We’re writing you today from our new hotel in Retalhuleu. We left behind the beautiful colors of Antigua’s colonial-era buildings for a whole new setting: a large complex popular as a vacation destination for Guatemalans, complete with multiple pools and peacocks roaming the grounds. We’re also sheltering inside from quite a downpour. The forecast has said it would rain just about the entire time we have been in Guatemala, but it finally started this afternoon. I hope it helps some of the humidity clear up!
Before we arrived here, we had a long day of travel and clinic setup that started at 6:30 am with a Morning Devotional. Pastor Andy Gans, our clergy leader for this week, shared our current devotional theme of “Journeys” and read the Bible passages describing Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. He explained that this involved both a physical journey and a spiritual journey as they put their faith in the news that Mary had given birth to the new messiah.
Andy’s devotional resonated with us quite literally today as we also took a journey, traveling several hours to our first village site at an elementary school in Flores Coasta Cuca in southwestern Guatemala. There, we will put our “faith in practice” by tending to the medical needs of the Guatemalan patients that come to our clinics. Upon arrival late this morning, we unpacked a truck full of supplies, including trunks full of medications, basic medical equipment, water, exam tables, and dozens of wheelchairs and other ambulatory aids. We also set up tables and chairs for patients waiting for triage and at each clinic. This involved quite a lot of heavy lifting from our team members and the group of local volunteers that met us at the school. They had to transform each classroom into a functioning clinic, including Pediatrics, General Medicine, VIA Cryo, Gynecology, Dermatology, the Laboratory, the Mobility Clinic, the Pharmacy, and Referrals. (If any of these sound unfamiliar, we will write more about how they operate over the next four days!)
After several hours of set up on a hot and humid afternoon, we were grateful for a break with a delicious lunch by FIP’s beloved chef, Hector. Then we drove to our final stop of the day, the hotel where we are now. Set up has continued here: we each had to gather four sets of scrubs to wear, then met as a team to discuss procedures for tomorrow that will keep the clinics running smoothy.
We are all very excited to get started tomorrow! Check back in for more updates soon,
Josie
To support this team and their commitment to our patients visit https://donate.faithinpractice.org/team/373443
