Amongst all of the amazing encounters and experiences here in Antigua, I feel distracted.  When I am active - praying in pre-surgery with patients or visiting on the ward - I'm focused.  But in those moments idleness - of quiet - my mind wanders and tears threaten. While here in Guatemala, I heard from my brother Paul's daughter-in-law that his wife, Dee, was going into hospice.  At the same time, Leigh and Dave were exploring moving Paul into hospice as well.  His dementia continues to progress.  He has a myriad of health issues following his major stroke and by-pas ..read more

 First, I apologize for not posting last night.  I was exhausted.  One of the docs today provided me with grace-filled explanation: the elevation was probably to blame.  I'll take it. So the first day of surgeries.  There are too many stories for one posting, so I'll try to focus on just a few thoughts.  The professional organization from Sunday's triage day, continued yesterday.  Yes, there were glitches and supplies that needed to be sourced, but considering the coordination necessary between Obras, Faith in Practice staff, our mission team, and another sma ..read more

All I have to say is that today had its ups and downs.  You know- life.  As we walked to Obras Sociales del Santo Hermano Pedro,  I made the mistake of looking straight ahead instead of at my feet, thereby facilitating going down hard on a  typical broken cement sidewalk.  No lasting damage but a bit embarrassing.   The hospital, which is part of the Cathedral complex, is so much bigger than Hospital Hilario Galindo, my previous experience.  We were given a quick and detailed orientation that addressed infection control, documentation, and the proper way to d ..read more

Faith in Practice surgical trip #798 has begun!  We gathered at PDX yesterday, boarded a very crowded flight at 12:40pm and arrived in Guatemala City on time at 11:00pm.  By the time baggage was claimed,  customs did their worst, and checking into the hotel, it was 1:30a.m. local time when I went to bed. So a long day. We arrived in Antigua fairly early this morning and after a few brief words, we were let loose until a team meeting at 5:00pm then dinner.   I'm sure everyone is impressed so far. . .  Being back in Guatemala after 10 years is weird.  For one ..read more

I’m sitting here at the Tualatin Panera, after my initial appointment with my spinal surgeon.  Current plan:  wait for insurance to approve cortisone shot to spine to see what that will do.  If it doesn’t work, there will be surgery although it doesn’t sound as extensive as my last spinal surgery. Wear and tear, I guess.   So I’m sitting here, in pain, sipping on a cappuccino, realizing that my brother Tom died almost a year ago.  I decided to make a Find-a-Grave entry for him.  After I wrote a short biography, I sorted through photos.  Find-a-Grave allows ..read more

  It’s the screams actually.   Howls that come from    the very depths of the soul   wails that physically hurt bystanders   with crushing, disbelieving pain. Such visceral screams are   most often followed by   desperate pleas for a different outcome.   “No, no, no, no, no …”   God-awful ripples slamming into strangers. There is nothing for it   but to stay with them.  To just stay   and make sure they don’t   hurt themselves as they thrash.   Silent witnesses to bone deep wounds. The mother of the 24 year old   ..read more

Three inch squares remnants from shirts  and pants and skirts and costumes The rotary cutter ran over reds and greens browns and blacks multicolors and yellows Assembled in rows  two rows of each color ten squares across eighteen rows down Created during autumnal nights for someone yet unknown a comfort quilt to provide comfort for those who grieve Three inch squares  bordered in a cream print with blue edging and white backing Three inch squares  This afternoon now wrap around a still body  held by wailing arms Three inch squares  for a three year old wh ..read more

Ancestral wandering in the dark Long strange journey of desert flight Looking for signs of presence and promise Guided by pillars of smoke and fire Struggling to trust. Ancestral pleading in the kingdoms Leaders corrupt and cruel, Torah abandoned Looking for signs of caring reign Guided by renewal of Davidic covenant Struggling to trust. Ancestral cries from a foreign land Separated from place, tradition, and holy mountain Looking for signs of divine justice Guided by prophetic judgment and faith Struggling to trust. Ancestral prayers of deliverance again Poor and blind, oppressed and pris ..read more

I haven’t been to church since I relapsed with COVID in May.  Me and Joe Biden and the paxlovid rebound.  The COVID was not the breaking up of my relationship with “church,” but the fact that my husband left his pastorate.  Shortly after my recovery from the COVID, he slipped off on his 6-week healing tour of the US by car, and I held down the fort.  Mostly I quilted, did some deep cleaning in the house, and enjoyed my Sunday-morning-found-time.  Starting at a new congregation by myself was not something I was up for then.  He wasn’t home very long until we jour ..read more

My brother died during the Omicron surge. I couldn't be with him I couldn't say good-bye It was so different than when my eldest brother died in 2019 Three years later and everything had changed He was the brother I could go to when things were wrong who was that immovable object I could hold on to who had battled some of his demons and gave me hope who had been there my whole life and loved me I often thought of my brothers as the warp threads of my life especially since our parents died I imagined my life with four strong warp threads as I  the weft, haphazardly wove myself around the ..read more