We were able to help work at the CHOICE medical brigade this week in Senahu. They brought in Surgeons with full surgical clinic and supplies. Screened, worked with, operated for 3 days straight. Children with cleft palatte, or double cleft palatte, Adults and children with huge cancer tumours, cysts, glaucoma, hernias, hearing problems. Every day they worked steadily from 8am till 5 or 6 at night doing miracles. Elder Spradlin, Natalie and I worked mainly with the vision screening, but did assist some in helping get other people to the right doctor to be seen. We came home exhausted and overwhelmed on a daily basis. One of the Doctors told me that he and one of the other Doctors have been doing this twice a year for the last 22 years, that is major dedicated service!
Two hard things with our little bits during the clinic. One of the little girls we have known since we have been here, always looked like she had a lazy eye, we found out she was blind in one eye, probably because of some sort of illness when she was a baby. The other is our little 4 month old sister whose eyes did not seem to focus right. She was seen by the ophthalmologist and we learned that she was born with cataracts in both eyes, and can only distinguish between dark and light. There is some hope though that if we can find a pediatric opthamologist in the capitol, and if there is no retinal damage behind the cataracts, and IF the surgery is done in the next two months, she may regain her eyesight. I wept with the mother as I translated for her with the doctor, and then went with her to tell her husband. We are praying and helping them to look for the specialist in the capitol, then hoping they can find the means for making the trip, having the consultation and doing the surgery.
All Saints Day yesterday, meant being invited to Caldo twice by member families. That was fun! Today they are supposed to be flying kites in the cemeteries, it has been raining most of the day so we shall see.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
The work of the Lord
This week didn't go always the way we planned it, but it went well, if that makes any sense. The people that were supposed to be attending the Dental Clinic, many didn't show up which was really hard, but there were other people that were able to be seen and the Dentists stayed busy the whole time. They did miracles! It was really hard though when we got home from the clinic on Thursday and one of the sisters here was complaining of a toothache Our District here was supposed to go down to the clinic on Wednesday - but they didn't go, it made me very sad. One older sister was in to have some of her teethe pulled, while she was waiting I started talking to her about going to the Temple and then helped her fill out her family history form, so when she goes to the temple she is going to be able to get the work done for her parents and be sealed to them. One of those side benefits of an activity, for which I was very grateful!
Wednesday while we were at the clinic President C'aal from Senahu called and asked if I could help with the District Choir practices for the Dedication this Sunday in Yalijux. We came back a little early then on Wed. so that we could make it to the choir practice. We found out Thursday morning that there is a medical brigade from an organization called CHOICE coming to work here in Senahu for three days next week so we will get to help them some by translating for them. The wonderful news of that is that we have a couple of members here that are in great need of seeing a specialist and they are going to be able to be seen. We feel so grateful to be a part of the work we see going on around us.
Wednesday while we were at the clinic President C'aal from Senahu called and asked if I could help with the District Choir practices for the Dedication this Sunday in Yalijux. We came back a little early then on Wed. so that we could make it to the choir practice. We found out Thursday morning that there is a medical brigade from an organization called CHOICE coming to work here in Senahu for three days next week so we will get to help them some by translating for them. The wonderful news of that is that we have a couple of members here that are in great need of seeing a specialist and they are going to be able to be seen. We feel so grateful to be a part of the work we see going on around us.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
The reason we are here!
What an amazing week. I shall do it backwards! Yesterday we did inspections and took the Dentists who will be here this following week for a clinic in Teleman, out to the Hot Springs Waterfalls. It is such a beautiful place. Thursday we got to go to Tikal and wonder through the jungles, with a guide. We saw monkeys, birds, tarantulas, ruins, awesome plants - and climbed lots of stairs. My legs are still discussing the stairs with me today! Thursday night though we delivered a Mission Call to one of the Sisters we have worked with getting her Missionary Papers finished. It was the first time for us to watch someone we have worked with open their letter and read it. Such a wonderful blessing. This young sister has worked so hard and waited so long to be able to go - to Mexico as a missionary!
We have been very happy with the Apartment inspections this time, most of the apartments have been in much better condition. We know they may not be keeping them all clean on a regular basis, but at least we know that once every three months they are looking good! I explained to one set of Elders, who were so chagrined when they realized they had forgot to make their beds, that if they will make a goal to make their bed every day it could change their lives. They thought that was a strange thought. I explained that years ago when I was having a really hard time with all I had to do in life, that I felt I couldn't keep up and was very down, a good friend of mine told me the secret. You make your bed every morning, it only takes a couple of minutes, then all day long when you feel like you are behind, or things are going wrong, you can refer back and think, "Well at least I made my bed." Funny how all these years that one thought has sometimes helped me feel like a successful person.
Tuesday we were in a Zone conference in Peten with Elder Duncan, counselor in our Area Presidency and one of the 70. A few important thoughts that I took from the meeting:
A. You have to have your vision, see the end product that you want first - that way you know where you are headed. It is like a builder needs to have his blueprints, so he knows what he is building. Once you have the vision of where you are going - you set your goals, not just one but multiple, like steps in the process and then you make your plans to reach each of your goals.
B. before we study the scriptures and before we go into a meeting like Sacrament meeting we need to have a question or a need in mind so that as we listen we can be taught the things we need to know by the Spirit.
C. I need to be applying the Atonement more in my own life. Baptism by water is only half a process and has no lasting change unless it is followed by the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It is this gift and the Atonement which purifies and cleans us on a continual basis. Satan works very hard to blind and block us from that process using guilt, pity, depression, a feeling of inadequacy; to block us from our own acceptance of the Atonement. We are here to be successful, but we sometimes short circuit our own potential by our lack of faith in the process provided by our love Heavenly Father. and Jesus Christ.
We have been very happy with the Apartment inspections this time, most of the apartments have been in much better condition. We know they may not be keeping them all clean on a regular basis, but at least we know that once every three months they are looking good! I explained to one set of Elders, who were so chagrined when they realized they had forgot to make their beds, that if they will make a goal to make their bed every day it could change their lives. They thought that was a strange thought. I explained that years ago when I was having a really hard time with all I had to do in life, that I felt I couldn't keep up and was very down, a good friend of mine told me the secret. You make your bed every morning, it only takes a couple of minutes, then all day long when you feel like you are behind, or things are going wrong, you can refer back and think, "Well at least I made my bed." Funny how all these years that one thought has sometimes helped me feel like a successful person.
Tuesday we were in a Zone conference in Peten with Elder Duncan, counselor in our Area Presidency and one of the 70. A few important thoughts that I took from the meeting:
A. You have to have your vision, see the end product that you want first - that way you know where you are headed. It is like a builder needs to have his blueprints, so he knows what he is building. Once you have the vision of where you are going - you set your goals, not just one but multiple, like steps in the process and then you make your plans to reach each of your goals.
B. before we study the scriptures and before we go into a meeting like Sacrament meeting we need to have a question or a need in mind so that as we listen we can be taught the things we need to know by the Spirit.
C. I need to be applying the Atonement more in my own life. Baptism by water is only half a process and has no lasting change unless it is followed by the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It is this gift and the Atonement which purifies and cleans us on a continual basis. Satan works very hard to blind and block us from that process using guilt, pity, depression, a feeling of inadequacy; to block us from our own acceptance of the Atonement. We are here to be successful, but we sometimes short circuit our own potential by our lack of faith in the process provided by our love Heavenly Father. and Jesus Christ.
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