Cultural Experiences

We just returned from a two-day home stay with Pastor Mario and his wife Ingrid and family (7 children & one grandchild). The food was all really great, except our kids weren’t crazy about frijoles (free-hole-ays=beans) and fried bananas for breakfast. It was fun to live with the people of Magdalena, but the gallos (guy-oh’s=roosters) don’t wait until morning to crow! Instead, they tend to announce the passage of every hour or so throughout the night. The one particularly vociferous fellow living below our bedroom window, like Mario himself, is quite a community leader and I think started most of the night-time community gallo forums. God has really used Mario in the community since he gave his life to Jesus 12 years ago; he has helped so many people in very practical ways particularly with animal-farming. Take a moment to thank God for them, and pray for them and their church.

On Wednesday Tori and Hannah and I went to the small school in Magdalena to help the students read English. The students were quite excited to practice English with us in the classroom as well. They loved the attention of an adult male; apparently they don’t normally get much (not to mention they all wanted to wish me Feliz Cumpleaños when they found out I had a birthday coming up). Bonnie went with Aaron and Matt to the art school to do some Antigua-style oil painting which apparently was pretty impressive (hopefully I’ll get pics later!). This morning they all traded places while I was at the clinic in Magdalena.

While there I reviewed a 32 year old fellow whom I met on our clinic day in El Gorrión. He has been having recurrent debilitating attacks since he was 12. He has seen specialists and had tests including CT, MRI, etc., but nobody has been able to help him. I think he is suffering from complex migraine (or possibly seizure disorder), and have started him on some preventative medicine. Please pray for his healing.

Incidentally, I have found that antibiotics are used very liberally here, either on a doctor’s advice or simply purchased over the counter.

Earlier this week I went to the capital (Guatemala city) to obtain the title and circulation card for our newly purchased 2001 Mitsubishi Montero. I thought the cultural experience was very interesting... deserving its own blog entry—see below. On the same day I accompanied my friend Seth (assistant SI director) to an orthopedic surgeon’s office, after looking at his wrist Xray. I couldn’t see the fracture he was told he had, at an ER 3 weeks earlier, but I was suspicious of a scaphoid fracture. Those of you who are medically inclined will know the importance of the correct management of this injury! He came away with the proper cast.

I appreciate your ongoing prayer for me in my role here. I feel God has given me a vision to have a holistic approach to health care, particularly in the community of El Gorrión, and exemplify Spirit-lead practice of medicine to the people and students here. This is in keeping with the overall mission and vision of Students International. But how to actually make this happen is a bit of a mystery.

PS: Yesterday (March 13) I had a great day with Fernando, the SI director, retreiving my car paperwork and getting supplies in the city. I already have a clearer sense of moving ahead. For the most part it will mean teaching by doing.

(I'm still working on the vehicle title story...)

PPS: In the market yesterday I experienced something we have heard about. We have been told to keep our backpacks in front of us, or they may get sliced open for thieves to access their contents. Well, I was doing that. But while paying for our frutas y vegetales I noticed a little feeling on the side of my shorts. There were a number of people around, all girls/women I think. It was subtle, quick, and confusing, but when I put my hand on the pocket outside the side of my shorts, I could feel the inside of my pocket, where I had my Palm Pilot. (Some of you know that half my life and most of my brains are kept in that Palm.) I thanked Jesus it was still there! I had noticed and turned just in time! Wow. Bienvenidos a Guatemala.