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A Greater Work

01.08.12

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works…” John 14:12

Thank you Jesus!!!

We give all thanks and glory to our savior Jesus Christ who brought this magnificent team together and provided a safe journey and used the incredible gifts on this team to deliver much needed medical care to those in need. Touching lives with the love of Christ and delivering miracles to those in need is a slogan Iaomai Medical seeks to emulate with each patient and volunteer. The 2011 Iaomai/Helps Guatemala Medical Team did just that during their 8 days in Huehuetenango. Each journey always begins with taking the first step and the first step for this team was a huge step of faith. From the leadership to the volunteers there was a majority of new hearts serving, but that didn’t sidetrack or slow this team down. What developed was a group of tightly knitted leaders and volunteers who stepped up to serve with their whole heart – truly amazing and powerful!!!

Iaomai Medical’s mission is to share the love of Christ in a practical way through the gift of advanced healthcare. Iaomai also has goals for its volunteers to have the most incredible experience possible. We do this by empowering the volunteer, removing distractions and providing an environment for each volunteer to use their God given gifts. We know by doing this an individual will feel significant and incredibly motivated. The results are seen in the shape of volunteers having a life changing event, empowering them to be more focused, driven and seeking to make the most of their lives in all that they do.

This year’s team was fantastic, so many lives were touched and as one volunteer said, “it was my life that was impacted.” That’s so true for all of us who serve. I can’t thank all our volunteers enough, the love and care each one poured out was truly amazing and why Iaomai continues to make a difference in each community served. Thank you all for your sacrifice and service to the 2011 Iaomai/Helps Medical Team. We pray many blessings on you and your effort. We hope to see you all back on a future mission.

In His Almighty Love,

Sean Burgess

Huehuetenango Guatemala trip 2011

12.02.11

Well it’s been over a month since returning from Guatemala and the glow has not worn off.This was my wife’s Janie(RN) and mine’s(MD) first medical mission and the experience could not have been better.Everybody I talked to before the trip who had experienced it previously said that it would be a game changer,and they were right.There’s nothing like radically changing your practice environment to get you thinking.I can’t say enough about how well prepared the leaders of the San Diego team were and how that preparation allowed us to immediately jump in and start treating medical and surgical patients.Our patient population of mostly Mayan Indians were the most hard working/pleasant/tolerant and happy population that I have ever experienced.They gave more to me than I gave to them.By midweek I knew something different was happening inside me-a spiritual awakening that still burns inside me now.It awakened a thirst to explore a different medical path.I thought I was going to Guatemala to help people,heal where I could,decrease pain where I could.I had no idea they would also begin to heal me.That’s the game changer.

The Gift of Sight

10.07.11

The eye team that is here this year is due to Dr. Greg Stainer, who was part of Iaomai’s 2009 team. He recruited his colleague Dr. Keith Miller and two other returning team member, David Luera and Gloria Lizarraga. This team has provided about 50 eye exams each day and given out eyeglasses free of charge to the patients who need them.

Dr. Miller has also help a patient with a sty that needed to be removed and was able to get a 15 month old cataract patient referred for surgery. Because he could not see he had not learned to walk yet. Our team here has raised the $1000 needed to pay for his operation.

Patti Miller is showing off the glasses they have collected to give out to patients.

This little 8-year-old girl named Jessica could not see very well, she said it was hard for her to walk to school. Rick & Tim were able to pray with her and share the love of Jesus. She was so happy to receive her new glasses that helped her see well.

A Much Needed Surgery

10.06.11

A 48-year-old woman named Mahlde came to the hospital on Tuesday with a large mass in her abdomen. The mass has been growing for over 5 years but she did not have any family to help her get to a hospital. In July a new friend took her to another Helps’ Hospital near where they lived. She was not able to get in to see a doctor because there was an excessive amount of people there. The Helps’ staff told her that she could come to Huehue in October She and her friend, Sonia, live six hours away from Huehue and they had to take four buses to get here to see the Iaomai ‘s Doctors. Mahlde was operated on by Dr. Melin & Dr. Hebert, they removed a very large mass that was about 10 pounds. I was fortunate to be able to watch and photograph her surgery.

Mahlde is so appreciative to have this surgery for free. The majority of the people of Guatemala do not have the money for medical care and they also don’t have the opportunity to even get to a hospital. The hospitals are only in the cities and they are filled to capacity. Every time I walk into her room she gives me a big smile.

Mahlde and her new friend, Sonia, pose for a picture. Sonia has been staying with her at the hospital to help her.

Please pray for Mahled, as she might need to be give blood to help her recover.

Patients Wait Patiently

10.04.11

When the team arrived at Huehue on Sunday there was already a line of people half way around the front of the base. Some of these people have walked for a week just to get here. They arrived a few days before we did and many will stay all week until they have the chance to be treated by a Doctor, Surgeon, Optometrist or Dentist. It is estimated that there are 3000 people in line waiting patiently to get the help they need.

The people are given out a number as they wait in line and then a group of about 25 is taken into the registration area. They then wait in the open court area in groups according to what specialist then need to see.

When it is their turn they are taken into the hospital waiting area. The surgeries today all went well. The cleft lip repairs are the most dramatic transformation to see; however all the patients lives will be made better by receiving help that relieves pain and corrects defects. Besides the 15 surgeries today there were about 150 patients seen in the clinic.

Oseas’s Mom was so happy and

thankful to have his cleft lip repaired.

Empty Rooms To Working Hospital

10.03.11

The team arrived in Guatemala yesterday; today we drove on two large buses to Huehuetenango. We arrived here at about 1:00 and quickly got to work making empty rooms into a working hospital. It was amazing to watch this team of people who are from all over the US work together so well.

By 5 O’clock in the evening the doctors were seeing patients. Tomorrow Dr. Imler will be performing four Hernia surgeries, Dr Melin has five GYN cases, and Dr. Buckmiller & Dr. Glade will be performing six Cleft Palate Repairs.

Please continue to pray for the team this week.

Being Part Of God’s Story

09.22.11

Our trip to Guatemala in October is fast approaching, the team is formed and the bags are being packed. I am so excited to return again this year, as I already know what an impact we will have on the lives of the people in Huehuetenango and the surrounding villages. Last year our team saw a total of 1942 patients and preformed 112 surgeries.

On last year’s trip I help my good friend Greta in the optometry area. As Greta and I were getting ready to see the eyeglass patients we could not find the special little screwdriver we needed in order to assemble the glasses. MacGyver Rich “happened” to have one we could borrow. At the end of the trip as we packed up and thanked Rich for the use of the screwdriver, he told us that it was purchased on his last run to Home Depot before leaving. He stood in the store contemplating why he would ever need such a small screwdriver. God nudged Rich and he added it to his basket. Without that screwdriver we could not have blessed the people with the glasses that they needed. Having Greta on the trip was a miracle in itself, as she joined the team just two weeks before we departed for Guatemala. She had already been on two other mission trips during the summer, recently returning from a Katrina build. One of our memorable patients was a 90-year old man who could not even see the large chart on the wall. He was all smiles with his newly made glasses, as he could now see the E on the chart.

Every patient we saw that week was a part of God’s story. It was so humbling because the people were extremely appreciative; the ladies all hugged and kissed us and the men shook our hands and thanked us over and over again. The kids grinned from ear to ear. I will never forget their gratitude. God is found in the small blessing of life as He displayed His love with a screwdriver. We saw 191 vision related patients during the week. A total of ninety-seven pairs of glass were given to the people of Huehue. That included 35 custom readers, 22 custom distance glasses, 32 donated readers and 8 sunglasses. We actually could have given out more readers and sunglasses if we had had then. I know this year’s Eye-team will also be blessed by the gracious people of Huehue as they provide them with much needed glasses. We hope you can join us in the future.

A mission well done!!!

10.20.10

On October 2nd the Iaomai Medical team set out on a journey to the Highlands of Guatemala with Helps International. Our team made way to Huehuetenango, Guatemala an area nestled in the valley of the highest mountain range in Central America. Along the way we saw and experienced the fragile conditions left by heavy rains. We witnessed up-close the devastating effects of massive mudslides, eroded out roads with steep drops below, flooded out villages, and those who suffered the consequences of such turmoil. The destruction was apparent and far from being over as the affects from the storm were still unfolding.

Only hours into our trip we saw first hand a massive mud slide that avalanched down onto the road in front of us. Two hours later the roads were still being dug out. In contrast, we also experienced the longest stretch of sun light in Guatemala since May 2010. I was asked about this coincidence and could only respond by saying, “sometimes you just have to put up your hands up and thank God.” God surely blessed us; one of our many prayer requests was for a break in the weather that we would have an entry and exit – we did – thank you God.

Today marks a week that we’ve been back from the incredible mission – “one for the books” as a volunteer put it. God was awesome. He was awesome through all of you and the people we served. It was so impressive seeing all of you in action and the team unity was incredible. We have so much to build upon as we continue to move forward in spreading the love of Christ to the poor through advanced health care.

The Iaomai Medical team included 55 from San Diego, 7 from St. Louis, 5 from Los Angeles, 2 from Little Rock, 1 from Phoenix and 1 from Norfolk – a total of 71. Along the way we added 1 volunteer from Jackson, Mississippi, 1 Canadian, 2 from Lake Tahoe and 10 Guatemalan student translators from the International school in Guatemala City. This brought our team total to 85.

The team experienced many successes during the course of the mission. The team treated a total of 2,054 patients, performed 112 surgical procedures and there were 8 decisions for Christ made (2 of which came from our own team).

Thank you for all of your effort and sacrifice on this trip. I pray God continue to bless each and every one of you. We also want to thank and acknowledge all of those who helped make our trip possible from family support to corporate donors – we thank you.

In His Almighty Love,
Sean

10 Days to Guatemala 2010

09.23.10

As we approach the one week mark all is looking good on the preparation side. We are going with a team of 70 medical and non-medical volunteers from all over. In total we represent 7 countries around the world, 10 states and a number of US cities. All medical supplies have been ordered. We are still waiting for a few supplies to come in so please pray for “on time” deliveries.

Guatemala:

If you have been following the news you may have seen Guatemala pop up a few times. Heavy rains continue to devastate Guatemala which has created more of a need in the area we are going – Huehuetenango. Our trip “has not been compromised.” The roads we travel are safe and secure. We continue to keep a close watch on the conditions. Please keep the weather as well as the community in your prayers.

The Fundraiser:

We want to send a heart felt “Thank You” to all of you for giving us a successful 2-day fundraiser at La Especial Norte in Encinitas. We received tremendous financial and prayer support. We couldn’t do what we do without your continued support and prayers. Thank you.

Do you Tweet?

Follow us on Twitter. Our Twitter account is up and going and we are actively tweeting. We are thrilled that we’ll be able to keep all our family, friends and supporters up-to-date as we prepare, serve and identify places to do medical outreach. We want to share of all the blessings, prayer needs and miracles as they occur.

Thank you again for all your support

Blessings,
Sean

A little trivia about Huehuetenango…

08.04.10

I know many of you have been getting a lot of questions from family, friends and donors about Huehuetenango. I hope I can address some of those questions with the nuggets of information below.

Huehuetenango – pronounced “way-way-tuh-nay-n-go” is also known as Huehue or the Mayan Highlands. It is located in the Northwest Region of Guatemala and is approximately 168 miles from Guatemala City (or a 6 hour bus ride) off the Pan-American Highway. Huehue is the last major city before reaching the Mexican border. The population is well over 80,000 and is primarily made up of indigenous Mayan Indians.

Huehue has an incredible history and was long established before the Spanish settled. It was part of the Mam Kingdom during the Classic period (250-900 A.D.), which ruled most of the western highlands until 1525. Huehuetenango or “Xinabahul” in Mayan means place of the ancients or ancestors. There are still numerous archeological sites and colonial architecture in the area.

Huehuetenango has one of the highest concentrations of native Mayans and perhaps the richest in traditions. Inhabitants are mainly from the Mam ethnic group, although the territory is shared with Chuje, Kanjobal and Jacalteca Indians. It is politically divided into 31 municipal districts that differ especially in how people dress. People are generally farmers, shepherds or artisans who manufacture textiles, guitars, fireworks, pottery and baskets. Their main religions are a mixture between the ancient Mayan religion and different Christian elements.

Nestled along the ridges of the Sierra de Los Cuchamatanes (the highest non-volcanic mountain range in Central America) with altitudes that reach over 13,000 feet, the region has one of the most varied landscapes in all of Guatemala. There are numerous volcanoes in the area, scenic canyons, beautifully formed gullies and massive plateaus. Having such a diverse landscape is one of the reasons for so many different ethnic groups in such a relatively small territory.

Huehue also has a varying climate that ranges from deep cold to hot and humid. Several rivers originate in the area, the Selegua, Cuilco, Chixoy and Salinas. Agriculture is abundant here, roughly all the vegetables and grain for Guatemala is grown in Huehue. However, as we have seen, when there’s a drought in this area the whole country suffers. There is still tremendous poverty and the environment is harsh. From natural disasters to malnutrition and conflicts, this area sees its far share regularly. The need is real and ever present, just ask anyone who has been.

Thank you for taking on this incredible challenge

I will see you all at our next team meeting on August 21st at Sharp.

Please continue to pray for us and our team.

~ Sean

Iaomai Medical Ministries medical outreach