|
We are celebrating a busy month at Caring Partners! On January 4th, a team of 22 healthcare volunteers traveled to Guatemala to serve with a new church partner in Santa Lucia. Pastor Hugo, his church, and his congregation were small in size, but their hearts for sharing Jesus Christ with their neighbors were huge!
The church building wasn't large enough to house our clinic, so we were blessed that a trade school next to the church allowed our U.S. and Guatemalan team to use their second floor. It provided a wonderful layout to treat patients and minister to the Santa Lucia community.
So many physical and spiritual needs were met during our time in Guatemala, but two stand out. On the second day of clinic, chiropractic physician Dr. Buddy Butler noted one of his waiting patients presented with headaches and weakness in her limbs. He then performed a neurological exam and was concerned she could be at risk for a potential stroke. Dr. Adam Reed & Dr. Erin Yarkosky performed an ultrasound of her carotid artery, and noted a partial blockage. CPI National Director Helmuth Marroquin reached out to one of our Guatemalan partner physicians, and received a referral for her to a specialty clinic close to her home. We praise God that before she left our clinic with her adult daughter, both heard a clear presentation of the Gospel message, and made a wonderful connection with Pastor Hugo for spiritual follow-up as well.
On the last day of our clinic, a young girl named Fatima and her grandmother arrived at Nurse Practitioner Kim's station. It was evident to Kim that Fatima was struggling with her mental health, as Kim learned Fatima's mother had been in prison for years, and not able to visit with either her daughter or mother. NP Kim was able to refer Fatima to Nurse Dawn, one of our providers specializing in mental health care in the USA. After sharing with Fatima, Kim & Dawn were able to walk Fatima and her grandmother to our Clinic of the Soul, where church workers were able to get to know Fatima and her grandmother, pray with both of them, and share the Hope of the Gospel. By God's grace, Fatima accepted Jesus! The photo you see below is her coming back to Kim & Dawn's clinic station, with an entirely new countenance, one of pure joy! What a blessing for our entire team to hear and to see this divine transformation - to God be the glory!
Our clinic team treated 612 patients during our time in Santa Lucia, and we praise God that 71 of our dear patients made a profession of faith in Jesus. Pastor Hugo and his congregation our excited about the follow-up for these new believers, and for all that visited our clinic. Pray for the Kingdom work to continue in Santa Lucia, Guatemala!
| 
