Medical Mission to Guatemala   Jan 15-19, 2009

                          Bethany takes vital statistics

Greg Joslyn and Debra Schowengert had served on short term mission teams to Guatemala through The Servant’s Heart, and saw a great need for medical care in the area. Greg asked our church to send a medical team and we were able to this by working with MOST Ministries. 

MOST Ministries is a mission organization affiliated with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.   They have been working in Guatemala and were able to take us to a Castillo Fuerte Lutheran Church in Guatemala City. One of the church leaders, Dr. Elry Orozco, is a family physician who teaches at a university for an income and volunteers his time to do medical work in the poor community in Lake Amatitlan. The church has a small clinic there that was recently built by another mission team. They are bringing the love of Christ to the people through the medical clinic and through a children’s ministry at the same site. The Lord blessed each member of our team with good health and the ability to work hard and long hours. The people from Castillo Fuerte and Lake Amatitlan were so grateful for our work with them, and we were so blessed by being able to serve and see God working among his people. We all returned with our faith strengthened and our hearts blessed.

Our team was able to bring over $25,000 worth of medications and medical equipment to use while we worked there, and to leave behind for Dr. Elry to continue his work. We received prescription medications and supplies through CrossLink International at about 10% or actual cost and over the counter medications through a donation from Perigo Industries. We were able to purchase vitamins and blood glucose monitoring supplies at cost through Wheaton Franciscan Medical Group. We brought health and hygiene products that were donated by members of Our Savior Lutheran Church, Winkler School, St. Charles School, and family and friends of the mission team.

During our work at the clinic we served about 500 people in 3 ½ days. We treated a variety of medical problems including malnutrition, parasite infestations, infections, high blood pressure, pain, acid reflux, skin ulcers, and dental abscesses. We brought thousands of vitamins. All of the pregnant women and nursing mothers received vitamins. All of the children and most of the adults not only got vitamins, but they were treated for parasites as well. When people registered for the clinic, volunteer Nancy Birkett, gave the children a dose of medication to get rid of the intestinal parasites. Bethany Schowendgert, Greg Joslyn, and Pastor Rob helped weigh, measure, and take vital signs on everyone. Dr. Leslie Fox, Pat Bolling, nurse practitioner, and Jean Boticki, registered nurse, worked with Dr. Elry to treat the medical needs of the people. Pastor Rob and Bob Hertz helped in the pharmacy to give out the needed vitamins and medications ordered by the medical team. Debby Suchty and ------- staff from MOST ministries helped in all of the areas of the mission. Dr. Elry’s wife Liz cooked all of our food while we were there, and we had the luxury of flush toilets, showers, and beds to sleep in.

Dr. Elry is working hard to treat and correct the malnutrition of the children. He has a vision for the community and is starting by registering the children who are malnourished in a program. He will provide vitamins and some healthy food and is tracking their growth and development. Pastor Rob set up a computer data base and took photos of all of the children registered into the program. Bethany, Greg, and Jean got their measurements and entered that data together with the photo of the child into the computer data base for Dr. Elry to use.

Bethany, Nancy, Greg, and Pastor Rob also were able to help with the children’s ministry and help share the Gospel with the people waiting to be served at the clinic. Castillo Fuerte Lutheran Church has a vision to start a church in Lake Amatitlan this year. All of the people who were served at the clinic knew this was being done in the name of Jesus Christ and what they received was a touch of Jesus’ love through the medical care. The members of Castillo Fuerte and the members of the medical mission team are grateful for the financial support and prayer support from Our Savior Lutheran Church and members of the Racine and Burlington Community. Without that, this kind of service would not be possible. Thank you to everyone who provided that support. May God bless you. Please continue to pray for the ministry in Guatemala and for Dr. Elry Orozco.

Medical Mission to Guatemala   Jan 15-19, 2009

                          Bethany takes vital statistics

Greg Joslyn and Debra Schowengert had served on short term mission teams to Guatemala through The Servant’s Heart, and saw a great need for medical care in the area. Greg asked our church to send a medical team and we were able to this by working with MOST Ministries. 

MOST Ministries is a mission organization affiliated with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.   They have been working in Guatemala and were able to take us to a Castillo Fuerte Lutheran Church in Guatemala City. One of the church leaders, Dr. Elry Orozco, is a family physician who teaches at a university for an income and volunteers his time to do medical work in the poor community in Lake Amatitlan. The church has a small clinic there that was recently built by another mission team. They are bringing the love of Christ to the people through the medical clinic and through a children’s ministry at the same site. The Lord blessed each member of our team with good health and the ability to work hard and long hours. The people from Castillo Fuerte and Lake Amatitlan were so grateful for our work with them, and we were so blessed by being able to serve and see God working among his people. We all returned with our faith strengthened and our hearts blessed.

Our team was able to bring over $25,000 worth of medications and medical equipment to use while we worked there, and to leave behind for Dr. Elry to continue his work. We received prescription medications and supplies through CrossLink International at about 10% or actual cost and over the counter medications through a donation from Perigo Industries. We were able to purchase vitamins and blood glucose monitoring supplies at cost through Wheaton Franciscan Medical Group. We brought health and hygiene products that were donated by members of Our Savior Lutheran Church, Winkler School, St. Charles School, and family and friends of the mission team.

During our work at the clinic we served about 500 people in 3 ½ days. We treated a variety of medical problems including malnutrition, parasite infestations, infections, high blood pressure, pain, acid reflux, skin ulcers, and dental abscesses. We brought thousands of vitamins. All of the pregnant women and nursing mothers received vitamins. All of the children and most of the adults not only got vitamins, but they were treated for parasites as well. When people registered for the clinic, volunteer Nancy Birkett, gave the children a dose of medication to get rid of the intestinal parasites. Bethany Schowendgert, Greg Joslyn, and Pastor Rob helped weigh, measure, and take vital signs on everyone. Dr. Leslie Fox, Pat Bolling, nurse practitioner, and Jean Boticki, registered nurse, worked with Dr. Elry to treat the medical needs of the people. Pastor Rob and Bob Hertz helped in the pharmacy to give out the needed vitamins and medications ordered by the medical team. Debby Suchty and ------- staff from MOST ministries helped in all of the areas of the mission. Dr. Elry’s wife Liz cooked all of our food while we were there, and we had the luxury of flush toilets, showers, and beds to sleep in.

Dr. Elry is working hard to treat and correct the malnutrition of the children. He has a vision for the community and is starting by registering the children who are malnourished in a program. He will provide vitamins and some healthy food and is tracking their growth and development. Pastor Rob set up a computer data base and took photos of all of the children registered into the program. Bethany, Greg, and Jean got their measurements and entered that data together with the photo of the child into the computer data base for Dr. Elry to use.

Bethany, Nancy, Greg, and Pastor Rob also were able to help with the children’s ministry and help share the Gospel with the people waiting to be served at the clinic. Castillo Fuerte Lutheran Church has a vision to start a church in Lake Amatitlan this year. All of the people who were served at the clinic knew this was being done in the name of Jesus Christ and what they received was a touch of Jesus’ love through the medical care. The members of Castillo Fuerte and the members of the medical mission team are grateful for the financial support and prayer support from Our Savior Lutheran Church and members of the Racine and Burlington Community. Without that, this kind of service would not be possible. Thank you to everyone who provided that support. May God bless you. Please continue to pray for the ministry in Guatemala and for Dr. Elry Orozco.