Day 4 in Guatemala -March 17

Wow -I officially have a cold. I was very worried about the smells here of the children and the hospital so I guess God answered my prayer. I can't smell anything. We went to Hermano Pedro orphanage/hospital for the morning and then 1/2 free day. I was very nervous about Hermano but it was not as bad as I had in my head. We were at the door about to go in and Bubba made a last minute decision that he did not want to go - but I did! Billy, Bro. David and Eric were going to meet a missionary couple living here and maybe get some questions answered/advice so Bubba went with them and afterward said he felt that was where he was suppose to be. he had said before we left the states that he did not want to be separated from me but felt it was OK since 1/2 the group would be with me. I also have a funny about being separated at the airport in Atlanta on the last day - you will have to stay tuned for that!

Anyways - when we entered Hermano they said no cameras, so Bubba took the backpack. Seeing the hospital, I felt like I was stepping back in time. The atmosphere felt like an old movie and the nurse's uniforms also looked like something from the 70's maybe. We were assigned to the teenage ward and split be male and female. I went to the female ward-surprise! We first folded laundry and then proceeded to pick a lady and push here around the hospital. This would hopefully stimulate them--we pushed, sang and bounced balls to them. The 2 different ladies that I pushed were mostly unresponsive- would not speak to me. The first lady would bounce or drop the ball for me to chase and when I parked her she started crying and i assumed she wanted to be pushed again. The second lady did not respond at all and would not even hold the ball but I pushed anyways! There was 1 hall we pushed the ladies down -this hall was lined with chairs on both sides of the hall full of people that were waiting to see a Doctor. The lady that told us a little about the hospital and took us to the ward we were assigned to said the sad part was that everyone there would not be seen and would have to come back tomorrow. She said it was also sad when they had to turn someone away that needed care, a place to stay and they could not offer care. This hospital/orphanage was for the poor. We were also able to push through the children's ward- it was so encouraging to see so many volunteers/visitors there to interact with the children. Most of the patients that lived there had a form of cerebral palsy.

Around 12 or so we were to meet at the fountain in Antigua which was within walking distance from Hermano-so off we went. As we waited for everyone else that did not go to Hermano-of course we were confronted with market people who wanted us to buy their goods - all I could do was say no gracias - I had no money - no backpack!

After everyone arrived we split again and 1/2 stayed in Antigua to eat and shop and 1/2 went to a volcano hike - I so wish after seeing the pics that we had done the volcano hike but maybe next time!

We went to MonoLoco for lunch and had a great chicken bacon ranch quesidilla. Great food. We shopped in the markets and then Bubba, Kim and I met Wallie to grocery shop in Antigua for Thursday in the village.

It was definitely different from the other grocery-more stuff but still a small space- we survived and had to wait out front for Jake and the truck and boy was Bubba nervous! - they told us not to leave the buggy/groceries for any length of time or they would be gone!

Just a little funny on grocery shopping in a foreign country - I was looking for the eggs in the refrigerated section like in the states but never found them - they were on the shelf by the bread!

We loaded up and headed back to the hotel to unload the groceries and then back to Antigua to meet all the group for supper at Pollo Campero (like a KFC in Guatemala). It was OK but I really could not taste that much from my cold!

More to come later,

Stacia

A few pictures from our day in Antigua and an outside

picture of Hermano Pedro