Sustainable Agriculture and our "GOOD LIFE BOOTH"

Friends and Family,

We have spent a lot of energy and interest in organic gardens, promotion of nutritional food, reality of hunger in our midst, malnourished infants and children.   The Clinic has two demonstrative gardens; these gardens are used to teach and also for sharing the harvest, with malnourished children, in our nutrition project.  We do not have many answers but we realize we cannot deny the reality around us and have to look for solutions and organize.

We began to look to the EARTH for some answers a few years ago. Our interest and project of sustainable agriculture continues to grow and gain more interest.  We hope to soon form an ASSOCIATION, "LA MAXEÑA".  The center of the HUB will be our representatives of the Clinica Maxeña, of Sustainable Agriculture.  Others we hope will come from at least four other communities.  We have invited men of the fields, through our Pastoral Social Ministry, of the villages.  The objective will be to plant more family and community gardens and to work together in each others gardens to form solidarity. It is not religion based project, however, "ALL ARE WELCOME".

We also are pleased that our small booth, constructed from BAMBOO, is an effective voice to adervise our IDEAS and HOPES! "BUEN VIVIR", "GOOD LIFE".  This booth is located in front of the Clinic.  Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, clinic leaders share themes of good health and nutrition.  We have had campus Ministry students from the University assist us to clear a plot of land and prepare for planting in a nearby village.  This small piece of communal land was loaned to us by one of the Clinic Workers.

  "POCO A POCO"; " LITTLE BY LITTLE"!

We will hear reports next week, in our general Clinic meeting, of workshops of sustainable agriculture attended by three workers.  "Together we can, change our world"

The Changing Times of Mission

Friends and family,

It is a quiet Sunday. Many visitors have passed through; we hosted the Rotary Club representatives of Libby, Montana, Campus Ministry students of the University of Great Falls, and the Opthalmologist  team of Montana and California for eye surgeries in the Clinica Maxeña.  Also came Representatives from Swedish organization, AGNI.  This organization goes back to the seventies for providing monetary donation to the Clinica Maxeña.

Missionary interest for long terms is a vocation of the past. Young folk are interested in volunteering for a few months, maybe a year.  Language and culture take time to learn and appreciate.   Investment to learn a foriegn language,  provide a stipend, insurance and air fare, for short terms is beyond the Mission budget.  We are reaching our 50 years of Mission.  We know we must also look in to local talent and commitment for Mission positions.  All of this is in discussion phase.

Life in the Missions however is still a reality of poverty for the majority of Mayan Indigenous. We have made progress in education, and understanding disease and its causes. Medicine however, world wide, is BIG BUSINESS.  The wealthy have a better chance of surviving disease and living a longer life.  Although there is a socialized system with National Hospitals and Government Clinics, attention is sub standard, with little medicine available and decreased staff.  Patients will sell their land, for an operation, that is not available in the National Hospital. Cancer is not treated in the National system, although there are dedicated Doctors, who continue to fight for this HUMAN RIGHT in Health Care.

Our recent Eye Sugeries in Clinica Maxeña benefitted over 200 patients.  Many had cataract surgery free of charge, where others paid 100. dollars.  We are thankful for this service which takes place, twice a year, in the Clinic, for the last 16 years.  We are thankful to the DOCTORS AND NURSES, who use their own resources to come here, plus supplies of medicines and equipment.

As a long term Missionary, I still believe we have a place here, to share our talent and treasure, with the POOR. In 2014 we will celebrate 50 YEARS of MISSION for the Diocese of Helena, Montana.
PRAY FOR OUR MISSION OF SERVICE IN GUATEMALA.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND INTEREST.

Visitors, Challenges, HOPE and the FUTURE

Good Evening Friends and Family,

It seems like the days pass so quickly, and the needs of the people multiply and become more grave. We are confronting a ROYA or FUNGUS on coffee bushes,  Practically all the poor people, who live in the mountain villages, depend on coffee harvest and their small area of coffee for income and survival. This fungus has caused the coffee harvest to fail, not just this year, but predicted will affect next years harvest also. There is HUNGER and no WORK for the POOR.  More patients are knocking on our door, asking for medicine and treatment of acute illness.  More diseases, which before were not common in this area are epidemic; DIABETES, CANCER, MALNUTRICION, AND AIDS IS MORE COMMON IN THE POPULATION AND TUBERCULOSIS HAS MADE A COMEBACK.

This month OUR MISSION is saturated with visitors.  Many of them are dear friends of MISSION and regular donors.  Monty and Tracy Giles of Washington, have been coming to the Mission for over twenty years.  Monty, an Engineer, and talented handyman fixes up many small and big issues around the Mission while his wife Tracy cooks delicious meals for the team. We also welcomed Campus Ministry of Great Falls University for their first visit of MISSION IMMERSION.  AGNI of Sweden, donors and Friends for the last forty years, spent a weekend here for publicity of their organization.  The Rotary of Libby, Montana came to evaluate for a possible future project with our School, Asuncion, and to supervise the termination of a water project in a near by community.  In mid March Opfthalmologists, Surgeons of MONTANA, and Nurses from California will make the Mission humm with activity and many of our patients will have the GIFT of sight restored.

Thank YOU for your financial support and PRAYERS.  Lent is almost over and here in Guatemala, the PASSION and DEATH of JESUS is not only dramatized in the streets of Guatemala, in small towns and cities, it is lived by the people in their daily lives.

DONATE ON LINE TO HELP THE CLINICA MAXEÑA!
http://catalog.diocesehelena.org/Guatemala-Mission-c/10
NOTE FOR THE CLINICA MAXEÑA

THANK YOU.

BISHOP of MONTANA Visits the MISSION

Friends and Family,

Busy around mission front as we host our Bishop of the Diocese of Helena, Montana.  Important for all of us as changes around us and future not all that certain.  We approach our Golden Anniversary as a Mission in 2014.  All of us are SENIORS, except our new Pastor. We are affected by the economy as our Health and Education Projects confront greater needs with the increase of poverty and hunger.  The property of the Mission is also in need of repairs. Spirit of workers fluctuate as they also affected economically and one senses not all on board with our MISSION for the POOR.  They too want higher salaries and more security.

Government Hospitals are in crisis. I discharged one young woman in largest National Hospital in Guatemala City as services came to a halt. NO antibiotics, NO surgeries being scheduled, so she like all patients, just occupying the bed but health needs not being met. I had her operated in a private clinic for one thousand dollars which I will mostly pick up personally. She is now home recuperating and comfortable.  Yesterday and elderly man came with a severe laceration and hemorrhage from a machete wound from cutting firewood. His arm was bundled but did not want to disturb dressing so sent for ambulance and quick Intravenous solution started as showing signs of shock. At peace that he made it to hospital emergency room for treatment.

A few days ago we learned that one of directors of our Parish School is in city with his 12 year old daughter and sad news of Leukemia diagnosis.  We have requested a bed in the Cancer hospital for children but she is still waiting in a National Hospital nearby.  We are fortunate to have good contacts in the Pediatric Cancer center and she hopefully will be transferred there tomorrow.  This Cancer Center is excellent and funded by a foundation.

Good meeting with our Bishop and Administrative team of Clinic.  Some issues not resolved but at least being discussed. Prayer and Patience needed.

We hope to open a small center near Clinic next week.  We will call it "Casa de BUEN VIVIR" that is
"House of Good Life".  This small construction from Bamboo will be used for PROMOTION of organic vegetables from our garden, our Medicinal teas and shampoos, our ONIL stove and ONIL water purifier, and organic snacks. We will sell our nutritious drink, ATOL MAXEÑA and cool organic drinks.  Some favorite organic drinks we share with our Bishop on his visit to the clinic; one made from oranges and carrots and another from beets, lemon, and chay.  Each morning for a few hours different workers will give different talks and health advice.

Next week we will attend our first meeting with other parish health representative in Pastoral Health of our Diocese here.  This ministry of our Faith helps us keep focus in serving the POOR and also sharing of ideas, prayer, and resources.

Blessings and have a GOOD SUNDAY.

Love Sheila