Interesting Clinic

Today was our clinic at Roy Espinosa's church in Chinique. It's probably the most diverse clinic we run. Our patients range from one of the richest men in town (who's in his 80s and tells us the exact same story about going to Sacramento every time we see him) to some of the poorest people we've ever seen. Some of our patients are Latins, some are Mayans.

For the first time ever (at least for us), we had a Latin woman offer to translate for several Mayan patients. Where she learned to speak K'iche we'll probably never know, but she was very sweet to them and quite helpful. (Of course, she did ask to be moved up in the line, but after all that, who could deny her a few minutes shorter wait?)

Some of our patients there are extremely overweight and suffering typical consequences for that (diabetes, hypertension, back and knee pain). Others are so malnourished that you feel bad for asking if they're fasting when you take their blood sugar. Of course they're fasting - they're probably almost always fasting!

The one thing that all of our patients there have in common, though, is their need for Jesus Christ. Some are in churches, including Roy's, but most are effectively unchurched. This clinic may be one of the few times in their lives when they get to hear the name of Jesus in a religious context. And that is our calling there.

Today, we both felt pretty under the weather. Luckily, clinic only went about four hours. Neither of us really has much of an appetite and we're hoping that it's just something that'll pass in a day or so. The good news was that we got to come home from clinic and nap. It'll be an early night tonight as we prepare for the next two days with the Fickers.

Again, please continue to pray for the safe delivery of our container from the U.S., and that it comes before we have to leave for the Ixcan.

Also, please pray that our clinic in Chinique can be a vehicle through which our patients can be saved. Tums, tylenol, and even blood pressure and diabetes medicines only go so far. It would be best if we could work to ensure that we see these people in heaven.