Travel and Mission

Yesterday our team of 13 travelled to Guatemala. I had not anticipated it would take as long as it did. We left Detroit at 5:25 am, arrived in Guatemala City at 12:30 pm and after a several hour bus ride we arrived in San Marcos - total travel time some 17 1/2 hours. Lunch was delicious - extra crispy fried chicken with fries at Pollo Campero. We stopped at McDonald's for supper / snack - yummy! We are staying at a very nice hotel.  Jenny, Ann and I have a room with 4 beds - in case we want to switch it up or have someone stay for a sleepover. We are on the 5th floor. Can you say NO elevator? Yes, that's correct, us ladies are on the 5th floor. The altitude is 7868 feet above sea level (in Newport the altitude is about 575 feet) then add 5 flights of stairs - we are going with that as to why we are winded rather then being out of shape. Our team is started taking a medication called Diamox on Saturday to help us fight altitude sickness.
Monday, our first day on mission was spent at a military base, Brigada de Operaciones Para Montana. We divided into several groups: eye glass distribution, prayer, give away of beanie babies-match box cars-blankets-hats-gloves, medical including blood sugar / blood pressure checks, and doctor visits. We saw all ages, young, old, military and dependents as well as extended family of the military. While it may seem trivial, but it was a blessing to us to have the soldiers unload our 26 (50 pounds each) bags and carry them to the buildings. I was of course in the building with medical. A gentleman came in with the worse case of gout I had ever seen. He said he had had it for some 25 years. The skin on his one hand broke open from the swelling. The most powerful thing we could offer was prayer. A grown man with tears as he was prayed over - that is powerful. Another lady came in with a broken wrist of 2 plus weeks - we were able to provide a splint, sling, and some over the counter pain relief. The young soldiers were very polite and respectful. I had fun teasing them as they wanted their blood sugar checked but didn't want to be poked with the tint needle. The funny thing was that many of them stood in line for the steroid joint injections no problem. They made me smile.
It was a very good day. God was in that place. I saw smiles and bright eyes when taking with people. I do say I miss not praying for each and everyone - rethinking how I can do that without slowing the flow. I pray that the light of Jesus shown from each of us today.