We have been guests at Las Buenas Nuevas (the Good News) the CAM R&R house in Panajachel several times during the past half decade. This time we will be here for nearly a week. It is situated directly on the waterfront of the lake. There is only a small strip of shops and restaurants and a stone walkway which lie below the front-most fence and portion of the property and the water itself. There is an unobstructed view of the Atitlan Volcano just across the lake which is visible from the front porch as well as the front room picture window. The weather is mild and there is a light breeze with nearly full sunshine. The thermometer might read 70 degrees. The only thing that is missing is a hammock on the front porch. But there are Adirondack chairs, a tiled-top table and birds chirping all about. Flowers are planted in every direction and the palm fronds are gently moving in the light breeze. The grass is mowed and neatly trimmed as far as the eye can see. There are deck chairs out in the front of the property if one would desire taking in a bit of the sun's rays. Not a whole lot more to desire here I would say.
Our home for these six days and nights is called the Nueva (new) house. It has a full kitchen with table that could easily accommodate 6 and with a stretch perhaps 8. There is one bedroom with queen-sized bed which has its own bath with shower. The other two bedrooms (one with two twin beds and the other with a queen and one twin) share the remaining bathroom. There is pressurized hot and cold water and the large living room has a wood burning fireplace. There is WiFi available on the property so we are not suffering here. It is a great place to vacate the cares of the world and refresh.
John has been busy baking both bread and a variety of cookies for the team working about a 45-minute drive away from us. We have already made two successful runs to the clinic to deliver these items. Yesterday was a day of registration when the courtyard and buildings were filled to the brim with those who desired treatment or a checkup. Today it was more sane in that those who registered for services yesterday were given appointment slips for today and sometime through the week ahead. So there was order today whereas there was apparent chaos yesterday.
John and I had an opportunity to tour the building where there was a waiting area, a preparation portion and two operating rooms. I was invited to don a surgical hat and mask and take my camera in to take some flash photos of two operations in progress. Both involved the eyes and both coincidentally involved the removal of cataracts. I even had an opportunity to watch close work on the eye through a scope which hovered about 18 inches above the patient. It was amazing to witness these acts of mercy.
This team is involved only in providing for eyes and diseases of the eyes. However, the facility is equipped for other types of surgery and also can handle dental missions. I was amazed at the diversity available in the facility.
We are back at Nueva again and John will soon begin to prepare for tomorrow's planned delivery. John has everything ready either the night previous or early the morning of the delivery. He was fortunate enough to bring with him most of the equipment that we needed in the preparation and baking of the goods. Most came from Antigua but he has found some items here in the central dispensary of utensils, pots and pans. Tomorrow he plans to make oatmeal cookies and cornbread for the group. By that time I should have a few snaps of some of the patients at the clinic as well as some of the doctors performing surgery. I even caught an elderly couple (maybe about my age) who agreed to have their photograph taken.
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