Rainy afternoons and beading with kids

The team has done two full days in the village. Dr. Liam and his son are working hard seeing patients all day long. He is even using acupuncture with some people. They are a little hesitant at first, but afterwards are impressed by the results.

The construction crew continues work on the house in Desierto. They are now transporting cement blocks to the house. It is a loooooong path from where the materials get dropped off to the construction site - they counted 300 steps!!

The afternoons are somewhat rainy so we have been doing crafts with the kids (see pictures below). Eliara is working hard putting sealants on the teeth of children and getting sponsored kids in to see the dentist. Rachel is leaving today after a month of interning. We will miss her friendly attitude and enthusiasm. She has helped out a lot with the after school program and english classes. She was also doing fecal samples and looking for parasites.

Gene and his daughter Rebecca are having a good time catching up with old friends (well Rebecca is meeting them) as well as interviewing staff to see how the PID programs are running.

A new group has arrived

The new team arrived safely last night after a few delays. One more will be arriving at noon today after getting stuck in Mexico city.

We have a doctor and a few other medical people. Also some will be continuing on the construction site.

Update from Haiti

It's been a few busy weeks in Haiti. Beth came and helped out with administration as we prepare for the transition as I will be leaving in August and Sandra stepping in in September.

Last week. Steve and Camilla from St. Joe's University came to work with the ladies doing the gem cutting and train 3 new gem cutters, as well as teach a new cut. At the end of the week, the 3 newly trained gentlemen received certificates. They produced great pieces throughout the week and are eager to produce more.

Today, the McMurry team from Texas arrived, accompanied by my mom, Linda, and Marlis, who will be running a children's program for the week. The McMurry group will be working out the house out in Canaan as well as helping out in the clinic. We look forward to a great week together!

A new week

Another week has begun at PID Guatemala. The knitters continue to press Cynthia with their skill level and perseverance. The construction crew worked hard this morning firat transporting the materials and then mixing and pouring cement for the foundation of the house. Below are some pictures from the construction site (the house where the family lives currently, team members digging, and two curious kids watching the ladies work). Rain came early today so they didn't make it to the site after lunch. The teenage girls got a knitting lesson from Cynthia and the ladies and I ventured into the rain to visit Marcelina and learn how to make tortillas. Our skill level was not very impressive at first, but I think we definitely got better. Marcelina told us that she makes about 100 tortillas for breakfast, lunch and dinner to feed the 16 people that live in her house. She definitely has a lot more experience than we do since she makes about 300 every day! We were impressed.

Sunday in Antigua

Today we spent the day in the city of Antigua. We arrived to a bit of confusion because many streets were blocked due to a procession leaving one of the catholic churches. So we parked the van and got out to watch the procession go by. We then finally made it to Central Park and walked up to La Merced church where the team attended mass. Afterwards we ate lunch at a very tasty Mexican restaurant. Then they had some time to walk around before heading to the artisan market.

It was a good day, but everyine is ready to get back to work tomorrow.

Friday/Saturday Update

Yesterday was the second day of workin the village. The construction team continued bringing material into the site with wheelbarrows. They had much appreciated help from some of the village children. They are working hard digging the foundation and have already broken two shovels and a pick ax! Strong ladies!!

Emma and I did some interviews in the afternoon. We got to talk with some sponsored children and the mother of the family for whom they are building the house. It is moving to hear their thoughts on PID and how the organization is helping them, their families and their community.

Cynthia and her knitters continued their projects. They had to move inside the clinic in the afternoon due to the rainstorm.

Today they went to the Mayan ruins of Tak'alik Ab'aj.

First Day ended with rain

We started off the day with a walk through the village visiting some of the PID houses. Most of the team headed over to the construction site in Desierto. They worked hard all day hauling materials to the site and starting to dig the foundation. Sue the nurse helped me and Rachel unpack the suitcases that the team brought down. She also made friends with some little girls and spent time bagging bars of soap and coloring. Cynthia had her knitting crew out back again with many familiar faces and a few new ones.

Teams again!

After a few months of not a lot of action here at the clinic in Guatemala a new team arrived this evening. They have arrived at the hotel tired from the day's travel but excited to be here.

Tomorrow will be the first day of work in the village. They will be starting a new house in Desierto and Cynthia will have her usual knitting club out back.

We also have two interns who have joined our Guatemalan team in the past few weeks. Rachel has been interning in the US office for a few months and has been here since the beginning of june helping with fecal samples, english class and after school tutoring. Eliara arrived last week and is doing a dental internship. She will be applying fluoride treatments to kids in the schools, as well as sealants to those who need them.

Child of the Week in Guatemala: Leticia Samara

Leticia Samara Vasquez Menchu (#268)
Waiting since October 2012
DOB: May 31, 2008

Leticia is six years old and goes to preschool in the north section of the village. She has two younger sisters. Leticia and her sisters live with their parents in a one room house made of cement blocks with a tin roof and tile floor. The house has electricity and a well for water, but no bathroom. Her father works on a banana farm and her mother stays at home with the daughters. Leticia’s father only makes about $3.50 each day to provide for the family of five. Her father is an alcoholic and spends most of his salary at the local bar. He made a swing out of rope and some wooden boards and Leticia loves playing on it. The family does not have enough money to buy adequate food and they eat eggs or pasta with tortillas for all three meals.

Busy week with NSCC and Scranton arrival

Last week was a great week with the team, most of who was from North Shore Community College, friends of NSCC, and a few add-ons. Everyone worked very well together and got a lot of work done. At the work site out in Canaan, the team has been filling in the foundation and putting the blocks up on the 5th duplex. Back at PID, some team members have been working hard cleaning out the new office building that now has electricity!! (BIG thanks to Chris and Henry and all who donated supplies!!!) The meds and medical supplies depots have been emptied, refilled, and organized in preparation for and after a visit from the department of public health last Friday. And finally, in the clinic, we have been dealing with seemingly endless cases of the new epidemic in the Carribbean, the Chikungunya fever. It is not deadly but very unpleasant, characterized by high fever, bone-breaking pain, and sometimes additional symptoms such as itchy skin. It's transmitted by mosquitos, so team members have been extra careful about wearing bug spray, but luckily no team members have gotten the fever yet.

The NSCC team left this morning after an amazing week together. The team members, many who had not met before the trip, bonded over the week and formed many friendships that will last long after their return home.

This afternoon the University of Scranton arrived. They got a tour of the clinic and the yard, met our staff, and I took them for a walk around Blanchard to see the PID houses in the area. The team enjoyed playing with some of the neighborhood kids out by the Blanchard houses. Saintilia and Vania were pleasantly surprised and extremely grateful when after dinner the team offered to wash the dishes!! Thanks Scranton! Their kind gesture won't be forgotten!