Faith in Practice – 2026
Day 5 Blog: Amazement
Mark 2:12 (NRSV)
“And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Inspiring Quotes:
“The glory of God is the poor person fully alive.” – Óscar Romero:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
There are moments on a medical mission trip when the only fitting response is the same one people had when they saw Jesus heal the paralytic:
Amazement.
After just four days of clinics, our team has seen 1,239 patients—the largest number of patients served by any group here so far. At first glance it feels like a statistic, but when you walk through the clinic it becomes something much more meaningful: faces, stories, and lives touched with care and compassion.
Our general medical clinic cared for 479 patients, treating everything from infections to chronic conditions that have gone untreated for years.
Our pediatric team treated 139 children, many arriving timid and uncertain, but leaving smiling, often clutching vitamins, medicine, or a small gift that reminds them someone cares deeply about them.
The gynecology clinic saw 193 women, including 190 VIA cervical cancer screenings. Among those screenings, three women showed positive signs of cervical cancer—cases that might otherwise have gone undetected. Because of this clinic, these women now have the opportunity for treatment that could save their lives.
Our ENT clinic treated 175 patients, while audiology served 97 people and distributed 72 hearing aids. For some patients, the first clear sounds they heard in years were the voices of loved ones standing beside them.
The mobility team witnessed some of the most emotional moments of the week. They provided:
• 132 wheelchairs
• 20 canes
• 20 walkers
• 6 crutches
Watching someone sit in a wheelchair for the first time—after years of being carried or unable to move freely—is unforgettable. You see dignity restored in real time.
The orthopedic clinic evaluated 259 patients, helping those who have endured years of pain or limited movement.
Our laboratory processed 251 tests, providing essential information that allowed physicians to diagnose and treat patients more effectively.
We gave out 285 reading glasses and 83 sunglasses to help people see more clearly.
And then there is the steady, tireless work of the pharmacy, which filled over 1,175 prescriptions, ensuring patients leave not just with a diagnosis, but with the medicine needed to begin healing.
Finally, 369 patients were referred for additional care, many of whom will receive surgeries or specialized treatment through Faith In Practice—care they otherwise could never afford.
When the crowd in Mark’s Gospel saw the paralytic rise, pick up his mat, and walk out the door, Scripture tells us they were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
That feels like the right response here, too.
Amazement at what happens when a team of doctors, nurses, translators, pharmacists, mobility specialists, and volunteers come together with a shared purpose.
Amazement at the resilience, patience, and gratitude of the patients we meet each day.
And amazement at how God continues to work through ordinary people who simply show up with willing hearts and open hands.
1,239 patients in four days. But the real miracle isn’t the number.The miracle is seeing lives changed, dignity restored, and hope renewed—one patient at a time.
And like the witnesses in Mark’s story, we find ourselves saying again and again: “We have never seen anything like this!”
Before closing, I also want to express my deep gratitude to those who supported this trip through their financial gifts. Your generosity made this work possible—from the medicines in the pharmacy to the wheelchairs, hearing aids, and vital screenings provided throughout the week. Even if you could not be here physically, you were part of every patient served and every life touched.
And like the witnesses in Mark’s story, we find ourselves saying again and again:
“We have never seen anything like this.”
Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for the privilege of serving in Guatemala this week, and help us remember that the mission continues wherever we go.
Rev. Paul Nazarian, Team Blogger
