My first trip with Global Dental Relief was to Guatemala in May 2011. Honestly, I didn't know much about the country or the people. I knew that it was a close enough flight and only a one week long trip. That one week changed everything I knew. I always loved what I do for a living as a dental assistant. But after seeing how much I can help others, I loved doing just that! I was hooked.
Here is the journal I kept on that first trip. Here is what your donations help pay for:
I went on a 10 day trip to volunteer. Simple as that. But it was more than just a trip and more than just fixing teeth. There were so many tiny details and huge, profound moments I have to share. I am not promising it will be interesting.. Or short.
Day 1: Travel. Land in Guatemala City, drive hour and a half to Antigua, night at leisure.
So that doesn’t sound so bad. And it wasn’t. But landing in Guatemala City on a Friday morning and having 4 and 5 year olds trying to carry my luggage for a tip was the beginning of my perspective changing. Why aren’t these children in school? How sad that this is what they have to do instead. Secondly, when you step outside of the airport, it was a very scary and different world. Men with guns strapped to them. And people invading your space begging for a buck. I expected all that, but,.. Wow. Drove to Antigua, where we would be staying for 2 nights. Got to our B & B. Adorable little place. Got to settle in with my roomie. And discover that the beautiful bell tower above us went off every 15 minutes. The lack of sleep began.
We had dinner, partook in Guatemalan beer, and got to know each other. About 20 people, from New York, Houston, to California. All showing up at this hotel to go help children in a village 2 hours away. We aren’t all that different.
No cell phones, no texting, no face book. No contact at all, except who was in front of you. And I probably took the most out of that. The need to disconnect. And look, enjoy, learn, converse. Connect with the people that are there, in the present. Look at the ruins. Take in the stars. I mean really.. We don’t do it enough.
Day 2: Walking tour of Antigua, mayan jade factories, and night at leisure.
Again, not sounding too horrible. And it still wasn’t. Antigua is just beautiful. So much history, so much to gain.. If you take it in. Mayan civilizations ruined, catholic religion, genocide of most Mayans who lived in that area, civil war.. It was a great feeling to be learning about something I probably wouldn’t have had otherwise. We toured a catholic church. Walking around some of those just breath taking, huge arches and ruins of old cathedrals were the most beautiful things I have been able to see. Plus we got to learn about the catholic/mayan influences on religion, etc. The world is NOT ending in 2012. The mayans here said so.
Lots of men, women, and children in your personal space trying to sell you everything they can. But really clean place and not as scary as I kinda thought it would be.
Day 3 - 8 Working in the dental clinic in Patzun
I had no idea what to expect. And when I got to this school house to begin working, what happened and what I expected were 2 different worlds. I knew we were working in a school, and thought it was gonna be pretty run down. But that wasn’t it. Dirt “play ground,” outhouses you could smell before you could see, and about 5 rooms. Most children spoke Spanish, but some only spoke the Mayan language. Small language barrier, but many helpers to translate. Some children had shoes, most in poor shape. All had runny noses and just dirty selves. But no complaining at all. Not from one child. The kids would be lined up with their bibs on and charts ready every morning before we got there. At 5-13 years old, they would come, wait in line for however long it took, get numbed for the first time ever, lay in a dental chair (first time also) and let us drill or pull teeth. And I can tell you only a hand full that cried out of the 500 kids we saw. They were so brave. No mom or dad there to tell them what to do or to behave, or to hold their hand. Nothing. They were told what to do, they showed up, gave us respect, did what we asked. Then left saying thank you. I don’t know many peoples 5 year old that would do that alone.
Each kid was special, but there are 2 that I will never forget in all of my life. One was named Sonia and the other Loyda. And those names I wont be able to forget either. Loyda was the reason I wanted to do this trip. She came in at 7 years old maybe weighing 35 lbs. Malnutrition and sick. She held a towel over her mouth the entire time. She was in tears and didn’t want to open her mouth. Looking at her chart made me heart stop. Almost all of her teeth were abscessed and needed pulled. She was in so much pain for so long. I cry as I write this. She was so scared, she held onto my arm with both of her arms wrapped around me. She let us take out 2 teeth, and didn’t come back the next day. I went home that night and couldn’t sleep. She will die from her mouth, and soon, without coming back. But we can’t make them. I did my best….
The other little lady, Sonia, is the reason for my happy tears when I talk about this trip. Everyday Sonia would come to the clinic and watch me work from the door. Just smile and watch. She’d talk to me the best I could understand. But everyday, there she was. One day she got worked on by another doctor, and she told him that she only wanted me after that visit. So she came in the next day to be my patient. And I told her how adorable her turtle earrings were. We took some pictures and she asked if I could come over to her house and play. How precious. The next day, at my door, was Sonia. She ran up to me. Gave me a huge hug and held out her hand. In it was a pair of turtle earrings just like the ones she had in. I cried right there. This 7 year old, with nothing to her name, no money, no “extras” in life, brought them just for me. Then she explained that she came every day on her lunch hour and would eat later. At 7, she got into the chair with another little girl that was scared to help talk her through it. On her lunch, not eating any food, and helping a stranger out. THAT is why I went, and am so blessed that I did.
Now working on all these children was life changing. To help and to make them not be in pain or be afraid was why I went. But there was so much more I got from these days. I got to work with Dr. Rafael, or Rolfeee, for a week. He reminded me that I am worth a lot in my career. All 5 of the doctors on this trip reminded me, everyday, what am asset I would be to them. But again, just being grateful for what we have. If the doctors didn’t have the exact thing they wanted, they didn’t flip out as they might here, just said okay. And we made the best of it. Conditions were not easy or ideal. The plaza we got to stay during this time was the only other place we could go. Due to violence, we couldn’t really walk around outside and especially not at night. Many people in this village have never seen a white person. Plus there was so much pollution and trash burning, it was hard to breathe, so going outside was just not something we could do. The toilet situation was not good. And a shower with running hot water was something you had to dream about until we got back home. There was very little sleep due to barking stray dogs, fireworks, parades and fiestas. We had food, and plenty of beer and tequila, so with no tv or phones or internet, we hung out, talked, and got to know each other. Every one on that trip is someone I hope is in my life forever. I met the most honest, caring, and noble people on this journey. Im glad I got to disconnect from the world and connect with the present. Must do more of that.
My time at the clinic was, in short, a lot of hours worked to help 500+ children. Staying in Patzun was not glamorous. I saw a lot of smiling faces, and feel good knowing I had a part in that. Now I just have to do more. More money to raise, more dental supplies, and we gotta do something about getting these kids shoes!!!!
Day 9 and 10: Drove back to Antigua, dinner. Then zip line and coffee plantation tour.
Getting back to Antigua was like we had struck it rich!! After being in Patzun, coming back here was sooo welcoming. Not as scary and running water! Plus we were all running on very very minimal sleep, and the full body messages we had lined up were much needed. My roommate and I got back and polished off a bottle of tequila. We had late night drinks and late night talk with some others in our group. It is so wonderful just learning new people and the places they come from. Must learn more from one another.
One important thing I walked away saying wow about was that every Guatemalan that I spoke to obviously would ask why we were there. When we’d tell them, they’d look into your eyes and say “thank you for helping my country” How amazing. How wonderful.
That was it. That was my trip and my jumbled mind all in one. I met beautiful people, saw inspiring landscape, helped children, and came back exhausted and with an infection in my eyes and scabies!! As soon as I can raise enough money for the next trip, I will do it all again without question. I have gained perspective, respect, patience, remembered what I love doing, cleared my head, and got to call it humanitarian work...