The team had the opportunity to serve 330 patients in the following communities: San Martín, Quixayá, Xejuyu, San Juan Mirador, and Tierra Santa. Thank you to family, friends, brothers and sisters in Guatemala for support and coordinating these efforts. Until the world can show more health care equity, we are moved to serve.
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The mission van meets us at the airport and our 14 bags of luggage are hoisted on top of the van. We begin our week with a hot and bumpy ride from Guatemala City to San Lucas.
It's another week in Guatemala. Along the way the view is amazing--corn, sugar cane, pineapple fields and rubber trees grow up the mountain side. People walk along the road - or maybe catch a ride with others in the back of a truck. Trucks loaded with chickens or sugar cane or rocks meet us and pass us. Venders with fruits and vegetables to sell line the roads. It's another week in Guatemala. The streets of San Lucas are buzzing with people - and dogs - and here and there some chickens. Tuk tuks zipping by - children playing - not much for toys - perhaps a ball or just a stick. Women taking their corn to be ground for tortillas - or carrying laundry to the lake for washing. You can hear the slapping rhythm of the women making tortillas for their own homes and to sell on the street. Men carry loads of wood or coffee on their backs. You are approached with "you buy from me - I give you good price" or the people try to sell their jewelry, weavings, and beautiful "merchancios." It's another week in Guatemala. We go by truck each day to a different village to set up our clinics - suitcases hold our "tools of trade." Sometimes we are in cramped quarters of a small school building - other days in an open pavillion. Nurses have a "space" and sometimes a table - to check patients in and take vital signs - holding babies when we can. Pharmacy needs more space to set out the meds and dispense as the providers request. Each provider gets a "corner" to set up his\her "office" with plastic chairs. It's another week in Guatemala. The people come - mostly moms and children - long lines await our arrival. Headaches, stomach aches, back aches, knee pain, no appetitie, itches and rashes are common complaints. Little ones and adults with babies at breast patiently wait to be seen. Babies wrapped in "parrajes" - you often don't see them there - cousins and friends help look after the little ones - nine and ten year olds often carrying their younger siblings. Interpreters help to translate symptoms. Medications, advice, and assurance are given out with the guiding hand of God. It's another week in Guatemala. We attend the Masses in the church in San Lucas - the music is beautiful and everyone joins in the singing. It is standing room only 7:30 in the morning or 5 o'clock at night. Their Faith is so important to them. It's another week in Guatemala. A boat takes us across the beautiful Lake Atitlan to other villages of Santiago, St. Caterina, and San Antonio - men in small wooden fishing boats share the waters. The scenery is beautiful - flowering trees and homes on the mountainside. It's another week in Guatemala. We visit the projects that Father Greg started. The Women's Center where somen can go and learn weaving or work on their projects - take cooking lessons - or just be away with friends and now a playground has been added for the children. The school by the church for grades K-6 serves 300 children. The coffee project provides an income for families. On Sunday it's on to Antigua before heading home - we purchase more things as souvenirs from our time here - but the best souvenir is the love that we take and the love we left for people. It's another week in Guatemala. As a pharmacy tech, you are to stand behind a table full of medicines and drugs. Standing behind this "wall" you don't really get to connect with the people of Guatemala. During my experiences in clinics I stepped outside of the "wall" and took a break. Nick gave me a soccer ball to give to the school for the children, I took the ball and was able to take it and create a whole new experience.This experience was to finally be able to connect with the children and play with them. I was able to see the happy smiles on the children's face and see their world light up as I gave them high-fives and told them "Good job." Being able to come to Guatemala at the age of 16 and to be able to communicate with these children and people is just amazing.
From Jesus Today.
"Many of my children who live in impoverished nations are more joyful than Christians in "rich" countries with material abundance. Even the greatest blessings can fail to bring Joy unless they are received with gratitude." We again witnessed the joy and happiness of the people of Guatemala. The people expect so little yet have so much to give from their hearts and their spirits. Family is the focus of their lives. We witnessed the love between parents and their children, between brothers and sisters, grandparents caring for children and grandchildren and immense respect for the elderly. The lines were long and the heat was intense yet these people continued to wait with immense patience and kindness. They were grateful for everything which made our jobs so rewarding. ----Cathy. Sometimes I wonder if it's necessary that I come here. It's a long trip, a few weeks off from work, time away from my family. So, I'll tell you about today. A mother and her children came in to the clinic. The children have sore throats, basically a minor viral respiratory illness that's being passed around the family. In general, the children are rather healthy, playful. The mother and I start talking between the exams. I find out she actually has had ten children, but four of them have died. She holds a white cloth to her mouth, and she explains that she just had several abcessed teeth pulled today. Her gums are still bleeding from the procedure. After all the children have been examined, I noticed that she didn't fill out paperwork for herself to be seen. "When you go home, do you have any pain medicine for your mouth?". She shakes her head no, and we check her in for a visit. She is 35 years old. We keep talking a bit, I am able to give her some acetaminophen, and they are on their way. It's time to see the next patient, hear the next story, share this time of our lives together. Yes, it is necessary.------Sarah
Our first hours were spent driving out of Guatemala city, and quickly entering a new landscape. Smoke and a sweet scent fill the air where the sugarcane fields are burned and the cane processed. We drove around the side of a (nonsmoking!) volcano to reach our destination. Tonight we will prepare the medicines and supplies for clinic tomorrow morning. -SD
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Our Team!
Bridget Hermer - Interpreter and Team Co-leader ArchivesCategories |