This is my weak attempt once again to blog. I have always found it to be the easiest way to communicate but as I age, I find the technology part so difficult. So, with the help of some younger brains, I will try again.

It has been so long, I’m not sure where to start. It seems that in many ways, we are right where we began…trying to follow Jesus’ lead, sometimes veering off the path, sometimes getting it right. The clinics are much the same but with our ability to do lab work and x-ray, and most importantly, the availability of really good physicians, our acuity has definitely grown.

Our nurses always make me proud. With Ryan pouring into them each week, they are growing spiritually. I will often find them alone in a room with a patient, praying and talking with them about Jesus. We will re-start the nursing program (after closing temporarily due to Covid) in January 2024. We look forward to having a new group of young people here! And one of the things hindering more growth of the hospital is our lack of additional nursing staff.

The Lord always seems to bring to us those who have so little. Petronila (not her real name) is a woman whom we have known for several years. She was never able to have children, so her husband left her. In this culture, as you age, your children step in to take care of you. So, Petronila has no one to help her. One of our nurses got to know her and we began to supply food for her and medication as she is diabetic and blind. She had a small room in San Andres and Martina – whose crown in heaven will be enormous – began to cook for her. She was able to maintain herself until she fell and broke her hip. She initially just asked to be left alone so that she could die. But finally, we were able to convince her to go to the hospital (national) where she waited for 6 weeks for her surgery. During her stay there, her clothing was stolen, what little money she had was also stolen. Once they were ready to release her, we brought here for physical therapy and recuperation. She stayed for a few weeks until she was mobile with her walker – but the problem was still her blindness. She was very determined to return to her room – and her independence so we gave it a shot, but ultimately, it was too much for her to be alone. She is now in a long-term facility. But during her time here, she was loved by our staff and the gospel was opened to her.

Petronila with her hair in a towel after a hot shower.

Personally, our family continues to grow with our newest grandson, Moises. He came to Aaron and Katie as the half brother of their littlest one Genesis. He is a bright, very active little boy whose smile will light up the room! Duane and I have 19 grandchildren now and we are so, so blessed to have many of them here!

Thanks for reading! May the Lord bless and keep you!

Leslie

Duane and Leslie Ficker first came to Guatemala in 1996. In 1999, they, with their six kids, drove through Mexico to Guatemala with a school bus and a pick-up truck. They founded AIM in 2002, and have lived in Guatemala ever since. Duane is one of AIM's pilots and the general contractor for AIM's various construction projects, while Leslie is a nurse and helps to direct the Medicine division of AIM. Both Duane and Leslie are spiritual mentors of AIM as a whole. They live on the mission base with two of their daughters: Grace and Abi.