We have arrived in Guatemala! We landed in Guatemala City – there’s about 30 of us – and wmore met by the Guatemalan Faith in Practice staff with a bus to take us to Antigua. As we drove through the City, all the city buses were red! Once upon a time, the story goes, a Guatemalan president visited London and admired their red buses, so decided to make the same statement in his own capital city 🙂
Anitgua is a beautiful historic town, with cobblestone streets and incredible architecture. our first stop was Casa de Fe – a recuperating and preparing place for those from far off villages going into and out of surgical procedures. We met a mother with twins, who had both just had surgery for cleft lips. The first thing she said when introducing herself to us was “Good afternoon, I am thankful to God and that God’s heart would incline to my children.”
next we visited the hospital, a place where people can receive health care no matter their economic status. A brother gave us a tour – it is also a place where adults and children can stay indefinitely if they are not able to take care of themselves. We saw the new operating rooms, which were well equipped. It was a heartbreak to see children disadvantaged and physically ill.
We are preparing to go to Reyu, as it is nicknamed, tomorrow. On Monday we will be in a part of Reyu that has never had a clinic before, so our visit will be a new thing. The Guatemalan medical volunteers are already there preparing for our arrival.
This afternoon we prayed for the safekeeping of loved ones we have left this week to be here, and that our hearts would be strengthened and encouraged and that God would grow us in our experience here.
