Let's get to work! Episode 2

- July 23, 2023

We arrived on Friday in Guatemala City, then traveled by bus for about 3 to 4 hours, and arrived at San Juan la Laguna, where this adventure full of blessings would begin. That day was rest; we would have our first clinic in Tzucubal the following Saturday. To get there was only one road, and we only thought: "Imagine if it rains hard" There would be no passage because the road was dirt and had no asphalt. But it was the sunniest day, and we thanked God for that. We arrived at this small church where the community received us and was already waiting for us. We settled on some details we would improve later in the following clinics.

In this community, the Mayan language is spoken more than Spanish, and it was where we most needed translators. Something so special that several people from the local church, without asking them, took the initiative to stay to help us translate. Medical attention was provided to many people, and one of the testimonies was from the same pastor of the church where we were located; while receiving medical attention, he said that he had a fall from a second floor that reality is not to be telling it or be serious in a hospital. It only presented a laceration on his forehead and a headache; crazy! Right?

That day was a lot of non-stop work. I know the team had more anecdotes to tell in this first clinic, but personally, I was only focused on wanting to serve them all, in seeing their faces of gratitude. Also, no matter how much I spoke in Spanish, they smiled at me because they did not understand what I was saying, and that was when I asked for help with translation. I know that God was already activating the spark in my heart to get down to work, help others, and put my needs in the background because He would take care of everything.

The following Sunday was a day of rest, and we went to know a little of San Juan. Thanks to one of the pastors guiding our group and directing all our activities. Beautiful colorful streets with a lot of history; the street with hanging hats, where the street is full of art made by local artists. Also, the street with the umbrellas where the local sales are located with many crafts, coffee shops, and restaurants, and where I began my addiction to the famous Gelato, "¡Que cosa rica!" as we say in Puerto Rico. The way back to Xejuyu was lovely, with so much beauty.

We regained strength and started planning our next clinic on Monday, where we went to another community in Santa Lucia. In this place, I could observe beautiful cabbage and other crops. When we arrived, people received us with great gratitude. Quickly, we located ourselves to start the clinic. My place was in the pharmacy, delivering medications to the patient and keeping the doctors updated with the medication inventory.

One of the experiences that one of the doctors had was when this young woman went to a consultation and told the doctor that she had asked God to find a place where they could do a free procedure since, in another clinic, they wanted to charge her almost 1,000 dollars for a small abscess she had on her forehead. She heard that this church would hold some clinics and came to the place hoping for that procedure, which was performed thanks to the doctor who attended her; the space was made as sterile as possible. When the doctor finished, the young woman left the place super cheerful, smiling from side to side. Although for many of us, it may be a simple or insignificant thing, for this young woman, it was an answered prayer that would increase her faith in God.

It was time for lunch, and the church members held a banquet for us: rice, vegetables, meat, and tamales. What more could we ask for? But we learned later that they gave us the best food that many of them need the opportunity to eat like that. Simply in gratitude, they gave their best offering to feed us and be able to continue with the clinic.

Big thanks to the Doctors for providing these clinics for free, showing God's love