Headed home.

Wow, it's hard to believe it's been over two years... but here I am again, just about ready to board the plane to be headed back to Guatemala. So much has changed in both my life and those I love so dearly and call my family down there, but there are circumstances when I feel like no time has passed at all. I still have the same butterfly-like feelings - what am I going to see? How is God going to use me?

This trip is one faith. I have prayed for nearly two years that God would present me with the opportunity to be able to return to the country I fell in love with. This winter as I started my new job as an RN at UW Hospital, I kept feeling this urgency... was it time to go? The more I prayed and talked to friends in Guatemala, the more I realized it was time. So, with the support of my family, friends, boss, co-workers and second family in Guatemala, I am heading back home. I will try to keep everyone updated daily on my adventures...

With bags packed to the brim, I am anxiously awaiting my first flight as I write this in the Chicago O'Hare International airport. I should be arriving in Guatemala City later this evening. Although September 11th is a significant day in our country's history, today is also the day of the Guatemalan elections. Corruption and stagnation have plagued this government. Today could be a pivotal day in projecting a positive future for this country, especially for its youth. I will keep everyone posted on the results and will try to post pictures at some point later this week.

My prayer in all of this is that God would give me His eyes, especially during this trip. That I would not hold my own agenda, but His. Pray for big changes, life-changing moments. I strive forward with Jeremiah 29 on my heart and mind, taking confidence in His greater plan and more thankful than ever I finally get to head home. Guatemala, I will be there soon :)

Photos and Thoughts

I am sorry it has been quite some time since I have written on the blog. Since returning to the States, I began to realize how many things we take for granted and how extremely wasteful we are. Parts of me ache to return back to Guatemala, but for the moment I suppose a few photos will have to suffice.

Looking up at the volcanoes just outside of Antigua.

A view from the boat ride we had on Lake Atitlan.

Day 21 - Guatemala City

We returned to Roosevelt Hospital to do additional teaching on OB topics. Due to the content presented the previous day, some of the OB residents and MD's were asked to attend the teachings because their practices were not aligning with the types of practices we were presenting. It was interesting going into this teaching session knowing that we might offend these doctors by presenting this information, but we knew that what we were saying would greatly improve the quality of life and decrease the mortality rate in Guatemala. Thankfully, Nancy was a pro at presenting the information in a calm manner and the information was generally well-received.

For lunch we went to the ever-famous Pollo Campero. This is a huge restaurant chain in Guatemala and I hear it is starting to spread to the US, as well. Its food is very similar to KFC's menu here in the States. We were most excited to eat the fried chicken... throughout the trip we played 2 songs quite frequently while we were in the car. One of the songs we loved to listen and jam out to was "Chicken Fried" by the Zac Brown Band. It was quite fitting that we were able to eat fried chicken on our last day in Guatemala - very bittersweet. We left our cd in Guatemala with Eric in hopes that he'll learn ALL of the lyrics by the next time we come :)

In the afternoon we visited Safe Passage in Guatemala City. Safe Passage is a non-profit organization that seeks to break the cycle of poverty and lifestyle that surrounds families who work in the city's massive garbage dump. We got to tour not only the outer parts of the dump, but the organization's schools, as well. All of us were deeply moved by the work that these volunteers are doing to help these families. The sight of people digging through massive piles of garbage amidst bulldozers, hundreds of vultures and dogs was heart wrenching. Our tour guide mentioned that injuries in the dump are very common and most of the people working have severe problems with blood borne pathogens and severe respiratory problems. We could smell the methane gas pouring out from the dump from a vast distance and the stench was nearly unbearable. It is difficult for me to explain how devastating these living and working conditions are for these people, more or less how they are treated by socially. While in the States people who work with garbage are paid a decent salary and receive benefits, these people are scorned by society. They actually have to pay the government to work in the dump for a job that pays next to nothing. The programs offered by Safe Passage for not only the children of such families, but now the parents, as well, is amazing. I encourage everyone to check out their website to see the amazing things they are doing and ways you can get involved!!! I know that every single one of us were touched by the experience and know that anyone who gets involved will be touched by their work in a similar way.

That night we were invited to Jeanette & Juan Carlos' home for dinner and the opportunity to discuss the experience of our time in Guatemala. The evening was full of laughter, tears and amazing life-changing stories. While we were excited to come home and share our experiences with our friends and family, I think we were a little hesitant to leave the country we had grown to deeply love.

Survival Guide of Guatemala

1. The Guatemalan Cocktail (see post below)
2. Eric
*Driver, Translator, Bodyguard, Spanish Teacher, DJ, Rodeo Entertainer, Pack Mule, Garbage Disposal, Amigo, Spiderman and Live GPS
3. Bugspray
4. Ear plugs
5. Itch stick
6. Euchre
7. Bottled water
8. Toilet paper
9. Book
10. Hand sanitizer
11. Snacks that don't melt
12. Camera
13. Hanes V-neck white tees
14. Make-up remover towellettes
15. Deodorant
16. Dremamine
17. Spanish phrases
*"Solo estoy viendo" "Buen provecho" "Con permiso" "Esta bien, chica" etc.
18. Melatonin
19. Dinero conversion chart
20. Nail polish
21. Headlamp
22. Roll of vanilla scented garbage bags
23. The braid
24. Anti-emetic suppositories
25. Spanglish

Things we take for granted...

Last night we were talking about this Guatemala trip and began making a list of the things we take for granted in the states. Some are funny, some are serious...but they are all true.
1. Free pubic restrooms
2. Bathroom availability
3. Toilet paper provided in restrooms
4. Flushing toilet paper-seriously, no toilet paper can be flushed anywhere in Guatemala!
5. Toilets that flush
6. No squatting
7. Reliable electricity
8. Air conditioning
9. Free drinking water in restaurants
10. No need for the Guatemalan Cocktail (1 Cipro, 1 Immodium, and 2 Pepto)
11. Water pressure
12. Hot water
13. Not sweating while in the shower, sleeping, sitting, reading, etc.
14. IV's in hospitals
15. Clean air
16. Paved roads
17. Minimal speed bumps
18. Driving laws enforced
19. Seatbelts
20. Sidewalks
21. Following a schedule
22. Having a schedule
23. A real sandwich
24. Protein at every meal
25. Cold skim milk
26. Anything cold
27. Season changes
28. Keys without large sticks attached
29. Not living out of a suitcase
30. Clean clothes/clothes that don't smell from other clothes
31. Privacy
32. Garbage cans in rooms other than the bathroom
33. No need for a translator
34. Being able to communicate and eavesdrop
35. TV in English, and visible
36. No harrassment while shopping
37. The ability to wear shorts and tank tops
38. Ranch dressing
39. Peanut butter
40. NO PWD! hehe

Day 20 - Guatemala City

Today was another eye-opening day for us here in Guatemala. We were up early this morning to prepare for a day of teaching at Roosevelt Hospital in Guatemala City. Roosevelt is one of the largest public hospitals in Guatemala and the needs of this hospital and the people it serves was evident everywhere we looked. We spent 4 hours covering various OB topics such as labor and delivery and neonatal positioning. I was fascinated watching the reactions of the nurses to the information presented. Much of the information emphasized such as hydration is foundational and basic in the nursing practices in the States - almost something second nature that we would encourage fluids during labor. The nurses at Roosevelt were astonished at the thought of giving a women something to eat or drink during this process. Although I feel as if we left these men and women with more knowledge about effective nursing and medical practices, I realized it meant more to me that we were trying to empower them. While we can present research and show evidence based practices, change will not come to Guatemala´s health care system unless we empower its nurses and doctors from the bottom up and continually remind them of the impact of their professions.

This afternoon we volunteered at a food program in the 12th Ward in Guatemala City. This zone suffers from extreme poverty and an immense amount of crime. While some of us were anxious about going into this zone, it melted away as we were immediately embraced by over 150 children with hugs and kisses. We were able to minister to the children of these families by serving them a warm meal. I was amazed at how long many of them waited for a scoop of rice, a scoop of beans, a tortilla and a glass of fortified juice. The pastor that runs this program told us that for many of these children, the meal we served them was their only meal of the day. I (Elise) was scooping out the beans for all of the dishes. As the bowl began to quickly diminish, I looked up at the ever growing line of children still waiting for food. I began to wonder how many other children in this zone, more or less this city, were in their homes waiting for food and wondering when their next meal would be. There was a picture of us scraping out the last bits of each of the dishes... it may be one of the most disheartening pictures I have ever seen. I can only hope and pray that other programs will continue to faithfully serve the families of communities such as this and how fortunate we were to serve these children today.

Days 17-19 - Lake Atitlan

Today we left Antigua and drove a few hours to beautiful Lake Atitlan for a weekend of rest and relaxation. After many hours of driving on roads filled with pot-holes and/or made of cobblestone, we could hardly wait for the dinner at the hotel Posada in Santiago. The beauty of the lake is nearly indescribable and the pictures taken can hardly do it justice. We probably spent hours trying to capture the beauty of the flowers, volcanoes, or the lake... it was breathtaking to say the least.
Saturday morning we visited the Stukenburg family who lived near Santiago. This family is originally from Green Bay, but their ministry eventually brought them to Guatemala to work in foster care for children taken from their families by the courts. Many of these children came from parents who were drug addicts, abusive or had simply abandoned them. Some of their stories were horrifying - one young girl was pushed into a fire by her father and was severely burned. With the help of the Stukenburg family, she is now able to walk and laugh as a normal child although she is permanently disabled and may never be able to talk. Currently the family is caring for 14 foster care children, but many more may be on the way. We loved playing with the children for a while and loved that they spoke English! It was refreshing to be able to understand everything being said for the first time since we arrived to Guatemala. We cannot imagine what it is going to be like to return home and be able to understand the language once again. I can only expect it will be a culture shock once again.
We also drove through the community ruined by the massive mudslide in 2004. The devastation the mud caused was still quite evident. Many homes were abandoned and a majority of the buildings still had mud lines on them. It was estimated that approximately 3,000 people died from this disaster. I was reminded once again of how precious life is and how truly blessed we are.
Sunday morning we took a 3 hour boat ride around the lake. It was an amazing to experience nature, sitting in a little boat in the midst of a vast lake and surrounded by the volcanoes and beauty that is Guatemala. I know that I have said it many times before, but the beauty here is just incredible. It is truly a surreal experience and it is hard not to feel that there is something greater at work around and within us.