn’t give us a straight answer. She just said, “No,” and shook her head. I don’t think she was going to admit anything with her mom in the room. Wow, what an experience.
For lunch, my host mom had packed me the same food that Macie and I think made Macie deathly ill the night before, so I didn’t eat it. Instead, I ate the rest of my packed lunch: lots of strawberries and a big strawberry slush and tortillas. Soon after, I felt really crumby (maybe too many strawberries?). I just wanted to get back home and lie down. When I finally made it home, I lied down in the dark in my room. Papa Pedro, sweet thing, tried to help. Eventually, my whole family came in to check on me, and they prayed for me. I was grateful for all their concern and help, but all I wanted to do was lie in the dark and be able to throw up. My mom Angelica called the other doctor from the clinic, Dr. Lux, so he came to visit me. He gave me an antibiotic and rehydrating salts to drink. He was a younger guy and was very kind.
So I skipped work today and have been sleeping all day off and on. Angelica has been so kind, going out to buy me Gatorades, mixing and preparing my rehydrating drinks, waking me up to take my pills on time, emptying my throw up bucket, and checking on me a lot. We talked, and in the future, instead of meat, potatoes, and beans for my lunch, she agreed to make me jelly sandwiches. Much safer, I think.
I really appreciate your prayers, and I ask that right now, you especially pray that God would help me to feel better (no drops in blood pressure, no fainting, no throwing up, no missing back home), so that I can enjoy this experience more and be used by God here.
I’m at home right now, skipping work because I got sick last night. Macie got sick the night before with food poisoning, and she felt a lot worse than I did. I only vomited once but my stomach was all cramped up for a long time beforehand. But before I got sick, I had a good day at my first mobile clinic! I got to go to Samayac with Dr. Walter Sierra.
We drove 45 minutes to get to Samayac around 9 a.m., and there were already about 50 people there who had been waiting in line since 7:30 a.m. They each had a number. Dr. Sierra set up in a small room in the church there. I helped Valentin, the Health Promoter, find each person’s chart and get their information. I got to take and record each person’s blood pressure and pulse before they saw the doctor. With babies and small kids, I weighed them instead of taking their blood pressure. I took them out back and hung them from a scale!
The waiting room was full of sick Guatemalan people. Lots of women holding their babies and some men. Tons of flies everywhere! The women had washcloths that they wore on their shoulders. I wondered what they were for, but soon found out they were for constantly swatting the flies.
I had warned people that I may pass out because I have fainted during my first day back in the hospital setting every summer. I didn’t actually pass out, but I while I was taking everyone’s blood pressure, I felt very light-headed and dizzy. So I took my own blood pressure. It was 85/56 with pulse of 72. (Normal is 120/80.) Ugh. I had eaten a HUGE breakfast that morning and had stayed seated all morning, trying to avoid a drop in a pressure. Guess that didn’t help. My pressure just drops a lot when I am nervous or anxious about being in a new situation.
Once the initial work had been done on all the patients, I got to sit in with Dr. Sierra while he diagnosed the patients. He would say to them in Spanish, “How are we doing? Tell us.” And then the patients would proceed to ramble off their story, which I could only catch bits and pieces of. We saw several intestinal parasites, an eyelid cyst, psoriasis, tonsillitis, fungus, and urinary tract infections. I learned many new Spanish medical terms while there. After a while, Dr. Sierra said to me, “Okay, now the next patient is all yours.” What?! I could barely understand their full story in Spanish, and I didn’t have all the medical knowledge to make a good diagnosis! Yet he put the chart in front of me and gave me the pen. When the patients entered, I listened intently to them. Thank goodness, Dr. Sierra still asked the patients questions. But then he would turn to me and say, “What do you think?” He would either confirm or question what I said, and then I would write the diagnosis and treatment down on the chart, as he helped tell me what to write.
Once, a young girl about my age entered the room with her mom and with her baby nursing at her breast. She was small, thin, and looked very young to me. She was complaining of lower stomach pains. She was embarrassed to get up on the table for us to feel around on her stomach. There definitely was something hard in her stomach. Dr. Sierra asked me what I think. I said, “I think she might be pregnant.” When he questioned the girl, she and her mom defiantly said there was no way she could be pregnant. Nevertheless, the doctor ordered a pregnancy test. She came back 15 minutes later with her chart in hand. The test result: “positivo.” When we told her, she was in denial. She said she hadn’t had her period for 3 months, but she didn’t have a husband or boyfriend. When we questioned her about her sexual activity, she wouldn’t give us a straight answer. She just said, “No,” and shook her head. I don’t think she was going to admit anything with her mom in the room. Wow, what an experience.
For lunch, my host mom had packed me the same food that Macie and I think made Macie deathly ill the night before, so I didn’t eat it. Instead, I ate the rest of my packed lunch: lots of strawberries and a big strawberry slush and tortillas. Soon after, I felt really crumby (maybe too many strawberries?). I just wanted to get back home and lie down. When I finally made it home, I lied down in the dark in my room. Papa Pedro, sweet thing, tried to help. Eventually, my whole family came in to check on me, and they prayed for me. I was grateful for all their concern and help, but all I wanted to do was lie in the dark and be able to throw up. My mom Angelica called the other doctor from the clinic, Dr. Lux, so he came to visit me. He gave me an antibiotic and rehydrating salts to drink. He was a younger guy and was very kind.
So I skipped work today and have been sleeping all day off and on. Angelica has been so kind, going out to buy me Gatorades, mixing and preparing my rehydrating drinks, waking me up to take my pills on time, emptying my throw up bucket, and checking on me a lot. We talked, and in the future, instead of meat, potatoes, and beans for my lunch, she agreed to make me jelly sandwiches. Much safer, I think.
I really appreciate your prayers, and I ask that right now, you especially pray that God would help me to feel better (no drops in blood pressure, no fainting, no throwing up, no missing back home), so that I can enjoy this experience more and be used by God here.
Monday, June 28, 2010
First Day in Chicacao
Saturday, June 26, 2010, 10:40 pm
Made it to Chicacao! We wondered why Dany was covering our suitcases in the back of his truck, but soon we knew. It starting raining like crazy!! I can so see how this place has been flooded lately; I thought we were going to hydroplane a lot of times. Dany’s little girl and wife were in the car too when he picked us up from Antigua. Dany’s baby girl was all over the place, trying to crawl on her daddy’s lap and hang out the window while he was driving!
Well, we made it to Chicacao around 3 p.m. and they first dropped me off. My host mom Angelica greeted me at her gate in the pouring rain. I was surprised when she showed me my room - it was big! I was expecting a room with just a bed and room for one suitcase on the floor. Nope. I have a big room all to myself. A BIG tank of agua pura and a TV. Angelica is not married, and she lives with her father, Pedro, and her niece (Beli) and neice’s husband (Miguel). They all are so kind and keep telling me in Spanish, “We are your family. I want you to feel a part of this family now.” Beli is 29 years old and a few years ago had a kidney transplant. She has been married for 3 years to Miguel, who works at the clinic as a health promoter. I went into their room and just sat on their bed and chatted for a while. I noticed they had an old-school elliptical in their room and I asked about it. They said that they could move it into my room if I wanted because they don’t use it very much. Score! I also told them how I’m mad that I left my bilingual Spanish-English Bible at home. Manuel scrounged through his books and gave me a bilingual New Testament to borrow. He also gave a Spanish version and an English version of the book “Where There Is No Doctor,” because I was needing it. They are too kind already. Papa Pedro the grandfather is 72 years old and cute but I can’t understand him at all.
Angelica, my host mom, has been super welcoming. She has just talked my ear off today telling me about the past students she has hosted. She really enjoys hosting us. I hope the story she tells future students about me is good. She already started on washing my dirty clothes from this past week in Antigua. She gave me an extra blanket for warmth. She told me not to be afraid at night if I hear a loud noise on the tin roof above me because it’s just a cat. She made me tortillas, chicken, and rice tonight, and asked me lots of questions about what I like to eat. She asked if I would like a formal breakfast (eggs, beans, and tortillas) or Corn Flakes and fruit. I opted for the second choice. She also told me that because of her and her father’s health, they don’t drink caffeine. So she drinks lots of decaffeinated coffee. Yikes! How am I going to survive without caffeine for the next 5 weeks?! I know she would buy me some if I asked; she already offered to. I’m going with her to the market tomorrow, so maybe I can pick out some stuff.
We had church tonight at 6. Macie’s host home is attached to the church, and Macie’s host dad is the pastor, which is great because it means I get to see Macie every time we go to church. And church is EVERY day. Macie’s got it pretty sweet too, with her own room, balcony, and internet access. But she can’t communicate with her host family very well yet, so that’s difficult. Her host mom and my host mom are sisters. Tomorrow we are having lunch together because the sisters wanted to get together. How perfect for Macie and me!
Made it to Chicacao! We wondered why Dany was covering our suitcases in the back of his truck, but soon we knew. It starting raining like crazy!! I can so see how this place has been flooded lately; I thought we were going to hydroplane a lot of times. Dany’s little girl and wife were in the car too when he picked us up from Antigua. Dany’s baby girl was all over the place, trying to crawl on her daddy’s lap and hang out the window while he was driving!
Well, we made it to Chicacao around 3 p.m. and they first dropped me off. My host mom Angelica greeted me at her gate in the pouring rain. I was surprised when she showed me my room - it was big! I was expecting a room with just a bed and room for one suitcase on the floor. Nope. I have a big room all to myself. A BIG tank of agua pura and a TV. Angelica is not married, and she lives with her father, Pedro, and her niece (Beli) and neice’s husband (Miguel). They all are so kind and keep telling me in Spanish, “We are your family. I want you to feel a part of this family now.” Beli is 29 years old and a few years ago had a kidney transplant. She has been married for 3 years to Miguel, who works at the clinic as a health promoter. I went into their room and just sat on their bed and chatted for a while. I noticed they had an old-school elliptical in their room and I asked about it. They said that they could move it into my room if I wanted because they don’t use it very much. Score! I also told them how I’m mad that I left my bilingual Spanish-English Bible at home. Manuel scrounged through his books and gave me a bilingual New Testament to borrow. He also gave a Spanish version and an English version of the book “Where There Is No Doctor,” because I was needing it. They are too kind already. Papa Pedro the grandfather is 72 years old and cute but I can’t understand him at all.
Angelica, my host mom, has been super welcoming. She has just talked my ear off today telling me about the past students she has hosted. She really enjoys hosting us. I hope the story she tells future students about me is good. She already started on washing my dirty clothes from this past week in Antigua. She gave me an extra blanket for warmth. She told me not to be afraid at night if I hear a loud noise on the tin roof above me because it’s just a cat. She made me tortillas, chicken, and rice tonight, and asked me lots of questions about what I like to eat. She asked if I would like a formal breakfast (eggs, beans, and tortillas) or Corn Flakes and fruit. I opted for the second choice. She also told me that because of her and her father’s health, they don’t drink caffeine. So she drinks lots of decaffeinated coffee. Yikes! How am I going to survive without caffeine for the next 5 weeks?! I know she would buy me some if I asked; she already offered to. I’m going with her to the market tomorrow, so maybe I can pick out some stuff.
We had church tonight at 6. Macie’s host home is attached to the church, and Macie’s host dad is the pastor, which is great because it means I get to see Macie every time we go to church. And church is EVERY day. Macie’s got it pretty sweet too, with her own room, balcony, and internet access. But she can’t communicate with her host family very well yet, so that’s difficult. Her host mom and my host mom are sisters. Tomorrow we are having lunch together because the sisters wanted to get together. How perfect for Macie and me!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
My Week in Antigua
(Just now able to post what I blogged on Thursday... sorry!)
Thursday, June 24, 2010
So it’s hard to believe, but my first week in Guatemala and my time in Antigua are nearly up! I have grown to love this place and its people. I have been blessed by my host home, by the teachers at my language school, and by complete strangers.
Macie and I met in Houston airport then flew together to Guatemala. We arrived Sunday afternoon and drove 45 minutes from Guatemala City airport to La Antigua. We were graciously welcomed by the staff of our language school, CSA (Christian Spanish Academy). After helping us exchange money at the bank (US $1 = 8 Quetzeles), they dropped us off at our host home of Irma and Salvador de Guerra. They were very kind to us and we were surprised to have our own apartment rooms, furnished with “aqua pura” (filtered water), a shower and sink, a queen-size bed, table and chairs, sink, and drawers!
La Antigua is a very beautiful colonial-style city, with all cobblestone streets. The weather is amazing, usually around 70 degrees every day with a light breeze and sometimes rain. There are three active volcanoes that surround us, but they just look like pretty mountains that disappear into the clouds. There are many tourists here because Antigua is famous for its many language schools. We have been spoiled by the weather here, as we have heard that Chicacao is extremely hot and humid and you are wet with sweat basically all of the time.
Well, that very first night, we had a lost passport scare. I couldn’t find mine, and although Macie and I searched my bedroom and tried hard to think back, it was no where to be found. Ugh! Already, my passport had been stolen, so I thought. But it was late at night, so I decided to just wait til the next day to do anything. The verse I read that night was Psalm 4:8, “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” That was comforting and I was able to sleep well without worrying about my passport.
Our first full day in Antigua, Monday, we walked 10 minutes from Irma’s house to our language school. I was introduced to my personal Guatemalan tutor, Catalina Tejax. She saw I was distressed about my lost passport, so she helped me to back track and look at places I had been the night before. Edy, the school’s driver, found us while we were out searching, and had my passport in his hand! I have never felt so relieved and I nearly started crying as I hugged him! I had left it at the bank the day before when exchanging money, and he had gone back to look there for me. My heart was much lighter the rest of the day, and I thank God that it was found!
Can I just say that Macie Mills, my travel companion for this 6-week trip, is a blessing sent from God?!! I don’t know what I would do without her! I would be so lonely. She is a joy to be around; we are always laughing and already having lots of adventures. She is always optimistic, which is good for me, and I have enjoyed exploring Antigua with her.
Also, I have been extremely blessed by my host family, Irma and Salvador. They have a beautiful house and big garden with a majestic view of the volcano, which I get to enjoy every day. Irma makes every meal for us. I have tried many new foods, and I am very well-fed every day. There are other tenants that live with Irma - 7 of us total right now. We all eat meals together, but there’s a rule of “Spanish only” at the table. It’s difficult, but we all struggle through to communicate, and Irma and Salvador patiently listen to us and correct us when we need it. It’s hard for Macie who just started learning Spanish this week, so I try to whisper things to her, but she’s already picked up on a lot! The other tenants have been here a while and have been super helpful in telling us tips for getting around Antigua.
I absolutely LOVE speaking Spanish so much! I feel so much responsibility when Macie and I are out by ourselves because I am the sole translator for us! I have been put in many situations in which I have to talk to strangers in only Spanish. I have gotten to purchase a cell phone, ask for directions, bargain in the market, play with little kids, discuss medicine with a pharmacist, and order food at restaurants - all completely in Spanish. Wooftah. But I LOVE it. The challenge thrills me, and I am constantly learning and improving.
Irma reminds me a lot of my Grandma Dykstra. She is so funny if you listen to her, she loves to knit and crochet in the evenings while her husband watches TV, she is a great hostess and makes everyone feel welcome, she is always offering us more food and wanting us to take more. And Salvador her husband is just the most precious man. He is retired now, so he spends his day watching the World Cup (he is super into it!), reading the newspaper in the garden, walking to town, and doing Sudoku. Out of all the tenants, I have had the most Spanish, so I am always conversing with Irma and Salvador during meals. They readily help me when I have questions about Spanish or need advice. They make me feel at home.
We attend language school every day this week from 8 a.m. to noon, then walk back home to Irma’s for lunch. Then we are free in the afternoons besides doing our homework. With our free time, Macie and I have taken several salsa dance classes from professional Guatemalan salsa dancers, visited some of Antigua’s famous ruins, attempted to bargain in the market, taken “siestas” like the locals do, hung out in internet cafes, and just walked around the town exploring. Today, we wanted to go tour the “Cerro de la Cruz,” a big cross on the top of a hill near the outskirts of the city that has an amazing panorama view of La Antigua. By the time we reached the center for tourism, our meeting place for the tour, it was passed the tour time. Speaking in Spanish, I told the police of tourism what we wanted to do and asked if we were too late. They told us to hold on a minute, and five minutes later, Macie and I were on the back of police officers’ motorcycles! We had so much fun riding through the town on the back of the policemen’s motorcycles, and we got to see lots of the town we had never seen before!
Tomorrow is our last day at school, and we will receive our “diplomas,” haha. I have learned a lot in speaking four hours a day with my Guatemalan teacher. Then Saturday, Macie and I are being picked up and taken from Antigua to Chicacao, where we will live for the next 5 weeks.
Already I have learned several things this week. I have learned that it is imperative to where pants to bed in order to avoid lots of itchy, red bug bites in the morning. I have learned to avoid lingering eye contact with Guatemalan men if you don’t want to be followed or called after. I have learned how to use a Camelbak water bottle - to bite and suck at the same time to quench my thirst. I have learned that sweating is natural, and that although I thoroughly dislike looking and/or smelling sweaty, I need to get used it because it will be my life for the next 5 weeks. But most importantly, God has taught me this week that other people are most important. More important than advancing my knowledge of the Spanish language. More important than meeting my own desires and needs. This is a lesson I hope God continues to teach me, as I have seen that God wants me to invest in people, not just take what I can from them.
I hope you all are doing well and I encourage you to comment on my blog about anything and everything… perhaps I will be able to blog sometime next week! Hasta luego!
Macie and I in front of Irma's gate
View of La Antigua from Cerro de la Cruz
Irma and I eating mangos
At school with my tutor Catalina
Thursday, June 24, 2010
So it’s hard to believe, but my first week in Guatemala and my time in Antigua are nearly up! I have grown to love this place and its people. I have been blessed by my host home, by the teachers at my language school, and by complete strangers.
Macie and I met in Houston airport then flew together to Guatemala. We arrived Sunday afternoon and drove 45 minutes from Guatemala City airport to La Antigua. We were graciously welcomed by the staff of our language school, CSA (Christian Spanish Academy). After helping us exchange money at the bank (US $1 = 8 Quetzeles), they dropped us off at our host home of Irma and Salvador de Guerra. They were very kind to us and we were surprised to have our own apartment rooms, furnished with “aqua pura” (filtered water), a shower and sink, a queen-size bed, table and chairs, sink, and drawers!
La Antigua is a very beautiful colonial-style city, with all cobblestone streets. The weather is amazing, usually around 70 degrees every day with a light breeze and sometimes rain. There are three active volcanoes that surround us, but they just look like pretty mountains that disappear into the clouds. There are many tourists here because Antigua is famous for its many language schools. We have been spoiled by the weather here, as we have heard that Chicacao is extremely hot and humid and you are wet with sweat basically all of the time.
Well, that very first night, we had a lost passport scare. I couldn’t find mine, and although Macie and I searched my bedroom and tried hard to think back, it was no where to be found. Ugh! Already, my passport had been stolen, so I thought. But it was late at night, so I decided to just wait til the next day to do anything. The verse I read that night was Psalm 4:8, “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” That was comforting and I was able to sleep well without worrying about my passport.
Our first full day in Antigua, Monday, we walked 10 minutes from Irma’s house to our language school. I was introduced to my personal Guatemalan tutor, Catalina Tejax. She saw I was distressed about my lost passport, so she helped me to back track and look at places I had been the night before. Edy, the school’s driver, found us while we were out searching, and had my passport in his hand! I have never felt so relieved and I nearly started crying as I hugged him! I had left it at the bank the day before when exchanging money, and he had gone back to look there for me. My heart was much lighter the rest of the day, and I thank God that it was found!
Can I just say that Macie Mills, my travel companion for this 6-week trip, is a blessing sent from God?!! I don’t know what I would do without her! I would be so lonely. She is a joy to be around; we are always laughing and already having lots of adventures. She is always optimistic, which is good for me, and I have enjoyed exploring Antigua with her.
Also, I have been extremely blessed by my host family, Irma and Salvador. They have a beautiful house and big garden with a majestic view of the volcano, which I get to enjoy every day. Irma makes every meal for us. I have tried many new foods, and I am very well-fed every day. There are other tenants that live with Irma - 7 of us total right now. We all eat meals together, but there’s a rule of “Spanish only” at the table. It’s difficult, but we all struggle through to communicate, and Irma and Salvador patiently listen to us and correct us when we need it. It’s hard for Macie who just started learning Spanish this week, so I try to whisper things to her, but she’s already picked up on a lot! The other tenants have been here a while and have been super helpful in telling us tips for getting around Antigua.
I absolutely LOVE speaking Spanish so much! I feel so much responsibility when Macie and I are out by ourselves because I am the sole translator for us! I have been put in many situations in which I have to talk to strangers in only Spanish. I have gotten to purchase a cell phone, ask for directions, bargain in the market, play with little kids, discuss medicine with a pharmacist, and order food at restaurants - all completely in Spanish. Wooftah. But I LOVE it. The challenge thrills me, and I am constantly learning and improving.
Irma reminds me a lot of my Grandma Dykstra. She is so funny if you listen to her, she loves to knit and crochet in the evenings while her husband watches TV, she is a great hostess and makes everyone feel welcome, she is always offering us more food and wanting us to take more. And Salvador her husband is just the most precious man. He is retired now, so he spends his day watching the World Cup (he is super into it!), reading the newspaper in the garden, walking to town, and doing Sudoku. Out of all the tenants, I have had the most Spanish, so I am always conversing with Irma and Salvador during meals. They readily help me when I have questions about Spanish or need advice. They make me feel at home.
We attend language school every day this week from 8 a.m. to noon, then walk back home to Irma’s for lunch. Then we are free in the afternoons besides doing our homework. With our free time, Macie and I have taken several salsa dance classes from professional Guatemalan salsa dancers, visited some of Antigua’s famous ruins, attempted to bargain in the market, taken “siestas” like the locals do, hung out in internet cafes, and just walked around the town exploring. Today, we wanted to go tour the “Cerro de la Cruz,” a big cross on the top of a hill near the outskirts of the city that has an amazing panorama view of La Antigua. By the time we reached the center for tourism, our meeting place for the tour, it was passed the tour time. Speaking in Spanish, I told the police of tourism what we wanted to do and asked if we were too late. They told us to hold on a minute, and five minutes later, Macie and I were on the back of police officers’ motorcycles! We had so much fun riding through the town on the back of the policemen’s motorcycles, and we got to see lots of the town we had never seen before!
Tomorrow is our last day at school, and we will receive our “diplomas,” haha. I have learned a lot in speaking four hours a day with my Guatemalan teacher. Then Saturday, Macie and I are being picked up and taken from Antigua to Chicacao, where we will live for the next 5 weeks.
Already I have learned several things this week. I have learned that it is imperative to where pants to bed in order to avoid lots of itchy, red bug bites in the morning. I have learned to avoid lingering eye contact with Guatemalan men if you don’t want to be followed or called after. I have learned how to use a Camelbak water bottle - to bite and suck at the same time to quench my thirst. I have learned that sweating is natural, and that although I thoroughly dislike looking and/or smelling sweaty, I need to get used it because it will be my life for the next 5 weeks. But most importantly, God has taught me this week that other people are most important. More important than advancing my knowledge of the Spanish language. More important than meeting my own desires and needs. This is a lesson I hope God continues to teach me, as I have seen that God wants me to invest in people, not just take what I can from them.
I hope you all are doing well and I encourage you to comment on my blog about anything and everything… perhaps I will be able to blog sometime next week! Hasta luego!
Macie and I in front of Irma's gate
View of La Antigua from Cerro de la Cruz
Irma and I eating mangos
At school with my tutor Catalina
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Funding and Heading Out!
Dear Generous Friends and Family,
I am overwhelmed by God’s provision through you all! Here’s how it happened: the day I was officially accepted to the internship, I found out I had two weeks to raise the money… yikes! Unsure, yet attempting to have some faith, I turned to my friend and said, “Do you wanna witness a miracle? Just watch and see. I gotta trust this will happen because God wants to prove He will come through.”
And you all were SO generous to me! The exact amount arrived in the mail on the day I needed it. Crazy timing. No. A sign that God had His hand all over this, and He was working! Things like this have been happening in these weeks leading up to the trip. I haven’t even left yet, and God’s been proving Himself so much already!
I found a verse that describes how I feel exactly…
Philippians 4:18-20
“But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received… what you provided—a fragrant offering, a welcome sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Here is my official blog website (I’m not sure how you’d be reading this blog if you didn’t know the blog website already, but just in case): http://guatemalagrace.blogspot.com/
You can click to “follow” me, so you will receive email notifications each time I update my blog. I am told that the clinic has wireless, so I hope to keep you all updated as much as possible with pictures and stories about what I’m learning and what God is doing! And I would love for you to follow along and comment my blogs.
Also, I have a skype account. I can’t promise I’ll use it much, but my skype name is gracielou982
Just finished packing it all up. 6 weeks in a single suitcase and carry-on. I leave OKC at 9:25 a.m. Sunday morning (Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!), stop off at Houston, then land in Guatemala City at 1:15 p.m. As far as a time change, Guatemala is one hour earlier than Oklahoma.
This is what I know about Guatemala during the summer: 95 degree weather AND 95% humidity because it’s the rainy season... Wooftah! I’m looking forward to getting to know my host family and speaking only Spanish. I’m getting excited to treat patients and learn more about healthcare and the human body. I’m anxious to see what God will do through me and to me in the next 6 weeks.
I am extremely blessed to have another girl going to Guatemala with me - Macie Mills, who just finished her first year at Baylor Dental School. We will be the only Americans for about 3 hours around us, so it will be good to have each other to speak English and maintain our sanity somewhat!
I’m not sure exactly what all I’ll be doing, but this is what I do know: tomorrow I will go from the airport in Guatemala City to a nearby town, Antigua. Supposedly, Antigua is gorgeous and has beautiful weather! I will stay with Macie at a host home there for one week, attending intense one-on-one language tutoring at Christian Spanish Academy in order to improve my Spanish. Then, we will head toward the coast, to the main clinic in Chicacao (pronounced “Chica COW.” Yep.) We will stay there the rest of the time (5 weeks).
I am super excited, and I will hopefully let you all know more once I get there! I appreciate all your prayers for health, safety, and faith.
I am overwhelmed by God’s provision through you all! Here’s how it happened: the day I was officially accepted to the internship, I found out I had two weeks to raise the money… yikes! Unsure, yet attempting to have some faith, I turned to my friend and said, “Do you wanna witness a miracle? Just watch and see. I gotta trust this will happen because God wants to prove He will come through.”
And you all were SO generous to me! The exact amount arrived in the mail on the day I needed it. Crazy timing. No. A sign that God had His hand all over this, and He was working! Things like this have been happening in these weeks leading up to the trip. I haven’t even left yet, and God’s been proving Himself so much already!
I found a verse that describes how I feel exactly…
Philippians 4:18-20
“But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received… what you provided—a fragrant offering, a welcome sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Here is my official blog website (I’m not sure how you’d be reading this blog if you didn’t know the blog website already, but just in case): http://guatemalagrace.blogspot.com/
You can click to “follow” me, so you will receive email notifications each time I update my blog. I am told that the clinic has wireless, so I hope to keep you all updated as much as possible with pictures and stories about what I’m learning and what God is doing! And I would love for you to follow along and comment my blogs.
Also, I have a skype account. I can’t promise I’ll use it much, but my skype name is gracielou982
Just finished packing it all up. 6 weeks in a single suitcase and carry-on. I leave OKC at 9:25 a.m. Sunday morning (Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!), stop off at Houston, then land in Guatemala City at 1:15 p.m. As far as a time change, Guatemala is one hour earlier than Oklahoma.
This is what I know about Guatemala during the summer: 95 degree weather AND 95% humidity because it’s the rainy season... Wooftah! I’m looking forward to getting to know my host family and speaking only Spanish. I’m getting excited to treat patients and learn more about healthcare and the human body. I’m anxious to see what God will do through me and to me in the next 6 weeks.
I am extremely blessed to have another girl going to Guatemala with me - Macie Mills, who just finished her first year at Baylor Dental School. We will be the only Americans for about 3 hours around us, so it will be good to have each other to speak English and maintain our sanity somewhat!
I’m not sure exactly what all I’ll be doing, but this is what I do know: tomorrow I will go from the airport in Guatemala City to a nearby town, Antigua. Supposedly, Antigua is gorgeous and has beautiful weather! I will stay with Macie at a host home there for one week, attending intense one-on-one language tutoring at Christian Spanish Academy in order to improve my Spanish. Then, we will head toward the coast, to the main clinic in Chicacao (pronounced “Chica COW.” Yep.) We will stay there the rest of the time (5 weeks).
I am super excited, and I will hopefully let you all know more once I get there! I appreciate all your prayers for health, safety, and faith.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Raising Support
Signing up for this $ 2600 internship was definitely a big step of faith for me. I had less than $ 40 in my bank account, no job, and only a little in my savings account. But I have been learning lately that God desires to show Himself. Throughout the Bible, God is all about bringing Himself glory. He uses unqualified people and unusual means to accomplish His plans, so that everyone will KNOW that it was all of God. So I challenged God saying, “God, there is no way that I can get this money by myself. If I do raise it all, it will only be because You were behind it. I know you want to prove Yourself, so please do so in my situation. You promised that when I am weak and unable to do things on my own, You will prove Yourself strong. I’m relying on that promise.”
And true to His word, it has been amazing to see God provide the funds for this trip! The amount of my plane ticket is due this Friday, and yesterday I quite a bit short still. I was going to write a check from my savings account for the difference. But today, I received several checks that totaled to amount of the plane ticket, almost to the dollar!! Isn’t God good?? I was reminded of how God gives us our daily bread, not our bread for the week or for the month. He gives just what we need for today.
“…give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD ?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” Proverbs 30:8-9
When Jesus was teaching His disciples how to pray, He said, “Give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11)
Some may call it “last minute” on God’s part, but I think the perfect timing of the funding just proves God’s provision.
This also reminded me of Exodus 16, when God rains down manna from heaven for the Israelites to eat. God commanded them to go out each day and only “gather enough for that day.” The people had to trust God daily to provide food. When they tried to take things into their own hands and gathered more than they needed for that day so they could stockpile some manna, God caused maggots to consume the manna. He wanted them to trust Him daily.
And why did He do it? “…you will see the glory of the LORD… you will know that it was the LORD” (Exodus 16:7-8). The God I serve today is the same God from the Old Testament. He still gives us manna from heaven in order to bring Himself glory and to show everyone that He was one responsible for the miracle. I haven’t even started my internship, and God has already been working! He’s amazing!
And true to His word, it has been amazing to see God provide the funds for this trip! The amount of my plane ticket is due this Friday, and yesterday I quite a bit short still. I was going to write a check from my savings account for the difference. But today, I received several checks that totaled to amount of the plane ticket, almost to the dollar!! Isn’t God good?? I was reminded of how God gives us our daily bread, not our bread for the week or for the month. He gives just what we need for today.
“…give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD ?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” Proverbs 30:8-9
When Jesus was teaching His disciples how to pray, He said, “Give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11)
Some may call it “last minute” on God’s part, but I think the perfect timing of the funding just proves God’s provision.
This also reminded me of Exodus 16, when God rains down manna from heaven for the Israelites to eat. God commanded them to go out each day and only “gather enough for that day.” The people had to trust God daily to provide food. When they tried to take things into their own hands and gathered more than they needed for that day so they could stockpile some manna, God caused maggots to consume the manna. He wanted them to trust Him daily.
And why did He do it? “…you will see the glory of the LORD… you will know that it was the LORD” (Exodus 16:7-8). The God I serve today is the same God from the Old Testament. He still gives us manna from heaven in order to bring Himself glory and to show everyone that He was one responsible for the miracle. I haven’t even started my internship, and God has already been working! He’s amazing!
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