2019: Day 5 - A Day in the Life

Our last day in Guatemala was one of ups and downs. A few of the group felt slightly under the weather, but everyone rallied to have a great last activity together which was cooking some authentic Guatemalan food together (shout out to Gio)! I, personally, met my sponsored family and had a wonderful experience interacting with the entire family.

We spent time learning how individual families use their talents to support their families. We split up into multiple groups. Juan Jose demonstrated his talents and artistry in jewelry, specifically silver-smithing (and some of us spent too much money). Worry dolls were made and all were impressed and de-stressed. 

A few went to a coffee farm and were amazed at how it is made. The passion Felix put into creating his art of coffee was great to see. We took a joy ride in the back of a truck (shout out to Ally) up the side of a mountain to pick some coffee beans (red ones only). To finish the coffee adventure, we saw the process.

Another group, went to see how clay turns into the national bird of Guatemala the Quetzal. The third group went to experience weaving. We also had the privilege to attend the blessing of the house with the family we had built the house throughout the week for. This was truly emotional and a gift for all of us. To top it off we felt a tremor and it shook our minds. 

Thanks Guatemala, we have had an amazing week!!

2019: Day 4 - Wakami

By Lori M.

Our schedule simply said “Visit to Wakami home.” 

I had no idea what was in store for me, emotionally. My group was accompanied by Isobel, who interpreted and shared the success story of the Wakami women. Our bus parked on the street and we walked through an unassuming narrow passage with tall, white-washed cinder block walls on either side. As we walked away from the busy street we stepped closer to the little oasis of Marla’s home. It would be impossible to not feel the calm and peace in this place. By the end of the visit I also felt empowerment which I won’t be able to describe in words. 

Marla met us in her sunny courtyard, and we were surrounded by her fellow Wakami “sisters.” At first they looked like ordinary, smiling Guatemalan women……wives, moms and grandmothers. Isobel interpreted and unfolded their stories. These “ordinary” women became truly extraordinary in my tearful eyes. The hopes and dreams identified by Marla, Enma, Yessica and others are not so different than my own. They desire education for their kids, a safe and healthy home, good food, and mostly, the ability to independently provide. Some of these women did not have the spousal support to contribute to their dreams. Instead of allowing life and circumstances to just happen, they courageously chose to take ownership of the future of their families.  

Wakami is an organization, started by women to empower other women. Their skill, craft or trade is made marketable worldwide through wakamiglobal.com.

2019: Day 4 - Common Hope

Today the Allina Team continued partnering with Common Hope through numerous projects. At the Common Hope campus, members of our team assisted in translating sponsorship letters, also updating the library – changing the room decoration from the solar system theme to a focus on reading, and scrubbing the soccer/basketball/pickleball court inside and out until it shone.

Today, the panels our teams built throughout the week were finally assembled into a house for a family in the San Juan neighborhood of Antigua.  With some luck, expert direction from L.J. and Michelle, and the skilled hands of Edwin and Reynoldo, we were able to transform the foundation laid earlier this week -- walls, rafters, a roof, windows, doors – into a house!  A life changing week both for the family, who will make this house their home, and for the Allina Health team who have had the opportunity to participate in this project. 

 

2019: Day 3 - Common Hope

Hola mis amigos!                                                                                                                             

It’s another perfect 75 degrees and sunny day in Antigua (sorry Minnesota). Team 2 has spent the last couple of days working hard on constructing a home in San Juan Del Obispo for a family of seven. The family’s monthly income is $195. They squat on their land, which is 10 x 10 meters and their current home is a block house with a ceramic brick floor. They purchase water and electricity from the land owner and have a flush type toilet and a gas stove for cooking. Their home is furnished with two beds, five stools, two tables and two dressers for the seven of them.

Before the family was granted a new house, they were required to work 100 hours helping on the grounds of Common Hope. Then that’s where our job came in. We started off the day yesterday on site at the new house by mixing concrete for the floor. After a little muscle work, a lot of sunscreen, and rationing our water because there were no available restrooms, we had ourselves a finished concrete floor! Step one done, BOOM!

Today’s construction work was just as satisfying as smoothing out a concrete floor. I understand now why they are called power tools, because after using a terrifying large drill I feel pretty empowered. This morning we constructed multiple panels that will make up the walls and doors of the new home. This afternoon we will deliver the panels to the house site and begin to see the home really come together.

It's an exciting process to work amongst some of the most fun, caring people of Allina Health and come together to create a new home for a family in need. I’m looking forward to some more hands on, gritty work and continuing to move the vision of Common Hope forward.

Day 3 for Team 2 for some also consisted of spending time in the daycare and library at Common Hope. The daycare experience involved spending time and playing with children of staff members of Common Hope. The daycare staff welcomed us with socks so we could get right down on the floor to play with 2-3 year olds. Even though there was a language barrier, it was clear the staff resolved a conflict between two toddler girls, over a doll, calmly yet with authority. One of the Allina Health team members responded quickly when a five-month old baby awoke crying. The soothing calmed the baby almost instantly. One of the highlights of the daycare experience was when a toddler finally decided to play catch.  Again it was apparent speaking the same language was not necessary to interact. The library involvement involved getting the library ready for the school year, so our craft skills were put to use decorating walls and ceiling. The library was transformed into a welcoming environment for Common Hope families.

2019: Day 3 - Wakami

Today we drove to the town of Magdalena Milpas Atlas to meet women in the Wakami community in this town.  The women in this community have created a business doing bead-work making bracelets which is helping to pull their families out of poverty. They were so proud to share what they had just designed and showed us clothes they had created and were featured in a large fashion show. The women were so kind-hearted and were willing to share their life stories with us. We all gathered around the tables, each person drew a picture of their hopes and dreams and then we all shared with the group.  The common theme with the women of Wakami was the dream of owning a home, having their children graduate from high school and having them grow up with a better life than they had.

We started a project that the other group will be finishing tomorrow – our Allina Health group and the Wakami women all pitched in and painted walls in the courtyard of the home of the leader where they meet. We ended our day with all of the women of the Wakami group holding a lighted votive candle and they shared what they were grateful for and presented the candle to each one of our group members. It was a great day and I think we all came back with great respect for and inspiration from these women.

2019: Day 2 – La Esquintla Hospital and Antigua

Team one loaded onto a bus for a one-hour drive visit a hospital in an area that previously didn’t have access to medical care. Today, the La Esquintla Hospital offers primarily maternity, neonatal, and pediatric intensive care. The hospital director gave us a tour and explained the advancements they have made over the years. The NICU was recently completed and was extremely impressive given the limited resources they have at their disposal. Before their facility existed, infant mortality was at 80 percent; with hard work and persistence they have decreased that significantly. Newly delivered babies and their moms are only allowed to be admitted for 12 hours post birth so the hospital has space for the influx of moms waiting their turn to give birth in a safe, supportive environment. After seeing the babies, children, and parents receiving care, it became obvious that this hospital is an oasis to a community that previously had to simply accept losing the fight to treatable and curable conditions. It was very apparent that everyone involved was committed to the continued improvement and advancement of the care they provide in the face of adversity.

For the remainder of the day, our team was given the opportunity to explore Antigua on their own. Some of the highlights were the chocolate shop, a Guatemalan jade museum, and a new brewery with a spectacular rooftop patio that offered breathtaking views of the city and surrounding volcanoes. The whole team ended the day meeting up for dinner at an Italian restaurant (yes, Italian food in Guatemala exists!) out in the city.

2019: Day 2 - Common Hope

By April Breidel and Nizhoni Walter

The Ah-Ha day. Our group started the day with home visits accompanying a Common Hope social worker on non-scheduled home visits with families affiliated with Common Hope. The visits were astounding. I think we all ended our day with a better understanding of the vast opportunities Common Hope provides.
 

We spent the first part of our day with a social worker with the Common Hope Foundation. She took us on the “chicken bus” to a town called San Juan Del Obispo. While she spoke very little English and we spoke very little Spanish we knew right away we would be great friends. On our first visit I was very humbled by the meager means the family had. Our first family was classified as a “Class A” family which according to the Foundation is a family of minor financial means, but also a family with other psychosocial issues. The father had epilepsy and the mother suffered from recurrent kidney stones. This family was originally an indigenous family from the West Highlands. They had recently moved from the West Highlands to the Antigua area to search for work and better circumstances. When we walked into the one bedroom home, we saw it consisted of three beds piled high with clothing, blankets and all of their other belongings; their youngest son was asleep on the piles of belongings. Beyond all of these circumstances I was most surprised by their openness, their family-centered focus, their willingness to be so open-hearted even in the presence of strangers. I have never seen a more gracious and humble family with such limited means. The social worker was so integrated into this family it was evident they trusted her and her advice, and they appreciated the resources available to them from the Common Hope Foundation.
 

The second half of the day was spent with Erin the Volunteer Experience Coordinator. We toured the Common Hope facility and it really solidified the philosophies of Common Hope. Thirty-three years ago, a Minnesota family wanted to come and help improve the situation of the families of the Antigua region. They wanted to dedicate the focus of Common Hope on education, health, social work and family focus.
 

Currently Common Hope services 3,100 families with a staff of 120 Guatemalan staff. In order to participate in the programs, families need to have a financial need and at least one school age child. Goals for the children enrolled include graduating, critical thinking and leadership. The school here follows the calendar year, January through October, so the students just started their school year.
 

By law children must attend school until they reach 6^th grade, and 99 percent of Common Hope kids finish 6^th grade. There are so many things Common Hope has to offer the children and their families in order for the children and future generations to succeed and lead the betterment of community. They offer nurturing parenting classes for parents, and youth programs like academic support for middle and high school students. They have a computer room with over a dozen computers to help with homework.

2019: Day 1 - Common Hope

Today, half of our group worked on the construction of the house we are building while here. This will be a two-room home for a family of seven. These are portable homes that can be moved if needed so they are built in panels on a concrete slab. We had the chance to work with power tools and, for many of us, we were able to learn new carpentry skills! What a fun experience this was.

We also had a chance to tour Common Hope, the sponsoring organization we are staying with, and learn about all the wonderful programs they are doing to help with education, healthcare, housing and so many of the many things that impact quality of life in Guatemala. This is great organization that helps break the cycle of poverty and provide families with the tools they need.

Finally, we went on ‘social visits’ with the social workers from Common Hope. This was a chance to meet with the families that are part of Common Hope and see their homes. The social workers ask about the health of the family, educational needs, assess housing and identify needed resources for the family when possible. It was so amazing to hear that the high school graduation rates are over three times the national average for the students who work with Common Hope.

It was a good day of work and bonding with these 24 Allina Health employees.  

2019: Day Trip to Lake Atitlan

Our first excursion was to Lake Atitlan, it was an amazing eye-opening experience. Our tour guide, Abraham, was very knowledgeable and proud of his Guatemalan heritage. He was eager to tell us about Guatemalan culture and history. Our journey started on the Pan American highway; you can take this highway all the way to United States. As we started getting closer you could see different types of indigenous people. In Guatemala, there are many different indigenous people who have different beliefs and ways of life. The way they dress can let you know what village or tribe they come from, their different type and class. Many indigenous people have very little education and work very hard for their families. We met one of these families…well actually a little girl named Sofia when we did a quick restroom break. She was at a small stop where her family sells paintings, and other small goods, snacks, and to use the restroom.

Once we got to Lake Atitlan, it was an amazing view. The story is there was a volcano that erupted and made a huge crater. There is a dark spot in the lake which is said to be an underground Mayan temple. It got covered and the lake was formed when there was a huge rain/monsoon. There are many different tribes that live around the lake. We visited Saint Peter, Saint Santiago, and Saint Juan. Each town is named after a saint and an indigenous name. We visited the co-op and learned how the women make their crafts such as weaving shawls, scarfs, bags, etc. They work so they can pay for their children’s schooling. Each town is like an Artisan town; there are painters, crafters, and many different clothing shops.

This was such an amazing tour to do with breathtaking views, and very fun boat ride (hang on tight). We saw many shops, and people, which was just a small part. There are many more towns around the lake, bring your walking shoes though as you climb up some steep hills.

2019: Day Trip to Iximche

A small group of us went to the ruins of the Mayan city of Iximche. After a bit of a bumpy ride in the van we disembarked and met our awesome tour guide Melvin. He gave us a quick tour of the newly updated museum. In the Mayan language Iximche translates to “corn tree” and we learned that corn is a highly revered crop in the Mayan culture. During our tour of the archeological site, Melvin regaled us with many interesting facts about the history of the area, the people and of Guatamela generally.

 

Iximche was once a very powerful Mayan kingdom ruled by four powerful families, controlling over 200,000 square kilometers of the surrounding countryside. There were several game courts for the Mayan ball game called xe’ Ryan’ kolaj. We were told this was a thriving metropolis until the Spanish arrived in around 1526. The city fell into disuse and was lost until Swedish archeologists rediscovered the site in the 1950’s.

 

One of the biggest highlights of the tour was the Mayan sacred ceremony. We were lucky enough to visit the site on the day of Q’anil 9 of the Mayan calendar. This is a day in which thanks is given for the corn harvest, and offerings are made in hopes of the bountiful future harvest. The scene was filled with beautiful colors and the air filled with fragrant incense. It was a very special event and we felt quite privileged to be able to observe.

 

We returned to Antigua for an afternoon perusing markets, and getting to know each other better. It was a great start to our week in Guatamela.

2019 Guatemala Experience trip

On Saturday, Jan. 26, a group of Allina Health employees embarked on a volunteer service tip to Guatemala. This is the sixth 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.

 

During their time in Guatemala the group will participate in the following:

• Build a home for a family affiliated with Common Hope
• Walk alongside Common Hope social workers as they visit to families
• Give a makeover to a women’s house that is an entrepreneur through Wakami
• Visit and tour a public government-owned hospital
• Tours to learn about the Guatemala culture and explore the beautiful country.
• And more!

Check this blog during the week of Jan. 26 – Feb. 2 to read about the trip directly from the employees themselves.
 

Final Day

This afternoon we went to San Rafael to visit our sponsor children. San Rafael is one of the poorest villages in the Antigua valley. We were met with the same warmth and generosity as we experienced throughout our time in Guatemala. Upon arriving in San Rafael we went to the clinic where we were introduced to Lesbia the social worker who accompanied us on our first visits with the children we are sponsoring.

Laurie’s child is named Susana. She is five years old, but appears younger than her chronological age. Her mother, Cecilia, shared that Susana had been looking forward to meeting her sponsor all day, but Susana hid behind her mother when we were first introduced. The family squats on a small piece of land in a rented home made of steel walls and roofing with a concrete floor. The only furniture was one standard size bed and bunk beds. There were no chairs or other furniture to sit on. Cecilia brought out Susana’s packet of art projects and drawings from preschool, Susana appeared proud but remained bashful. After a short time she warmed up and allowed photographs. Cecilia was asked if Susana liked school. Cecilia responded Susana wanted to go to school and not work in the fields like her parents. The beginnings of a bond between Laurie and Susana developed during the brief visit.

Mel’s child is named Lesbia. She appeared to be small statured, but otherwise healthy six year old who was full of energy and spirit. In addition, she has two brothers ages five and 10 with similar energetic outgoing personalities. The children greeted Mel as if she were a part of the family. Lesbia brought out DVDs of her favorite movies including Frozen and Stuart Little. In addition, she showed Mel her drawings. Lesbia is a talented young artist who loves drawing, painting, and the color pink. In addition, she loves rough housing with her brothers and playing with toy cars. The children begged to have their photos taken and enjoyed seeing themselves on Laurie’s camera. Mel spent time talking with Marta, Lesbia’s mom during this time. Lesbia’s father works six and a half  days per week in the field for 10 hours per day so was not able to be present at the visit. In addition, Mel learned Lesbia has another brother or sister on the way as Marta is six months pregnant. At the end of the visit, Lesbia held my hand as we walked up to the main street of San Rafael to leave.

We greatly enjoyed our visits and are looking forward to watching our sponsor children benefit from the education they so desire. We also hope to develop a life-long relationship with them.

Laurie Brodersen and Mel Flynn

Day 5 - House build & cooking class

Today the Allina Guatemala Experience group worked on making a wonderful new home for a family in Antigua. The first group started by putting together the walls for the home of Antonio and his family. Antonio is a 10 year-old boy affiliated with Common Hope. The family was living in a 10 x 10 meter home with cornstalk walls. Lisa, an Allina Health employee, worked hard with Antonio putting the rest of the panels together so we could finish putting up the walls for the new home.

While the home was being built, the rest of the group went on social work visits. Transporting via chicken bus each pair went with a different social worker to visit families. The first family Paula visited with Laurie and Suzanne, both Allina Health nurses, was a family of seven with two newly-affiliated students aged 9 and 12 all living in a small concrete building with broken concrete floors alongside chickens and ducks. The mother was cooking tortillas on an open wooden stove. She was so happy to talk to the social worker that she burned her treasured tortillas while discussing the hard work she does for her family. The second family was a single mother with six children. Her son was the youngest and had three other affiliated siblings. He is graduating next year as a chef. He was very proud of the recipes he created while in school and discussed his excitement for graduation.

At the end of the evening, our team finished the home. We put up the last of the cement walls, installed the doors and then finished the tin sheet roof. We ended the wonderful experience with a family blessing at the house with Antonio’s father, grandmother and extended family (Antonio was at school). Sean-Michael the one who lead the blessing, stated, “Que esta casa sea el comienzo de un futuro brilliante y que su familia logre su sueños. Que Dios los bendiga ahora y en el futuro. Gracias a ustedes por su trabajo y su dedicación.” (Let this home be the beginning of a new future and hope that your family make all your dreams come true. May God bless today and in the future, thank you for all the hard work and dedication you do.)

Cooking school at La Tortilla was a phenomenal way to end an impactful day. Laughing and bonding with new found friends. For dinner we made Pepian Pollo with a side of “salted” beet salad. It was hard work and with a few burnt tortillas and rellenitos we had a wonderful dinner. It was a good way to end the hard long day.

 

- Suzanne, Gus, & Jenny 

Day 4 - Wakami

After a late night fun game of “Monopoly Deal”, we woke up early. All of us were ready to go at 7:25 a.m. but we ended up starting our day at our usual Guatemala time. It was a beautiful day, a bit colder (in the 50s J) than usual, but it warmed up as the day progressed. Our host, Isabella, was very polite and energetic. On our drive to Wakami, she explained what the organization stood for and that they are in the “businesses of empowering women”. This includes making high quality bracelets, eco-friendly wooden products, education and promoting entrepreneurship in women.

As soon as we reached our destination, we got a very warm welcome by our host Thelma. The day started with drawing our individual dreams on a piece of paper and sharing it with the rest of the group, which included the locals as well. It was amazing to hear the dreams of the locals and to learn how passionate they were about achieving their dreams. This included, becoming a nurse, having a house with red apple trees and making sure that their kids went to school.

Today’s project included painting window trims and doors and assembling furniture. We had a lot of laughs and collaboration with the locals who were sweet and were always making sure that we had everything we needed. We had a quick break at around 11:30 a.m. when Thelma brought us some amazing homemade chicken chuchitos and hot hibiscus tea. She mentioned to us that during their initial training phase, all the women go through multiple rejections by the quality team before their first product gets approved. This is done to ensure that Wakami stands out from the other local groups by creating “very high quality” products. The locals presented us with their handmade bag and bracelets and explained to us the meaning behind their various types of bracelets. At the end of our day, they took us to a local restaurant for a wonderful meal and we ended our visit on a beautiful note. 
 
-Narayana

 

 

Day 3 - Common Hope

“They’re shoveling snow in Minnesota and we are shoveling dirt in Guatemala!”

Today was another amazing day! Team 1 spent the morning working on the house Common Hope is building for an affiliated family. The family of four (two boys ages 13 and 10) currently reside in a 32x50 foot open space with a dirt floor and outdoor kitchen enclosed by roofing steel. Our team’s mission was to create an addition to the home with a concrete slab. Working alongside our master mason Abel, and construction guru Mario, the team mixed concrete for a new floor in the home. Guatemalan’s do not have the luxury of having a concrete mixer so the team mixed the sand, concrete, rock and water by hand. It was a labor of love but we could all see how much it will benefit the family. Working in a small space our team of six laughed as we learned to work together without running into each other or accidentally knocking our co-workers in the face with a shovel (or wheelbarrow). By the end, we were efficiently working beautifully together with the common goal of creating a new space for this family. This team was made of six women who were the strongest, most determined women I have ever met!

After our afternoon lunch and siesta we re-grouped and the team split up to continue working on panels for the new walls in the Common Hope house, loaded school supplies and sanded furniture from the nursery that needs to be re-varnished. From there, we loaded the completed panels on to two trucks along with ladders and all the other equipment needed to construct the house tomorrow on the site.

We ended the day with a lovely team dinner at Welten where we shared more laughter, stories and continued to get to know each other.

-  Sandy & Katie

Day 2 - Hospital Escuintla visit

Today we went to Hospital Escuintla approximately 45 minutes from Antigua. We were greeted with open arms by an amazing array of staff including a beyond gracious, dedicated physician, Dr. Willy Melendez. We then received a thorough presentation about the hospital, followed by an extensive tour. I knew it would reinforce how extremely fortunate and spoiled I am in all aspects of life, particularly work, but didn’t realize the life-changing magnitude until this visit. Started in the ED, the first place on our tour. Escuintla’s pediatric ED is approximately the size of the two stabilization rooms of the 33 bed ED I currently work in. Census of five patients while we were there with only two beds. Multiple patients share beds and/or make shift beds are created with whatever is available. This includes everything from a two-tiered service cart to a parent’s lap. Furthermore, there was only one code cart with outdated monitor/defibrillator including paddles and sparse medication supply. The ED I work in has a 3:4 patient ratio in most areas. At Hospital Escuintla days and evenings have 1:2  RNs for the entire department. Overnight (my shift) consists of one RN with no ceiling on patient volume. Essentially however many patients can be crammed into the ED at any given time.

Regarding the remainder of the hospital, inspired by virtually everything else on the tour today. Highlights included immense overwhelming gratitude of staff, patients and families despite having so little. In addition, the dedication to patient care and drive for positive change was great to see. It was incredible to witness improvements made including a new NICU and PICU. The old vs new per previous trip participants, hospital staff and the tour was night and day. Furthermore, we saw nurse patient ratios of 1:2 on all shifts, in both departments. In addition, hand hygiene initiative including two sinks with soap in the PICU. Also, the first Purell hand sanitizer dispenser was recently installed.

Despite the inspiration, there are still multiple hurdles to overcome including overall hospital sanitation. A stairwell that was supposed to be yellow was brown from the dirt present. Birds with their feather remnants inside on the same floor many patients and families sit on waiting to receive various services. Also, there were bats on the walls, open large food containers on cart that roams the hospital to deliver meals, open specimen cup containing urine on sink at handwashing station, and large trash containers in the hallways of the units. Enclosed some pictures. Forgive my poor photography skills. Remember I’m an ED RN, not a photographer. Motivation, gratitude and love at an all-time high. Looking forward to returning home with plan in place of directing personal efforts to improve health care and overall quality of life in Guatemala.

- Mel Flynn

Day 2 - Common Hope

Today, Team 1 spent the day with the nonprofit, Common Hope. The first half of the day, several hours were spent constructing the walls and window frames of a new home for a Common Hope family. This project involved many unfamiliar, and somewhat challenging, tasks for our crew. The team members involved, along with the help from Common Hope staff, tackled this project head on and thoroughly enjoyed learning many new skills along the way. We put our hearts, sweat and determination into this project, and have much pride in our work. The Allina Health team in Guatemala is enjoying every moment of our time together and embracing all that we are learning about the Guatemalan culture. At the end of the week, the new home we’re building will be handed over to a much-deserving family of four. Several members of our team will also be fortunate to partake in the blessing of the new home.

In the afternoon, our group was split into pairs. Several of us went into the private homes of Antigua families and accompanied local professionals on social work visits. For all of us involved, this was a very challenging, emotional and eye-opening experience. The people of Guatemala, once again, showed us what an impressive community of people exists and their hospitality is beyond impressive and heartfelt. The purpose of the social work visits is to ensure those families affiliated with the Common Hope program are making progress toward desired goals of success in education and preparing for their future. This afternoon was life changing. We walked down the block, dusty streets, doors leading to mysterious and private places. It was hard to tell where one house ended and the next began. At one door, a grandmother popped her head out, standing in front of me with her withered skin that told the tale of the hard work of all her days. 

 

At one home, the father invited us in to a room, which turned out to be the family bedroom. He generously brought me a chair to sit, which in and of itself was a very intimate gesture. The social worker and my companion sat on the bed across from the father. It was incredible to see this father so engaged with the social worker. Keep in mind this entire visit was conducted in Spanish and I could pick up on only key words. I gathered they were talking about the children and I could see a sparkle in the father’s eye. When the social worker started asking him about finances, amount of the bills to be paid, he changed his posture, slouched in his chair and rubbed a pen back and forth across his knee.  This body language was the tell all and I’m crying as I write this.

 

- LeeAnn Smith

Cultural Experience Day

On our first full day in Guatemala, we were able to participate in cultural experience day! The majority of the group took an incredibly adventurous bus ride through all sorts of unique towns and ended up in Panajachel, a town on the north side of Lake Atitlan. The lake was beautiful and fairly smooth in the morning.

We were able to experience the Mayan lifestyle in two separate towns off the lakeside accessible by boat. There were a lot of dogs roaming the streets and sleeping in the shade. It was hard not to give them love. After challenging our cardiac capacity by walking up a steep hill in San Juan, we visited a Weaving Co-op and learned how the women make cotton into beautiful items of clothing and other house hold goods. We also visited an art gallery and herb garden where we learned which herbs, when made into tea, can cure everything from nausea to anger.

In Santiago Atitlan, we visited a church from the 1500s that had beautiful stained glass and intricate wood carvings. After a refreshing and invigorating boat ride back to Panajachel, we stopped at a restaurant where we dined on a traditional Guatemalan chicken dish and fish (bass and tilapia) from Lake Atitlan. The Vikings fans in the group convinced the bartender to turn on football and had a challenging time getting back on the bus before the big game started. Those who remained back in Antigua had the excitement of hearing and seeing Fuego, the neighboring volcano, erupt several times throughout the day. We were welcomed back from our 13-hour day with a delicious lasagna dinner.

 

Buenas noches!

 

- Mary & Miriah

2018 Guatemala Experience Trip

On Saturday, Jan. 20 a group of Allina Health employees arrived in Guatemala to begin their volunteer experience. During their time in Guatemala the group will participate in the following:

• Home build for a family affiliated with Common Hope
• School Supply Distribution for children affiliated with Common Hope
• Home makeover for a single mom that is an entrepreneur through Wakami
• Visit and tour a public government-owned hospital
• Tours to learn about the Guatemala culture and explore the beautiful country.

 These are just a few of the activities that the group will participate in. Check this blog during the week of Jan. 20 - Jan. 28 to read about the trip directly from the employees themselves.

 

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!