Quite a Welcome

Post by Nancy Besa

Photos by Peter Obetz

NOTE: We encourage you to leave your comments and messages to our volunteer team on this blog.

I am fairly certain that I will never know what it's like to be a rock star, but I believe the closest thing quite possibly is serving as a MMF volunteer. As our group filed out of the rain and into the Obras and this morning at 7:00 AM, we were met by Father Jaime Ricardo Lopez and some 300 children and their  families. As the good Father led us on a tour through the winding halls, families broke into spontaneous applause. Really, everyone from little old men to tiny little girls, were clapping. It caught us all by surprise and touched us deeply. 

The Obras Sociales Hermano Pedro Hospital and Orphanage provides a home, and cares for the elderly and orphaned, the mentally challenged, and chronically ill - a total of 400, ranging in age from a few days to 90 plus years. It was originally was founded by a Franciscan priest in the early 1600's. The hospital receives no governmental support and relies  solely on donations and is operated by the Franciscan order of the Catholic Church. It is a rambling facility, with many parts open to the outdoors through a series of courtyards.  Despite the volume of patients here the Obras is impeccably neat and cheerful. Brightly colored plants, colored crepe paper and children's drawings all add a  sense of hope and spirit. The staff here is highly efficient and organized, allowing our team to get right to work. By 9:00 AM patients were being seen and screened in the general, audiology and ENT clinics. 

On his inaugural mission, Bill Mangum, MD, jumped in with both feet, screening the many children who came in to the ENT clinic with complaints of swollen tonsils and restless sleep.  It was, shall we say, the complaint of the day. While many were quite healthy, others were identified as candidates for surgery or hearing aids. While the doctors are  glad when they are able to identify a child in need, there is also a sense of fulfillment when they see the look of relief on a mother's face when she hears the words, "Your child is healthy." The vast majority of families in Guatemala have little to no medical care so the opportunity to see an American doctor is a rare and coveted opportunity, prompting many to travel hours by bus or by foot. 

Comments

[Christy Obetz]

It sounds awesome! Keep the posts and pictures coming.

[Brett Horn]

Keep up the great work.

Mommy is missed at home!

Brett, Jack, Brigit, & Will

[Krystle Trammell]

Sounds like such a rewarding experience!!! How wonderful for all of you to be apart of it!! We miss you Chris!!

Love, Krystle & Willie