Our Last Day

It is hard to believe the week has flown by and now we are ready to say good-bye. We will forever treasure the memories of the new friends that we have made, the beautiful sites we have seen, and the impact of our work on the Guatemalan people. We leave Guatemala knowing that we have helped make a difference and will return home with stories of our adventures to share with friends, families and co-workers.  Adios Guatemala!

San Rafael School Supply Distribution

Our team left Common Hope at 6 am and rode an hour by bus to San Rafael to distribute the hundreds of bags of school supplies to all of the families who live there. The village is one of the poorest we have seen and it was very hot and dusty. The families were lined up when we arrived so we got busy unloading the truck and organizing the supplies by grade level from preschool to high school. The school year in Guatemala runs from January to October, and some of the kids had already started school on Monday. 

Once we were all set up we spent the next couple hours distributing backpacks and enjoyed seeing the smiling faces as everyone was so happy for their new supplies! Many of the mothers brought the supplies right to the classes so the kids could begin using them right away. The school itself has grown over the years and currently they were adding on a second level. There were piles of rocks, blocks, scaffolding, bags of concrete all lying around the playground, but that didn’t stop the kids from running around and having fun. They were so welcoming to us and even invited us to play tag with them. Once we were finished we toured the town and ate lunch at the clinic. We saw many kids waiting to see the doctor and receiving nebulizer treatments as respiratory illnesses are so prevalent from the dusty conditions they live in. We then spent the afternoon cleaning and setting up some classrooms for the teachers. It was a fulfilling day as in the midst of this poor community, you could still see and feel the joy from all of the families and kids that we met. We wish them all the best as they begin their new school year!

Coffee Farm/Cooking Class Day

Today was full of dichotomies. Team 2 spent the morning learning how coffee is produced by visiting individual farms of a co-op and attended a cooking class in the evening with Team 1. Each activity we did during the day was a demonstration of the tension between the relative comforts we experience in the United States versus the challenges the average Guatemalan faces. 
The average coffee plant takes five years to produce quality fruit. The farmers spend the harvest season plucking around 100 pounds of coffee fruit from their plants for each person helping harvest. One farmer, Marta, said a typical harvest day for her farm is around 10 hours of picking coffee beans and they bring around 500 pounds plus down to the city. Once transported, they place the fruit in a bike-powered machine to separate the outer husk from the green seed inside. After the seeds are separated they have to dry and be rotated so that they do not spoil during the drying process. Once completed, of the 100 pounds each person plucks only 12 of the pounds remain of dried coffee beans. We had the opportunity to roast and grind mature coffee beans to drink with lunch using traditional Guatemalan tools. Still, I couldn’t help but notice that the coffee we drink at home is the culmination of hundreds of hours of work for her and her family.

Later on that evening, we went to El Frijol Feliz for a lesson in traditional Guatemalan cuisine. There, we prepared a typical dinner dish called pepián which we paired with a chocolate and black bean stuffed banana dessert. Both turned out incredibly well! I am thankful for that experience because until the cooking class we had not had much time to connect with the other group, so being together for dinner helped to forge a bond during this incredible experience.

When I thought of the daily experience of the people we met I couldn’t shake the privilege I felt. Marta and her family spend months to produce enough coffee to make enough money to get by and yet I never thought about that when I paid $5 for my coffee drink at a big coffee shop chain. I couldn’t believe I never considered how much time and work went into something I take for granted. To be welcomed into her home and her world, even though it was only for a moment, is something I will carry with me. I’m grateful for being able to observe her because I think it will help me think more critically about the choices I make and my consumption because my choices have very tangible effects for people like her.

And while I was happy that I was able to build deeper connections over dinner, the next day I kept thinking about how much work it would take for Marta to be able to afford a dinner like ours – or if she had ever had one. I just didn’t (and frankly still don’t) know what to do with that. What did I do to deserve the privilege I have? What choices can I make to be more thoughtful in how and what I consume so that I can help empower others? I don’t have any answers right now, but I won’t forget what I saw. For now, the only conclusion I have is that I need to live in a way that helps leave people and the community I visited better than how I found it.

Team 1 - Hospital Visit

Today team one visited the public hospital in Esquintla, about a 45 minute drive from where we are staying at Common Hope in Antigua. Dr. Willy Mendez, Chief Medical Officer of the hospital, and Dr. Sofia Posadas gave us a brief introduction to the hospital’s history along with its recent progress and on-going challenges. They began the tour in the Emergency Department on the first floor where we saw babies, a four-year-old and a three-year-old boy. The most common reasons for admits to the hospital are head traumas and sepsis. Drs. Willy and Sofia explained how many folks pile on a motorcycle and don’t wear helmets. While many drivers ignore traffic laws as well.

When patients arrive at the hospital they are rated on a “Prism Scale” of 1-100 rating the severity of their illness. According to Drs. Willy and Sofia, many folks try to self-doctor or head to the pharmacy to cure their illnesses. Ultimately, they get sicker and due to waiting too long before seeking medical attention; and they become septic and very ill. The hospital has a high mortality rate due to the patients waiting too long to get care. Many are not safe on motorcycles not wearing helmets and having too many passengers resulting in accidents with head traumas. Today we witnessed a three-year-old boy with a cranial fracture sitting alone in a hospital bed. His mother was waiting outside the room and appeared to have a very similar fracture. We also saw a four-year-old girl with sepsis who looked miserable in her bed.

After the Emergency Department we headed to the NICU where Dr. Willy explained that they don’t always have enough equipment to help the babies. We saw a baby who weighed .08 kg. Many of us were shocked at the conditions of this hospital. They are making progress at improving their hospital and have received support from kind donors. They are working diligently to finish a new NICU and PICU which they hope to open in Mid-March. Our group toured both areas and witnessed the doctors’ hope for the future. Dr. Willy was extremely thankful for Allina Health’s support in their project. The Rotary Club also assists the hospital in their efforts.

The rest of the day was spent exploring the town of Antigua on our own. It was nice to relax after an emotionally difficult morning. The evening finished with an authentic Guatemala cooking class at El Frijol Feliz.  

Team 2 - Common Hope

Our day started with several group members going to San Juan Del Obispo with a Social worker to visit 4 different homes. We were able to see how the people live here, their families and the structure of their homes.  For the most part the homes are constructed of multiple fabrics of metal, cement, wood and bamboo shoots and the floors were typically dirt. Cooking was done over open fires and sinks were used for washing clothes. The families take great pride in their homes and they showed warm hospitality.

The homes are close together and it is common for the children to move between the homes. The social worker assisted the family in health education and the resources available to them through Common Hope. 

In the afternoon we got a tour of the Common Hope campus and learned a lot more of all the services they provide to the surrounding communities. We painted wooden cars that will be Christmas gifts for the children of Common Hope.

One of the groups met a family that include two children who received help from Common Hope. The family is so proud because their oldest daughter just graduated from high school last year. The other boy entered ninth grade yesterday. He is very shy and his grandmother was encouraging him to spend more time at Common Hope. It was very cute because he kept blushing and rolling his eyes when his grandmother talked of how proud she was of him. It must be universal for teenagers to roll their eyes at their elders.  

While the morning group went out with the social workers, another group stayed back and worked with Felix in the construction shop. We took a ride in the back of a beat up Kia pickup truck up the side of the mountain.  We all held on very tight through eight different switchbacks and eventually made it to a site where they were leveling the ground to build a new one room home. When we returned to Common Hope we put together walls for the home and were able to show off our carpentry skills. 

Team 2 - La Esquintla Hospital Tour

We started our day with a beautiful drive through Guatemala’s countryside to the La Esquintala Hospital. The mountains, volcanoes, rock formations and variety of trees and vegetation are stunning. We arrived at the hospital to find a multitude of patients and families patiently awaiting care. We were greeted by a first year resident MD who assisted in guiding our tour.

We started where the patients start – in their emergency room. There were several small children in the process of care. In the “shock room”, similar to our stabilization room, lay one fellow with an IV fluids infusing and another being ventilated by a staff member. A mechanical ventilator is not available to them in this area. The radiology department consists of one X-Ray machine. The neonatal intensive care unit where very small babies, some mechanically ventilated, covered in layers of blankets and wearing diapers on their heads for warmth. An empty room we passed contained four empty hospital beds – mattresses, minimal bedding, and basic window curtains, but no more. No overbed tables, no nightstands, no closet, no privacy. The pediatric unit and postpartum units were the same, housing eight to ten patients in one large room, four to five beds lined up on either side, facing each other. A white board above each bed gives the name, age, diagnosis, and treatments being given. Anything going on is known to everyone in the room. The supplies are placed in what areas they have available to them. An empty milk jug hung on the side of a supply cart serves as a sharps container. Walls and floors are desperately in need of repair.

We saw the new neonatal and pediatric units, 18 beds each that will give the staff oxygen, suction, and ten electric plugs for equipment above each bed. These units will be the largest and most up to date in all of Guatemala. They are very proud of their new unit, set to open in two months. Yet as we all stand in the midst of the construction, the MD giving the tour is thanking us. They are so grateful for our assistance, that we are helping them through donations and supplies to make their dream happen. They have envisioned a better hospital, a growing hospital, to help make their community a better and stronger place. The staff are resourceful with their limited supplies, they are optimistic about the future, and they continue their work as we all do - for the wins. They point out one young boy in particular who suffered a brain injury, was intubated, cared for, and eventually able to go home with his family. Their spirit is what is most striking of all – the Guatemalan people’s spirit is so hopeful, upbeat, and grateful despite their very limited resources.

This entire experience has been very humbling. We have directly experienced the Guatemalan people’s desire for improvement, their strong will to progress in spite of difficult circumstances, and their resourcefulness and inventiveness of using the limited materials available to them. We all share the common desire to want to improve our own situations, no matter where in the world we are. Hopefully all of us here have been inspired to continue to do our best and remember this experience as we continue on our own individual journeys, and encourage others to do and experience the same.

Team 1 - Common Hope Day

Today was an absolutely amazing day for our group! To lay the background for you a bit, our day started at 8 a.m. Our missions today included working on projects for Common Hope and participating in some of the social work visits that happen on a monthly basis for the families affiliated (participate in the programs) with Common Hope. We broke into two teams for the day, each doing the same types of things but with flip-flopped morning/afternoon times as to make it easier to keep organized.

Both teams had an opportunity to get an in-depth tour of the Common Hope compound. I believe I can speak for the entire 12 member team that this was eye-opening to say the least. We all know how much work Common Hope does for the people of Guatemala, but it really hit home when we got to see and hear about all their programs. From education (preschool through high school) to a free health clinic to programs that allow families to earn new homes by working hours, the impact they have is far-reaching and culture-changing!

Both teams also had an opportunity to go with a social worker to visit affiliated families. Much of this was heart-warming and heart-wrenching all at the same time – and a highlight for many of us. These people are truly amazing, working so hard to get out of the vicious poverty cycle. This is done by taking ownership in their decisions, education and continuously working towards improving themselves. We were graciously invited into their homes with open arms. Many families have very little material things, many even with dirt floors. However, they could teach many Americans a thing or two, as these families  are truly grateful for what they have and are willing to work hard to improve future generations.

The project both teams helped with were just as amazing. Team 1 took a road trip to an affiliated family’s land where a two room house from Common Hope is being built for them in the next week or so. The purpose of the site visit was to ensure the family was able to prepare their plot for the new house. This meant they had to clear their land of all vegetation and raise a 12’ x 20’ area and level it so it is ready for concrete to be poured. After that visit (the family had done a great job prepping the area!) we drove back to the compound where we built the walls for their house. It was a great time.  Many of us had not worked with power tools before so not only did we get to help make a family’s dreams come true, but got to learn and grow from the experience ourselves.

Team 2 officially became Santa’s helpers! This team worked on building and painting wooden cars for the affiliated families for Christmas. The team was super creative when painting their designs. They turned out excellently! The colors were great, the one-of-a-kind designs even better. Again, this team not only got to work on projects that will make kids’ day, but they also got to know each other quite well and had a blast in their creations.

We rounded out the evening by gathering all 23 volunteers on this trip together to discuss the great things that happened today. I have to say, for most of us not knowing each other prior to this trip, you’d think we have known each other for years! The friendships created are already fantastic and sure to be long-lasting. Not to mention the fun, laughter and compassion we shared all while helping improve the lives of the under privileged. We can be sure this time will not soon be forgotten – for us as well as those we are helping!  Truly amazing!

Iximche Ruins

Today 8 of us toured the Iximche ruins. We saw a stadium where a ball game was played. The winner of the game was honorably sacrificed to the Mayan gods. Obsidian stone knives were used to cut the rib cage and the winner’s heart was ripped out by hand. Brad won our ball game and was sacrificed.

The largest of the ruins were homes of wealthy families. This one belonged to the T’zotzil family.

We also saw temples dedicated to the goddess of the sun and the goddess of the moon, as well as court houses where trials were held. There were some remains also of buildings where the wealthy Mayan families’ slaves were held.

Lastly, there were two Mayan religious ceremonies taking place that we were able to watch. Usually $150 of supplies are brought to be burned to celebrate the gods. A priest is there lighting fires of incense, sugar, candles, alcohol, chocolate and paper. It was very cool to be able to see the way Mayan people celebrate and honor their gods now. 

It’s beautiful here. There is an active volcano, Fuego that we can see out the window of our rooms and the kitchen. We are having a wonderful time so far.

XO, Becca Teske

2017 Allina Heath Guatemala Experience

Today a group of Allina Health employees arrived in Antigua, Guatemala on a volunteer service trip. During the week the group will experience the Guatemalan culture and participate in volunteer activities with several non-profit organization, including Common Hope and Wakami. They will also visit a government-run hospital in La Esquintla, Guatemala.

This is the fourth Allina Health coordinated trip to Guatemala through the Mission Matters Global Fund program. Guatemala is located in Central America with a population of about 15 million people. The Guatemalan culture is beautiful, with strong Mayan and Spanish influences. Seventy-five percent of Guatemalans live below the poverty line and one third live on less than $2 per day.

Check back to learn how the people in Guatemala proudly share their country and culture with a group of Allina Health employees.