Day 2: Opening Our Doors and Hearts in Mazatenango
What an incredible first day of clinic operations! Monday brought our first real glimpse into the transformative work ahead in Mazatenango, with three carefully staggered sessions at 7:30 am, 10 am, and 1 pm to manage patient flow and ensure everyone receives the attention they deserve. Watching patients arrive and move through our well-oiled intake process – getting their height, weight, blood pressure checked, receiving masks and vitamins – you could feel the anticipation and hope in the air. Our triage team worked seamlessly to review each case and determine which of our specialized clinics could best serve each individual, before connecting them with Pharmacy and Referrals to schedule follow-up appointments and get them on the schedule for future FIP surgery teams.
Pastor Andy’s morning devotional from Matthew 25:35 struck right to the heart of why we’re here – focusing on caring for others and asking ourselves, “How can we be with the patients this week?” His reminder that we should be receiving from them just as they’re receiving from us was a beautiful call to stay humble and keep learning throughout this journey. That spirit was evident everywhere today, from the children accompanying their families who delighted in our balloon and coloring station (set up to ease the wait while staying close to their parents) to the incredible feedback we received about our doctors treating patients with extreme care and kindness, providing hope and clarity about their medical conditions and future mobility.
Our Pediatric clinic alone saw 29 cases today, and watching our team work was truly inspiring. In situations where we needed additional clarity, our doctors seamlessly reached out to US counterparts and FIP volunteers to ensure accurate referrals to future teams – a perfect example of the whole cycle of care that makes Faith in Practice so effective. As the first team of 2026, we’re not just treating patients today; we’re setting the foundation for an entire year of coordinated care that will touch thousands of lives. The energy, compassion, and expertise our team brought to this first day gives us incredible confidence for the week ahead.
Team 883
Meaghan Gallacher, Team Blogger
