In the Land of Eternal Spring
On January 9, with 48 other members of a Health Talents International (HTI) medical missions team, we escaped the U.S. winter for mild, green Guatemala, a country known as “the land of eternal spring.”
In the small town of Montellano sits the HTI Ezell Clinica Hospital. For almost 50 years this non-profit has sent multiple teams annually to provide care for the underprivileged, and to do it in the name of Jesus.
Our group consisted of surgeons, physicians, anesthesiologists, nurses (including Deb), caregivers, and translators. Alan served as chaplain. During the week 50 surgeries were performed (OBGYN and general). All but four patients were able to go home before we left the clinic.
We were blessed to see so much good.
First, the Guatemalan people encouraged us by how they faced challenges of poor health and poverty without complaining. Some patients travel more than four hours to receive care. Some live without running water or refrigeration. Yet they seem happy, content. They hug you tightly in appreciation.
The North Americans and Guatemalan staff worked together seamlessly, especially in the crucial art of translation. One interaction required a series of translations from English to Spanish to the Mayan dialect K’iche’. It was amazing.
We were humbled by the team’s display of faith. An atmosphere of love pervaded all aspects of treatment. Doctors prayed for and with patients prior to surgery. Nurses and caregivers prayed for the patients after surgery. We saw one caregiver pray for a nurse during a dangerously difficult process of inserting an IV. When success came, the caretaker cried out, “Praise God!”
Given this atmosphere, we weren’t surprised when an elderly female patient said, post-op, “I like it here. They love me and I don’t want to go home.”
We must mention Rick Harper, College Church elder and retired HTI administrator, who still comes to the clinic. He knew and greeted everyone, showed appreciation in hugs, told faith stories, and facilitated flights home. A shepherd caring for his flock.
Before heading home, we visited a mission site in the town of Santa Maria de Jesus, where ex-Searcians Cary and Rita Sills volunteer at a Feeding Center. Twice weekly, deprived kids come for meals and religious instruction. At the end of our brief stay, the children gathered around and prayed over us.
At that moment we felt we were truly in the land of eternal spring.
In the small town of Montellano sits the HTI Ezell Clinica Hospital. For almost 50 years this non-profit has sent multiple teams annually to provide care for the underprivileged, and to do it in the name of Jesus.
Our group consisted of surgeons, physicians, anesthesiologists, nurses (including Deb), caregivers, and translators. Alan served as chaplain. During the week 50 surgeries were performed (OBGYN and general). All but four patients were able to go home before we left the clinic.
We were blessed to see so much good.
First, the Guatemalan people encouraged us by how they faced challenges of poor health and poverty without complaining. Some patients travel more than four hours to receive care. Some live without running water or refrigeration. Yet they seem happy, content. They hug you tightly in appreciation.
The North Americans and Guatemalan staff worked together seamlessly, especially in the crucial art of translation. One interaction required a series of translations from English to Spanish to the Mayan dialect K’iche’. It was amazing.
We were humbled by the team’s display of faith. An atmosphere of love pervaded all aspects of treatment. Doctors prayed for and with patients prior to surgery. Nurses and caregivers prayed for the patients after surgery. We saw one caregiver pray for a nurse during a dangerously difficult process of inserting an IV. When success came, the caretaker cried out, “Praise God!”
Given this atmosphere, we weren’t surprised when an elderly female patient said, post-op, “I like it here. They love me and I don’t want to go home.”
We must mention Rick Harper, College Church elder and retired HTI administrator, who still comes to the clinic. He knew and greeted everyone, showed appreciation in hugs, told faith stories, and facilitated flights home. A shepherd caring for his flock.
Before heading home, we visited a mission site in the town of Santa Maria de Jesus, where ex-Searcians Cary and Rita Sills volunteer at a Feeding Center. Twice weekly, deprived kids come for meals and religious instruction. At the end of our brief stay, the children gathered around and prayed over us.
At that moment we felt we were truly in the land of eternal spring.
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