Well, this is turning out to be a constant complaint for I am not having any luck with either photos of video footage. If I'm able to find a better connection, I'll insert our images when I can.
Today we started early with a few sore muscles but a growing sense of anticipation. Jorge offered us a quick stop down by the lake shore before we headed by to the clinic to finish painted and cleaning for the dedication tomorrow.
If you're interested, the dedication will be Skyped to MNU tomorrow at about 4PM. The viewing will be in the Cook Center, Hager Hall. Believe it or not, that link worked earlier today. It is free to the public and will offer some grand scenery of the Patanatic community. Dignitaries from all over the region and Guatemala City will be in attendance. Gary Morsch arrived this evening to be part of the festivities.
(The above video may load. If it does, it is of Mary Miller and Emily Joy Roth at our Day One dinner meal.)
The story behind the clinic is deeply routed in the commitment and faith of the students from MNU. They raised and donated about $53,000 to make the clinic a reality. We have 12 with us on this trip including Eric Unruh who graduated about a year ago.
Jorge gave us all working assignments for the day. We were to finish painting the exterior and clean and paint the meeting hall on the bottom floor. Michael Zigler is a take-charge leader and he wiped us into shape. And, I will tell you without exception, the MNU team sprung into action.
The hall is probably 30 by 100 with a 10 foot ceiling. We painted the wall blue and the ceiling white. Jorge explained to us that white is for peace and blue is for health. They are also the colors of the Guatemalan flag.
One more quick note about the MNU cohort that I want to add. If these young people are any indication of the nobility of American youth in general, then I have no doubt that our nation's future will be prosperous, strong and secure. These men and women without exception have been welcoming, polite, smart, energetic and positive. With limited equipment, tight timeframes and only scant direction, they make it happen from soup to nuts as they say.
On the ride back to the hotel this evening, they even had the energy to sing Michael Jackson and Beach Boy songs. They rocked the van all the way home.
Paz
Guatemala Team March 2011
Olathe Rotary Members Wes McCoy and Michael Ashcraft (3rd & 4th from left in back) join a team of MNU students and others traveling to Guatemala with Heart to Heart International to help provide medical and water services to Patanatic and communities near Lake Atitlan. Not all team members are pictured.
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