Concrete Toilets, Miracles, and Dentistry

This past week I had the opportunity to go down to Puerto San Jose to help translate for a dental team.  I got a call from a friend of ours a few weeks ago and he asked if I’d be interested in translating and I said sure, why not?  J  Anyways, there were just 6 of us that went out there; three of the people flew in from the states and three of us from Guate.  The man that flew down (Jim) is a dentist, his wife (Mary) helped him out, and Wendy was along for the ride, but washed all the dental equipment and was in charge of prayer.  Then there was Mike (our friend), who did extractions and worked with all the coordinating and electrical stuff, and another translator, Vanessa.  Oh, and I was there too…  ;)  It was really a fun group!! 

The group (minus Mike)

The team flew in on Sunday, so we picked them up from the airport, loaded up the truck and began the trek down to Puerto San Jose, the coast.  We unpacked that evening and set some stuff up, and then got our butts back to the hotel and crashed!!  J 

Monday morning we finished setting up and opened the door to the clinic which brought a steady flow of people through the door.  The dental clinic was actually set up in one of the churches in the village.  The church was concrete, but there were no coverings for the windows, the ground was dirt (except for a few square feet of concrete that we worked on), and we were often accompanied by lizards and ants.  We did have electric, but the generator also saved us quite a few times!! 

Where dirt turned to cement...

Mango tree right behind the church

View from the front door

The church/clinic

A few plugs?  ;)

Lots of people!!

Behind the clinic

Anyways, we got the clinic running as quickly as we could, Jim doing fillings and Mike doing extractions.  Once each patient was finished being seen, Wendy prayed over them and they were on their way!  By the end of the first day we had a waiting list of over 40 people, with more people asking to be on the list.  I was put in charge of the registration of all the people, which sometimes proved harder than it sounds like it should be!  Often it meant explaining why I couldn’t just put them right through to the dentist or why we wouldn’t be able to see them today, but by the grace of God, I think the point always got across!!  J  I did also get to interact with the kids quite a bit; coloring, taking pictures, doing puppet shows, teaching them how to brush their teeth, etc.  Oh, and I helped with extractions at times too… 

Let the fillings begin!

Extraction station...

Prayer post-work

LOTS of fillings!

Kids coloring center  :)

My "headquarters"

Even more extractions!

So we ran the clinic all day on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and half a day on Thursday.  Tuesday and Wednesday evening we also did film ministry in two separate churches in the village, which was interesting!  The first night we were right next to a mango tree, so there were mangos that kept falling during the movie, but nobody got hit!  J  The film ministry mostly consisted of setting up a “Jesus” film and then the pastor giving a word at the end.  It was interesting to see how many people showed up and the different reactions, but I think that overall they went well!

Miracles were another part of the trip that I had not really anticipated, but was amazed at and loved none the less!!!  For one man he came into the clinic using a crutch from breaking his femur a while ago.  The team asked if they could pray over him, and by the end he was walking out of the clinic, no pain and no crutch needed!!!  Upon talking to him a little later, he was actually scheduled for surgery to re-correct the bone and try to re-heal what had been broken.  Wow!  Another time a lady came in with dry-socket and a lot of pain from it.  Following prayer, her gums were COMPLETELY healed and she had NO pain!!  I think it really reminded me that God really is still in the miracle “business,” we just need to have the faith and courage to ask! 

When he came in...

When he left!!

The area that we did the clinic in was fairly poor, but not completely desolate.  They had concrete toilets outside, which took a little getting used to.  It was nice not to have to worry about the toilet seat or flushing though!  ;)  I’ll just show you some other things…

The Bathroom...

And the toilet!

Homemade broom

Motorcycles, cars and pigs share the road!

Well worn feet.

Weights

Thursday afternoon we packed up the clinic (after an AMAZING lunch!) and hit the road for home.  We figured that we saw about 50 people during those 3.5 days but I am praying that we were able to make much more of a spiritual impression than a dental impression!!  I must admit, it was good to get home and back into my own bed, but this really was an awesome trip and I am SO glad I had the opportunity to go!!!  

Lunch!!  :)  

Here are a few other pictures too...

He smiled AFTER I showed him the picture!  :)

He wanted a picture...  :)

Sweet kids!

So handsome!

LOTS of coloring!

Pool at the hotel, didn't get to use it much!!! 

I don't hate this sunset!!  :)

Life without a Microwave...

So, our microwave died a few days ago… it has been a very weird thing not having a microwave in the house.  It’s amazing how often we look over there in the kitchen and expect to see the clock that’s on that thing, or how we just want to heat something up quick and we can’t!  I wonder how many other things are like that in our kitchen/house (not saying I really want to find out…)!!  But hey, we’re making due without it, just finding innovative ways to use our stove instead!  J

In other news, life keeps plugging away here in Guate.  Our latest “thing” lately has been taking the new couple that is here with ORI around to all the orphanages to get them oriented (or disoriented…).  They will be taking my dad’s role in doing deliveries, so it’s pretty important that they know where all the homes are and how to get to them best.  I have been riding along on most of the runs and deliveries, just to get out of the house and because I really do love “showing off” this country that I love!  The past two days I have actually been taking them out alone so that my dad can take care of some other stuff, it’s been fun! 

We have been going down to Operation Rescue on Wednesday mornings, pretty much every week.  It feels like there are certain kids that just want more hugs and attention lately, and hey, I’m not complaining!!  I love being in there and all of a sudden having one or two of the girls come running over, for no other reason than to say hi and give me a hug!  It’s really amazing how so many of these kids, who have so little to give or be happy about, are still some of the most content and amazing kids around!

Yay, watermelon!!!

=)

Buddies

Work teams have started up again, which always adds a little more life to the party around here.  Our fist team worked at a nearby home, doing quite a few different things.  Some people were painting, others were working in the garden, and even others were re-laying parts of the driveway at the entrance of the home.  Our second team is actually here right now and they are working at a different home replacing the roofing on as many of the houses as they can!  I love how receptive and happy the directors of the homes always are about having these jobs done, whether big or small!

Risa baked 250+ cupcakes for the one team (and the orphanage),  they went over very well!!

Max (our miniature schnauzer) is continuing to adjust quite well to the family.  He and Oso get along like brothers and I must say, Oso has the patience of Job!  Max never leaves Oso alone, but Oso seems ok with it, so I guess we’ll let playing dogs go!  J 

See?  Brothers!

Oso's not so sure about Max on the bed...

We have continued to visit other homes and just play with the kids every now and then, but with the way our schedules have been, it hasn’t been near as much!  We love walking into the homes and hearing the kids call our names and come running though, it never gets old! 

How can you not love that face??

Besos!

My buddy Chino!

Yay for plaid!

Please continue to pray for our family as we look ahead at our transition out of ORI and into Casa Bernabe, it’s going to mean a lot of changes for all of us!  Also pray for ORI as they continue to make different changes and adjustments as well, lots of growing happening all over! 

I think the covers the main points of life right now… then again, I’m not sure that’s ever possible here in Guate!!  Oh, and I think we’re going to buy a new microwave, hopefully sooner rather than later too!  J  

And just a few more random pictures...

At CENMA (central market)

Chilis anyone?

That's quite a load!

Birthday b-fast I made for Risa...  :)  

Wisdom tooth-less "Wisdom"

So, as some of you may know, this past week I had my wisdom teeth removed.  I’m not going to say that it was a “delightful” experience, but it was a ton less-bad than it could’ve been!  J  Here are a few pieces of “wisdom” I have learned from this experience… 

-The feeling of all of a sudden realizing that you will NOT be put to sleep to have all 4 teeth out is like being hit with a rock.

-When lying in the dentist chair, it is possible for your heart to beat so hard that the light above you is moving (trust me, I speak from experience.).

-If the dentist says that “you’ll feel a little pressure,” he ain’t lying!!  Although, I’m not sure nearly dislocating the jaw would be considered “pressure.”  (Ok, it wasn’t quite that bad, but it sure felt like it!!!)

-The worst part of the actual extraction was not the extraction itself, but the Novocain and the sounds of the cutting…  blah.

-The first few hours after extraction are a little interesting.  I nearly passed out once, took a nap (which I NEVER do!), and actually took it easy!

-A lot of blood can come out of one mouth.

-Not everyone always looks like a chipmunk afterwards.

-Frozen peas make an awesome ice pack!!

-You can make pretty much anything that you REALLY want into a semi-liquid form!  Carrots, potatoes, fruit, you name it!! 

-Peas are actually really hard to chew with your front teeth.

-It never feels like you can completely get your teeth brushed post-removal.  I mean, how are you supposed to get all the way to the back teeth when there are stitches and holes back there??

-Stitches are REALLY annoying things!!  Stupid tongue won’t let them go. 

-The outside of your mouth actually bruises, even though all the work was done INSIDE!  Actually, it’s kinda cool…  J 

I realize these things aren’t of any use to most people, but I found them kind of amusing…  hope you’ve enjoyed them as well!!  J

Back in Guate...

We have now been back from the states for 5 days, but I could swear it’s been a TON longer!!  Sometimes I even have to wonder if we were ever in the states and if it was all just a dream, but I guess not!  J  I know a lot of people have asked about our re-adjustment to Guate and all, so I figured I would give a bit of an update.

Like I said before, it almost feels like we never even went to the states.  We got back to Guate and the next day we went out to a nearby orphanage to see the kids, my dad went to the warehouse to look at what all came on the container, and we started driving like Guatemalans again.  It felt so “normal” to be back in Guate, but a little abnormal at the same time.  I know for me it felt like my mind and my heart were in one place (Guate) but my body was still in another (USA).  It’s kind of an odd feeling, but I guess it’s also part of being a missionary!! 

There are a few things that we have to readjust to especially here in Guate.  First is the altitude.  To go from pretty much 0 feet above sea level to 6,000 feet is quite an adjustment!  I guess it’s not too bad, but it is still weird to be short of breath after just a small period of time!  The other thing is the hot water… we were quite spoiled in the states!!  I’m not sure any of us have gotten a completely hot shower since returning!  Yeah well, at least we have hot water.

Even with the “difficult” readjustments, there are multiple things that we have had no trouble getting back into, driving being one of them.  It is so nice to be able to follow driving “suggestions” without getting all uptight about the rules!!  We have also enjoyed our full stock of fruit; apples, pears, bananas, pineapple, strawberries, papaya, etc.  It hasn’t been any trouble readjusting to loving on all the little ones around here!  Actually, on New Year’s day we went out and held babies and played with toddlers at one home, it was quite fun!!  J  And finally, it hasn’t been hard getting readjusted to having a dog in the house.  We didn’t realize how much we missed Oso until we had him back!!  Oh, and having 5 bathrooms hasn’t been much of a hardship either.  ;) 

Just look at those eyes...

Abby is back with her "clan"

So yes, it has been a bit interesting coming back from the USA, but overall I would say the transition has really gone well.  My dad is getting back into deliveries, Abby and Risa (and my mom) are back into school, and I am helping out wherever I can.  In general, it’s nice to be in some sort of routine and have life be back to “normal.” 

Oh, and in other news, we got a puppy.  Today we went to see Max and we ended up coming home with him!  J  He is a 3 month old, miniature schnauzer.  Oso isn’t quite sure what to think of this little thing, and Max doesn’t know what to think of his giant of a brother, but I think he will fit in quite well!  J

Max

Getting to know each other!