XavierUniverse

Mouhamed Ndoye – They’ll never know

2012-01-30T13:58:00.004-05:00

Mouhamed is a sophomore at Xavier, majoring in Management Information Systems and minoring in Spanish.
It’s been 3 weeks since I've been in the lovely land of Guatemala. I was going to write this (blog) on the ninth floor of Schott Hall, but realized that I wouldn't be able to reenact the high altitudes of Guatemala. Unfortunately, the great city of Cincinnati is a mere 600 feet above sea level while the Solola region of Guatemala is a whopping 5,200 feet above sea level. Putting my altitude frustrations to rest, I reminisce about the memories that I share with Team Guatemala and the Guatemalan people. I reminisce about the time the students of Team Guatemala and I sat on the roof of our hotel to take in the majestic view of Antigua. I remember times I spoke Spanish with the vendors of Antigua and one of them convinced me to buy a decorated flute with Mayan patterns. A few minutes after I bought the flute, it became a decorated stick for me because I learned that I couldn't play it. I remember the time we (Team Guatemala) spent New Year's Eve on the main street of Antigua with thousands of people from around the world. I never completed and began a year the way I did in 2011 / 2012. The countdown to 2012 was epic! Words cannot describe. I remember our journey to Panajachel where we would stay. It was interesting to see the farms on the hill en route to our hotel site. I remember the time that we set up the clinic in Patanatic. There was so much medicine and I became anxious to meet, greet, and treat the patients the next day. I remember the way I felt when I interacted with the youngsters that visited the clinic. I remember the time that a patient was fitted for eyeglasses and they instantly changed her life. I remember the time when we had our Shabbat dinner and I felt no different than going to the mosque on a Friday afternoon. I've written an infinitesimal amount on what I experienced during my eight days in Guatemala. Sadly enough, I realize that those who didn't come along to Guatemala will never know. No matter how many pictures, videos, or souvenirs I present, they'll never know. Dr. Richard said this, but I was too confident that I'd be able to express my feelings regarding Guatemala. I can explain, but they'll never know. They'll never know.

Richard Walter - Sunset Cafe...Reflections

2012-01-23T09:32:00.001-05:00

Richard is a physician in Los Angeles.
As Lauri and Abie and I wandered down the narrow streets of our town, we seemed almost desperate to find a place to eat. It was getting later and later and everything seemed closed. Were we that hungry? We had eaten dinner only a few hours earlier, so I think not. But we were so very determined. Looking back, I am certain it was not about food, but rather our little quest to capture a few more moments of quiet thoughts together. There it was, at the very end of a dark and winding road...we found it - The Sunset Café. We were seated just outside the restaurant on a little balcony overlooking the lake. We could see the volcanic mountains in the distance, and noticed the twinkling lights from the little village we had just visited earlier in the day. The night sky was filled with stars and a beautiful moon that looked down on our little piece of heaven. We drank and ate and talked. Talked of our wonderful week's journey, the gracious people of Guatemala, their strength, their never-ending faith, and of course their smiles. We also talked of our incredible Xavier team, amazing people, so caring, so respectful, and even wise. Our very special new friends, our family. It was getting late, time to return to our hotel. I closed my eyes, and drifted off to sleep.
I awoke the next morning with the excitement of our final day in clinic. It was a perfect day, filled with laughs, and of course, some tears. These were our last moments to touch and be touched by the wonderful people of our village - a little bittersweet to be sure. In the blink of an eye, our week's special journey was coming to an end.
Back at the hotel, I cleaned up, put on some shorts and flip flops, and got ready to shop in the town. I walked out of the hotel, and for some reason turned right instead of left, and in a few moments found myself at the lake. It was truly beautiful. I sat and watched a few families with their children, playing and smiling. It was such a peaceful moment for me, a happy moment, but then, it all changed. A young girl, maybe 8 or 9 years of age, stood in front of me and asked if I wanted to buy a bracelet that she was selling. Her little voice was really only a whisper. In a polite way I tried to explain that I didn't really want to buy the bracelet. She then sat down next to me and asked once again. But then, before I could even answer, she placed her arm with the bracelet on my lap. She did not ask again. She just looked in my eyes and waited. I noticed how very tired she looked, such sad eyes, none that I had seen in awhile, maybe never. There were no smiles in this little girl. I am not certain what happened next. I found myself a few feet away, confused, not sure what I could do for this little girl. Buy her bracelet? Give her whatever money I had? Maybe try to find her parents? Did she even have a mommy and daddy? My heart sank further. I gazed across the lake. The noises around me were silent; time seemed to stand still. Looking up at the sky I noticed a bird, alone, gliding in the wind, high above the earth, back and forth, circling back as if to tell me something, but then disappearing in the distance. I wondered what the bird could see that I was missing, and then, at that moment, I realized the little girl was gone as well. I tried to find her, but didn't really know what I would do if I did - she was gone.
That night, the final night, our medical team went back to the Sunset Café. The evening was a little cool. I went out to the balcony to look out over the lake again. Then, it suddenly hit me. This beautiful little spot was only a few feet above the wall that I sat on by the lake with the little girl. I felt paralyzed. The lights were still twinkling across the lake. The stars were still shining and the moon was still beautiful, but now I wondered, was this really a piece of heaven? Did my little friend ever notice the lake, the stars, the moon? How does a little child notice those things when hungry or cold or lonely? I do not know. I do not know.
Home. I feel blessed to have made such a journey. I feel blessed for my family, my wonderful new friends, for the beauty of nature, and God. I know I will return to Guatemala. I think of the little girl every day. I wish I knew her name. I am certain it must be a pretty name. I think about what I will do when I see her again. How I might somehow help her. Still, I am not sure. I pray that I might be able to make her smile, to somehow make her feel a little better. Maybe just a little hug. I know that would help me.

Cathy Walter – Giving and receiving

2012-01-23T09:13:00.000-05:00

Cathy is a nurse in Los Angeles.
I had the wonderful privilege of joining the students from Xavier University in the village of Patanatic, and what amazing students the 12 of them are. We all reflected on a nightly basis about the day’s events and gained an understanding of how wonderful and grateful the people of this village are. Although it seemed by their living conditions that they had "nothing," they do not seem to see it that way. This experience allowed all of us to look deep into ourselves, and examine just what is important to us. The villagers seemed to have simple lives without the technology that we have, and yet they seemed content with what they did have. One of the aspects of their culture that I actually envy is that families all live very close to each other, and seem to be one large happy family. The children run playfully, without any shoes, in what seems to be a very safe environment. Although the wonderful people we met were very thankful to us for our help, they have no idea that we came away with so mch more than we ever gave them.

Annie - A diagnosis with no easy answer

2012-01-15T13:28:00.003-05:00

One of the hardest days for me at the clinic came while working with Dr. Lauri during the Cerebral Palsy diagnosis. Since I am interested in pediatric nursing, I was overjoyed at the opportunity to work with Dr. Lauri in the pediatric room. The day started off exciting, working with some of the most endearing children and common diagnoses of ear infections, lice, and eczema. A mother came in with a 1-year-old complaining that the child was not able to swallow solid food without aspirating, had sporadic movements, and that her growth and development was very different compared with her other children at home. I knew it was going to be a difficult diagnosis. Dr. Lauri took us students aside and explained that she thought it might be cerebral palsy and that this was not going to be easy. As she continued with the assessment and teaching on diaper rash, I felt a lump in my throat thinking about the news this mother might hear about her child. I worked with cerebral palsy children this past summer and know what a joy they are, but know what a tough diagnosis CP is for a family, especially here in Patanatic. I was incredibly frustrated that we could not offer this mother any of the wonderful services and opportunities available in the States. There is no physical therapy, occupational therapy, or specialized devices to help this child walk and grow. Dr. Lauri and our translator, Deanna, sat with the mother and told her the tough things that our diaper rash ointment would not cure. Her child will most likely never walk, will not be able to eat solid food because her muscles are not strong enough, and she will probably not live a long life. It was tough. There is no easy fix for this mother, yet she sat quietly and took it all in.
Afterwards, the mother asked if Megan and I would sit and pray with her, so we sat with her in our room designated for oracion [prayer]. I have never seen someone so intent and devoted in prayer. I sat with her and prayed for strength for the mother and hope for a better future for the child. After her prayer, the mother muttered “gracias.” [thank you] I don’t know specifically what she was thankful for. Was it her beautiful child smiling up at her? The Patanatic health clinic we were all a part of? The opportunity to finally have a reason for the differences she saw in her child? Or was the grateful for the immense faith she has to keep her strong throughout? I know I am thankful. Gracias for the opportunity to experience something so unique and difficult. Gracias for the network of support we created that day at the clinic with each other? Gracias for Dr. Lauri, who taught me how to handle the tough days in Pediatrics with compassion, respect, and grace. And, Gracias for giving that child the opportunity to grow up with a loving mother in a beautiful community.

Jen - Reflection on Shabbat and Mayan Culture Experience

2012-01-12T10:29:00.001-05:00

I was raised in a Catholic home, have gone to private schools my whole life and was never exposed to any other religion or culture. I had never talked with or met anyone of a different religion until I was eighteen. As I have made my way through Xavier, I have spoken with people from all different walks of life. I have learned to accept other religions and cultures and have grown in my faith and spirituality through learning about others’ beliefs. Though I am still a practicing Catholic, I have found much more fulfillment in my life through the spiritual aspects of life in addition to traditional Catholic practices. I have formed my own unique faith by taking what I find true in the Church combined with beliefs I have learned from different religions and beliefs I have developed through deep conversations with people I am closest to.
On Friday night, we celebrated a Shabbat dinner. It was my first exposure to Judaism and I must say I loved it. For those of you who don’t know, Hebrew is read right to left, so the booklets we used to follow the prayers were reversed. I spent some time trying to figure out why all the pages were messed up, concluding they were simply printed wrong. Rabbi reminded us that Hebrew and Arabic are read right to left. As Rabbi recited the prayers in Hebrew, a sense of peace and happiness filled the room. Though I did not understand the language it was still very moving knowing that these exact words have been used for centuries throughout all of the world and in all walks of life. He blessed each of us as his daughters (or sons) and that in and of itself was a beautiful experience. We then gathered around the challah (bread). We broke bread by each placing a hand on it and pulling it apart. Coming from a Catholic home the host has always been very sacred, so pulling the bread apart was a bit of a surprise to me. Rabbi explained we do not use a knife because that is a symbol of violence. The pulling apart of the challah created a united family within the team because we all ate from the same source. It was a time of pure happiness, a time in which we shared and experienced the same exact thing at the same exact time (not to mention challah is delicious!). The breaking of the challah is just one of those things - it is so simple yet everyone gets excited for it. The candles were lit, prayers had been said, the challah was shared and memories were made. Our Jewish Shabbat dinner was celebrated in the heart of ancient Mayan culture and though Judaism and Mayan Spiritualism they became intertwined that weekend.
Last year, the two sisters that translate for us, Deanna and Michelle, were at the Shabbat dinner with their father, Miguel. Rabbi shared with us that he taught their father how to bless his daughters in the Jewish tradition and the father shared with Rabbi how to bless his [Rabbi’s] daughters in the Mayan tradition. He told us that it was something that he would never forget because here was a Jewish Rabbi and a Mayan spiritualist connecting at the source of the purest love there is, the love for their children.
On Saturday, we were able to experience Mayan culture. Miguel, Deanna and Michelle joined us at dinner and taught us about marimbas. Marimba is an instrument that has been used in Mayan tradition for centuries. Miguel taught us how they were made and the girls played beautiful songs unlike any music I had ever heard. He spoke about the Mayan calendar and this year in which it is supposed to end. He said that his grandfather spoke about 2012 many years ago when he was just a child. There are two parallel universes. We live in our own universe in which we create our own happiness; everything is based on our own lives. The second universe is the universe of reality. According to the Mayans, on the 21st of December 2012, our own individual universe will be judged. If we have lived a compassionate, selfless, respectful life, we will have help on the twelve steps to heaven. If we have lived selfish, disrespectful lives we will be sent to the core of the Earth (equivalent of hell in Christian belief) and will have no help in escaping. Without help is impossible to get out. To be honest, this scares me because I have a lot left in life I want to accomplish and twelve months is certainly not enough time to complete my goals. I am not going to listen to the media; whatever will come will come and nothing I do will change it. Therefore, I will continue leading a life full of compassion, respect, faith, hope, love and selflessness. Isn’t that how we should be living anyway, regardless of a fear of the end of the world (which in my belief is really a new beginning)? My New Year’s resolution is to turn any fear into pure love for all of humanity.

Team Guatemala 2012

2012-01-11T14:41:00.002-05:00

Front row: Christian, Micayla, Jenn, Dr. Richard, David
Middle: Mouhamed, Carmen, JD, Annie, Mary, Megan, Michael
Back: Nurse Cathy, Rabbi Abie, Nurse Bonnie, Dr. Lauri, Anna, Lia

Carmen Deloach – Decisions lead to opportunities

2012-01-11T11:07:00.000-05:00

Carmen is the Program Assistant for Interfaith Community Engagement. She graduated from Xavier in 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in Middle Childhood Education.
It’s amazing how one decision can open a door for an opportunity. When I decided to leave my job in Louisiana this past spring, I had no idea where God was placing me. Returning to my second hometown of Cincinnati made me anxious but I was confident it was the right decision. Somehow Rabbi and I crossed paths and given the chance to become a team. Everything that has been thrown at us over the past couple of months was in preparation for this trip. The ups and downs, the twists and turns, the laughs and cries….they were necessary. This trip to Guatemala was my first out-of-country experience. I consider it the ultimate blessing to have spent it with such wonderful people. Now I can’t imagine traveling any other way. Repeat experiences every time I hope!
Guatemala was…I can’t even place words on my experience…maybe one…AMAZING!
After all the fundraising and meetings, I was able to see the hard work come to fruition. I still had no idea what I was getting into. My role in the trip was a “behind the scenes” type of function. Planning, collecting paperwork, and executing certain aspects of the trip were all my responsibility. Under the guidance of Rabbi, who is the most organized person I know, I still felt a little overwhelmed and stressed that I was in over my head. Before our trip, Rabbi warned me that although I was hands-on with the students preceding the trip, things would change during the trip. The students’ true “rock stars” would become the doctors. Poor team “Rabcar” (failed attempt at combining Rabbi+Carmen) would be kicked to the curb.
Truthfully, no one was abandoned in any kind of way. Our team was very family-oriented. Compliments and praises were given every day, help was provided at every station in the clinic, and we rarely went out to eat or shopping without taking a large group.
I learned so much from every member on the trip and I am grateful for that. Our students showed wisdom beyond their years, the doctors brought compassion to their practice of medicine, the nurses brought such humor and grace to what they did, and Rabbi was a wonderful teacher as always. Each day was a learning and growing opportunity for me. Being in charge of directing the clinic and keeping track of patients and rotation of students became easier as the days passed because my team continually encouraged me. Although I did not have an opportunity to shadow the doctors, I now realize that I did not have to be part of an examination on a patient to see change. The joy I was able to experience when patients gave out hugs and kisses for the medical care they received still remains in my heart. It was quite overwhelming to see patients with aliments that, although not life-threatening, were taxing because they did not have the money to take care of them. For some, a simple prescription of Tums, Tylenol, athlete’s foot medication helped alleviate discomfort. Can you imagine running to hug and kiss someone because you received those meds? I can’t, or couldn’t before I went on this trip. It’s because I took for granted the easy access I have to many things in the USA.
We brought medical care to the Mayan community, but they brought us so much more. I am grateful for my experiences and for my family Team Guatemala.

Micayla McGinn – Finding Myself

2012-01-11T11:06:00.000-05:00

Micayla is a senior majoring in Occupational Therapy with a minor in gender and diversity studies. She is from Plattsburgh, NY
Wow, this is hard to put it into words, but what an amazing day! I was exhausted, but felt so alive! I started my day with a gorgeous run down by the Lake Atitlan and up along the river toward Patanatic. The views were incredible. The people were friendly and greeted me with “buenos dias” or “hola” and a smile. I was surprised by how accepting the people were of us, they welcomed us into their community and their homes without reservation. I even had a warm shower. What a treat!
Friday, we headed across the lake to San Pedro to conduct more home visits. The sun was bright and the lake was calm. I felt like I was at home on Lake Champlain. It’s a tragedy that such a beautiful place has been polluted. We spent our day visiting homes to check water filters and provide medical care. Nurse Cathy and team 3 are fantastic, but so is our entire Team Xavier. I don’t think there could be a more passionate, patient, understanding, or fun group than ours. It was exciting and fulfilling to show up in individuals’ homes and help alleviate their pain. Everyone was extremely appreciative. We met a young man who, by the look on his face, was in agony with extreme leg pain, a woman with shoulder pain, and an elderly woman almost in tears with sciatic nerve pain. The pain, tiredness, and bodies aged beyond their years reflect the physically demanding life. We met a woman with an upper respiratory infection that had been going on for months. Sadly, this is reality for most within this community. A cold or pain that we in the United States would tolerate for only days, or hours, before turning to a pain killer or the doctor, often goes untreated and lingers for months or years here. Hopefully this will begin to change as the clinic continues to grow and establish itself within the community.
The children were adorable with their energy and smiles. We made eye contact and with the innocent, curious spark in their eyes they grabbed my heart. They have so little materially, yet are surrounded with so much love. The children were amazed by our cameras and soaked up our attention and touch. It was as if the language barrier dissolved as we played. They followed us from house to house and were welcomed in their neighbors’ homes as if they were their own children.
At times it was overwhelming and I felt like we were only skimming the surface, but I remind myself that if only for a moment, a day, or a month, we have been a positive influence in these individuals’ lives, and they have forever changed mine. The people have incredible resilience. I will always remember their smiles and “Gracias.” The people have broadened my perspective, reminded me that love, empathy, and respect are what are truly important, and have shown me that the giving of my time and talents can be powerful both in helping others and in finding myself.
We went to nine houses in record time and were disappointed when we were told that we had finished our list. We were on a roll and found it hard to accept since there are so many families which could have benefitted from our care that remained unseen. However, upon our return, the school became a makeshift clinic as the community teachers who had led us through their villages brought in their own families to be seen by Dr. Lauri and Dr. Richard.
We ended our day with shopping and a wonderful Shabbat dinner. Another amazing day in Guatemala!

Mike Jerge – Unexpected Intrusions of Beauty

2012-01-11T10:17:00.000-05:00

Think of all the people you encounter in your life: the cashier at McDonald’s, the driver turning left at the intersection, the pilot at the helm of a jet ultimately flying to a country with limitless expectations. How many of those people do you remember? How many of those people truly shaped your life forever? Probably not many. Yet, some truly are amazing, and will forever exist in memory and meaning. Our fingerprints don’t fade from the lives we touch.
I truly believe that brotherhood is what makes us human. Guatemala has given me an everlasting brotherhood with the people of Patanatic and the medical team. Time passes and it tells us what we are left with; we become the things we strive to be. To Dr. Richard, Dr. Lauri, Nurse Cathy, and Nurse Bonnie, it goes without saying how amazing you are. It truly was an honor and a privilege to have been able to work with you; but, it is a greater honor to have met you and to have formed an everlasting friendship. To my group members, JD, Christian, Mouhamed, David, Lia, Annie, Anna, Micayla, Mary, Jen, and Megan, I am so glad to have shared this experience with you. You are great people and even better friends. I just hope we never lose the friendship. To Carmen, who kept everything together, your presence made everyone smile, and your lighthearted nature could light up a room. And most importantly, to Rabbi, without you none of this would be possible. Whether it was the pit stop botany lectures or the story of how you met John Lennon, I cannot express how great a person you are. Thank you for this opportunity, thank you for Shabbat dinner, thank you for being you.
I have searched for God all my life. Even as a child I looked up at the stars to see if I could find God among them. But, most men go fishing all their lives only to find it isn’t fish they are after. On our first day of house visits, the last patient pulled at my heart strings. She was frail, poking her head out of the door to let us in and barely able to stand. She had to sit half way through the examination, and put her head in her hand because her pain was unbearable. I felt it. But, when we asked her if she wanted to take a picture, she jumped out of her seat, fixed her hair, her scarf, her dress, and took a picture with Dr. Richard. She called him her boyfriend, and said God sent us. What does one say to that? How many people can make you feel extraordinary? I’ll never forget that moment, that lady. Maybe God sent her for us. Two days later a little girl came to the clinic. I wasn’t feeling well that day so I decided to sit out in the courtyard for a while. As I was walking out of the clinic, she rushed up to me and said I was tall. I smiled and said I suppose so. Then I sat down, and she sat down next to me, holding and tugging at my pant leg. I pulled out a little bottle of bubbles and we blew bubbles out in the courtyard. No medicine could have helped me like she did that afternoon. The innocence, the playfulness, the simplicity, they made me think of my youngest brother. We are funny creatures. We don't see the stars as they are, so why do we love them? They are not small gold objects, but endless fire. Unexpected intrusions of beauty. That is what life is.
I went to Guatemala because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it has to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
I learned this, at least, by my travels: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary; new, universal, and more truth-filled laws will begin to establish themselves around and within him; or the old laws be expanded, and interpreted in his favor in a more copious sense, and he will live with the license of a higher order of beings. In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, poverty not poverty, weakness not weakness. If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.
My only hope is that people reading this understand the power of the human spirit. A new day is dawning. The sun is a morning star heralding a new life to come.

Nurse Bonnie - Feliz ano nuevo y Gracias a Dios

2012-01-10T07:57:00.000-05:00

I began my first day back from Guatemala standing in front of my home with two very happy and eager doggies anxious to begin their much-missed walks. I looked out at my privileged neighborhood – my privileged life – and could not help but see the stark contrast with where I had just come from. I thought of the many homes we had visited near Panajachel – where families lived in darkness and the floors were dirt, where the wood-burning stoves gave off the smell of smoldering ashes, where multiple children slept together in tiny beds. These were the homes in which we asked the occupants about their illnesses and medical needs, and when we left them with much-needed medicines, received in return so many hugs and the warmest of smiles. Whatever little we could give them, they gave us the gift of their graciousness – their gratitude for just being there and caring. Over and over we heard: “Feliz año Nuevo – Happy New Year” and “Gracias a Diós – Thank God.”
I’ve been thinking so much about the twelve Xavier University students that I’ve just come to know over the past week – come to know and love. We entered 2012 together, as we worked side by side every day. We were strangers at first, but felt closer and closer with each passing day. They are some of the finest young people I have ever known – JD, Mouhamed, Michael, David, Christian, Jen, Megan, Micayla, Mary, Lia, Anna and Annie.
We shed tears together.
We laughed together.
We learned together.
Twelve exceptional and extraordinarily kind and genuine people, sharing the experience of a lifetime that we will never forget.
Our medical team – Lauri Pramuk, Richard and Cathy Walter – never ceased to amaze me with their compassion and caring, but also with their teaching expertise, and especially by their love which was felt by each and every one of the students.
Of course, none of what we experienced, and nothing of what we were able to give, would have been possible without the knowledge and leadership of Rabbi Abie Ingber and the inexhaustible conscientiousness of his assistant Carmen Deloach. Abie has the ability and know-how to put it all together, to make everything happen, and to make it all run smoothly.
One day back home, after one short week in Guatemala, enriched by her people and humbled by their spirit that shines despite their desperate poverty, my own spirit is uplifted by the Xavier students, knowing the world will be a better place because of them.
Grateful for the walk I’m about to take with my dogs…
and grateful for this new year, made more hopeful by an inspiring beginning –

Feliz Año Nuevo
Gracias a Diós
Gracias a Diós
Gracias a Diós
Guate
Guate
Guatemala…

Bonnie Herscher, RN

Christian Alegria – The forging of future implements of good

2012-01-08T09:32:00.002-05:00

Christian is a sophomore natural sciences major from Chatfield, OH.
When a blacksmith shapes a piece of metal, he shapes it with a hammer one strike at a time until it becomes something beautiful, useful, and meaningful. I often think our lives are the same way. We encounter significant experiences in our lives, each which change us and contribute towards making our lives more meaningful.
I have taken so much from our time here in Guatemala and helping the people here has just been amazing. We have seen so many different patients in Patanatic and across the lake in another city called San Pedro and have had the opportunity to make a difference. We were able to help with issues of pain, poor eyesight, gastritis, and conjunctivitis, among others. To be able to alleviate these people's pain felt great and working with the awesome doctors and nurses has been one of our best learning experiences. The relationships we have built with the people of Patanatic and each other have been like no other and I will be forever changed by this trip. I am thankful for all the members on the team and sad to leave Guatemala, but happy to bring back the memories and experiences I had.

Lia Westhafer - A Seed of Hope

2012-01-08T09:31:00.000-05:00

Lia is a junior Occupational Therapy major from Akron, Ohio with minors in Gender Diversity Studies and Violin Performance
Hola! How blessed I am to be a member of Team Guatemala. It has been an incredible journey the past eight days living with wonderful and passionate individuals and working in a medical clinic which changed the lives of the Patantic people. I fully believe community was the key ingredient in our success this week. We formed strong life-lasting relationships with fellow students and life coaches, medical doctors, and ER nurses. Memories and laughter were shared between cobble-stone walks in Antigua on New Year’s, nightly tear-filled reflections, crammed bus rides up and down narrow streets, bargain street shopping, corn tortilla-making, cold showers, water-splashing boat rides, home medical visits, family breakfasts and dinners, language barriers, medical shadowing, prescription writing, blood pressure screening, eye examinations, teeth brushing, and hugs shared across cultures. It is truly amazing the amount of medical care that was thoroughly provided to the Guatemalan people in only a few days.
How remarkable it was to be a part of a group of eighteen beautiful individuals who healed a piece of our world. It can easily be concluded that as a collective group of story-filled individuals, we planted a seed of hope in Patanatic, Guatemala and the beautiful fruit that will grow from this nourished seed is yet to be revealed. I cannot wait to hear of the wonderful healing the members of Team Guatemala will continue to spread onto the world in their lives to come. I love so much everyone as part of the Heart-To-Heart volunteer team and may God continue to dwell in their hearts.

Rabbi Abie - The last day

2012-01-08T09:29:00.001-05:00

Today was our last day in the clinic. We arrived at our usual time and already an adult patient was in the waiting room. This would be a good day. The morning went very quickly. The students began to have some nervous energy about leaving - you could tell it in their louder laughter in small groups. It would not be easy to leave.
I spent the first two hours teaching David, a local young student from Patanatic, how to run our eyeglasses area. First I trained him in using the wall eye chart and recording the results. Then we covered the distinct circumstances of elderly patients with very limited vision, adults who were illiterate and children age 7 or older who still could not identify traditional letters and figures. David was a quick learner and as each Xavier student entered to do a patient eye exam he paid very close attention. By 10:45 he had done his first eye exam and by 11:15 he had "prescribed" glasses from the recycled glasses we had received from Sam's Club and Xavier donors in Cincinnati. Within twenty minutes David had offered a pair of glasses to a middle-aged mother and corrected her poor vision to 20/20.
We are taught that if you give a man a loaf of bread you feed him for a day; if you teach him how to fish you feed him for a life.
We had come to Guatemala to feed the health of the community for a week. But on our last day, we taught a community how to fish.
Next week David will teach Sonia and so it will go. The clinic in Patanatic will continue to screen for eye problems and will give its own villagers glasses from Cincinnati.
Job well done Team Xavier!

David Miller - San Pedro Homes

2012-01-08T09:28:00.001-05:00

David is a junior double majoring in biology and chemistry from Zionsville, IN.Yesterday we crossed the lake and did some home visits across Lake Atitlan in the town of San Pedro. I think I speak for all of us when I say that home visits were our favorite things to do on the trip. The people openly welcomed us into their homes and were quick to open up about their medical issues. I have been lucky to be in Nurse Bonnie's group. If any of you reading this out there are looking for Spanglish lessons, contact her because she is an absolute pro. A cool part about the home visits is that each group is completely self-sufficient and has to use limited resources to help the people we see along the way. Our group, for example, ran out of Tylenol, which is a key drug around here. Almost all of the elderly here complain of pain due to decades of extremely hard work farming on the mountain sides. So, we had to restock and went to buy it from a local pharmacy, which is an interesting experience let me tell you! There is nothing is more rewarding than seeing the smile on a patient’s face after leaving them medicine that they can't afford to buy themselves, but which will truly help them feel better.

Dr. Lauri - Things half finished

2012-01-08T09:19:00.002-05:00

We spent yesterday traveling across Lake Atitlan by boat to the village of San Pedro at the foot of glorious San Pedro volcano. Our purpose was to assess the status of the water filters that Heart to Heart International installed in homes in the villages a few years ago. But we also came to do brief medical assessments on anyone in the homes who needed help. Thankfully my internal medicine skills were only called upon once - by a 77- year-old woman with pneumonia and a large hernia. I couldn't do anything about the hernia, but started her on some antibiotics for her pneumonia. Thankfully she didn't have hypertension or diabetes, because honestly this week the Xavier students have spent with our Internet, Richard has left them in a better position to those kind of conditions than I could.These visits into people's homes are priceless. We see how they actually live, what they sleep on, cook with, what they use to occupy their time. In many places you see evidence of things half finished; a wall half built, piles of brick, rebar, hardened cement that did not get fully utilized for whatever reason - lack of money, coffee beans needing harvesting, so lack of time. Who knows exactly what stops these steps toward progress before they can be finished.One home we went to I was asked by the family to see their 8-year-old son who had a cleft lip repaired in infancy and a cleft lip partially repaired. We were able to treat him for a sinus infection. I asked mom when he was going to have his last surgery. She told me she was nervous for him to have another operation. She wasn't sure she was going to do it. After I finished his exam and gave her his medication, I noticed a big bin of all kinds of colorful threads. I asked her if she was a weaver. She lit up and asked if she could take us to the downstairs of her home to see her shop. As a seamstress myself, you can only imagine my own delight in seeing her beautiful, old sewing machine. She showed us some of her tapestries and let us photograph her. As we were leaving she asked through my interpreter if I thought the boy should have his last surgery. I said, "Yes, of course. No need to leave things half finished."

Faces of Hope

2012-01-06T09:07:00.006-05:00

Rabbi Abie – A beginning and an end

2012-01-06T08:59:00.001-05:00

Two important touchstones of my life collided today. With one I bid farewell, with another I celebrated a new beginning.
Last night after two days of power outages I received news of the passing of a dear friend, Jerzy Kluger of Rome. Jerzy, as now many millions know, was the lifelong Jewish friend of Pope John Paul II. While I first met the Holy Father in 1999, I did not meet Jerzy until 2004. But my relationship with him over these last seven years had been so intense I had committed to his wife Irene that I would be an officiant at his funeral when the time came. I missed his passing and I missed his funeral. I was in a remote mountain village in Guatemala watching the birth of new lifelong relationships between our pre-med students and health care in the third world. I had tears in my eyes in the morning as we stood in the triage area when I shared snippets of how Jerzy and the Pope changed the world our students were born into. I had tears again in my eyes in the evening when our students shared some of their difficult moments in encountering where medicine could not fix everything. And I had tears again later in the night when we each shared the nexus of our experiences in Guatemala and our spiritual journeys. Each student and staffer spoke words from the heart that touched everyone.
Today I missed the funeral of a dear friend. That ship has come back safely into the harbor. It was a grand journey but it has come to an honored end. Today I watched as 12 youthful ships sailed out from the safe harbor into turbulent waters for their life voyages. I pray their journeys, too, will be grand and honored. Godspeed Jerzy. Godspeed David, Micayla, Christian, Lia, Jenn, Megan, Mouhamed, Mary, Anna, Mike, Annie and J.D.

Mary Erwin – The answer is faith.

2012-01-06T08:58:00.002-05:00

Mary is a junior Nursing major from Westerville, Ohio.

This whole trip so far has been amazing. I have seen God in every patient I have encountered in Panajachel, Guatemala. Each patient and family greets our medical team with a smile and is so grateful for the care we provide. We have a special room for patients and families to give them an opportunity to offer prayers up to God if they choose. Almost 100% of the patients have chosen to pray after their visits with the doctor. Today, I took a mother and child into the prayer room and must have sat with them for at least five minutes while the mother said prayer after prayer. Although my Spanish is very poor, I could somewhat figure out what she was saying. I picked up the words "Ave Maria" and "Madre de Dio" which indicated she was praying The Hail Mary. She also said many prayers of thanks for blessings in her life including thanking the doctors, nurses, and students of medicine here at the Heart to Heart clinic. I was in awe of how reverent and gracious she was. Even her son stood with his hands together in a prayerful gesture and remained quiet and obedient. Another patient I want to mention was a male in his 20s on a tight schedule. When I took him into the prayer room, he said he was late and had to get going - instead of staying to pray, he apologized and asked if I would please, please pray for him. Of course I said I would and he was very grateful. Overall, working the prayer room was a moving experience for me. It was neat to watch these people pray aloud and to see how important their faith is for them. How could people in such a poor community who have so little be so incredibly content? The answer is Faith.

Another neat experience I had today was shadowing Dr. Richard. It was amazing to see how much he can multi-task. Somehow he managed to examine patient after patient, fill out paperwork, decide prescriptions, and teach me all at the same time while never taking a break even just to sit down. If I had questions at any time he would answer them. He engaged us in the examining process by allowing us to listen to heart sounds, lung sounds, bowel sounds, etc. He also explained risk factors of several medical conditions and how to prevent them. He also showed me the importance of taking a medical history because this can be the best way to discover the root of a problem. I really enjoyed listening to his past medical stories --many were interesting or funny, but some were really eye-opening and helped me learn important advice that I will take with me to utilize in the future.

Anna Walsworth – Life lessons

2012-01-06T08:58:00.001-05:00

Anna is a biology major and Spanish and chemistry minor from Geneva, IL.

Saludos de Guatemala! With only two full days left, it's hard to believe our week together is almost over. On the other hand, it's hard to believe a group of people can grow so close so quickly and experience what we have experienced. I couldn't have imagined better mentors or peers to share this trip with, all of who have become great friends.
I can't do justice to the wonderful people we have seen in the clinic. I think I speak for all of us when I say we've all considered bringing home one of the Guatemalan children - they are too cute. This morning I worked in triage, did some toothbrushing with the kids, and worked in our makeshift eyeglasses shop. Of the many people I fitted for glasses today, my favorite was a 65-year-old woman who walked in with no shoes and apologizing for her unwashed hair. She was blind in one eye and had horrible vision in the other. Rabbi Abie and I worked with her, handing her pair after pair of glasses until we found a pair that allowed her to see significantly better! The look on her face was rewarding enough, but she gave us hugs and kisses while thanking us repeatedly. I feel like I should be thanking these beautiful people in Patanatic for teaching me life lessons and giving me an experience I will never forget.

Rabbi Abie, Nurse Bonnie and a patient with new glasses

2012-01-05T09:42:00.001-05:00

Rabbi Abie – Blessed and truly ready

2012-01-05T08:54:00.005-05:00

After four months of preparation for our Guatemala mission I am proud to say we have opened. The student participants have come together as a loving, supportive and able community. The medical team is first class and has bonded beautifully with our students. The clinic in Patanatic, just a dream last year, has opened and while there is still no plumbing (yes, we flush with a bucket of water drawn from a large plastic garbage can) and the electricity is yards of extension cords - our workplace is palatial compared to last year.
Our students were given a dry run with home visits on the mountain slopes of Patanatic. Every home visit was a walking challenge with the hillsides, barbed wire and raw sewage. But in four groups we fanned out into the four sectors and saw tens of home bound patients. We examined infants of just a few weeks to elderly in their 70s and 80s. In the home of our group's last visit to Sector 1, an elderly lady was convinced to come up to our clinic tomorrow so Dr. Richard could examine her more thoroughly. When we bid her farewell she pronounced to us that our visit was a gift sent to her by a gracious God.
Now that we have been thusly blessed - we truly are ready.

Bonnie Herscher – A well-deserved break

2012-01-05T08:54:00.004-05:00

Bonnie is a nurse from Los Angeles.
After a long and moving day in our clinic seeing a 13-month-old diagnosed by Dr. Lauri with cerebral palsy and fitting glasses on children who had to drop out of school because they couldn't see, we treated ourselves to pizza and Gallo and sundaes. A day we won't forget and an evening that made us laugh!!!!

Dr. Lauri - Cerebral Palsy in Guatemala

2012-01-04T14:40:00.002-05:00

Not much time but wanted to blog about a 13-month-old I saw today.
Brought in by her mom, she is the youngest of 7 children. Mom was concerned because her baby is not walking, sitting or talking, and gags and chokes on anything other than breast milk. The baby was all wrapped up being worn by her mom during the history taking, but I knew before I saw her that she likely had cerebral palsy. On the exam table it was evident - hypertonic, scissor legs, back arching, clenched fists, contracted elbows. She is also microcephalic.
With the terrific help of my phenomenal interpreter, Diana, I was able to tell the mother the child’s diagnosis and prognosis. We talked through all kinds of things, like her risk for aspiration pneumonias, etc. I am doubtful she will ever walk, talk, feed herself, etc. Mom already knew there was something wrong; I just gave it a name. She was listening to each word.
I started the child on vitamins and an antibiotic to treat aspiration pneumonia. In the United States, she would also get physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, developmental therapy, eventually be fitted for a walker or wheelchair, and a feeding tube, but not here. One of the Xavier Occupational Therapy students got to see the exam. She could not have had a better patient from whom to learn.
The clinic was slower volume this morning. I only saw 9 patients compared to 19 yesterday morning. But that one patient was like 100 to me. I will carry memories of her forever.

Annie's photo with friends

2012-01-04T11:40:00.002-05:00

Dr. Lauri's photo of the pharmacy

2012-01-04T11:15:00.003-05:00

Jennifer Ledonne – Rainbows above the volcanoes

2012-01-04T11:03:00.001-05:00

Jennifer is a junior majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry. She is from Cincinnati.
This is amazing. Today we woke up to no electric and no water due to a storm last night. However, we were all still very excited to go to the clinic. When we arrived there was a rainbow over the three volcanoes that surround the lake, which also happens to be the view from our clinic windows. Our first patients were running a little late but eventually the clinic was in full swing. The people here are all so thankful and loving. They walk so far through very mountainous paths to reach the clinic. People of every age make the trek and wait patiently and gratefully for hours to be seen by the doctors. The most rewarding part of the day was providing people who could not see even the largest line of an eye chart with eyeglasses. They walked out of the clinic able to see more clearly for the first time. The people, the culture, the landscape...everything about this country is beautiful and I could not be more thankful to be here. Each of us is learning so much from every person we encounter, even Marghareta, the woman outside our hotel who tries to sell us blankets. Leaving the clinic today, we were lucky to see a sunset over the volcanoes.

Yesterday, we set up the clinic in the morning which was a lot of work, but fun. In the afternoon we split into four groups and made house calls. It was eye-opening to see how the people live day to day. All of the families live in very close vicinity to one another. The family that most stood out to me had a beautiful and healthy three-week-old. The parents, grandparents and entire family were glowing with pride of their new addition. Micayla and I were trying to say “handsome” but weren’t certain if the correct Spanish was “guapo” or “gordo.” It turns out “gordo” means “fat!” After trying to figure it out, the family caught on to our bad Spanish and it became a joke among all of us. Though there is a bit of a language barrier, but the miscommunications often lead to laughter, and our respect is apparent.

I could not be happier to be here. Since I first turned in my application, I have felt I was meant to be on this trip. Tonight at dinner I shared that with Cesar, the principal at the local school, who really initiated the clinic. He was so sweet and appreciative of all of us leaving our homes behind to come here but he didn’t realize how grateful we are to be here. We get to learn so much from this community and its people, which makes us grow as people. I am looking forward to the rest of the week and do NOT want this trip to end!!

Mouhamed Ndoye – Senegal to Guatemala

2012-01-04T10:40:00.000-05:00

Mouhamed is a sophomore from Sidney, OH majoring in Information Systems and Spanish at Xavier.
Words can't express how the last day of 2011 was spent, but I will make an attempt. Waking up early in the morning to begin my first journey to a Central American country, I learned that one can begin the day at 3:00 am! At CVG airport TG-13 (Team Guatemala) applauded every member who received their ticket and met the 50-pound luggage maximum as though we were professional athletes being introduced before a game. After the wait in CVG and the layover in Atlanta, we landed in Guatemala City. Now that I think about it, the airport reminded me of Senegal, where I call home (besides the US). It was really heart-warming to see that people were happy. At this point, I have been in Guatemala for four days and every second of it has been amazing. God bless the doctors that came along on the trip and the organizers, Rabbi Abie and Carmen, because they are sent from God. Words cannot express my respect for all the members of Team Guatemala. JD, Jen, Annie, Anna, Lia, David, Mike, Mary, Micayla, Rabbi Abie, Carmen, Christian, Megan, Doc Lauri, Doc Richard, Bonnie, Jorge and Cathy are the best argument for the existence of God.

JD Burleson – Bloggin’ Bebe

2012-01-04T10:39:00.001-05:00

JD is a senior Xavier student from West Carrollton, OH majoring in biology.

December 31, 2011 was my first experience with the beautiful country of Guatemala. The hotel in Antigua was amazing and I have one of the best roommates in David. The camaraderie has been great and we have gotten extremely close. I have also gotten to know the ladies of the group better and, as a whole, we have just become much closer. I am loving every minute of it. Bringing in the New Year with the new family I just gained in the beautiful city of Antigua was a special experience. I love Mouhamed, Christian, David, Mike, Lia, Annie, Anna, Micayla, Meagan, Mary, Jenn, Carmen and Rabbi.
January 2nd, 2012 was our first in the field exploring Patanatic and performing many different tasks. One of our first joys on this busy day was bringing all of our medicines into the clinic and setting up the pharmacy. I helped Dr. Lauri and the medical staff organize and move medicines that will improve the lives of so many people. From there, we set up a prayer room, which was amazing and essential to me, complete with the many rosaries donated to our mission. Prayer can bring the world together if people allow faith to reign and appreciate the similarities and the love that come through when we show honest Godly love to everyone. Our next step was to organize the donated eyeglasses according to their prescription strengths. I completely agree with Rabbi that changing the eyesight of a person - even just a bit – may allow them to see and work and support their families and enhance their happiness. Thomas Jefferson spoke of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That pursuit is much easier when you can see and interact with the world around you. I am really looking forward to the teeth-brushing station that we set up and will use tomorrow at the clinic. It will help improve dental care for children who will be given a toothbrush and toothpaste to take home. We will give each personal instruction so they can take care of their own teeth themselves.
During our break, we went up the hill from the clinic and met people around the town, including a man who wanted to take a picture “solamente con” [with only] a pretty girl in our group. We all joked that they were getting married (lol). The next part of our day after lunch was to go on house calls throughout the village with Nurse Cathy from LA, and follow up on patients who were seen by this group last year. We met an older midwife who was fatigued and felt weak. Her blood pressure was normal but her blood sugar level was very high and she was diabetic. There was no way she could get down the mountain in her condition because it is incredibly steep, but we took note. Later on that day, Dr. Richard and Nurse Cathy went back up to her home and tended to her needs. I was very happy because she reminded me of my grandmother and I didn’t want her to be stuck in her home alone or sick without any help. I was also very happy to learn she has family all over and friends who will help her. It means the world to the elderly for people to take time and care for them in respect of their place in society. We also visited a home where I had a very interesting conversation with an older gentleman while I took his vital signs. His blood pressure was normal as he asked me in Spanish if he was well or strong. At first, I was confused - he was making boxing motions with his fists, which made me thing he was a boxer. The translator told me he was asking if he was strong and after laughing at myself, I assured him he is indeed very strong and healthy, with blood pressure rivaling my own.

Lauri Pramuk, MD - Help out of the Moat

2012-01-03T15:34:00.000-05:00

Lauri is a pediatrician with Group Health Associates in Cincinnati’s Kenwood location.

Today was another day full of grace in Guatemala. Having spent the week here last March, I had some idea of what to expect, but still found myself filled with awe many times. Today was our first day to travel to Patanatic, the community where we do the clinic, and our main event of the week. Last year the clinic was not even built. Today, just 9 months later, we were overjoyed to find a real clinic - exam rooms, pharmacy, lab, even a dental room! The floors are installed and the walls are up. The building doesn't yet have electricity, so extension cords are run throughout to give light here and there. It also has 2 bathrooms, but unfortunately neither has working plumbing yet. It will be an interesting week of clinic with no toilet, but it could be worse.

We spent the morning organizing our supplies. We brought thousands of dollars of mostly donated medications and some 300 pairs of donated eyeglasses. The students looked like squirrels preparing for winter getting the clinic set for open of business tomorrow.

The afternoon, however, was the real highlight. We divided into four groups, each led by one of the medical professionals. Each group went to a different sector of Patanatic and made house calls - in-home medical visits to community elders and those who had recently been on prescription medications. Prior to this adventure I was intimidated by the fact that, as a pediatrician, I haven't taken care of adult patients since I was in training 14 years ago. Assuming the home-bound patients would be mostly elderly, I brushed up on some adult medicine from colleague Dr. Richard (who is the best and most humble physician I have ever met). My team of Lia, Christian and Annie, led by our guide, Maricella, trekked up the steep mountain of Patanatic to the highest sector. When we arrived at the top of the mountain (completely winded from the steep grade), you can only imagine my delight to find our first home visit patient to be a 17-month-old boy! Right up my power alley! He needed follow-up for a recent throat infection and had developed diarrhea from the antibiotics. He was doing fine, but I discovered he was infested with head lice - probably our first case of many this week. We have plenty of permethrin to treat him, thanks to our phenomenally-stocked pharmacy. Our next visit had me donning the internal medicine hat for a beautiful 79-year-old woman who turned out to be completely healthy. She even out-walked us on our way back down the mountain a few hours later!

The groups returned from the house calls full of energy and amazing stories. They have now been in the families' homes, talked with them, shared stories, and seen how they cook in primitive stoves. The homes are made of cement, cinder block, and tin. The students saw how chickens, dogs, and cats live inside the homes as much as they do outside. In fact, as my team was walking down the mountain, I stepped over a grate in the road and heard a tiny peep. Looking down, I found a tiny chick stuck in the moat of the grate. We lifted off the rebar and I jumped into the moat, chasing the little chick until I caught it. We placed it back on solid ground and continued on our way. That little chick needs to grow up and make eggs to feed one of these families, which she can't do stuck in a moat. Sometimes we all need a little help out of the moat. This week in clinic, we get to help the people of Patanatic find a path to better health - find their way out of the moat.

Jan 2 Annie Regan Amazing Opportunity in an Amazing Land

2012-01-02T09:54:00.000-05:00

Annie is a senior nursing major from Whitefish Bay, WI
Mucho amor de Guatemala!
We made it here safe and sound on New Year’s Eve. Little did we know what an exciting first night it would be!
Every time I have the opportunity to travel, I am reminded of the same feeling of overwhelming amazement and curiosity. The beauty of the mountains as we fly in, the excitement to meet up with our medical team from Los Angeles, the beautiful Guatemalan children strapped to their mothers' backs, the crowd-packed streets on New Year’s Eve, listening to a New Year’s Day Mass in Spanish, and bonding with the group on the rooftop garden of our hotel. This is just a taste of our first day... Everything hit at once and it was incredible! Being able to celebrate such an exciting holiday in a new place was awesome and I was amazed to see the incredible mix of people on the streets, celebrating together. Seeing strangers embracing to come together and celebrate the start of a new year was very cool and it was a perfect beginning to jumpstart our medical mission here in Guatemala! After celebrating and bonding with the group and getting more familiar in this new country, we start the work of our mission trip in Patanatic!
After tonight’s preparation meeting for the clinic and getting to know the streets of Panajachel, I am filled with a new kind of excitement and apprehension. Getting off of the plane in Guatemala, one of the flight attendants pulled me aside to say she was so grateful for our group and how cool it was for us as students to be able to learn in a community that could benefit so much from our actions. I know that as helpful as our aid in the community will be, we will benefit so much more from the experience. In this unique setting we are going to learn so much more from our interactions with the Guatemalan people, our amazing medical team, and one other as a group. Starting off the week I am so excited and grateful for the opportunity to put my practical nursing skills into action, form new relationships with a great group of people, and learn by doing. I hope our group will be able to bring the excitement and unity of our New Year’s Eve celebrations into the clinic as we start our adventures tomorrow!

Jan. 2, 2012 Michael Jerge Doctors' Advice

2012-01-02T09:44:00.000-05:00

Mike is sophomore biology major at Xavier from Munster, IN
To the sick, doctors wisely recommend change of air and scenery. Thank heaven America is not all the world. Yet we think that if fences are put up and countries established, boundaries are set to our lives and our fates are decided. The universe is wider than our view of it.
I arrived in Guatemala not knowing what was in store for me. Panajachel surrounds Lake Atitlan, nestled deep inside Guatemala. Spirit is in the air, continually receiving new life and motion from above. It is intermediate between land and sky. The Guatemalans are some of the friendliest people I have ever met. A smile here. A “bienvenidos” there. Our vans were welcomed by Guatemalan children waving along the side of the road. It was something amazing to be greeted with such hospitality by people I have never met. At a local shop, I befriended the owner and his wife. He wanted to practice his English, and I was happy to oblige. I said he spoke good English. He said he spoke English well. If only everyone had such humor. We spoke for some time, and he asked why I was in Guatemala. I told him about the medical mission trip, and he shook my hand repeatedly. It was clear how thankful he was, and I am so grateful to be a part of this opportunity. The man truly humbled me yet at the same time made me feel extraordinary.
Perhaps it is not a change of scenery, but rather a change of soul that the wisest doctors recommend.

January 1, 2012 Rabbi Abie's first impressions

2012-01-02T09:41:00.001-05:00

January 1, 2012
Rabbi Abie Ingber
Antigua was superb. We arrived on New Year’s Eve just before dinner. The city was the ancient capital seat of Guatemala and arguably Central America but earthquakes and volcano eruptions eventually moved the capital to Guatemala City. People refused to abandon the 450-year-old town and eventually some reconstruction took place. Now, 34,000 people live there, but it is such a tourist draw that I would not be surprised if a quarter million were here for New Year’s. It was wall-to-wall people on the basalt cobblestone streets. Fireworks were everywhere, as were friendly folks and colorful costumes. There was a Times Square atmosphere in the entire city. While the students settled in a rested, we adults went sightseeing and ended up seated up front at a salsa restaurant with amazing salsa dancers. At midnight, we got a glass of complimentary champagne. Everyone hugged and celebrated. It was a great experience.
The students are really bonding. Today (with the help of a guide book) I gave them all a tour of the streets and churches and earthquake ruins. We have now arrived in Panajachel - our hotel village. It feels like home. Tomorrow, we set up our clinic and do 3 hours of home visits to diabetics, elderly residents, etc. Lots of climbing!
Tonight after dinner, we get our medical orientation.
Buenas noches!

Jonathan's Post-Trip reflection

2011-04-04T14:02:00.001-04:00

A prophecy from the Hopi tribe states, “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” I have this belief that our generation will someday inspire and be part of a revolution towards peace in the world. This belief was solidified even more while in Guatemala. I truly felt that I was part of change for the village of Patanatic. It has become somewhat of a joke with my friend that I “want to change the world.” In recent conversations and through my Guatemalan experience, I have realized that everyone changes the world in their own way. For me becoming a doctor is just one way that I see myself being part of change in the world. This trip has reaffirmed my goal of becoming a doctor. I learned so much from wonderful teachers. There are no words to thank them for what they taught me. From this experience, I have become so much more self-aware and thankful for everything that I have. While walking around from house to house checking water filters, I realized how lucky I am to live in the house I do. Families of five or more share a one room house where dogs and even chickens run loose. I could not imagine myself living like this, and yet there was not a single complaint from people we met, only smiles. As people came in and out of the clinic each day, at times they had to wait hours just to see the doctor. My mother can attest to the fact that after only half an hour I get up and question the receptionist about how much longer. Again, not one person complained or became upset about waiting. They actually took the chairs that we had set up in a line and moved them into a circle to better enjoy each other’s company. I learned the most from one short conversation with our translator’s father. He was speaking about how the Mayan culture is full of so much energy and life. During the war in Guatemala those who wore the traditional Mayan garb were persecuted. But now, many people are now moving back to wearing the traditional clothing. He said there must be tolerance between different religious beliefs for the world to be at peace. After thinking about this for a while, I thought how true this view is. Religious tolerance is so exploited is by our society today. Tolerance is taking an isolationist view of others’ religions and cultures. If we want to learn and become at peace we must celebrate other beliefs and cultures. Before this conversation Mishel and Diana’s father took the time to thank the entire group. He told us that we are planting the seeds for the tree that will one day bear fruit. These are words that will stick with me for the rest of my life. “One Day” is my mantra or motto from which I draw my inspiration and determination to serve others. To me this statement means that “One Day” a change will come. It may not be today and we may not see the fruits of our labor, but we, in some way have started to spin the wheels toward change for society.

Nurse Bonnie's reflection

2011-03-30T14:55:00.001-04:00

It's been 11 days since we've returned from our mission to Guatemamla. So many thoughts and memories remain with me daily as I get back into my very privileged and grateful way of life. Over the course of a week we treated many families. We visited their homes (huts, shacks). We got to know them with their wonderful smiles on their faces and their deep connections to their past. So much poverty and yet so hopeful and appreciative for everything. During the week we pondered over our own issues of defining happiness. When is enough, enough??? How do these people with so little appear to have so much? They are deeply connected to each other, their communities, their history and freedom. What a gift for us to be able to be part of these beautiful lives for one week. Once again we were accompanied by amazing young people from Xavier University. These students opened their hearts and lives to spend their vacation week helping make the world a better place. They have already learned the greatest gift of all- giving of oneself completely. AND THEY ALL DID THAT SO VERY WELL. Our leaders of the trip, Rabbi Abie Ingber and Amy, make everything flow so well. But we know the hard work that it took for so many months to put this trip together and we are so very grateful to them both. To my colleagues- Lauri, Richard and Cathy- what a gift!!! Their leadership and compassion was infectious and their energy, spirit and goodness was a blessing for all!!!!!.

Abie - Life and Death in Guatemala

2011-03-30T14:50:00.002-04:00

Within moments of arriving in Guatemala City I knew this new temporary home would reward me in so many ways. ______ , the gentleman who handled our bags upon hotel check-in, asked me where we were from. "Cincinnati, Ohio," I responded. "I was there once," he said, "I walked on the bridge to cross the river." What were the odds that my very first Guatemalan encounter, one that should have ended with a $5 bill squeezed into an outstretched palm, would take this turn? The young man had come to the United States illegally to find some work and his journey had brought him to Cincinnati. When he arrived with no money he found shelter for two nights at the Drop-Inn Shelter in Over-the-Rhine. I explained to him that for more than ten years I had run a Campus Ministry Sunday morning breakfast program at the Drop-Inn Center. How many Guatemalans had I already encountered during that decade without ever having asked for a name? The next morning before we reconnected with the rest of our Xavier team we met with a father and son, members of Guatemala's small but historic Jewish community. Mario regaled the students with his ease of historical analysis, his business acumen and his sensitivity to Mayan culture and the need for healing Guatemala after its brutal and lengthy civil war. Mario had come to my attention through a faculty colleague. I had the privilege of involvement in his daughter's wedding and Mario was a relative of her new in-laws. A casual mention of my Guatemala trip was the catalyst for this quick Central American connection.The words "Cincinnati" or "Xavier" did not come up again until I received an email about a new admission to Xavier's student body. Bernard Pastor had become known outside his Reading High School community when he was arrested for failing to produce a driver's license and subsequent immigration documents in October of 2010. In days he became a poster child for comprehensive immigration reform and the Dream Act of 2010. Together with a band of his valiant friends and supporters we successfully fought his deportation back to the country of his birth, Guatemala. Bernard, like _____ had entered the U.S. illegally in the arms of his parents who had escaped the poverty and brutality of Guatemala during its worst days. But Bernard had been three years old when he came to the U.S. In one week I had more Guatemalan memories than he could ever possibly recall, I had seen more merchants selling Mayan textiles, more street vendors selling patatas fritas, and more mothers carrying their babies on their backs wrapped in a wide swath of colorful woven cloth. While I was in the land of his birth, my home university had offered him a chance to continue to grow and develop educationally. How incredibly proud I was and how hopeful I was that he might secure the funds to accept Xavier's academic welcome. Of course the words "Cincinnati" and "Xavier" were often audible in our makeshift medical clinic in the 584 family small village high above Lake Atalan. The lake was silhouetted by three volcanoes and the view from our clinic perched on the mountain top was breathtaking. Surely the Mayan gods of sky and mountain and water had come together to create the beauty in Patanatik and its villagers. At 4300 feet above sea level the hikes up mountain paths to villagers' homes took your breath away as much as the scenery. Each patient we saw, each villager we met, each child we treated during a chicken pox outbreak in the elementary school, heard words they had never heard before - words of healing from Ohio. But on our last day, I brought our healing to a most unlikely venue. All week long our team of 12 students, two doctors, two emergency room nurses and two professional staff had done everything we could to forestall suffering and death. With each full physical exam, with each prescribed and dispensed medication, we hoped to forestall a debilitating disease, to keep a bad medical situation from deteriorating, perhaps even to cheat death on this remote mountainside. On Thursday, while being examined by one of our doctors, an adult woman received a cell phone call that her elderly father had died. She immediately left our clinic and returned to her home. As if to affirm the critical importance of the first-ever doctor she had ever seen in her village, she was back in our clinic within an hour. Her family had initiated what needed to be done; she was determined to seize this healing medical moment even in the worst of emotional circumstances. The next day Dr. Walter and I decided we should hike up to the family home and extend our condolences in the name of our medical group from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. We received permission from the local director of our operation and with only our hearts in our hands we began our climb. The steepness of the climb and the oxygen poor air made the climb quite challenging. We stopped often to catch our breath. Both of us were thinking the same thing - life and death on the same continuum.We entered the one room family home. The open casket lay on a table in the center, surrounded by large votive candles. We were introduced to each member of the grieving family. As they began to speak of their husband, father and grandfather, tears flowed easily. We stood inches from each other, our hearts beating in unison. We expressed condolences from our American medical group and shared the gift of a new relationship between Cincinnati and Patanatik. May the deeds of the righteous be a blessing forever.

Dr. Lauri Pramuk's reflection

2011-03-30T14:47:00.000-04:00

March 25, 2011 “Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in a love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the mornings, what you will do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.” Pedro Arrupe, SJ – Superior General of the Jesuits 1965-1983 It is a great gift to love what you do. Being a pediatrician has been that gift for me. Those feelings are affirmed in my encounters with patients in clinic, and even more so in weeks like we shared in Guatemala. We all got to see how even in a simpler life people find joy in just being alive. There is no lack of color in Guatemala. I relive those wonderful colors now as I sling the strap of my bag over my shoulder everyday. Beauty abounds as I remember the scenery, volcanoes, Lake Atitlan, the purple flower trees. But what we will remember the most are the people. Endless smiles, some toothless, but all smiling. We also got to see how hard life really can be. Living in a home with a dirt floor without access to clean water is simply wrong. To quote Paul Farmer, “Clean water and health care and school and food and tin roofs and cement floors, all of these things should constitute a set of basics that people must have as birthrights.” On our first day of visiting the homes in Patanatic I wrote in my journal, “17 houses, 9 of which no longer have their water filtration systems. No wonder the kids are still getting diarrhea. The walk to the houses was the steepest mountain I have ever climbed. This is nothing to the elderly couple – woman carrying a basket laden with something on her head. These are amazingly strong people.” Life is hard here. Each day is spent in procuring what is needed for survival. If chicken is for dinner then it has to be butchered and plucked. So far from pre-packed at Kroger’s. The medicine was fun – plenty of well children. The part of the trip that surprised me the most was how healthy the kids were in general. Having traveled in Mexico, Honduras and Haiti, I was expecting some kids with severe malnutrition, but thankfully we didn’t see it. The people have limited resources, but do an extra-ordinary job of caring for their children. The mother of the 1-month-old twins was so concerned about the little girl twin (born at 4 pounds). She was already 2 pounds above her birth weight. The mother was thinking she didn’t have enough milk to feed both twins and was considering starting the girl on formula. I’m looking at this woman with breasts the size of large cantaloupes, leaking milk as we talk. Starting formula is not necessary (expensive for the family and would need to be made with clean water – or the baby will get very sick). I am so glad to have growth curves to show the mom how well the baby is growing. Her breast milk is more than enough for both babies. It is like liquid gold. Then I marvel as she slings the boy baby on her back, attaches the girl to her front and ties them up with her colorful cloth – both babies snug next to their mom. Just incredible. You all know now how remarkable it was to see 3 cases of varicella in one week. You will NEVER see that again. My pediatric resident in clinic last week was in awe when I told her that – she has never seen one case of chicken pox. Thankfully our varicella/scarlet fever patient did great and didn’t have necrotizing fasciitis. Central America is the birthplace of liberation theology. We all witnessed in our week in Guatemala what the liberation theology concept of “preferential option for the poor” means. It means one’s words, prayers and deeds must show solidarity with, and compassion for the poor. This is what we are called to do. This is what we did in Guatemala, and what Guatemala did for us. We are all poor in our own ways; some of us in spiritual ways, some more material. We are all richer from our week in Guatemala. Mishel and Diana are two sisters we will always remember. What talent they shared with us – gifts of medical interpretation, curiosity, mad skills on the marimba. We are lucky to know them. Do you think they ever stop smiling? They are Guatemala. We will take away memories of each other as well. Xavier is a phenomenal place. Your formation into men and women for others will always be connected to this trip. We also were gifted with great leaders. Amy, with her bible, is a terrific organizer, great listener and remarkable problem-solver. Rabbi Abie, so at home leading us in Shabbat dinner, and paying respects with the family of the elder of Patanatic in their loss. You will always remember Cathy as you encounter ED nurses – she is so perfectly suited for her job. Bonnie has a heart for alleviating suffering of any kind – be it human or animal. They also are great teachers. As students you know more about accurate blood pressure measurement than most residents. Then there is Richard. He is one of those rare human beings that we are graced to encounter. He is a great gift to me – someone who I can talk medicine with who also understands the humanity that we see daily in our work. As students he is a teacher you will always remember. So, drink in these memories. Share the stories with your friends and family. Guatemala will go with you always. Peace, Lauri Pramuk, MD

Eli - post-trip reflections

2011-03-28T10:09:00.001-04:00

My trip to Guatemala would be a hard thing to ever forget. It’s not just the amazing scenery, or the smiling locals, or even the fact that we are helping so many people. The thing that makes it unforgettable is the feeling that we were doing something bigger than ourselves. We gave back to a community in need but at the same time we gained so much more than we gave. This was my first service trip and now I can see why people keep coming back for more. The experiences I had are worth more than anything money can buy. Knowing that these people have a medical history now, knowing that we might have made their lives better, knowing we brought some joy to an entire community is a great feeling. The people of Guatemala made such a strong impression on me. Their sense of family and community is much stronger than anything I’m used to back home. Each person we saw had a story and a life we knew so little about but yet we could feel such a strong connection to them and their family. You knew that they deserved so much better and they had worked for everything they had. These people didn’t wait for doctors to come help them; they didn’t sit on the street and beg. They built a clinic from almost nothing. Knowing they did so much just for their children to have medical attention makes you want to do everything you can for them. Your hearts go out to each person that walks through the clinic door. They don’t feel foreign to you. They feel like neighbors or friends. How often do you feel that way about someone you’ve never met? The thing that touched me most was visiting a small village on the other side of the lake. We had three little tour guides (children from the village school) showing us around so we could inspect the water filters in people’s houses. We finished an hour earlier than any of the other groups so we had time to play with the kids at the school. Apparently play is a universal language because I didn’t know any Spanish but we still had a blast. It just hit me so hard to think that all of these kids will grow up to fill their parents shoes as being poor, underpaid hard workers who probably won’t get the chance to go to college. Some will have to quit school to help support their families. Those kids are so special and they all have great potential. If they had grown up in the U.S. half of them would go to college. The fact that they don’t have that chance killed me more than anything. And yet they were so happy. Many of the people wore smiles. Some of them laughed more than I do at home. Some people might think it’s strange that a community so poor can smile so much. Some might argue the reason they are so happy is because they don’t know anything else in the world, that ignorance is bliss. But I know there is more to it. The Guatemalans might have little money but they are richer than most people I know. They know how to enjoy life and that family is more important than anything money can buy. They have a different kind of wealth there. After only a week with them, I hope I’ve brought back a little bit of their wealth with me. It’s something we could all use a little more of.

Nicole - poco a poco

2011-03-28T08:25:00.000-04:00

“Poco a poco.” It means “little by little” and it’s a short Spanish phrase that I was introduced to on a cultural immersion trip to El Salvador three years ago. As I heard stories about the country’s civil war, I couldn’t help but notice how many people used this phrase. It was often used to refer to their belief that the war would end, and gradually things would get better. As I reflected, I realized how much this tiny phrase reminds me of my own beliefs and values. In fact, not only does it serve as a motto for many Salavadorans, “poco a poco” has become my own personal life motto. As I prepared for my second trip to Central America, I imagined this phrase would apply to many people and situations in Guatemala as well. As I sit and reflect on my recent trip to Guatemala, I am overwhelmed with happy memories and life changing experiences. It amazes me how my life has changed three different times, each from a service trip in another country. El Salvador and Jamaica both changed my perspective on a lot of things, but they can’t compare to how I have changed from Guatemala. My trip to Guatemala taught me the power of medicine, and it confirmed my desire to become a physician. I came home with so much new knowledge and a renewed feeling of empowerment to make a difference. The most powerful part of my experience came in the clinic. I have never seen such extraordinary examples of patience and gratitude. Each visitor to the clinic waited up to several hours to see a physician. Many of us got a bit restless as we felt sympathetic that they were waiting so long, but it didn’t take long for us to realize that the wait was the last of their worries. This was the opportunity of a lifetime for many of them, and not one patient showed a bit of concern or stress about waiting. They took the time to talk with their neighbors and laugh as they watched the children play in the clinic. As they saw the doctors, we were overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude from each patient. I think that we all heard the word “gracias” more than any other word the entire trip. These feelings of gratitude alone changed me. It made me realize what it truly is to be thankful, and how to express my feelings of gratitude to others. It made me appreciate my life and blessings so much more. Mostly, it made me appreciate the people and country of Guatemala. I am overwhelmed by how much beauty I encountered in each individual. They taught me the power of a smile, and that a smile is a universal form of communication that says enough. Working in the clinic helped me realize that the ultimate service I can provide to others in the future is through the practice of medicine. The prayer station was extremely powerful. I am Roman Catholic, but I have lost some of my religion as I came to school and found many reasons to put school work before attending Church. This trip brought me back to my faith and my belief in God. It encouraged me to make time to attend mass and remember to make God a part of my everyday life like the people in Guatemala. There was a particular instance that changed it all for me. A very old man, who had shingles, came to the prayer station where I was sitting. He asked to say his own prayer so I sat with him and listened. I couldn’t understand much until he put his arms in the air, started saying gracias repeatedly, and tears and sobs came from his body. They were tears of happiness and of gratitude, and this moment alone was the most powerful prayer I have ever experienced. It made me realize my belief in the goodness of humanity and how prayer and hope in God can change our world. My dream is to become a pediatrician, and if this dream comes true, I will owe it to the children of Guatemala and to a teacher I found in the trip, Dr. Lauri Pramuk. I have loved kids my entire life and have found so much love for working with kids as a swim team coach and a nanny. The happiness and innocence I see in children reminds me of the good things in our world. Interactions with children are an escape from all the violence, hatred, and jealousy that exists in the world. The children in Guatemala are some of the happiest kids I have seen despite their circumstances. They are filled with so much innocence and joy, and they have no idea that things might be a little better for kids in other parts of the world. Dr. Pramuk inspired me as she treated each child with love and patience. I see the act of working with children is an art, and it is something she has certainly perfected. I know that I will take much of what I learned from her with me in the future, and I hope to be as great as a doctor as her some day. I truly believe that my future holds many more mission trips to other countries as a pediatrician. I come home from this trip with many memories and many new friendships. This trip brought me peace, hope, and beauty. It opened my eyes to a new part of the world, and it paved the way for a future I believe possible. When I need an escape from the madness of school and graduation, I close my eyes and put myself back on the steps outside the clinic. Surrounded by mountains, a lake, and volcanoes, I have never felt so small and part of something so much bigger than myself. It is my place of solitude and my reminder of being united with “one world”. Right now, my trip to Guatemala is the biggest example of how “poco a poco” will play out in the world, for many reasons. I believe it really applies to the clinic that is opening. It has been a gradual process, and our group began something great that will continue to develop for the future. Little by little, this clinic will make a difference and become something crucial for the people in the village. Small steps are what the country needs, and I believe that our presence made this process possible and realistic. Also, little by little, each one of us can be inspired to make a difference. One of my favorite quotes is by Mother Theresa, and it says, “There are no great things. There are small things with great love”. If each one of us continues to take small steps out of love towards making a difference in the world, we can inspire others to do the same. We are all capable of change and we are instruments of hope to the people we encounter and serve. We must never forget the people we have met in Guatemala and the life lessons that we bring back with us. Guatemala has changed me in many ways, and the trip will continue to be a part of my daily life. Little by little, this new revolution of service and compassion for others will spread, and we each have a chance to play a key role. Gradual change is realistic, and "poco a poco" can inspire others to join in the movement.

Keith's Post-trip Reflection

2011-03-23T17:04:00.000-04:00

“This is the kind of experience that will ruin your life.” Our pediatrician Laurie Pramuk made this humorous, but entirely accurate, statement one of the last nights we were in Guatemala. It took me a second to understand what she meant, but as comprehension washed over me, I realized she was right. In the past six days I had experienced something that would stick with me for the rest of my life, whether I wanted it to or not.
Though we only spent a week in the clinic at Patanatic, we got to experience many aspects of daily life for the local people. We prayed with them, visited their homes, sat in on their town meeting, worked with them, healed them, and just got to know them. Their lives were harsh and meager, yet they struck me as some of the most genuine, kind, and grateful people I had ever met. I’ll never forget the women and men who were literally in tears as I prayed with them, following their visits with the doctors. I wish I could live my life with the same passion and faith. Aside from being full of emotion and energy, their prayers were full of one word in particular: gracias. It felt great to know that people were thanking God for our help.
In addition to learning about real gratitude and faith, this trip taught me what it really means to be a healer, and I thank all four of our medical professionals for that. The people of Patanatic received more respectful and high-quality medical care than many Americans receive. Our doctors and nurses took time to carefully explain all of their diagnoses and proposed treatments. They treated their patients like they were equal human beings. In my opinion this is one of the most important aspects of being a doctor. There is nothing worse than a doctor who gives you a prescription and sends you on your way with no explanation of the diagnosis. Every patient deserves this basic respect and dignity. I plan on carrying this idea with me throughout my medical career.
In closing, the most important thing I learned from this trip is that the medical field, and life in general, is about the relationships we make. I am grateful for this experience because I learned how rewarding these relationships can be. There is nothing as special as healing someone else and learning from their life at the same time. For this reason, I cannot wait to begin my medical career.

Brenden and new friend William and Dr. Lauri

2011-03-15T14:36:00.003-04:00

Brenden's view from the plane

2011-03-15T14:35:00.000-04:00

Wow. Here I am back on a plane flying from Guatemala to Miami and eventually to Cincinnati. Our experience and our mission have concluded, much to my dismay. I can't believe our time here has already come and gone. It seems like just yesterday we were getting the call notifying us of our acceptance into this Medical Mission Trip. As I peer out the window, I can't help but look down and reflect on the week that was. And what a week it was...

My group arrived Saturday afternoon. We were greeted by the smiling faces of the rest of Team Guatemala. What a sight. From California and Indiana, to Nigeria and New York, our team descended upon Guatemala with a diverse, yet unified, group of unique individuals. Our mission was to heal and provide comfort to the villagers of Patanatic, while growing professionally, personally, and spiritually ourselves. Each day's experiences came with a multitude of emotions and reflections, but here are two highlights from the week that was.

Day 1: Setting up the Clinic and Personal Home Visits

Day 1 began with us breaking into groups of two. Each pair was placed with a local Guatemalan and walked to various homes to check on the water filtration systems that had been placed in the homes prior to our arrival. Within minutes, we were scaling death-defying mountains to reach these homes (we were over 4,000 feet above sea level). We jumped over valleys, held onto trees, climbed up dirt paths, and walked along one- foot ledges. Once arriving at the homes, I was taken aback. I saw one-room houses with all dirt floors. I never saw electricity, and most often, there was only one bed. Food was being boiled on a wood stove as flies buzzed all around. Children were running without shoes and drinking what looked like unclean water. Dogs were roaming in search of food and the men in the area were working hard. Never once have I thought that people thousands of miles away are living like this...in such suffering, poverty, and dismay.

Yet their smiles are contagious. They are infectious. The people seem to be just as happy as we Americans are, even without all the technology and luxuries that we possess. While they may not have iPads, iPods, GPSs, or Kindles, they truly understand family and community. No matter the suffering, they are one. They have taught me that simplicity can provide just as much happiness as complexity, and for that I am grateful.

Day 4: School and Home Visits to Cerro de Oro

Today marked our first day away from Patanatic and our health clinic there. To arrive in Cerro de Oro, we took a boat across Lake Atitlan, which is surrounded by 3 breathtakingly beautiful volcanoes. It was a sight to see, as fog slowly drifted up off the water and into the 3 volcanoes. After the 20 minute ride, we quickly trekked to the village school, where we were warmly greeted by the principal. Though she spoke no English, I clearly remember the interpreters continuing to interpret her as saying "give thanks to God for you people coming to our community and helping us out. While I do not know where you are from, thanks to God for your arrival." Hearing this truly softened my heart. These people have almost nothing, yet give so much thanks to God, for he has given them so, so much. It's an unbelievable sight to see these people believe in the power of prayer and in the power of giving thanks to God.

We administered anti-worming pills to over 200 children in the school and followed with home visits to determine the cleanliness of their water filtration systems. Once arriving back to the school, the kids were ready to have a good time, and that is just what we did. We took part in a relay race, and showed the kids new hand movements to look like animals (see the photo of Dr. Lauri Pramuk). The kids were in love, and so were we!

Words cannot express what a transformational experience this trip has been for me. I return to America with an altered view of life. We should recognize the harsh injustices occurring outside our borders and reflect on how fortunate each and every one of us truly is. We are a community at large.

Thanks to Rabbi Abie Ingber, Amy Wetterau, Richard Walter, Lauri Pramuk, Bonnie Herscher, Cathy Walter, and my colleagues of Team Guatemala for making this "the week that was." I'm so thankful I got to share this remarkable experience with each one of you!

Sayo's thoughts

2011-03-13T15:13:00.001-04:00

My time in Guatemala has been beyond amazing. Besides having the opportunity to experience breathtaking scenery previously seen only on postcards, I got to see patients and their families in their own homes and also in the clinic.
The first thing that surprised me was the hike that we had to make to each of these homes. Most of these people go up and down the hills every day with ease. It made me realize how comfortable and easy life is for us in the United States. In addition, no matter how small the houses were, all the people were welcoming and invited us into their homes with a smile. It made me consider that a simpler lifestyle is sometimes a happier lifestyle. I am hoping to get a better understanding of that concept as the week continues and to appreciate it.
One of our tasks was to evaluate the water filters previously installed in these homes to determine their usefulness. Initially, I was excited by the initiative to use filters to purify water so that diseases such as diarrhea can be prevented. However, I was disappointed when I saw that a good number of the homes we visited either no longer had their filters or were not taking care of them properly. Although I did not see any homes with two filters, I found out that some homes had received two filters. The only assumption I could make is that the homes with no filters did not understand the importance of a filtration system. That is especially important to me because, as a future public health professional, understanding the causes of behavior is vital to establishing effective public health intervention. It also reinforced my belief that one cannot just provide aid to people without educating them about the importance and value of the aid. In this case, it was clear from the dichotomy in the people’s use of the filters that education is important.
Another interesting phenomenon was the ability of people to have good knowledge of their neighbors and provide directions to their homes even though the houses were not numbered. It made me consider how many people in the United States and other developed countries know their neighbors personally and would be able to provide directions to their homes if the numbers were suddenly wiped away. Many of us would be unable to. I say ‘hi’ to my neighbors and know some of them by name but not to the extent these Guatemalans know theirs. Does this mean that I just have not cared enough to know more, or does American culture engender isolation in the name of privacy? Either way, I am hoping to change this when I return to the States and make a greater effort to engage a good number of my neighbors.
The biggest observation I noted during the clinic today was the endearing spirit of the Guatemalan people. They show patience and continual gratitude in situations where others may get frustrated or become impatient. The best explanation for their behavior, which resonates strongly with me, came from one of the physicians with us, Dr. Walter. He said people do not mind waiting if they know that they are waiting for something worthwhile. The patience, happiness and contentment that characterized most of these people have challenged me as a person and I hope will continue to challenge me even after I return to the U.S.
The more I engage with the Guatemalan people with their spirit, and with the Guatemalan culture, the more I will grow intellectually, emotionally and spiritually.

Julie's view from the van

2011-03-10T10:49:00.000-05:00

Hola! Buenas tardes! We are in our second day in Guatemala. After the other half of our group arrived, we all made the journey from Guatemala City to Panajachel, the village where we will work with Heart to Heart. The fourteen of us from Xavier, plus the four medical professionals who came with us, are all packed into two vans (I knew we would get close on this trip, but I didn’t realize it would be so soon!) Since the journey will take about three hours, this is a good time to reflect on my experiences thus far.
As we ascend higher and higher into the mountains, I look out the windows of the van and am astounded by the breathtaking beauty. The further we go, the less I notice the mountains and the more my attention is consumed by the surrounding poverty. So far, I have seen dilapidated houses, men passed out drunk right in the middle of the sidewalk, people begging you to buy whatever it is they are selling, and many more sights that just tear at your heart. At the same time, though, I have seen beauty in the poverty. I have seen women who you could just tell were best friends carrying baskets on their heads; I have seen families farming their fields together, putting in countless hours of hard work; and I have seen kids playing together in a field, kicking a ball around and laughing as though they were the happiest kids on earth.
Observing all of these sights has caused a million questions to race through my brain. One recurring question that I can’t seem to find an answer to is: why them and not me? Why did I have the privilege of being born in a country where having a house, a car, a job, and new clothes is so common that it is easy to take these things for granted? I could have just as easily been born into a country like Guatemala where not having a car is the least of your concerns because you are more concerned with where you are going to get your next meal. Being born in America really was just pure luck; it’s like flipping a coin—heads, you are born in America, tails, you are born in Guatemala. Although I still do not have an answer as to why I was born in America instead of Guatemala, I do realize that it just as easily could have been me who was born into the Guatemalan poverty. If it weren’t for the luck of getting heads when I flipped the coin, I could have been the one begging people to buy whatever I was selling, just to earn a couple of bucks a day.
Reflecting on the luck of being born in a desirable geographical location, I can’t help but think back to this morning when the first half of our group to arrive had the opportunity of meeting two Guatemalans from the Jewish community—Mario and his 32-year-old son Jonathan. Mario explained to us how in 1934, after Hitler had just come into power, his father immigrated to Guatemala from Hamburg, Germany because he wanted to escape religious persecution for being Jewish. Just as the Guatemalans are randomly born into their poor living conditions, so too was Mario’s grandfather randomly born into an oppressive living situation. Unfortunately in Germany, no one did anything to help the Jews, so six million people died in the Holocaust. We cannot go back and change the past, but we can learn from it for the future, which is why we must do something to help the Guatemalans. Because all eighteen of us on this trip have been given many privileges, we have an obligation to help those who are not as fortunate. My perspective on life has already changed after just one day of being here, so I look forward to the days ahead.

Jonathan and friends

2011-03-10T10:48:00.001-05:00

Jonathan and friends

2011-03-10T10:46:00.001-05:00

Jonathan on thankfulness

2011-03-10T09:45:00.000-05:00

Today was a long day in the clinic but it was so rewarding. I had the opportunity to shadow the doctors and work in the prayer station. Both of these were amazing experiences. The chance to shadow a doctor opened the window to grow leaps and bounds professionally. Interacting with patients was one of my favorite parts of the day.
The prayer station was one of the most beautiful things I have ever been a part of. After the doctor finished the examination, the translator would ask the patients if they would like to read a sample prayer aloud or if they would like to offer their own prayer. Many chose to pray on their own and while I don’t know much Spanish the common theme in most every prayer was the word “gracias,” “thank you.” It is hard to believe how many times they gave thanks during prayer. It made me think how often we as a society use prayer when something is wrong or not going as we planned in our lives. Satchel Paige once said, “Don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines.” This truly envelops our societal view on prayer as a tool only for forgiveness or intercession. We never take enough time to offer up prayers of thanksgiving for what we have. The people here have so little but so much more than I will ever have at the same time. Yes, they have less monetary possessions but the people of Guatemala are so happy for everything that they own. The spirit of the Guatemalan is so resilient and beautiful.
Those patients that would choose to read the prayer would read in Spanish while I read the same prayer in English. When this happened for the first time I got chills. For that moment, language barrier aside, the patient and I were connected through the common language of prayer which was remarkable. This was one of the best experiences ever. It was unbelievable to see how universal prayer is.
This is such a remarkable experience and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. As patients come in and out of the clinic each day they always express their immense thanks. They do not realize that they have given me so much more than I can ever give them. I feel it is our duty to serve these people because only by the grace of God were we born into our society and culture.

Katie's first impressions

2011-03-08T08:01:00.000-05:00

At the end of the first full day in Guatemala I can already reflect and think on so much. Simply flying into the Guatemala City airport I began to get a feel of the place and the people. After being warmly greeted by the rest of our team we were promptly thrust into the culture and the need of the country where we will be spending our week.
Driving out of Guatemala City, buildings and traffic became small towns and farms. Finally after three hours of breathtaking countryside and harrowing poverty we arrived in Panajachel. The plan: dinner, meeting, sleep, Patanatic. The next morning we traveled 10 minutes up the mountain to the village of Patanatic, the location of the Heart to Heart clinic. Little by little, my eyes opened to the poverty around the world that is often shoved aside because of the hectic lifestyle most of us have in the United States.
Our first task in Patanatic was checking the water filters that Heart to Heart installed in the homes of the 500 residents. After walking up the steepest hill I have ever seen, my group visited approximately 20 homes. These houses are not what we are used to in the United States, with flooring, clean water, roofs, multiple rooms, and sanitary conditions. Not a single home in Patanatic has all those things; maybe only one or two homes have a single item from that list. The average home in Patanatic has a dirt floor, makeshift roof, contaminated water, and no inside lighting. Comparing homes like these to my simple small-town home I did not know what to say. Words fail the emotions I felt walking from home to home and witnessing the conditions that these wonderful people live in. Anger, sorrow, guilt, frustration, shock, and embarrassment all ran through me. These were quickly overshadowed by the next feeling - , a strong desire to help, heal, and love - the reason I came to Guatemala.
Following our home visits, we worked in the clinic for the rest of the day. Meeting the people and attempting to overcome the language barrier was a beautiful experience. Not once did I smile at a patient waiting in line and not see a smile in return. They are wonderfully happy and loving people. I wonder how they can be so happy in the poverty and illness in which they live. The slower pace of Patanatic allows for relationships and interaction, which I admit to cutting out in my overbooked life. The people have big hearts capable of great love which they freely share, and true wealth lies in love.
One interesting reflection I made tonight was at the Spanish Mass we attended here in Panajachel. In my theology class, we discussed the definition of the word catholic. While the “big C” Catholic is the religious belief, “little c” catholic means universal. As in my Spanish classes, the lecture takes on meaning only when it is applied to life. Hearing the Nicene Creed today in Spanish, I caught the word catholic. The word in the Nicene Creed is actually the little c catholic. Today, it finally really meant universal. I finally realized the church beyond the United States and even the English language. It reminded me of a song from church, “We are many parts. We are all one body.” We are all one body- it reminds us that there is no person with any place higher than another. If anything, should we not strive to be another’s servant like the example of Jesus? An amazing man we met today spoke to us about his gratitude for our service in the community. He proceeded to say that he felt sorry that there was no way for the community to repay us. I almost immediately began to cry. We did not come to be repaid, we came to be a servant to another part of the one body.

Greetings from Guatemala City - March 4 from Nicole and Jonathan

2011-03-07T08:09:00.003-05:00

We can both remember the phone calls we received in September that offered us a spot on the Medical Mission trip to Haiti. Although things did not work out in Haiti, we are blessed with the opportunity to have this experience in a new country that has just as much to offer. Now seven months after that phone call, we have landed safely in the beautiful country of Guatemala! It feels like we have been preparing forever, so we are so glad to finally be here. It is so real to us now!
We met up with our Los Angeles medical staff (Cathy, Bonnie, and Richard) in Dallas and all of us flew to Guatemala together. When we landed, we rushed through immigration to pick up our bags and head through customs. We met our Heart to Heart representative and our driver to take us to the Hotel Biltmore in Guatemala City. We arrived at the hotel, which is absolutely beautiful, dropped off our stuff and headed out into the city to find some food.
We both were a little nervous at first as we walked through the crowded streets just because the Guatemalan culture is very different from ours. The street we walked on had tons of night clubs packed with people and they were trying to get us to enter their club. Many vendors tried to sell us necklaces, roses, and CDs. We were caught off guard when we noticed several heavily armed guards lining the streets. Little did we know they would be so willing to pose for pictures with each of us!
We found a neat restaurant called Tacotenta and sat down to have chips and salsa, guacamole, floutas, and quesadillas. We talked and got to know each other a lot better as bands walked in off the streets and through the restaurant serenading us with music and singing. We shared stories and many laughs!
Now we are in the hotel, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the rest of our group and the week that lies ahead. We are trying to load up on sleep tonight since it could be scarce the rest of the week! Tomorrow morning we are having breakfast in the hotel and meeting with a representative of the Jewish community in Guatemala City. We are excited to learn more and ask him questions. The rest of the group arrives at 2:15 pm. We will pick them up in the airport and head off to the village where we will be staying! We are so excited for the amazing week ahead of us! Talk to you soon!

2011-03-05T10:35:00.000-05:00

Almost 300 students at Xavier University in Cincinnati are heading off to spend their spring breaks serving others rather than being served.

On this blog, we are following a dozen students traveling to Guatemala with two Xavier staff and four medical professionals, three from Los Angeles. They will try to post every night after a full day of serving great need.

All will spend eight days with Heart to Heart International Inc., a global humanitarian organization, which operates an office in Panajachel, Sololá, Guatemala. Heart to Heart has just opened a medical clinic in the 586-family village, the first of its kind. No one in the village has ever seen a doctor. Xavier is bringing the first-ever medical team to serve the community both in the newly-built facility and with home visits.

In addition, Heart to Heart’s comprehensive Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiative addresses access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation. WASH seeks to prevent the incidence of water-borne disease by providing health screenings, de-worming, hygiene education, installation of latrines, stoves and water filters in schools and homes, and instructing recipients on the installation and use of the filtration systems.

The Sololá region has one of the highest incidence rates of childhood diarrhea—due mainly to its proximity to contaminated water, but complicated by sanitation issues and hygiene practices. The students will work with Heart to Heart to empower residents to participate in improving the health of their own communities. When communities take ownership over the health of their people, results are long-lasting.

“The inventory of the village’s health, and our medical attention and treatment of the Mayan villagers has the potential to change the future of this small community,” said Rabbi Abie Ingber, Founding Director for Interfaith Community Engagement and the convener of the medical mission. “In addition, our pre-health-profession students will have a unique opportunity to learn medicine in proximity to four fine practitioners. This experiential learning will propel them to even greater meaningfulness and success in their future professional choices.”

AS you can see in previous posts from January 2010, Xavier’s Office of Interfaith Community Engagement made a highly successful interfaith medical mission trip to Jamaica with a similar group of students and professionals. In 4.5 days, the group saw 511 patients. For only a couple of hours did they see a beach – most days were spent among old slave huts in remote regions of Steer Town Jamaica, seeing people who had never received any medical care. Six had to be evacuated to a hospital for immediate attention.

Stay tuned.

Josh's reflections

2010-01-21T13:59:00.001-05:00

This week in Jamaica was a powerful experience for everyone involved. For me, Jamaica was special in a different way. I have been to Jamaica 4 times prior to this interfaith medical trip. Three times in high school, we helped build the very structure we used to host our clinic 2.5 of the 4.5 days we were in Jamaica. When I came to Xavier I knew I wanted to bring my experiences in Jamaica to others in hopes that they would be as profoundly impacted as I had
been.

Knowing that I would never be able to put together a trip of this magnitude alone I approached Rabbi Abie Ingber about helping make my dream a reality. After weeks of hypothetical discussion Abie said four words I will never forget: “The answer is YES,” and we were off. He brought his incredibly talented assistant Amy Wetterau into the planning and between the two of them, most of the miracles took place. The three of us spent a long Saturday carefully
combing through 52 applications and deciding whom we felt was best fit for the group of
13 students. Later that same week the majority of the fundraising began. We raked leaves, washed cars, worked UC Football games, and many other various fundraisers.

In November, just a few weeks into the fundraising, Abie and Amy broke the news to me that Tri-Health was going to provide substantial support for the trip. This news was nothing short of miraculous, and the other 12 students were also in shock and amazement. After more fundraising, a nearly naked mile, a night of pill packing, and countless hours of work by Abie and Amy we were ready to leave for Jamaica.

Once there it was a humbling and rewarding experience for everyone involved. The days in the clinic were long but rewarding. We worked 2.5 days in Steer Town, one day in Golden Spring, and one day in Liberty. All three communities welcomed us with open arms and were immensely grateful. Seeing 511 patients in 4.5 days is a feat that everyone on the trip can stand by with pride.

Everyone involved was professional and compassionate and I am honored to have served the Jamaican people alongside them. The most rewarding part of this entire experience to me was watching my classmates, all of whom are going to be wildly successful in their respective branches of medical service, take accurate vital signs or administer life saving medicine and then immediately hold the hand of their patient and say a prayer with them. Everyone on the trip knows that it is God who heals and we are merely instruments of his healing. After each day we had a chance to meet and debrief the days events, which at times was difficult considering some of the heart breaking situations we each witnessed.

Each person on the trip had a unique experience that will hopefully move them to continue to serve as loving, patient centered doctors, nurses and occupational therapists in the years to come.

Finally, it is my wish that everyone who attended will remember what it felt like to serve people that the rest of the world has forgotten, and I pray that one day when they are settled into their careers that they remember their Xavier days and find a way to continue to embody the Jesuit ideals that they exemplified in Jamaica.

Kevin's reflections

2010-01-21T13:54:00.002-05:00

My trip to Jamaica was one that I will never forget. It came in a time of great personal growth and development in my life. As a college student, I often feel as if I am in limbo between my undergraduate and professional career. However, Jamaica brought these two together. Never before did I feel so right with what I was doing. This is not to say that I have never worked in medicine or with patients; I have spent a great deal of time in research and participated in an earlier medical mission in Nicaragua. However, Jamaica stands out for countless reasons.

First, the people of Jamaica made the trip so memorable. We were on the ground working out of churches and community centers. Because our patient population came directly from the surrounding neighborhood, we briefly experienced being a part of their community. In one instance, we saw four generations of a family come through the clinic during a single day.

Some of the people we met were not necessarily patients but representatives of the religious community. One night we sat down with a Rastafarian who talked with us about his beliefs. This gave us an entirely different perspective on religion. While many of us understood religion to be founded on the dogma a sect of people holds in common, he proposed that Rastafari is very much the opposite. He insisted it is a simply a way of life celebrated differently by every
individual.

Additionally, we had the privilege of sitting down with an Islamic Imam, who talked with us about the pillars of his faith. Interfaith was a much needed component of the trip. In our time of deep questioning, it allows us to better understand our place in the world through the faith traditions of those around us.

Medically, the trip was equally outstanding. Not only did we have the privilege of shadowing three excellent health professionals, but we were directly involved with the well being of our patients. After proper training, students took vitals, abstracted medical notes, and prepared medications. After returning to Xavier, this aspect of the trip will help encourage us in our studies by giving a taste of what we are working towards.

Beginnings—a New Year’s Story for 2010 by Bonnie Herscher, R.N.

2010-01-14T07:58:00.005-05:00

The phone rang as 2009 was about to draw to a close. My dear friend, Rabbi Abie Ingber, was on the other end of the line, calling from Cincinnati to ask if I’d like to join him and a group of thirteen Xavier University undergrads on a trip to Jamaica. This was not going to be a vacation, not a story of beach resorts nor a sightseeing trip to experience the great natural beauty of the island. Instead, Abie had called to know if I would join a medical mission he had organized with the intention of providing care to some of the most impoverished residents of the country.

I had not imagined that 2010 might begin quite this way, but on New Years day I was on the plane, beginning a journey that words barely begin to describe. Joined by Dr. Richard Fry and nurse practitioner Paula Niederbaumer—with the blessing of essential financial support provided by TriHealth—we began a week that would take us to Steer Town, Golden Spring and Liberty, villages of which I’d never heard, but soon came to know for their small huts, essentially cobbled together out of plywood and corrugated metal roofs—no kitchens, no bathrooms, no plumbing to supply water. Some thirty years ago, Dusty and Corinne Cooper had come to Steer Town as missionaries, saw the conditions, found people living without any shelter whatsoever, and couldn’t turn their backs. They built Grace Community Center whose, focus has been to provide rudimentary education and training. Over the years, the Coopers have created relationships with the locals, and for this trip, they served as our hosts, guides and protectors.

So far, so good. But here is where words begin to fail me. I’ve been an emergency nurse for 40-plus years. I’ve seen more than my share of trauma and gravely ill people. But this was my first real encounter with the multitudes of illnesses that accompany the cruelty of extreme poverty. Where to begin? We treated children infected with parasites. Many of them were so malnourished that they looked half their age—boys and girls who told us they were ten years old when we would have guessed that they were not older than five or six. We brought much-needed inhalers for asthmatic children, but ran out of them by the end of the week. We encountered mothers who begged us for those inhalers, telling us that their children could not breathe at night. And what would they do, we worried, when what we had provided eventually ran out?

Most of the adults we saw were suffering from high blood pressure, so many of them at dangerously elevated levels. We had to take six of them to an ER because they were in serious danger of strokes. Having set up a pharmacy, we loaded these patients up with the proper medications. We tried to each them the importance of seeing a doctor when these meds ran out, but we kept hearing the same responses: we have no money for medicine. How disheartening it was to hear that, to know that they would not get life-saving care until the next mission would come along; who knows when that will be?

Over the course of the week, we met some 500 patients. We treated people suffering from multiple infections, and we saw widespread STDs. But it was, of course, the children’s stories that were, ultimately, most heartbreaking. It was not only painful to see so many teenaged girls who had already given birth to their own children for whom they could not provide adequate care, but to encounter girls who, in their young lives, had suffered multiple rapes.
And yet… in the midst of so much poverty and sickness, there was such a sense of hope. How could I be anything but hopeful, having worked with these thirteen young people from Xavier, all of whom aspire to become medical professionals? In the most important of ways, they’re already experienced something of the power of healing. When I arrived, I was worried I’d never learn all their names; a week later, I won’t ever forget any of them. Even though you don’t know them, I want you to hear their names, because each of them is a precious human being: Brenda, BB, Heather, Julia, Keiko, Jenna, Amber, Mena, Caroline, Kevin, Josh, Fariba and Melissa. If anyone ever tells me that they despair of the younger generation or the future they will create, I’ll them I know thirteen extraordinary reasons to be hopeful. These students gave their all; they put themselves so fully into this work, into long days and dreary conditions. Under the supervision of Rabbi Ingber, Dr. Fry and Paula—with the continuous and invaluable help of Abie’s assistant, Amy—these 13 “kids” helped to create a clinic with a fully functioning pharmacy. I taught them how to take blood pressures and dispense medications, and, literally overnight, they were seeing patients, teaching them how to take their meds and what side effects to watch out for. They watched what I was doing and jumped right in to do the work. We were out the door by 7:30 each morning, each day bringing with it an offer of a hot breakfast. But none of them wanted to waste a moment, knowing that people would be waiting at the clinic. So peanut butter and jelly were their staple breakfast and lunch.

These amazing young people—from various ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds—gave up a week of their Winter break out of a belief that they can bring something into this world to make it better. They got up early, they worked late; at the end of each day they took time to reflect on the day and, invariable, shed some tears about what they had seen; and they never uttered a single complaint. They weren’t all friends before this experience, but they worked perfectly together, created amazing chemistry, and expressed such happiness to be part of something that brought a little bit of healing, along with moments of joy and hope to the people they had come to serve. And the patients felt that, experienced the compassion of these student healers and loved them for it. When the members of a local church gathered with us to express thanks, they sang a beautiful blessing for us. I looked around the room as these women’s voices entered the hearts of our students—the hearts of all of us—and knew that the tears were a gentle response to the love.

But none of this could not have come to pass were it not for Abie Ingber. It was his idea, his vision, his fundraising, his organizational ability that made it all happen. And it was Abie who hand-selected and inspired our precious students for the mission. And then, out in the streets of our villages, it was Abie who could be seen going into the barbershop to get the barber to close up shop so that he and his wife could come into the clinic; we listened to them talk of the difficulties they were having getting pregnant, as I offered some rudimentary education of how to graph her cycle, monitor temperature, and figure out when she might be ovulating.
The barber and his wife were not the only ones Abie reached out to, (that is to say, dragged) into the clinic. He was relentless. One day he went into the corner bar and tried to convince the waitress/bartender to come in for a check-up. She was afraid to do so, worried that she’d get fired if she closed up the business. So Abie bought two beers to make up for the income of the temporarily shuttered bar.

There are so many stories to tell. And so many more that we never heard; so many lives in need of care, of compassion and healing. We ended up making time for a few more of those stories and lives on our last day. Friday was supposed to be a free day, scheduled for some time to see a little of the beauty of Jamaica. But when we closed up on Thursday night, there were still patients who hadn’t been seen during the week. How could we tell them that there was no time or space for them? So we opened up again on Friday morning to see those who had been turned away. And then, we did get to hike up to Dunn’s River Falls, a place of great natural beauty, whose waters flow from the mountains of the island all the way down to the sea.

Jamaica is something of an island paradise. Some 500 miles off the tip of Florida, it is so close to where we live our lives. And yet, it is so far away. And, we know—lamentably—we left the work unfinished, the needs unfilled. As the Coopers hoped thirty years ago, there is hope that others will step up… to create a clinic and provide ongoing care, to supply desperately needed medication, to get inhalers to the children and hypertension meds to the adults—not for one week, but every day.

I’ve been back for just a couple of days and am finding it hard to get back into my daily routine of a life filled with the many privileges for which I am so grateful. I won’t forget what I saw, the terrible conditions, the malnourished faces of underweight children, the shacks in which so many of them live. I also won’t forget the spirit, energy or goodness of my new friends from Xavier. And among the many memories, I’m especially going to remember one little boy—Roger Moore is his name, and he delighted in repeating his name over and over again—who giggled with delight and posed for pictures with us. Roger will remain a powerful reminder of the undying human spirit that survives even the worst of life’s conditions.

Julia C. Final thoughts - "Irie"

2010-01-12T21:51:00.002-05:00

As I prepared to travel to Jamaica, I was aware of the poverty I would be facing, but I was not prepared for the distortion I would encounter. The fact that tourists can travel to a country, stay in a marvelous closed-in resort, then leave a week later with the impression that Jamaica is a land of beauty in every aspect is something I still struggle with. It angers me to know that outside the resort walls is a land full of families who struggle to keep food on the table, to provide adequate medical attention for their children and to find shelter in a decent home, as couples nearby indulge themselves in $2000-a-night resorts. Jamaica is truly a beautiful country from East to West, but the light should be shone upon the entire island.

Amongst the poverty, where I expected to find spirits as low as their meager incomes, I met some of the most good-hearted, genuine human beings. As children ran through streets where sewage trickled, I saw smiles bigger than any toy could produce on an American child’s face. The people of Steer Town were not concerned that they lived in houses made out of tin and scrap wood. As long as the sun was shining and laughter was heard, the Jamaican people did not have a trouble in the world. I admire them for that.

We were welcomed with open arms the second we walked off of the plane. I felt so proud to be representing my university in such a positive way, but by the end of the trip, I felt even prouder to know that now I was a true part of the Jamaican community. The values I have learned from the people will shape my future relationships, careers and even my life. The carefree lifestyle of the Jamaicans is truly an example of how life should be lived. The Jamaicans have an expression, “Irie,” which means, “Everything is alright.” Every time I heard “Irie” over the screams of hardship in Jamaica, I knew in my heart that I need to use my medical education to make the rest of the world feel “Irie.”

Brittany's final Jamaica reflection January 10, 2010

2010-01-12T13:22:00.002-05:00

Now that I am back home, looking back on my trip to Jamaica, some images haunt me and others make me smile. This trip was the best of my life. It has truly humbled me and made me so grateful for all that I have and all of those who promote my success. It is so easy to travel to countries and never truly see them. You walk around in all the safe tourist areas and talk to natives who deal with foreigners frequently and totally miss what the country really has to offer. I feel we saw the real Jamaica, because we talked to the people, we went into the villages, we ate the food and we learned to value the things they value. We may have only been there one week, but it felt much longer. In each single day, I had more experiences than I have had in months. Getting to know the people was the best part of the trip for me. It hurt to learn that so many young children are malnourished and sick. It hurt to see fathers who could not provide for their families. Yet, listening to their stories and praying with them brought me peace. It is hard to explain but only one part of helping them was providing medications, while another was sharing burdens with them. Letting others know that they are in your prayers and that you care for their well being, I believe, made - and makes - a difference.

They seemed to be so thankful for our presence. At first I thought they might look at us as intruders but it was the complete opposite. Before really getting to know us they welcomed us into their homes. The children showed us their favorite toys. Some women offered to feed us; even giving us their last. They were overall a happy people, humble and loving. The environment was so positive it radiated from everyone and made me want to give more. For that reason it made it very hard to turn people away. There came a point when we had to close the doors to the clinic and turn many people away, sending them back to their homes without care. Some of them just wanted a check-up and others seriously needed our help. It was very difficult. The people were a bit angered and as we walked out of the building I couldn’t look any of them in the eyes. I understand that there is only so much we can do but I just wish that our giving had no limitations.

I have gained so much from this trip and I am sure all who went feel the same way. I wish everyone could go and see this side of a developing nation. I feel this has changed my life for the better, forever.

-- Brittany B.

Jenna's reflections after returning home

2010-01-11T20:45:00.003-05:00

As much I would like to be able to describe my experiences with the Jamaica trip to everyone, I know my words cannot come close to conveying the impact of this trip. As our mission leader said, only the eighteen of us will be able to understand our experiences. What we can do, though, is try to explain what happened in Jamaica during this past week with the hope that others will be inspired to travel abroad and make similar memories of their own.

We may have been in Jamaica for only a week, but upon my arrival back to Cincinnati, I feel I have been gone for months. The clinic work kept us busy from sunrise to sunset. We would come home exhausted, both emotionally and physically, but there is not one moment I regret. I gained firsthand experience in the medical field while growing individually and spiritually. It is easy to forget about the pain and suffering in the world when secluded in our safe community at Xavier with our new buildings, cars, clothes, etc. Whether or not we acknowledge that there are mothers unable to feed their children each day and people walking miles to work each day barefoot does not mean these sad situations don’t exist. I believe it is important for every student to make trips such as this in order to remind themselves of the suffering and motivate them to use their good fortune to help those in need and stop the suffering.

What I am most thankful for is being able to witness the human spirit at its best. Here were thirteen students, two faculty members, two nurses and one doctor giving their time and skills to help those less fortunate. I am so very thankful for meeting and getting to know the 17 amazing individuals who were with me during this week. Their kindness and faith is truly touching, and gives me hope for the future of our world. I know there are others with these same attributes scattered across our world, and that helps me stay optimistic for the future. Not only was the spirit of our group uplifting, but also the spirit of the Jamaican people. Despite their depressing situations, they were smiling and thanking God for their blessings. Our last station in the clinic was the prayer station, where we would offer the patients the opportunity to pray with us. The majority agreed and several offered prayers for us. It was almost ironic. These people are destitute, in situations we cannot even imagine spending one day in, yet they still want to ask God to keep us safe, healthy, and blessed. While part of me wanted to feel guilty accepting these prayers, I was also touched. If these individuals were able to keep their faith despite their suffering and pray for us, then there must be a power so much greater than ourselves guiding us and giving us strength to live. In a world of war, poverty, and illness, it is easy to forget about the good of the human nature. This trip helped show me how much can be achieved when the “good” of the world collaborate and work together.

Yes, I saw extremely sad, depressing situations. As much as I want to cast these memories from my mind, I am thankful to have experienced them. I can see the smiling faces of children given vitamins, the eyes of parents who have just received medications to cure their infection, hear the thanks of praise from voices of men, women, and children. I will keep these memories with me each day, and remind myself that no matter how difficult my life may seem, I must give thanks for the fact that I was born into a home where I was offered the opportunity to reach my dreams, whatever they may be. I have always had food on my plate when hungry, clothes on my back when home, and a home to protect myself from the cold. We all must recognize how blessed we are to be here and use our blessings to help those who have not been as fortunate.

Abie from the old slave shacks 1-7-10

2010-01-08T08:36:00.002-05:00

Tonight we traveled into the era of slave shacks - extreme poverty. We were literally practicing bush medicine. Passing meds hand over hand across mud and through rain to get from shack to shack. Students were scribbling BP readings and vitals on their arms by flashlight. We were amid the shacks in darkness but could not dismiss the children pulling at our arms to see their mothers. Half the students went home; they made and waited with dinner until we got back. Brenda R. from Kenya did a nice blessing before our food. Now we are trying to resurrect our intake forms from the numbers written on boxes, scraps and arms. Then, we will offer reflections and get some sleep.
Friday 8am we start in Steer Town. Then we will lunch in Ocho Rios and purchase breads to use as tonight’s Shabbat challah. We will make a brief visit to the Falls and then return for Shabbat dinner. And unbelievably - it's over. Our students have had hands-on medical experiences with over 500 patients - infants and elderly, well and terribly sick. And, they have had hands on human experiences with the exact same people. Did we see Jamaica? Maybe more than any tourist ever has. Not a hint of a tan or beach sand in anyone's shoes. Incredible.

Fariba from Jamaica January 7

2010-01-08T08:18:00.003-05:00

I would have to say that one of the most memorable points of this trip happened when we went to a small girls' home the other day. I was told the girls living and studying there are victims of sexual abuse. They were removed from their homes and families and placed here for safety and ultimately hope for a better life and future. These girls were not here out of choice, rather because someone or, in some cases, multiple people put them through pain and harm which forced them to leave everything and anything familiar. It was heart-wrenching to hear some of the stories of what these girls had been through. I became very close to one girl in particular; she opened up to tell me she had been raped three times in her sixteen years of life. I froze when hearing those words. I have never been in such a situation and I honestly did not know what to say. So I listened. She told me she isn't going to let those things affect the rest of her life in a negative way. She was going to keep smiling and rise above all the negativity and suffering. She said that what she really wants to do is speak the word of God to those around her. She wants to be the one to give strength and wisdom to others during their times of difficulty. I couldn't believe it. This sixteen-year-old girl who had been through things I could never even imagine was looking to move beyond it and remain strong and faithful. This was the highlight of the day for me. At that moment, I felt so honored and grateful to be where I was. I am so thankful that I spent a little more time talking with and getting to know this young girl. It's during moments like these that we realize how important it is to not only talk but also just listen to others. By opening our ears and hearts to other individuals, we give so much. And, we get so much. Sometimes, all someone needs is a friend to talk to and share their thoughts with. What I will take with me from this trip is that, in addition to continuing to work hard and pursue my goals of becoming a physician and helping those less fortunate in similar situations, but I will also remember to be a good listener along the way and when I do reach that point. I want to be a physician to whom my patients are comfortable revealing themsleves and with whom they will share aspects of their lives. This is my goal thanks to the experiences I have been so fortunate enough to have here in Jamaica.
Fariba K.

Amber from Jamaica January 7, 2010

2010-01-08T08:15:00.002-05:00

The people in Jamaica never cease to amaze me. I have enountered a lot of hardship over the past couple of days and have experienced the uncanny ability of the Jamaican people to count their blessings in spite of that hardship. Today I was blessed to be at the prayer station for the whole afternoon. Praying with so many people for so many hours was a wonderful experience for me, and afterward I realized how much the Jamaican people have helped me grow in my faith. Person after person taught me how to pray. Earlier this week when I was at the prayer station, I gave those who came through the option for me to offer the prayer or for them to offer it, and each time they asked that I offer it. Today I began to just ask them to say a prayer and I listened and prayed with them silently. I was deeply moved to hear the gratitude they felt to God for all of the blessings in their life and how thankful they were that we were there to serve the community. In their prayers they never forgot to pray for their community and to praise God for his mercy and love. Wow...to be so thankful when you have so little. It was a reminder for me to never cease to thank God for the tremendous blessings he has given me and recognize that everything that I have is a wonderful gift from God.
Amber B.

Abie on 1-6-10

2010-01-07T08:10:00.004-05:00

We are truly an interfaith group. A Rabbi is leading a mission from a Jesuit Catholic university. IsleGo, our Jamaican service host, is non-denominational Christian. Our first visitor for a presentation was a Rastafarian. Our clinic was set up today in a Methodist church in Golden Spring. Tomorrow we are in a Baptist Church in Liberty. Sunday, we went to Catholic Mass in Ocho Rios and tonight spent ywo hours in the mosque in Ocho Rios with their Imam. Friday night we will have Shabbat dinner in St. Ann's, the parish near Ocho Rios. Perhaps a first, since the island's 200 Jews live in Kingston. I see it's a small world every time I travel it.
The Imam tonight was erudite and eloquent, raised as a Catholic by parents who thought he might be a priest. He went London to study and the rest is history. Truly a model of devout Islam with genuine interfaith knowledge. A fascinating experience for our students.
We have been resolute - every minute has been filled with medical service and interfaith. Xavier's name is really being broadcast for good. We will see over 500 patients. At this point, 4 patients have been sent to the hospital with very serious conditions. Of the 500, but a handful have not accepted our students' invitations at the end to join them in a prayer for healing.
Nice food treat today. I walked down the dirt rural street during a rain break and bought two fresh coconuts. The owner's son cracked 'em and all of us had delicious coconut for an afternoon treat.

Xavier University Students Begin 2010 on Interfaith Jamaica Medical Mission Trip

2010-01-05T20:24:00.001-05:00

From January 2-9, 2010 before classes resume at Xavier University in Cincinnati, thirteen Xavier students will cut short their holiday breaks and travel to Jamaica on an interfaith/medical mission trip. Dr. Richard Fry, Obstetrics/Gynecology, and Paula Niederbaumer, RN and nurse practitioner from TriHealth Cincinnati will join the group, as will Bonnie Herscher, a nurse from California. The founding director of Xavier’s Office of Interfaith Community Engagement, Rabbi Abie Ingber, is leading the group. The students will shadow the medical professionals in the mountain health centre in Steer Town, Jamaica and will meet with theologians of different faith traditions common in and native to Jamaica.

“In the midst of America’s passionate debate about healthcare,” says Ingber, “Xavier students will come face to face with a Jamaican community desperate for medical attention. The students will shadow professionals from TriHealth in serving hundreds of impoverished residents of Steer Town, Jamaica. While immersing themselves in Jamaican culture, they will also reflect on the multicultural and interfaith diversity of their own group members. Not only will our college students to do good, they will grow professionally in the process. As we spend our week in the midst of this poverty, I want them to reflect on the diversity of this world and on how their different faith traditions brought them all to this same place to use their education to serve an impoverished community. Simply put, we are trying to develop the next generation of American leadership both at home and in our larger world community.”

About Interfaith Community Engagement
Xavier's Office of Interfaith Community Engagement works to create and strengthen a sense of community among those of diverse faiths on campus, in Cincinnati, and on regional and national levels. Interfaith Community Engagement is a student-centered initiative that allows individuals to both deepen their personal faith and enhance their understanding of other traditions. It serves the larger community in areas of social justice, shared religious teachings and leadership development.

TriHealth (the community partnership of Bethesda and Good Samaritan Hospitals) is the Mission Sponsor of the Xavier Medical/Interfaith Service Trip.

2010-01-05T20:21:00.000-05:00

Xavier students head to first day in the clinic at Steer Town Jamaica.

2010-01-05T20:15:00.000-05:00

Children of Steer Town Jamaica.

2010-01-05T20:12:00.000-05:00

TV Jamaica recording the action in Steer Town on Tuesday 1-5-10

2010-01-05T20:09:00.000-05:00

Kevin with a young patient.

2010-01-05T20:06:00.000-05:00

Amber checking a patient's pulse.

Mena and Jenna from Jamaica January 4

2010-01-05T20:02:00.002-05:00

10:12 pm
This is Mena B. and Jenna H. from the Jamaica Interfaith Medical Mission Trip. We would like to offer the following reflection to keep everyone in Cincinnati updated on the work being done here in Steertown.
Jenna: "Today was our first day at the clinic. All in all I would say things went well. We were able to treat 140 people today. I was truly touched by the people of Steertown's joyful spirit. Despite their unfortunate situations, they still greeted each of us with smiles. This spirit and hope is what drives me to continue on my path towards working in a healthcare profession. It is also what deepens my faith and trust in humanity. In the small amount of time I was with each person, I was able to form a relationship with them and feel a common bond between us. I am so thankful that I have been given such an amazing opportunity to experience the interconnectedness of human nature. I am unbelievably touched by the experiences and relationships I am forming here. I know that this is only the start of mission work for myself, and look forward to the days when I can lead one of my own trips. "

Mena: "As Jenna mentioned, today was a beautiful day, and as Rabbi and told us earlier, today was the day we would truly get to experience Jamaica. There are many ailments that afflict the people here. From diseases such as AIDS, parasitic infections, hypertension, a plethora of STDs, to malnutrition and lack of education. However, we all felt that in seeing Jamaica we gave hope to the people here, and in turn were given it. We were able to help treat patients, while getting to know them and their families, and this is what truly provided that sense that we were finally seeing Jamaica. Through the people we treated, we all seemed to find a looking glass into the essence of humanity, and thereby came to appreciate more fully Jamaica, the medical practice, and humanity as a whole. We now look forward to another day of intense experiences and reflection."

Brenda from Jamaica January 3

2010-01-05T20:00:00.001-05:00

10:38 pm
Jamaica, Day 2
My roommates woke me up this morning at 7:50am. I was so surprised. I had slept like a log the entire time. I am normally able to wake myself up and considering that I slept for 8 hours instead of my normal 5-6 this time round. The day started well, the breakfast was sumptuous and whole with uncanned fruit and one of the yummiest bananas I ever ate. We immediately left for church, and on the way, I couldn’t help but notice tiny shack shops and small buildings: hair salons, clothes stores, supermarkets, you name it, it was all there; it kinda reminded me of home (Kenya) because of the set up. A couple of people mentioned this is like going back a couple of years; to me it was like going home, a very humbling experience to draw such similarities across thousands of kilometres of sea. We got to the church itself which was beautiful, with glass windows directly facing the beach. It was hard to imagine how anyone was able to concentrate on the service with the beautiful waves beating down on the shore right behind the priest. There was more, the church was bright inside with colorful writings on the wall. Being there gave me 'happy vibes.' It was not a big church as I had expected, but it was big enough. It was the second Mass I had ever attended in my whole life. The people were extremely friendly. The music was the best part of it I must say. There were drums, a flute and a jiggy piano tune. They almost had me going on a little dance there. The whole day was really good, but my highlights came later on. The first, when we were handing out flyers to the surrounding community at Steer Town letting them know about the clinic. It was very surprising how welcoming and friendly they were, welcoming us through their gates right to the compounds of their houses. The place is very hilly so we had to climb some slopes and descend some valleys to the houses, but the people were very happy to see us. There was one woman I met, she had been diagnosed with pneumonia a few days back, but she was still ill because she had no money to purchase the medication. Of course, I urged her on to come to the clinic, thinking to myself this is the reason why we are here. For me, I am looking forward to meeting the people, learning about them, their life here in Jamaica, their perspective on life. That is one of the main things I am looking forward to in the coming days. They talk really fast in 'Patwa' broken Jamaican, so it is difficult to catch what is being said, but that is not a problem as they are pretty comprehensible in what they say. In the words of David, our Rastafarian friend who came to address us: Jamaica is about getting to know the Jamaican people for who they are and it may be very different from what is presented to us at face value.
Brenda R.

Brittany from Jamaica January 2, 2010

2010-01-05T19:59:00.001-05:00

10:45 pm
Hello from Jamaica! I have never been to a country where so many of the people are like me. That is the first thing I noticed when I deplaned. Yet, when I turned to my peers I saw the same thing. Although we are not the same physically I saw in them the same motives that I have. We are all from so many different backgrounds, ethnic groups and religions, but we are all here in the name of service and God. Even though we have just begun our week journey I already see God and good faith in our actions. I am anxious to get my hands dirty; I am ready to learn and actually physically contribute. All of my years of biology and chemistry do not compare to what I will learn in this week. This trip is surreal. I have high expectations and at the same time, I have no expectations. Yet all the while I do not know what to expect. I hope to help a lot of people but I also know that there will be hundreds we will turn away. Whether they are turned away in lieu of a sicker patient or whether they are turned away when we have to close our doors on Friday, still we will have to turn them down. It makes me feel like I am only making a small dent in much larger problem. Contrastingly, I know that even helping one person makes a difference and that gives me hope for our mission. When we started our day at 4 am this morning the town of Steer Town seemed so far away and distant. However, after only being here a few hours and being so warmly welcomed by the people I feel comfortable and like we were destined to come here.
Brittany B.

Kevin in Jamaica January 2

2010-01-05T19:56:00.001-05:00

11:05 pm
We landed in Jamaica around 3pm. Customs was quite the ordeal. Thankfully, we were able to smooth over one of the customs officers with our first medical handout of albuterol. We drove about an hour and a half east to Ocho Rios, but the view made us want it to never end. The condo where we are staying is equally beautiful. It’s a stone’s throw from the beach and the back patio turns any meeting into a resort get away. We sat down to discuss the plans for the week and are now heading to bed after a long day. We hope to have one or two people writing you a day. Please let us know if there is anything specific you would like to hear about. Yea man!
Kevin C.

Friday in Biloxi

2008-03-21T10:03:00.003-04:00

Sorry I haven't gotten to this in the past few days. We've been very busy. Wednesday was a day of service learning. We put on an appreciation luncheon for teachers at an elementary school in Gulfport. We also did projects around the school. In the afternoon we went to a Boys/Girls Club and helped with homework and art projects.

There was a crawfish boil on the beach in the evening, but crawfish gross me out so I stayed behind.

Thursday we were split again doing construction (I can now probably do drywall in my sleep) and working to save osprey. We also got a chance to speak with teachers who went through Katrina and how it is affecting children here.

They said it took about a year for some of the reaction to show. One teacher said since there were no parks for 3-4 year olds at the time many of them don't know how to skip or run... they didn't have any place to go. That helped us understand why saving parks is very important. Another teacher mentioned teens are living in crammed trailers with no quiet place to do homework, etc. One student he mentioned talked about burying the dead after the storm... not those killed in the storm... but those whose graves had been washed away.

We've heard many stories about people still waiting for their homes to be repaired to rebuild. Many are moving out of the FEMA trailers because they are not safe.

I hope we can all be ambassadors to remind people the work down here is not done. It will be interesting to hear from the other Xavier groups working in the area and in New Orleans.

Today we're splitting up again working to help feed the homeless, the volunteers and do work around Hands On. Tonight we cook dinner for the group. There is also a dance party and then we hit the road back to Cincinnati where I see it is in the 40s!!

We did get many texts on the game and Emma called her dad to get a play by play of the last minute. We also got a play by play of the last minute of the Duke game from Heide's dad.

This has been a very eye opening experience and has made me think about a lot of things... especially how fortunate many of us are to have a home, friends and family.

Day Two AB in Biloxi

2008-03-18T22:46:00.003-04:00

Today's service was a bit different. We worked with some people from Americorps to help save live oak trees. It involved what's called vertical munching and that means using power tools!! We used an ager to deep a foot-deep hole and then filled it with much and compost. It will help nurish the trees that are suffocating from being in the packed down earth.
We also got to see examples of trees that had been treated and are now doing much better. We also got a tour of Biloxi and learned more about the challenges the city still faces. One of the stops along the way was the Katrina memorial.
A great part of AB is the nightly reflection, thinking about what we've done and what it means. It's great to hear the students perspective of this trip and how it is touching their lives.
The group is getting along very well, a lot of laughter and smiles all the time. Everyone is eager to try new things to help out.
Tomorrow we head to a school to help with a teachers appreciation lunch and art projects with the kids.

2008-03-17T19:31:00.002-04:00

The first day was off to a late start. A few miscues on scheduleing from Hands On and we missed the boat to the island. However, six AB members were able to catch another boat where they battled rough waters for an hour and a half to get to an island half an hour away. They worked to save birds affected by the storm.
The rest of us headed into Biloxi and spent the day drywalling, installing insulation and other construction work on a new home to replace one lost in the storm.
Patti, a Hands On worker, told us that in Mississippi alone last year they built 3,600 new homes. They need to build 36,000 more.... that is 10 years of work... not to mention the business, roads, churches and schools.
Tomorrow we head to Turkey Creek... wonder what that will be about.

2008-03-17T07:42:00.003-04:00

It is 6:45 a.m. on Monday and we are getting ready to start our first day of service. Yesterday we spent the day in New Orleans. It was wonderful to see the French Quarter, Jackson Square and Cafe DuMond, packed!! There were people everywhere. (We even ran into another XU AB group) I remember seeing Jackson Square full of water during Hurricane Katrina.
That was not the case driving into New Orleans. For miles before we entered the city, even from the highway, we could see homes that had been destroyed and not repaired, blown over trees, vacant lots scattered with debria, downed fences, repairing going on on older buildings... there was also lots of evidence of new buildings.
One member of our group was in New Orleans on AB last year. She said she saw some improvement, but there is still much more to be done... and so we begin our chance to help.
Today Xavier is headed for the Gulf Coast Islands to help with beach/animal conservation. Everyone is excited, though already tired, still all 175 people here are starting to stumbled out of the sleeping bags (which now cover the floor of the loft) and bunks to get ready for what every assignment they might have.
I will post more later and see if one of the students would like to post as well... in the meantime GO X!!! #3 Seed!!!

2008-03-16T08:09:00.003-04:00

We have made it to Biloxi. Took about 13 hours. Will drove the entire way!! We are staying at a large metal building behind a church. It has a big open room for meals, meetings, etc. and the students stay in the lofts above the room. It is all very open, dorm room style. There are no lights in the loft so the flashlights come in handy. Many other students are camping out side. They've come from Wyoming, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

There is one men's bathroom, one women's bathroom and 4 outdoor showers for everyone!! About 175 total. The students love it. For me it was a bit of an adjustment but after finding a good airmatress to sleep on I'm set... as it says on the wall as you enter this building... it's NOT about you!

Today is a free day. We will travel to New Orleans and then maybe the beach. Our work starts tomorrow at 7am. We are scheduled to go to the Gulf Coast Islands but not sure what work we will do. Every day we will do something different. One day we'll work here cleaning, another working in what we think is a bird sancutary and one day with school children.

The weather is beautiful and it is hard to believe this area was once so devastated but you still see bits and pieces of evidence everywhere in blown over trees, empty lots scattered with debris and lots of NEW buildings, which I think replaced the old.

That's it for today.

Getting Ready for AB Trip

2008-03-10T11:30:00.005-04:00

This Saturday, March 15, hundreds of Xavier students will be heading out on Alternative Break trips. I will be with them. This is the first time I've participated in this club and I'm very excited about it. 21 other faculty/staff members are also taking part in the trips.
Our group, which is a great group of Xavier students from freshmen to seniors, will be driving to Biloxi. (12 hours on the road!!) We will be working with Hands on Gulf Coast to help with hurricane relief. It's seems so strange that two and a half years later they are still rebuilding that part of the country.
We're not quite sure what we will be doing. It could be anything from helping rebuild houses to working with animals. We will work Monday through Friday with time for reflection in the evenings (and watch Xavier in the NCAA tournament!!)
Our first day in the area is open so we will be heading to New Orleans for a visit. I was in New Orleans before Katrina and I'm anxious to see how this wonderful city has rebounded. It is one of the most unique places I have even been.
I'm also excited about working with the students and getting to know them better. I am always amazed at how wonderful, caring and intelligent our students are. Being around them is inspiring and rejuvenating!!
I will try to blog as much as possible while in Biloxi. Hopefully I wouldn't be so exhausted that I'll fall asleep right after dinner!! Right now my biggest concern is trying to get all my stuff into a carry-on size suitcase... hmmm... could be tricky. deb

It's been a long time

2008-02-19T15:58:00.002-05:00

I know it's been way too long since we've posted here. It's just because there is so much going on.

First, let me share the word of our president, the Rev. Michael J. Graham, S.J., about the events in Illinois last week: "
It is with sadness that we follow the tragic events at Northern Illinois University. Our prayers are with the victims of the shootings as well as their families and the entire Northern Illinois campus community.
Events such as the one at Northern Illinois, serve as a reminder that none of us, as individuals or as a campus community, is immune from the possibility of a tragedy, but working together to keep Xavier students and employees safe is a top priority. Ironically, Xavier’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) had been planning for some time a training exercise on an “active shooter” scenario for Friday, February 15, the day after the NIU shootings. As part of this training exercise, campus police officers and 200 Cincinnati and Norwood police officers participated in an “active shooter” simulation on Xavier’s campus last December. Based on this simulation, the ERT went through all the response and recovery actions that need to happen if such an event would occur on our campus.
The ERT, made up of representatives from every division on campus, meets every other week to review our campus emergency plans. The team is continually looking at new ways to keep the campus safe, informed and operating during a crisis or emergency situation. In such a situation, communication is critical. During an emergency, the University will communicate to members of the campus community by voice and text messages via XU ALERT ME, through the Xavier portal and website, and through local media. If you have not signed up for XU ALERT ME, I encourage you to go to the campus portal to sign up.
In addition to XU ALERT ME, the ERT has recommended several other security measures that have or will be implemented this year. Campus emergency procedures were posted in every classroom; card access has been installed on the exterior doors of the five residence halls; and locks will be installed on classroom doors. During a crisis it is important for individuals to remain calm and to follow emergency procedures and the directions of emergency personnel. For information regarding campus emergency procedures go to www.xavier.edu/emergency.
I know that you will keep the entire Northern Illinois University community in your thoughts and prayers. May God bring them some sense of peace and comfort during this very sad and tragic time."

Animal Planet's Jeff Corwin will be here tomorrow. He'll give a presentation in connection with his latest CNN documentary, titled "Planet in Peril: Environmental Threats of the 21st Century." He is in the Cintas Center from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. and will have a book signing afterwards.

A couple of professors took some biology students to Costa Rica to study ecology.

Our own Sister Rose Ann Fleming, academic advisor for our student-athletes, was featured with the men's basketball team in a “Race to March Madness” segment. It aired nationally on ABC-TV Saturday, Feb. 16, at 3:00 p.m. and is being rebroadcast Friday, Feb. 22, at 8:30 p.m. on ESPNU and Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 3:30 pm on ESPN2.
Check it out. For more than two decades, Sr. Rose Ann has been the academic adviser for the athletes. Now Xavier is known nationally for student-athlete graduation success.

Speaking of basketball, Mike Bobinksi, our athletic director, has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee. He will start September 1 and serve for five years.

Xavier will honor the first two African-American female graduates of the University—Cleaster Whitehurst-Mims and the late Alice Campbell—on Saturday, March 1. Ladies With Emphasis on Achievement and Distinction (LEAD)is also honoring an outstanding female student from Xavier at the celebration.
Raised on a peanut farm in Enterprise, Ala., Whitehurst-Mims put herself through school for a bachelor's degree in communication and English and a master's degree in education. She started the Marva Collins Preparatory School of Cincinnati, modeled after the teaching methods and techniques of the Chicago educator. The school provides an education alternative for children others have given up on teaching, says Mims. She also taught three days a week at Xavier.
Campbell received her master’s degree in education from Xavier in 1969 and was a dedicated long-time teacher at McKinley Elementary in the East End of Cincinnati. She died in 2003 at the age of 65. Her late husband, Robert, also a teacher, was at Hughes High School in Clifton.
In addition to honoring the astounding achievements of Whitehurst-Mims and Campbell, LEAD is also awarding a deserving African-American female who embodies the same excellence in service, leadership and purpose. The nominees’ commitment to LEAD, campus involvement, academic accomplishments and service endeavors are taken into account.

I'll try to keep in touch better!

Nick Lachey and Clash of the Choirs

2007-12-14T13:09:00.000-05:00

Nick Lachey visited Xavier to hold auditions for the new NBC show Clash of the Choirs. He liked it so much, he is holding rehearsals here to preapre for the show.

The show premieres December 17 in a two-hour special at 8 pm EST. Choirs from Cincinnati, Philly, New Haven, Oklahoma City and Houston are competing.

For some reason I am not able to put a link here, but cut and paste this URL into your browser to see a Cincinnati Enquirer photo gallery of one rehearsal ---

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=AB&Dato=20071211&Kategori=LIFE&Lopenr=712110801&Ref=PH

Soaked, Freezing and Pumped!

2007-12-03T13:38:00.000-05:00

The students returned from Iowa this morning at around 2:00 a.m. Gene Beaupre reports it was a wonderful trip - better than they could have expected. The students met 6 or 7 of the candidates personally. One had breakfast with Senator Dodd and his wife. Barack Obama was at the same hotel and you can see in Briana and Kevin's blog to the right a photo of some of the students with him. Some met former President Bill Clinton, and thanks to hard work on the part of one adult along for the trip, 32of the 40 students were able to get seats at the Democratic Debate on Saturday night.

Gene also reported that the students did street work for their campaigns, getting out and talking to Iowans and boosting name and platform recognition. This was despite heavy snowfall, followed by rain, followed by sleet. He said the students returned to the hotel soaked, freezing, and PUMPED!

An exciting adventure in Iowa

2007-12-02T17:05:00.001-05:00

Hope you have been checking out the blog links to the right. Joe Wessels' thoughts about the Iowa caucus bus trip are on the cincy.com link. Briana and Kevin's thoughts are on on Hansoggat.blogspot.com.
Thr group should be back late tonight and full of great stories tomorrow morning - after they wake up!

Xavier Students off to Party - Democrat, Republican, etc.

2007-11-29T17:19:00.000-05:00

On Friday, November 30, almost 50 Xavier students will board a bus at 6:00 a.m. for a ten-hour ride to Des Moines, Iowa. Not exactly the center of the college student party scene, but different parties are at play here. In Des Moines, these students will experience firsthand the nation’s first and oldest political caucus.

Students Briana Hansen of Indianapolis and Kevin Hoggatt of Wilmington, OH will blog about their experience at www.hansoggatt.blogspot.com/ with a link on Xavier’s blog, www.xavieruniverse.blogspot.com. Maggie Nafziger, executive director of the Hamilton County Republican Party, and Jeff Cramerding, executive director of the Cincinnati Charter Committee will join the group. In addition, journalist Joe Wessels will join the group and blog at http://www.cincy.com.

Every four years, presidential candidates visit Iowa, where citizens have gathered in the caucus format since the early 1800s. On caucus night (January 3, 2008), Iowans gather by party preference in designated public buildings or often private homes to elect delegates to the 99 county conventions. Presidential preference selection on the Republican side is done with a straw vote of those attending. Democratic caucus-goers express their presidential preference through a show of hands, a sign-in sheet or by dividing themselves into groups according to candidates.

The Xavier trip was a result of the course Presidential Campaigns 1960-2008, team taught by John Fairfield, Ph.D., history, Gene Beaupré, Ph.D., political science, and Brendon Cull, former spokesperson for the Kerry/Edwards Ohio Presidential campaign. The course explores the history and strategies used in modern presidential campaigns. Moving beyond theory, it puts the 2008 presidential primary into perspective.

“The campaign occurring this fall will be the first time in more than 50 years that neither national party will have an incumbent president or vice president as a candidate. It’s the most diverse field of contenders this country has seen in modern times,” says Beaupré.

The students will meet with their chosen campaigns of both parties to join in strategizing. Since Congress is not in session, Iowa will be teeming with staffers and aides to those candidates currently in Congress. Students will attend the Democratic debate Saturday in Des Moines. Most students will work until early afternoon Sunday, before boarding the bus to return home. Most of the participants are in Xavier’s Philosophy, Politics & the Public (PPP) Honors program, but a number of politically-active students are traveling, as well. Each student paid $50 to join in this hallmark occasion and is responsible for meals. Xavier is providing transportation and lodging.

PPP student David Ben of Lockport, NY says he is “excited to have the opportunity to volunteer in such a battleground state. We have the opportunity to see the work of these finely-tuned organizations at a critical time in the process and act as a small piece that will fit into the larger narrative of the campaign.”

Xavier students off to Iowa - yes, Iowa

2007-11-15T10:47:00.000-05:00

For a blog entitled XavierUniverse, we seem to be blogging about the US of A lately. But, we are part of the universe, too.

On Friday, November 30 Gene Beaupre, Xavier's director of government relations and a political science instructor, and others will travel with about 48 Xavier students to Iowa to experience the caucuses first-hand. Cincinnati freelance reporter Joe Wessels will tag - and blog - along. All will share their experiences in this blog and, through the links at the right, in their own blogs.

More details as I get them.

A Jesuit Identity Resource is Online

2007-11-15T10:25:00.000-05:00

Available online from Xavier University, the Jesuit Identity Resource provides mission and identity information, resources, and networking for educators and students. Information in the resource is reflected in this inaugural monthly newsletter, including program spotlights from around the country, definitions of terms used in Ignatian circles, conference information and a topic of the month. The opening topic is based on Georgetown University historian Fr. John O'Malley's recipe for Jesuit education, which can be read and seen in a video stream on the homepage. What do you think is the most significant or distinctive characteristic of Jesuit education today? Visit the website today http://www.jesuitresource.org/

More About Going to Bixoli

2007-11-15T10:21:00.000-05:00

Last night was the first meeting of the AB group going to Bixoli. Again, I'm so impressed with the students and their enthusiasm for this project. Heidi and Emma, the site leaders, informed us we will be working with Hands On Gulf Coast. Since Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005, dedicated volunteers have been working hard in Biloxi, MS to help the community pick up and start again through this organization. Volunteers from around the country have helped in everything from clearing debris, to tutoring kids, to beautifying parks, to building homes. We don't know specific tasks yet, but it all sounds very exciting.
I was also reminded I need to complete the van training so I can help drive to Bixoli. I've driven a 15 passenger van many times, as my friend Coleen owns one and we use it to go antiquing every year. But I'll get the formal training so I can get my certificate!

Alternative Breaks.... At My Age!!

2007-11-12T15:27:00.000-05:00

Earlier this year I wrote a news release about a Xavier club called Alternative Breaks. During spring and summer breaks, X students, rather than going to the beach, etc., travel around the world on service projects. Some go to the Ukraine, some to California, Florida or Boston, etc. The work that these students do was truly inspiring to me, so this year I signed up to be a faculty/staff team member on a trip in March 2008.

The faculty/staff team member is truly part of the 'team.' They are NOT the adults in charge. The students run the entire trip. The factuly/staff member is expected to help with fundraising, participate in service projects, etc., just the same as the students. They must also adhere to the same rules such as no alcohol, etc. during any event connected to AB.

I finally learned last week that I will be traveling with 10 Xavier students to Biloxi, Mississippi to help with hurricane relief. It boggles my mind that more than two years later the relief effort down there is still underway. Our group is one of four or five groups heading to the New Orleans area.

I met the students for the first time last week at an outdoor AB gathering on the greenspace. It was a bit chilly, but there was free hot chocolate. Everyone gathered in their respective 'trip' groups and introductions were made... the students talks about their hometowns, their majors, etc. I explained a bit what I do at Xavier as the media relations specialist.

Then there were the icebreakers... the human knot. Each person grasps another's hand until everyone is holding hands every which way across a circle... then the group has to try to untie the knot without letting go. We did pretty well, but didn't quite accomplish the task. Still it was fun. Next were charades with AB and Xavier themes. I lucked out and got 'basketball.' :)

Even though we were together for only about an hour I was truly inspired by the spirit and energy of the dozens and dozens of students who are taking part in this adventure. As I left the evening's activities I was energized by their youth and spark and that fact that they were so accepting of a person more than twice their age! Maybe it's that old adage... "You're only as old as you feel"... that night I felt 19 again.

I hope over the course of the next few months and particularly during our trip to write about this experience. I am very excited about it and can't wait for the adventure to begin.

The Blessing Continues

2007-11-07T11:05:00.000-05:00

In May 2005 the exhibit "A Blessing to One Another: Pope John Paul II and the Jewish People" premiered at Xavier. The exhibit includes transcripts, photos, artifacts, books and more documenting Pope John Paul II’s life-long affirming relationship with the Jewish people, the first exhibition on the subject ever assembled. Since that time the "Blessing" has traveled the country... to Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago and now Philadelphia. This landmark exhibit continues to inspire people.
Here is a link to one of the latest news stories about the Blessing: http://www.pjvoice.com/v29/29601pope.aspx
You can also get more information on http://www.blessingexhibit.org/.

Xavier in Sudan

2007-11-05T14:02:00.000-05:00

Ron Quinn, Ph.D. professor of sport studies at Xavier, recently sent a box of soccer equipment to a friend in the Sudan with whom he has formed an overseas friendship. Amin Khalid Abdalla is the director of the Amal Sudan Sports Academy in Khartoum.

A woman who changed the world

2007-11-05T11:38:00.000-05:00

All of us at Xavier are mourning Dorothy Humdy - Ms. Dorothy - today.

For 46 years, she watched over our students, staff and faculty through her work in the cafeteria and in various dining spots on campus. She remembered every face and was known for asking students if they were eating enough or if they should have some vegetables on their plate.

Ms. Dorothy was a perfect example of someone who used her job to make the world better. She was not a CEO or a prominent politician, but she touched thousands of lives in those 46 years. Her words and welcoming smile made a number of students feel not so far from home.

I can't help but think the angels in heaven will be sure to have plenty of vegetables on their plates from now on.

A comment from Michael

2007-10-31T07:47:00.000-04:00

"Today, I submitted my responses to all the comments that people have made. I have individually responded to all the comments and people can find my responses under each posting. I just want you all to know that I am taking this seriously, and the time you are taking to engage in this conversation is much appreciated."

Please feel free to email Michael at lobanm@xavier.edu

Humanityblog.org to continue discussion

2007-10-30T10:22:00.000-04:00

Thank you again to all the people who responded to the postings. As this might be the last posting about the conference in Rome, I want to ask you if we are ready for a change.

As I was reading the comments I saw that most of the people agreed on the fact that we need to be more open minded, that we need to learn more about the dialogue and the art of asking the right questions. At least I know that I need to. So the question is whether we are ready to start doing this right now.

Obviously, it is very easy to remain closed-minded. In a way it is empowering and can protect us from the rest of the world but is it wise to hide? We can spend the rest of our lives in a cocoon without worrying what the outside has to offer but will this make us better, stronger, wiser?

As I mentioned before, soon this conference will become history. If nothing is done it will be just a collection of nice pictures to remind primarily those who attended of what was possible. But yesterday is history. What is important is what happens today, what happens tomorrow. It is for us to decide if we will try to learn more about the dialogue or if we will choose to get caught up in all the extensive lists of to-do’s.

Currently, I am working on setting up another blog – humanityblog.org that will talk about all the issues that I emphasized were important to me.

I would appreciate if people who are interested would send me an e-mail (lobanm@xavier.edu). If you want to make an extra effort send me a question that bothers you and I will post it on the site in a section of Q. I know that by asking you to do this I am asking you to postpone some of the other activities you are involved in, but perhaps it is be worth it. At the end what can be more important than trying to understand who we are? It is better to to do it now than in 20-30 years when it might be too late. I constantly meet people who hit a midlife crisis because they have no idea how they ended up living the life they have.

Since dialogue is so rare to be found wouldn’t it be exciting to have the first Dialogue on Dialogue on Xavier’s campus? If you are interested send me an e-mail, if you are not interested send me an e-mail too. The time is now, if we do not act today, it will be harder each following day.

My e-mail is lobanm@xavier.edu. I urge you to respond.

The Pilgrims

2007-10-30T08:40:00.000-04:00

Where Do We Go From Here?

2007-10-29T12:20:00.000-04:00

Michael wanted me to let everyone know that he has responded to all the blog comments. If anyone still wants to contact him, feel free to e-mail him at lobanm@xavier.edu.

He also wants to know what the next step should be: a presentation about the trip, a meeting about dialogue,...?

Drop Michael an e-mail with your thoughts.

Great Dialogue

2007-10-27T16:02:00.001-04:00

The comments to the postings about the Rome trip have been awesome. That is what this blog is all about - behind the scenes happenings at Xavier. What are the students and faculty doing that the rest of us should know about?

Sometimes things get covered in 1:30 spot on the news or in a short piece in the paper, but there is always so much more to know. And, those media don't always allow for questions, comment, feedback.

This is an exciting time for everyone at Xavier and a great time of potential growth in Cincinnati. The Presidential election is just one year away - another opportunity for major change.

What does change mean to you? Fear, opportunity, both?

And the next step is? by Michael

2007-10-26T18:58:00.000-04:00

First of all I would like to apologize for not responding right away to the comments people have made. I do appreciate them and as soon as I get back home, I will respond to each one individually. Please do not take offense at this. I am very glad that each of you found some time to read the postings and respond.

As the conference ended I can’t stop thinking about what happens next. Truth be told this is what I was thinking even before I boarded the plane to Rome. This weekend I will get back to my daily routine that has a very good tendency to overwhelm and dictate the rules. What happens then? What happens to the blog? I was asked to blog about my experiences at the conference, but the conference is over and a week or two later it will become history.

I strongly tried to avoid blogging about sightseeing for a very specific reason. If I asked you to tell me how the chocolate tastes, would you be able to do it? You would tell me to try a piece and find out on my own. There is no way I can describe the Sistine Chapel or the Trevi Fountain. If somebody says they can, they have never seen them not in the pictures. I could name all the paintings, tell you their history and name their creators, but it all will be useless. If you list me all the ingredients and the proportions of a lemon pie, I still would not be able to taste it, without making it and trying it. I can say that Sistine Chapel is astonishing, overwhelming, magnificent, but I can’t describe to you why I couldn’t leave it for one hour. The only reason I left is because I could have missed the conference bus, and probably it would be worth missing.

Thinking about this, I start to wonder how I can talk about the dialogue. I can find hundreds of quotes on dialogue by the best minds in the world, and yet I will not know what it is until I engage in one. I never knew how much I would miss playing tennis before I learned to play on a decent level. Now, the one thing I look forward to when I come back is picking up that racquet.

I think I start to understand why it is so hard to have a dialogue, because not a lot of people know the pleasure of agreeing with another, feeling how better you have become. Dialogue is not about winning or being right, but about becoming of better character after having one.

So, where does this leave me? In a great state of confusion. When I think about a dialogue and how to have it, the author who comes to mind is Plato. But that was many years ago. How many students can name a book, from the top of their head that taught them how to engage and have a meaningful dialogue? I am not one of them.

When was the last time somebody said let’s have a political dialogue? Never. It is impossible to have a political dialogue - only debate. Who ever has changed their mind in a debate? In schools or colleges are we even taught what dialogue is and how to have it, and I am not referring to a philosophy course that most of us slept through. Instead we have debate clubs and teams. Who even knows what a dialogue is anymore? I know for a fact that it is not just a conversation between two people. It is so much more. So how do I engage people into something I know almost nothing about?

I cheer myself thinking that I am not the only one who is having this problem. Leaders and intellectuals can lead countries, motivate people, create breathtaking experiences and yet, when it is time for a dialogue, they lose it in efforts of trying to prove their own points.

What are we doing wrong then?

Maggie discusses the papal audience

2007-10-26T07:46:00.000-04:00

Yesterday at our papal audience, a woman sat begind me who just made my eyes well up with tears every time I turned around to sneak a glance at her. She had to have been at least 80 years old and was sitting at the audience with a man I presume was her husband. I dont know what her name was or where she was from but I can wholeheartedly say that I don't think I will ever forget her. She sat throughout the entire hour with her eyes closed, quietly mumbling the prayers of the rosary she clutched. She may have been in St. Peter's Square a hundred times in her life, I certainly don't know her story. But, given the look that was etched onto her face, this overwhelming sense of peace and contentment, I couldn't help but think that it was her first time she was in the presence of the Holy See, and that this day had been something she had wanted to do her whole life; she reminded me so very much of my own grandma, someone who I have thought a lot about on this trip. This woman was, I think, the detail I will most clearly remember of the day. To me she was an embodiment of how beautiful faith is, whatever or whoever one conceives God to be, and a reminder of how very lucky I am to have had this incredible expereince at such a young age.

The scene in St. Peter's Square was one of the most vibrantly colorful I have ever seen...people of every walk of life, faith, and culture. And yet, there we all were, gathered together, connected somehow to one another. I have so many thoughts I want to share, and again, not enough time! I wish I could bottle up this whole week and share it with all of you, but I know that all in good time, we will all have the opportunities to reflect and share. I have learned so very much and yet there there are still so many lessons to be learned, conversations to be had, experiences to be reflected on, and change to be made. A friend gave me the book "The Alchemist" to read on this trip, and I am so grateful that I have had the book to read on this trip. The story is a reminder to find our own personal legends and to follow our dreams. I don't think it would be at all inaccurate to say that everyone who has and is partcipating on this journey have come a step closer to realizing their own personal legends, the peole whom God intends for us to be.

Many comments - join in

2007-10-25T20:26:00.001-04:00

Michael's blog from a few days ago has generated much comment. Check them out and join in!

Over the Ocean

2007-10-25T10:08:00.000-04:00

Our group of travelers has finished its mission in Rome and is on its way home. My guess is that they will be busy readjusting to the weather, the time, the adrenaline rush and the exhilaration of being part of such an important event. Thanks to those of you who have been following the blog and commenting. Hopefully, we'll hear more from Maggie and Michael, since they are coming straight home. Abie is making a short side trip, but we may hear from him, too.

What else are Xavier students up to? How are you striving towards being men and women for others?

Blessing Exhibit link and video tour

2007-10-23T11:36:00.000-04:00

Here is a link to the website for the Blessing Exhibit.

There is also a video tour

A Blessing to One Another: Pope John Paul II and the Jewish People

2007-10-23T11:02:00.000-04:00

Here is a link to an article about the exhibit, "A Blessing to One Another: Pope John Paul II and the Jewish People" which opened at Xavier in 2005. The exhibit was created at Xavier and has traveled all over. It is now at St. Joseph University in Philadelphia.

WCPO Sees the Travelers Off

2007-10-23T10:49:00.001-04:00

Tom McKee of WCPO TV, the Cincinnati ABC affiliate, was at the airport to send off Abie, Maggie and Michael. See the story here.

2007-10-23T10:01:00.001-04:00