An adopted Child

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

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

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!

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.