Guatemala 2023: Day 2

Monday November 20, 2023

To pack or not to pack... that is the question...

The answer: pack everything! After a good night’s sleep and a local breakfast with plantains and refried beans, we got straight to work. The task: divide all supplies, donations, and equipment into ten hockey bags - two bags designated for each clinic day. It felt a bit like our first unofficial test as a team - how quickly and accurately could we fill the bags together with not a lot of room to spread out, and thousands of supplies (including toothbrushes, toothpaste, vitamins, medicine, wheelchairs, walkers, nursing paraphernalia, toys, school bags etc.) to organize. We devised an assembly-line approach that served us well, and by lunch time, our collective efforts paid off with all bags ready to go.

​Our efficiency and focus afforded us an opportunity to explore Guatemala’s landscape including a trip to the nearby Falls, Agua Caliente; natural hot springs that felt like a hot water tap had been turned on for all those who enjoyed a few moments under it. The journey to get to the Falls was equally as beautiful, passing the Rio Dulce, a river that runs from Lake Izabal to the Caribbean Sea, and beautiful jungle landscapes that were hilly, lush, and green. Our final stop was the Rio Dulce town itself (also known as Fronteras) where we tried to haggle with local souvenir merchants (as Lori explained, a good negotiation is not only welcomed, but expected) and enjoyed some exotic fruit, rambutan, (it’s related to lychee, is red-colored, and is covered in bristles that resemble hair). As a final activity in the town, we left some donations at the local Fire Department (Abby, our youngest team member, who is both a PSW and a volunteer firefighter at home) appropriately made the official offering from the group.
​
Tomorrow is a big day for the team - the first of five clinics to serve communities in need. 

SEE MORE PICTURES