THE WEEK'S SUMMARY

The week at Clinica Ezell seemed to fly by. Each day was filled with challenges, smiles, and thanksgiving. Chaplain Terry Smith of Woodmont Hills brought us back to the center each night by helping us reflect on the day. He encouraged us to "reflect" Jesus, rather than just "push" Jesus on others. One of the most encouraging things to me was the Spanish devotionals in the patient ward each evening. These were led by some of the Guatemalan staff: Oscar, Valentin, Luis, and others. It was encouraging to me because these same young men are growing in the faith and showing incredible initiative in their walk with Christ. Oscar, whom until only recently I've never seen without a machete in his hand because he was one of Clinica Ezell's gardeners, preached with confidence and enthusiasm. Luis led the singing with his wonderful voice. Valentin, a very quiet guy whose job as our former janitor was to mop up the operating rooms between surgeries, led a prayer that lasted a full five minutes...this from a guy who rarely says anything and when he does is barely audible. Oscar and Valentin both excelled in preliminary training classes to become health promoter trainers. This new responsibility, coupled with their dedication to the Lord, has fueled a surge of excitement and renewed vision in them. They are the future of Clinica Ezell...and it is exciting! By the end of the week, the gyn surgeons had provided surgical relief for 24 women, and the plastic surgeons helped 14 people, which included babies as young as 5 weeks old, teenagers, and women. The gyn surgeons removed a dermoid cyst anda couple of ovarian cysts, in addition to performing the usual hysterectomies. The plastic surgeons repaired cleft lips so babies could eat, did rhinoplasty on the 20-year-old young man to improve his appearance after his cleft repair last year, and the most unusual of all was the woman with the neurofibroma. This is the same disease that the "Elephant Man" had. The mass they removed from her weighed eight pounds! All are doing well, and for that we praise God. May His name be praised in all the earth.....Marie Agee