Eye surgeries!

This past week, San Lucas was blessed to have
Dr. Mike Merck and a surgical tec come to do cataract surgeries!

It has been 10 months since the last eye doctor has visited
and the people have been anxious for their arrival...
including the only medical doctor in San Lucas- Dr. Rafael Tun!

Sunday, November 8th (picture on the left)-

75 patients lined up for a consultation with Dr. Merck.

After 9 hours, 

there were 25 cataract surgeries 

and 6 minor surgeries scheduled for the week.

Dr. Merck having a teaching moment with Dr. Tun... 

Out of all the intense activity we had this week,

there were 2 very moving moments that have to be shared...

One of them was this man and husband who got on his knees

when his wife was wheeled into the operating room.

He must have stayed like this for 5 minutes

begging God to bless the operation and to take care of his wife.

The next moving moment was our last patient of the week, named "Angel"...

Angel had come in to see Dr. Tun last minute on Monday 

and we were able to add him to the surgical list because we still had 1 slot open.

Angel's right eye has a corneal scar which cannot be cured

(only through a corneal transplant that cannot be done in San Lucas).

But fortunately, his left eye had a very mature cataract

that could be operated on.

Below is a video of how Angel's vision was before the surgery...

he was completely blind!

Dr. Merck explaining the surgery to the family...

The cataract!
You can see the clear lens implant
that replaced the cataract
at the base of my index finger.

The next morning...

As I took the patch off, we were all anxious 

to see the results of the cataract surgery...will Angel see or not?!

For the humble and the poor, 

it is easy for them to recognize Who is behind all good gifts given...

it is always a profound reminder to me 

to always give thanks for these great blessings...

which is not so much the success of a cataract surgery-

but the FAITH to see that even technology and medicine are a gift from God.  

The grateful medical team and patients...

grateful for being able to serve one another
and to experience the blessing it is be brothers and sisters in Christ!

If God lights a fire in our hearts...

...one has to trust that He has a plan on how He is going to put it out!

Last weekend, I made a trip out to San Martinero, (45 minutes north of GUA city)
with some friends/missionaries
to visit the Missionary Sisters of the Eucharist
("Hermanas Misioneras de la Eucaristía").

The 3 sisters that live there run a nursing home
that gives care to 13 abandoned women
that have no one to care for them.

We arrived to the nursing home

after 5 hours of driving one way 

from San Lucas

...it definitely was a pilgrimage!

      (Left above)- Dining Hall                         (Right above)- Recreation Room

(Left)- Back patio area (the sisters wash everything by hand!)            (Right)- Chapel

Their beautiful chapel

 

2 of the residents...the one on the right is 105 yrs old!!

My missionary friends who were as crazy as me 

to make a 10-hour road trip to see a nursing home!

My dear missionary friend Kelly
took some time to sit down and sing to this elderly woman
who would start crying every time we walked past her...
maybe she was touched to see visitors?

Either way, it was beautiful to see Kelly once more
using her gifts for the glory of the Lord.

I made this trip last weekend and will continue to make trips
to visit other nursing homes here in Guatemala
because my ultimate goal and dream
is to build a center for the elderly.
A center where they can have a "home"
and know that there, they will always receive a meal, a smile & hug,
and see familiar faces that know their names and history.
It will be a center where they can pass time
in fellowship and with other activities...
and not be forgotten by society.

Please keep this intention in your prayers...
may all be done in God's time, according to His Will.

I've also attached a link below of a 10 minute video
that captures a lot of what the Lord has been revealing to my heart.

Many of us really do not take the time to consider the lives of the elderly
and the hidden sufferings they undergo alone
while we move on with our busy lives.

Please take the time to see the video...
and reach out to someone you know who may be in need.

LINK: A day in the life of a 98 year old...