Guatemala Team ~ June 17, 2019

We began the day with a great breakfast at the hotel. Picture amazing coffee, fresh fruit, eggs, black beans, and even cookies!  Shortly afterward, we went to the Potter’s House community center and received a presentation about poverty in Chiquimula. From there, we divided into three teams;  two teams went to build sanitation stations with two wonderful families, and Farr Curlin and Susanne Berger held a much-needed medical clinic. 

Team One
The first team went directly to the Jeronimo family’s home where they were already building the hygiene station. We had fun at the worksite where we were plastering the walls. The little girls who live there were very engaged in the process. We blew bubbles at the end of the day and they absolutely loved it.

Second Team
The second team went to the home of a beautiful sister in Christ, Amelia, and her three sweet girls. (Her husband was at work, so we did not get to meet him today.) We also helped build a sanitation station—today we scraped cinder block and plastered—and we  get to know our translators and the extended family.  It was a wonderful day of fellowship for those of us who attend Apostles, as well as with our new Guatemalan friends. 

(You will hear more about the third team’s medical clinic from Farr.)

Overall, our team was filled with a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to be here partnering with Potter’s House;  we recognize that they could complete this work much more efficiently without our ‘help’ (um…yes, we also realized we are not qualified masons!), but we appreciate the opportunity to come and work alongside new friends and build new relationships as we work on the projects. The Potter’s House staff are amazing and we are grateful that the Lord has provided this opportunity to be here.  Thank you for your partnership & prayers!

~ Sarah and Avery Alexander

Medical Team
We had a basic medical clinic on the property of a local evangelical church. Farr and Susanne saw 18 patients. We were struck that the symptoms people presented with largely were symptoms of difficult lives—back pain, shoulder pain, abdominal pain, foot pain, digestive problems, fatigue, low energy. On writing that list, I (Farr) see that these are not terribly different from the issues that present often in primary care clinics in the US.

One patient had suffered a bleed inside her brain three years before and had been sent home to die, but three years later she had almost fully recovered. She had taken care of her mother as she died and was now taking care of her husband who is wheelchair bound. She tearfully lifted her hands in praise of God who had cared for her. It was special to meet her. With each of our patients, we have time to ask them personal questions, and with each we take time to pray. That may be the most significant part of our time in the health clinics.

~ Farr Curlin