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Profiles of our lay missionaries

David Deegan

David works in an educational project for indigenous teenagers in the highlands

of Guatemala, Central America.  There he organizes scholarships for those who

come from rural areas where the possibility of receiving an education is non-existent. Since he has been there, funds have been secured to build two residences, one male and the other female, for age group 13+.  People have graduated as

bilingual and other teachers, mechanics, accountants, nurses, etc.

 

“Since I have been here my role has changed a lot.  I have taken on the running of some income generating projects.  It is a lot of hard work, but I absolutely love it.

 

It is not easy to work and live in a place where discrimination is so blatant.  These people have become my family here and it is extremely painful to watch those I have grown to love be so mistreated just because they are indigenous.  It makes my blood boil, but I have to let it go very often and just use it as an education both for me and the teenagers themselves.

 

Before this country was contaminated by the Europeans, the Maya were the most advanced in the sciences; since then these people have been kept down.  Through education, it is hoped that

these poor marginalized indigenous teenagers will be able to compete in

the professional work place while at the same time remaining in their own culture.

 

Some of our adventures can be read about in our newsletter “The Quiche Times” which can be found on our website www.kanoj.net

 

Extract from The Quiché Times No 15 (the newsletter of the project)

 

HOSPITAL RUNS

I got to know the hospital a lot better this year.  It started in January when I had

a   run-in with an electric bench saw – I got my fingers caught up in the blade, and

the bench saw won!  My index finger was split in the centre, and my middle

finger and thumb were also damaged, but not as bad.  Of course it had to be my

right hand, and being right-handed it caused me great stress. Everything became

a chore, even eating.  I had to ask people to cut my food for me. It could have

been a great deal worse, and I thank God that all turned out well even though

for some time I had six nails on my right hand, and it is still a bit tender, which

is especially noticeable when I type. I now can type as badly as I ever could in

the past.

 

Some time after my accident, I was in a meeting when I got a phone call to ask

me to return home to take one of our neighbors, who had gone into labor, to

the hospital.  I jumped into the car and drove like a Guatemalan to pick her up

and bring her to the hospital.

I arrived at the emergency room and went running to look for the doctor, etc to

come to the car and help this poor woman in labor.  When I went in, I saw the

doctor who treated my fingers, and in a panic I said to him that I had a woman

in labor in the car.  He came and greeted me and asked me how my finger was –

I did not understand what he was saying – my finger? “Oh my finger, it is fine, but

have a woman in labor in the car.” “And is it still painful and swollen?” he asked

me. “Yes, no – I don’t know – I have a woman in labor in the car,” I replied.

“Yes, yes, yes, but did you finish the medicine I prescribed you?” he asked.

“Yes, I think so, mmmmm the woman in the car?” I pleaded again. “Oh yes,

I suppose I should see to her,” he finally acknowledged.

 

When I turned around she was standing behind me bent over and moaning.  They then saw to her, and after about an hour or so it was all over – she delivered a beautiful little girl.  The next day, I collected them both and brought them home.  I still laugh when I recall the event and realize that the doctor really wasn’t

concerned about the woman because she is indigenous.  It really doesn’t matter if she is in pain or whether she survives it or not!  It still makes me laugh to think of my panic in this situation, but it’s not a laughing matter to realize the enormity of

the discrimination against the indigenous.  This reality is painful to see.      

There was nothing funny in my next visit to the hospital.  A nine month old baby

had his arm scalded, and the poor creature was screaming his head off.  The

mother, who is someone we are trying to help, was extremely distraught.  I

drove them to the hospital as fast as I could.  There was no doctor in the

emergency room, so I asked a nurse to please find one and explained what

had happened. She said the doctor would come right away.  After over five minutes

had had enough.  I went to the desk and demanded the doctor come NOW!  

The nurse was not helpful, so I said I was going to look for him myself.  So, I

went off to look for a doctor.  I found him on his way to the emergency room, but

he was walking so very slowly.  It was only by the grace of God that I didn’t

floor him.  He treated the baby and kept him in for five days for treatment.  

When he was discharged, we brought them home.  The mother was so appreciative

that I went and got the doctor; being indigenous, they know they have no

rights and most certainly would never demand to be seen, no matter how muchpain the person is in.  The day after being discharged, the mother came to us,

again distraught because the baby was in a lot of pain.  I put them both in the

car, and we went to look for help.  We found a pharmacy open and a doctor

in attendance. The doctor knew me and was very prepared to help.  We

explained everything to him and he asked to see what medicine they had given

in the hospital.  The mother took the medicine out of her pocket and showed

the doctor.  The doctor a little annoyed said, “No, no I want to see all the medicine!”. The mother very timidly replied that that was all the medicine.  The doctor was

not impressed.  He then looked at what had been given and exclaimed “these

are not for scalds!”.  He recommended some creams and drops and apologized

for the price and gave as much discount as he could.  The bill came to about

€12, which we paid as the mother just does not have that kind of money

(for her it would be about three weeks pay).  The doctor also gave hersome

samples of vitamins for the baby and said that he wanted to see the

baby every two days.  The next day the baby was a lot better, and within two

visits to the doctor he said all was well and that there was no need to come

again and see him.  The baby is doing great now, but what an up-hill battle we

have to fight every time an indigenous person needs treatment.  I have more

stories if you really want to hear them!!!