Micayla McGinn – Finding Myself

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!

Nurse Bonnie - Feliz ano nuevo y Gracias a Dios

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rabbi Abie – A beginning and an end

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.

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

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

Rabbi Abie – Blessed and truly ready

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

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

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

Dr. Lauri's photo of the pharmacy

Jennifer Ledonne – Rainbows above the volcanoes

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

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

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

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

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!

January 1, 2012 Rabbi Abie's first impressions

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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

“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

Brenden's view from the plane

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

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

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

Jonathan and friends

Jonathan on thankfulness

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

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

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!

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.