The first taste of Guatemala

After arriving Monday night March 9th, we all hit the hay and had some time to sleep in on Tuesday...Our first morning in Guatemala involved exploring the grounds of our 'gated community' called Casa Comboni...much nicer than I imagined...we all have clean bunk beds and access to showers that shock us (because electric wires heat the water), but at least they're hot!. I have to keep reminding myself not to open my mouth. The toilets flush...most of the time... but we have to put the toilet paper in a basket, even when you go #2...so already we've all gotten very comfortable with one another.

Once we got acquainted with the area, we were off to Daniel Comboni Clinic in Mixco to meet with Sister Sarah who is from the US and has lived in Guatemala for over 14 years, building and now running a public health clinic...the evolution of creating a clinic in a developing country was amazing to learn about and very inspiring...anything is possible.

After the orientation to Daniel Comboni Clinic we made our way up to a more rural community near Mixco, called Las Limas...we hauled all of our supplies in huge boxes and suit cases up the narrow, hilly, bumpy dirt roads of this community and set up a clinic in someones home which was built out of concrete that was cracked, dirty, and full of cob webs. The locals would line up for their consultation and we would complete their assessments, diagnose, treat, and educate them. Most of the locals who showed up were women and children, and the average number of children each woman had was at least 5!!!

Getting thrown into a foreign environment and not being able to speak a word of Spanish was very challenging and frustrating...but the best way to learn by far. Many of the children were complaining of stomach aches, congestion in the lungs and nose. The common cold like symptoms are most likely due to the dirty, dusty, polluted environment that surrounds them. The stomach aches are most commonly due to drinking too much coffee (you see baby's sucking on a bottle of coffee) or having some type of worms which we can treat, but of course, it is only a matter of time that they will get them again. I have also seen some wounds, many types of skin rashes or fungal infections. I've felt lumps in breasts and completed quite a few PAP smears and internal assessments on the local women, including pre-natal assessments. At our clinics we complete eye testing and try to find some glasses (from donations) to help. A lot of what we do I feel is a guessing game and it can be very frusterating knowing that the medications we are providing are for the most part temporary. There is a lot of education involved during our clinics and the first week has taught me how many different aspects of one's environment and culture you need to consider as 'contributing causes' to any illness.

We havn't explored Guatemala City because it forbidden as it is much too dangerous. After our days out in the rural areas running clinics, we come back to Casa Comboni and are literally locked behind gates and barbed wire. We've watched ants carry our chip crumbs through the lawns for entertainment (just once though ahha). Even once we're home we need to think about sharing duties such as cooking dinner, re-packing supplies, showering, using the internet, washing clothes....

This experience is truly amazing and I cannot wait to share pictures with all of you...Guatemalan's are so beautiful and very very gratful for the support we have provided thus far. All of the baby's and kids are adorable and hang all over us.

We all feel like giants. The average guatemalan is up to my chest!

Tomorrow is the first day we aren't running a clinic out of someone's home...this will hopefully give me a chance to get my voice back as I've completely lost it.

I would love to go into greater detail and I will be able to paint a better picture in words.

Hope all is well back in Canada. Buenos Noches, Hugs and Kisses xoxoxoxox