I remember being asked by Dr. Buckmiller a few years ago to go on my first mission trip to China.  I thought, “Absolutely” and a few months later I got my first taste of what it was like to care for cleft lip and palate patients.  I had been warned that once you go serve on a mission trip, you will want to go every year and I find myself on my 3^rd trip in just over 2 years. I never dreamed that I would be able to use the “mark” that the Lord allowed me to have at birth, but the fact that I was a cleft lip/palate baby seemed to be working in my favor on this trip. Such is the case again in Guatemala.  I find myself humbled at the fact that the Lord would allow me to share my life experience with many different people.  To be able to tell a cleft patient in the PACU that I truly understand what they are feeling gives me a great feeling.  I have felt their pain, I have cried their tears, and I have woke up in recovery wondering “what just happened to me” and thinking “what do I look like.” I know that the Lord uses us as instruments in many different ways and on these trips, I really feel used.

Many years ago I had to make a choice about how I was going to view my cleft palate and lip.  Was I going to ball my fist up and shake it at God or was I going to loosen that fist and open my hand up to Him and let Him use me as He wants to.  I have been drawn in an indescribable way to give back to these cleft kids.  Being asked to be a part of the team is a blessing that I could easily get emotional about and the Lord has given me strength to work for these patients.

I also come away from a trip like this with a unbelievably humbled spirit.  At home with my wife are our two boys.  Our six year old, Owen, also was blessed with his own “marks”.  He has faced challenges from being born with cleft lip and with spina bifida.  The beauty of living close to Little Rock, Arkansas, is that we have a world renowned cleft surgeon in Dr. Buckmiller.  To say that she is good would be the understatement of a lifetime and we have opportunity to see her for our cleft needs.  I forget how spoiled we are when I go on these trips and when I watch the handiwork of the cleft surgeons, I quickly remember how talented they are and incredibly gifted. I think that’s how you can sum up this Guatemala trip to Huehuetenango.  It has been a gift.

One of my favorite stories from this trip was a mother of an 11 year old boy who had his lower lip revised by Dr. Buckmiller.  I don’t think he totally understood what his new face would look like because there was still a lot of post operative swelling around his lip.  His mother understood the major difference that had occurred though.  She made the comment to one of our team that she was grateful for everything that had been done for her son and that every time she looked at her son’s face she was going to remember the faces of those that worked with him on this trip.

There is no doubt that this trip has left an impression for a lifetime.  Not only for patients but for us as well.

By Matt Bishop, R.N.

A picture of Sandra taken in January of this year, when she first came seeking help.

Erin, with Helps International, in our triage area talking with Sandra and her parents.

When I started writing this I was happy just to have captured the images I had, documenting the work of Iaomai/Helps and the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Sandra and her parents.  I spoke with Dr. Lisa Buckmiller, trying to get more info concerning Sandra’s case.  She told me it was a tough case with a really neat back-story and that I should talk with Erin.  This is what Erin was able to tell me. Sandra was first seen by Dr. Shultz, a Helps International plastic surgeon, at the January Huehue clinic.  After examining Sandra, he determined the case was too difficult for surgery and that some other options would need to be explored.  After thinking about Sandra’s case, Dr Shultz suggested Erin contact Dr. Buckmiller, a plastic surgeon who had the expertise to tackle Sandra’s case. After forwarding all the doctor notations, case files and charts they had on Sandra to Dr. Buckmiller in Arkansas, she said she would see Sandra when she came to Huehue in October.  Erin notified Sandras parents that Dr. Buckmiller would see Sandra and to bring her to Huehue.  Sandra and her parents made the 2 hour trek to Huehue and Erin was able to meet them at the front gate on Sunday.

Sandra and her dad, before going into the operating room.

Dr. Buckmiller praying for Sandra and her parents before her surgery

Sandra had a severe fissure in her pallet that Dr. Buckmiller said was the toughest case she had since she got here.  Considering the fact that the Helps plastic surgeon didn’t think he could help Sandra is a testimony to Dr. Buckmiller’s skill and how difficult the case really was, and more importantly I believe it is a testament to her faith in God.  Dr. Buckmiller has been given a gift to restore and correct what is not right.  I was able to witness several times this week when she and her staff would come out to the pre-op area to pray for the patient and their family.

Sandra, the day she left the hospital.  Dr. Buckmiller said more work needs to be done to fix her upperlip but the biggest hurdle had been cleared.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”  2 Corinthians 13:11 NIV

This verse came to mind after thinking about the physical restoration that has happened in Sandra’s life.  What a blessing to be a witness of what God is doing in Huehue.  Sandras life will improve dramatically now that her pallet has been corrected by Dr. Buckmiller.

The reality is all of us who follow Christ have access to the One who can provide Spiritual restoration to those around us who may look whole on the outside but are empty on the inside.  Paul’s encouragement to us all is to strive (or aim, in the ESV) for full restoration….lets not be afraid to share the Good News of true restoration that comes through Christ!

by brotherjoe

To see more photos go to Mission Focused Blog

After a long day working at the hospital, nothing is better than seeing someone walk out with a big smile on their face.  A smile can mean so many things, but here at Huehue, a smile on a patient’s face usually means they are out of pain. There is no area in the hospital where these smiles are more important than in the dentist office. Dr. Chris Henninger the only dentist with our medical team this year, and he has hit the ground running. It’s day two, and he has already pulled over 150 teeth. Pulling teeth may sound like it’s not as important as some of the other spectacular surgeries taking place this week, but try telling that to all the people who are now pain free and for the first time in a long time, able to concentrate at work and school

If you have ever had a toothache, then you know it s difficult to think about anything else besides that pain. The patients being treated here are no longer dealing with this pain, but even better, they are on their way to being healthier people. We won’t go into the details, but dental care is connected to diabetes, heart disease and more. But the patients here aren’t worried about these diseases at the moment, they are more worried about eating dinner without pain or seeing a beautiful grin on their kiddo’s face. That is exactly what Dr. Henninger and his dental team are giving to their patients. We may not be able to speak the language here in Huehue, but no translation is needed when a patient gives us a big, happy smile.

This is Sonia, she is 12 years old. She had to have three permanent molar extracted because of poor dental habits. She was so thankful to be free of pain after the extraction.

Ioanna applies fluoride to teeth to help prevent cavities.

By Kelly Caldwell