Last fall we had, what I saw, was the perfect team. It was a medical team from where and led by who isn’t important. They arrived on a Saturday and decided they would go on holiday Sunday before coming to the hotel. The first problem they faced wass that none, none of their luggage arrived with the team. They went ahead with their holiday plans. While they were doing the tourist thing in a market place, the team leader had his passport stolen. Sunday afternoon 5 bags showed up at the hotel. So, come Sunday night getting ready for clinic we had a little team medicine, they had very few cloths, and the team leader had no passport. Dianne and I scrambled around and supplied the needed medicine from our stock. Not until Tuesday did the rest of their luggage arrive. The American embassy in Guatemala City can issue passports and the plan was to have the driver take the team leader in on Wednesday to get a new passport. On Wednesday morning we woke to a nationwide strike, shutting down all roads in Guatemala. This happens now and then. So, the team couldn’t have clinics and the team leader couldn’t go into Guatemala City. Thursday the sun came up and we tried again. The team leader left the team and went to Guatemala City and the team went and saw 166 sick men, women and children. The team was leaving after lunch Friday. The team leader needed 2 days to get the passport so we never saw him again. The team van ran off into a ditch on the way to the clinic and it took us an hour to get out so clinic started late.

Not all teams have this kind of luck. Through it all there were no complaints or personal issues. We saw a lot of patients and had a great time. In fact they are returning this fall. On all mission trips we are told we need to be flexible. First I give credit to the team leader for his skill in picking great people for his team. Second, I give credit to the team for the faith they had when things happened. God will provide if we only allow him to. The attitude of this team was as perfect as you could ask for. It should inspire us all.

Well, we are about into rainy season, some like it some don’t. There is a lot to be done. Come see us and keep us in your prayers as we do you.

Through Christ we serve,
Santiago and Diana