January 10, 2006

Tuesday morning we went to the bible school and after a quick tour met with Bonnie to discuss the re-designed plans for the clinic. She was receptive to the suggestions and helped us clarify structural details. She will need to investigate the regulations on the size of exam rooms, because the new plan has on one wall instead of three.

We then met with the leaders of the Mayan Synod of the Presbyterian Church. I brought them greetings from Salem Presbytery and the board of Hebron USA and expressed my pleasure being there. I asked for their prayers that the work we do may glorify God and that my family be safe in my absence. They talked about the need for the clinic and we asked for them to collect specific stories about how the current health care system has failed the indigenous people so we can relay those to our funding partners.

The pastors then talked for over an hour about a Presbyterian community they want to build close to town so that families can have access to good schools while still staying involved with the church. They voted to purchase a large tract of land and sub-divide it into lots where folks can build.

After lunch we had an amazing meeting with Daniel Cuate, the regional director of Emergency services for the County of Ocosingo. He is in charge of emergency services for a 50,000 square mile area in Chiapas, all with four vehicles. He wanted help in locating an ambulance with advanced life support systems and a small pumper fire truck. He has the approval to purchase the vehicles, but did not know where to begin to locate them. Glenn agreed to explore that upon his return to Asheville, all the while dreaming of driving the truck down from the border with the lights and siren on.

Seeing an opportunity to expand our relationships, we asked if he could help us guarantee that US shipments of medical supplies, pharmaceuticals and equipment for the clinic would arrive intact in Ocosingo. The synod attorney was also in attendance and they both agreed to work with the county to get a legal agreement that would allow Hebron Foundation to receive shipments in the name of the county. They said the county meeting was next week and they would make a proposal that would appear in the official minutes of the county meeting. If this is approved, we will try a test shipment in February or March to see how it works. It is exciting to have an opportunity to solve one of the biggest hurdles we face with equipping the clinic in our first day!

God has blessed us with safe travel, beautiful weather, receptive and gracious people and we have just begun to answer our call to serve.