A New Baby & Patient Updates

08.08.11 | 9:00 AM

Greetings:

Hospital Shalom welcomed a new baby girl on Tuesday, August 2. Her mother is 44 years old and this was her 7th child — the next youngest being 16 years old.  The child’s father was not present; the mother arrived for the birth with her daughter.

Unfortunately, the child was born with Downs Syndrome and has a cleft palette. It also appears there are some heart problems as her chest is very large and you can see her heart moving rapidly.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Rolando, the 13-year-old boy who was brought to us with serious health issues two weeks ago, has been diagnosed with tuberculosis. (You can read his story here.) Additionally, we have admitted Mynor, a 22-year-old patient, who we suspect has the same diagnosis.

Please pray for the wisdom as our team ministers to these patients and their families and join us as we intercede for physical healing for these patients.

In His Service,

Tim Spurrier
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
Access Online Giving Here:  Make A Difference Today

In Less Than Five Months . . .

08.07.11 | 12:00 PM

In less than five months, we’ll be sending Christmas cards, hanging colorful lights, and decorating the tree . . .

Before you know it we’ll be unpacking nativity figurines, attending cantatas, and baking cookies . . .

And when the day arrives, we’ll celebrate the birth of Jesus surrounded by friends and loved ones, opening gifts, sharing memories and meals, and taking pictures to preserve the moment.

But this isn’t even close to reality for the 45 children living with their mothers among the garbage in the Municipal Dump in San Benito, Peten.

But in less than five months,
things are going to change . . .

At Hospital Shalom, we are planning big things for Christmas this year . . . and we need your help. Please take a few minutes to watch the video and learn how you can proclaim hope to the hopeless and share God’s message of salvation as we celebrate His Son’s arrival.

God gave His best gift to us and, as His ambassadors to the Peten, we want to demonstrate His lavish love to those whose lives are filled with despair. Will you help us?

If you are able to assist us with this initiative, please mark CHRISTMAS on your check or in the memo field if you are making an online donation.

Your gifts make an eternal difference!

Thank you for your faithfulness to the mission,

Tim & Doris Spurrier
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
Access Giving Information Here:  Make A Difference Today

A Red Roof: The Talk of the Town

7.22.11 | 10:58 a.m.

Hello, Everyone!

As you all can see we are getting a big red roof put on Hospital Shalom and, needless to say, we are the talk of the town.

Our Red Roof!

Now that the martial law has been removed we seem to be getting patients from the rural villages again.   This week our patients numbers have been up where they need to be.   Praise God!!

In His Service,

Tim Spurrier
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
Access Online Giving Here:  Make A Difference Today

Pictures from the Field: Steve Yoder

07.14.11 | 4:13 PM

We’re thrilled to be able to share the following photos provided by Steve Yoder of Stark Truss, who has been on-site assisting with the installation of the trusses. The first picture shows the progress we’ve made this week.  Additional photos are of the vehicle signs we recently received so we can proclaim hope and healing everywhere we drive!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Thanks so everyone who supports the work God is doing in the hearts of the people living in Peten and throughout Central America.

Everything you give — from your prayers, to financial gifts, to words of encouragement to providing for various needs by traveling to Guatemala or sending resources  — is truly making an eternal difference.

We are blessed to continue to be a blessing!

Tim & Doris Spurrier
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
Access Online Giving Here:  Make A Difference Today

Many “Firsts” Taking Place at Hospital Shalom

06.30.2011 | 9:40 PM

Greetings, Everyone:

Well, I have wanted to get a construction update sent out and here it is!

The pictures show that the truss system is ready for sheet metal roofing except for the valley trusses, and Steve Yoder of Stark Truss will be here to help us with that procedure.  Friday, Doris and I have an appointment to talk to a supplier about getting the roofing material here by the middle of next week.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Praise God everything seems to be going smoothly with construction and we will soon have the hospital second floor under roof.  The rainy season has already started which has caused us to run a little behind schedule.

Our friends from Lifecorps International (in Canada) have been so very faithful in helping us to fund some of our projects at Hospital Shalom.  They have been assisting us with the purchase of new kitchen and laundry equipment.  This week we will be installing much of the new equipment and I can hardly wait to send you pictures of what looks like.  We will be able to provide a wide variety of meals for all types of diet plans.

The laundry will have washing machines dedicated for surgical laundry and other machines for housekeeping laundry and one for general patient laundry.  It will be exciting to see the look on the health inspector’s face because I think we will be the only health care facility in the Peten that meets all the requirements.

And I have another really BIG FIRST.  Several months ago I talked to Jim Moore of Samaritan’s Purse and he offered us some adult ventilators.  They arrived about two weeks ago and yesterday an internal medicine doctor and a respiratory therapist arrived to check out the machines and we are now official.  Now that we have adult ventilators to go with our neonatal ventilators, we are the first non-governmental health care facility in the Peten to offer complete intensive care service.  To God be the Glory!

Well, I better get moving.  Foster and one of the grounds keepers have been on vacation this week so Doris and I have had to pull double duty.  I have been helping with landscaping today and Doris has been busy with a lot of scheduling for the nursing department. Next week one of the cooks goes on vacation, so Doris will be in the kitchen.  Thank God Foster will be back to do the administration work!

Thank you all for all your prayers and support.

In His Service,

Tim Spurrier
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
Access Online Giving Here:  Make A Difference Today

Construction Continues: Second Floor Taking Shape

06.17.11 | 3:31 PM

Greetings, Everyone:

I’m attaching two pictures of the continuing construction at Hospital Shalom.  We are getting the piggy back trusses in place and starting to install the top cord steel  in preparation for the steel sheet roofing material.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Joe Rey and Gary Morrison are on site to assist with all this construction work and we are glad that they were able to be here. The Guatemalan crew always enjoys working with people from the States.

We remain under martial law and even though things seem calm at times, we are still encountering challenges. Some members of the drug cartel that caused all these problems are now on trial and from time to time we see large columns of police and military vehicles moving rapidly through the area. They are attempting  to keep things quiet because they do not want to hinder the tourist trade during this high-traffic time of year. Unfortunately, we have noticed that there are not a lot of tourists moving around.

Click here for June construction update.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

Thank you,

Tim Spurrier
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
Access Online Giving Here:  Make A Difference Today

Update from the Field: Joe Ray

05.26.2011 | 9:37 PM

Hi, Everyone:

I have just returned from the Peten, Guatemala;  it was such an impacting experience I wanted to share my thoughts and observations with you.

I spent about nine days with the team at Hospital Shalom, working on the trusses for the roof project. Tim took great care of my friend and I while we were on site.  I really enjoyed working with him and the new friends I met while I was there, and hope to return to work with them again in the future.

I must say I love Tim’s attitude of,  “Whatever it takes!” to care for the people who arrive at the hospital.  And regarding the individuals who work at Hospital Shalom, they are treated like valuable team members. It is obvious Tim cares about the needs of his employees, as well as those of the patients.

Unfortunately, I have been in mission fields where the people who do the work are forgotten, or misused to accomplish selfish goals instead of accomplishing Gods will.  This is not the case with Tim Spurrier,  New Covenant World Missions, or Hospital Shalom. Working with Tim is such a blessing — he has a heart for God . . . and the people of the Peten.

Joe Ray
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
Access Online Giving Here:  Make A Difference Today

Free From Infections & Gaining Weight, Carla Goes Home With A New Wheelchair

06.01.11 | 12:39 PM

Hello, Everyone:

From the day Carla arrived at Hospital Shalom–hovering near death–until today, has been less than three weeks. (Read previous post here.)We are thrilled to report she is free of infections and is gaining weight.

The first photo below is of  little Carla and her parents preparing to leave Hospital Shalom.  The other two pictures are of Carla at her home, and in her new wheelchair.

Dick and Mary Jo Crandall contacted Chris Mooney of Bethel Ministries International in Chimaltenango, Guatemala, and he provided us with a chair we could give to Carla.  We are so thankful we could be the instruments that God used to help improve Carla’s quality of  life.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

We will continue to monitor Carla’s progress through her regular visits to Hospital Shalom, and we also continue supporting Carla and her family by visiting them at their home.

Thank you for standing with us through your prayers and support for Carla and her family.

To God Be The Glory!

Tim Spurrier
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
Access Online Giving Here:  Make A Difference Today

Update from the Field from Gary Morrison, Jr.

05.27.2011 | 8:44 AM

Hi, Everyone:

I journeyed to Hospital Shalom in Peten, Guatemala, on May 8, 2011, for a building expansion project.  I had read the articles Tim & Doris have posted online and had seen the photos, but what I discovered there was beyond what I could ever have imagined. I found a place where every person was treated with dignity and respect, and every patient was considered special–not just a number–but a real person, who is a unique individual.

I was also amazed at the attention given to the family members of the patients at the hospital–they were respected and cared for with the same attention as the patient.

The work of God that is being done there is amazing in every aspect. Previously, I had been to Hospital Shalom on short trips, but never fully understood the ministry that goes on there. I can say now without a doubt that this is truly a place of God and a place of wonderous healings, both spiritual and physical.

Tim took the most excellent care of my every need. It is not often that you go on a mission trip for several weeks and gain weight. (But I did!) The accommodations were the best that I have experienced in the Peten and were complete with air conditioning, hot shower, security, and electricity. Never once did I feel unsafe.

Gary Morrison, Jr., in the Peten

God has truly blessed Tim and Doris in their ministry. I went to Guatemala to minister, but was ministered to.  And as with every trip to Guatemala, I love the people there even more

God Bless,

Gary Morrison, Jr.
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
Access Online Giving Here:  Make A Difference Today

The Building is Growing!

05.26.2011 | 2:04 PM

Hello, Everyone:

Well, the trusses are going up.   I am not saying they are perfect but they are going up and, as you can see, the building is growing.

Dick Crandall and I are baked to almost crispy.  The daytime temperatures have been getting as high as 110 degrees on the ground and a little higher on the concrete roof.  We will be glad when all the trusses are in place.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

God Bless you all.   Thank you for all your prayers.

Tim Spurrier
On the web: www.NewCovenantWorldMissions.org
Access Online Giving Here:  Make A Difference Today