His power is made perfect in my weakness(es)...

In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul asked God to remove the "thorn in his flesh." God replied to him, "My grace is enough for you, because My power is made perfect through your weakness."
Several times on this trip, we have made mistakes. We are human. Imperfect, mistake-prone, and sometimes, just plain dumb. Because of this, some patients who we have seen this week have been asked to return to Clinica Ezell in November when the next eye surgery team is scheduled to travel down.
One such patient thought he would be able to have his cataract removed yesterday. For one reason or another, he didn't have the cataract removed, but instead, we will be coming back in November for another surgery.
Why did this happen? Why couldn't we remove his cataract and improve his vision? Only one person knows for sure, and it's His will that will be done because we are weak.
One of the nurses and I prayed for this patient last night before we went to bed. We asked for God's power to allow this man to see better than he could prior to the surgery and even asked for Him to allow his cataract to improve until it could be removed in November.
This morning, we removed the patch from the eye we operated on. Thankfully, objectively, his vision was no worse than before the surgery and subjectively, the man told us his vision was better! He was happy! From my point of view, at least part of my prayer had been answered...
Another thought on why this may have happened... What if, in this encounter with the ministry of HTI, The Seed was planted. This Seed is God's love, mercy, peace, and grace with which he has blessed His children. What if, in November when he returns to the clinic, he is ready to confess Christ as his Savior and puts on The Lord in baptism? Could that be a reason this happened?
Of course, none of us know why we made this mistake. But I do know one thing: Because of us, this man has another opportunity to encounter the love, mercy, peace, and grace of our Lord this November. His blessings have allowed us to travel here to minister to His creation, His power is made perfect in our weakness -- in the U.S., in Guatemala, and everywhere we go...

God bless you all...

Mardee O'Donnell

Gregorio

This is my first time in Guatemala, my first time on a mission trip and only my second time outside of the US. I am here as a translator. Before I came I was a little frightened as to whether or not my spanish speaking would be worthy of anything other than "how are you?" and "where is the bathroom?" It has been thirteen years since I took a spanish class and four years since I spoke it with any regularity. I was really hoping that it would be like riding a bicycle and if not that hand motions and other people's ability to speak spanish and english would suffice for my rudimentary skills. I needn't have worried.
At the clinic we treat patients who cannot see out of one or both eyes because of cataracts. Some have pterygiums. One little girl had been hit when a melon fell on her. He eye was so damaged that she lost her sight and it was irrepairable. She came with her mother and showed gratitude to God even though the result was not what she had hoped it would be. In fact everyone who comes to the clinic is so gracious and understanding. They have been laughing at me when I correct my spanish or say something a little awkwardly. They have been helping me!
They come to the clinic from far away. They come here by chicken bus, walking, or by car. One women started her trip to the clinic at four in the morning! They come to the clinic and then they wait. They wait in our waiting room for hours, standing, sitting on chairs, sitting on steps, never on the floor. They wait patiently for their turn with the doctor and show gratitude to God no matter the outcome.
On the first day things get a little crazy. The doctor is operating on today´s patients, while the rest of the staff starts taking a patient history, doing vision checks, eye pressure checks and dilating eyes for tomorrow´s patients. The first patient arrived and everyone was waiting to see who would help him. I decided it was time to sink or swim with my spanish!
Gregorio and his wife came to the clinic because he could see cloudy in one eye and nothing in the other. He clearly had a cataract and was a good candidate for surgery. Throughout the day I spoke with Gregorio and his wife, despite my ability to understand or speak well. She told me he had trouble hearing and asked if there was anything we could do about that. After telling someone (and writing it in his chart) that he had trouble hearing with his eyes, everyone started laughing. I decided it best then to have someone else explain to them that we only work on eyes.
Gregorio´s wife had to return to their town. They thought he wouldn't go home until Tuesday and when I told him that I thought he would go home Monday he became very nervous because he didn't know his number and was afraid he wouldn´t be able to reach his wife. I reassured him that we would find it and we would call her to make sure she came to get him. Gregorio has two kids, a boy and a girl, like me. He is 85 years old. He has grandchildren and a wonderful heart. During the day Sunday he kept telling me he was afraid, but he knew God was good and would take care of him. He was also telling me something else, but I could make it out. Finally, Gustavo told me what he was saying. Gregorio, an 85 year old man from a small town in Guatemala who lived through civil unrest and changes that I can't imagine, who has been married for almost 70 years and who is kind and sweet had been fasting and praying for three days about the operation. God answered his prayers and he was grateful.
On Monday we spoke many times and had many laughs. We did get a hold of his wife and she and his daughter came to bring him home. He left smiling and praising God. He touched my heart and I touched his.This is why I am here.

Family Tradition

Dee Anderson

This is my second trip to Guatemala, but my first surgical trip. I am in charge of sterilzing the surgical instrumentsthis time around. Today, July 24,I was priviledged to watch Dr. Larry Patterson remove a cateract from a man's eye and give him the hope of seeing better. It was fascinating and I learned how some of those instruments I've been washing are used.

I have been seeing my husband, Alfred, come down to Clinica Ezell and before that to Chocola for a number of years now. His desire to serve the Lord has grown and his skills have increased in the areas of sterilzing surgical instruments and being a general handyman. Now I have begun my own journey with the Heath Talents family following in my husbands' footsteps. Because my husband farms and I teach school, we can't come on the same surgical trips. But if he continues to come on his trips and I come on mine, maybe this will become a family tradition! I certainly hope so.

You can't come herewithout seeing the power of our Lord at work. It is an experience that will change your life in ways that can't be explained. Let me encourage you to volunteer to come. Share your time. Learn a skill, share a smile, give a hug. Read about all the different programs Health Talents offers and see what you and your family can do to participate. Blessings will flow because you did.

HTI Eye Surgery Clinic - July 21-28, 2007

My name is Gustavo Prato, this is the first time that I have participated in a Surgery Clinic in Guatemala with Health Talents International. We are in the Ezell clinic in Montellano doing eye surgery and helping people with different eye problems but mainly with cataracts. I am working primarily as the chaplan of the group, doing devotionals, encouraging the team to keep a spiritual focus in the midst of the phisical healing nature of the mission, and also praying and comforting the patients that come to be treated.
We have been in the clinic for two full days and what an experience has it been! It is so gratifying to participate in the type of healing ministry that Jesus did while He was among us. Most patients come with poor or very bad eyesight and the leave the clinic seeing and rejoicing because they have been healed. The verses that I think describe this work is what we read in Luke 4: 18,19 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me. He has chosen me to tell good news to the poor. He sent me to tell prisioners that they are free and to tell the blind that they can see again. He sent me to free those who have been treated badly and to announce that the time has come for the Lord to show His kindness". Jesus was saying this about himself, it was part of His mission and now we can be a part of it, that is exciting and a privilege as well. I had the opportunity to preach on Sunday morning and to teach a class to a group of men from the same congregation which has been gratifying as well. We will be here until Friday morning, and I just want to ask you to pray for us while we minister to the people in Guatemala.

My Pleasure

Shayna is such a treasure. She works with diligence and genuine care. She is able to communicate with love in her actions and her voice. "My pleasure" was the response she gave to any request made of her this week. You can give glory where will but I know that God's glory and grace rested fully in Shayna this week. Thank you for being such a marvelous teacher.

Magda was another servant that I had the pleasure to work with. Every year she works with skill and and vigilence. My Spanish is muy puquito but I can say gracias. However, I cannot say it enough. She endured are evolving requests and needs with humility. Her eyes always sparkled with vitality and warmth. Thank you for being our Guatemalan sister, mother, and friend.

Kelly and Mary Ann were a delight to work with this week. We came together and worked to the benfit of the patient who had prayed for the day we would come. And we came as one and joy filled the OR. When was the last time you experienced that. When I think of Jesus I think of a foot washer. You may call him the great physician but He was also a great nurse. Thank you both.

George Robertson continues to earn my admiration. I feel a quickening at hearing of how Christ has captured his and Linda's heart and they live their lives out of this love. I pray that the few talents that I have are used as full as theirs. I resolve learn the Lord's prayer in Spanish by the next trip. That is one step closer. Thank you for carrying Christ everywhere you go.
I am yearning to be home with my wife and daughters. There is an emptiness that can only be filled when the part is reunited to the whole. When I see them, hold them, hear them I will feel rest.
The whole earth, its people and all of creation, yearns for the day that the children of God are reunited with the one who is eager to hold us completely. When we live to the glory of God in the love we feel for Jesus and and each other. Much like this week.
Thy kindgdom come, thy will be done, in Guatemala, The US, in all the earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

HTI Trip News - General Surgery

General Surgery, Clinica Ezell, Montellango, Guatemala - Dateline 1/25/2007

Hernia repairs, in good numbers, are the order order of the day, however there are always "great" size differences and presentations, i.e. umbilical, incisional and inquinal herniae.. There are a very large number of femoral herniae in the women of Guatemala. Here he women are very much a part of the workforce, lifting heavy loads and farming ith individual implements.
For a long time, gallbladder disease has been present, but, not readily diagnosed without technology. Ultrasound has arrived and dependable electrical supply; now laparoscopic cholecystectomy is being performed ina limited setting.

Drs. Dan Minor, George Robertson, Ed Grogan, Eric Grogan, Duncan McCrea and Lee Murphy, MS IV.

thoughts...

Hello Everyone,
I've never written on any blog before so I'm not really sure what i wanted to say, first off i guess i wanted to tell veryone how wonderful you all are and how its amazing to see such different people work as one combined unit under god. to trust eachother and trust that god is caring for us is just wonderful and to know that you all are going to heaven and that if i nver see you on this earth again that i will meet you again in god's kingdom, i also want to say that working in the dentistry unit its amazing that this orgnization does what it does, all the people that worked with us this week, silvia, nidia, manuela and others...they are such hard workers and have such good hearts and they love to learn! they really crave knowledge and are apprietiative if you teach them new things! I just love all of them! and they have so much faith and hard work ethic they do everything in gods name and are so eager to please people...being in guatamala gave me a new outlook on my life...i realize that im still very young...sixteen...i still have so much more ahead of me but i realize that i have been living my life wrong and this trip changed me for the better...in my soul i am happy and the guatamalans have given me the peace that i needed within myself and i hope all of you that have gone on this trip take back that peace that i have recieved as well...the people that we do work on also trust us so much and thy trust god and they are just so kind and they just love with everything they have! they trust us to go into there mouths and pull out there teeth and they just put there mouth and health in our hands...its an absolutely wonderful feeling... i cant tell you a more rewarding feeling that having them smile at you after you have just taken out there teeth that were rotten and they are so please that they wont be in pain anymore and that we have helped them...i bet that all of you feel te same way...there smiles and gesture's towards us are so rewarding and wonderful and thats about all i can tell you...i hope that those of you who have come leave with so much more than you thought you would...i pray you keep god with you at all times and i wish you all the best!
-angelica

FIRST MISSION TRIP

I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO ON A MISSION TRIP. THIS YEAR IT FINALLY WORKED OUT FOR ME TO GO. I HAVE HAD AN AWESOME TIME. THIS HAS BEEN A LOT FOR MY EYES TO TAKE IN. MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE TRIP IS THE CHILDREN. THEY HAVE "NOTHING" YET THEY ALWAYS SMILE. IT IS A GOOD FEELING TO HELP OTHERS . WE MAY NEVER REALIZE THE IMPACT A MOMENT WE SPENT WITH SOMEONE HERE HAS. THIS COUNTRY IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. IF YOU HAVE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN A MISSION TRIP, DON'T PUT IT OFF ANY LONGER. SIGN UP FOR ONE WHETHER HERE OR WITH YOUR CHURCH. JUST DO IT. YOU WILL BE SO GLAD.

WENDY BLAKLEY (NURSE)

Gynecologic Surgery

As we return to Montellano and Clinica Ezell, again we find the majority of women to be referred for pelvic organ prolapse. With the typical patient having delivered 6-12 children, the incidence of debilitating "hernias" in the pelvic region, including stress urinary incontinence, is very high. This condition, while not life threatening, causes many problems for these ladies both from a hygiene standpoint and a social aspect. With the advent of newer, minimally invasive techniques and implantable mesh products such as the Gynecare Prolift and TVTO and Bard Avaulta systems we have been able to surgically repair the defects in our patients and have them able to return to their homes in 1-2 days. Experiencing a rapid recovery they are able to resume their daily activities with an improved quality of life. We are thankful to the companies who donated these valuable products that we might provide for our patients state of the art resources to improve their health.

Drs. Judi Jehle, Dent Williams and Tommy Hatchett

Surgery Report

Jan 23, 2007...We did our first three laparoscopic cholecystectomies for this trip yesterday. We brought and assembled the equipment and did the first lap gallbladder surgery at Clinica Ezell a year ago. Today we did an additional 3 lap gallbladders. Ed Grogan, Eric Grogan, and Duncan McRae have all done at least one and Danny Minor will do one tomorrow. We have all had prior experience at Health talents - most of us have been four or more times. We have to adjust to using different equipment, patients with more chronically inflammed gallbadders and using general anesthesia - not spinal as in most of the hernias. We have been blessed with no major problems. The largest stone was the size of a pecan. These people are so appreciative. We did 18 different operations yesterday - 13 general surgery cases and 5 Gyn cases. We have 3 Gynecologists, 5 general surgeons and one 4th year medical student, a lot of doctors, but it has worked out well and allowed us to be much better organized and to see the preop patients after lunch rather than after devotional. It has been nice because we all have worked together before. Tomorrow we do 8 pediatric patients - mostly hernias. Ed Grogan M.D.

srna

Proof that God blesses thoses who work for the good of others is traveling deep into the guatemalian jungle despite it being nfl championship week, and still getting to watch two quarters of the colts game via a wireless internet connection and a clear night sky. The facility down here and the instruments that have been donated are nothing less than amazing.

Surgery Clinic - January 20-27, 2007

Well, we've just finished our first day of surgery, and there is a feeling of satisfaction in the air because all went well. This surgical team is a large one with five general surgeons, three gynecologists, four anesthesia folks, ten nurses and a host of support personnel (totally 40 in all!). Many are veterans of previous trips, but there is a large sprinkling of newcomers. Because of setting up, screening the patients, church and lunch, we didn't even begin until 2 pm...and they still did eleven surgeries today. What a way to start!