This past week, a Caring Partners medical mission team served with two national church partners in the country of Guatemala. Reaching more than 1,500 patients in urban communities designated by the Guatemalan government as "red zones" - those most prone to violence and extreme poverty - the joint Guatemalan/U.S. mission team truly touched the lives of "the least of these", and God multiplied the impact, both physically and spiritually.
One of the first patients waiting for the team to arrive on Saturday, June 25th, the first day of clinic, was a middle-aged man in a wheelchair. Afflicted with severe diabetes, the man was unable to walk, and could barely see. Through the use of an A1C machine, nurse Karen Reuter was able to assess his glucose levels, and prepare a care plan. When the man was unable to proceed to our clinic's spiritual station, "The Clinic of the Soul", an elderly woman from the Genesaret Church came to him. She opened her Bible, and after hearing God's Word, he asked if he could receive Jesus as his Lord and Savior. And there, in the crowded hallway of the Genesaret Church, the man prayed to receive Christ - to God be the glory!
The next morning, a television crew was eating breakfast at the same inner-city hotel as the U.S. based team. As the U.S. group was leaving for the clinic, Yolanda Gomez, CPI translator and ministry partner, introduced herself to the TV crew and explained the U.S. group's purpose. This simple introduction resulted in a 15 minute interview which aired that same night on national Guatemalan television! This media exposure, coupled with the story running on local radio stations, brought hundreds to the clinics for "complete care".
Another patient who was cared for during the week was a single woman who came to the clinic alone, desperately in need of glasses. She shared with CPI team member Kristine Farmer that she was almost completely blind, not being able to see clearly for years. Thanks to a newly acquired piece of equipment - a Welch Allyn Vision Screener - Kristine and the CPI eyeglass team were able to properly discern her prescription and fit the woman with the perfect pair of glasses! Kristine shared the woman's eyes started to tear up as she quietly walked away, but then she quickly returned to hug Kristine, and share how grateful she was for God's blessing her life through the local church and the entire mission team.
So many blessings were witnessed during the week; an ultrasound peformed by Dr. Adam Reed & Dr. Carolyn Crawford, diagnosing twins, loving dental care provided by Dr. Alex Gamber and dental hygienist Leah Perry, excellent chiropractic care by Dr. Paul Okamoto, assisted by his daughter Deborah, and an excellent U.S/Guatemalan pharmacy team led by Dillon Leisure and Cory Singleton. And to top it all off - on the last day of the journey, team members Dillon Leisure and Mary Asher were engaged to be married - Congratulations Dillon & Mary!
And the greatest blessing of all - for our team and our national church partners to have the awesome privilege of rejoicing with the angels in heaven over the 356 souls that accepted Christ! Join us in prayer for our church partners Genesaret and Principe de Paz as they continue ministering to these new believers.
