Friends & Family Letter
Dear Friends and Family,
Hello! I hope you are having a wonderful new year. Jonathan and I have been busy with work, school, and life! Jonathan is still at Dermatology Associates as a computer programmer and I’m still working at the Tyler Cancer Center as a nurse and working on my nurse practitioner degree at UT Tyler. I have 7 months of school left!
Some of you helped support me on my mission trips to Guatemala in 2005 and 2007 and I am very grateful for that. Elizabeth (my sister) and I have a last minute opportunity with UT Tyler to return to Guatemala for a mission trip and help provide a health clinic and operating room March 6-13th. In addition to running the clinic we will also collect research data from the area in order to hopefully improve their healthcare system long term. We will travel to the remote area of Sarstun with Refuge International, a Christian based organization out of Gilmer.
The need for healthcare in Guatemala is staggering. The leading causes of death in the country are pneumonia and diarrhea, both of which are usually preventable with adequate access to healthcare (World Health Organization, 2000). Forty-six percent of children under 5 years of age have some degree of chronic protein-energy malnutrition, compared to the global malnutrition rate of twenty-four percent. These examples are only a few of the healthcare issues of Guatemala in need of addressing. As we serve in the clinic we will help address acute and chronic health conditions along with de-worming all the patients and their families. Parasitic infections are an unfortunate problem there and one of the causes of mortality in the region.
Elizabeth and I both feel that God is calling us to return to Guatemala. Because of the unexpected opportunity to participate in this mission we are attempting to raise funds quickly. Any donations would be greatly appreciated. The trip costs $1400.00 each including air fare.
We really appreciate your time and consideration. Let me know if you would like any more information. We also ask for your prayers at this time, for safety and guidance.
God bless,
Deirdre