August 3rd

After a pretty good night sleep, a few of us awoke for early morning coffee-talk before breakfast. Some of us are fascinated with the balcony view of the volcanoes so we went upstairs to check it out again since it was a clearer morning. It was gorgeous. The Lord gave us another beautiful day. After another delicious breakfast, we got ready for our first full day at the malnutrition in San Juan. The vans picked us up and most people were talkative, anticipating the day’s events of working with the children.

Will, Justin, Francoise and an interpreter named Clay worked with the children and families in the waiting area before their numbers were called in to the various medical areas which included dental and pediatric care. The children waiting were a mix of the shy and the bold. Some of the boys were more than ready to join games involving the beach balls. Others enjoyed looking at books in which Clay kindly interpreted the stories in Spanish. Many of the children caught on to “Duck, Duck, Goose” (Pato, Pato, Gonzo) which was a game they never played before. The children’s smiles were contagious as we blew bubbles with them and stamped their hands with happy faces.

Meanwhile, our dental team saw thirty-five patients total which included children from the malnutrition center and their families. Please pray over these children. Many have had to have teeth pulled; Two in particular had to have seven teeth pulled (half were done today, half will be done in a couple of days). It was rewarding to help these families but stamina is tested so pray for the strength and health of this fantastic crew! Stan, our pediatrician was amazed at observing how a mother threw her baby onto her back and then wrapped her baby in this typical material so that the baby and all her belongings could be with her, nice and secure! He gave advice to families on follow-up care for their child which was sometimes met with strong hesitation. For some Guatemalans, the advice to have their child taken to a hospital causes them to fear and believe their child is going to die. Pray for the Lord to help them overcome their fears.

Marguerite was our faithful angel in the nursery. She diligently rocked babies and changed diapers, making sure each one was dry and comfortable. There is nothing like a tiny little child surrendering to laying their head on your shoulder, enjoying the embrace of a human and being talked to. The babies really soak in conversation.
The Lord was clearly in and throughout this day. He was our leader, rear guard and hedge of protection and the Love that filled the malnutrition center!

Francoise