Monday, November 7, 2011
Working in Rural Medical Clinic in Tactic
We were given the opportunity to work in the new medical clinic built by Impact Ministries-just finished this year. Interesting technology and much nicer than I expected. Technology such as a computerized finger print register linked to a online medical file...because a large part of the population is illiterate, not knowing even the letters to spell their name. However, the resources were basic and minimal. Limited prescriptions to give and no lab testing or xray or further testing, just use your knowledge, skills, hands, and strength of the Lord. This is the only medical clinic available in a large rural area, next closest is an hour away by vehicle (which majority of people don't have). We found we were treating people with a hardworking ethic and high threshold of pain. People endure in this society. Perseverance in all things, because you have to-there isn't another option. I definitely was able to put my physical therapy skills to use. Treating and evaluating through an interpreter for all patients was new and challenging. Strange that three exchanges between patient and interpreter with many words results in a three word answer back to me! Also educating these people, relating to them, showing compassion for them and their situation, recognizing their pain-that it is real, and praying with some of them to emphasize that God is greater than any physical problem- He is greater and He is the Healer. I realized after my four days in the clinic that God wants me to use my physical therapy skills to be more glorifying to Him. I don't have a true picture of what that looks like, but I know that God has grown my heart to pray for my patients, and I imagine that I need to be bolder in my prayers and have no fear of man, and God will show me the way.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
A Picture of Suffering
Jeesh- It doesn't seem like four days since I last posted on our blog, but it has. The adjustment back to American lifestyle is a challenge, from the struggle of trying to share your story in words that best portray the mission experience, to materialism at its worst- our poor children! How could they know any better than to want want want when our society is constantly saying take more, take more, take more! Anyway, I obviously haven't fully adjusted, but this is good, I don't want to accept everything as it is- being acultural is the path that God is leading me on...deny self, deny wants, address needs, help those in need. I know I need to continue to seek God and his wisdom to be able to live not of this culture, denying all the desires of this world.
Over the weekend, Matt and I renewed our vows as our tenth anniversary celebration! David and Paula Olson were our biblical counselors last year, and now are our good friends and role models of a godly marriage. They were gracious enough to spend time with us, remind us of the new place we are in with having a marriage led by God, and David led us in a vow renewal. I got to wear my new wipil ( traditional Guatemala blouse) and Matt, in his soccer jersey (and his soccer achilles tendonitis from playing against a group of intense Guatemalans!) It was a memorable event and wonderful to have Jay and Sydney be a part of it.
So, after trying to fudge an excuse for why I haven't been blogging, I went back to look at my journal, and had to write about activities of Sunday October 16, 2011. I journaled about how impacted I have been by this rural culture of Guatemala. We went on a hike up the mountain, every person greets you and smiles. They want to relate to you. I want to know their language and learn their culture. I want to know every child and love on them. I want to worship uninhibited like them. I want to jump up and down in praise of God despite significant suffering they have endured. I have endured suffering, but not like the suffering of these people. And I don't know the extent of it- some first hand and some second hand stories that bring tears to my eyes... of children getting only one meal a day-the one provided by the Impact ministries school, of a boy who spent many days defending his mother from beatings by his dad, only to get beat himself, or to be stoned by his dad for asking for shoes, or children raising children, a boy living off of one or two tortillas per day--that's it--his mom wanted to kill their only chicken to feed it to him because his body was suffering-but he said no-save the chicken for my birthday so we can invite my school teachers over to eat chicken with him. Tears. I know suffering occurs in every country, but it is prevalent here. Even the poor in the United States are much better off than many of these Guatemalans.
And we consume more and more without regret. Wasteful of our money, food, resources.
We read Haggai 1:6 this day: You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat but you never have enough; you drink but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.
Why do we live the way we do? Taking, consuming, wasting. While these people are suffering. They are malnourished, they are cold sleeping on concrete floors in the mountains. Most don't have electricity, but if they do, they can't afford to buy the lightbulb--it costs $5- the typical day's wages. Yes, a whole days work of hard labor for $5. No way out of poverty. They need the Lord our God to grow in his love and salvation. We can contribute to that, we can invest ourselves in this to bring glory to God. So I ask, what is the role you are asking me to take in that, God? We definitely did invest our time and energy to bring God the Glory while we were there, but I know that God desires so much more than that- more than just 11 days immersed in this culture. Maybe I should be afraid to know what that is! But I am not(right now anyway!), I have a great desire to serve God in whatever way grows His kingdom.
Praying and worshiping with the local Guatemalans was awesome--- Uninhibited, God-Glorifying Praise...Latin American style. Loved it. Kids and Adults with both hands raised to the Lord. Overwhelming joy to praise God with this people group that we can barely interact verbally with, but can worship God together. My heart pours out for them-their suffering, their love of the Lord, and others who need him greatly. I asked why I was so tearful to see these people praising the Lord. I found it was out of joy to share in a salvation with the same, one and only God. Joyful for them that they have broken free from bondage. How Glorious that must be in this society. Living only to find food and stay healthy, but now you have eternal life in the Lord Jesus Christ. To have a creator you can trust in to never abandon you. We sat in the 2.5 hour service (first hour is praise and prayer,because if you don't get there until 4:59, you are still on time for the 4 PM service!) next to a family including an 8 year old girl Alli and 5 year old boy Alberto. They just drew my heart in, Alberto reminding me greatly of Jay. I used the little bit of Spanish I know to converse and get to know them a bit. The relationships you gain are invaluable and unforgettable.
Over the weekend, Matt and I renewed our vows as our tenth anniversary celebration! David and Paula Olson were our biblical counselors last year, and now are our good friends and role models of a godly marriage. They were gracious enough to spend time with us, remind us of the new place we are in with having a marriage led by God, and David led us in a vow renewal. I got to wear my new wipil ( traditional Guatemala blouse) and Matt, in his soccer jersey (and his soccer achilles tendonitis from playing against a group of intense Guatemalans!) It was a memorable event and wonderful to have Jay and Sydney be a part of it.
So, after trying to fudge an excuse for why I haven't been blogging, I went back to look at my journal, and had to write about activities of Sunday October 16, 2011. I journaled about how impacted I have been by this rural culture of Guatemala. We went on a hike up the mountain, every person greets you and smiles. They want to relate to you. I want to know their language and learn their culture. I want to know every child and love on them. I want to worship uninhibited like them. I want to jump up and down in praise of God despite significant suffering they have endured. I have endured suffering, but not like the suffering of these people. And I don't know the extent of it- some first hand and some second hand stories that bring tears to my eyes... of children getting only one meal a day-the one provided by the Impact ministries school, of a boy who spent many days defending his mother from beatings by his dad, only to get beat himself, or to be stoned by his dad for asking for shoes, or children raising children, a boy living off of one or two tortillas per day--that's it--his mom wanted to kill their only chicken to feed it to him because his body was suffering-but he said no-save the chicken for my birthday so we can invite my school teachers over to eat chicken with him. Tears. I know suffering occurs in every country, but it is prevalent here. Even the poor in the United States are much better off than many of these Guatemalans.
And we consume more and more without regret. Wasteful of our money, food, resources.
We read Haggai 1:6 this day: You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat but you never have enough; you drink but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.
Why do we live the way we do? Taking, consuming, wasting. While these people are suffering. They are malnourished, they are cold sleeping on concrete floors in the mountains. Most don't have electricity, but if they do, they can't afford to buy the lightbulb--it costs $5- the typical day's wages. Yes, a whole days work of hard labor for $5. No way out of poverty. They need the Lord our God to grow in his love and salvation. We can contribute to that, we can invest ourselves in this to bring glory to God. So I ask, what is the role you are asking me to take in that, God? We definitely did invest our time and energy to bring God the Glory while we were there, but I know that God desires so much more than that- more than just 11 days immersed in this culture. Maybe I should be afraid to know what that is! But I am not(right now anyway!), I have a great desire to serve God in whatever way grows His kingdom.
Praying and worshiping with the local Guatemalans was awesome--- Uninhibited, God-Glorifying Praise...Latin American style. Loved it. Kids and Adults with both hands raised to the Lord. Overwhelming joy to praise God with this people group that we can barely interact verbally with, but can worship God together. My heart pours out for them-their suffering, their love of the Lord, and others who need him greatly. I asked why I was so tearful to see these people praising the Lord. I found it was out of joy to share in a salvation with the same, one and only God. Joyful for them that they have broken free from bondage. How Glorious that must be in this society. Living only to find food and stay healthy, but now you have eternal life in the Lord Jesus Christ. To have a creator you can trust in to never abandon you. We sat in the 2.5 hour service (first hour is praise and prayer,because if you don't get there until 4:59, you are still on time for the 4 PM service!) next to a family including an 8 year old girl Alli and 5 year old boy Alberto. They just drew my heart in, Alberto reminding me greatly of Jay. I used the little bit of Spanish I know to converse and get to know them a bit. The relationships you gain are invaluable and unforgettable.
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