Final Travel Reflection

It is crazy to think I have been home for two months. As the initial excitements and joys of returning home have started to fade and I have settled back into a sense of normalcy in the states, I find myself missing Guatemala even more. There is a loneliness and ache for Guatemala and for the people. It is something I do not think will ever fully fade. Part of me loves sharing about my experience with joy and gratitude, while another part wants to cry when I talk about Guatemala. Because no matter what words I use, they always seem to fall short of what my heart desires to say. But today I am going to sit down and try my very best to find the words of my heart in this final blog.

First, I must begin by praising and thanking Hearts in Motion. Hearts in Motion is a powerful nonprofit that has transformed the lives of entire communities in Guatemala. I have witnessed the way Hearts in Motion truly practices “see a need and fill it.” Beginning more than 30 years ago with medical mission trips, they have grown to support communities through home constructions, a learning center, PT clinics, a nutrition center, student sponsorship program, firefighter support, a music program, and so much more. I had the incredible opportunity to work and live at Hearts in Motion’s Gualan Campus, which houses their nutrition center for malnourished children, music school, and physical therapy clinic. During my time, I worked in the PT clinic several days a week while also helping in the nutrition center. Gualan is a small town filled with kind and generous people. From attending church and sharing meals with patients to experiencing the local Gualan fair days, I left Guatemala with a tender love for that community which welcomed me so openly.

The culture of Guatemala is something I dearly miss. Having the opportunity to live within a community dedicated to changing the lives of children was truly a gift. I felt incredibly lucky to have played even the smallest role in the lives of those children. Two of the things I loved most about the culture were the simplicity of living in the present moment and authenticity of relationships. “Guatemalan time” is something we would often joke about, but now it is actually a part of the culture that I miss. There was this beautiful acceptance that things would start when they started, and there was no need to stress over every detail. Since returning, I have become much more aware of how urgency and productive shape our daily lives. In Guatemala, I found it easier to slow down and be present. The authenticity of relationships is another aspect of the culture that impacted me. I miss the simple act of smiling and saying “buenos” to everyone you pass, the value placed on hospitality, and the way people care so deeply for their families and friends.

The language barrier was my biggest cultural challenge. There were moments where I felt on the outside because I could not participate in the conversation the way I wanted to. It was especially difficult when I reached a point of desiring to share more with a friend but did have the words to express it. At the same time, it was a beautiful gift to watch how friendships can grow simply with acts of love and little words.

As I reflect on the specific meaningful moments that shaped my experience, I realize that each one begins with a child. I left Guatemala having witnessed the miraculous ways the Lord shows up amid suffering. I saw the way He works good even in something as heartbreaking and tragic as child malnourishment.

My meaningful moment kiddos…

José

Jose was a toddler in the nutrition center when I first arrived and my first real patient in the PT clinic. I immediately noticed his AFOs and the way he scooted around on the ground, not able to crawl or walk though almost two years old. My heart was drawn to him, but I questioned my ability to help him with my limited clinical knowledge. I was told the PT Yazmin, who was originally supposed to come once a week, would help the kids but as the weeks went by and she never came, I started to realize that if I didn’t step up nothing was going to change. I had to put my own anxieties aside and speak up. I spoke to Jose’s mother and the PT in the clinic and soon enough I started working with him daily. I was planning and leading the sessions on my own for the first time. I learned the challenges of working with pediatrics and the immense joys. Something his mother and I would say to Jose was “no tenga miedo” which means do not be afraid. I had the gift of seeing him take a step before he left the center and I believe in my heart he is walking now. Jose taught me that the Lord was calling me to have no fear to speak up when I saw a need, and to recognize that He could use my littleness in ways beyond what I could imagine.

Erik

Erik was a seven-year-old boy at the nutrition center and my first friend. He was the only child at the center without his mother. He was a special case as it was his third stay and he had already been there for 6 months by the time I arrived. When I first arrived, I was anxious not sure who to spend time with and Erik would always say “venga” whenever he saw me which means come! Playing ball and drawing at night with Erik became a part of my daily routine. A moment I will never forget is Erik’s last night at the center as he said “te quiero mucho” through his bedroom window to me which means I love you. I had the blessing of going with the director to take Erik home. The joy on Erik and his little brother’s face as they reunited was a gift I will always remember. Erik was healthy and home and that was a miracle from the Lord. Erik taught me to let go and laugh.

Ashly

Ashley was an eight-year-old girl who arrived at the center unexpectedly severely malnourished. It was late at night when her family brought her seeking help. The directors immediately returned to care for her and before I knew it, I found myself in the car taking Ashley to the hospital. I felt so helpless sitting next to her, but I also felt the Lord saying take her hand and pray for her. Once discharged from the hospital Ashley returned to the center for treatment. When she first arrived, her mother would carry her because she was so weak, and she hardly spoke. I just knew I wanted to be her friend and one wonderful night she finally said yes to color with me. And soon enough we were playing hide and seek, making flower crowns, and taking pictures with my camera. I asked her if she liked living at the center one day and with the biggest smile she said she LOVED it! By the end of my time, we were playing tag and biking around the center and to think that she could barely walk when she arrived. Ashley’s recovery was a miracle from the Lord. Ashley taught me to not despair, but to have hope and courage.

I could ramble on and on about what my experience in Guatemala taught me, but I’ve already shared some of my personal lessons so now I will share what I learned from a physical therapy student perspective. I can honestly say what I learned from the PT side of things is not what I expected going into the experience. Because of the language barrier and the differences in the way PT is clinical practiced in Guatemala I learned less concrete “book” knowledge about PT than I hoped. At first it was hard to accept because in my head I wanted that “head start” in PT I wanted to dive all in. However, I have come to realize that what I learned was equally important. I learned how to confidently communicate with patients, motivate people, and develop genuine relationships. I learned not to be afraid to work hands on with a patient. I learned when to ask for help from my mentor and when to suggest my own ideas. I learned that I am interested in pediatric PT and am drawn toward working with neurological patients.

         During my experience I also served with two teams from the states which gave me a direct way to see the impact of our work through pop up clinics and community outreach. Working alongside Fox Valley Technical school students we treated 165 patients, and alongside Puget Sound therapy students we treated 106 patients throughout the course of a week. Working with these teams was a concrete way to see the vast impact of Hearts in Motion because we often served in remote communities with extremely little access to healthcare. I watched a man come into a clinic with a makeshift walker, dragging his feet, and leave standing up right with a new walker. I witnessed a mother carry her toddler into the clinic and leave with the gift of a wheelchair. I witnessed a son carry his elderly mother into a clinic and watched her leave walking independently with a walker. Moments like these always made me stop and realize the work we are doing as PT students and as H.I.M volunteers is life changing.

When I wasn’t working with teams, I saw around 20-30 patients weekly alongside my mentor PT. I witnessed gradual improvements in strength and function in several patients. Additionally, throughout my stay, around 20 children came in and out of the nutrition center for treatment, staying from 1 to 3 months. Simply spending time with the kids so the moms could rest or do laundry was often where I felt the most impactful. Befriending the 3 teenagers who lived at the center was also one of the greatest impacts of my experience. I learned that no matter how little you think you have to offer, the Lord only needs one simple surrender from you to work miracles.

*My recommendations for future lumos travelers *

– Let go of your expectations. Because of the months of planning leading up to my experience I had this image in my head of what it was going to look like when I arrived and when it didn’t look that way the only way to move forward was to let go of those preconceived beliefs.

– If language barrier is going to be a part of your experience try to find a concrete way to immerse yourself in the language with people beforehand (I wish I did this!)

– Make a conscious intentional effort to stay connected to your people back home

– Establish a little daily routine to help keep you grounded admits the overwhelming change (for me this looked like a morning workout and journal time outside)  

– Do not fall into the trap of comparing your lumos experience to the other lumos scholars.

– Never forget that the work you are doing is good and it matters!!

Muchas gracias por todo Guatemala! Has tocado mi corazón para siempre 🙂