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Written by Jim Guffey August 31, 2005
Pablito has had his further tests and some added excitement in the big city two weeks ago. He and his family saw the new
Herbie movie on the big screen at the theater! First time experience and boy were they amazed!
Pablito will be returning to the nuerologist next week so that they can analyze his test results. We'll keep you posted!
Remember to send your donations to:
Immanuel-Go Ministry Guatemala
28355 E Baseline,
Highland, CA, 92346
Make your tax deductible check out to Immanuel Baptist Church and please write "Pablito, Guatemala" in the comment section.
Thank you for giving to the Lord!
| Pablito and Dad at my house |
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Pablito Update-Update-written by Jim Guffey, August 19, 2005
Tomorrow, Saturday, August 20 we take little Pablito to Guatemala City for some additional testing. We are leaving at
4:30 in the morning. I will update you soon on the outcome.
God bless each of you who expressed an interest in helping these people financially. I will be in touch.
Pablito Update written by Jim Guffey August 16, 2005:
Tuesday, August 16, 2005. Hector and I set out this morning at 5:45 a.m. from Panajachel for the two-hour drive to Xela.
We drove for approximately 1 hour and picked up Pablo (the dad) along with Pablito and his sister, Francisca. They had taken
a taxi truck from their village of San Pablo and were waiting for us in the street. And when we stopped in the road for them,
seven other people also asked for rides and they piled in the back. And we were off!
| Pablito and his sister, Francesca |
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| Pablito and his father, Pablo |
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About 10 minutes into the drive I happened to think about the x-rays and other test we had already had done in the City a
month ago and hesitatingly asked Hector if we had them. The look on his face told me what I was afraid to hear. So I turned
around in the road and began the drive back to Panajachel. As if that wasn't bad enough a glance in my rearview mirror showed
me seven guys wondering why we had turned around. And so the day began. But praise the Lord, everything happens for a reason
and everything was going to turn out just great!
| Inside the Neurologists Office |
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| neurologists office |
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We arrived in Xela about 30 minutes late and checked in at the neurologists office. When we went to check in they were turning
people away; however, because we had come so far they allowed us to wait. As we didn't have an appointment we would have
to wait until they could work Pablito into the day. This could take many hours. As it was, Pablito was able to see the doctor
at just after one o'clock. We were very fortunate.
Here is the cool thing. There are two neurologists on staff. The doctor Pablito got to see has a waiting list for new patients
appointments two months out. But they agreed to see him if we could wait because of his situation. There is also a second
doctor, a specialist. His waiting list is over six months out. The first doctor reviewed the tests and x-rays and did some
examination to little Pablito. After a time he explained to Hector and Pablito's father that Pablito really needed to see
the specialist and then he left the room. A few minutes later he returned with the specialist. The specialist did a full
examination of Pablito on the spot! God is so good!
So here's the story, so tragic in itself. Pablito's problem is prenatal origins and could have been helped had his mother
received proper care. But she didn't and here we are. There has been some permanent damage but it's hard to tell how much.
Right now he is three years old and cannot walk, talk or sit up without assistance. He must be fed and cared for all his
waking hours. What a tremendous burden on this family, including the children who take turns "walking" and caring for Pablito.
The doctors prescribed a new medication which should help, along with therapy to strengthen Pablito's weakened muscles. Fortunately,
there is a facility in Panajachel. But this is a 30 minute boat ride from their village and of course there is cost for the
therapy. Additionally, the doctors discovered that Pablito has a problem hearing and referred him to the Solola Hospital
(30 minutes from Panajachel) for tests. The hope is that if his hearing is restored he will learn to talk normally. But
no one knows the prognosis for Pablito. Please keep him in your prayers.
| The Wash Sink |
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| Looking from the outside back |
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| The "Patio" |
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| Cook Stove and Sweat House |
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| Inside the "room" |
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When we arrived back at Pablito's house everyone was clearly happy. The desperation was replaced by hope and a newfound sense
of possibility. It was so nice to see!
The family lives in a 15' x 15' room about the size of most people's bedroom. This is the only privacy they have and
it also contains the only bed, along with a folding cot. There is no bathroom or kitchen, just an outdoor wood stove and
a covered "patio" about 10 feet long and 6 feet wide. The family has an antique 9 inch television which gets one
channel barely, two children's wooden chairs, one plastic chair for an adult that is badly broken and a hammock. The floor
is all dirt.
| Pablito |
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| Pablito's Father |
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Pablito's father makes less than $110 a month. He buys the rights to an avocado tree and then sells the avocados in the market.
When times are good he makes more and when times are bad, he makes less. As I said before, he often borrows money to fill
in the gaps. He owns this "house" passed down to him by his father.
| Francesca "Walking" Pablito |
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There is so much that could be said but I'm not going to say it. This is a family that God has brought our way for a reason.
Please consider helping this family. Every dime you give will go to this family.
If you would consider helping this family or another that God places in our path, please send me an e-mail. Simply go to
the "contact us" link on the left of this page.
| Pablitos Sister |
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If you wish to make a one-time donation please make your check out to Immanuel Baptist Church and mail it to:
Guatemala Pablito Fund/Immanuel Baptist Church
28355 E. Baseline Street
Highland, CA 92346
http://www.immanuelhighland.org/
Just think of the added blessings your family will receive at Christmas time!
| The Baby Sister, Six Months Old |
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| Pablito's Older Brother |
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![pablito12.jpg](/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=560&linkpath=http://www.guatemalago.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/pablito12.jpg&target=tlx_new&title=Francesca "Walking" Pablito)
