It is interesting how God takes us from Point A to Point B...

To second Nicole, my greatest friend, thanks to everyone that has given $$ and thanks for the encouragement and prayers!

Okay, its late. I usually go to bed at 10:00 but for some weird reason, I am still awake so here goes...

So this has been one of those days where I wake up feeling sorry for myself and start thinking about all the things that have been weighing me down. And automatically I feel like crawling back into bed. Then it dawns on me. I am not in control, God is. As a good friend reminded me lately, God breathed breath into my body this morning so I should live this day for Him. So I didn't jump back into bed where life is easy and cozy, instead I went to Little Rock to help some friends move, where life was sweaty but good.

"What do these ramblings have to do with Guatemala?" you ask. Let me explain. God has been growing in me a desire to live a life that is for Him, not an easy one but one that is an exciting scary adventure. Guatemala is a piece of that adventure. I love Latin America, the people, the land, the diversity... God lead me to this passion. I know this because when I was a sophmore in high school i took Spanish I and hated it. My mom came to the parent teacher conference and the teacher said your daughter should really take spanish II. So after several arguments, my mom insists i take this next class.. I get a great spanish II teacher, decide to take spanish III. Then decide in college why not get a spanish minor, then think hey why not go to Chile for a couple of months. And there was a spark and a fire and God has been fanning the flame since.

So then God randomly gave me another passion, medicine. So put 2 and 2 together and what do you get? medical missions in Guatemala.

I am called to show people to Christ through medicine. (have to confess, i often fall short of this call) When a patient goes to the doctor, they are vulnerable and often hurting. They want a cure. They want hope. What better time for the true physician to be revealed.
"Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:31-32
Jesus is the true hope for an abundant life. This physical life has no meaning without Christ.

I know God will use the Guatemalans to renew my spirit and shape my perspective. Hopefully in return, they will see a picture of the true Healer that will give them victory over any disease, any sin. Please pray that I will remember these things in my every day encounters with people and that this trip will happen.

Enough late night ramblings.

Hello one and all! This will be a quick post, seeing as how I really should be in bed already. I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to those who have contributed!!! It is looking like I am going to have more than enough money for my trip and will even have some extra to share with the others who are going! This is AMAZING and I am so thankful!

Also, I wanted to post a picture showing you all that Mary and I are preparing ourselves for the wilds of Guatemala:

Again, thank you all so much!!!

Some Pictures

Here are some pictures to give you a better idea of where we will be working. I got most of these from the Health Talents website!

This is a map of Guatemala. We will be spending most of our time in Chichicastenango and about 2 weeks on the Pacific coast.

I'm pretty sure this is the view from where we will be outside of Chichi. We'll have some nice thick blood after 6 weeks up here.

This is the clinic up in the mountains.

This looks like dental sugery - which I won't be seeing - but it gives you a nice idea of the doctor/assistant/patient layout.

Here are some moms and kids in the waiting room. I particularly like their glove balloons!

Some people outside of the church/clinic.

I don't know that I will meet these actual children, but I thought they were cute.

Clinic Ezell. This is located on the coast and is set up more like a hospital.

Here are some of the beds.

And some patients.

I hope these were helpful. I know I enjoy looking at them and getting excited about where I will be working. I definitely plan on adding pictures of my own once I am down there. Then I can put some names with some faces for you!

Planning for Guatemala!

I would like to officially start this website by saying, I have never blogged before. There you have it. If this is horrible, that is why.

I decided to create this site so that I could keep people updated on my up and coming trip to Guatemala. I am planning on going to Chichicastenango, Guatemala for 6 weeks starting in February. I am currently a second year student in Harding's Physician Assistant Program and as a part of my clinical rotations I opted to head down south so that I could get a first hand look at what it would be like to be a medical missionary. My wonderful friend and classmate Mary Madill will also be going.

Like most people in this world, I was pretty much born knowing exactly what I wanted to do when I grew up.... Ok, so maybe not...but through a variety of twists and turns on my road of life God has led me to where I am now. I have a desire in my heart to help people. Hands on help, like the kind found in the medical world, appeals to me most. When I think about Jesus, and how I want to imitate His life, I think of the ways that He reached people physically...by being the one to touch the leper, hold the children, heal the sick. As a Physician Assistant I will be able to do these things daily, (maybe not lepers...but chicken pox!) and I am so excited!

This trip to Guatemala will be an amazing opportunity for me to be able to practice - not only medicine, but loving people. I have never been to Central America before, but here are some facts about my trip that have been told to me:

• Mary and I will be staying with Mayan families and sleeping on a concrete floor. (I plan on bringing some padding, don't worry)
• Every morning will start off with a brisk 30 minute walk down the mountain where we will meet up with the Doctors by 7:30.
• The Guatemalans boil everything before they drink it. This means that most drinks are served warm. Water...Orange Juice...etc...
• For 2 of the 6 weeks we will get to work with visiting medical missions teams and help out with Eye, OB/GYN, and Plastic surgeries.
• For the other 4 weeks we will work in the mountains seeing patients.
• The toilets are outside. (i.e. a hole in the ground)
• For one week, a team from Harding is coming down for a Spring Break Campaign. I am already bribing them to bring me Dr. Pepper.

I plan on posting more facts as I learn them. This is going to be a wonderful and interesting ride!

Both Mary and I have to raise $2000 each in order to go on this trip. This money covers plane tickets, expenses for our host families, occasional hotel stays during travel, insurance and other miscellaneous expenses. (NOT spending money or tuition!!!) If you are able and would like to contribute, please please please contact me and I will give you details on how to do so. If you are not able (or maybe just don't want to ) contribute, please do not feel like you can never come visit this site again. Believe me, you have an empathetic audience right here - hey, I'm a full time student living on loans. I understand. EVERYONE can pray though, and I'd like to ask you all to do that.

Until next time.....goodnight, and good luck.