Time to Celebrate and give THANKS!

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!

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

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!

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