ACHC-Guatemala
(Association of Christian Hospitals
and Clinics of Guatemala)

I am excited to report that we have received a grant from a US foundation which will allow me to visit, in person, leaders in the US whose organizations are providing healthcare to the poor in Guatemala. I have already made one tour which took me to Chicago, Portland, Houston and Dallas. Later this year, after our few weeks in Wisconsin, I will finish these visits with a swing to the east coast and down through Atlanta and Florida. This is a very important step, I believe, toward creating more cooperation between these types of ministries. One of my ultimate goals of networking groups of Christian healthcare providers together, is to eventually begin holding annual healthcare missions conferences in Guatemala, and perhaps rotating this annual event between other Central American countries.

 

Our work in Palin continues to grow. Our good friends from Eastminster Presbyterian church and Moorings Presbyterian church have continued with their support of Dr Estrada's medical outreach to this very needy area located just south of Guatemala City. With these churches help a community clinic is being built and we have been preparing a nurse to become the full time healthcare provider in the community of Balcones 1, just on the outskirts of Palin. Also in this area, we have been building relationships with other needy communities and other interested parties are funding a community clinic in the nearby community of El Cortijo. We are also working in Maria Matos, a squaters community along an abandoned railroad tracks, and patients are being cared for in El Cedro (the Cedar in English).

 

Our work has also extended to the northwest mountains where we are partnering with our good friends at HOPE Bible Mission in the community of Chel and surrounding areas. This project has similar goals. Provide good, basic healthcare to the poor in a holistic and Christ centered way. We have recently helped with two teams from New York City Chinese churches with great success. We even held some pain clinics where patients received the benefits of acupuncture from a physician who is a specialist in pain management. What a blessing this was to the people in this area of Guatemala.

 

As an example of perseverance paying off we have recently begun providing lectures at Mariano Galvez University in Guatemala City. This is the second largest university in Guatemala with over forty thousand students. It has Christian roots and I have many friends who are part of this important center for higher education. Lectures are being given based on Dr Dan Fountains teachings on holistic community healthcare. Our hope is to help MGU implement a permanent curriculum that will help prepare students to work in the area of community health in a unique

way that provides healing of not only the body but also the spirit.

 

We are also working toward bringing a team from Health Development International (HDI) from Holland, Michigan to MGU to initiate a healthcare management class that could also become part of the MGU curriculum.

 

As you can see there is much to do and we always looking for partners in this adventure. We are especially in need of funding to advance the work we are doing. Most groups like to give to specific projects like building clinics, etc but we really need funding for basic operations. Especially for a vehicle that Dr Estrada could use for visiting all these communities. His little Toyota Tercel has been in the shop many times this year and is probably on its last legs. We need a small 4X4 to do this work. We are also in need of money to help improve our website. If you feel the work we are doing in the name of Christ is worthy would you please help support this work with a donation. This can be done through this website designating such moneys to the work of ACHC-Guatemala. Any questions can be directed to me at mjsoderling@gmail.com.

 

Thank you and God bless. Mike

 

Dr. Mike Soderling, M.D.