www.manoconmano.org
April 2004
Page 2
February 13-21 brought a small but mighty team from Del Rey Hills
Evangelical Free Church, Playa del Rey, CA to Guatemala.
Herman and Linda Jones, Jim and Colleen Butcher and Danielle Haight conducted
five days of vision clinics. They visited San Juan Alotenango, a village under
the shadow (and soot) of Volan Fuego outside of Antigua, Guatemala. Pastor
Francisco reports a family of five coming to know Christ as a result of that
clinic, and that church attendance has been up. They spent four days in San
Rafael el Arado, the Mayan village where Susan Jones and Anita Giagnacavo
work each week. Assisted by Sepal missionaries and local people, they performed
eye exams in the Yalu village school as well as the clinic. Visits to the
girls’ home featured below, CAG, and delivering school supplies to neighboring
shacks filled in “down” time during the week. Ten bags of needed
supplies were transported by this team. MCM patients are still benefiting
from this encouraging visit.
Danielle Haight gives
school supplies to Santos
Irma's "before" smile
This is Irma Guerra, a 15 year old girl whose parents abandoned her as a
child. Along with 20 other girls with similar stories, Irma lives with Carroll
Bishop, director of Shadow of His Wings Christian home for girls. Irma hasn't
seen her mother in over two years, and has no idea where her mother might
be right now. Irma has an infectious personality and beautiful smile. When
we first met Irma, we noticed the large gap where one of her front teeth should
be and several
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orthodontic brackets on her upper teeth, but no corresponding wire to pull
the teeth into position. Carroll told us of how two different dentists had
started Irma’s care, but lack of resources and doubts about the care
that was prescribed caused her treatment to come to a halt 18 months earlier.
After writing to MCM supporters, it was decided that we would “adopt”
Irma’s dental care. So far, she has had a series of x-rays, cleanings,
fillings, fluoride treatments, oral surgery and has new orthodontic brackets
in place. A special spring is in position to pull the “hiding”
central incisor into its proper location. With discounts and donated care,
the estimate for her full treatment will be $1500.00. Irma cried when she
realized that (because of YOU) she may one day have this embarrassing and
serious dental condition transformed into normal, pretty, useful teeth. Irma
knows that Jesus answered her prayers–and you were that answer. 
is a 26 year old Mayan man from the village of Yalu. He is married and the father
of four children. One night-after returning from work, he fell from his bicycle
in the dark onto the dirt road and badly injured his knee. A trip to the local
hospital led to an infection. His wife, Maria Juana, ran from their home to
the clinic to ask for help. When Susan Jones arrived at his home, he was in
severe pain from the swelling and infection in his knee. He has been hospitalized
twice in the last two months for I.V. antibiotics. He is now undergoing physical
therapy and hopes to return to work in another month. Since Lorenzo has not
been receiving any kind of disability pay, MCM has been providing food and financial
support for his family. Lorenzo has been improving each week, and because of
God's love expressed through MCM, Lorenzo now believes that God used his injury
to change his life. During his second hospitalization he gave his life to Christ.
Lorenzo says he wants to "spend the rest of my life telling others about God
and how He changed my life." Lorenzo is profoundly grateful for the "gringos"
that God has sent to his village to help the poor and talk about Jesus. God's
ways are often a mystery to us, but we do know that through your love and supporting
the work of MCM, Lorenzo's life will never be the same.
Lorenzo Canel Pirir in the hospital with knee joint infection