From Annie

It’s been over two weeks since our return from San Pablo and the beautiful country of Guatemala. While I wish I could spend more time there, especially during these last few frigid days, I know that I also have a place here. After returning, I enjoyed one week of relaxation before jumping into my spring internship at St. Michael’s Hospital in their sports medicine clinic. Working an unpaid 40-hour week is a drastic difference from working a 7-hour clinic for four days. While some of the people I deal with are grateful for my services, many are less than thrilled to be in the position they are in. I wish I could show them how thankful they should be that they have clean, running water to drink and a septic system that can handle toilet paper. There are tons of people who have nothing and are thankful for everything. While I struggle to balance my full-time internship, two online classes and a part-time job, I can only imagine how I should be thankful for all of those things. I am able to attend a university and complete my degree. I am able to start a new degree at the drop of a hat. I have the past education to hold my part-time job and make a decent amount of money doing what I love. While others complain about the cold outside, I think of the beautiful San Pablo weather. While others complain about the snow outside, I think of the volcanoes that lined the Antigua skyline. I cannot wait to return to San Pablo. I originally set out with the mindset that I go to San Pablo to help the people, when in reality, they are the ones helping me.

From Christina

As I sit here at work on this cold, cold day, I think k of our arrival in Guatemala City. We arrived to the airport around lunch time & it was so busy. The security we are accustomed to at US airports are not the same however not was did I ever feel unsafe. It was a beautiful day, in the 80s & such a change from Wisconsin. We get our luggage & go out to find out our bus. There was so many people outside waiting to pick up people & taxi buses galore. You know how you see on TV the trucks loaded to the max with luggage? That's how many of these vehicles were. As we find Radolpho, our amazing driver for the week, he greets Carol & Diane with a big smile & a hug. I immediately feel like we are in safe hands.
The trip was amazing, such a life changing experience & I cannot wait to go back. I would love to go back in July & again in January but I know I cannot financially afford to do so. I do look forward to going again in 2016 & seeing Nilss, Karla & Alex, Kathleen, Manuel, Radolpho, & every other smiley helpful face I met. God Bless you all.

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Our Pharmacist Daryl Fahrner

Description of the pharmacy:

The pharmacy is a place of checks and balances. I try to look over each patient’s med

list and verify doses to make sure everyone is getting an appropriate treatment. I

also use my Spanish skills to explain meds to every person. As a third year pharmacy

student, this served as good practice for me personally. I was astonished by the

gratitude people expressed. Most shook my hand and said thank you very much, or

told me about how grateful/thankful they are that we were there. No one seemed to

mind waiting even though many had been already waiting for hours to be seen. This

is a stark contrast to the expectations of pharmacists in the US. Many don't realize we

are looking for drug interactions, billing their insurance, checking to make sure they are

being prescribed an appropriate dose, and double checking to make sure the correct

pill was put in the bottle with the appropriate instructions all before we hand them

their drug.

Favorite part of the mission trip:

My favorite part was watching some of our team members interact with the local

children. Prior to pharmacy school, I was a substitute teacher with a K/12 license, and

was a camp counselor as well. It just puts a smile on my face to watch kids having

fun. I watched a group of kids kicking around the most beat up and deflated soccer

ball I have ever seen, and they were having fun. I watched kids playing tag with our

group members and having a blast. They didn't need the new latest and greatest

gaming system, they didn't need the newest scooter, the coolest new bike, or any other

material artifact we have become so accustomed to. They were just kids being kids and

finding ways to make their own entertainment. They didn't look at us any differently,

they just accepted us right in. These children are immensely poor, but it is refreshing to

see even with that level of poverty, they have not forgotten how to be kids.

From Judy

I am sitting here holding my sleeping baby great-grandson (only way he will sleep today). San Pablo seems so very far away..in miles, temperature and time. A bit like a dream...but one in which you wake up with warm feelings. Certainly a life changing trip, the culture, the local people, the teammates, the memories. I loved the land (looked just like I thought it should). I LOVED working the clinic. I truly did go with much trepidation as to what I could do as a 40+year nicu nurse but,  you know, God took care of that as I knew he would. How wonderful to be surrounded by people who share the love of The Lord. I thank each of my teammates for allowing me to be part of this great plan...and I thank God over and over again for my very many blessings. Adios, Hudi (seis) [Judy]

From Kate West

Guatemala was an experience that I will never forget. All the love, smiles, and hugs I got from the people of San Pablo will be with me forever; they taught me how to be thankful for all that you have, and at the end of the day, we are more connected than what we think. Even though I could not speak Spanish all that well, I could feel the love that they had for us and vice-versa. 

I was thankful to have such a wonderful team. I built lasting friendships and there was always someone willing to help - no matter what the task and how tired they were.  I already want to go back - my life has been forever changed and I am ready for whatever God has in store for me - Trust His plan :)

From Carol

One of our devotions on the trip was about how God does amazing things all the time. We forget and don't trust enough and then are surprised when He works it all out according to His plan. I trusted that the team would come together but was still surprised how amazingly well we fit together. We had college students from 2 different schools, a nursing student from a different place. Two of our team members don't live in Point or Rapids anymore. We had a pharmacist from Madison, a young adult who lives in Saint Paul, MN, and people from 6 different churches. The team worked so well. God called just the right people to go on this trip to accomplish His work. I shouldn't have been surprised. When God does something, He does it real well.

Some more pictures