Thanks for 2006

Hello from Guatemala,

Hey, I just wanted to send out another news letter on a more positive note than my last one. We are actually getting so much done on our dorm project it is encouraging. I believe we will have everything done by the end of January when our first team comes. I am very excited about this first team. It is a team of female Doctors and Nurse Practitioners who will be doing the very first female clinics in the villages I have been taking care of for years now. These indigenous women have never had any female health care or pap smears or anything. We will be doing this first clinic and then having future clinics for teaching them hygiene and health care. I know this will make a big difference in their mortality rate.

About an hour ago I had a pick up truck pull in the driveway and they brought me a tiny Mayan woman 9 months pregnant and in labor. This would be her 7th child so I figured it would be quick and I could get this done and still get a good nights sleep. So I took her in the Emergency Room and on exam realizeded that the baby was breech. I cannot do caesarian deliveries so I had to prepare to take her to the Fire Dept Ambulance. On the way the doctor from the Central de Salud (the government health clinic) called and said, "Bryan, please come quick! I need help! This is an emergency." When I got there we had a woman with a prolapsed umbilical cord and this is a true emergency and needs an operating room fast. The nearest one is 1 ½ hours away. So, we loaded them both in the ambulance and they headed out for the hospital. I hope and pray they make it.

I was looking at pictures today of some of the things the Lord allowed us to do here in Guatemala and I was thankful that He let me do this kind of work. Here are a few pictures of some of the people form this year.

I wish I could put everyone's pictures in the newsletter because there are so many memories from this year, but it is impossible to get them all in. Riechelle takes about 50,000 pictures a day. She said I am exaggerating but I have told her 50 billion times I don't exaggerate. I told her, "When I die, I want to die like my grandfather -- who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car."

Hopefully this gives you a flavor of what we do when people like you take time off work and instead of going on a cruise or flying to Paris; they come and sacrifice for people who have nothing to give back. I know what it takes to use your hard earned money to fly here and pay expenses and put up with the heat and humidity to go out on a dirt road in the mountains and then work all day instead of being served in a resort. I know you could have done that. That is why these people here are willing to listen to what we have to say about Jesus now because they also cannot believe you gave up paradise (The USA) to come down here and help them.

I dedicate this letter to all of you who have taken the time and effort and energy and finances to come here to show these people what real Christianity is, it is Love. For that I thank you. And to those who had to stay back and fight the good fight and pray and help pay for the lucky ones who got to come, I thank You also and ask Gods Blessings on you for your faithfulness.

I'm getting tired. It's been a long day and I have to go out into the jungle tomorrow and talk to a boys father to try and convince him to let me take this boy to the hospital for treatment of his liver before he dies. The Mayan people don't trust the government hospitals here. So pray for me that this man will let me take his son before it is too late.

We received some extra money this month from some of you and now we know why. Thank You all for everything you have done to help us.

If you wondered why one of your relatives or friends came down here to Guatemala, take a look at the faces of these people. It changes everyone’s life.

God Bless and Good Night,
In His Service,

Bryan, Riechelle & Kids

Junglemedic Missions
Rio Dulce, Izabal
Guatemala Central America

E-Mail: Bryan@JungleMedicMissions.org
Web Site: http://www.junglemedicmissions.org/

This page was last updated 12/18/06