By: Brent Panno
In my recent medical service trip this year, I joined ATI Global Reach and Hearts in Motion to Zacapa, Guatemala. This was my second service trip to Guatemala with ATI and while there were some similarities, my experience on both trips were very different. For this trip, we traveled to a different location with more therapists and students. While the location changed, the mission stayed the same — to help local community members recover from various injuries or disorders.
During the trip, our team saw about 300 patients. While we helped as much as we could, the patients that needed further therapy were referred to the clinics that were already established in Zacapa. Going back to Guatemala, the decision to attend another service trip was because of the amazing people. With a strong sense of family, members of the community were willing to accept strangers quickly. I enjoyed talking to the natives and learning about their culture firsthand.
While treating patients at one of the local clinics, several of the children living nearby gave some of us bracelets that they made. This was a very touching experience and a reminder of why I wish to continue participating in service trips in the future. Another favorite memory from the trip was when some of the therapists and I went to a soccer field near an orphanage we were working at and played soccer with some of the local kids there. The kids were inviting and we had a lot of fun, considering how much better they were than any of us.
Having the opportunity to attend this trip with ATI Global Reach allowed me to meet a lot of great people and make new friends. I will definitely be going on another service trip soon!
Are you interested in joining us on our next trip?
Whether you’re an ATI team member or just a friend wanting to make a difference, all walks of life are welcome. If you’re interested in joining ATI Global Reach, visit the official website and experience the trip of a lifetime.