After returning from the holidays, our computer proceeded to stop connecting to the internet and shortly thereafter stop working. We just got a new computer this past weekend.
During the past two weeks we have had the opportunity to drive to the area that has been chosen for expansion by HTI sometime in the future. Kemmel, Neva and I drove to the towns of Zacualpa and Joyobaj. The areas for medical evangelism are the mountains shadowing these two towns. The area looks somewhat similar to the foot heels of the Rocky Mountains . The surrounding area seems a little more arid than Chichi and the mountains are covered with trees and small fields of corn alone with the homes of the indigenous people.
We return a week later for a medical and dental clinic at Chuchuca a town "high" in the mountains. This was the first time to have the clinic after several month due to the rainy season. We were in pickups using low gear most of the way. On the way up the mountain I mentioned that during the rainy season it would be easier to use 2 mules and a cart similar to the people of the Sudan. After arriving to the clinic I saw they had a trusted horse ready for me in case we needed it for the trip back down.
During the clinic we saw approximately 45 patients. almost all were women and children with various health and home problems. The people have very similar problems as what you would find in the U.S.Sherry and I saw one women that her motivating reason to come to clinic was she was afraid, she did have a minor medical condition but, we spent most of the time attempting to reassure her that God was watching over her and when she felt afraid to pray. We prayed with her prior to her leaving us.
Neva and Josephine evaluated a women who only weighed 56 pounds, having lost nearly 30 pounds since the last visit. The concern was that she has some type of cancer. Again this is a great opportunity for them to talk to the patients about the gift of Jesus Christ in our lives and how we will spend eternity with him in heaven.
We were overwhelmed by the great need in this community for health care services and the response by the people of the Church to the clinic. All of the patients were actually from the church of Christ, as it was only announced there. We can only imagine what the response will be when we are able to go on a more frequent basis and open the clinics to everyone nearby.
