Onto Grado B

With the tremendous help of GOD, we have passed our test on the first part of our Spanish lessons, Grado A. Neva being more gifted of tongue than me passed her test last week and I passed mine today. The next session is mostly working with verbs (verbos). There are approximately 501 verbos and we hope to learn them all (just kidding).

Enclosed is a picture of our teachers (maestras) who have patiently taught us during these past weeks. Notice they are now smiling as opposed to crying, this is a good thing, muy bien. On the left is Sandra (my teacher) and on the right is Blanca (Neva's teacher). We appreciate both of them so much for putting up with us for four hours each day and for the program at the Christian Spanish Academy, which is an wonderful way to learn a new language.

April Surgical Trip

The Bible, Guatemalan angels, and Garfield.

Who would believe you can do surgical cases using the same grounding pad all day--it's true. Hopefully AORN will provide a grant to complete further research on this subject. Regardless we completed 85 surgical cases with only minor issues. We had great people working in the surgery area and Rick was in charge of sterilizing the instruments and supplies. One of our surgical teams kept "borrowing" our supplies but at least they were using them.
Above is a picture of one of the "little angels" that had surgery during the week. He was sleeping peacefully after a little Demerol. One image that will remain with us for some time is of his young father kneeling at his bedside praying for him. We had a very committed group of nurses and assistants working in the post-operative area. The 12+ hour days went so fast. There is no way to tell someone of the joy that comes from serving on one of these trips. The June surgical clinic is coming up quickly and there is still an urgent need for nurses. Please consider coming to Guatemala!

God works in ways we can only imagine.

Stop the Clinic: A Midday Baptism

We had the honor today of attending a baptism with other members of the church of Christ here in Antigua. Dr. Raul, a member of the church, was conducting his weekly clinic at the building when Paola, a 25 year old woman expressed her desire to be baptized. Dr. Raul stopped the clinic, gave several members a call, and we all drove out to a nearby village where there was a pool (from hot springs). It was such a moving experience, as Paola's mother, sister, brother, and her young son were there to watch her baptism. We were told that her mother had prayed for a long time for this to happen. She cried as Paola came out of the water. It was also a time for Dr. Raul and the minister of the church to witness to others who were at the pool. Dr. Raul told us later that the church in Antigua has had from 3-4 baptisms each of the past several months! In like manner with HTI, Dr. Raul and the ministry staff address not only physical needs at the clinic, but also hold a devotional and teach the message of the gospel of Christ to those in attendance! After Paola was baptized, it was nearly 4pm. We returned to Antigua, where Dr. Raul still had 10 patients waiting to be seen.

Holy Week

Several weeks have passed since we updated our blog. This is partially due to being in school for four hours a day and studying about four hours a day, and the other excuse is that we have been going to many of the celebrations surrounding Semana Santa here in Antigua for the past week or two. School is going well. Our teachers, Blanca and Sandra, are both very patient and intelligent young ladies! After a few short weeks, we are beginning to communicate in Spanish in the market, when ordering meals, and with the couple from whom we rent. On a day when we were a little discouraged about our studies, we received a card from my parents which read, "I believe if Jesus calls me to get out of the boat, He is going to be there to help me walk on the water. If I start to sink, which sometimes I do, He'll reach His hand down and He'll lift me up. God will give you everything you need to do everything He has called you to do. You are in His hands and there is no better place to be." How true this is, and we thank Him for every word he has helped us to remember and speak! We are also very grateful for a family that is supportive.

Please continue to pray for our language studies, as we know this is essential if we are to serve. Please keep Kimmel's da

d in your prayers as he faces a serious surgery on Monday. Also, please keep Dan Shoemaker, the son of Sam and Nancy Shoemaker (missionaries in Rwanda) in your prayers. He is quite sick following a recent surgery.

We would love to hear for you.

In his love,

Glenn and Neva

Spanish School Begins

We returned from the Eye/Ortho surgery clinic at Montellano on Friday. What a week! It ended with a gentleman who had suffered electrocution about a month ago and required amputation of his L hand fingers. God works in miraculous ways, as this man presented in a mobile medical clinic where the orthopaedic surgeon had gone to spend the day. Within a couple of hours, surgery was in progress, and the necrotic fingers were removed. He was recovering nicely when we left, thanks be to the surgical team and our Lord and Savior!!
Lisa and Kemmel Dunham, and Sheri came from Chichi yesterday to go to church with us. There were about 50+ people in attendance, including two couples who stayed following the surgical clinic to go to language school this week. We met a physician who holds a clinic each Tuesday at the church. He invited us to visit and volunteer. It sounds like a good way to help here and to practice our Spanish, too.
Spanish school starts this afternoon. We will attend from 2p-6p each day. Glenn and I are anxious to be able to communicate and likewise, understand what others are saying. Please keep us in your prayers as we start this important part of our work.

Another Day in Paradise

We arrived safely, the flights were good with very short connecting times. Our luggage arrived with us and everything was intact.- thank GOD. Alex and Danny with HTI arrived at the airport iapproximately 30 minutes later and we on our way.

The drive to Antigua was beautiful, warm and relaxing. We learned our first lesson with house numbers. Our apartment house has the same number as one around the corner. Mary Johnson was their to help us adjust. Over the next several days we walked around Antigua and learned our sense of direction, there are 2 volcanoes in close proximity. Neva has been setting up our small apartment very nice, we had a bed, chair, desk and a clothing closet. Small bathroom and cool water showers. Our kitchen area is separate from the apartment and is very nice with a propane stove and refrigerator.


Saturday evening we had dinner with Lisa & Hemmel Dunhum and Julie and it was really great to see and talk about with them. Sunday AM we went to Guatemala City to connect with a surgical team ( ophthalmology and orthopedics ). After waiting for all team members on different flights we were off to Monteanno with approximately 50 members. Many of the membera of the group are Pharmacy and PA students.

The members are working well together and this is a low key trip compared to others and gives us a chance to adjust to being in country and role expectations. This is the first operational trip for ortho and will take a few years (trips) to establish. We were blessed to be able to remove a femoral nail (rod) from a 13 yo girl this morning. The rod had been in place for several years and was starting to migrate out, causing pain.

Many of the students are working the with local school doing physical assessments and the dental team is also doing evaluations for future follow up when the parents are presents and can give permission and participate in their care.

Reasons to rejoice: We are meeting and making new friendships. Carl Agee is well and gone back to work. Carlos and Sylvia with HTI are to be married possibly this summer. The supply container that has been in a Guatemala port since November has been released and should arrive this week. The container has needed equipment and supplies.

God has blessed us to be able to serve these people.

Headed to Guatemala!

It's after 8pm in Kansas City, and we are at an airport hotel, ready for a few hours of sleep before we get up at 0330 to make our 0600 flight to Guatemala City. (for those of you who were on the first trip with me in 1999.....yes, the alarm clock is on). It is hard to believe that our dream is finally becoming a reality. Yesterday, we said goodbye to friends and family, which was made much easier by the overwhelming support and prayers offered on our behalf. We are looking forward to seeing the many special people we have come to know during our years of short term missions. Yes, there are a few butterflies as we anticipate tomorrow. (Glenn says this is because I am trying to move our entire house to Guatemala and don't know if Continental will help us....)
We just pray that you will keep us in your prayers as we attend a surgical clinic next week in Montellano and the following week begin language school in Antigua.
In Christ's Love,
Neva and Glenn