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| Michelle and new friends |
Team members included five young professionals from Bentonville, Arkansas: James & Stephanie Wheelock, Calvin & Sarah Reed, and Susanna Stewart. Also on the team were two pre-med college students from Colorado Christian University: Michelle Penner and Juli Edwards.
The team ministered with two organizations while in Guatemala: Bethel Ministries, International and the Hands of Hope medical Clinic. Ministry events with Bethel included building a house and participating in a wheelchair distribution. Ministry events with the Hands of Hope clinic included building/distributing beds (so folks won't have to sleep on dirrt floor), providing lice shampoos, giving dental hygiene instructions at a school, and doing clinic work with the Doctor (by the two pre-med students) at the Hands of Hope clinic.
Highlights as shared by several of the group are given below. Michelle's account of itinerary is provided at the end. Note that the itinerary differs a bit for some of the group through Tuesday. On Tuesday the Arkansas group erected a home while Michelle and Juli headed to the Hands of Hope Medical clinic in a small Mayan village.
Michelle: “The highlight of the trip was definitely building better connections with Hands of Hope Clinic... And seeing more of the ins and outs of what they do. Also i really enjoyed traveling to Huehuetanego and seeing other areas of guatemala. Building a deeper relationship with Chris was impactful as well for future trips! To sum it up relationship buildling was a highlight!!”
Stephanie: "Our last trip to Guatemala was a testimony of God's faithfulness. As we went through our fundraising and preparation, God blessed us with everything necessary to make this trip possible. The day that we handed out groceries was one of the most memorable days for me. Through God's divine appointment we were able to meet with Carmen, the lady that we built a house for in May. Her love for God and her love for us was clear. She was absolutely radiating! It was so neat to be able to come back and further relationships with those we have started several months back."
James: "My experience in Guatemala was one of total fulfillment. Surrounded by people with hardships, disabilities, hunger, medical needs, and no family one can become overcome with grief. I was overwhelmed with joy. These people did not let trials and tribulations dictate theiramily, finances, safety, health, friends, and sense of belonging. How do they do this? A missionary's perspective goes like this, "I am blessed every day because I see God perform miracles and the complete joy of lives saved physically and spiritually." I feel special that I had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of this and hope I can help others experience the joy of sacrifice.”
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| Stephanie and her new friend after lice shampoo |
Stephanie and James working hard building a new house! |
James and Michelle giving lice shampoos and trying to stay dry |
Michelle’s account of itinerary is as follows:
Tuesday September 8th:
Arrive in Chimaltenago and met up with Chris and the team around 10pm.
Wednesday September 9th:
Had group breakfast at Pollo Campero. Anita picked up Juli and I around 8am. We traveled to Hands of Hope Clinic in San Rafael. We then went up to a local school. At the school we put on a dental hygeine preformance for kids in grade 2-6. We discussed proper ways to brush your teeth and why it is important to have healthy teeth. Malnutrition is one of the largest killers in the village and often is a result of poor dental care. We gave each of the children a toothbrush and a bag of baking soda. Toothpaste is too expensive so baking soda is a fine alternative.
We then returned to the clinic and had lunch. After lunch we went with Anita and Josephina to the feeding clinic. We learned a little more about the foundation of the clinic and how each child is selected for the program... If you want more information on them let me know.
We fed between 200-300 children and then helped cleaned up. I was very impressed with the manners and behavior of the children. The clinic provides them three meals a week ( Monday, Wednesday, and Friday lunch)
We had dinner as a group and then retired.
Thursday September 10th:
Juli and I spent the morning working in the clinic with Anita, and the doctor. I got to spend some time working with prenatals and womans health. I gave several injections as well. Then we spent time with the doctor and saw how he treated patients. A boy came in with a bean shoved down his ear, it was resting on his tympanic membrane. The doctor had left for the day so anita let juli and i try to remove it. However it proved to be a tricky procedure so he went to the local hospital to have it surgical removed.
Friday the 11th:
We had breakfast again as a group at Pollo Campero and then got food ready for the food distrubtion. We ran into carmen on the street and she was very blessed by us. We were hoping to visit her but the street to her house is closed for 3 months. We visited several of the same families and several new ones. We drove to HueHuetanego and got in around 7pm. We stayed at a decent hotel and ate dinner there.
Saturday the 12th:
Wheelchair distrubtion. Nine people got saved. Drove home to Chimaltenago.
Sunday the 13th:
Left at 6:30am! Made it back safely and on time
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