Day 3: Slowing Down for Presence
Tuesday began with a powerful reminder from Pastor Cheryl’s devotional on Luke 2:36-38, sharing the story of a faithful prophetess who dedicated her life to serving others and recognizing hope in the midst of struggle. Cheryl’s message hit home for everyone here: even during challenging times, we’re called to love with our heart, mind, and all our strength. Yesterday’s mission was to slow down and be fully present in the moment resonated deeply as she reminded us that someone might come into our presence and we need to be ready to truly hear them.
That message couldn’t have been more perfectly timed for what we witnessed today. Our Team continued treating patients with extraordinary care and kindness, but it was Jose’s story that truly embodied that faithful FIP spirit and full-cycle care that we provide to the local Guatemalan people. At 21 years old, Jose lives with extreme cerebral palsy – born with no mobility and consistent spasms that require 24/7 support and home care. Jose is also non-verbal, so understanding his body language and helping him feel safe with our doctors, physical therapists, and mobility team required extra care, consideration, and empathy. Jose’s mother stays home full-time to care for him, unable to work and earn income for the family. When Jose visited our Mobility clinic here in Mazatenango, Bernie and Iris conducted a thorough evaluation and discovered he also had bronchitis with cough and fever, likely triggered by changing weather patterns. His mother shared his symptoms started more than two months ago, making Jose extremely lethargic and physically uncomfortable.
What moved us most was learning about Jose’s movement disorder during seizures – his knees would rub against each other, creating painful sores. But then came the transformation that reminded us why we’re here. Scott, Dave, Jason, and Kirk from our Mobility Team worked together to build and fit Jose for a wheelchair that will change not just his life, but his mother’s as well. This increased mobility means she’ll finally be able to bring him places and participate in community events, and family celebrations that have been impossible for years. The wheelchair will also reduce the tremendous physical strain on her body from constantly lifting and repositioning Jose on the floor, helping to prevent her own long-term back and mobility issues. Most importantly, it will end years of being homebound and foster independence – running errands, attending appointments, and reducing the mental load while caring for her disabled son.
Watching Jose’s mother’s face as she realized what this wheelchair would mean for their family showed us hope and compassion in the most beautiful, unexpected way.
Team 883
Meg G, Team Blogger
