IRISH LASSIE

At last little BUNNIES for our Sustainable Agriculture Project for Malnourished Children and Infants!

2012-01-22T18:59:00.000-08:00

Friends and Family,

I do like furry friends and I was getting a little frustrated waiting for more bunnies to join the family. Weeks ago I was told by my agriculture worker that the new bunnies were in the cave, which the other bunnies had dug for them; they assured me they would come out when they were a little bigger. OK. I waited. I had asked for some extra bunnies just in case it was not true and the female bunny did not like her mate. Well today three little bunnies ventured out into the pen; one pretty white one and two others so I am happy!

The bunnies are part of our sustainable agricultural project for our nutrition project for malnourished children. I will enjoy them for now and I am sure they will all have names.

Our organic chickens are doing well, laying eggs but no little chickens hatching; more promises. I am not a farm girl so I have to read up about these creatures habits. The demonstration garden is being weeded and ready to plant again.

Tomorrow is first Nutrition gathering of moms with malnourished children for 2012, to monitor their weights and recuperation. Also, we have on the agenda, to assign two plots in the demonstration garden, to the mothers. We are inviting also the dads to see their interest and possibility to have a small garden near their home. One of our workers brother is an agronomist and has volunteered assessment, advice and supervision of small gardens in communities to these families.

Tuesday; February 24, 2012

Today only ten moms and infants came to the class; This was expected since not all would have received the word of first meeting. Today, the infants under one year came to class and check up with Doctor Ever. Later in the month is scheduled class and weights for children, 1 year to 5 years.

Planting is contagious. I was happy that some of our workers, who we had to decrease to 50% for financial reasons, have formed a agricultural association, and are planting on their own. They are planting the herb BERRO, corn, and also talking of a forming a fish pond, near the river.

I attach a photo of twins that weighed less than four pounds at birth. The mother is severely handicapped with cerebral palsy. We were happy today to see their progress as they came for the nutrition class. The twins, Deisy and Alecio now weigh 9 and 9.5 pounds! The Clinica Maxeña's Nutrition Project has provided them with formula since birth.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. 2.5 pounds of baby formula cost $17.

You can donate on line at: http://catalog.diocesehelena.org/Guatemala-Mission-c10/

Note for the Clinica Maxeña

Sheila

A NEW PRESIDENT FOR GUATEMALA!

2012-01-14T14:31:00.000-08:00

Friends and Family,

Yesterday Otto Perez, former Military, became President of Guatemala. There is great hope and prayer for PEACE and JUSTICE in Guatemala. The suffering of the poor is great; malnutrition with children is the highest in the hemisphere, minimal wage is less than 10 dollars a day and for 2012 the increase is announced for less tan fifty cents a day. People are hungry and unemployment is extensive. The Bishops of the Catholic Church are very vocal, according to the Social Teachings of our Church. Yesterday, there was a MASS, celebrated by the Archbishop, for and in attendance of the new President, Vice President and other officials of the new Government, in the Cathedral Metropolitan in Guatemala City. Their prayer, and of so many, "that the new President will honor his campaign promises and will bring reconciliation, peace, and cessation of violence" to families and to the country. Two priorities are Health and Education. Health has been declared in Emergency. The priorities for Health are better service for the sick and the Health employees and purchase of quality medicines for Government Hospitals and Centers for Health in the rural area. Education priorities are for nutritional supplements for students and repair of educational structures.

As the Bishop of Solola manifested in his column in the Press; "may the new government acknowledge the Lord and know how to live with honor and happiness the mission that the electors have confided in them"

Guatemala is listed as one of the five most violent countries in the World. Prayers are needed for this beautiful people and country. THANK YOU.

A NEW YEAR! 2012

2012-01-04T19:48:00.005-08:00

Friends and Family,

It does seem like end of year was more stressing than I anticipated. Our financial crisis was not imagined or foreseen. It seems like emergencies and care for the sick daily took priority and I neglected to acknowledge the serious situation we were in. I thank all our friends and my family, who so generously shared at christmas time, to lift us up. I did have to lay off several good workers in order to survive. Our mission clinic is 46 years in existence. There was no way we could close our doors abruptly. We are a very busy and an important participant of health care in the mountainous region of Guatemala, for the POOR. Health Care should be a HUMAN RIGHT but that is not reality. All over the world, Health Care has become BIG BUSINESS. It is the poor who suffer the most and often die prematurely. We are twelve fewer workers and another six are 50 per cent in the Clinica Maxeña for 2012; we are positive and working together so to improve our status and continue to offer curative and preventive medicine to these beautiful Mayan people who we, as Diocese of Helena Montana, have share our lives with for so many years, as a Mission Parish Clinic. Please continue to share your wealth and love with our Mission Clinic; the Clinica Maxeña, in Guatemala, Central America. THANK YOU. Sheila McShane, RN

You can donate on line at: http://catalog.diocesehelena.org/Guatemala-Mission-c10/ or

you can send a donation to :

Diocese of Helena

Guatemala Mission

Mark Frei

PO BOX 1729

Helena, MT

59624

NOTE FOR THE CLINICA MAXEÑA

Thank You .....New Year Blessings.

Photo of our New Year Baby, 9 pounds, baby boy, born in our Emergency Room of the Clinic on January 3rd. We were very happy to share in the JOY of the proud parents of their first born son, Blanca and Ricardo.

The Midwife was 70 years old and sought support from our Medical Doctor EVER.

2011 comes to an END

2011-12-16T02:13:00.000-08:00

Friends and Family,

It is the end of year 2011 and we look to the dawning of 2012. Here at the Clinica Maxeña our needs with the sick and poor have dramatically increased. Hunger and malnutrition and disease are very prevalent. Guatemala has the highest rate of chronic malnutrition of children under five years of age, in the hemisphere. Our donations are down. We have to cut our staff and our programs to survive in 2012.

Daily at 6am, patients come at dawn, to receive a number for medical consult; consult is only three dollars. We have a well sorted Pharmacy and also a complete diagnostic laboratory. Our Emergency Room receives three to five emergencies a day; the most common are wounds to be sutured for field workers, and respiratory crisis in infants and children. Emergency deliveries of babies happen at least monthly. Snake bites, car accidents, diabetic emergencies keep our Emergency Room busy.

We have a Nutritional Project for malnourished infants and children. Many lactating mothers do not have sufficient breast milk for their babies. We prefer not to depend on formula; it is expensive and we know secondary disease results from lack of hygiene with the baby bottles and also contaminated water. Our Nutritional Project provides classes on nutritive supplements to the diet of the infant or child, recipes on how to prepare, a protein drink that is produced by the workers of Medicinal and NutritivePlants of the Clinica and free Medical consult to these infants and children by our doctor. The protein supplement of the Clinic is made from corn, rice, soy, wheat, peanuts, mush and other additives. In 2011, we began to work with Sustanable agriculture; we have planted a demonstrative garden of vegetables and native healthy herbs. The harvest is gifted to the mothers of malnourished children, in diabetic club and sold in the clinic to the public.

Our clinic has a team that works with environmental deficiencies that cause disease; garbage thrown on the road side, contaminated water, lack of sanitary facilities, such as toilets, lack of recycle centers, decrease of the forest. These are problems that the Ministry of Health should address but their response is slow, minimal and often non existent. CAN YOU HELP US.. As Christians we know that the GOSPEL tells us the POOR will always be with US. WE are called to be present to them!

You can put us on your christmas list. You can make possible the continuation of our WORK! You can educate your children of the importance of remembering the POOR at christmas. Thank YOU for your support. You make possible the continuations of our WORK in the CLINICA MAXENA!

You can donate on line at:http://catalog.diocesehelena.org/Guatemala Mission-c10

or make a donation by check to DIOCESE of HELENA

send to:

Diocese of Helena

Guatemala Mission

Mr Mark Frei

PO 1729

Helena, MT

59624

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS TO YOU AND ALL YOUR FAMILY FROM THE CLINICA MAXENA¡

CHAJINEL goes home to his BRIDE!

2011-12-14T08:26:00.000-08:00

Friends and Family,

If you have visited our Mission, you have met CHAJINEL. Chajinel is a beautiful Husky; his name in the Mayan indian dialect is "GUARD". I got him as a puppy with intention of giving him to the dormitory students at ASUNCION; this was in 2006. That did not work out and I grew attached to him. He quickly became a big doggie and I could not keep him at my bedside. I had built a fenced small yard with a doggie house, behind our kitchen; he was a good watch dog. He was restless at times, as would be for a Husky, not able to run freely.

I knew I had to find him a new home. Last night he went to the home of his new BRIDE, a beautiful female Husky. The owners are friends, and the wife, Sheila, is also my godchild. I am happy with his new home. I WILL MISS GREETING HIM EACH DAY!

Attached Photos of Chajinel with me, A LAST HUG, and leaving for his new home, ACCOMPANIED BY THE TWO CLINIC WORKERS, WHO FED AND CARED FOR HIM!

AGAIN MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.

LOVE,

SHEILA

Undocumented Immigrants

2011-12-09T05:26:00.000-08:00

Friends and Family,

I am the daughter of Irish parents who immigrated in the 1920's; they came also for economic reasons but they had visas and someone in the United States to greet them. This is not the reality of the undocumented immigrants, who at great personal risk of life, go North in search of work to give their family the bare necessities of life, mainly food. There are many hungry people here. The immigrants first cross the Mexican border and into Mexico. This country, especially border towns, are extremely dangerous for the presence of Narcotic trafficking. Immigrants are kidnapped, robbed, obligated to participate in crimes, and often murdered; they never make it to their destiny of HOPE, the USA. Usually their bodies are never recovered; families have no news from them and the worst is presumed. Some immigrants choose to stay in Mexico if they can find employment.

Thus is the story of a young man who arrived at our clinic with two siblings, including a ten month old baby. His parents and one sibling remain in jail in Mexico; they are accused of a crime he claims they are innocent. The father apparently selling tortillas, with his wife, when two of his other children were accused, by a passerby, of breaking into an auto. He said the baby was put in a nursery until two siblings were released, after three months in jail! Ten family members were arrested and jailed. This was March 2011; all but three were released in June. He said he was told if other family members came to the jail looking for his parents they would be encarcelated too. He related that his parents jail sentence is eight years. This young man is distraught. His own wife abandoned him, with their infant, when he returned to his community, because he began to drink alcohol. He now is the caregiver for his other siblings, including his 10 month old brother, Salomón. He requested milk for the baby. We did provide powder milk and a protein supplement, free medical consult and vitamins.

We have requested assistance from the catechist, or person who works with the small Catholic church in the community, to follow up with the older, caregiver brother.

Hopefully he can facilitate the reconciliation for him with his wife and return to their home to help care for the extended family. The catechist also will advise the young man about his alcohol consumption. Today, a week later, they arrived again at the clinic; they had not eaten breakfast, and were requesting more milk and medication for diarrhea for the infant. We provided milk, protein supplement, breakfast and necessary medication.

Immigration reform is an issue for the American Congress. Pray for these immigrants and for a just resolution to Immigration reform, which would allow immigrants to work legally, even for short terms and enter safely to our country by bus transportation. The Catholic Church is supportive of Immigration Reform.

Thanks. Love Sheila

PLEASE REMEMBER TO DONATE TO OUR CLINIC THIS CHRISTMAS.

You can donate on line at: http://catalog.diocesehelena.org/Guatemala-Mission-c10

NOTE FOR THE CLINICA MAXEÑA OR

make check to:

Diocese of Helena;

send to

Diocese of Helena

Guatemala Mission

Mark Frei

P.O. Box 1729

Helena, MT

59624

USA NOTE FOR CLINICA MAXEÑA

CHRISTMAS LETTER 2011

2011-11-28T13:28:00.000-08:00

Friends and Family,

I greet you from the green hills of Guatemala. Our winter, rainy season, is coming to an end. The coffee trees, choked full of red berries, are our Christmas trees! Harvest is in progress. This past year has been a difficult one for the poor in Guatemala. Coffee prices for producers have improved, yet the plantation owners do not pay the pickers a just wage, not even minimal salary. Landslides and flooding has caused destruction to bridges and highways. Presidential elections have brought little hope for social change. Inflation of basic food prices has increased malnutrition and common illness with children. Many patients postpone seeking health care for lack of even bus fair to arrive at the clinic. Now the women purchase their corn by the pound, where as before they would purchase 25 to 50 pounds on market day. More and more patients come to our clinic acutely ill and scared. Fewer Mayan women can afford to weave the beautiful blouses of their ancestors.

Advent approaches and yet there is hope that the New Year will bring a better life for their families. Their faith is a constant in their lives. People generously care for one another. Education is more accessible for their children and families sacrifice and beg to assure their children stay in the classroom.

I just visited family and friends at home. I attended the Assembly of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, of which I am an Associate. I witnessed the call to occupy the cities and come out into the streets to protest the economic reality. The majority of Americans are not making ends meet; health and education are not available to everyone as they should be. the answers are difficult. The world economic crisis has affected the generosity of others to the poor. The people here are hungry!

Closing doors for the Clinic would be a difficult decision. We ask you to put the Clinica Maxeña on your Christmas List. As the year comes to an end, we are not prepared to face the expenses we must confront. We must also renew contracts with workers and purchase medicines for the year 2012. Most of our workers earn minimal salary of less than ten dollars a day. We cannot provide salary increases again this year. They need their jobs and the sick need our presence as a parish clinic.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND GENEROSITY!

A JOYOUS CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS FROM ALL OF US AT THE CLINIC!

SHEILA MCSHANE - DIRECTOR

Donate on line at: http://catalog.diocesehelena.org/Guatemala-Mission-c10/

NOTE for the CLINICA MAXEÑA

or send check for DIOCESE of HELENA to:

Diocese of Helena

Guatemala Mission

Mr Mark Frei

P.O. Box 1729

Helena, MT

59624 again remember to note for Clinica Maxeña

Your morning COFFEE

2011-11-25T18:34:00.000-08:00

FRIENDS AND FAMILY,

I am sure many do as I do, when you wake in the morning. Quickly I go to the kitchen to brew my morning coffee. It seems I cannot start the day without it. Here in Guatemala, if you rise at dawn, you can witness the field workers, women and men, with their children, packing into the backs of pickup trucks, to go to fields to pick coffee. Especially in these times, when unemployment is reality for most, the poor take the opportunity to earn a little cash. Children from seven years and up are brought along to help fill the boxes and gunny sacks with the red bean; babies are carried along on the backs of moms. The land owners take advantage of this necessity. Salary for eight hours in the field, under the beating sun, can be thirty dollars to a family, if they can pick 100 pound of the wet red coffee bean. This is once a year opportunity so many poor take to the fields.

Today with visitors, I went to the coffee cooperative, that was started by the first priest of our mission, Jim Tackes, more than forty years ago. This truly is one of our greatest gifts to the Mayan population in the small community of PASAC. The coffee harvest is in progress. The cooperative of NAHUALA has 164 members. This year, they will export 1500 one hundred pound bags of the golden coffee bean. They pay a more just price to pickers and the actual members make good profit on their harvest. With financial support from international organizations, this cooperative now has a huge dryer for the coffee. The women of the cooperative have their own project and small process machinery; they shell and toast the dried coffee bean, grind and bag it and fill gold cellophane bags. Their coffee is named, Coffee FEMININA, or of the WOMEN, of the cooperative. Their coffee is completely organic and sold in the cooperative for five dollars a pound. The red shell that comes off the coffee bean, after being thoroughly washed, is preserved and transported to the project of worms, in the same community, and used in production of organic fertilizer. This fertilizer is provided to members for their coffee plants and other herbs for the next harvest.

PLEASE DRINK ORGANIC COFFEE OF FAIR TRADE ORGANIZATIONS!! START YOUR MORNING OFF RIGHT!!

ENCLOSED A PICTURE OF JUAN, PRESIDENT OF THE COOPERATIVE OF PASAC, NAHUALA, STANDING NEXT TO ORGANIC COFFE BEANS , DRYING IN THE SUN BEFORE BEING PLACED IN THE DRYER. ALSO PICTURES OF ALBERTA, WITH THE COFFEE BEAN BEFORE TOASTING, AND VISITORS PURCHASING CAFE FEMININA OF THIS COOPERATIVE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

DONATE ON LINE FOR OUR MISSION AT;

http://catalog.diocesehelena.org/Guatemala-Mission-c10/ PLEASE NOTE FOR Clinica Maxena ! We need your support. THANKS. HOLIDAY BLESSINGS! SHEILA

SUCCESSFUL EYE SURGERIES BRING JOY

2011-11-21T11:43:00.000-08:00

FRIENDS AND FAMILY,

The eye surgeons and assistants have returned to their homes in California. Regina, Guatemalan medical resident in Ophthalmology, assisted in surgeries and will return on Friday to follow up on operated patients. Thirty eight patients had eye surgery, twenty five patients for cataract removal. One hundred ninety eight patients passed ophthalmology consult and also were screened for diabetes. Eight new Diabetics were diagnosed and will attend Diabetic Club on Friday.

One special patient was 20 year old Diego. Diego, insulin dependent diabetic, is in control the last two years in the Clinica Maxena; it is not known how long he was diabetic before diagnosed. As a juvenile diabetic he is brittle, malnourished, and with bouts of depression. Loss of his eyesight was sudden and perhaps cause of his recent depression and abandonment of insulin treatment. We quickly made a house call and brought him to the clinic. Fortunately it was right prior to the arrival of the Eye doctors. He was diagnosed as legally blind from bilateral cataracts. The right cataract was successfully removed last week and the left cataract will be removed in April in the Clinica Maxeña. The next brigade of Ophthalmologists will be from Montana. He was smiling as he could again read the eye chart. Diego is studying mechanical drawing for an associate degree. His education is supported by Sr Anna's education support project.

The Clinica Maxena is busy every day. Each day brings very poor patients to medical consult. Most of these patients have acute illness although daily we are seeing chronic illness with more cancer, diabetes, Aids patients and a resurgence of Tuberculosis.

The Conference of Catholic Bishops is preparing a document of analysis of the Health care in Guatemala and will present it to the new President who will take office in 2012.

We ask for your continued support, and interest in the work of the Clinica Maxeña. Times are economically difficult as we confront daily medical emergencies for the Mayan population we serve. We need more financial support to successfully begin 2012 with a full staff!

You can donate on line at: http://catalog.diocesehelena.org/Guatemala-Mission-c10/

Note for the Clinica Maxeña

or send check to Diocese of Helena

Address

Mr. Mark Frei

Guatemalan Mission

Nurses Fund Checks to Diocese of Helena

PO BOX 1729

HELENA MT. 59601

Attached is a photo of Diego, following surgery with sunglasses, to protect his eye from light; the second photo shows Diego with Dr Marty and Dra Lauren, who performed his surgery, and his MOM.

Visiting Surgeons give the Gift of Sight

2011-11-18T02:58:00.000-08:00

Good Morning friends and family,

Today is the last day for Eye surgeries in the Clinica Maxeña. Daily more than forty patients waited on benches inside and out of the clinic. The doctors and surgical assistants came from California. Most of the patients are elderly and carry a wooden cane and assisted by family members.

Yesterday, however, Diego, our 20 year old insulin dependent diabetic, was operated on for a right cataract. Hopefully in April the left cataract will be removed. He is legally blind because of the cataracts. Catarina, 18 year old insulin diabetic, was diagnosed with retinopathy. Friday they will come to Diabetic Club of the Clinica Maxeña. We will commemorate World day of Diabetes.

These are all patients who could never pay a private surgeon for these operations. Our clinic charges less than one hundred dollars for cataract surgery. Many are exonerated as many do not have enough money now even to buy corn. Please pray for the Poor. You can help us to help them by putting the Clinica Maxeña on your christmas list. THANK YOU!

Enjoyable time in Seattle with Friends and Family!

2011-11-04T20:54:00.000-07:00

Hello from Seattle,

I am off to Assembly tomorrow for CSJP and Tuesday will return to Guatemala. It has been quiet time in ways, but also relaxing. I had hoped to sell more crafts but I did ok so far and hope to share at assembly this weekend. I was able to witness to OCCUPY TACOMA, a large city near Seattle, with good Jesuit Friend BIX. I understand better the reality of the economic crisis and how even in our country the wealthy are dominating and health and education needs and unemployment are very real to the people here too. Unfortunately because of the economic crisis we have suffered greatly with a decrease in donations for our work in the Clinica Maxena. We ask for prayers and donations.

Last evening I was with a very good friend who was hosting a Indigenous delegation from Chiapas, Mexico in Seattle. It was enjoyable to share with them and know a little of their efforts also with sustainable agriculture. These projects give hope to the people and good for the Mayans to return to plant Mother Earth.

Last weekend I was with dear Guatemalan friends, Juan and Carlos, Carlos's wife Maggie and long time friend Linda. We work and played together many years in solidarity with the struggle for Justice in Guatemala, with many folk in Seattle, with a national affiliated group, GUASO, and a non profit weaving group for cooperatives, EL QUETZAL.

Tonight I am with my niece Patty and her husband Craig. I am very grateful for the hospitality of good friends Margy and Jerry who have visited our Mission. Jerry is an organic farmer who has provided seeds and knowledge with our agriculture team of the Clinica Maxena.

I am looking forward to sharing with the Sisters and Associates this weekend of the CSJP. I am also looking forward to return home to Guatemala on Tuesday. COCO is waiting for me.

Blessings. Sheila

Pictures include photo with BIX, SJ. Fr Bix is awaiting prison for protest for abolition of Nuclear arms. Myself, Carlos and Juan, Guatemalans, living in Seattle. AND there is COCO waiting for me to come HOME!

Successful WORLD DAY OF HUNGER for CLINICA MAXEÑA

2011-10-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

To share a bit about WORLD DAY OF HUNGER, OCTOBER 16, 2011 for the Clinica Maxeña

We were determined not to let the rains and clouds overhead dampen our spirit as we began saturday preparations to commemorate World Day of Hunger. Clinic personell and Mission folk were preparing 15 delicious dishes of food and drink in different homes and ovens.

A beautiful photo display was placed at the Church entrance and our booths and clinic workers filled the small enclosed yard. The photos were of our successful project of Sustainable Agriculture. The focus was the five large baskets on the Mayan nutritive herb, Berro, lined in front of the booths. This was the first harvest of this healthy herb, also with medicinal properties, and also part of our Nutritional Project for malnourished children.

We also promoted our very own nutritous, hot drink, "Atole Maxeña", which is made from ground and toasted soy, corn, rice, wheat, mush, and peanuts.

Music played as Chico offered lively information of World Day of Hunger and of our project of Sustainable Agriculture.

The Day climaxed with a Raffle: the first prize was Cinnamon, a Siberian Husky puppy, whose father is CHAJINEL, a mission guard dog. Second prize was an ONIL stove, which we promote in our Envionmental Project. This stove uses little firewood and has a chimney which prevents many of the pulmonary diseases we encounter.

As the people began to disperse, with clouds still hanging overhead and a light drizzle of rain, the clinic personell began to give as gift to the elderly, bunches of the herb BERRO. Earlier in the day many purchased this herb which is used in salads, stews and patties, cooked over the open fire.

Attatched are pictures of the day. Blessings¡

Please donate on line for the work of the Clinica Maxeña at http://catalog.diocesehelena.org/Guatemala-Mission-c10/ Note that your donation is for Clinica Maxena. thanks.

Love sheila

INFANT FORMULA A GREAT NEED!

2011-10-14T05:55:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

Breast feeding is part of the Mayan culture. Babies are carried on the mothers back, usually in a Mayan weaving, from the time of birth until they are walking about alone. Psychologists claim this contributes to the reality that mental illness and psychological issues are decreased in the population.

Why then is there such a need for infant formula? The reality is that malnutrition in women is very prevalent. Mothers are anemic and malnourished when they give birth, mostly with traditional midwives in their mountain villages. Their maternal milk is limited, sometimes non existant! Few receive prenatal care, although it is encouraged. The mountain village project, which is funded by the European Union, and initiated and part of the Clinica Maxeña for five years, has an excellent maternal health project but this includes only 22 mountain villages in our area and there are now more than 90! The Ministry of Health is also focusing on Maternal infant care as maternal deaths for Mayan women in Guatemala are high. Resources are limited and the Ministry of Health does not follow up or offer any infant supplement. Consequently the mothers and infants come to our clinic with their need to provide milk for the babies. Today parents, carrying twins in their arms, arrived at our door. One infant was born at home with a midwife the other for complication in the National Hospital. They are 22 days old with an average weight now of 4 pounds. The mom has an impediment in ambulating since birth. They were give little support for these premature infants. The mother spent seven days in the hospital and now she has no breast milk as she was given no support to maintain the breast milk. The twins are now enrolled in our Nutrition project, and their care and weights will be followed by our doctor. They are instructed on nutrition needs and when and what foods can be given to the infant to supplement the formula gifted. We were happy to welcome them to our Nutrition Project¡

Infant formula cost fifteen dollars for two pounds. We also have to be concerned for contamination of the water used and the condition of the baby bottle and nipples. It is not a solution but a need! We know the baby should be getting breast milk. Poverty and unemployment have brought about increased hunger and malnutrition to our area. We ask for your prayers and donations! We know the economic crisis in the world is affecting generosity of our benefactors; we dare to ask, to beg for your support! Blessings! Sheila

Send donations on line to http://www.helenadiocese.org Note for the Clinica Maxeña!

Attatched the young parents of premature twins. The mother has no milk, is very poor and disabled. She will attend the Nutrition program and the Clinic will provide formula. THANK YOU for your donation¡

A LAST GOOD BYE TO TOMAS!

2011-10-01T18:50:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,
Today we accompanied Tomas and his family in his final farewell. Rains were heavy at moments and we all were drenched as we were present in the wake, funeral mass, and burial of our beloved friend and work companion of the Clinica Maxena, Tomas Lopez. Tomas was a very special person and loved by all who had the privelege to know him; he worked 35 years in the Clinica Maxena and retired two years ago at 75 years of age as a night guard and janitor. He was a poor man; he had 8 children and 60 grandchildren and great grandchildren. They chose to build their humble homes together in a small plot of land. Their doors were always open to each other and to the homeless; he was the center and Heart of the family. Tomas died of Liver cancer three months after diagnosis. He died with great dignity and peace. He called his family together to talk and comfort each and give counsel. He asked that his humble home be repaired for his wife before his death. His children completed the request and he was moved back into his home one day prior to his death. The home is made of wood and a dirt floor. He asked that they welcome those who were coming to him now with coffee and bread as he would do so, if he was able.

Hundreds came to the wake. Here the custom is to bring a few pounds of sugar and a small donation is dropped into the basket on top of the casket. The wake included a band and many church leaders offering prayer and homage, including Sr ANNA of our Mission. Plastic chairs were rented to accomodate the crowd. The service ended about midnight. The workers of the clinic made beautiful flower arrangements for the occassion and all came to pay last respects. The family borrowed money to provide the final farewell to their Dad and grandfather.

Today was the Funeral Mass. The sky was overcast but the rain did not come during the service or walk to the cemetery. THANK YOU TOMAS!!

Following the mass, as is the custom here for many, the casket makes rounds to homes of the children, as a last good bye. We were honored that TOMAS was brought to the clinic as a final good bye. The workers carried the flower arrangements they had made and other workers carried his casket three blocks from the church to the clinic. Chico, a clinic personell, gave the last farewell to Tomas. The casket was carried to the door of the CLINIC and the carriers genuflected three times, in respect and as a last farewell. The casket of TOMAS was then carried to the cemetery by clinic workers and accompanied by hundreds with flowers and tears. ADIOS TOMAS! VAYA CON DIOS!

Thank YOU for accompanying us on our JOURNEY to serve our brothers and sisters in GUATEMALA. Donate on line to the Clinica Maxena at www.helenadiocese.org

Sheila McShane, RN

Director of Clinica Maxena

Visit us also on FACEBOOK.

OUR VERY SPECIAL HOSPICE PATIENT

2011-09-24T16:03:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

Tomas is 77 years old. He is the father of 8 and over 65 grandchildren and great grandchildren. All his family have built their homes together in their small plot of land. He is well accompanied now in this final journey of life. He has liver cancer; we have taken him to the city to the Cancer hospital; his diagnosis is confirmed and the family is aware and accepting that comfort care is all that can be offered.

Tomas worked over 30 years in the Clinica Maxena as janitor and night guard; he retired two years ago; he is well loved and respected by all the workers. He has a very deep faith and shares his spiritual wisdom with all. He is a eucharistic minister and often visited the sick to administer the blessed sacrament; now others are doing the same for him. He spends most his day in the reclining chair that the clinic bought for him. Daily visitors are coming to spend some time with him and his wife Maria. He can barely now get around with the walker.

We decided last week to bring Tomas to the clinic to share lunch with the workers. We welcomed him and his wife Maria with music and joy. He is weak and jaundiced but as always he is smiling. We all enjoyed chicken stew lunch. On the table was the statue of Hermano Pedro, a proclaimed Saint for the SICK. Hermano Pedro is from Guatemala and his picture hangs in the entrance of the clinic. I presented the statue as a gift to Tomas. After lunch each worker knelt to hug Tomas. Tomas continued his don of giving encouragement and advice to each worker. Tears and hugs shared.

Tomas is my Cumpadre, that is, I am the Godmother of four of his children in Baptism. I was very young then when he asked me. I remember very fondly taking him and his young family on a journey to Esquipulas, the National Shrine of the Black Christ. This was an eight hour journey and we went on the bus. I remember there were beggars on all the steps up to the entrance of the church. Tomas went up the steps, dropping a few coins in each of the beggars hands. This deeply impressed me as Tomas and his family were very poor themselves.

Life has its blessings and having Tomas as a friend and cumpadre is a very special blessing for me. Thank You Tomas!!

Sheila

Attatched are photos with Dr Ever presenting Tomas with funds collected from fellow workers, the statue of Blessed Brother Pedro with candle and Tomas giving words of encouragement and gratitude to me.

Veggies are Planted as World Day of Hunger approaches

2011-09-20T20:31:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

This past week, our agricultural team spent another day with Mother Earth. This time we planted some of the unused land on our mission property, as a demonstrative garden, with several vegetables and herbs. The clinic agricultural team will complete this phase of the project next week; we hope to have a few of the vegetables and herbs for our Organic Produce Fair on October 16, World Day of Hunger. We know we will have a lot of the herb, BERRO, to use in some delicious recipes and also to sell that day. Also we will have a delicious Chicken stew we are calling Organic chicken stew, LA MAXEÑA! One of my dear organic chickens will be enjoyed by many.

Today, mothers of malnourished babies came together to learn new concepts of how they can supplement their babies diet, pick up infant formula, weights obtained, and a few ill babies had doctor consult. They also visited the newly planted garden.

Keep tuned as our project expands and World Day of HUNGER draws near!

TODAY also is International Day for Peace. Workers paused for a minute in prayer for individual PEACE and PEACE in our World!

Attatched is a photo of the team watching as two women workers, Estefana and Maria, plant Amaranta, a plant rich in protein. Another photo, shows some of the mothers with malnourished infants, visiting the newly planted garden.

Blessings of PEACE from Guatemala!

Remember you can donate on line at www.diocesehelena.org and note it is for the Clinica Maxeña. Thank you for your support and interest.

Sheila

Agricultural Garden has a NAME!

2011-09-14T13:58:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

It has been five weeks since we planted BERRO, a nutritive, medicinal plant in our Agro-sostenible Garden, about three miles from our clinic. We are excited to see the success and we will be presenting the nutritive herb, Berro, as part of celebration of WORLD DAY OF HUNGER on October 16th! We will also use the first harvest in our Nutrition class for malnourished children during the monthly nutrition class. The mothers will be taught a few recipes of Berro, and given some of this nutritious herb to take home. We will in the future be providing them class on planting vegetables and providing seedling to them.

Yesterday the Agricultural team met to discuss plans to now plant vegetables in the extra space on the mission property, as a demonstrative garden. There is talk of potatoes, beans, celery, radishes, amaranta, and yucca. These are all vegetables grown in the mayan culture and sold in our Sunday market; most of our population would not enjoy these nutritive foods for financial reasons.

The agricultural team also decided on a name for our garden in the Mayan Village of Xejuyup, "GARDEN, MARIA IXCHEL". MARIA IXCHEL is the MAYAN GODDESS of PLANTS.

We also harvested our small patch of corn cobs that we planted a few months ago and we will celebrate INDEPENDENCE DAY OF GUATEMALA, which is September 15th, with a hot drink of ATOLE DE ELOTE, a cultural drink from corn, for the Mayan population, with the workers today.

From all of us in the Clinica Maxena, our greetings and thanks for your financial support, which makes possible our work in serving the Poor, in this region of the world!
Attatched is our Garden "MARIA IXCHEL" and the Herb BERRO!

Tuberculosis makes a comeback!

2011-09-07T01:32:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,
There have been many changes in Health Care during the more than twenty years I was absent from Guatemala. Certainly notably is the presence of an increase of doctors in the rural area. Diagnostic tests are much more common to confirm and to diagnose illness. The Clinica Maxena has grown as has the population. Health needs are much more complex but the poverty has increased and this complicates the health care of such a vast population. The Ministry of Health care system for the population has become less efficient and little improvement has been made in hospitals and the rural health care system by the government. The Catholic Church and other private health systems struggle to help the most poor with acute and chronic illness. Diabetes, Cancer, Tuberculosis, Malnutrition, AIDS, are the most acute illnesses and costly at this time for our Clinic.

Today we admitted to our infirmary, Magdalena, 25 year old single mom, with Tuberculosis, severe anemia and malnutrition; she weighs only 78 pounds. Last week we did transfuse her with two units of blood provided by siblings. She lives with her parents, brothers and sisters in a two room, rustic home, in a mountain village. Her son is four years old. Tuberculosis medications are provided by the Ministry of Health. Next week her child will be checked with a skin test for tuberculosis. The other family members will not be checked unless symptomatic. Great limitations for diagnosis and treatment exists for financial reasons but it is discouraging to see Tuberculosis back on the health scene. Please keep in prayer all the dear people we serve and if possible send us a donation to help us provide improved medical care for all those who knock on our clinic door. Thank You and blessings. sheila

Send donation to www.diocesehelena.org and note for the Clinica Maxena.

What is the significance of a DOOR!

2011-08-27T19:27:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

Our clinic door has been deteriorating with the years. Every morning, five days a week, it is opened at 6am, by the night janitors, to welcome patients who rise early for a number to see our doctor. Today a new, varnished door, made from scratch from a cedar tree of a near by community, was finally hung by two of our maintenance team, Diego and Pedro. Pedro is a young carpenter, who has worked in the clinic the last two years; he has worked with great care for the last two months to complete his task. It is a beautiful door and we are all pleased and proud of our OPEN DOOR! Thank you Pedro!

As mission people, serving the POOR, it is important our door to our clinic and to our hearts is always open. Daily more and more poor have health needs. We are daily concerned how we are going to serve all those who knock on our door. Today a young man of 34 years came with appearing first symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Many people in his community are praying for his recovery. Wednesday we will take him to a Neurologist in the next town. Tomas, a former worker of our clinic, is suffering from terminal cancer. We will accompany him on his journey now as a hospice patient. Manuela is 14 years old; she was sexually abused and gave birth by caesarean. She does not have sufficient breast milk so we will supplement her infant with formula. Her mother is very supportive, and since she too is breast feeding another child, she is both mother and grandmother to this infant. Thank You for accompanying us in our journey to serve all those who knock on our door.

Send your donation to www.diocesehelena.org and note for the Clinica Maxeña.

Blessings.

Sheila

Intestinal Parasites still very present in our World

2011-08-21T05:46:00.000-07:00

Family and Friends,

In the sixties when we opened our clinic, parasites was one of our main diagnosis. People did not wear shoes, so hook worm was common. Potable water was almost non existent in the mountain villages, higiene a real challenge, so many different species of worms were present. Bloated stomachs, diarrhea and abdominal pain were very common in children. Our diagnostic lab was mostly symptomatic in those years, although early on we did have a small antique microscope and our pormotors and we the nurses were able to diagnose the different eggs of parasites. We would go out to the villages with gallons of worm medicine and all the chiildren got a dose.

Times have change. We have an excellent doctor, a very good diagnostic laboratory. Everyone wear shoes, although usually the plastic sandals; most villages do have access to water, though poorly maintained, contaminated systems. Out door letrines, out houses, would be more common, although many of the poor still lack this human necessity in some villages. Parasites still do exist. Amoebas are probably the most common intestinal parasite diagnosed in our clinic laborartory; ascaris, round worm, is still present in small children, but not that common. Ascaris is the parasite that can still cause havoc for a child; it can cause much abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea, when worms multiply in the intestinal system.

Friday, a seven year old child arrived to our emergency room; her name is Wendy, certainly not a common Mayan name. She was weak and crying with abdominal pain. Other acute diagnosis were eliminated and the laboratory confirmed ascaris. The child was admitted to our clinic and hydration and pain meds administered by our doctor and antiparasitic medication. With the pain medication the abdominal cramping became less intense and she was able to sleep at intervals. She has had to stay the weekend and our doctor will stop by today, even though it is Sunday. She has expelled a few of the parasites. The parents are with her twenty four hours, caring for her every need. In the absence on weekends of our clinic workers, I provide the meals for her parents and the medications and care for her. She is one of nine children and the father, like most field workers, is unemployed. When he arrived, he told me immediately, he had no money. This is not the issue for us though reality is our clinic is having economic issues with more and more charity patients. In this instance we will have the father work in our garden next week for a few days to pay for medication and in patient costs. We rely on our friends and support for our Mission to help us help others! THANK YOU!!

Donate on line www.diocesehelena.org NOTE THAT IT IS FOR THE CLINICA MAXENA!

Visit the facebook site of CLINICA MAXENA also. Thanks and BLESSINGS!!!

Attached is a photo of Wendy and her mom and COCO, my dog. Wendy is much improved with intermittent pain and eating a bit. The doctor may request an ultra sound if pain is not gone tomorrow.

UPDATE

Diagnosis by Ultrasound also showed HEPATITIS. Parasites also still a diagnosis. . Wendys ultrasound cost to clinic was sixty dollars. Thank you for your help to cure WENDY.

A long walk for Medical Help!

2011-08-13T06:44:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

Friday morning early a young married man of 26 years arrived at the clinic doorstep, strapped to a chair, carried by his father and brother. They live in a remote village, high in the mountains, with only twenty families. This village would be one of the original Mayan mountain villages. The family desperate to see their son cured carried him in the chair for four hours then went in the back of a truck for twenty minutes to our clinic. There is no medical help or pharmacy where they live. They had heard of our clinic through a health promotor that worked in our Medicinal Plant clinic many years ago. Diego, had fever for over ten days with only tylenol tablets for relief.

Transportation and roads have definitely improved over the years. Most villages do have roads and many pickups and cars. Prosperity for purchase of vehicles and better homes is related to migration of undocumented men to the United States who managed to send money home or returned with savings to improve their lives here. There are, however, some villages isolated from roads and electricity yet.

The town of Santo Tomas now has an ambulance for the community and our clinic utilizes this valuable service. Years ago many patients arrived strapped to chairs and carried in to our parish clinic, mostly chronic illness that had gone untreated. So it was an unusual happening when Diego arrived for consult to our clinic, strapped to a chair, carried by his father. Our doctor ordered lab tests, hidration, and medications. The patient and family agreed to stay over night. Lab results did not give a definite diagnosis and we were hoping Diego would agree to stay the weekend so we obtain further diagnostic tests. His Dengue test was negative but this disease often does not manifest positive for some days, and the doctor had wanted to follow up. The patient wanted to go home to his family; he left this morning stronger, without fever for 24 hours. We provided antibiotic injections and other medications if the fever should return. Another change in society is cell phones. the brother did provide me his number and the doctor will follow up by phone on Monday. They agreed to return if his symptoms of fever return. Diego walked out of the clinic and down the road with his brother carrying the empty chair. We were glad we were able to priovide his care in our clinic. Thank You for your donations who assist us to provide medical care at minimal cost and when necessary free of charge. Have a good day!

Attatched

A photo of Diego, his father and brother and when they departed from the clinic, walking down our road, now carrying the chair.

Send donation on line at www.diocesehelena.org or

send to

Guatemala Mission

Diocese of Helena

PO Box 1729

Helena, MT

59624

Note for Clinica Maxena.

Presidential Candidates come to our area¡

2011-08-10T19:23:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

Presidential elections will happen on September 11, 2011. Violence has plagued the candidates of several parties and there have been assasinations in some communities. There also has been constitutional battles and today the candidate, Sandra Torres, wife of actual President of Guatemala, was disqualified. She was in second place and this has now shook up the race.

As foriegners and also Church people, we do not become involved in politics of the country. When I was back in the United States for many years and involved with a solidarity organization, a voice for the injustices of the Guatemalan people, I did become acquainted with one of the present Presidential candidates, Rigoberta Menchu, Nobel Peace Laureate from Guatemala. She visited Seattle, Washington, where I was living and I did feel honored to know her. I decided to go to the rally in one of our communities, to listen, and say hello to her. I was glad I did.

We ask for prayers as this dear country holds Presidential and Congressional elections next month, that there will be a decrease of violence and more justice and Health and Educational Programs to benefit the poor. We ask your prayers that leaders chosen in a democratic election will represent the interests of all Guatemalans. Thank You¡

A VERY SPECIAL PERSON

2011-08-10T06:38:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

We have been blessed to have had a very special employee in the Clinica Maxena for many years; Tomas Lopez retired in January 2010 at 75 years of age. He had worked for the mission for 42 years. He lives amidst his 8 children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in a small community, but with all their homes built together! They are truly a family. Their doors are always open to one another and persons in need. They now number more than sixty in their family compound!

Tomas left the clinic to enjoy retirement and to continue to volunteer in the church and community and to spend more time enjoying life and family. Tomas is a Eucharistic minister and visits the sick. A few months ago he was diagnosed with Liver Cancer. Miraculously so far he has had little pain. He is in evaluation in the Cancer Hospital in the city for more diagnostic tests, and discussion of treatment. Yesterday he had a biopsy and will return today to his family.

When we began our service in the Clinica Maxeña, more that 45 years ago, Cancer was not a diagnosis that was a health issue. It has been in the last few years that monthly we have more and more patients with this diagnosis; perhaps it is because our clinic does more diagnostic tests but also the reality that the diets of the people have changed and include much more chemicals and fast foods. Papanicolau exams are offered monthly for seven dollars in the Clinica Maxeña. We have had several women diagosed with cervical or uterine cancer and treated with radiation and sometimes chemotherapy, with success. We ask patients who can afford their trips to city, diagnostic tests and treatment, to provide their own expenses. We do accompany the poor with treatments and hospice comfort care, when needed. The health needs of the poor are more complex now and more expensive. The clinic's mission is to accompany the most poor in their health needs. We feel blessed to walk this journey and ask for your continued generosity as you walk with us. Blessings and THANKS from all of us. sheila

Attatched is a picture of Tomas, returning from his journey to the Cancer Hospital, accompanied by his two sons, Martin and Jose. Martin is head of Pastoral Health for the clinic and in charge of Maintenance.

Your donation on line helps the Clinica Maxena accompany the most poor patients in treatments and diagnostic tests. We who have been given much, much is expected of us!

Thank YOU. Donate on line at www.diocesehelena.org Note for the Clinica Maxena.

Violence near HOME

2011-08-05T16:52:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

This past week violence came close to home. First there was the town alarm going off about 9pm on Wednesday, alerting the population that there was an emergency in town. One of the night clinic janitors went up to check on it. A nine year old girl was sexually abused by three young men, apparently on drugs. She was taken to the hospital and they caught two of the youths responsible and were taken to the next city to jail. Today the little gal came to see our doctor, with mostly headaches and psychological trauma. Her parents were with her and our doctor attended to her. She was able to relate the incident.

Extorsions and assasinations of bus drivers has been a reality all over the country, and though a history here, it had not been a major issue. This was true as many chose to pay the extorsion but others not. A threat came by anonymous phone call and they did not respond. Last night a bus was attacked on our road. A sixteen year old teen age gal passenger died from gunshot wound to the head and the chofer of the bus is wounded and hospitalized. Our road into town today has military and police presence.

Today and tomorrow there are presidential candidates visiting our area. Pray for peace and justice for this dear country and its beautiful people. They deserve it. Thank You!

A DAY IN THE FIELDS!

2011-07-30T15:35:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

Last week, about half of our clinic workers participated in "A DAY IN THE FIELDS"; the other workers stayed in their posts so seeing patients would not be interrupted. For months now we have talked about and planned, and prayed, how we would confront the reality of increased malnutrition in children, scarcity of food in homes and HUNGER; these realities are due to inflation and unemployment and change in agriculture practices. The price of corn has almost doubled in the market, as has sugar. Corn and beans, sugar, coffee, herbs are staples of the mayan diet. Chemical spraying of the coffee bushes destroyed the wild healthy herbs that before were very accessible.

Over forty years ago we arrived in Guatemala; we came to establish a diosecean Mission with the Mayan people in the mountains of Guatemala. Life was very different. Certainly there was more sickness as there were no doctors in the rural area; no vaccines, much communicable disease, few pharmacies and a few government clinics with minimal medicine managed by auxiliar nurses. Agricultural practices were also very different; the mountains were planted with corn, up and down steep hills and right up to the door steps of the people; beans were planted among the corn. They lived then in bamboo homes with thatched leaves as roofs. There was more solidarity among the people in the Mayan communities. There were few vehicles. The mayan people exchanged food products among one another as cash was scarce. Less children were hungry!

Along came globalization, following decades of armed conflict and political disappearances; the Mayans rose up against the injustices they became aware of through education and their faith. Coffee, a cash crop, took the place of the fields of corn! Now there is hunger, few fields of corn, little cash, inflation, unemployment and resurgence of violence, but now more criminal than political.

We knew we had to be realistic for the children to survive from hunger! Workshops provided by Pastoral Health of our diocese and ASECSA, a Health Promotor Association that we have been members since it was found in the seventies, brought us to the reality to look for solutions in Mother Earth!

Our first "field day" was to clear a small patch of land for our demonstration garden. It is in a mountain village about two miles from the clinic. The land is loaned to us by one of our workers. It is approximately 20 meters square. The Diocese of Helena Foundation provided the Clinica Maxena with a 5,000. dollar grant for our nutrition, Sustainable Agriculture project. We are hopeful and excited. We continue with our nutrition classes with the moms and malnourished children to monitor the infants and children recovery to health. Formula milk is provided, when necessary, to infants and the Clinic Maxenas healthy nutritious drink, ATOLE MAXENA, to others in the project. New infants and children under 5 are enrolled as they are diagnosed by our doctor in the Clinica Maxena.

This next week the second field day will happen. We are still cleaning this patch of land and have not yet planted the healthy herb, BERRO, and hopefully vegetables, corn and beans. We are learning as we go along. Four of our workers are attending workshops every few moths on Sustainable Agriculture and bring new ideas!

Keep tuned! Pray for us and donate to help our clinic through this difficult time! THANK YOU!

send your donation on line to www.diocesehelena.org and note that it is for the Clinica Maxena.

Fotos include working the land together and sitting down to enjoy a pot luck lunch, MAYAN STYLE!

THANKS

Love,

SHEILA

Manuel returns HOME, JOYFUL NEWS

2011-07-21T20:36:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

Today, Manuel a 12 year old student from our parish school, came home after 6 weeks in Guatemala City hospitals, for surgery of a complicated benign tumor in his nasal pharangeal area. He has lost weight as he has not been able to eat or swallow much food for many weeks. We are very grateful for the intervention of a pediatric surgeon who assisted in finding a competent surgeon to perform this surgery. Manuel was moved from the National Hospital, Roosevelt, to a private Catholic Hospital, Juan Pablo Segundo, property of the Catholic Archdiocese of Guatemala City, and supported by CARITAS. We are very grateful to all who interceded to help Manuel find a solution to this grave condition. Our own Bishop Pablo Vizcaino assisted in helping me make the right contacts so this surgery, and hospitalization was provided free of charge. This was a blessing as the Clinica Maxeña is having economic issues.

Manuel is weak but he is very intent to return to school as soon as possible. He insisted he wanted to go home and not stay in the clinic. His home is high in a mountain village. His mom died in childbirth and his father went to the states leaving him and two siblings with his two sets of grandparents to care for them. They are very attentive. Our plan is to facilitate Manuels return to school as a dormitory student so we can monitor his recuperation. Thank You for your prayers and to all who followed Manuels recuperation on my blog.

I include a photo with his younger sister taken today on the Clinic patio before he went home in a vehicle provided by the family. Please continue to pray for his full recovery.

Thank You for support of our work in the Clinica Maxeña¡

New Team Members a JOY

2011-07-18T21:17:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

It is late and unusual to have internett at this hour. Cricketts chirping, a cool breeze following an evening shower. I read about a storm, DORA, threatening the Pacific coast. That should bring heavy rains our way.

Clinic very busy today. I also had a meeting with my administrative team in the clinic. We planned a field day for some workers next week who will get our sustainable agricultural program going full steam. We are grateful for a donation from Diocese of Helena Foundation for our Nutritional Project. We also planned our next General Meeting this week. We are attempting to find new ideas here to supplement our budget. Donations are down and our needs with the sick continue to grow. Coming together as a team is very important and often new ideas merge. Music, Prayer and a healthy snack also raises our spirit to continue to serve with JOY.

This weekend our Mission team was together for the first time. We are happy that we are now six persons, and most welcoming is the reality that the two most recent are not seniors! Jake, in his twenties, is adjusting to his role as supervisor of over 50 young male high school dormitory students in our junior, senior Mayan school. He is also in charge of the scholarship program for students in the school, translating letters for sponsors. He enjoys the diet of black beans, eggs, and occassional chicken, which is a blessing; also jumping into the back of the truck for transport to and from the school not a hardship for him. We usually see him several times during the week when there is no internett or water in the school. Thanks Jake for your spirit!

Father Kevin, also from Montana, will be the new pastor come fall. He is in language school, in Xela, about two hours from the mission and a large city; he seems to be learning quickly as already able to carry on some conversation. He is coming home on weekends to learn more about the parish work here from Father Hazy. This past weekend we celebrated his birthday with our favorite lunch, fried chicken and mash potatoes and of course a CAKE. Welcome too, Fr Kevin.

Keep our work in your prayers as many economic challenges here and also election time so also a lot of violence daily in the newspapers.

Have a good night!

Sheila and lots of furry creature friends!

Diabetes, Cancer, Malnutrition, Surgeries

2011-07-14T10:46:00.000-07:00

Family and Friends,

Here at the Clinica Maxeña I have witnessed much progress in the health care provided and the Diagnosis of Disease. I was one of the Register Nurses from Montana that co found the Clinica Maxeña in 1966 as a parish mission clinic of the Diocese of Helena, MT. There was no medical doctor for the first five years. The patients came mostly carried in chairs and usually with chronic disease in advanced stages. Communicable disease was rampant, such as Tuberculosis, Measles, Whooping cough; malnutrition was severe and there were more maternal deaths, and tetanus in newborn infants. Doctors in the rural area were almost nil except in National Hospitals.

Today four doctors live in or near Santo Tomas. Ultrasounds and laboratory are now vital for doctors to make a correct diagnosis. There are over 15 Pharmacies in our community of over 12,000 population. There are more than seventy mayan indigenous communities in the mountains near us. As a parish clinic we continue to serve the most poor. Our mission clinic supplements much of the diagnostic tests that are requested by our doctor. Our medications are sold at a much lower cost to the patient. We accompany patients to Guatemala City for cancer treatments and to another city for AIDS antiviral treatments. Cancer treatments were before supplemented by the government by 50% but this is no longer true. AIDS treatments are free for these patients. Only emegency surgeries are done in National Hospital and much of their budget is for patients who have suffered violence in the present environment in Guatemala.

The more common diseases, treated by our doctor in our clinic today, are Diabetes, Cancer, and Malnutrition. We have several patients requiring surgery monthly, mostly for gallbladder and hernias. These patients are referred to Catholic Institutions who bring brigades of doctors from the US and provide surgeries for minimal cost of one hundred dollars. For the very poor we supplement this cost also. Our budget continues to rise. We have to depend on generosity of others. The Gospel tells us the Poor will be with us always. Thank You for walking this journey with us.

In this country, that has no health insurance and a socialized system that does not function, much responsibility falls to religious Institutions. Thank You again. Please donate on line or send donation to following direction in Helena, MT.

Donate on line at: www.diocesehelena.org and note for the Clinica Maxeña or send to

Diocese of Helena

Guatemala Mission

PO Box 1729

Helena, MT 59624 note for the Clinica Maxeña

The Clinica Maxeña is on Facebook. Visit our site. thank you

THE JOY OF BIRTH IN THE CLINICA MAXEÑA

2011-07-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

Giving Birth is always a joyous occasion for the parents and also the doctor and those who assist. We do not have many births in the Clinica Maxeña but our doctor does assist when the birth is difficult or the midwife is concerned and brings the mother to our emergency room. Today a baby girl came into the world in the Clinica Maxeña. It was the mothers third baby. She appeared exhausted and unable to push the baby in to the world. Juana, the Mayan midwife, brought her, the husband and the mom to the clinic. With the help of our doctor, Ever, it was just a short time when we heard the cry of the new baby. Intravenous fluid was started and the mom and baby will stay a few hours before returning to their home this evening.

Very few women from the mountain villages choose to have their babies in a national hospital or in a government clinic, with a doctor attending; most babies are are born in their homes, under primitive conditions with a Mayan midwife attending the birth. Maternal and infant deaths are less frequent but do happen; some attention and education of the Mayan midwives has been provided but it is indeed minimal. Mayan midwives are not valued or recognized by the Ministry of Health, as they should be. Education has changed some thinking of the next generation and they are more likely to go to the hospital or private doctor for birth. Finances also play a role in these decisions. Women from the mountain villages continue to choose a Mayan midwife who will charge about fifteen dollars for a delivery and follow up care. If a woman is very poor her attention by the midwife will not depend on her ability to pay; for the Midwife her role is a calling, a vocation, and not a paid profession.

The needs are so great in this part of the world for adequate health care, especially for the POOR. Medical care is expensive for them and more and more medicine is becoming privatized. The Poor depend on church leaders to bring their needs to the ears of government officials. Guatemala is in the midst of presidential elections and congressional elections. These are violent times, much lacks in the democratic process. The CHURCH here is very vocal in speaking out for the POOR. WE ask for your prayers in this time that changes can be made in the area of HEALTH to provide more adequate care in government hospitals and clinics to provide more just care that respects the Mayan Culture.

Thank You for accompanying the Clinica Maxeña in providing care for the most POOR.

Send your donation on line to: www.diocesehelena.org and note it is for the Clinica Maxeña.

Blessings and have a good DAY.

attatched the parents with their new baby girl and

the mdiwife sitting with the mother in our emergency room following the birth.

Clinica Maxeña commemorates World day of ENVIRONMENT!

2011-07-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

Internationally, June 5th is proclaimed, by the United Nations, as World Day of the Environment. The clinic came together this last week to reflect on what we are doing and not doing as a Health Institution to SAVE THE PLANET! The enviromental team of health workers for the clinic prepared an exposition to share with the Public. The exposition is in our meeting room and will be available for the Public during the Month of July; clinic workers came together as our Pastoral Health and the first group to reflect on these ideas.

They expressed their thoughts and committments on changes they want so to bring about a better world to live in for themselves and generations to come.

-Share information with my family, friends, and neighbors

-Optimally use firewood, gas, water, and electricty

-Do not accept plastic bags at the time of purchase! Use a Clinica Maxeña Recycle Bag!

-Plant a tree! Reforestar

-Do not use sterifoam and other disposable items that contaminate the environment

-Share information of this theme with teachers, committees and community leaders!

ONLY TOGETHER CAN WE SAVE THE PLANET! DO YOUR PART!

I attatch some photos of our Day of the Environment in the Clinica Maxeña!

Our banner for World Environment Day with the Environmental Exposition in our meeting place.

CHICO AND GIOVANI silk screening our contribution to recycle bag with clinic emblem

and message to not use plastic bags!

Manuel, 12 yr old child, needs Prayer!

2011-06-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

Manuel has been in the Roosevelt hospital for two weeks. He is a student in junior high at our parish school, Asuncion. As previously explained in my blog on May 20, 2011, Manuel has an apparent benign nasopharangeal tumor. We had difficulty convincing the grandparents to allow him to go to the city to this hospital for the surgery. The child was staying with his paternal grandparents. They insisted he could not go to the city and they and their church community would pray for his recovery. The child, after suffering pain and nasal hemorrhage, decided to move in with his maternal grandparents, who said he could have the surgery and the grandfather would accompany him during his hospitalization. His mother has died and his father is eight years in the USA as an undocumented immigrant. Manuel has two younger siblings.

Two weeks has past in the hospital and we maintain daily phone conversation with the grandfather and also frequent communication with the Pediatric surgeon, Dr Gonzales. Manuels surgery is anticipated to be delicate and requires a specialist. The chief of Pediatric surgery in Roosevelt Hospital, Dr Gonzales, is a friend of our clinic. He did his student practice as a resident under the supervision of the the Clinica Maxena many years ago. Such friends, in high positions, have been a real asset to our clinic in making references to hospitals in Guatemala City. Dr Gonzales told me today he had chosen a more experienced surgeon for this delicate operation. He is requesting transfer of Manuel to the Catholic private hospital in Guatemala City for the surgery. He said he would arrange with the administration that there will be no charge to the patient for the service. We are hopeful the surgery will take place this week. We ask for your prayers for Manuel. This tumor is highly vascular and he could possibly have hemorrhage during the operation.

Tomorrow I will go to the city and bring Manuel some of his studies from his teachers in Asuncion and also written greetings from his class companions. We will visit with his grandfather also to give him encouragement and support. Manuel is from a village high up in the mountains and he had been commuting daily to school.

Thank You for your prayers and support. Donations can be made on line for the Clinica Maxena at www.diocesehelena.org or send to

Diocese of Helena

Guatemala Missions

PO Box 1729

Helena, MT

59624

note for the Clinica Maxena

Update: I enclose a picture of Manuel in his hospital bed in Pediatrics. We still have no news of impending surgery. Keep him in prayer. thank you!

Corn is a staple in Mayan diet!

2011-06-24T15:05:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

Hunger and malnutrition are now very prevalent in all the mountain communities. As the Mission has been here 47 years we have different memories of the sixties; corn fields were all through the mountain communities. Each Mayan family had corn and bean reserve for one year from their harvest. There was little money but product was exchanged between families. Over twenty five nutritive herbs grew wild in the fields. There was little malnutrition but of course many other communicable diseases, as no vaccine. Poverty was prevalent in other ways. There were no cars, so everyone walked. Women supplemented the family economy with chickens and some pigs roaming freely about the homes. Houses were constructed from local materials, such as bamboo and straw roofing. When someone had to have a new home, the men got together and built the dwelling together; the women cooked food together to give them energy to work. There was solidarity and feasts. There were no telephones, or roads for cars or trucks. There was more premature deaths; some maternal deaths. Few or no medical clinics existed, other than small, poorly equipped government clinics with nurses aides, no doctors. People as now feared the government hospitals as a place one went to die.

What changes brought about the present crisis of hunger. Globalization! People stopped growing corn and put in coffee bushes. Coffee has only one harvest a year and it is mostly exported but people now felt the need to have more money. Corn was being imported more cheaply than could be produced here and coffee trees were displacing the growth of grains and beans. Life changed drastically. Solidarity decreased among the peoples. Trees were decreasing in the forests. Firewood had to be bought now and it was expensive.

Our message from the clinic in our preventative health program! LOVE MOTHER EARTH! CONSERVE THE FOREST, LAND AND WATER! LOVE ONE ANOTHER!

Now we are beginning a project of sustainable agriculture. Next week four of our workers will go to the second three day agriculture course by a respected health organization that we have been part of for over thirty years. These are all mayan men from the mountain communities who know how to work in the field. They too remember the history of their parents and grandparents when food was not a scarcity. We have begun slowly to plant some demostrative gardens. We have some corn planted and have a small piece of land for herbs. Some of our workers are already planting near their home. My cage for bunnies is being constructed and also the clinic has 8 organic chickens, in a pen near the kitchen. I have to be careful not to give the bunnies names and become my friends.

We are grateful that we have received some funding from the Foundation of the diocese of Helena for this project to eliminate malnutrition in children and to work towards sustainable agriculture in the communities. THANK YOU!

I attatch a photo of Giovani, one of our workers, standing next to his corn.

APPEAL TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY

2011-06-16T10:44:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

I greet you from the hills of Guatemala. We are in our winter here, the rainy season, and also election time. Guatemala is in economic crisis, which also has touched lives everywhere. Here it is accentuated because of the poverty and corruption. Unfortunately for us the government budget for health seems to have all but disappeared. Patients are receiving very little care in National Hospitals. Medicine just does not exist and surgeries are being performed less frequently and only emergencies. More patients daily are coming to our consult, requesting credit or free care.

We want to express our thanks to you for helping the Clinica Maxeña in these difficult times. We remain committed to the POOR, as the Gospel asks of us.

We are excited as we venture into sustainable agriculture. With this project we hope to convince the Mayan indigenous population to return to the customs of their ancestors and grow their own food. We hope to decrease the incidence of childhood malnutrition. We have obtained the use of a small area of land with a spring nearby. We will plant local herbs and some vegetables and also promote chickens and rabbits in cages that can be place on the grass, their natural habitat.

June 5th, each year, is proclaimed as World Day for the Environment by the United Nations. Environment issues are dominant on the agenda for Health Care Institutions. Politicians ignore this crisis, which includes open garbage dumps along the roads and rivers, deforestation, lack of clean drinking water, no recycle practices, increase use of plastic bags and disposable foam utensils. What future are we creating for the next generation? This year's theme is the FOREST and WATER. the CLinica Maxeña will commemorate the Day of the Environment on June 30; each worker will be asked to commit to plant one tree. The clinic will also host an exposition on environment issues in our meeting space. This will be open to the public until July 30th. The Clinica Maxeña will raffle two ONIL stoves in June. These stoves save firewood, and also have a chimney which eliminates smoke in the family home, decreasing respiratory illness and burns. One hundred dollars buys an ONIL stove for our environmental project.

THANK YOU for journeying along with us and for your continued support in our work in caring for the sick in the Clinic. We invite you to visit the Clinica Maxeña.

Sincerely

Sheila McShane

DIRECTOR

Please check out the CLINICA MAXEÑA on FACEBOOK

You can donate on line at: www.diocesehelena.org Note for the CLinica Maxeña

Or send to

Guatemala Missions

Diocese of Helena

PO Box 1729

Helena, MT 59624

note your donation for the CLinica Maxeña

A sharing of JOY and FAITH!

2011-06-13T19:46:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

Saturday, June 11th, thousands of adults and children, from the mountain villages and the town of Santo Tomas, descended on our mission property to celebrate with Fr Hazy his 50th anniversary of Priesthood! It was Pentecost and it was a speaking in TONGUES!, as many different languages were spoken in words of celebration and voices of song. The majority of the people speak Quiche, one of 22 Indian dialects spoken in Guatemala; the other dominant language of course is spanish. Several american friends came and added english to the mix. Fr Hazy has spent the last 47 years celebrating the sacraments in two parishes in Guatemala, Santa Maria Visitation and in Santo Tomas La Union. His contribution in education include the founding of two successful junior, senior highschools which has provided education to thousands of young mayans who otherwise would not have had this opportunity. Now over 300 are attending university level in one of these schools, as an extension of the Pan American University in Guatemala City. This remarkable contribution in education was acknowledged by the Governor of Solola with a beautiful plaque; she is one of the students who benefitted from his gift of education to others.

I am in the city to leave Fr Hazy at the airport tomorrow as he returns to Montana for a well deserved rest. Thank You Fr Hazy and we hope to see you again here in July. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Included are a picture of the multitude, estimated over 5,000 and

a photo of Fr Hazy and the Governor of Solola, Julia Elena Yojcom of Santa Maria Visitacion,

presenting a Plaque of Thanks to Fr Hazy for his contribution in EDUCATION.

GO LA MAXEÑA¡

2011-06-08T05:41:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

Life cannot be just WORK¡ Activities together build spirit and relaxation. Together we can change our world. Our clinic has many opportunities to come together for dialogue and to discuss change and ideas. Sometimes we bring speakers to inspire and give new ideas. Our band, LA MAXEÑA, coninues to improve and brings laughter and joy to meetings.

Our soccer team is also an important part of spirit. When the University of Montana students visited in May we had a soccer game and the Clinic WON¡¡ The visiting team gifted three soccer balls to our team. THANK YOU. COCO my cocker spaniel is the team MASCOT and enjoys going to the games and putting on his uniform.

Visit the Clinica Maxeña on FACEBOOK. THANKS¡

June! the Month of the Environment

2011-06-07T17:08:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family!

All over the world folks pause to become aware of their environment during this month. June 5th was World Day of Environment. I have become more conscious of the importance of caring what is happening to the resources of Creation since I came south of the border. The Clinica Maxena is planning activities for June 17th. This years theme is the FOREST and WATER.

Plant a TREE! That is our message. Here in Guatemala the forests are disappearing. Fire wood for most of the mayan population and forests fires have decreased dramatically the trees of the forest. Trees of the forest are part of the water cycle by preserving rain water, preventing erosion of the soil, diminishing landslides, providing materials we need, such a lumber, and firewood. We all must strive to maintain a sustainable forest. Be careful with campfires in the forest.

Last week we took visiting university students up the mountain to a source of water for a populous community with the task to plant a tree around the cement tank of water. I found it a difficult climb and I was sort of pulled up the hill by a fellow co worker, Manuel, of the clinic. THANKS MANUEL! I planted my tree and gave it a name, TEELIN, after the town where my dad was born in Ireland. Some of us will return there in a few months to see how our tree is growing!

On June 17, when the clinic comes together to commemorate the Day of the Environment, we again will each plant two trees. This time we are going to the cemetery in a nearby mountain village to plant trees around the perimeter of the cemetery. We will dialogue about how we can educate the public about WATER and the FOREST. We will raffle two ONIL stoves that save firewood and prevent disease from decrease of smoke in the homes. We will set up and exhibition in our meeting room and invite students from local schools to learn about how they can help preserve the forest and also provide water for the future for their children.

What are you doing to preserve the forest and water in your community and neighborhood?

You can donate 100. dollars to buy a stove for a Mayan family here in the mountain villages of Guatemala!

Send your donation to:

Guatemala Mission

Diocese of Helena

PO Box 1729

Helena, MT

59624

Mention it is for the Clinica Maxena Stove Project

Blessings and Peace!

Sheila

Photos include:

Campus Ministry director of University of Montana, Kirsten Hangass, admiring the forest!

and Myself, Sheila planting my tree!

June, the month of RAIN! and activities here at the Mission.

2011-06-05T18:50:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

We are now in the rainy season or our winter. Skies are overcast and usually rains are heavy in the afternoons! If you are not accustomed to carry an umbrella, you do get drenched! In the clinic we do see many more upper respiratory illnesses and fevers. We have not yet begun to diagnose dengue but it is showing up in other parts of country. Dengue is result of a mosquito bite and found where water pools, such as in old tires or puddles. Many bridges have not been repaired and highways still have detours from landslides from Storm Agatha in 2010! As the President of country remarked, "we are not prepared for another disaster!" Keep that in prayer.

Life is busy as we prepare the celebration of 50th anniversary of priesthood of our pastor, Fr Hazy, which is scheduled for June 11th. He has dedicated his life here, now 84 years old and 47 years in Guatemala. We expect a huge turnout with Mass, music, bands, and food.

We are expecting a German volunteer at the Mission, from the Diocese here in Guatemala, in June for a few weeks; she will study nutritive plants, especially herbs, and their prevalence in the mountain villages. We are hopeful to be able to use this information as we move forward in our sustainable agriculture project, related to our nutritional needs for malnourished children.

Needs are great and we respond to them in the spirit of faith and knowing that there are many who are there to help the poor in their needs. Thank you for your presence in our lives here in our Mission in Guatemala!

Today I made a quick run to the National Hospital to visit one of our patients, Juana, who we had sent Friday by ambulance. She is 15 years old, the mother of a three month old baby that she had by cesarean; she is now suffering from acute gallbladder disease with stones, anemia and requires surgery. She has no maternal milk and her three month old infant is surviving on breast milk of a neighbor, who is breast feeding her own baby. I was glad I had gone as I encountered the family, who were fearful of surgery, in the National Hospital and wanted to discharge her since her acute pain had improved. I am hopeful that I convinced them that she must have the surgery; I assured them that we will accompany her and that I know the surgeon and that he is very competent. More prayers!!

Good Night! Love from Guatemala! Sheila

Attatched a Photo of our priest, Fr Hazy outside a mountain parish church. And a bit of reality of the rainy seasons with friends of University of Montana Campus Ministry, walking in the rain!

MAY! the MONTH of OUR MOTHERS!

2011-05-29T20:33:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family!

May comes to an end. Here in Guatemala and in our faith tradition, it is the month of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and also the Month honoring our own mothers. The youth of our parish waited until tonite to honor the mothers in the parish! Mothers filled our meeting space! There was music, entertainment, laughter, gifts and food. The youth honored them in style. It is special, that throughout the month of May, there are many public celebrations by schools, communities, and churches for mothers. These are special days for them as most mothers would not expect gifts because of the poverty that exists but being honored for their vocation of motherhood is important in all societies.

My MOM always said, "BE GOOD TO MOM YOU WILL MISS ME WHEN I AM GONE! and I DO!!! Tomorrow is the last day of the Month of MAY and I hope all MOM'S know they are loved and how special they are in our lives.

Enclosed a photo of one of the youths singing to the MOTHERS!

Acute and Emergent needs DAILY!

2011-05-20T05:53:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

Our Doctor, Ever, usually sees 30 patients daily. Numbers are given at 6am and usually before the half hour there are no numbers for medical consult. We have an auxiliar nurse who triages patients and also gives medication for minor illnesses; she also manages the women's clinic. Our emergency room sees two or three emergencies daily. Many patients come for hydration and we are able to transfuse patients when ordered by our doctor. Our laboratory, now with more complete diagnostic equipment, is a very busy service. The lab does all the tuberculosis slides for the local government clinic and this disease is becoming more prevalent.

Yesterday our doctor saw in consult a 12 yr old youth from one of the mountain villages. Manuel was having some respiratory difficulties and weakness; he is a junior hi student in Asuncion, our parish secondary school. Our doctor detected a mass in his nasal passage. We send him immediately with one of our workers to the neighboring city, where we knew a specialist from city was having private consult this day. The child was diagnosed with a nasal pharangeal tumor, hopefully benign, and will be referred to Guatemala City National Hospital. The father will bring him back to our clinic today and we will begin to make plans for his care.

Manuel's mother died when he was a child. His father is absent from the home, possibly in the United States, so his grandparents have been involved in his home life. He is a child of extreme poverty and we ask for your prayers in his care and also financial assistance to make possible his followup and diagnostic tests.

Donations can be sent on line to www.diocesehelena.org and note for Clinica Maxena.

or also donations can be mailed to

Diocese of Helena

Guatemala Mission

PO Box 1729

Helena, Montana

59624

Note for Clinica Maxena; for medical expense for Manuel Tum; 12 yr old child

THANK YOU!

We will accompany Manuel in his treatment and consult. He now has an appointment for Monday with the chief Pediatric Surgeon at Roosevelt Hospital in the city.

Campus Ministry of Univ. of Montana share their lives!

2011-05-18T20:01:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

It is always a joy to have visitors; they listen to the stories and inquire about the lives of these Mayan Indigenous people. The diocese of Helena, Montana have been journeying with these people for more than forty five years. Visitors slow us down to see the beauty in front of us. The wonder of rain and standing out in the middle of it, laughing and dancing to the raindrops, drenched to the skin. The noise of the buses at dawn as they pull out of town, with the loud horns, waking one up with a startle! The smiles of the children, are constant, even though they are hungry.

This week 13 visitors arrived at the mission. This group are mostly University of Montana Campus Ministry Program representatives; also included is the Director of Campus Ministry, and a worker of the Diocese of Helena and her husband. It is sort of an immersion dip into the reality of the world they encounter around them; it is distinct from the lives they lead on campus. They experience the poverty and yet joy of the Poor. The people are friendly and happy to have them in their midst. Today we shared the Clinica Maxena with them, including our Medicinal Plant Project and the Curative program in the clinic. They rode up in the back of the pick up with rain coming down. We stopped and visited a public Junior High school; an enthusiastic teacher talked briefly about the school. The reality is there are no books for the thirty students and only one Guide Book for the teacher for the eleven subjects he must teach. There are no computers, projectors or any teaching aides. Education is inferior in these village government schools and this make it difficult for students to advance to a University level. These visitors are sensitive to these realities as come together in the evening to reflect on their day! Tomorrow they will go to mass at a mountain village and share lunch with the community. There are adventures planned for the week. We are happy they make us also slow down and relflect on our lives in Guatemala.

Included a photo of the group, in the rain, in a small community we visited!

UPDATE ON SPECIAL PATIENTS!

2011-05-15T18:14:00.001-07:00

Friends and family,

There are many patients the Clinic is helping and following at the same moment. Most are special cases because of chronic disease, such as Cancer and Aids, Malnutrition, Diabetes. Others come and go and we are able to provide care that other wise would not be possible for them and enables them to go on with their lives. They are all special people for us and we feel blessed to have friends who make our work possible in these difficult moments in Guatemala. I wanted to share a little today about some of them.

Today, Francisco, elderly, no family, who has stayed many days with us as we treated his hipertension and he awaited hernia surgery was operated today in a Catholic Hospital, about three hours from our clinic. His surgery cost one hundred dollars which the clinic provided for him and was successful! One of our workers is with him there as he recovers and he will return to his home in a few days.

Maria, our 15 yr old with AIDS, has been living temporarily with an Aunt as her home is unsafe and inadequate. We are in the process in finding a more permanent solution so she can live with her mom and younger siblings. We will continue to accompany her in her treatments and nutritional needs. We may have to construct a small home with the assist of Pastoral Social Ministry but we must first find someone to allow us to build this dwelling on their land.

Catarina, 18 yr old with insulin dependent diabetes and severe malnutrition also has been spending many days in clinic for her nutritional needs. Her diabetes has stabilized with adequate nutrition which was not available at home. She is slowly gaining weight.

Maria and Catarina are two Uterine Cancer patients who are in treatment in the Cancer Hospital in the city. The clinic has been accompanying them and also paying for their radiation and Chemotherapy. This support is a special program for needy patients that is managed by Sr Anna of our mission team. Their treatments are going well. They were diagnosed in our Women's clinic through Pap smear diagnosis.

This past week, Francisca, 10 years old was admitted to our in ward with fever of unknown origin. She is accompanied by her mom and her 11 year old brother, who is very attentive to her needs. She has been quite ill with the persistant fever which appears to be DENGUE. She has intestinal parasites also. She is on the road to recovery and will have more laboratory tests tomorrow. Their dad went to the states four years ago and they do not have communication with him. He appears to have deserted the family.

All these patients are dependent on your generosity for us to meet their health needs. Care in the clinic is very economical; three dollars for medical consult and laboratory tests are two to three dollars for those who can pay. We do not turn patients away. We do attempt to investigate their ability to pay some when they are chronic cases, and many times they are able to do so. Others will do some work around the mission when they are well to pay for the care we provided. Thank You for walking with us on this journey.

Included a Photo of Francisco, elderly man in prayer outside of clinic, that was operated today in a private catholic hospital. The second photo is Francisca in bed recovering from an acute illness in our in ward. She is receiving support from her brother, another FRANCISCO!

Libby MT Rotarians continue their struggle to bring WATER to two communities!

2011-05-14T20:26:00.000-07:00

This past week five members of the Rotary Club of Libby, MT made their third journey to Guatemala to assure that their WATER PROJECT for two communities will become reality. This has been a three year struggle to complete requisites and responsibilities in order to begin the project. Both these Mayan Indigenous communities do have water access but increase in population, heavy storms have damaged and decreased access of this precious gift of nature. The origins of the water are rivers that flow from the top of the Volcanoe PECUL! The forest that surrounds these sources of water are vital for the preservation of this sacred element of "WATER"! Since it is a Rotarian project a Guatemalan Rotary Club must accept responsibility to supervise the project and assure that the paper work and financial agreement is completed. George and Linda, Gary and Kate, and Eileen represented the Montana Libby Rotary Club; this club raised thousands of dollars and recieved support from other national clubs for this project! THANKS for your dedication and persistence. Thanks also the the Rotary Club of Matzatenango, Guatemala whom have accepted this committment!! The Clinica Maxena is the facilitator for the project and translator for these Quiche Mayan speaking communities. Thank You also to David, the Guatemalan Engineer who is responsible for a successful conclusion and to Chico, clinic representative and facilitator. We await in the near future to celebrate the completion of this project!! and Celebration of JOY for the communities who will have the water they need for their future and that of their children's children.

THE UNITED NATIONS have proclaimed water as a HUMAN RIGHT! We all have responsibility to participate in preserving and making accessible WATER for all!

Included a Photo of Libby, Montana Rotarians: George and Linda Gerard, Gary and Kate Huntsberger and Eileen Carney. Also Photo taken near the present inadequate water tank and tubing in the Community of San Juan Mazza with members of the Clinica Maxena and representatives of the community.

Sharing, Celebrating, coming together to dialogue!

2011-05-05T15:57:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

Many issues and patients, meetings delay our monthly reunions as a clinic team. Today we came together to celebrate the Day of the Worker, which was May 1st, Mothers Day, May 10th and to plan days of solidarity for the Environment and patients who have died from AIDS. Our meeting began with a sharing of Lunch and music and prayer. We discussed our project of Sustainable Agriculture, the theme of Environment, which is the "FOREST", the reality of Party Politics in our midst, and Dr Ever explained the Health Crisis in the country. The latter, as a health clinic, was very important that we share. Ever explained the response of the Episcopal Conference to the health initiative that is being presented in Congress and the reality that the Health crisis is critical for the future and the responsibility of all to be informed.

At present we are hosting members of the Libby, MT Rotary, who are here to discuss a water project with local Rotarians, and hoping for a positive solution to issues which have delayed the project. Also in the month of May we will host Pastoral Youth the campus of the University of Montana for ten days. These visits are very important to our work here in our Mission; we share the reality of these beautiful Mayan people with others, who participate in their lives, through their interest and financial support.

THANK YOU TO ALL!!!

Love Sheila

Foto of celebration of Mothers day with the women workers in our CLINIC!

Health Care Issues Critical for many patients!

2011-05-01T08:13:00.001-07:00

Friends and Family,

This past week the National Commission of Health Care, for the Bishop's Conference of Guatemala, issued an urgent message to the public, following approval of an health initiative that fails to meet or guarantee basic health needs of the population. This Commission requests an immediate meeting of all sectors involved in health care to a dialogue, so that this very necessary Law for health care, include universal and financial coverage for all guatemalans, and that it be a real and part of the political agenda for years to come. Privatization of care is not a solution in this poor country, nor can the Church and other charitable institutions carry this burden; it is the responsibility of the government.

An elderly man, with no immediate family, has been an in patient the last ten days in the clinic. He has a cardiac condition with hypertension and suffering a serious hernia that requires surgery. Our doctor has referred him to the national hospital and they have refused to perform surgery because of his cardiac complication; we have taken him to an internist for evaluation and have approval for surgery. We are hopeful he will have his surgery in fifteen days when volunteer surgeons come to a catholic hospital, located three hours from our clinic. Meanwhile he is fearful to stay home alone because of episodes of acute pain, so we continue to monitor him in the clinic. Our own doctor is anticipating to accompany the patient and possibly participate in the surgery. These surgeries cost the clinic one hundred dollars plus cost of transportation, medications and laboratory tests. He will return to the clinic for recuperation. This is one of many, many patients that depend on care from private, charitable institutions; these patients should receive immediate and complete care in national hospitals. Please pray for Francisco that these fifteen days will pass quickly and he can return home in better health. Please also pray that the right to health care in Guatemala be universal and just and accept the cultural diversity of the Mayan population, be integral and equal for all and that it be the LAW passed by the GUATEMALA CONGRESS! This law must and should then continue regardless which party wins or governs this country, for years to come!

Photo of Francisco, sitting outside the clinic this morning, in prayer!

Donate on line at www.diocesehelena.org to help our work with the sick. thank you!!

Busy times in the Clinica Maxeña

2011-04-29T11:00:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

Monthly diabetics come together in the Clinica Maxena to meet with a Nutritionist and evaluate their glucose, blood pressure, and weight. Forty came this morning, and this is a fraction of the many diabetics now diagnosed in our clinic. Carolina, the Nutritionist, will provide a more accurate diet for our type 1 diabetics, who are now suffering malnutrition and one on one nutritional consult. Obesity is also a common symptom with dibetics and another theme being presented in groups. The Medicinal Plant clinic presents teas specific for diabetics, a natural sugar substitute without chemicals, soya another important nutrient in this culture. The medical needs and control is vital for these patients to prevent secondary illness.

It has been a very busy week in the clinic. This morning a 12 day old baby went home with her mom from our in patient ward. The baby was born with a mid wife at home but the mom resulted with an infection at went to the hospital several days ago. The grandmother had brought the baby to us as she did not have formula to give the baby. Thankfully in this culture, in these emergent situations, other mothers breast feeding from the same community will provide breast milk. The grandmother was able to find some support from these other mothers but the baby was not thriving. He weighed only 5 pounds at birth. I went to the hospital to see how the mom was doing and she was being discharged. We had brought our breast pump with us to see if we could get permission to pump her breasts, so her milk would not dry up, but this was not necessary; we brought the mom and baby back to the clinic. With the breast pump we were able to stimulate her production of breast milk as it was beginning to dry. This is a very serious complication as mothers can not purchase formula and naturally breast milk is most important to infants. After two days in the clinic the mom went home with her new baby boy! She will return for check up with our doctor and we will monitor closely the infant.

Maria, our young patient with AIDS, came for a check up, and to pick up some of our nutritious atole. She continues to improve and enjoy being back in the classroom. May 13 the Clinic will commemorate solidarity with AIDS patients with others from Pastoral Health from the diocese here. We will have a candle light vigil for victims. This is a national day for Solidarity with AIDS patients in the country.

Continue to remember these people in prayer. Also thank you for your interest in our work and your financial assistance.

Sheila

Fotos include Maria, living with Aids with our auxiliary nurse, Maria, who monitors her care and

Carolina, Nutritionist from Pastoral Health of our diocoese here, talking with a new diabetic, Manuel.

Send your donation to

Diocese of Helena

Guatemala Mission

PO Box 1729

Helena, MT 59624

note for the Clinica Maxeña

Illness and Poverty!

2011-04-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

Over Holy Week and still today one of our young diabetics has been in our in patient ward. Catarina is 18 years old and lives with her parents and six siblings. She has only third grade primary education; she is illiterate. Her father works for less than minimal wage as a chauffer for transport between communities. Catarina is severely malnourished, which complicates her diabetes. Her dad believes the disease is from witch craft, making more difficult compliance in medication and diet. Today when I asked Catarina what she ate at home, she responded, sometimes just tortilla, as at times we have no food in the house. Tortillas, made from corn, are high in carbohydrate and must be minimal in the diet and combined with other foods for a diabetic diet.

When she arrived at the clinic last Wednesday, she had shortness of breath, cough, and severe ear infection, dehydration and a glucose of over 500. She had not used insulin for ten days. The clinic was closed but I admitted her and consulted our doctor; she is still with us today. She responded well to diet, intravenous fluid, antibiotic, insulin and rest. I would like her to stay for an extended period, if I can convince her of the importance. Her sister stays with her and other family members visit her. Friday is Diabetic Club in our clinic and for me it is important that she attend. One cannot give up on these patients. The cultural beliefs, the poverty, complicate the control of this disease. Please pray for these young patients that they heal and enjoy life as meant to be. Thank You!

Send a donation to

Diocese of Helena

Guatemala Mission

PO Box 1729

Helena, MT

59624

NOTE IS FOR LA CLINICA MAXENA

or donate on line: www.diocesehelena.org for the Clinica Maxena.

Easer Vigil, EGGS, and Buenos Noches! Good Night

2011-04-23T22:30:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

It is late. We are just back from Easter Vigil Mass, and short procession with the Image of the Resurrected Christ. Church with new white banners instead of the purple of yesterday, and altar adorned with gorgeous white blooms. Blessing of the new Fire, the water of Baptism, Easter Vigil candle, reading of the gospels, celebration of MASS; these are all part of celebration of Easter, all over the World, for those who share our Faith tradition. Great to share coffee and tacos after procession with friends of the parish. Back to the mission to indulge in one dyed egg before heading to bed. Tomorrow a new day. The newspaper is not printed on Holy Thursday or Good Friday. A relief with the violence that daily occurs here. In some parts of Guatemala there are actually some truces honored by some gang members during Holy Week. Tomorrow the newspaper will bring the news, hopefully good news of some peace efforts among peoples. Pray for PEACE!

Tomorrow, EASTER SUNDAY, is Ham dinner and a touch of wine to celebrate as a Mission family! HAPPY EASTER to all and to all a good night. love Sheila

Included foto of Sr Anna before altar in church; Youth carrying statue of Resurrected Christ in streets following easter vigil; Sr Anna admiring the eggs!

Holy Thursday and Good Friday in Guatemala celebrated with early RAINS!

2011-04-22T19:57:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

I returned home to Guatemala from my journey to the states on Tuesday. I knew I wanted to be here for Holy Week. The lives of the people here, pause, businesses close, streets and churches are beautifully adorned, families come home. The Passion and Death of Jesus is re-enacted in the streets, from small communities to the cities. Tourist flock to Antigua, Guatemala to witness this majestic tradition. Going to Antigua is an incredible experience but when one lives here you prefer to be with your own parish and community. And so I was. Rains came early with a fury, and everyone was drenched as the processions ventured out into the streets after the religious services. Today beautiful rugs were created in the streets out of colored sawdust and natural greens. The rains washed away some of these "afombras" as they are called in spanish, before the procession of life size statues, carried on platforms by many men and women, walked through the streets with candles and songs. The crucifixion also is re enacted on one of the corners and the man chosen as JESUS is tied to the cross for three hours. On Holy Thursday, bread is exchanged by families and shared also with the poor who cannot afford the custom. So from the early morning people come knocking to bring the gift of bread, symbolic for the bread of the Eucharist. Tomorrow is a day of rest for families, many will go to the river and others to the ocean. Sister Anna, of Ukranian descent, has brought the custom to our Mission of dyeing beautiful EASTER eggs, Ukranian style, and so this will occupy much of our day tomorrow. Blessings to all as we await EASTER, and celebration of Resurrection of Our Lord in our Lives and world. Love Sheila

Attached the first foto is of our church, after the rains on GOOD FRIDAY and before procession departs to street. The second foto is of the Parish youth sawdust rug inside the door of church, after rains had washed it away outside the entrance; the altar and statues can be seen in background!

SHARING in Parish of St Francis, Hamilton, MT: and CELEBRATING with CSJP!

2011-04-11T17:19:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

I have moved on to Seattle, following a very enjoyable and successful sharing at the Parish of St Francis in Hamilton MT. These people included many friends who have been a great support for our Mission in the past. Several, including the Pastor, Fr. Jack have visited our Mission. This fundraising endeavor has been enjoyable and successful. We could not be present and serve in Guatemala if it were not for the prayers and financial support that comes from the Diocese of Helena, MT. and many other friends from other states and faiths. The needs of the people are great at this time as the economic crisis is causing hunger and greater illness.

The weekend I shared with the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace Congregation of which I am an associate, at their Assembly. I renewed my covenant for five years. The Theme of the Assembly was TO ENHANCE THE BEAUTY OF THE WHOLE! "SPIRITUALITY OF THE CARE OF CREATION! A new imagining of our relationship to GOD, to EARTH and to ANOTHER. Reality is that it is the poor countries that suffer the greatest consequences of climate changes. Nothing we can do for the POOR can compensate for the damage we have done by raising the temperature of the earth. What is your CARBON PRINT.

I return to Guatemala on Monday. It has been a joyous journey. I have visited many of our parishes and friends who make our presence reality in our GUATEMALA MISSION, I have shared with men and women of Faith who are part of my life as an Associate of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace, I have been hosted by family and friends who are part of my LIFE. I am richly blessed. THANK YOU!

I include a picture in the parish center of St Francis Parish in Hamilton, after mass, with Dianna Kupko and a young parishioner who knitted small bags for school children in Guatemala; and myself with other associates renewing covenant as part of the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace.

HOME in MONTANA!!

2011-03-26T20:23:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

It is always good to come home to our roots. I have been in Montana for a week now. I am here to promote our Mission and also to raise needed funds for our Clinic.

Montana is a state with gorgeous mountains, rivers, snow, and beautiful people. One does feel at HOME. I am blessed and happy that the roads are clear and only sprinkles of SNOW. I have been up north to KALISPELL, and Missoula. I visited St Matthews school, where the children have had fund raisers for the Mission, most recently selling candy; I spoke at the parish of Risen Christ there also. I have beautiful weavings and beaded jewelry to sell from Fair Trade groups in Guatemala, which also helps us care for the sick at the clinic. I visited with the group of students of the University of Montana Campus Ministry, in Missoula, who will visit our mission in May. I spent a lunch time at Carroll College selling crafts at the CUBE. Many from their Campus Ministry dropped by to visit. They did a fund raiser with letter writing for the Clinic. THANKS YOUSE GUYS, as we say in BUTTE! Now I am in Bozeman, MT., again with a Campus Ministry Parish, Resurection Parish, of Montana State University. Many younger folk are concerned about the needs of the Poor in the World!

Tomorrow I am off to BUTTE, my HOME. It is always good to go up to my neighborhood, visit friends, and yes to go up the HILL to the Copper Mines! My dad was a miner and died when I was in highschool in the Mountain Con Mine. I always go there to pause and say a prayer for my beautiful Irish DAD! Then back to Helena, and on to LOLO to visit family, then to Hamilton, and St Francis Parish. From there to Bellevue WA. to the Assembly of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace, a Congregation of Religious women of Great Faith and Wisdom, of which I am an Associate; they are dedicated to PEACE AND JUSTICE in the World. Then home to Guatemala, to my buddy COCO, my cocker spaniel. I will be home for HOLY WEEK in GUATEMALA.

Pray for my safe journey. THANKS!

SHEILA

Clinica Maxeña celebrates the DAY OF THE WOMAN

2011-03-12T04:45:00.000-08:00

Friends and Family,

March 8, was International day of the woman. In many parts of the world, the woman suffers and is derived of her human rights and a victim of violence. In Guatemala women have formed organizations and although much progress has been achieved, much is yet to be done. Violence to women is still prevalent in the city and the country side and there are many women who live on the streets or belong to gangs. Prosecution against perpetrators of violence to women is almost nonexistent in Guatemala.

Our celebration at our general meeting for the woman began with prayer, poetry and music.

The male workers decorated the meeting place with great enthusiasm. Each woman was gifted a mayan shawl. We all shared a cake, coffee and laughter. A happy day and moments to appreciate the gifts of each other.

Belated Happy DAY for all the women in the world and especially those who read this blog.

Please continue your prayers and support for the work of the Clinica Maxeña. Donate on line

at http://www.diocesehelena.org/ thanks

I will be going to the North west, next week, for a month for promotion; I will write from there.

Clinica Maxeña is on Facebook. Visit our page. thanks

Blessings,

Sheila

Many Visitors, Busy Days in Clinic, and Mission!

2011-02-25T08:54:00.000-08:00

Friends and Family,

This week continues very busy following a very successful week with eye surgeries with a visiting volunteer Opthamology team of doctors and nurses from California and Montana.

Monday arrived our Mission Director and two other visitors of the Diocese of Helena, Montana and three Engineers with the organization, Engineers without Borders. Two other engineers are already at the mission, Monty Giles and Pat Vaughn; Monty originally from Hamilton MT and a frequent volunteer and friend of the mission and his wife Tracy. Pat, also from Hamilton, has come previously to the mission and with Monty, are repairing needed electrical changes in the church. Monty and Pat have also done extensive water and electrical repair in the Clinic, which enables the clinic to function more efficiently. The Engineers without borders are working on water issues in the school of the Mission. It is important for us to take time out from our schedules to host these visitors. Thank you Dan, Grant and Kurt. We are a TEAM of many and from many different occupations, and regions of the country, who make our work possible and more successful.

Our Mission was established in 1963 by the Catholic Diocese of Helena, MT. We have witnessed many changes in the peoples lives, especially in education and health. We cannot resolve the violence, poverty, and injustice that surrounds us. We are CALLED to SERVE!

The BISHOPS of GUATEMALA recently published a Pastoral Letter, entitled "CONSTRUCT IN JUSTICE; INSPIRED BY GOD". This Pastoral Letter is an extensive analysis of the present situation and call to all Guatemalans to moral conversion, sustained by FAITH. We as people of MISSION are an integral part of this Call of accompaniement in this journey of HOPE to a more just, and dignified life for all!

Thank You for your Love and Prayers for all Guatemalans, and for your Financial Support of our work.

You can read more of our work on the web site http://www.diocesehelena.org/ under the title, GUATEMALA MISSION.

Love Sheila

Time Flies by this week in Clinic with Cataract Surgeries a Blesssing for Many!

2011-02-18T03:37:00.001-08:00

Friends and Family,

Today is the last day of the Surgical Operations for Patients who live near and far from La Clinica Maxeña. We do advertise in other communities so more poor people have this opportunity. The GIFT of SIGHT is something we take for granted often until it is too late. Here also is the reality that it is indeed a LUXURY to have eye surgery, or any elective surgery for the POOR, as there is NO Health Care Insurance in this country. The National Health Service has Hospitals throughout the Country, including one about 15 miles from our Mission. They are poorly equipped and staffed so there are frequent Strikes by the workers and constant budget crisis with the National Congress. They have more Doctors for Medical consult in government clinics in most of the large communities now but again few medications to dispense. The cost of Cataract surgery is approximately 70 Dollars in our clinic; those who cannot pay are not charged. I will include some statistics and end of day.

Thank You for your interest in our Mission Clinic. Thanks very much for the generosity of the Opthamologic Team, for their financial and giving of SELF!
There are many joyful people who can now see more clearly the BEAUTIFUL WORLD around them due to eye surgery this week in the CLINICA MAXEÑA!

Opthamology Team arrives for surgeries!

2011-02-16T08:34:00.001-08:00

Friends and family,
This past weekend the Opthamology team arrived for EYE surgeries; this project began in the Clinica Maxeña by Sr Mary Waddell in 1996. Twice a year, Opthamologists and surgical nurses have come from California. The Opthamology Surgery Unit, in the Clinica Maxeña, was constructed by Opthamologist, Joe Kupko from Hamilton, Montana in 1992. It was with great joy we welcomed these doctors at the Guatemalan Airport. This is the first surgical team that are mostly Montana Opthamologists.

One of the Doctors had missed a flight and was not with the TEAM. Bob Singer, from California, is known and loved by all at our Mission and in the Clinica Maxeña. Bob is 80 years old and has been coming with the Eye Team since its beginning. Myself and Miguel stayed to be at airport the next day to welcome BOB; he emerged smiling despite his long journey with lots of baggage of donated eye items for the Clinic.
Bob is retired now from his Opthamology practice but works as a voluteer math teacher in a California grade school where his daughter is a teacher. Here at the Mission he rises early to walk up town with others to buy the breakfast bread! His PRESENCE is a JOY and EXAMPLE for all. THANK YOU BOB! and all the Opthamology TEAM!!

The Opthamology Team are:
OPTHAMOLOGISTS
Bob Singer, California
Martin Fishman, California
Timothy McInnis, Montana
Joseph Kupko, Montana
Aaron Alme, Montana

NURSES
Rosaria Camp
Connie Dey Rose
Nancy Alvarez Sims
Sr Mary Waddell
Dianne Kupko, Assistant!

AND ALL THE WORKERS OF THE CLINICA MAXEÑA!!

Included the photo of Opthamologist, Bob Singer at work in the Clinica Maxeña
Also Bob greets my dog, COCO, on way up to the clinic.

Stay tuned for more news of Eye Surgeries at the Clinica Maxeña; FEBRUARY 2011

Valentines Day early!

2011-02-10T04:49:00.000-08:00

Friends and Family,

Yesterday we celebrated VALENTINES DAY at our monthly general meeting. We decided on an early celebration as our EYE BRIGADE OF OPTHAMOLOGIST WILL BEGIN CONSULTS AND SURGERIES ON MONDAY, VALENTINES DAY. Simultaneously we will continue with regular consult due to the need of patients. Our visiting Medical Opthamology team, INCLUDING NURSES, will be arriving from MONTANA and CALIFORNIA.

Our meeting was serious and joyful. Chico reported on his workshop of Pastoral Healh he attended, entitled being CHRISTIAN and POLITICAL. Miguel shared his knowledge of living and being community in the Mayan culture. A lively discussion followed by several other workers with similar experiences and interest. Those interested will form a group to discuss and learn from the Guatemalan Bishops recent Pastoral Letter, entitled "Build Justice, Inspired by GOD. They will also continue to share experiences of life in their communities, and how working together builds a better tomorrow for their children. Later they will share their ideas with their fellow workers in a future general meeting.

The meeting room was decorated to the spirit of the celebration, Valentines Day, a day of FRIENDSHIP! Red hearts adorn the walls, red ribbon on the clay cups that were a gift from administration and a smallbag of chocolate hearts. The important climax however was sampling, in the clay cups, our new nutritive drink, "ATOLE LA MAXEÑA!.
As previously mentioned in a blog, this Nutritious powder mix includes ground, roasted rice, soy, wheat and corn. The drink is brought to a boil, cooked a few minutes and add sugar, cinnamon or other additives. Each worker was given a pound bag of the new nutritious drink to share with family. This next week another batch will be made and bagged and put to sale for our clinic patients and later in the month for the Nutritional Program. For our Clinic this is a triumph, having our own product to market for a more healthy life. The raffle for firewood climaxed the meeting as two workers went away with a bundle of firewood, a result of topping our trees, and they home with their bundle, to their ONIL STOVE!!

Thank You for your interest in our work and we hope you will donate to our projects and walk with us on our journey with a Mayan population in the mountains of Guatemala.

Send a donation for our CLINIC on line to www.diocesehelena.org

Included a Photo of Chico, in charge of PROJECTS for clinic as he proudly shares LA ATOLE MAXEÑA with fellow workers.
In other photo, Micaela explains the ingredients and how to prepare this new nutritional drink. Micaela is in charge of Medicinal Plant Clinic and also has diplomas in Nutrition.

With PEACE;
Sheila McShane

The Babe arrived!

2011-02-08T04:31:00.000-08:00

Family and Friends,

Greetings again from the Clinica Maxeña. The last week has been unusually busy. Dr Ever has been seeing more people than usual. He is a very good doctor and we are pleased that he is the Medical director of the Clinic. He and his wife Gloria have four children and they have built their home about 15 minutes from the Clinic in the agrarian community of Chocola. He has a private clinic in town that is open for a few hours in the evening. People seek him out also in his home. Thus he occassionally commits to deliver babies, as it is one of his joys in Medicine.

Maura was expected to deliver the weekend but she did not. Doctor Ever brought her to the clinic on Monday so he could keep his committment of Clinic hours. One of our auxiliary nurses was staying with her and also her aunt, a midwife was present as Ever began consult with the other patients. A few hours passed and he would go out to our small in patient area to check her. I was in my office near by.

The baby´s cry of arrival was a surprise as Ever came running out of his clinic, smiling, and I from the office. A little boy had come into the world into the capable hands of his aunt, the midwife.

Although there are now more women who deliver in the National Hospital than previously, having a midwife, is the norm for Mayan women. The National Health system is finally acknowledging this reality but minimally. When women arrive to the hospital, as an emergency, the midwives are not allowed into the hospital to be with the woman.
The midwives are not given any help in obtaining equipment from the ministry of health to make their vocation more safe and easier for their patients. Now there are classes provided in some areas for the midwives by the local government health centers in communities but their culture is not acknowledged. Most of the midwives of the mountain villages would not understand adequately spanish so they are quickly eliminated from these possibilities of education and recognition.

Health Care reform is vital to ensure safer Maternal Health for the mayan indigenous population. The Presidential election campaigns are just beginning in Guatemala. There is always hope that change will happen, that responsible, capable, honest leaders will step forward.

The Bishops of Guatemala just published a Pastoral Letter "Construct in Justice, inspired by GOD" addressing realites of human development and individuals contributing to the creation of a better environment to live, based on FAITH. Continue to pray for JUSTICE AND PEACE in Guatemala.

Thank You! Please continue to support our work by sending your donation on line to:
www.diocesehelena.org Mention it is for the Clinica Maxeña

Sheila

A BETTER SOLUTION THAN MILK!

2011-02-02T04:52:00.000-08:00

Friends and Family,

This past week, within 24 hours, our clinic saw three adult cases of severe chronic malnutrition, all women. People are hungry. Prices of gasoline, basic food products, bus transportation, are on the rise. Unemployment is part of life here. Schools are back in session. There are no daily free snacks at schools for the small children.
Our clinic is giving more free consults and medications. Donations are down. This is a worry for us here in the Clinica Maxeña as we look to our budget for 2011.

Yesterday, three of our workers, prepared a new nourishing drink. We hope to encourage, sell, share, this product in our nutrition program and also prescribe for other malnourished patients. Micaela has attended workshops on Nutrition for the past year and will continue this year. This preparation will replace our use of whole milk and again it is using products that are more common for the Mayan population in their diets. Corn, rice, soya, and wheat were toasted and mixed in quantities learned by Micaela in her class. February 9, at our next Clinic general meeting, the workers will sample this new nutritive drink and we will prepare bags of one pound to have available in the clinic and in the nutrition program. This nutritive preparation by our workers will have the name "ATOLE LA MAXEÑA", and have a logo of our Clinic.

Last week the Nutrition Program held it first meeting for 2011; most of the children who were in the program for several months last year are fully recovered, 43 children from infants to 5 years. These children and mothers will now assist classes and receive nutritive snacks every three months; children, newly diagnosed with malnutrition, will be enrolled in the program. This program is free for the mothers and children and the children are examined monthly by our doctor and weighed by his assistant. They will receive our new nutritive drink.

Please put the Clinica Maxeña in your monthly budget!! You can send your donation to www.diocesehelena.org and note for the Clinica Maxeña and the Nutrition Project. thanks much.

Sheila

I share a photo of one of the women patients who has chronic malnutrition and also Chico, Micaela and Giovani toasting ingredients of our new nutritive drink,
"ATOLE LA MAXEÑA".

Fire wood and Importance of TREES!

2011-01-31T16:53:00.000-08:00

Friends and family,

Here in the Clinica Maxeña, the care of the ENVIRONMENT, is a major concern in our preventive health program. We are aware of the value and importance of TREES. Deforestation with lumber mills and also forest fires, and chopping trees down for fire wood is a major concern. Our Mission topped trees for safety this past week; many heavy branches were hanging over our road into town, over some of our buildings, while others were with disease. Branches, with the heavy wind, have fallen on our electrical wires and on top of one building, damaging the roof.

Our environmental project for ONIL STOVES cuts the use of fire wood to minimal quantities. As the photo demonstrates, our Clinic now has a lot of firewood available. We will share our bounty with the most poor. Firewood is expensive to buy; most families will go out into to wooded areas and pick up branches, especially the elderly. There are no electrical or gas stoves in the villages. More and More families have ONIL STOVES thanks to the generosity of many. If you can donate an ONIL STOVE to a poor family, it costs just 100. dollars. Our Clinic regularly raffles Onil Stoves and also donates them to the most needy. THANK YOU FOR PRAYERS AND GENEROSITY to our work in the Clinica Maxeña and to the ONIL STOVE PROJECT!!!!

Send a donation on line to www.diocesehelena.org and note for ONIL STOVE PROJECT.

BLESSINGS SHEILA

Sustainable Agriculture Project

2011-01-28T07:53:00.001-08:00

Friends and Family,

A New Year has dawned. This brings hope, excitement, energy to face new challenges and also to continue with previous goals, not yet achieved. One of our new Projects of the Clinica Maxeña is Sustainable Agriculture. Our workers are the first to benefit in initiating this project; their committment is to encourage others in their communities to learn from them. Hunger, under nourished children, increased poverty, unemployment, inflation of basic food products are reality. We realize the solution to be long lasting has to be achieved in a manner that is not dependent on others for continued charity but rather has its roots in their own culture.

Several of the workers have already built their chicken coops. The Clinica Maxeña provided materials for the structure and will provide 12 chickens to each worker and vaccine; then they are on their own to continue to feed and produce chickens and eggs for their own consumption. Agriculture Health Promotors of the Clinic will supervise and monitor different workers chicken projects. The Clinica Maxeña also is an active participant with chickens for the Clinica Maxeña Kitchen; workers from the Medicinal Nutritive garden will care for the Clinics chickens and these chickens will provide nutritious economical meals for patients and visitors to our Mission.

The next phase of the project is the sustainable vegetable and herb gardens. The purpose is again for consumption of the products in their own homes and to promote this project personally in their communities and as a clinic with our Nutrition Program for malnourished children. Stay tuned for PROGRESS!

Thank you for PRAYERS and FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO OUR WORK in the CLinica Maxeña!!

Send your donation on line to www.diocesehelena.org and note for the CLINICA MAXEÑA.

Share this blog with friends. Thanks.

Our World here has changed!

2011-01-17T18:18:00.000-08:00

Friends and Family,
I have been here many years; I have witnessed many changes. Actually I came a few years after our Montana Mission began in Guatemala in 1963. I was here before the trees and most of the buildings. Myself and another Montana Nurse found the Clinica Maxeña in 1966. We were pioneers in health care to the Poor in an underdeveloped mountainous region; primitive villages, rivers, and thousands of Mayan indigenous people peppered the mountains. Disease was rampant, including tuberculosis, whooping cough, measles, parasites, malnutrition, etc. There was no Medical doctor in town; we were thirty minutes from a poorly run, and under equipped National Hospital. Homes were made from bamboo and thatched roofs from bananna leaves and other vegetation. The roads were dirt and four wheel drive vehicles a necessity. There was no communication means except a primitive telegraph system. I learned to drive in Guatemala at 22 years of age. There were less that a dozen vehicles in this town of Santo Tomas La Union and we had three of them.

Now it is more than forty years later. I left Guatemala in 1983 during a very violent armed struggle with the Guatemalan military that left thousands of Mayan Indigenous people massacred, and over 30,000 disappeared. I too had to flee because of medically assisting the injured combatants and civilians. I lived in the refugee camps for several months with people fleeing the violence in southern Mexico. I continued to work in solidarity many years in the US for the people of Guatemala. My experiences are part of who I have become. I would not trade my experiences for any other life.

I lived in the United States for over twenty years and worked as a Registered Nurse; I returned again to Guatemala and to our mission in 2006. Life is different here now but it is still very difficult for the Mayan Indigenous and Poor. Our Mission has changed peoples lives. We sponsor a Junior-senior high school for the Mayans living in this mountainous region. Our pastor, James Hazelton, has made education available for thousands of young people. Over five hundred students enrolled this year. The Clinica Maxeña continues to serve the Poor. We have an excellent, committed Guatemalan Physician and 28 workers, including auxilliary nurses, laboratory persons, maintenance crew, cooks and others. Everday is a new day with many emergencies, very ill patients coming to our door. Our town has more than doubled in population with 14,000 inhabitants. There are hudreds of cars in town. The road out of town is asphault but most of the roads to the villages are still dirt and difficult to navigate. I feel blessed and Happy to be here. I am grateful for so many friends who walk with us in our Journey. THANK YOU!!

I include a photo of three wheel taxis on the main street of our town. There are over 100 of these taxis. Again I share the recent picture of the staff of the Clinica Maxeña for 2011!
SEND A DONATION FOR OUR CLINIC TO: www.diocesehelena.org Note it is for the CLINICA MAXEÑA

The Church and Health Care for the POOR

2011-01-09T06:05:00.000-08:00

Friends and family,

There is no such reality here as Health Insurance! Health care is responsibility for the individual and It is BIG BUSINESS; the poor have few windows of reliable Care open to them, especially in some emergencies, acute and chronic illness and surgeries. The Catholic Church is on the Front Line and its Ministry of Pastoral Health opens doors and consolidates efforts; they challenge dificiencies in the government Health Ministry services.

The Plan for Solidarity, and Justice for Health comes directly from the Advisory Board of Latin American Bishops, CELAM. Each Diocese has formed different Pastoral Ministries whose representatives come from every parish in the particular diocese.

Missionary Disciples in the WORLD OF HEALTH is the Ministry which the Clinica Maxeña takes its MISSION, and defines WHO we are! Health is the affirmation of LIFE; it includes repectfully living with Nature: LIFE in relation to MOTHER EARTH, as MOTHER of LIFE and HOME and environment of all HUMAN BEINGS! HEALTH is a Fundamental RIGHT that Countries should guarantee and which all HUMAN BEINGS should have access to without priveleges nor exclusions.

The Clinica Maxeña is an active participant in Pastoral Health Ministry for the Diocese of Suchitepequez and Retahuleu. Each month myself and Martin, official representatives for the Clinic and Parish, attend the meetings that discuss plans, workshops, share resources with other parishes.

The Clinica Maxeña is preparing for EYE SURGERIES in the month of FEBRUARY. This brigade of Surgeons will include three from the Diocese of Helena, Montana and two doctors and nurses from California. We colaborate closely with the Agency for Blindness of the Ministry of Health, who will also send a Medical Opthamology Resident and Social Worker. These valuable services we do share with other parishes for their patients with cataracts and other eye disease. ¨Patients who can, pay a fee of $75.00, for eye surgery and $4.00 for consult with the specialist. Most patients of our mountain villages are exonerated. Care by Opthamologists, some local but mostly from the US, have been providing this service for over thirty years for patients of the Clinica Maxeña.

This weekend, I accompanied two of our workers and four of our surgical patients, to a Hospital administered by a Mexican Religious Congregation, funded by a charity organization of California and founded by an Italian Parish Pastor in 1975. This Hospital is an incredible contributor to the Health of the POOR. The journey of three hours, to the State of San Marcos, is well worth our efforts. They sponsor general and specialized surgeries every two to three months; the specialists are all US doctors who donate their talents to the poor. The reality is that elective surgeries are not availble in the National Health service but only emergency surgery, such as appendectomies strangulated hernias,and C Sections. The cost to the patient in this Catholic Hospital is approximately the same we charge for eye surgeries, $75.00. This includes transport and one of our workers accompanies the patient post op until brought back to the Clinica Maxeña.

THANK YOU FOR BEING A VITAL PART OF THE SERVICE TO THE POOR!
Send your donation to www.diocesehelena.org and NOTE it is for the CLINICA MAXEÑA

I enclose a picture of the Hospital of the FAMILY of Nuevo Progreso, San Marcos, who serve our surgical patients, for hernias, hysterectomies and other general surgeries, at minimal costs. We are most thankful and Blessed to have them as FRIEND!

A New Year in the Clinica Maxeña!

2011-01-04T18:07:00.000-08:00

Friends and family,

Yesterday, was the first day of work for the Clinica Maxeña, in 2011. As always it is an all day meeting as we come together to share our plans, goals and hopes for the New Year. We have two new workers, replacing others who have left. Manuel and Josefa were welcomed into our family and together with all received two new shirts with the Clinic emblem, an agenda, and a silk like recyclabe bag that rolls up to carry. We hope to market our new bags to help the environment.

Our themes for 2011 have not changed; Diabetes, Nutrition, Aids, Women´s Health,the Environment, and our new project, Sustainable Agriculture. The minimal salary was just increased from 56 quetzales to 63.70 quetzales a day! That is approximatel 8 dollars a DAY! Most of our 29 workers earn minimal salary. We are optimistic that our new project, sustainable agriculture, will serve also as a teaching opportunity. If our workers succeed in producing plump organic chickens and small gardens, for consumption for their families, they can teach their neighbors. The poverty here is unimaginable for folks who have not visited us. Hunger is becoming more prevalent. Our Onil stove project has been a blessing; the reality though for many homes is their cupboards are bare. There is no food to cook on an ONIL STOVE!

We continue to GIVE THANKS for those who share their bounty with us. We dare to continue to ask. Please send your online donation to: www.diocesehelena.org
REMEMBER TO MENTION IT IS FOR THE CLINICA MAXEÑA!

THANK YOU AGAIN!! AND BLESSINGS FOR THE YEAR 2011!

Sheila and all of the Clinica Maxeña.

I attatch our NEW Photo of our team in front of the CLINICA MAXEÑA on January 3, 2011 and also a photo of a very poor family with no food in the cupboards, for their children! Also a photo of their family home.

LIFE AND DEATH IN GUATEMALA!

2010-12-28T18:38:00.000-08:00

FRIENDS AND FAMILY,

The year 2010 is coming to a close. Yesterday, in the local NEWSPAPER, in bold headlines, was a Guatemalan reality, 6,000 asasinations in Guatemala in 2010. This is almost 500 deaths a month through violence! Truly this is great saddness for this beloved country.

Here in the Clinica Maxeña, daily we also deal with LIFE AND DEATH! There are many premature deaths that could and should be prevented. Health Care continues to be BIG BUSINESS and not a HUMAN RIGHT for every human being. Last week we lost a 34 year old mother to advanced tuberculosis. Her two small children were heart broken as well as her devoted husband. One indeed feels helpless. Even in last minutes in advanced stages, I could not obtain the medications I needed from the Ministry of Health. WHY was she not diagnosed earlier by the local Ministry of Health Clinic.

God gives LIFE and also calls home his children. WE are called, each to care for one another. We are blessed here in the Clinica Maxeña also with accompanying others back to health. As the years ends we are happy to report on the progress of our young AIDS patient, Maria, 13 years old, who was sexually abused, raped, by a family member.

Maria weighed 54 pounds when she came to our clinic less than six months ago. Today she weighs 80 pounds and is smiling. She is talented in embroidery and has been producing some beautiful T-Shirts. She is experiencing some side effects of the medications of her treatment, but she is coping well. She and her mom and siblings are living with an Aunt. Our Clinic personell are accompanying her monthly to obtain her antivirals for AIDS to a clinic two hours away and providing her nutrition supplements.

WE ARE ALL THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS! YOUR DONATIONS MAKE POSSIBLE OUR WALKING WITH AND HEALING, CHILDREN OF GOD, WHO COME TO OUR CLINIC! THANK YOU!!!

I enclose a photo of Maria when she first came to our clinic and the picture that was on my CHRISTMAS LETTER! Maria has a cross on that I received from an Irish cousin during my recent journey to Ireland. This cross is from Medjugorie. I want a miracle for MARIA! Thank You for your prayers and financial support.

Send donations to: www.diocesehelena.org and mention that it is for the
CLINICA MAXENA! THANK YOU!!!

SHEILA

Santo Tomas celebrates Feast Day!

2010-12-20T10:51:00.000-08:00

Friends and Family,
Before one plans Christmas celebration here in our community, one first enjoys the festivities of the Patron Saint of our town and parish, St Thomas, Apostle. Tomorrow is the actual feast day but nine days before there is a novena with prayers daily in the church. Today and tomorrow there is celebration of Mass and tonight the candle light Procession of the image of St Thomas, carried on a decorated platform, by about twelve men, through the streets of town. The streets are crowded with people late into the night just visiting, roaming the booths, eating some food, and enjoying other small purchases. The statue is carried to the center of activities near the Market and the sky lights up with a firework display. All towns and communities of Guatemala celebrate their Patron Saint; protestants enjoy the festivities although they do not celebrate the spiritual traditions. When we came forty years ago Guatemala was more than 90% Catholic but times have changed.

Simultaneously the youth of the parish and the faithful are accompanying the Posada; these are candlelight processions with the images of the Nativity being carried to a different house each night for the nine days before Christmas. There are christmas carols, and music and prayer on the arrival to the host home. After prayer, bread and hot chocalate or tamales are shared with all those in attendance. It is seen as an honor to host the Posada. The youth of the parish put up the Nativity scene in the church. Church elders white wash the outer stone structure and parishioners assist in painting the walls and providing flowers for the interior of the church.

Christmas day, as a Mission team, we will enjoy christmas dinner together.Midnite mass is at 9PM. No snow but a chill in the air in the evening. From all of us a BLESSED CHRISTMAS FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS!

Merry Christmas from Guatemala

2010-12-18T05:29:00.001-08:00

Friends and Family,
I decided to share my Christmas appeal on my BLOG as my friends here need your generosity! It is also getting very cold here for affects of Climatic Change and lack of blankies and sweaters make life difficult, so another thought for a christmas gift!

Dear Friends and Family,
As the spirit of Christmas approaches, lights and small decorations appear in the Market Place and in the homes, plans for Christmas parties are highlighted on agendas, HOPE and PEACE surge in our hearts. The Birth of JESUS at CHRISTMAS reminds us all of HIS presence in our WORLD!

I have just returned from a journey to the homeland of my parents,IRELAND! It was a joyous time for me and also a time of reflection and rest. I could not help to notice the contrast in the environment between Ireland and Guatemala; Ireland with beautiful GREEN trees, clean water in the ocean and rivers, food and laughter in all the homes, no visible garbage on the streets. During 2010, in Guatemala, storm AGATHA brought natural disaster to our surroundings, destroying water sources, highways and some homes. The sea and rivers are contaminated with garbage and the water is murky and overflowing. Hunger and malnnutrition are a daily reality in our clinic. Cupboards are bare, children are ill with respiratory and gastrointestinal disease. There are neither Christmas presents nor trees with ornaments. Guatemala City is in fifth place in the world for VIOLENCE! Many homes suffered loss of family members or grave injustice.

There is still HOPE and JOY in our HEARTS! There are dreams of a better and more just tomorrow. As you celebrate the BIRTH of JESUS, we ask for your prayers. As you make your Christmas List we ask you to give a gift to those with less! We ask you to put the Clinica Maxeña on your Christmas List! I mention some ideas of gifts that would bring joy to those we serve! THANK YOU!

CHRISTMAS JOY FROM THE STAFF OF THE CLINICA MAXEÑA

A CHRISTMAS LIST FROM THE CHRIST CHILD

Consult for Doctor, 10 patients $20.00
1 Ultrasound $40.00
Medicine $100.00
10# of Baby Formula $30.00
ONIL STOVE $100.00
Emergency operation $100.00
Diagnostic tests $20.00
2 wool blankets $30.00

send your gift on line at: www.diocesehelena.org
or send to Diocese of Helena
P:O: Box 1729
Helena, MT
59624
NOTE THAT YOUR DONATION IS FOR THE CLINICA MAXEÑA

Photos included are the Christmas star on top of CLINIC!
A malnourished child before donation of FORMULA
A home with open fire for COOKING
An ONIL STOVE donated to a POOR FAMILY!
THANKS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!
LOVE SHEILA AND ALL FROM THE CLINICA MAXEÑA!

A CHRISTMAS PARTY

2010-12-13T12:23:00.000-08:00

Friends and family,
On December 10th, the Clinica Maxeña came together as family to celebrate Christmas with the traditional tamale, our band playing and Singing christmas carols in their native Quiche language, christmas baskets, laughter and christmas HUGS. Most of our clinic workers are on minimal salary, although some have worked more than ten years.
They are all Mayan Indigenous and committed to serve the poor with Joy. They all helped decorate our meeting hall, some bringing branches for the tree, others making decorations from craft paper; the hall with be used by many parish groups for Christmas. Our maintenance crew constructed a beautiful star from pieces of iron, with a DOVE and the words PEACE; it was place on top of the laboratory and can be seen from afar at nite when lit up!

On December 21, our town and also our Parish, will celebrate the Patron Saint, St Thomas Apostle. There will be music, traditional food, booths, fireworks to light up the sky. The huge statue of St Thomas will be dressed in satin attire and carried by forty men through the streets, again with traditional drums and music. The Clinica Maxeña gives the workers two days off to celebrate with family and friends.

I share some photos of our Christmas party! Thank You too for sharing your generosity with our clinic and those we serve.

You can send a donation for our work to www.diocesehelena.org
Note that it is for the Clinica Maxeña!

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS
Sheila

AND THE RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT!!

2010-12-07T15:11:00.001-08:00

Friends and Family,

The Movie, The River Runs Through it! was a very popular movie and was filmed in Montana, my HOME state. As we returned from a march on AIDS, in one of our neighboring townships, we stopped in the home of one of our workers, Manuel. We all had a pop at his small store, in his home. As we approached his home through a back road, we were amazed at a field of green; for me it brought back memories of this movie. We learned that planted in this field is a herb, Berro, that is healthy and a favorite for stews by the Mayan population. This field of green has several owners, as each local owner has a small plot planted. This gorgeous field is irrigated by one of the largest rivers that provides water to the area, the Ixtacapa. What a BLESSING! The owners of this field sell their product in markets of different communities; they also use it in their meals of stew and vegetable patties. This blessing helps prevent hunger in their community and also is healthy to their diet and provides small income for these POOR families.

Many of our workers bought a small bundle of the herb for less than a dollar. It was also an inspiration to our workers for their new clinic project of sustainable agriculture. They saw that it is possible to plant and grow in a small plot, nutritious food for their family consumption, and also make additional profit for their family expenses.

Please stay tuned for more news on OUR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PROJECT OF THE CLINICA MAXEÑA in 2011!! Thanks and Blessings. Sheila

Remember to donate on line at:
www.diocesehelena.org
NOTE THAT IT IS FOR THE CLINICA MAXEÑA

WORLD DAY OF AIDS!

2010-12-07T13:13:00.000-08:00

Friends and Family,

Friday all the clinic personell, who are PASTORAL HEALTH FOR OUR PARISH, took the afternoon off to March for education and prevention of AIDS! December 1 was WORLD DAY FOR AIDS,proclaimed by the UNITED NATIONS. We chose to do education and a MARCH in one of our townships, Xejuyup. We went in our jeep, two pickups with posters taped to our vehicles, a Banner of the Bishops Conference for compassion for AIDS victims and band instruments. We were surprised by a spring rain fall as we approached the community but it did not dampen our spirit. Band members jumped out of the trucks in the rain and the music started; the banner was carried by others, and the clinic personell chatted individually with those they encountered on the way.

We all wore the red ribbon, as a reminder of the Day for Prevention of Aids. We also made smaller ribbons to pin on the people, and distributed a prayer for victims of AIDS, composed by a Maryknoll priest, Dan Jensen. THANK YOU DAN! We had the clinic loud speaker roped to the jeep as our AIDS representative, Lyncho gave instruction and information in spanish followed by translation in Mayan Quiche by Manuel, native of XEJUYUP.

Our Clinic Laboratory does do Laboratory testing for HIV and we accompany patients with AIDS to the clinic for meds, especially when they are of low income and need translation to spanish. Medications are provided by the Ministry of Health. Our state of Suchitepequez is in fourth place for AIDS victims, not an honor for sure.

We ask for your prayers and financial support for our Program in AIDS prevention. We do have the support of a Mayan Quiche Psycologist who works with AIDS nationally and comes to our clinic to give individual support. He lives in a neighboring town and is always welcome to our clinic. He also has given talks to our youth in our town of Santo Tomas and also the mountain village through Pastoral for youth of our parish.

Send you donation to www.diocesehelena.org

thanks, SHEILA

Enclosed fotos of the day and the banner that hangs across the entrance of our MISSION:

Dental care for the POOR is minimal!

2010-12-02T10:58:00.000-08:00

Family and Friends,

This past week our dental health promotor, Manuel, traveled to Chiapas, Mexico, with 30 other Guatemalan promotors with the Association of Health Promotors in Guatemala, ASECSA. Dental care for the Poor is a luxury. The Poor do not approach a clinic until the dental pain is an issue for them; usually thier teeth are decayed, missing, or infected. Dental care by a professional dentist and materials for dental prophylaxis are not in the budget of the Clinica Maxeña.

Manuel, our Dental health Promotor is able to do extractions, and clean teeth. As mentioned, unfortunately when patients arrive, extraction is the only remedy. If a patient comes with a tooth that can be saved Manuel instructs them to go to a dentist in the next community. Manuel will go again in March for four days for another workshop; this will happen in Guatemala. This last workshop was mostly theory and in March they will receive also practice in dental care.

The Association of Health Promotors is ASECSA. This organization is in existence more than thrity years and the Clinica Maxeña was one of five founding Health Programs. More than sixty health programs in the rural area are now members of this organization; all would have Mayan Indian health promotors serving in their clinics and preventive programs. Many of our workers have received health education, especially in nutrition and agriculture and Medicinal Plants. A Chemical Biologist from this association oversees our Medicinal Plant clinic.

This association will also give accompaniement and technical advice and some seeds for a sustainable agricultural project we have begun with our workers. The dream is that this project will grow and help bring some solution to Hunger! Thank you for your interest and donations to those we serve.

You can send your donation on line at:
www.diocesehelena.org
Note that it is for the Clinica Maxeña.
Thank YOU!!

Love Sheila
Attatched a picture of Manuel, our Dental Health Promotor performing an extraction of a tooth in our clinic.

WORLD DAY OF DIABETES

2010-11-26T15:17:00.000-08:00

Friends and family,
All of us have family members, friends who live with DIABETES! It is a serious disease but one learns to live with. THE UNITED NATIONS HAS DECLARED DIABETES A World Wide EPIDEMIC. World Day of DIABETES was November 14. The CLINICA MAXEÑA commemorated the day today. Diet, Exercise, Medication, are the keys to success and living a healthy life with this disease. Today in the clinic, 65 persons attended the forum where our Doctor EVER, himself a diabetic, presented the theme. Glucometer checks and Blood Pressure checks were also done. Four new Diabetics were diagnosed, including one of our cooks. Several known diabetics, type 2, had glucoses over 300. Our clinic also promotes medicinal plants for Diabetes. These medicinal plants are more acceptable in the MAYAN culture and important to support chemical medicine with our patients. The Ministry of Health provides no medications. The Clinica Maxeña also has a Diabetic Club. We hope in 2011 to have many new members. Our emphasis is on NUTRITION and Exercise. THANK YOU FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT. Patients with Type 1 cannot afford Insulin so most of our patients receiven this medication free of charge and also the syringes. Blood glucose in our laboratory is less than three dollars. PLEASE HELP US in our STRUGGLE TO CONTROL DIABETES. THANK YOU!!!

Enclosed are pictures of WORLD DAY OF DIABETES! including Dr Ever presenting theme.
I also include a picture of THANKSGIVING DINNER; SRS MARY AND ANNA and Father Hazy. I took the picture and our volunteer, Jake Nistler is in language School. So Belated Happy Thanksgiving Day from all of us.

COFFEE HARVEST TIME

2010-11-21T13:54:00.000-08:00

Friends and Family,
Yesterday I traveled a bit around the coffee production and sales in our area. Coffee has a good price this year on exportation. Unfortunately it does not have a good harvest for most of the people about us with small plots of coffee bushes. The storm AGATHA destroyed much of the flowering of the coffee trees, resulting with fewer red coffee beans. Pickers, including small children, rise at dawn, crowd into back of local trucks, and head out to pick coffee for the larger land owners. They are paid three dollars to pick 100 pounds of the humid bean, about eight hours in the hot sun. Here in our community the biggest plantation owner, with seven plantations of coffee, is receiving 208. dollars for each 100# of coffee, dried and toasted. His coffee is loaded with chemicals. There are many middle man coffee buyers and as always the POOR are those who recieve little or no profit for all their labor. Most field workers near us would own if any a small plot that would produce only a few hundred pounds of the humid coffee.

A Fair Trade Coffee Cooperative in one of the mountain villages, was founded over forty years ago by a Montana Priest, and continues to produce and export organic coffee. We can purchase this coffee here direct from the Cooperative but we cannot export it. This preparing the coffee for export is a WOMAN´s project and the coffee carries the label "Coffee Feminina". It is indeed a success story for our MISSION!

Remember the little coffee producers in your prayer when you drink your Coffee LATTÉ
each morning. AND BE SURE TO DRINK ONLY ORGANIC, FAIR TRADE COFFEE! THANKS!!

Little Val is now an ANGEL!

2010-11-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

Friends and Family,
I did mispell my lttle patient´s name in my last blog, if you read it. It is Valitoriano or lit´l VAL. They did not operate the second time on this infant,as mentioned. We opted to send him to city yesterday at dawn to Roosevelt Hospital and I made contact with a good friend and Chief of Pediatric surgery. His health was critical but he appeared stable. Unfortunately VAL died unexpectedly from a respiratory complication, within three hours, though surgery was anticipated.
Unfortunately retrieving him for chrisitan burial is difficult and expensive in Guatemala. It is most important in the Mayan Culture, and in any culture, to be able to bury your own.
One of our workers and the dad, who had gone in the ambulance from one hospital to the other when he went, were in the hospital when he died. Right away the process to bring him home began. We were not anticipating his death so we had not send our worker with sufficient money for this emergency but friends in city responded to our need. The problem began when they made his death, for whatever reason, a legal incident. Unfortunately also was that his final document referred to him as a female, another complication. Funeral Homes somehow got my number from the hospital and I was inudated with phone calls wanting our business. We do our own, THANK YOU! With a few more calls to friends I did get a funeral Home that helps the Pediatric Cancer Hospital at a very reasonalbe rate to help our worker with the very complicated legal process. The fact it was now a legal incident, more paper work, an autopsy, and more money were needed.
We had paid our town ambulance to meet and bring back the infants body and our workers. They finally left the city but without the body, after midnite. The mother has to go in tomorrow! The father has to provide a document that he is married to the mother, of course he was not carrying it, and also her presence required. Today I will get a document from hospital of the birth of Val in the National Hospital since the Father does not yet have a birth certificate. Tomorrow they will go in again, the parents and our worker, CHICO; and hopefully bring him home for burial. Accompanying this family until the burial of their son is important to us as CLINIC and as PASTORAL HEALTH of our church.

Reality is that for most of the people we serve, fear the hospital, especially when they are gravely ill. They prefer to die at home, and with reason. We hope we can get more of our patients to advise us when they send a family member to the hospital so we can accompany them and help them in decisions. This baby should have had emergency surgery at birth for an intestinal obstruction but the parents were
afraid to say yes and especially to send their infant to the city. We did not become aware of his condition until they brought him to the clinic nine days later in crisis.

Yesterday was my birthday! I was busy but perhaps it also made me more aware of the precisous gift of LIFE! I had a good birthday also!

Thank You for accompanying us in care of the Poor we serve in our parish clinic.

Donations to www.diocesehelena.org Mention for the Clinica Maxeña!

THANK YOU!!!

THE GIFT OF LIFE

2010-11-17T08:33:00.000-08:00

Friends and family,
I have been very busy since my return from vacation, no time to write, but for me it is important to share the lives of the people we serve.

At the moment we have a two week old infant, clinging to life. As I am writing this, he is entering the operating room for the second time in a week. His name is Vilatoriano, an unusual name in the Mayan culture. This infant was born in the National Hospital. Most babies have midwives and deliver in the community, usually not in the best of conditions. They go to a hospital only with complication or emergency. Vilatorio´s birth was apparently normal, but he had an intestinal obstruction. The parents were afraid to send him to the city at birth as recommended by the Pediatrician. Instead they took him home in their arms. Nine days after birth they arrived at the clinic; he had begun to vomit stool and the little breast milk he was receiving. His little abdomen was distended. We rushed him back to the hospital.

That same evening, he was operated by a qualified Pediatric surgeon, in the same National Hospital where he was born. Ordinarily these cases would be sent to Guatemala City where there are more seasoned specialists, and equipment. The largest government Hospital in the city, THE ROOSEVELT, is again on strike. The first surgery has failed. There is not adequate diagnostic equipment available in this national hospital and they are not really sure of the origin of the obstruction. Please say a prayer for this infant and for his parents for a successful outcome of the second surgery. His mother has found another infant in the community to breast feed. This is important so her milk does not dry and common in the Mayan culture.

Thank You for your support that makes our service possible with the most poor in Guatemala.

Send a donation for the Clinica Maxeña at:
www.diocesehelena.org

Love, Sheila

ALL SAINTS AND ALL SOULS DAY!

2010-11-03T21:56:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,
Back home to another world after a wonderful rest and sharing with relatives in Ireland and England. I am richly blessed!

Yesterday I walked through the cemetery in town and visited with many of the people of our community,who sat quietly on graves of their loved ones. November 1st and 2nd; All Saints and All Souls day, in the Catholic Tradition, are celebrated throughout the country. Banks and many businesses are closed for the day. Our clinic also pauses to give opportunity for workers to be present to their families and departed loved ones. Candles glowing, flood the cemetery as people vigil through the night. Live bands go grave to grave, some say it is to wake the dead to be present with them. There are few fancy headstones; rather family members repaint the tombs and put anew the names and day of death on the tomb stone. Flowers are on practically every grave, even the most poor; sometimes flowers are gathered from the roadsides when they cannot be bought.

Guatemala City is recognized as the fifth most violent city in the world, not exactly an honor. Premature death from violence and increased poverty is a sad reality for many families!

Today by 6am all the numbers to see our doctor were gone, even though the clinic officially opens at 8am. Consult is $2.00, for those who can pay. The numbers of sick increases and poverty and hunger are on the rise. Tomorrow one of our female workers of 18 years will have surgery for cervical cancer in a private hospital. We will accompany her every step of the way. Ironically she is the person who performs papanicolau smears in our clinic regularly. Our maintenance person of 15 years is in diabetic crisis. Chico, the worker who accompaniews patients to city hospitals, returned with a patient being treated for sarcoma in the Cancer Hospital. We are grateful for your support and we dare to reach out to ask for your help and support. We who have been given much, much is expected of us!! Blessings and THANK YOU!

Donations can be made on line at: www.diocesehelena.org or send to
Guatemala Mission
Diocese of Helena
P.O. Box 1729
Helena, Montana
59624 NOTE IT IS FOR NURSES FUND!

THANKS AGAIN!
SHEILA

Journey comes to a Happy End!

2010-10-17T13:46:00.000-07:00

Friends and family,
I will be back in new York with my sister and family tomorrow night!
My last days have been busy as I met with more cousins and with a special aunt, JOSIE and her husband Fred. I then spent two wonderful days with the CSJP sisters at Sacred Heart Convent. Time really to slow down to give thanks to the Lord for a safe and wonderful time with family and friends.

Since both my parents were immigrants from Ireland, I have few relatives in the United States. It was wonderful to spend time with my cousins and to realize how large our family is and what very special people they are. Josie is our last living AUNT and again a very wonderful, gentle woman. The last evening with cousins we went to an Irish Pub, in England, where they let the doggies come in and feel welcome with a bowl of water and a doggie treat!

In visiting Sacred Heart Convent, I met Sister Brigid, who had just celebrated 100 years of LIFE! She is alert, smiling and very present to those around her. It was a privilege to pose with her.
Next week I will go the CSJP Assembly in New Jersey and then HOME to Guatemala. Thank you for accompanying me on my JOURNEY!

A few more Photos!!

Maureen and Mike with Aunt Josie and her husband Fred
Cousin Lorna and her daughter Hatty
ME and Hebie the Pooch at the PUB!
Sister Brigid, CSJP and myself at Sacred Heart Convent
AMEN!!!

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES!

2010-10-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

Friends and family,
I have spent many days in London with family and again joyful times. I have been staying with my cousin Sheila, and was able to celebrate with the family her 80th
birthday; many cousins again present. My travels by plane, train, and bus have fallen in place without a hitch. For mwe this has been such a special journey as we have few relative in the United States. The faith of our relatives run deep and I have felt richly blessed by the heritage of my family, our irish roots.

When I was on the train from Cork back to Dublin, I sat with a delightful gentleman from Belfast, a Presbyterian. I found our chat very informative as I must say I have never understood much about Northern Ireland. He laughed when I referred to Belfast as Ireland. He said I am British and Belfast is part of Northern Ireland, the UNITED KINGDOM!! OHHH! When I asked my cousin in London later if he was Englis or British, without hesitation he said "I AM IRISH"!! London IRISH!!!

I met with some former missionary friends of Guatemala in London and also Donegal. The bond of friendship of missionaries is very profound as we have shared so many realities, good and bad, in Central America, during very difficult times. We share so many common friends and it was wonderful to catch up.

I have one more very special missionary to connect with, a special aunt and a few more cousins. My journey here not over yet as I will also go to the Convent of the CSJP Congregation, of which I am an associate, in Rearsby England, and then back to New York.

Included a picture with former volunteers, Anne and Madge in Downtown London!
My cousin Sheila, on her 80th Birthday
SHEILA WITH HER SONS, Joe and Brenda, their wives, Gillian and Sunita and all the grandchildren!

THE BEAUTY OF IRELAND!

2010-09-30T06:29:00.000-07:00

FRIENDS AND FAMILY,
My days and nights in Ireland have gone so fast. From Dublin, to Donegal, to the shores of County Cork. I am tired but happy. It has been wonderful to be with cousins and share stories of our parents.
That generation is now in the HEAVENS with our GOD. Mom and dad were both born near the sea; both grandfathers were well known fishermen in the area. My dad, the only son sent to America, worked hard in the Butte Mines and died there so many years ago. He never was able to return home and could afford to send little money to his family, living difficult times in Ireland. There was no pot of gold for the immigrants then and that is still a reality for immigrants today. I brought mom home to IRELAND forty years ago and we were able to visit her siblings and families and also my dads so this is my second visit with most of my cousins. I had vowed to keep a diary of my days but that seemed impossible to slow and at the end of day I slept peacefully in the cool breeze and drizzle of rain on the window pane. I am off to London to visit more cousins and a few missionaries from Guatemala. Also a JOY for me. We have much to share and celebrate.
Yesterday, with a cousin on my moms side, we walked three miles on an almost deserted island where our family home still stands. Today I am in a small restaurant on a fishermans pier, waiting for the boat to come in, and back to Castletown Bere, County Cork, Ireland!

I miss dear friends in Guatemala and my cute little doggie, COCO.
I will be back with them soon. Pray for them as the rain pounds down and landslides continue to bring suffering in that part of the world.

Attatched; Photo of my cousin Mary Teresa of Castletown Bere, CORK in her kitchen,
Me and my cousin Nora in Pub in Carrick, DONEGAL
Picture of my moms home in Dursey Island, CORK and my Dads home in
Carrick, DONEGAL IRELAND!

DUBLIN, IRELAND

2010-09-22T16:30:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,
It has been more than thrity years since I was in Ireland, so it is lovely. I am with my cousin, Michael, from England. Today, despite a wee tired from all night journey, I walked along the IRISH SEA and had a lovely lunch with Michael and another cousin, Seamus.

Tonight we stayed with our Dublin cousins, enjoyed a lovely curry dinner and talked past midnight of the lives of our parents. Mary, wife of Seamus, Michael and myself are all from the McShane clan of Donegal. Tomorrow Michael and I will head off to Donegal by car.

I enclose my first few fotos.
Myself by the Irish sea in Dublin
Myself with cousins Michael and Mary

On Vacation in New York

2010-09-20T05:05:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,
I was dismayed how one must walk in airports from one flight to another. I was rather exhausted when I finally arrived. My vacation has begun. I am in New York and it is wonderful to have computer access as it is impossible to leave it all behind. I know their are hurricaines brewing and stirring in the Atlantic and Pacific and it is good to be able to follow the happenings through the internett and Guatemalan papers and know friends are safe.

Yesterday I went to a parish picnic, here in Rochester NY with my sister's family, which was fun. Interestingly for me, her parish is named for the patron saint, ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE, the same as our parish in Guatemala. I was able to sell a few crafts for support of the Clinica Maxena en Guatemala and I am happy that my family has an interest in my mission vocation.

Tomorrow I leave for Ireland and I will be met by one of my cousins at the Dublin airport; we will travel together the first week as are off to Donegal, Ireland, the birthplace of my dad and his mom. I will also go to County Cork where my mom was born. I hope to have yas travel along with me and I will write and send some pictures.

Blessings, Sheila
Attatched Photo at St Thomas Apostle Parish in Rochester NY with my Niece Judy helping to sell Guatemala Crafts for Clinic.
Beautiful Rainbow from GOD at Niagra Falls.

Donations can be sent to www.diocesehelena.org note it is for the Clinica Maxena

A few days and I am off on VACATION

2010-09-09T04:25:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family!
This Saturday I will leave for Guatemala city with the Ophthamologists. Times on the road are still very difficult due to continued rains and landslides, bridges out. I will stay in city for rest, errands and to visit a few friends before I leave on vacation on TUESDAY; I am off to New York and to Ireland. I am excited and happy to travel. I have all my first cousins in the EMERALD ISLE so it will be fun. I also will visit with Irish and English former missionaries and visit also CSJP in Rearsby, England. I am an associate of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace, CSJP, and prior there was an English Province; now we are one Congregation. On return I will go to New Jersey and to the CSJP assembly in October. Visit our CSJP web site to know a little of that part of my life and committment. I am bringing some Guatemalan crafts to sell at the assembly and I hope also to visit the Irish Catholic Relief to look for support for our clinic.

Emergencies and surgeries for the POOR are an necessary expense for the clinic. We all have the same human rights and dignity as human beings. As an American I have always enjoyed excellent health care. It is impossible at times to send a child to the government hospital, when it is a matter of life and death. Yesterday, a two month old infant, who has been to consult here with a hernia, arrived with the hernia strangulated. We had anticipated that this infant would have surgery at the Minnesota mission in their surgeries by volunteer american surgeons in October. Now it was an emergency. We knew it was high risk to send this baby to the national hospital; the availability of Pediatric anesthesiologist is rare. His surgery is less than one thousand dollars. The surgery was performed last night in a private hospital. His dad is an unemployed construction worker. The mission has much work in maintenance that is pending so the clinic contracted the father to work in the clinic maintenance and he will pay this debt gradually by work. Last week we also paid the surgery of an 80 year old woman who needed urgently the intervention of a urologist. We have also asked the son to do garden work at the mission to pay some of this debt to the clinic. Last nite a family arrived at my door. Their 13 year old son fell carrying fire wood. He is in the government hospital with a fractured thigh and the family has to pay for the orthopedic pin and a special powder needed for healing of the bone. Again the cost is over one thousand dollars and this is in the government hospital where one expects the care to be free for the POOR, but not reality. Our Doctor Ever works tonite at the government hospital and he will investigate this need and see how we can help this poor family with this health crisis.

We are grateful to friends who make occassional contributions to help our budget. Many of the eye surgeries are done without cost. Others do pay less than one hundred dollars for Cataract surgery, so there is a little extra income to the clinic this week. Most of all thank you for your prayers and accompaniement to the Mayan people of Guatemala. We are all GOD´s CHILDREN!!!

Enclosed photo of Manuela, 80 year old patient with her daughter, at clinic for check up. Also a photo of infant Diego, post op emergency hernia operation, being examined by Ever, our clinic doctor as his mom looks on.

You can donate to help our patients of the Clinica Maxeña at web page
www.helenadiocese.org Note it is for the Clinic

Thank You! and blessings from GUATEMALA.

Ophthamologists from CALIFORNIA arrive!

2010-09-08T06:29:00.000-07:00

Friends and family,
Determination and committment to share their expertise with the Mayan population of Guatemala, brought a team of knowledgeable opthamologists to the Clinica Maxeña this week. This is the 15th year for the Eye Brigade to come and perform cataract and terigium surgeries; they come faithfully two times a year.

This year was a great challenge. The Ministry of Health is making it extremely difficult for volunteer doctors to enter medicines and surgical equipment, through customs, for these types of medical campaigns for the POOR! It appears related to the loss of finances through taxes that could be charged. Although the clinic filled all the necessary paper work as instructed, permission was not granted. However, thanks to faith and committment, this did not deter this Medical Team. They put all needed for the surgeries in their regular baggage and passed through customs as tourists.

The wheather is also a huge obstacle. Instead of a three hour journey from the city to the Mission, it took six hours. They had to wait in a line of cars for three hours to pass through a two mile dirt road detour because of a collapse of a bridge. Rains continue to cause landslides, floods and major highway damage.

The patients also were not deterred by the wheather obstacles. They are arriving in bus, car and on foot. Surgeries began Monday and will continue through friday.

Pray for a safe return of the Doctors and their medical assistants who have made this journey to provide this excellent service in the Clinica Maxeña.

Thanks also to Dr Joe Kuptco, Ophthamologist of Hamilton Montana, who made possible the construction of the Optamological operating room in the Clinica Maxeña, many years ago.

Love Sheila

Please send donations to: www.diocesehelena.org to assist us in care of patients in the Clinica Maxeña. Note that it is for the CLINIC.

Thank You and Blessings!

I attach three Photos!
Miguel gives instructions to the process of pre examination to the patients awaiting to be examined for possible surgery.

Dr Robert, assisted by his nurse wife, Nancy, perform cataract surgery in the operating room of the Clinica Maxeña.

An elderly cataract patient in one of dormitory beds in Mission.

Rains cause Chaos and Deaths, affect Clnic

2010-09-05T09:00:00.001-07:00

Friends and family,
This past week or so has been very difficult as the rains continue to pour out of the heavens and saturate the earth beneath our feet. Yesterday was brought saddness in the country as two major landslides took many lives as the dirt came down unexpectedly on a bus and also in another area many are missing still under the landslide; some were walking, some in cars. Pray for these families. These two incidents have closed one of major hiways from city, except for emergency vehicles.

Here in the mission our electrical system was hit by lightning. It took four days to get all wires changed and circuit boxes fixed, but just in time for arrival today of Opthamologists from US, who will perform surgeries in the CLINIC. We are blessed to have Martin, head of maintenance in the Clinic, as he performed a complex job as a professional. All his knowledge, in plumbing,construction and electricity, he has learned from visitors to our mission. We are especially grateful to Monty Giles, who had put in the present wiring at the Mission. We did a telephone conference for advice to Monty when Martin could not figure out why some circuit breakers still did not have correct voltage. THANK YOU MONTY!!

News informs that to the wheather in Guatemala, "the worst is yet to come", and in the month of September and October. Pray for the POOR whose homes are not made to withstand this rain and many have already lost many personal belongings and family members because of floods and landslides.

You can support our work at the Clinic by sending your donation to:
www.helenadiocese.org
THANK YOU AND BLESSINGS!!!

Sheila

I include a picture of Martin, working into the night, to solve the electrical problems at the Mission of the diocese of Helena,Montana, in Guatemala"

Maria leaves as in patient at Clinica Maxeña

2010-08-28T06:14:00.000-07:00

Friends and family,
Yesterday, we sent Maria, our 15 yr old patient with AIDS, to a home in her same community. She will be cared for by the president of Pastoral Social of our Parish, a single woman who lives with her aging parents.
Pastoral Social of our parish also will look for a solution for housing for this family and construct a simple home in another area than their present, unsafe, inadequate dwelling. Maria was smiling and content when she left the mission. She is excited with her ability to embroider and she quickly does the small projects we have provided. It is incredible how she mastered this art having never before embroidered. We hope to find her and instructor as we feel she could earn some income for herself through embroidery. Her mother and sister and other cousins are from the same community, but a short distance away. She will have frequent contact with them. She will return to the Clinic to be taken to her medical appointent and the AIDS CLINIC. She continues to receive psychological support from the Mayan Psychologist, Angel, who frequently assists us in these cases. The clinic will supply basic foods for the family caring for her. Thank you for helping us care for MARIA and other patients afflicted with AIDS. The state of Suchitepequez, where the clinic is located, is third in 22 states for incidence of AIDS.

The Catholic Church is very involved in accompaniement with compassion for persons living with AIDS. Two of our auxiliar nurses, Maria and Mari Elena, receive classes on AIDS monthly,
for a year and will be given a certificate from the University providing these courses, through Pastoral of Health of the Catholic Church. Lyncho, our Laboratory technician, represents the Pastoral health of the Diocese in a red of Institutions working to accompany and and find solutions and report statistics and problems for care and medicine from the Ministry of Health, for persons living with AIDS.

Yesterday, a woman from our parish, was transferred to Guatemala City Hospital, suffering complications of AIDS, while pregnant. Her husband recently returned from the US with this disease and passed it on to his wife; he then went back to the US. The babe died in utero before she could safely give birth by Caesarean. We will follow up with her care for AIDS when she returns home.

Health Care in this country is inadequate for the POOR and they do turn to the church for accompaniement. Thank YOU for walking and caring with us for these needs. You can donate on line to HELP US!!
Donate at www.helenadiocese.org Mention that it is for the CLINICA MAXEÑA.

Attatched are a photo of Maria, her mom, and younger sister, talking with the psychologist, ANGEL before she was discharged from the clinic in patient ward.

Also a photo of our laboratory Technician, Lyncho, our representative for AIDS. Lynch worked 25 years in the Hospital Laboratory and we feel blessed to have his committment and knowledge in the Clinica Maxeña. This photo shows the new microscope and microcentrifuge donated to the Clinica Maxeña Lab by a grant from the Diocese of Helena.

Learning from Others, and Sharing our Knowledge

2010-08-18T06:27:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

Days slip by. The seasons here are at a different time of Year. This is the Rainy season, considered our winter. Rains have been heavy and travel very difficult. Life goes on and here in the Clinica Maxeña workers travel mostly by bus to different workshop to learn new ideas and share information. Our Medicinal Plant Clinic hosts groups from other clinics and communities to share their experience. The Medicinal Garden and Clinic, project of the Clinica Maxeña was founded over 15 years ago, and has over 100 Medicinal Plants and twenty Nutritive Plants.

Yesterday four from Clinic shared in our General Meeting their knowledge from A THREE DAY WORKSHOP entitled FIELD WORKER TO FIELD WORKER. It was in the fields of a very knowlegeable FARMER and the topic was Sustainable AGRICULTURE. The reality that most of the mountain people do have small plots of unused land, even if minimal. Food crops, to feed their families, must happen to fight the HUNGER that exists in Guatemala! This farm worker proudly shared his knowledge of the importance of organic crops, and animals and how one not only has for his family, but to exchange or sell in the market. His children work in the fields when they are not in school.

These Clinic Workers have proposed starting an Association for CLINIC WORKERS for Sustainable Agriculture. Several workers signed up for chickens, rabbits, or food crops. the Clinic will facilitate some finances for this Association as most our workers are on minimal wage and the Clinic cannot raise salaries as we wish possible.
These four workers will go to two more three day workshops to continue to learn new ideas to share with their fellow companions.

Enclosed is a photo in our Medicinal Plant garden and Juan sharing his expertise with visitors from another community and parish.
Also a photo taken in Clinic meeting with Miguel, Manuel, Sebastian and Miguel, sharing their enthusiasm and knowledge on sustainable agriculture.

You can donate to help us serve the Poor in the Clinica Maxeña at:
www.helenadiocese.org

Thank You for Prayers and Support!

MARIA´S LIFE WILL NOT BE EASY!

2010-08-13T17:24:00.000-07:00

FRIENDS and FAMILY!
An update on Maria, our 15 year old gal Living with AIDS but positively. She smiles more frequently, responds to questions, her weight is increasing, she embroiders, colors, and watches Disney DVD´s. This weekend I will not be in the Mission so we decided to send her home with her mom. She has been a month as an in patient. She will return Sunday to the Clinic so to go to her appointment with the AIDs Clinic on Monday and we hope will start antiviral medication.

I went with Maria and her mom to their home this afternoon. I wanted to see what her home environment was so we could look to the future. I was sad as we walked through coffee and banana bushes to a small isolated shack. Her two little sisters ran up to greet Maria and their mom. In the home there is only one bed, made with boards, in a dark environment with no ventilation. There is no electricity, a dirt floor, open fire on the ground for cooking, no shelves with food. There exists no man of the house. I understood how Maria and her younger sister were raped, by an unidentified man, when home alone. MARIA and her mother remain silent on any details of the crime; they are afraid to say.

I brought food for the two days she will be home, THANK GOD; milk, beans, corn, protein supplement, sugar and a little cash. Chico will return to pick them up on Sunday to return Maria and her Mom to the clinic. We are looking for a family to care for Maria, in a nearby village, when she has better health. This will allow the Mom to work in the coffee harvest, which she has expressed interest and also allow Maria a more healthy environment to continue to heal. There are family members and neighbors who care for her other children while the mom is with Maria.

Thank You for walking with us in our Mission of Care for the most Needy. I don´t think I am as aware as need be to the extreme poverty and injustice that these people live with daily.
Thank You for your PRAYERS and financial assistance for our work in the Clinica Maxeña!

You can donate on line at: www.helenadiocese.org NOTE that donation is for CLinica Maxeña

I include three photos.
Maria and her Mom in the door of the clinic.
Maria´s mom inside the home
Maria, Mom and her sisters and other children near their home

An adopted Child

2010-08-10T13:10:00.001-07:00

Friends,

Yesterday, Micaela and Francisco, in charge of our Program for malnourished infants and small children, made some home visits in a nearby mountain community.

Juan Otoniel is 3 months of age. He is an adopted child from a distant family member; the mother had rejected him at birth. His adopted mother Antonia, 30 years of age with three small children of her own, chose to adopt him when she heard the mother did not want the baby. Antonia and her young husband are extremely poor. They rent the small mud brick home from a neighbor for 30 Quetzales a month, equivalent to four dollars. They have no personal land and Max, her husband, works in the fields for four dollars a day, when he can find work. Their kitchen is of dirt floor and Antonia cooks over an open fire on the floor. When the baby was one month Antonia came to the clinic for assistance, as she has no breast milk. The infant was admitted to our nutrition program and receives formula and health care. Today when Micaela and Francisco made the home visit Antonia told them the baby developed jaundice or yellow pigment and very dark urine the last few days. This is a serious health symptom and she promised to bring the baby to consult at the clinic tomorrow.
When Micaela asked the mom why did she have the infant dressed as if a baby girl with the typical skirt; she smiled and said, I have no clothes for the baby so I cut off a piece of my skirt to wrap around the baby.

After this home visit the decision to give this family a donated ONIL stove was made. We will deliver and install the stove as soon as possible. This saves fire wood and eliminates smoke in the home.

Enclosed a picture of Antonia outside her home with the baby and also an older daughter, Manuela. The other photo is in her kitchen with her infant son, Juan Otoniel, near her cooking area over open fire on the ground.

THANK YOU to all who have donated $100. and make it possible to donate an ONIL STOVE to a poor family!

Donations can be sent to Clinica Maxeña STOVE PROJECT:
www.diocesehelena.org

blessings Sheila

ASECSA: Organization of Promoters of Health

2010-08-06T14:07:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,

Today I am reminded of the reality how we all need one another and how working together can change the world. In 1978,the Clinica Maxeña was one of five founding members of ASECSA. ASECSA stands for Association of Community Health Services. Today there are over 60 Health organizational members, representing Health Programs from all 22 states of Guatemala. ASECSA provides workshops in Nutrition, Medicinal Plants, agriculture, basic medications, midwife training and a variety of other topics. Two clinic employees, Francisco and Micaela, represent the Clinica Maxeña in bi-annual Assemblies of ASECSA.

This weekend four of our workers are going to a three day work shop presented by ASECSA. The title is "CAMPESINO A CAMPESINO", which translated is field worker to field worker. More than 95% of our workers are Mayan Indigenous and live in town or the surrounding villages. All buy their vegetables on market day. It is notable that the vegetables are no longer organic but are genetically altered, and are produced using chemical fertilizers. Coffee is a main crop here and a cooperative that was initiated over forty years ago by our Mission continues to produce organically grown coffee beans. Our Medicinal and Nutritive garden also is completely organic. These workshops bring field workers together from many parts of the country to share knowledge and learn new ideas how to survive in a global network and to produce only organic food. They are presented by competent professionals who understand the Mayan culture, the needs of the people, and globalization. One topic to be presented will be how to effectively market their produce. When these workers return to the clinic they will share in a general meeting the ideas learned. Many workers are interested in having a small garden at home, or to produce chickens or pigs as an extra income or for consumption.

Photos include: one of three of the workers going to the Workshop, Miguel G. Juan and Miguel A. and Micaela, one of our ASECSA representatives. The second photo is a poster of one of the Manifestations supported by members of ASECSA.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND PRAYERS!

SHEILA

Maria makes small improvements living with AIDS

2010-07-29T17:10:00.001-07:00

Friends,
just recently I shared the sad reality of 15year old Maria, who is a victim of sexual abuse and now AIDS. We have made two visits to the AIDS clinic with Maria, two hours from our mission clinic. Clinic workers presently are accompanying several patients with the diagnosis of AIDS, from the area we serve. The Catholic Church has campaigned ardently for accompaniement with compassion for persons infected with HIV. Our Parish Clinic has one worker, who represents Pastoral Health for the diocese, for the National Association for AIDS for this region of the country.

Maria has made small but significant changes since she began treatment. She has less nausea and diarrhea and is beginning to eat and drink more fluids. She is more talkative and occassional smiles are a welcome sight. People from our church are coming to pray with and for her at request of her mom. We bought her new more comfortable clothes and coloring books. Fr Hazy donated a big furry dog that he had received as a gift. A Mayan Psychologist has come twice to be with her. Maria, one of our auxiliar nurses spends as much time with her as possible and warm baths are a great comfort to her. Please continue to pray for Maria´s return to health.

THANK YOU!!!!

Enclosed is a more recent Photo of Maria, with Maria, auxiliar nurse of the Clinica Maxeña.

DIABETES is a Health Issue here and worldwide!

2010-07-29T14:09:00.000-07:00

Friends and Family,
Each month our Clinic sponsors Diabetic Club. Today thirty five Mayan men and women came to learn more how to live with their DIABETES. The guest presenter was again the Nutrionist of Pastoral Health of our Diocese here. Diet plays a major role in the control of Diabetes. The common diet for their ancestors was very basic, BEANS, RICE, EGGS, HERBS, and LOTS of Corn Tortilla. Globalization has brought to this society, pop, potato chips, fried chicken, french fries,ice cream and many other snacks. These diet changes have complicated their lives; there is more obesity. Ten years ago everyone walked, sometime miles to another community; few cars were available. Today in our community there are more than one hundred small taxis. Daily these taxis come up the hill to the clinic from the town center, just three blocks away; some workers even use this convenience and cost is equvalent to thirty cents. Exercise and Diet are two important rules to control for the diabetic. Today, Caroline, the Nutritionist, repeated in many interesting ways these rules. Repetition is vital for these people to learn and accept changes in their lives.

At the end of the day an ONIL STOVE was gifted to one of the six Diabetics with perfect attendance for these classes this year; the winner was chosen by a drawing.

Each Club Meeting a different snack is give to the diabetics and often they participate in the preparation. Our Kitchen has two ONIL stoves that we use daily and the promotion and gifting of these stoves is the main environmental project in the Clinic. Thank You to all those who have gifted a stove to a needy family for one
hundred dollars. Remember you can now donate on line at: www.diocesehelena.org

Blessings and have a good day.

Attatched are: A picture of Miguel, from Medicinal Plant Clinic, with the plant of Three Point, "Tres PUNTOS", which is an excellent medicinal plant to lower blood sugar. A picture of Carolina, the Nutritionist, discussing Soy flour, and the other picture is Manuela, diabetic and the winner of the Onil stove with our worker, Micaela, in the clinic kitchen.

Cloudy Skies in the Forecast

2010-07-21T04:13:00.000-07:00

Friends and family,
Greetings of Love from Guatemala. I was hoping I could report blue skies and sun but we are still hearing the drizzle of rain at night and soggy earth about us. I think it does affect one´s spirit even though I lived many years in Seattle and should be used to overcast. The news yesterday informed us that rains would be present until November and storms and hurricaines are brewing in the atmsophere. This will affect greatly the roads, crops and prices of food.

Yesterday was Nutrition Class for mothers with malnourished babies at the Clinica Maxeña. All the chairs were occupied by mothers with their infants and other small children under five. Micaela presented the class and taught a new recipe to the women and a short video was presented. The main ingredient in the nutritive snack was Chipilin, from our medicinal, nutritive garden. Chipilin is a tropical, leafy, green plant that is high in iron, calcium and beta carotene. This plant gives flavor and color to corn maze and used locally in tamales. Today it was combined with rice, and spices. After the class, the babies are brought to the clinic for consult and examined by Doctor Ever. The children all appear more healthy, smiling and gaining weight. Milk supplement is not a part of their normal diet but reality is the mothers all suffer a scarcity of breast milk because of their own nutrtive status and it is a necesity to recovery of malnutrition. Formula is expensive here, 20. dollars for 2.5 pounds. We limit the mothers to two cans per child per month, except in severe malnutrition. Powder Milk, Nido, is provided to older infants and children and also a local protein supplement, Incaparina. Soy is also promoted and grown in the clinic Garden. The women have learned how to make milk from this plant in this class, but time and patience is required. Chico, in charge of clinic projects, recently did some home visits with Micaela. These visits are essential to help us to understand the home situation and verify the poverty of the families. We hope to provide small gardens for the mothers in their own environment as a longer term solution. At the end of the class an ONIL stove was raffled to the mothers in attendance, and the mother who had the winning number was very happy with her gift.

Thank You for your donation to our clinic which enables us to provide milk and medical care to these mothers and infants. We do plan to provide more ONIL STOVES to the mothers in this class. 100. dollars provides a free stove to a needy family.

You can donate on line to the CLINICA MAXEÑA!! at www.diocesehelena.org

Photos included are: Micaela with Chipilin in the clinic kitchen, Myself with the mom who was gifted an ONIL STOVE and a view of a village road, damaged from the storms.
Blessings! love sheila

When Life seems UNFAIR

2010-07-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

Friends and family,
It has been awhile since I have sat to write a bit on my blog. Life has been very busy. The rains come and go and the greatest damage is to the roads, which daily have more bridges out and roads impassable. One learns to adjust to the inconvenience and we remain optimistic that better wheather is ahead.

We have a new young patient in our in patient ward. Maria is 15 years old and has only fourth grade primary education. Her life has been very difficult. She was kidnapped when she was seven years old, apparently in the time when children were being stolen and sold; she was recovered in fifteen days. Details are sketchy. Over two years ago she was sexually abused by a family member. Very sadly she is now HIV positive and with AIDS and Papilomas. This was discovered by our clinic doctor when she was referred here by the catechist of the community. Apparently she was in treatment for sexual disease with a different clinic; she was never checked for AIDS until now. Once we had made the diagnosis, we took her immediately to the AIDS clinic and she started antiviral medication. She will remain in the clinic because of her AIDS symptoms and the malnourishment as long as needed. We also will remain responsible that she takes her antiviral medications. We ask for your prayers and support for this very special young person.

The clinic is very busy with increase in patients coming in with respiratory and gastrointestinal disease; this increase is a result of Storm Agatha and the destruction of water systems. Our Nutrition Project continues to grow, serving more children each month. We are very grateful to all who responded to our plea for support for patients and others who suffered with the storms. This has allowed us to purchase more medication and milk and protein products.

Health care in Government Hospitals has improved, as the present government removed all costs to patients for some exams and medicines; care is completely free. The problem is that the budget did not allow for increase of patients and the reality is the Hospitals lost some revenue they did receive from patients. The management and Doctors are demanding more workers and equipment and medicine for the needs of the patients. Monday the Roosevelt Hospital, the largest Hospital in the country, will go on strike. Other National Hospitals have threatened to do likewise if their demands are not met. This will cause a crisis for the poor and sick, especially with the already increase of disease from the storm and the epidemic of Dengue in the country.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!and PRAYERS!!

REMEMBER YOU CAN DONATE ON LINE TO THE CLINICA MAXEÑA AT: www.diocesehelena.org

World day of ENVIRONMENT

2010-06-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

Good Evening Friends and family from Guatemala,

As I write this blog, the rain is still drizzling after a heavy rainfall. Overall the situation, following Storm Agatha, has improved. Emergency repairs to roads and highways have been achieved and also temporary bridges are in place and landslides cleared. Many people are still in shelters but food and medicine are being distributed. Unfortunately water systems continue to be a major obstacle for the majority of communities where the Mission Of the Diocese of Helena is located. We are beginning to do an evaluation of this situation, as lack of water affects greatly the health situation for the people we serve. Our parish Clinic, LA MAXEÑA, is very busy, especially our laboratory and medical consult.

Today we closed shop in the Clinic, for the afternoon, to celebrate World day of Environment. The actual day was June 5th, which was the height of the crisis of AGATHA! With our usual Music and Prayer, we opened our Pastoral Health Meeting. A banner hangs across the front of our Parish kitchen and Meeting Room. It´s message reads: "For a Peaceful Life sharing with NATURE". The theme of this year´s International Day of the Environment is: MANY SPECIES, ONE PLANET, ONE FUTURE! It is an URGENT PLEA to conserve the diversity of the LIFE on our PLANET! Millons of persons and millons of species share the same planet and only together can we enjoy a more safe and prosperous future. Together, we as the personell of the CLINICA MAXEÑA, carefully considered the actions we must take to preserve all the species living on our earth. We discussed the forests and disappearance of trees, our over use of carbon, our inadequate garbage disposals, plastic bags, unnecessary use of electricity, unsafe water supply, and much more. A video made real the effects of plastic bags and the garbage dumps on roadsides, in communities and near rivers.

Our ONIL STOVE PROJECT was discussed in detail and a committment was made to promote and make reality this project. We are very grateful for friends who have contributed one hundred dollars to provide an ONIL STOVE for a poor family. Thousands of families want this possibility, and one by one, we hope to make this REALITY!! This stove is envionmental friendly; little fire wood is necessary. It helps prevent illness, burns, eye and respiratory disease and of course it is very economical for the POOR! THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATION!!

You can donate on line to the CLINICA MAXEÑA AND TO THE STOVE PROJECT AT:
www.diocesehelena.org

BLESSINGS AND THANKS TO ALL!

Love SHEILA

Meeting, Reflecting, Celebrating

2010-06-17T15:11:00.000-07:00

Friends,
We go from sun, to grey clouds, then rain again. The earth is becoming saturated in many parts of the country. This morning a bridge partially collapsed on the highway that takes us to the city. The highway closed and this brings stress, financial losses, and more complications for Guatemala. It is time to stay home and travel only for necessity.

Yesterday we had our monthly general meeting with Clinic Workers. A visiting professional gave a short workshop on motivation in one´s life. These conferences are of great value for the workers as these opportunities are not as frequent as should be. Also we had a short recognition and celebration for Father´s Day. The clinic gifted cups and a hankerchief to each dad, and all enjoyed delicious tostadas and music. The meeting time was short but we come together again next week in our Pastoral Health Meeting to talk and plan actions for the environment.

Pastoral Health is the focus of who we are as a Clinic. This meeting is a very important gathering as the environment is one of our main focuses in preventive Medicine for the Clinica Maxeña! World environment day was celebrated June 5th. The Clinica Maxeña, because of the emergency in the country, will celebrate on June 26 at our meeting. The ONIL STOVE PROJECT will be our focus. We are very grateful for the generous response that allows us to put many stoves in homes of the most poor. These stoves, save firewood, prevent lung and eye disease with a chimney, and save cooking time for moms, so more time with the children.

The child Cristobal, that I wrote in my last blog, is recovering and home again. The infant son of our worker Martin, had an emergency when he caught his little fingers in the spoke of a bicycle, and had to have two fingers partially amputated. I just sent a complicated pregnant patient to a specialist to Xela, the second largest city in Guatemala. She has a blood dyscrasia and has to deliver in a hospital where blood products are readily available. Unfortunately her fetus was in distress when she departed for the hospital. We are grateful the town now does have ambulance service and they are very accomodating to the Clinica Maxeña. Catarina is one of my god children so I do also ask for prayers for a safe delivery for her and the baby. Daily we are called to serve and accompany many patients with emergencies, acute and chronic illnesses, and desnutrition in children. We are blessed to have many dedicated, competent workers and the generosity of MANY! THANK YOU!!

Thank You for your interest, prayers and financial support.
You can now donate on line at: www.diocesehelena.org

BLESSINGS! SHEILA

Picture of workers after workshop on MOTIVATION.
An older child with malnutrition and anemia.

PRAYERS FOR PEACE! and CHOOSING LIFE!!

2010-06-13T15:21:00.000-07:00

Friends,
Times in Guatemala have not been good. Lately, daily the paper is full of brutal violence, organized crime, narco trafficing, extorsions and assasinations. I just heard a young gang member was assasinated in our own quiet town, a few hours ago. Apparently he had returned here about two weeks ago and he was gunned down on his motor cycle, near his home. Here there is silence with such happenings. We have not been traveling to the city at all for the last few weeks. We are still picking up from the Storm Agatha and recovering from epidemics of Dengue and Typhoid. The CHURCH continues to offer prayer,supportive caring and criticism to government officials and other leaders, for the chaos that swirls around constantly in this society. When natural Disasters strike the POOR are always the victims.

God´s presence in our lives and world shines through these difficult moments and times. This past weekend I had to choose LIFE for a 13 year old child who was critically ill. He had just been discharged from the National Hospital, after 6 days of hospitalization. He arrived this morning at the clinic with high fever, dehydration and pain. His body was limp. I inquired with the doctor who had cared for him in the hospital. His diagnosis was severe Pancreatitis and the parents listened to their child that he did not want to stay any longer in the hospital. Because he was older than 12 yrs, Cristobal is not considered a child; he was a patient in the men´s ward. His parents could only visit for an hour daily and for the child, this was not sufficient. They took him home less than 24 hours ago before he presented at the reception desk of the CLINICA MAXEÑA! Our doctor examined him, ordered more laboratory tests, and prescribed medications, then he left for his turn at the National Hospital and for the weekend to REST!. As the child´s condition worsened that night, I called the specialist for suggestions. He told me briefly the child´s history and that he feared an abcess could be forming. He would need another Ultra Sound. I could not let him die, so with a LEAP of Faith and Trust, I called the local ambulance and sent him to the private hospital, where the specialist was waiting. It was still the weekend. His condition improved somewhat, but we now know on Monday, that he is also suffering from Hemorrhagic Dengue; his platelets are dangerously low at 30! He is being treated with steroids and continued antibiotics for the inflammation of his pancreas. His Dengue test was negative on admittance to the clinic but this is not unusual to not show on the laboratory test the first days of infection. His father was very conscious to the reality that this was an expensive decision for the Clinica Maxeña. He promised to look for funds from his family and friends. Can YOU help CRISTOBAL with this fight for LIFE!!

send your donation to
Guatemala Mission
PO Box 1729
Helena, MT
59601 or donate on LINE: at www.diocesehelena.org
NOTE FOR CRISTOBAL OR THE CLINICA MAXEÑA

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS!!
love SHEILA

I include a picture taken today of Cristobal in the private hospital with his MOM!

His father has been able to collect 300. dollars from families and friends to help with the continual need for diagnostic tests to monitor the disease. I must reach out also for this emergency. Cristobal will for sure be hospitalized more days before I can bring him to the clinic where he can be cared for until recovery.

PRAY FOR PEACE AND CESSATION OF THE VIOLENCE IN GUATEMALA!!!

BRINGING MARIA HOME!

2010-06-12T13:49:00.000-07:00

Friends,

Today was a happy day for Maria, our 85 year old patient; she went home to her own home and as my mom would say, to her own tea kettle! she spent four months in our small patient space. She insisted she would be ok alone and for sure she has many good friends and neighbors to help out and bring her some meals. Her home is very humble, dirt floor, cracks in the ceiling and the light shining through the beams, leaky roof.

Sr. Anna stayed behind to help her settle in and lit her fire to heat her some water. We donated her a small wooden bed, walker, commode, and chair. She wears daily her bright green croc shoes, donated by Carroll campus ministry; Maria did not wear shoes previously and her deformed foot surely contributed to her fall. We will check in on her frequently.

Agrapina, the nurses aide that we hired to care for her, also leaves today. Clinic workers said farewell yesterday to her; the band serenaded her and we all paused to enjoy a sandwich, and hot pineapple drink. She has obtained a job in the city as a caregiver to a child and will come home every two weeks to visit her family. She has been a delightful companion for Maria, and also fellow worker. Blessings to her and to those who contribute to the Clinica Maxeña so we can accompany patients, like Maria, to they are well and healthy again.

Included are a photo of Agrapina and Maria; her home; and some of the children who greeted her on arrival.

Love, Sheila

Time to Celebrate and give THANKS!

2010-06-05T11:06:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon Friends,

Today is the feast of Corpus Christi. The sun is shining and we all give thanks for the help that is coming in for victims of Storm Agatha. There is much reconstruction and grieving of families who lost loved ones. Monday the Catholic Churches will toll their bells at 11am to remember the victims. Pastoral Health of the diocese is collecting medicines for children and basic food needs in all Churches of the Diocese and in the Clinica Maxeña. It will be distributed by the Diocesean Pastoral Health to the communities on the coast who suffered the most.

In the clinic, we paused with music of our band and a birthday cake for Ever, Physician of the Clinica Maxeña. A time of song to give THANKS and appreciate one another. These weeks have been busy and all worked together to serve many patients. We don´t have answers for the suffering but we know GOD is near. HE gives us strength and encouragement to accompany those who suffer from catastrophes of the earth and from illnesses. Thanks also our FRIENDS who respond to these needs with us.

As I write this note, the earth tremors, a common happening here. Is GOD talking to us, gently shaking us, sending a message.

love,

Sheila from GUATEMALA

You can donate on line at

http://www.diocesehelena.org/ to help our accompaniement of victims of AGATHA by the

CLINICA MAXEÑA

Photo of Ever with his CAKE and the Band providing joy to the gathering!

Storm Agatha leaves destruction in its path!

2010-06-03T08:16:00.001-07:00

Friends

Guatemala in the news again! The destruction left behind from Agatha has been great. The area are mission serves was spared loss of homes and deaths. Crops and water systems were devastated however, and this will bring increased malnutrition and disease from the contaminated water. Our clinic must prepare in advance for this human need. Most of the water of this area and the entire lower coast initiates in Volcano PECUL and nearby mountains.

Three major rivers originate there, River Ixtacapa, River Nahualate, and River Maza, and from here comes the springs of fresh water that flow into cement resevoir tanks. Piping is always inadequate, plastic and narrow, hanging across ravines. Most people have only one source of water in their home and often share this with a neighbor; others have none. WATER is precious here as it is in all underdeveloped nations; at home it is a commodity taken for granite and often wasted.

These rivers mentioned are the ones that caused flooding, major destruction and some deaths farther down the coast. Many of the communities affected are part of our Diocese here so we will join hands this weekend to collect food for these parish communities and neighbors with Pastoral Health. Aid, national and international, is needed to assist those suffering hunger and lack of shelter. The clinic will also donate some medication for children with infections in the areas more severely affected.

Donations to allow the Clinica Maxeña be more present to those in need can be sent to:
Guatemala Mission
Diocese of Helena
P.O. Box 1729
Helena, MT
59624 Note for the Clinica Maxeña

You can also donate on line: http://www.diocesehelena.org/

Thank You for your concern!

Storm Agatha strikes with FURY

2010-05-29T19:47:00.000-07:00

Sunday evening May 29, 2010

Friends,

Friday our doctor, EVER, commented that he felt relief that the threat of Dengue and Typhoid was passing. This afternoon, however, the rain became intense and constant. We have had rains for over 36 hours and rivers in our areas are overflowing and people are evacuating. Both the states our mission serves, Suchitepequez and Solola, have been declared disaster areas. The torment, named AGATHA, has hit us with fury. It is the weekend so we know that MONDAY our clinic will again overflow with patients. For now we are keeping alert to the news by radio and television and staying in the Mission. We are fortunate for now that our electricity an internett are functioning. Also we are blessed to have a generator that will provide electricity if need arises.

It is already history that a few days ago Volcano Pacaya erupted ferociously, spilling ash in Guatemala City and closing the international airport. The torment is a more serious disaster and we pray it will pass without great loss of life and property in Guatemala.

PEACE FROM GUATEMALA!

TYPHOID FEVER AND DENGUE TEST OUR RESOURCES!

2010-05-24T18:46:00.000-07:00

Friends and family,

Today was one of the busiest days in the clinic imaginable; I never even sat at my desk. One has to slow to take care of one´s own workers first. Each day a few more workers have fallen ill with either Dengue or Typhoid. Our own doctor, Ever, had a light case of dengue a few weeks ago and recovered quickly. Other workers have not been as fortunate. At present we have three workers who have both dengue and typhoid. One of them is Celia, our auxiliar nurse for 18 years, who usually helps triage and treat simple diseases. Today she was the patient receiving IV fluids, fever, pain and antibiotic medications. We have four other workers with one or the other disease. Our three laboratory workers were overwhelmed and we gladly provided them with lunch on the job and a secretary to help record results. One of our worker´s 13 year old son has hemorrahgic Dengue, one of dreaded complications, when the platelets drop ,and one can have serous complications from hemorrhage. There are only a few hospitals in the country who have the capability to provide platelets. Fortunately, a pediatrician specialist will see this child tomorrow and follow his case closely. Metchas, our dear cook, also has both dengue and typhoid. She is recovering at home but is on bedrest and medication. Please PRAY for our patients.

The Ministry of Health Clinic called a meeting in town because of the apparent epidemic of Dengue. Representatives from different neighborhoods came together; the clinic sent a representative. Plans were made to clean up the town of garbage and plastic containers, and eliminating puddles of water, which are sources of the dengue mosquito. A followup meeting will take place Wednesday. It is hope the Ministry of Health will then spray to eliminate the mosquito.

Our doctor works through the night, doing a turn, in the National Government Hospital, so he will see less patients tomorrow. Lights are scheduled to be off for 12 hours for repair so we will rely on our generator, which is very fortunate for our clinic. Wednesday there is a protest scheduled around the country for the increase in electricity so the highways will be blocked by the protesters for several hours. A DAY to stay home.

Good news was an email responding to mine from our Mission director. He assured me we could purchase a new microscope from some grant money that is still available. This will replace one of the donated microscopes of many years use!

In these emergencies, as a Parish Clinic, we respond to each patient who comes to the clinic. We are confident that friends will help us carry the burden of their medications and laboratory tests, when they cannot.

PLEASE SEND A DONATION TO:
Guatemala Mission
Diocese of Helena
PO Box 1729
Helena, Montana
59624

Don´t forget to note that it is for the Nurses fund or the Clinica Maxeña!

You can also donate on line at http://www.diocesehelena.org/

Blessings and thanks

P.S. I now post a foto of Metchas and Celia post recovery and back to WORK!
SHEILA

MARIA TAKES FIRST STEPS AGAIN!

2010-05-17T08:03:00.000-07:00

Good Morning friends and family,

This past week, following a repeat X Ray and approval of the Orthopedic specialist in near by hospital, our 85 year old patient, Maria, began to learn to walk again. It has been almost three months since Maria fell and suffered a severe compound fracture of her femur. She has stayed in our clinic and we hired a auxiliary nurse to tend to her needs. Members of our parish visited her frequently bringing smiles, juices and bananas.

Manuela, our hospice in patient with AIDS, went peacefully home to her GOD! Her father, Cruz, worked many years with the clinic in its beginnings. We were happy to be able to accompany him and family in this journey. This Friday celebrates solidarity for Human Rights for persons with VIH/AIDS and prayers for those who have died from this disease. There will be ecumenical religious services with candle light in many churches in Guatemala on this day. Pastoral Health of the Clinica Maxeña will also commemorate with candles in the chapel of the local cemetery and in our parish church. We will especially remember Manuela and her family on this day.

Malnourished children continue to come daily to our clinic requesting milk and protein supplements. Our coffers are low so your support is greatly appreciated. Dengue and Typhoid cases are very prevalent all around us now so this again is emergency care for the poor, who do not have economic possibilities to pay for thier services.

THANK YOU!! and HAVE A GOOD DAY