The doctor in Xela X-rayed her intestinal area and found that the scar tissue from previous surgeries has attached itself to her intestine and this is what is causing the problem with all the pain she is experiencing. She will need to do physical therapy twice each month in addition to chemotherapy once per month. I think the monthly cost for both is about Q6000($750). In addition Bette will need plastic surgery on her abdomen as she does not have the muscle tissue she needs to keep her intestines from bulging out. A family member of mine (Bruce Alberg) had the same problem as he was shot in WWII and the shrapnel ripped his abdomen and shredded his tissue, he eventually needed a plastic sheet sewed into his abdomen to keep his intestines from bulging out. As I understand it this is what Bette will need and the cost will be around Q40-50,000 ($5000-6250). Obviously the costs are huge for them. Pastor Efrain told me he would sell everything they owned if that is what was needed to get Bette the medical help she needed.
Thank you for your help raising the funds they will need.
Blessings always,
Bruce
Note: Exchange rate at the time of this posting is Q8 (Quetzales): $1 (US Dollar)
Iglesia Canaan - San Pablo la Laguna
LINKS IN THIS BLOG
YWAM
| Bruce Ahlberg, YWAM, Antigua, Guatemala is also working to help find medical funds for Efrain and Bette Alva. | |
| CONTACT INFO | |
| brutcho@hotmail.com | |
| PHONE | +(502) 5394-3186 |
| WEB | ywamantigua.org |
Support Status
| GIFT TYPE | TOTAL PLEDGED | NEEDED |
|---|---|---|
| SPECIAL GIFTS | $900 | $6250 |
| MONTHLY | 0 | $750 |
| Last update | May 10, 2009 | |
Posts
Iglesia Canaan, San Pablo la Laguna
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San Pablo la Laguna is one of 12 towns that is located on Lake Atitlan in Solola, Guatemala. For several reasons San Pablo has not benefited by the tourist industry that has been developed in the other 11 towns; there are no hotels nor restaurants there. Consequently the village does not draw tourists. Many of the men in San Pablo are farmers (campesinos).
The primary cottage industries in the village for women are: crocheting covers for hacky sacks; beautiful bead work belts; and spinning fiber from Maguey plants to make rope. The village is extremely poor; drugs and alcohol abuse are a huge problem.
Forrest and Carol Kendall started working in San Pablo after Hurricane Stan impacted this part of Guatemala in October 2005. Land slides destroyed much of the farm land where the men from the village worked. Additionally, the village was isolated because the road (a very steep and difficult road to navigate in good conditions) was impassable due to slides and erosion. We (Forrest and Carol) started making weekly trips to the lake to distribute basic supplies (black beans, masa—for making tortillas, cooking oil, sugar, and a nutritious drink for children). Pastor Efraim Alba from the Assemblies of God church, Iglesia Canaan, was our primary contact.
As we worked with Efraim and his wife Betty during the months following the hurricane we started to learn of the long term needs in San Pablo. One of their primary concerns was children's education in the village. For many families it is an economic decision if they keep their children in school or put them to work to support the family. Due to losses from the hurricane even more families were planning to have their children quit school and start working. It is very common for girls to have no education and boys no more than a 3rd grade education. School in Guatemala is “free”, however, families must pay an annual inscription (registration) fee, purchase school uniforms, school supplies and books needed for the year. This is too much of an economic burden, and even more so when the sources of income vanished due to the results of the hurricane.
SCHOLARSHIPS
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Pastor Efraim convinced us (Servants 4 Him) that one additional way we could help in San Pablo was to provide scholarship funds for families/children who desired to remain in school. The funds would be used to provide the fees for registration, uniforms, and supplies. Efraim requires that every child who receives funds must attend a local evangelical church. We are happy to report that we have had scholarship funds for 30-35 children for the past 3 years and have commitments for the same level of support for 2009. Of course there are many more families who would like have their children in school, but more scholarship support is needed.
We were thrilled with a thank you letter from one student who wrote that his family was Catholic, but he had been attending Iglesia Canaan. He wants to continue to stay in school and study to be an evangelical pastor. This is largely due to Efraim’s influence in his life.
VISION
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One of the reasons we started working with Efraim and Betty is because they had a vision to reach out to the people in their community. They know as they are involved they will have more opportunities to share the gospel with their neighbors.
We have built water filters and fuel efficient wood burning stoves, taught health classes, and children’s classes in the church as we co-labored with Efraim and his church.
They saw a huge need for a medical clinic in San Pablo. Betty has training as a nurse and wanted to serve her community this way. We have been able to provide medical supplies for her as she reaches out to her neighbors.
Servants 4 Him received a donation to purchase construction materials and a church team from northern Virginia came in 2006 to help with the construction a facility. The building will serve two purposes: provide space for the clinic and a place for the Alva’s to live. The first floor of the structure has been completed for 2 years. Efraim and his family have been living there using their living room as a small clinic. They very much want to finish the 2nd story (their living space) so they can open the first floor as a clinic. As they continue to work and serve in San Pablo...
The Alva family is struggling with a significant problem ...
NEEDS
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Betty has been struggling with cancer for a number of years. She has had several surgeries and is in constant pain. She has maintained a positive attitude and continues to be a model of grace to her community and church. Her youngest daughter is only 5 and has never known her mother when she was not ill.
The doctors have recommended chemotherapy in Guatemala City. The cost is about Q3500 ($450) a month. This precious family struggles to meet their daily needs and cannot afford this procedure.
We have set up a medical fund to help them pay for Betty’s medical treatments. If you would like to contribute please send your donation to Servants4Him with a note that it is for Efraim & Betty Alva, medical.