If you've never been on a mission, you might not realize how hard work and challenges can build friendships fast. It's been a quick week. Today, Wes, Nancy, Ed and Evan visited another clinic across the lake about 25 miles from Panajachel while the MNU crew took a couple of hours to explore the city, relax and talk about experiences we'll take home.
We spent the afternoon putting the finishing touches on the clinic. Most of the crew painted the exterior overhang to the first floor entrances. I note the first floor component here because the clinic is built on the side of a mountain and the walkway/balcony that runs the face of the first floor is some 30 feet off the drive below. As an old man myself, I couldn't nerve climbing a ladder and reaching outward toward oblivion to paint the ceiling and decorative overhang. Our younger cohorts were much more daring if not comfortable.
CJ was quite willing to conquer his fear and the afternoon sun. My parental instincts were too strong so I held on to his red, HHI shirt pinning him to the ladder as best I could. No fear, no worries, all went well.
Wes and I went to a local school for about an hour in the afternoon. We worked with one of the region's HHI representatives and taught helped the kiddos with their English pronunciation. We may have done them more harm than good since both Wes and I were raised in Kentucky where you put "oll" in your car and count the "fangers" on your hands.
The evening is dragging as we prepare to say farewells to new friends and know that we continue to learn and grow. We pray that our efforts change the future of all those who we serve.
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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