Mother Teresa once said, “Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” I have always strived to live by those words. However, it was not until my Guatemala Service Trip where I was able to use the language of love to equally leave happier.
Before arriving in Guatemala, I had no idea what to expect. I anticipated hot days and buggy nights. So armed with sunscreen and bug repellant, I was ready. However, I was not prepared to be met with open arms, hearts, and gratitude. From the moment I landed in Guatemala and met the other volunteers, I immediately felt a bond and synergy among us. Efosa, smiling ear-to-ear, greeted us by name with a warm hug. His charismatic personality inspired us every day.
Before construction and treatment began, we took time to immerse ourselves in the Guatemalan culture. We played soccer with the locals, toured a coffee farm, and ate a homemade meal, from a local farm, prepared by natives. I especially enjoyed the time we spent time with the physical therapists and physical therapy students from the area. We discussed our hopes and dreams for Villa Nueva Medical Center and for the future of physical therapy in Guatemala and in the United States. The students were so eager to learn from us, and we were just as eager to speak to and learn from them. Although we had translators, each of us tried our best to speak English or Spanish. We did not need any translators to communicate the caring and compassion we all shared. The smiles and laugher that we shared together was just the start of it all!
As I reflect upon this experience, I vividly remember the first day with joy and astonishment. In one day, our team rallied together with local volunteers, the mayor, and his wife to successfully build a sustainable medical center comprising of three buildings. The clinic would serve the local community that would not have had access to care. Again, as one stepped back to observe, the language of love was evident. Using gestures, we communicated with one another. Although we were from two different countries, together, we united to build the clinic. One of my most memorable moments was working side by side with municipal workers and learning how to use a hole-digger. One man demonstrated how to use the hole-digger and then assisted me with it! Next, we planted flowers and hauled grass. By the end, the local municipal workers knew my name and allowed me to be “in charge” of designing one of the flower gardens. By the end of the day, I was known as the “dirtiest” volunteer even by the mayor! I can honestly say I would have never thought I would have had so much fun hauling grass and gardening!
With strength and determination, we worked together to see the three buildings erected in ONE day. The following day, we began treatment. Patients with various diagnoses ranging from musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, and neurological from all ages gathered outside the clinic. As people traveled near and far to receive care, the line to visit the clinic grew longer by the hour. Although patients waited in line for hours in the hot sun, no one complained. They were all so grateful for the opportunity to receive physical therapy.
There were so many memorable moments. We treated a young child with cerebral palsy. Although he was non-verbal, his smile lit the room. As we placed him on a stability ball to improve extension, he laughed and smiled ear-to-ear. His mother was crying tears of joy saying, “Mi amor.” There was also another patient whose smile I will never forget. He had suffered from a stroke months ago, but he had not received physical therapy. He had not been able to ambulate for months. By the end of the session, the group of volunteers from Guatemala and America were able to assist him to walk again. He smiled, ear-to-ear, as he walked. Once he sat down, he clapped for himself and was so thankful. As each patient left, they hugged, kissed, and thanked us for our service. One patient even took the time to write induvial handwritten cards to all of us! These small acts of love and compassion brought me tremendous joy and gratitude. I wanted to thank the patients just as much as they thanked me. I wanted to thank them for giving me the opportunity to be in their country and serve them.
Although we did not speak the language, we were able to communicate through the language of love. A smile, a gentle touch, a greeting were evident throughout the whole trip. A bunch of strangers all came together to serve Villa Nueva. Although the days were hot and buggy, I left Guatemala happier than I entered the country. Although I was able to share my time, talents, and treasures, I believe I gained more out of the trip than I gave. The time that I spent in Guatemala will forever be engraved in my heart.