This week we welcomed the medical team from Calvary Church from Lancaster PA. It is like welcoming my family. I first came to Tactic with this team two years ago, so I know a few of them really well.
We have been hard at work all week, seeing patients in the clinic.
The first day was a little rough around the edges as the team was figuring out the computer system, and working on getting a work flow. The rest of the week has been really good, everyone works together really well.
At the end of the day everyone eats together, and we do a debrief of the day. We have had a few cases that have tugged on the heartstrings of us all.
We had a little girl come in, She is very young, and her mother told us that she has heart palpitations when she does a lot of activity. When we listened to her heart we discovered that she has a galloping murmer. One of the loudest murmers I have ever heard. With her having trouble with activity it is really important that she goes for more testing and possibly surgery. The only problem is, in Guatemala even with a referral, it could be years before she is able to make her way to see a cardiologist. The family also has to be able to afford the testing and the surgery.
The team really struggled with this, because as rich Americans, we have money.
However, if we just give the money, it may help this family, but later down the line, it causes dependence on the Rich American Problem Solvers.
God calls us to give. We should give.
However if it is not coming through the ministry, or the churches in the area, it is not the people helping each other, it is the Americans solving the problems.
Thankfully in this case, the community the little girl lives in is putting together a gift so she can get the testing she needs.
That is what the ministry is aiming toward. Having the Guatemalan people showing God's love to each other.
Another case that gave us some worry was a little boy with a fever.
He came in with his family, lethargic, breathing rapidly. Fever of 102. Our Nurse Practitioner Karl couldn't find a source of infection. Then we heard that he had been in the hospital a few weeks ago with the same thing, and that he had low white blood cells. That is not a good sign. The concern with that is the possibility of Leukemia. This little boy needed testing, and probably IV antibiotics. His family was traveling to Coban that night anyway - Coban has the only hospital and it's about an hour away - so we sent him there. The next day we hear that they family could not afford to have the blood work done, so they just took him home. We all have been praying very hard for him because without that test it is very hard to figure out what to do. A few days later we heard that he was doing better with some tylenol, he was eating and playing. God is good. I am hopeful that the ministry can help that family out, or that the church can take a special offering. The church here is so good. They really come around these families, helping as much as they can. The ministry also has a fund specifically for helping with expensive medical procedures. They need more money though, and that is something we can do.
If you would like to contribute to the clinic and would like to send some kids or adults for some major tests or surgeries, you can send a check to Impact ministries.
Impact Ministries
P.O. Box 550
Duvall, WA 98019-0550
If you put in a note that designates the money for the clinic, that will help get the money where you would like it to go. You can also go to this website which is specifically for the clinic, and use a credit card: Medical Clinic Support
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| Walt is making airplanes. He is very popular. |
It can be really hard to come into the clinic and have half your patients in with stomach pain; Especially when their stomach pain is because they don't have any food at home.
We had a little boy, 12 years old come in with stomach pain. "Did you eat breakfast?" Karl asked.
"No. We don't have food." The boy said with his eyes down.
"were you able to have dinner?"
"I don't remember."
He was the first.
He won't be the last.
Sometimes I just want to yell at God and say, "Why can't they just have food on the table?".
Why can't life be fair?
I guess the answer to that is right in my face. There is sin in this world. However we may want to change it, God does have a plan. He does not want little children to go hungry. We must do what we can to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoners, and help the sick. We must welcome the strangers, and show God's love wherever we are. It isn't about earning heaven. It is about loving God enough to tell others about how awesome He is. Loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving your neighbor as you love yourself.
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