Pediatric surgery mission to Guatemala.
From Wikipedia:
Guatemala is a sovereign country located in the northwestern tip of Central America. Its capital and most populous city is Guatemala City. The name “Guatemala” means “place of many trees”. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico, to the northeast in the adjacency zone by Belize, to the east by Honduras and to the southeast by El Salvador. The territory where Guatemala is currently located is part of the area called Mesoamerica, and an important part of the Mayan culture began to develop in it, which is why it is also known as the “heart of the Mayan world”. Guatemala has a relatively stable economic policy that currently positions it as the ninth largest economy in Latin America. However, levels of poverty and income inequality remain high. For this reason, Guatemalans seek to promote the basic principles of the common good, solidarity, and subsidiarity and economic and social development – access to food, clothing, health, work, education and culture, etc. – supported by the promotion by their national public authorities of private and associated initiative in order to improve the living conditions of Guatemalans.
Hence, our mission…
Day 1 January 24, 2026
Travel day Houston to Guatemala City, 28 team members from literally across the United States, Seattle to Tampa, Chicago to Houston. The first day is a reunion of team members from past trips along with introductions for “newbies” making the pilgrimage for the first time. The surgical team consists of dedicated surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, nurse practitioners and interpreters. Following an easy immigration and customs clearance, a long but comfortable bus ride northwest from Guatemala City transported us to our hotel in San Martin Zapotitlán, Retalhuleu, Guatemala. The grounds of Hostales de IRTRA, our home for a week 180 kilometers from Guatemala City, are well kept. IRTRA (Instituto de Recreación de los Trabajadores de la Empresa Privada de Guatemala) is a facility funded by private industry for workers but open to all. Our property in San Martín is grouped into four modules of two levels each, leaving in the middle of them a beautiful, open, well-manicured square with the charm of old colonial parks. A large topiary of a peacock celebrates the bird common to the area, and the birds here sing in a language foreign to us. Our tired group filed into dinner almost immediately upon arrival. Dinner is pre-ordered, all guests served the same meal for convenience.. A mariachi band serenaded us and other guests but an early start on Day 2 dictates an early end to tonight’s festivities, as everyone embraces the reason we’re all here.
Team 885
