GUATEMALA GYN Mission ...a little background
true story.. the first night in Guatemala, I fell asleep trying to figure out why Blog would not open or respond on the iPad. Glasses were on and headlamp in hand. End of story. 🤓-😴 ..I REALLY did want to share.
I woke up the following morning 4:30--glasses askew and headlamp somewhere under the covers. I glared at this high-tech device with furled eyebrows. Y'all know Apple thought we needed an update recently... A MAJOR update! Apparently my iPad had missed that... End of this short story: I gave up on blogging after a few days. I was so full of story every night, though too tired to write. Now, at home embalmed in a CNY real winter, I will endeavor to share my memories and heart.. in print.
I genuinely do not know where to start… This is my 6th surgical mission trip. I've been to some pretty desperate, poverty-stricken countries. And now... Guatemala is added to that list, and no less so....
First, a teeny bit about how I got involved with this mission. Some may read my tale and attribute my course to chance. IF chance was at play, Divine Guidance was conductor. I opened an email I would likely have deleted. (I am trying, seriously, to get my 37,131 emails sorted out!!) It was a correspondence from the scrub tech governing body-AST-Association of Surgical Technologists. Upon clicking open I noticed the words, "mission trip," and that was that. Hook, line, and sinker 🎣 😌.
I read the email announcing an opportunity to apply for a GYN surgical mission to Guatemala at the end of January. I discovered this email in early September, and yes. I applied that day. AST had partnered with a group unknown to me--Hearts In Motion--to supply techs for surgery. I did some homework that night re. HIM -which cemented my desire and determination to be on a plane headed south--END OF JANUARY.
... a little bit about Hearts In Motion--HIM. Hearts in Motion is a mission organization birthed by an amazing woman, Karen Scheeringa-Parra… heartsinmotion.org. She began volunteering for an organization providing surgery for children -inspired while in Korea in 1982 for the adoption of one of her twelve children. A visionary of notable resolve, she soon founded this organization-HIM-for the purpose of bringing medical equipment and teams to children in underserved countries. Since 1990, HIM has developed a variety of outreaches with intent to offer hope and help in the areas of construction, nutrition, education, medical care and surgery.. Guatemala is but one recipient of HIM services over the years.
There are 50-60 volunteers in Zacapa, Guatemala this week—many strangers to each other. All are here with one purpose: to serve. All except the 8 AST techs are here with Hearts in Motion. And... all are here to offer skill, muscle, good vibes, hope, and encouragement without expectation of return or recompense for their time and energy. And you know what? An apt description is terribly elusive for the beauty and joy of working together to make life better for others, to offer a route of opportunity for self-improvement, medical attention, family growth, and the betterment of children, people... a village.
Rather than giving men fish, HIM is in the buisness of giving them poles and teaching them how to fish. That is the beauty and sustainability of this group.
… often what obstructs my writing, my momentum for this blog are the many deeply felt experiences and hundreds of photos (1300+) I encounter and collect on a trip. My private personal challenge is CHOICE. How do I choose only a few images to represent an experience so comprehensive, so indelible. . . seems impossible really, but when I think about it, HIM is doing just that. . . THE IMPOSSIBLE..
I will attempt my impossible and hope to inspire you all 💗
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