Our Father Which Art...... is his Father too

 One of our orphans is slowly dying from stomach cancer. He was saved from an intestinal blockage which nearly killed him  about 8 months ago.  The doctor's proceeded  with a three phase chemotherapy treatment that is often successful, but not in Juan Pablo's case.  The tumors have spread and continued to grow.   The treatments were really quite  commendable and amazing when you consider how poor this third world country is.  The medical staff truly gave him excellent treatment especially when compared to that which is generally available here.

   Pablo is a dear warm and kind man. He is an orphan and has lived most of his 44 years in various institutions and foster homes. He almost always has a smile and an outreached hand to welcome you.  In spite of very low intelligence he remembers people and maintains a bit of a running dialogue with visitors and his care givers.


  Please pray for him and his peace with the Lord.   We are trying to locate a Hospice type arrangement for him during these later stages of his wasting disease. I am going to post a bit of the feedback and insights we have had from a post that I placed on a Missionaries website here in Guatemala. I will also try to update this blog or another more private one as his condition and the support community  evolve.

  This is what I posted to the Private Yahoo Newsgroup"

   
  "----Original Message-----
Sent: 3 Aug 2012 18:33:58 GMT
To: Intermissions@yahoogroups.com

Subject: [Intermissions] Question about Cancer Care and Hospice in Guatemala

 

Does anyone have insight into available options for local people to deal with late stage cancer? We have a man in out center that is about 45 years old and has not responded to cancer treatments. He is developmentally challenged as well. His name is Juan Pablo. We are looking for solutions to show the Lord's love as he prepares to leave this world. We believe that we can secure donations to give him decent care and a relatively pain-free last few months. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. 

Jamie Waller

jamiewaller@gmail.com
43565671"

 
  Various people have given me feedback, but for the most part there is little in the way of Hospice type care here in GT.  We continue to look for solutions:

  One email was sent that I found quite interesting. I quote below nearly in it's entirety:

" think too many times we expect to find things here like we would in the states. We have to keep in mind we are not in the states. We take for granted what our country does do and focus more on what they do not do.

When you think about it we as a mission community are trying to export compassion. We bring our convictions of caring for the poor and those in need to a place that those are just as foreign a concept as we ourself are to them. I think many times in missions we have wanted to be the answer to the issues and we have not imparted that vision. I think that is why he said to go forth and preach the gospel and make disciples. In the process of making disciples we are able to impart the vision God has given us. Plus in this same process God imparts his vision into the hearts of the people.
I think we need to slow down learn the culture we are in and understand its quarks and work from within that to bring change and transformation. 

So you have to ask how does your community deal with this season in this mans life? What do they see as an honoring way for him to spend his last days? Then you have to ask the Lord is the reason you know him is to walk this out with him? Maybe this is your ministry call for right now? You have to ask God that question and obey his answer. 

I am walking this out as we speak in the Mayan community of Cerro De Oro. I do not claim to have victory over this area just have some insight with my own dealings in recent weeks."

     We are also currently working with Dennis McCutcheon and trying to meet with Christian Hospice International that may have some representatives in the country presently. 

Please pray for Juan Pablo.