Midway Musings

A few weeks have passed since I last updated the blog, but so much as happened in that time! The days are beginning to blur together as I settle more and more into the routine of clinic life here in Guatemala. I enjoy sitting in the exam rooms with the doctors, listening to the patients share their stories and pains. It fascinates me that you can learn so much about someone in such a short time by simply listening and asking the right questions. The doctors (and nurses) I work with are absolutely wonderful, and they set excellent examples of what it means to treat each and every patient with the love of Christ. Thankfully, my understanding of Spanish has improved tremendously, and I rarely need people to explain things to me multiple times. Praise the Lord for answered prayers! 

As I've mentioned previously, some of the problems we encounter carry extra burdens that weigh on my mind even after the patients have left. However, I am beginning to realize that the problems people in Guatemala face are the same as people face in the United States; the only difference is that we are often unaware of the suffering of those around us. Young teenage pregnancies, heartbreaking diagnoses, malnourished children, and much more: all of this exists in the U.S. as well, if we should choose to look for it. Seeing this brokenness has made me realize how little I had actually interacted with those of different backgrounds and life stories than my own. I was content to stay where I felt safe and sheltered--unthreatened by the burdens and heartaches of others. If nothing else, I have learned to see those around me in a new light. However, one difference that makes many of these problems especially challenging is the inability for many of these individuals or families to pay for the medications or treatments that they need. In a system without insurance or little government assistance, the cost of care is a hindrance to many unhealthy individuals and their families. While it burdens me to see patients turned away or treatments denied them because of their inability to pay, I pray that God would continue to work in their lives and provide for them.

Not all patient care has been burdensome, and I have had many laughs and good times with the medical staff as well as with the patients. This week, we had several patients who needed surgery, and were unable to wait for specialists from the United States to come down next month to perform the surgeries. While we have operating rooms here in the clinic, we often refer patients to other hospitals for surgeries because we do not have surgeons on staff here at the clinic. However, these two patients decided that they wanted to have their surgeries done here, so we got surgeons in to perform the operations. Both surgeons let me observe the procedures, which I am incredibly thankful for. The operations (a hysterectomy and a hernia repair) were amazing to witness, and I learned much from observing both. 

Despite the burdens and stress of patient care, I have had many opportunities to pass the time with great friends. On the weekends, we often will go to a different pool and spend the day swimming and playing soccer. It is always a much needed time away from the clinic! Spending so much time with these wonderful people is going to make it that much more difficult to leave in a few weeks, so I have decided not to think about that yet! I often decide to walk the streets of Cubulco in the afternoons (when it's not raining), and I love sitting the town park or walking through the market stalls. Guatemala is honestly such a beautiful country, and I am beginning to love the slower paced way of life here. 

Ways you can keep me in your prayers: 

• Pray that I would continue to show the love of Christ in my interactions with the medical staff as well as with the patients
• Pray that I would get good sleep, as the worries and burdens of the people here tend to keep me up at night (along with one particularly annoying rooster...)
• Pray for my Spanish: it has improved so much, but it still has a long way to go!
• Pray that I would have peace and that I would feel strengthened and upheld by the Holy Spirit during the remainder of my time here, as it is easy to get discouraged. 
• Pray for the medical staff, as they will continue to serve this population, even after my time here is done. 

As always, I appreciate all of your prayers, and it means a lot to know I have the support of those back home. Thank you! 

*Side Note* -- Having to spend the 4th of July in another country was really weird and definitely made me miss the United States. This was for sure the first time that I went an entire 4th of July weekend without hearing or seeing fireworks!