A Little Bit of Everything (our life in photos)...

In the last few weeks since our previous update, a lot has gone on.  We had the great pleasure of hosting some dear friends from Iowa.  We ran eye clinics here in Canillá as well as San Andres.  You can see some of the happy recipients of glasses in the photos below.  A LOT of glasses were given out.  The most remarkable were those (both young and old) who had seen so poorly for so long that they really lit up when looking through a new pair of glasses.  It really was heart warming.

Abbi and her friend Keziah had a nice time with us at the clinic in San Andres, handing out coloring pages and crayons to the other kiddos waiting to be seen in clinic.  They also got a chance to go hang out with the kids at the local orphanage.  I think they enjoyed showing off their nail painting skills as much as the kids enjoyed getting their nails painted.

James is happy 99% of the time.  He turns 1 year old this month - where has the time gone???!!

I would be the big white guy.  I'm usually at least 2 feet taller than the patients.  Hide-and-seek is difficult here.

Our optometrist friend Riley fitting a little girl with glasses.  Not only was the team able to run many eye clinics while here, but he also held an afternoon of training the nurses at the hospital.  They learned how to use the auto-refractor and find which glasses a patient might need.  This is one of our goals of working in the hospital here in Guatemala, not only to provide medical care but to train nurses and eventually medical students.

We found a huge frog in the backyard.  The boys had a good time with it.  Abbi was a little less excited.

 The local market - Fridays and Saturdays.  Our shopping list usually consists of mangos, bananas, papaya, pineapple, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, carrots, broccoli, watermelon, cantaloup, avocado, limes, green beans, potatoes, oranges, apples, strawberries, cilantro, jalapeños.... the list goes on.  

The hospital continues to come together...

 John 10:10 "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Colossians 1:11 "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever, Amen!" 

We spent a day at Mariposita - a local facility that cares for special needs children - doing a whirlwind eye clinic.  James (also known as Santiago here locally - or Santi for short) made friends with a few of the workers there.  He especially tends to make friends wherever we go.

We are blessed with wonderful nurses and staff and lots of precious pediatric patients.  The children are enjoying these knit hats, which were lovingly made by one of the teachers at our kids' school back in Iowa.  Thank you Mrs. Ovel!

April and one of our patients hamming it up for a selfie :-)  We try to take turns at the clinics when the kid's schedules allow....

There's no better way to beat the heat than fresh squeezed orange juice and a hammock!

Well, that pretty much sums things up.  We'll keep you updated as time goes on!