Settling in

pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/jkornelsen/200902MagdalenaElGorrion?feat=directlink
It’s a little easier here to spend quiet time with God; I’m appreciating that. This morning I realized I’m pretty sure He has me where He wants me: totally dependent on Him! The role I’m going to be playing here is rather different: At home, my focus is direct patient care, but here I will be more of an overseer, to ensure the health care needs of the people of El Gorrion are going to be met, amongst other things.

I have great respect for the way Students International wants to do medical outreach. There is a benefit that comes from simply doing a clinic “blitz” in an area—perhaps the biggest is that you show love and care for individuals, in addition to meeting some immediate medical concerns. However, that kind of outreach has often left me wondering whether we have touched the real health care needs the people have. I understand the most common causes of death in Guatemala are still diarrhea and pneumonia. (Our friends Phil & Judy of Love Guatemala recently encountered an “unnecessary death” of a 15 year old boy, possibly related to anemia or pneumonia?).

Yesterday afternoon I was in a meeting with SI staff, who wish to coordinate a holistic approach to help the community of El Gorrion by attending to their needs for clean water, healthy food, safer housing, education, and spiritual care. We want to bring the life of Jesus in a loving and practical way. Please pray for direction and wisdom and love from God’s Spirit!


Thursday, February 26
I helped a womens’ SI team hold a clinic in El Gorrion, in Doña Myra’s 3-room home. They had been doing a survey of needs during the week. It was good to be introduced to the area and people we’ll be working with, and to see what a lot of the health issues are. Many of their concerns are similar to those encountered back home, but weighted heavier on basic musculoskeletal symptoms stemming from hard work and poor conditions, and upper respiratory ailments related to their living situation and proximity to one another.

Friday, February 27
Our family joined the team for a tour of the various SI ministry sites. At the small private elementary school in the town of Magdalena (their resources don’t come close to the poorest public schools in Canada), our kids quickly joined in with “PE” activities. The children’s art school is another site they could get involved in over the next weeks. There are some children who, with the proceeds of the paintings they sell, are already earning as much as their parents. After a long day of walking in the heat and dust, we were bushed. We decided to become a real Guatemalan family and all ride in one tuk-tuk, which normally would fit about three North Americans.

Sunday, March 1
Because this was the first Sunday of lent, there were more festivities than usual, including the cohetes, or firecrackers, at all hours—particularly late into the evening (and sometimes early enough to beat the chicken buses in the morning). There was an extravagant parade, but apparently it’s nothing compared to what we’ll see around Easter! You'd probably enjoy some of the images:

http://picasaweb.google.com/jkornelsen/200903InAntigua?feat=directlink