Saturday and Sunday

(Remember, our "weekend" is now Tuesday and Wednesday...)

Both clinic days this weekend went very well. On Saturday, Leslie, Katie, and Heidi saw about 40 patients in Canilla-- Mostly either chronic patients, prenatal patients, or fairly easy problems. It was nice to have a little bit of an easier clinic day, and then we all got to enjoy a beautiful afternoon in Canilla. Duane and Aaron flew some locals down to The City to pick up someone from the airport, and we continue to thank God for safe flights in the new plane. What a huge blessing to be back in the air!

Today at San Andres, we saw a few less patients than we have been seeing lately (only about 70, versus up in to the 90's over the past several weeks... yikes.) It was nice to have a little bit more time to spend with each patient, as we definitely had a few that needed it. Please continue to pray for us to truly be a blessing to all of the people that God is sending our way in this clinic. It is sometimes easy to lose patience with ninety people crowding your doorway and begging to be seen next every time you open it!

Please pray especially for a little three-year old girl who has a huge (seriously, about the size of a volleyball... and remember, she's three!) tumor in her belly. We think it's probably a tumor of her left kidney, but are trying to get her in to Chichicastenango for more evaluation and likely surgery. The reason the family brought her in and/or noticed the tumor themselves is that she is becoming almost unable to eat because of its size. Ouch.

Also pray for a lady named Maria who has a terrible infection in the tear duct of her left eye. Trust us, this looks and is quite painful. We have treated her with one antibiotic already with little improvement, and spent some time trying to drain the infection today. She left with another antibiotic and advice to come here to Quiche to see the eye team on Thursday. We really hope they are able to help more than we have so far!

Another young pregnant lady has been suffering from some severe abdominal pains this week and was afraid at one point that she had appendicitis. She was fine today, but is very scared that her pain will come back and that she will have to come to the hospital. Note the truly sad part-- She is not afraid of the pain itself, or even of the surgery per se-- She is worried about having to take the time to go to the hospital and stay there! She has another kid at home, and is unlikely to receive much support from her husband if she is gone for any length of time. Count your blessings, women for whom that thought does not have to occur!

Tomorrow is our second "solo" clinic with Isaac... Wish us luck and maybe a little bit of silence from him! It will be our first time back to Chicabracan since late June, so we should be plenty busy and will be needing plenty of patience. We will definitely welcome in our mid-week break after that.

The picture is of Isaac and Daddy playing on the blanket today. Sorry no clinic pictures; the camera stayed behind in the diaper bag with Daddy! We'll try to take some tomorrow.