Give me blood, give me poop, give me wounds to dehicse, but don't ask me to do papsmears, please. Apparently its the job of the nurse in Guatemala to actually perform papsmears (I guess a cultural/societal thing), but today we have been doing the paps for the referrals from mobile clinics. Rosario taught me how to do them this morning, and since then, the pap patients have been trickling in here in there while I prepare towels/gowns/mayo covers for sterilzation. Its lunch time, but I think my appetite is gone......please let there be no more paps today!
Other than that, things are going well. On Monday, I forgot to write about the best part of the day. We had a little patient come in, Juan, only probably 6-7 months. He was seen 2 weeks ago by the plastics surgery team for a repair of a birth defect to his right hand. Best I can tell, he was born with webbed, stunted fingers so the plastic surgeons separated them, and he was just in for a check-up and wound cleaning. He moves his little fingers really well, and he was just smiling the whole time I was cleaning his hand. He was precious.
Things are going well with the family, getting a lot more comfortable and less formal as we get to know eachother. The Goonies plan didn't work out just right, but last night me, Jose (9) and Janet (21) watched the movie in spanish and the subtitles in english (since I can pretty much quote that movie anyways). They really liked it. Then, after dinner while I was reading/thinking/writing, the mom, dad, and grandma all came in and sat on the bed across from me to talk. It was really sweet. I needed so comforting time. I'm getting to know them better each day, and they are very excited about me getting to be here for one of the daughter's (Betty's) birthday on Sept 4 and Jose's school parade/tournament on the 15th adn 16th. Little by little I am getting more used to being here.
I have so very much to learn and to grow. But God is faithful. He brought me here for a reason, and He will not depart from me now that I am here. I am thankful for all the things I have been given, including the people in my life. Thank you for all the encouragement. Will write again soon.
About Me
- Katie H
- I want to be where You are. I am a 25 year old who works as a nurse, plays like a child, thinks like an artist, sings like I'm tone deaf, and most of all wants to live in Christ. I've been near, I've been far. But I realize now that what I need most is to be where you are.
4 comments:
Goodness! You were right when you said that you thought you would be the one doing the papsmears. Goodness, again. Have you gotten your appetite back yet?
I am so happy to hear that you are beginning to feel better about being there. It is a comfort to me and to know that the family is embracing you makes it even better. Really sweet.
Things are going well here. Just exhausted at the end of the day. Pray for my strength to increase. My heart is in it and the kids are being so good, but I just can't seem to get the pace going that I am use to.
Looking forward to more stories. Does this mean I can quit going to my GYN doctor?
Love and miss you,
Mom
ew mom no. you have to still go to your obgyn. i will die happy if i never have to do another one of those! the family thought it was hilarious when i told them why i didn't eat lunch.
Seconding that. Now its Pap smears --you Hitzings talk about everything.
I only have a vague idea of how those are done but offering to do the temp. thing at the hospital is as far as I'll go. :-)
Katie you sound like you're doing better --except for the pap smear part.
Katie H!
What an unbelievable experience you are having! I just read all of your posts and am thinking a lot of things, one of which is how proud I am to know you. Yes, you're right -- you will probably leave Guatemala feeling far more blessed than you will ever be able to bless them. But never lose sight of the fact that you are furthering the Kingdom by being there. You are serving and loving and doing it all in God's name (paps included), and that is so worthy.
Love you! Praying for you!
Katie P
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