The Kids @ Los Palmares

There is a daycare about a 5 minutes drive/25 minute walk from my house that Hearts In Motion (HIM) has been supporting from the beginning. The teacher, Maria, had polio when she was young. HIM flew her to the states where she lived for an extended time with Karen, the founder of HIM. She wanted to give something back, so HIM set up a daycare in her home that happens to be located in one of the poorest villages in the area. She has 13 children daily, with the help of each mother on different days to prepare food for the children. Maria speaks fluent English and teaches the children words, songs and phrases in English. When groups come to visit, we always take them by to see Maria and her class. The children put on a wonderful presentation for us. I have come to love the kids out there. With time they have all learned my name and call me "Laura." Whether I drive through their village of walk through, there are children running up to me, after me, high fiving me, hugging me, or shouting "Laura" or "Gringa" (white girl). I know I have helped them by setting up this program, however, I'm not sure they will ever know how much their love has affected my life. How much I cherish the hugs I received from them, or even being called a "Gringa." These children, though they have very little, know the meaning of life. They know what it means to love, learn, respect and cherish. Wearing the same 3 outfits days after day, I still don't hear them complaining. Running on the hot asphalt with barefeet, they are still smiling, and they are still teaching me! I will miss these smiles!

Though Shy, Fernanda is the sweetest little thing.

Edison, Victor, Fernanda, Roxana & Yeiner

Maria's daugher, Gabby and I

Beautiful Sonia.

No matter how far away I am, if she sees me, she comes running to give me a hug!

My precious & one of my favorites, Tatiana.

She saw me at someone elses house and came running, with the smile and affection she possesses, there's no way one could resist her.

Tati & I

David and Myra

David is the child my parents sponsor

Dulce Maria, Tatiana, Joana and their mother

My 3 favorite sisters in all of Guatemala.

Tati, Dulce and Joana

Victor, Edison & Sonia playing in the 4-Runner

Berlyn, Edison, Sonia, Victor, Tati & Dulce

Delivering baskets to some of the families

Fernanda's mother and all the girls helping me

A Piece of My Heart

It’s amazing how much one family can touch one’s heart in such a way... this family and these boys are keeping a piece of my heart when I return home. When I first came and started the sponsorship program, we made rounds to each of the children’s house’s that attended Maria’s daycare. She gave us the name of brothers, Abel and Ubaldo, said they used to attend her school, but their mother pulled them out because at 4 & 5 years old, she needed their help at home. They needed to take their father lunch in the fields, take corn to be ground, and run other errands while she took care of house chores and cared for their younger brother. Though they weren’t in the school at the time, we created profiles for the two older boys. With time, we found sponsors for each of them and they returned to school. The sponsors were able to pay for uniforms, school supplies, shoes, etc to help the family. Now after 10 months, all three of the boys are attending full time school and all three have sponsors. From the first time we visited the family, I took a family picture and all five of them had the most beautiful smiles. Most Guatemalans are shy in front of the camera, but they seemed so very happy. Since that day, all I see are their smiles. Every time I saw Abel he was so affectionate. Constantly hugging me and sitting on my lap. I always called him "mi amor" (my love), he eventually started saying it back to me, "Laura, me amor". Then Ubaldo started and every time I’d see them I’d be fortunate enough to receive hugs, kisses and to be called their loves. They soon became some of my favorite visits to make. Their family has been in a tight position the last few months and have racked up a tab for groceries. The person they borrowed money from took the papers for their house and gave them 4 months to pay them back. The 4 months were up this Saturday. Ubaldo’s sponsor, who happens to be in here at the moment, has a beautiful heart and some extra money to share. So for $200, they were able to keep their house. We took the two oldest boys this afternoon for lunch to Pollo Compero. They not only had soda, french fries and chicken, but also played in the jungle gym, and rode with their heads out the window. I adore these boys like they are my own. None of us choose where we are born, or how our cards are dealt, but we figure it out and we work together to make it through life. This will be far be the toughest family to say goodbye too!

Abel & Ubaldo

Ubaldo, mi amor

Abel, Sergio & Ubaldo in front of their house

Besos de mi amor
(kisses from my love)

Lunch at Pollo Compero

Beautiful Ubaldo

Happy Abel

Coming down the slide

Ubaldo in the balls

Feeling the wind. It's a rare occasion to ride in a car.

My precious Ubaldo lovin' life

Is he not precious?!

Ubaldo playing with my camera

...And my glasses

I love these 2 and wish they were mine!

Amazing how life brings people together, no matter how little we can communicate.

I will always love this family and they will hold a piece of my heart forever!

Weekend Travels

After being able to sell some pictures, make a little money and have a traveling companion, I was finally able to get out and see some of the beautiful countryside Guatemala has to offer. Kara and I left 4 weekends in a row, sometimes just the two of us and other times accompanied by others. We traveled to Roatan, Honduras, Semuc Champey, Livingston, Panajachel, Lake Atitlan, Chichicastenango, San Marcos, & Antigua. Along our travels we met some really quality people that shared their travel and life stories with us. After being here as long as I had, I was getting really antsy to see more. Life can be pretty slow in Teculutan. It is not safe to go out at night, even if it was, there is still nowhere to venture to. So the chance to get out and away from the everyday life, was jumped upon. I have been so fortunate to have Kara here. She is a few years older then me, a realtor from Wisconsin, and a great time. We get along so well and it has been an absolute pleasure to be spending so much time with her. We’ve decided that being at the house all the time can become quite boring, as there is only so much we can know about each other. Nonetheless, we have made many lasting memories and finally experienced more of Guatemala.

On our way to ROATAN, HONDURAS

eating a Lychee fruit I bought at a stop light

Kara and I on the ferry from La Ceiba to Roatan

A the top of the hill we walked up to

At the restaurant where we met Wazza (photos to come) in West Bay

Walking back to the West End at sunset

Kara, Wazza and I

The last show after being in Roatan for 7 years by this band! You better believe we sweated and danced the night away.

Kara and I sweatier than ever before, wearing the kickin glasses Dave (picture to come) was packing around the world with him.

Kara, Dave-the Australian Pirate and I

I met him on the ferry over and we hung out the whole weekend! A top quality guy!

Our last day together

Dave, Pepe (My personal Salvadorian jewelry maker), Kara and myself

Pepe and I

Kazza, Dave and Loza

The Hearts In Motion crew we bummed a ride from

Robin, Dan, Kara, Barb and I

Edy, whom I met in September and her son Jayden.



SEMUC CHAMPEY

The boys fixing a pinchazo (flat tire)

Julio, Julio, kara, Eric, and I

We met the 2 boys in the blue and hung out with them the whole weekend!

The rest of our crew at the pools

There are 7 natural pools that flow into each other. The picture doesn't do it justice, but it was beautiful. Lots of people since it was Semana Santa (Easter holidays)

Kara, Me, Julio

Julio, Eric, Myself & Kara

I kept noticing that Eric was always looking right into my eyes. On the last day we were together he told us that his younger brother had eyes like mine. In September, robbers broke into their house and his brother tried to stop them. They shot and killed his brother and his uncle. It was a compliament to say the least.

Our humble abode

The river

LIVINGSTON

Me, Beth, Kathleen, Kara, Julio & Bert

Getting ready for the boat ride from Puerto Barrios to Livingston.

Another of the dangerous duo, only this time a little wind blown.

Our tour guide, Diario. Everything was "Rastafari" to this guy.

We left the taxi and had 15 minutes by foot along the beach to reach our hotel

Walking down the beach

Myself and Bert

Our private hammock bungalow over the water

Payback to the little crab that tried to attack us.



PANAJACHEL/LAKE ATITLAN

Our first visit to Pana

The main street

2nd visit to Pana, little lady trying to make a living

LAKE ATITLAN

3 volcanoes surround the lake. This morning, for the first time in 3 days we had been here, the skies were clear and we were able to see them. Not to mention the cloud resting right on top.

CHICHICASTENANGO

The largest artisan market in all of Central America

Cemetary

Wood carved masks

WITH PLENTY OF THE MAYAN CULTURE

on the front steps of the church

Inside the church

Calla Lillies

2 generations

I paid this little girl and the next little girl 1Q to take their pictures

Little carrot eater inside the produce market

Indoor produce market

Traditional dress - shirts

ANTIGUA

Kara & I right after she chopped her hair

Antigua by night

A week with my family and new friends

After 3 weeks of 10 days trips overlapping one another, the 4th and final week finally came. I was so excited for this trip, because my parents and sister were coming for 10 days to help with the Plastics and Dental team of 70 people. This was also a fun trip because my parents brought down 9 PUC students with them along with 24 bins of donations. Amazing work done by all of them to say the least. While my mom went to the hospital most days to help with cleft lip and palate surgeries (she is a retired OR nurse of 18 years), my dad and I went to the different villages where we held dental clinics. Though not a Dentist by profession, last year, my dad was awarded a Dental Diploma to practice Dentistry only in Guatemala by the 4 Dentists on the trip . My sister being an ER nurse, switched between clinics and the hospital, helping as a Translator, Recovery Nurse, Dental Assistant, or wherever else she may have been needed. Me, being as far from medically inclined as a person can be, typically stray away from blood and such. This trip, I was shocked at my daily progressions working in the mouths of our patients and assisting the Dentists anyway I could, from translating to shoving gauze in a bloody socket. My whole family was amazed at my progression through the week. The joke for the week was that I was going to go back to school for Dentistry. The thought was fun to entertain, however, this will never happen... I have bigger and better plans for my future! It was such a refreshing week to spend quality time with the people closest to me. For them to see where I was living and get a sample of my life here was awesome!

The whole group

My Dad, sister and I after we "cleaned" this man's teeth. We weren't actually offering teeth cleaning, but when he came in with a huge gun on one hip and 2 clips in the other, we decided we'd be happy to clean his teeth. He happens to be a bodyguard for a top drug dealer in the area. He was honestly an extremely nice man!

My mom with her sponsored child David

Myra (David's mom), David, and my Mom

Mom at the hospital with a little angel

Surgery

Kristin (my sister) and my mom

Kristin and her favorite little boy

Old mate puckering up

Mike, Lauren aka Dental assistant and Kristin

Kris helping Mike

Pat the Gautemalan Dentist and one of the PUC students

Dr. Patterson

With his prize

Kara and I helping another Dentist

A crew of us

Dad and his girls

Sisters

Kara, Mike, Me, Patrick, and Kristin

A hike to the cross in Antigua, with the volcano behind us

At the end of January, I realized I was going to have to do something to make money if I wanted to stay longer in Guatemala. One night I was going through my pictures and had an idea... I emailed my thoughts to our office to see what they thought and to see if they may be able to help me out. They loved the idea to say the least. The timing was cutting it close and I had 10 days to organize and order my pictures, find decent mats and plastic coverings, order them and get everything delivered to the office before my boss left to come to Guatemala. I made it happen and started selling my pictures to the volunteers that came down on the 10 day trips. For the most part they sold well, and it was fun for me to sell my work, as this has been a dream of mine for quite some time. It afforded me the opportunity to stay longer without having to ask family and friends for more money. I was also able to get a little bit of traveling in on the weekends. Mind you, it was budget traveling, but fabulous experiences and wonderful memories were made. Here are a few of the pictures I have taken during my time in Guatemala. They all hold special stories to me, thus I had them printed and decided to share them so others could also enjoy what I have seen and captured through the lense of my camera.

Project Pueblo Modelo

On the OB/GYN trip we did a clinic in a village by the name of Pueblo Modelo. As we entered the village it was obvious just how poor the people here were. There were homes made of sticks, plastic, cardboard, material, pieces of wood, tin, pretty much whatever could be found to make walls. When we got the the school where the clinic was to be held, the children were filthy. Absolutely adorable, but extremely dirty and poor. The school was in decent shape, but we didn't know the half of it. We started asking the teachers questions and ended up having a little meeting with a few teachers to learn more about their program. These were our findings:
There are 12 teachers working at the school teaching grades preschool - 6th. The state has promised them supplies, but thus far they have nothing. In the 3's classroom there are 37 children, Pre-k has 33 children and Kindergarten has 27. All these children are in the same classroom with 3 teachers and very little supplies. 1st grade is broken into 2 classrooms, has 4 teachers and a total of 120 children. 2nd grade has 2 classrooms, one is inside the building and the other is set up on the front porch/sidewalk of the school. There are 43 children combined and 2 teachers. 3rd grade has 1 teacher and 33 children that are packed into one classroom. 4th grade is actually taught down the dirt road a little ways in a tin shack because there is not classroom for them in the actual school. There is 1 teacher for 28 children. The children learn shoulder to shoulder with virtually no air. I was shocked at the heat inside their "classroom" But they were so excited to learn! The 5th and 6th grades are combined with 1 teacher and 30 children. As you can see, the numbers drop significantly from 1st grade (120 students) to 6th grade (15 students). There are differet reasons for this, but it is something we would like to see change. In March we had a group of education majors here for a week. We spent 2 days at the school making different art projects and sending penpal letters to a school that had written them from Wisconsin. The Education students from Arcadia did a fantastic job and the teachers were so very thankful. We have taken them school supplies twice now and will continue to take what we have when we have it. The teachers are amongst some of the most dedicated I have met! They have virtually zero supplies but continue to come day after day after day! Please take a look at how the people of Pueblo Modelo live their lives. If you are interested in making a difference here, please let me know!

PUEBLO MODELO

The School & children

Houses

The school kids with the Arcadia group saying goodbye after 2 fun-filled days

1st grade

2nd grade

4th grade

2nd grade

3rd grade

Preschool & Kindergarten

Penpal Letters

5th & 6th grades

5th & 6th Class

2nd grade class with their letters on the wall

OB/GYN/Bomberos Trip Jan 30 - Feb 7, 2009

Here are a few pics from my first week back with the OB/GYN/Bomberos trip. It was a great trip to start the year with and to be a part of. I met some amazing people and with their help, we were able to accomplish some amazing things for the Guatemalan people. We always keep a tally of how many people we see throughout the trips and here are the numbers from this trip.

*Totals for the week:
General Medical patients seen - 1,621
Cervical Cancer screenings - 239
Cryos - 12
Surgeries - 19

As you can see, it was a busy week, and just a touch on how much Hearts In Motion is able to help the Guatemalans. What a beautiful thing to be a part of.

~THE TEAM~

~VILLAGE VISITS~

Getting there and meeting people.
(This little girl looks almost identical to me when I was little.)

My tour guide around one of the villages. He was persistent to stay right with me but never spoke. When I asked him his name, I learned he was mute and unable to speak. So much love shined from his eyes though.

Freezing in the rain, but still waiting to be seen.

A typical shot of Jose with his patient.

The line for the General Medical Clinic

A home

Kara and I

John and I

John has done fundraising to get clean water to places in the world that do not have the privledges we do. This was his first trip to Guatemala and he brought 3 water filters that him and Kara set up in different villages. A huge help to the village people that often have no other choice than drinking contaminated water.

2 Firefighters from California with some of the Guatemalan Bomberos

Doing a training on decontamination

Then simulating Mass Decontamination.

The 4 firefighters from the states, 1 translator and all the local Guatemalans that participated in the days trainings.

Pins that were awarded to those Bomberos that had trained in the states with Hearts In Motion.

The group that has had the fortunate opportunity of training in the states.