Q:  Where do you live and work?

A:   Sayaxche, Petén, Guatemala.  Petén is a "Department" in Guatemala, roughly the equivalent of a state or province.  I work in Sayaxche and the surrounding communities there.

Q:  Describe the people you work with and serve.

A:  The people in this part of Guatemala are a mixture; there are many poor and also some wealthy, but they all have similar needs when it comes to medical needs and care.  Malnourishment is a problem, because many people do not have a balanced diet, and in some homes the living conditions are not very good.  Access to medical care is not always a problem for the people that live here in town, but for some of the outlying villages it is quite an issue because the roads are very bad (or there might not be a road at all). The other problem we have is that at the government hospital there is not always adequate attention paid to the people, especially for the ladies that are going to have their babies there. There is just no privacy or personal attention that is very needed in a time like this. Also, no family members are allowed to stay with the expectant mother after she has been admitted. 

This is why the birthing center ministry is so important for me, because it is a way to reach out to the expectant mothers and their families in this very special time of life. It is also a very effective way to demonstrate and offer God's love into their lives. 

Regarding dental care, there is a dentist at the local hospital, but only for extractions.  If anyone needs a filling they have to pay at a private dentist, which is quite expensive for many of the families I work with.

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