MAY 2025

 

 

    May started with surgery week at Clinica Ezell.   We served patients with needs for GYN and General surgery.  It was  a very good week and we saw God move in many ways,  not just in the patients but in the surgeons, nurses, and caregivers as well.  We saw many patients that were in such need but so gracious and sweet as well.

 

A sweet little girl recovering from hernia surgery

A very healthy baby!

Two women helping each other walk after GYN surgery.  The caregivers normally walk the patients but these two wanted to get in extra walks so they helped each other.

Rita with two of the Guatemalan nurses that work for Health Talents,  Naomi and Gresly.

Charlie was a precious patient.  He has down syndrome but was always smiling.  He wanted a hug from every one. 

This man was a patient last year for plastic surgery.   He came back this past month to help a relative with their care after surgery.   He remembered us and wanted to thank us for healing him.

Here he is a few weeks ago completely healed from the plastic surgery.

 

 

 

This past month we had the opportunity to build homes for three families.  It is such a blessing to provide a dry home with a concrete floor and a solid roof and walls.  The families are so grateful and it changes their lives.  They are no longer walking and living on dirt and mud,  the rain does not pour in, they are no longer cooking on the ground with the kitchen that is built.  It truly is a life changing moment for parents raising little children.

 

 

We built a home for Rolbin (24) and his wife Jesica (24) and their two children, Madison (4)and Brayan (3).   Jesica attended Campos and the children's feeding center when she was younger.  Her sister Lupita in the picture still works at Campos one day a week.

 

Madison looking at the house blessing.  After much discussion with locals we have modified our beds from two twin beds to a bunk with a twin on top and a matrimonial on bottom.  We still have flexibility where needed but this seems to be the most desired combination for most of the families.

Madison - 4 years old - has the chore of washing the laundry in the pila each day.

The finished kitchen in the only space they had available.

This is the latrine with the house going up right beside it.

We also had the blessing of building a home for Jorge and Jaci.   They owned only a small plot with very limited space.  We had to alter the home somewhat to get it to fit on their property but they were so happy and invited the whole extended family for the house blessing.

Jorge (25), Jaci (19), Dilan (2 1/2), and Estefani (1)

They were a precious couple

Jorge's first time with a drill.   He is installing the lamina on the back wall before we raised it into place.   He missed the studs a few times and created some holes but he was happy nevertheless and we were able to patch the holes.

This month we also had the honor of building a home for Francisco and Maria and their 8 children.  It was the poorest family we have built for in the 12 years that we have been in Guatemala.  They loved helping us when they could but they did not speak Spanish.  They only spoke Kachiquel, an indigenous language to Guatemala. 

They did not trust us at first.  It reminded us of someone living in isolation.  Their house had an enclosure for 5 goats and a horse.  There were so many flies and droppings.  The children were in rag-torn clothes, barefooted, matted and dirty hair. 

By the time the house build was over they were all smiles with many hugs to go around after the house blessing and the devotion.

We held the devotion outside and when it came time to reveal the new house and the blessing of food and hygiene items that were donated, it was like Christmas.  They were running and squealing, laughing and grabbing like it was their only chance.  We will never forget the pure joy they showed in receiving food, toys, toothbrushes and many other items.  We know things are not important but when you have nothing, it was so precious to them.

The truck loaded down with tools and bed  frames.

They all helped to unload and transport everything to their property

Working beside the goat pen

They make a living selling goat milk

The children would take empty bags, tie a string around the top and blow into it for a ball.

They wanted to help anyway they could.

The children would take an empty 2 liter coke bottle and pile on top of it to use it as a sled.

While we feed the children every Wednesday and Friday, during surgery week we miss the Wednesday feeding but we get such a blessing on the Friday of surgery week.  Doctors, nurses, caregivers come with us on the Friday for a couple of hours and help serve.  We are so grateful,  they give up a few hours in Antigua to serve and be blessed.

 This month we had a special time with the mothers for our Mother Day celebration.  We were able to serve them a special meal with 145 mothers and many, many  children in attendance. 

 

Rita serving the mothers.

All the tables were filled!

    Some of the precious children we get to love on each week as we watch them grow up and learn more about Jesus every day. 

     We are so grateful to God that He provides for us by the donations we receive and how He moves in the hearts of the children and adults.  More and more of the people we get the opportunity to serve and tell about the love of Jesus are now going to church.  It is so exciting to see the Holy Spirit in action.

 Blessings,  Cary and Rita