Since sending out my Christmas/New Year's letters, I realized I should post a blog in hopes that people still take a moment to check up on this missionary nurse. A month ago, God answered the prayer of my heart and gave me a last minute opportunity to serve in Sarstun, Guatemala with Refuge International. From that first call asking if I could come down to Guatemala (in less than a week) to the night I arrived home after one grueling trip, I saw God answer countless prayers of mine and yours too... He always does. Here's just a few examples.
An ice storm had hit Texas the night before the team (14 from four states) was suppose to fly out, but we all made it despite flights being canceled and short layovers. From Guatemala city we set out on a very long
bus drive to Puerto Barrios. It is a very curvy and busy two-land road. There was an incident with a motorcycle accident and thankfully no one was hurt, but the team was definitely shaken. That night we stayed in a hotel, to wait for our boat ride the next morning. I took a stroll outside with my cafe con leche that next morning to post this picture on FB and ask for your prayers. From that point we loaded the boat, we had no connection to the outside world, but I took comfort knowing prayers were being lifted up for our team.
This is the outside of the clinic and the operating room is the middle window. It was a busy week with being the only nurse trying to cover many duties. We had a wonderful group of nursing students learning pre/post-op and helping me in the operating room, so lots of teaching opportunities. I hope these ladies were inspired to continue to make a difference with their nursing skills. We were able to serve the people of Sartun by providing free healthcare, a baby was born by a midwife on our team, and hernias and gallbladders were taken care of in the OR by our surgeons. There was an electrical fire one day, we lost power in the OR, patients were evacuated, and thankfully no one was hurt. We finished the last surgery with just headlights and by your prayers.
This is a snapshot of our living quarters. Sorry its so dark, I didn't get much time during the day outside of the operating room besides meal times. This is one of my favorite places to stay even if some say its "roughing it" by sleeping on air mattress and under mosquito nets. Despite the howling monkeys, croaking frogs, barking dogs, and roosters starting a chorus about 2am, I slept pretty well this trip. In August you might have remembered we had several close lightening strikes that kept us up most nights. Before we crawled under our nets, the team would chill by playing charades in two languages (a fun bonding experience) and hanging out on the balcony looking at the stars.
Speaking of meal times, we are always fed so well in Sarstun by Thelma. Thelma's house is just a stroll through the mud and pass the cows for three meals a day. Most meals consist of black beans, eggs, fruit, and tortillas. Sometimes, she even fries the flour tortillas for a special treat! We sit on Thelma's porch watching patients paddle by in their tree-hallowed canoes. On past trips, I was notorious for getting sick and needing an IV for rehydration. With the help of a Pepto each day and your prayers for my health, I made it this week without falling ill. Everyday I would hug Thelma and tell her "te amo", but when I return home I'm always thankful for a salad bar.
You might be able to tell who is not camera shy in this picture. The one that is trying to hide is Deb Bell. She is one amazing, selfless woman that I admire and inspire to be like one day. She started Refuge International because she saw a great need and wanted to be the change in the world. She works as Family Nurse Practitioner full-time and still finds time to travel to Guatemala a dozen times a year to lead trips. Deb and I had a lot of time to talk on boat rides and late nights in the pharmacy as she encouraged me to keep pursuing grad school. Nine years ago she was brave enough to take nursing students to Guatemala, lets hope she is brave enough to take me as a NP student one day.
It was my tenth time down to Guatemala so I don't think about taking pictures (just a few for blog entries like this one). One morning I woke up to this beautiful view. The sun was rising over the hill and the roosters had quieted down and the dogs were still in their Benadryl daze (we might have dosed them a few nights). Despite the craziness of this trip, from the bus ride to the electrical fire and long days on my feet- the sunrise gave me peace I was right where I needed to be because God is faithful and He answers our prayers.
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
