2014 Education Team #2
HUMANITIZE EXPEDITIONS
LOS ROBLES, GUATEMALA
July 19-27, 2014
Katie Walther, Humanitize Team Leader
Cathy Barlow, Humanitize Co-Lead/Interpreter
Mitchell Martin, Youth Lead
Rees Atkins, Interpreter
Matthew Ashby, Interpreter
Jennifer Call
Elliott Call
Jared Call
Oliver Smith
Joyce Cragun, RN
Crawford Cragun
Brooklyn Cragun
Bayleigh Cragun
Addison Cragun
Maryann Carcamo
Kaden Wilcox
SUMMARY:
Number of schools – 6 which includes the Los Robles after school program
Total number of students and teachers – 407 in outlying villages
20 from Los Robles school
Monday: Caliaj – 47 students in three classrooms
Los Robles – 15-20
Tuesday: Sucun – 53
Los Robles – 20
Wednesday: Choceque -- 100
Los Robles – 20
Thursday: Chipop -- 100
Los Robles – 20
Friday: Las Canoas -- 107
Los Robles -- 20
Jared Call trained the team members to test distance and near vision and fit prescription and reading glasses to meet the needs of the patients. A total of 70 people received approximately 80 pairs of glasses.
Globalization Curriculum was discussed each night with Cathy, Mitch and Katie taking turns facilitating. Games, music and socializing took place until about 10 PM.
HIGHLIGHTS BY DAY:
Saturday – Safe arrival at Guatemala City Airport, no lost or delayed participants or luggage. 3 hour drive to Los Robles and Casa de Sion. Settled into third floor of guesthouse. Supplies unpacked and organized in the bodega, clinic and guesthouse.
Sunday – Trip to San Andres for Sunday street market, optional church services. All donations sorted. Interpretation class presented. Vitamins counted and bagged. Manuel Cruz had blood sugar and blood pressure checked at church and medication was given.
Monday – Caliaj (47) Classes included balloon animals, science experiments and field sports and games. The entire school entered into a game of Capture the Flag. Casa de Sion children participated in Pictionary, jump rope, giant Kerplunk and parachute games in the afternoon. Home visit and delivery of prescription to Tomasa for her mother. The Casa de Sion clinic was open in the afternoon for eye exams and the fitting of glasses. Jared gave team members training. Mitch led the curriculum discussion after dinner.
Tuesday – Sucun (53) Classes included Twister, parachute, paper airplanes and decorating flipflops. The 18 children at Casa de Sion did first aid for choking, body parts, yoga. Each child chose a book as a gift from the Hoopes family project from the 2013 team. Eye exams and glasses fittings in the afternoon.
Wednesday – Chocec (100). Classes included friendship, jump rope, honesty game, and four-square. The children at Casa de Sion did balloon animals, science (organ placement) and twister. Joyce and Katie visited the clinica La Mision in San Andres (see information below). Eye exams and glasses fittings in the afternoon. A surprise birthday party for Katie was the excitement for the day at Casa de Sion with cakes and singing and cards/signs by the children.
Thursday – Chipop (100). Classes included Yoga, Choking first aid, body organs and parts. A child with a known facial tumor was identified and the mother and child were transported to the clinic in San Andres by Irvin, Jen, Katie, Joyce and interpreter. The children at Casa de Sion did paper airplanes, flip flops and friendship. Eyeglasses were fitted for the mamas and tots program participants.
Friday – Las Canoas (107) Classes included parachute games, four square, jump roping, flip flops and pictionary. The children at Casa de Sion did field games, rubber band bracelets and the honesty game.
Saturday – a fun day crossing Lake Atitlan and visiting the old village of Santiago, seeing the historic Catholic Church, shopping in the markets and shops then back to Panajachel to shop and walk and eat.
Sunday – Early pick-up at Casa de Sion and return to Guatemala City for flight home.
Individual goals identified at team meeting on Friday:
Don’t drop the ball on Elmer.
Work on Spanish
Come back after mission as an interpreter.
Fluent Spanish
Be more grateful and express it.
Be thankful for what I have, not take it for granted, not hate work and school but appreciate it.
Lead a more Guatemalan life, simple, more happy, not stress, calm down, let things be, be nice and a better person.
Help with the fundraising for Elmer’s surgery/treatment.
Look over priorities, what really matters, how I treat others.
Increase focus on education, come back with a medical team.
Cut distractions such as electronics, phone, work to get better grades.
Not be OCD about planning, go with the flow, not so much on my to-do list
Be grateful for home (look at Catalina’s space), my kids and what we have.
My family is in a position to serve more, not wait for the perfect moment. We can do more as a family. Learn how to play and live in the moment.
Try to get more Guatemalans to do more service, Look for jobs in interpretation/translation.
Improve my education and come back.
Choose a formal service opportunity. Make my heart beat more.