GHH was privilaged to host a large group 40 plus from Meadows Spring SDA church the month of April 2023, arriving to Manos Ayudadoras in MACHAQUILA, Poptun Peten this group well organized by Donna Musellman and Pia Soule, trained new leader Dra. Lisandra a dentist from Orlando Fl. with their passion and dedication and love for our people they a great work in the northern part of Peten.
A group of Physical Therapists atend a lot of patients on campus and in the nursing home as well, VBS group with young people brought every day Bible stories and present Jesus at the local school of Machaquila, a nurse practioner was able to atend several patients at that time. Also a group a strong boys and girls commanded by Kirk, a general contractor and a fireman was able to do several construction work, built an apartment for staff, did a concrete side walk at the Life Style center and thanks to Kirk who coordinate a CPR class for police, doctors, nurses and local firemen, every body was participating in such a great activity for the community. This group was such a blessing and support to our Proyect in Guatemala thank you so much and praise the Lord for allowing the Lord to celebrate their fifty anniversary missionary trips that Larry and Pia celebrate together in Guatemala. God bless each of you that participate in this trip.
Michell Withacre, a Midwife from Atascadero, California who has her own homebirthing business, decided to visit us in the northern part of Peten in a village of Machaquila. Her goal is to provide local midwifes with tools and tips to deliver babies and reduce the infant mortality rate in Guatemala.
During her visit, she taught health education classes at the local health department, and also trained our local doctors and health care workers, police, and firefighters in neonatal CPR, which was an excellent use of her time.
Together with Mitchel, we would like to develop a Maternity Waiting Home so that women can stay with with us during the last month of pregnancy until their babies are born at the local hospital. Working with the local health department and the local government hospital will help the local population to improve women's health in our villages in Peten
Helping Hands Sanatorium is blessed in the month of March by the presence of students and professionals from Loma Linda University and La Sierra Adventist University in Riverside California March 14-25, later joined by students and faculty from Walla Walla University .
A group of more than 25 students together with their Professors from three Universities gather at the Helping Hands Sanatorium to provide services to several communities in San Luis and Poptun. March 16 we began visiting the community of Cain, where the 8 laws of health were taught and taught in Central Park where the group was present supporting the San Luis District, led by Pastor Williams.
Sunday March 17, the community of Poxte was visited where food was given to many people in need. In the facilities of the Adventist Church in Poxte. Directed by Pastor Levi and brother Froilan. Poptun district.
March 18, the communities of San Fernando, San Luis were visited where students at Loma Linda University Health had health activities supporting Pastor William's conferences where he had conferences all week. They distributed housing, had medical clinics and dental care. They also provided health, psychology and healthy lifestyle counseling.
Group visits the San Luis Nursing Home, brings happiness and greets, many in the morning go to the mega bale to buy clothes and t-shirts for the elderly and other toys and have a good time
March 20 Group leaves at 4 am from the Helping Hands camp to visit Tikal and they have a good time. They go to Flores and have a good time.
March 21 The blessed community on this occasion was SEAMAY where the visiting group went and donated bags of food, dental care, games, health talks showing the love that should reign among us as children of the heavenly King.
Friday, March 22, they do various activities, they take advantage of the Healthy Living Center to get a massage, sauna and rest, others went to the Mopan Causeway to bathe in the falls, they visited the AHICAM, the orphanage and worked painting, planting and watering trees because of the heat. It's barbaric. We waited for the other group from Walla Walla that came today. and Waiting for holy Saturday to go to Church.
Menstruation continues to be taboo in many countries. This, together with poverty, the few options to access menstrual hygiene products, the lack of places to change hygienically or the lack of water and sanitation in schools means that many girls choose to stay at home during the days of period, something that in the long term harms their academic performance and their emotional discomfort, increasing the possibilities of dropping out of school, which is why as Sanatorio Manos Ayudadoras we have begun to give workshops on menstrual education, on this occasion a workshop on menstrual education was given to the girls from the local school in our Machaquila community, since as mothers and fathers we need to prepare our girls for when that moment comes, and that is why as Sanatorio Manos Ayudadoras we are supporting the menstrual education of our girls in our community. department.
Imagine a world where every woman and every man, no matter where they live or what language they speak, has access to the magic of menstrual education.
That is why, as a social projection, the Sanatorio Manos Ayudadoras held a menstrual education workshop, together with the municipality of Poptun, where 35 midwives from different communities were present where they were able to reinforce some knowledge about menstrual education. learn about new alternatives to manage menstruation, learn more about our female organs and their functions.
It was a very productive workshop where we were able to share many experiences as well as learn about some of the needs of their communities regarding menstrual education:
• Need for a workshop where they can learn to make their own cloth sanitary pads.
• Workshop to learn how to suture, since accidents often happen in schools or in the field while working, and due to the distance between their communities and the local hospital, it is difficult to get out.
• Construction of sanitary bathrooms in their schools so that girls can have a safe place with access to water where they can manage their menstruation.
• Menstrual education workshops once a year, since due to access to these communities, the Educators are often Men, and due to taboo, these topics continue to be treated superficially.
If you are a doctor, nurse, health personnel or would simply like to support this menstrual education initiative, you can do so.
• Donating reusable cloth menstrual hygiene kit.
• Donating your time to go to the communities and give menstrual education talks.
• Training midwives with new techniques and knowledge related to childbirth.
• Organizing groups with your friends or churches to collect underwear for girls.
• Organizing groups of retired women who like sewing and together we can make menstrual hygiene kits to send our girls to Guatemala.
• Sending your donation to buy a Menstrual Kit in Guatemala.
Walla Walla University.