Day 1
To begin our mission to Guatemala with Faith in Practice, the team gathered to share a devotion. The message centered around building community, finding our purpose, and getting out of our comfort zone. Our scripture for the day was Psalm 40. Devotion was followed by breakfast, and the 5 hour bus trip from Antigua to Coatepeque. When the team got to the clinic site, a local church, we met together for instructions and were introduced to the local volunteers and Faith in Practice staff who would be assisting us in the clinic. Many eager hands helped to unload the truckload of boxes, and medical equipment. Specialists and volunteers went to work setting up their rooms, and wheelchair building began in preparation for patients on Monday morning. The torrential downpour and lightning did not slow the team from leaning into their purpose and setting up their areas. When the clinic was ready, the team boarded the bus again and headed to the hotel. The team had one last meeting at the hotel to discuss the mission and vision of Faith in Practice, give providers instructions on how to run their specialty with the resources available to them, and how to use the electronic charts. To finish the day, the team enjoyed dinner together, where we were able to not only enjoy a warm meal together, but learn about each other and connect personally as a team. The shared passion of the providers and volunteers had started the process of building a community that aims to provide high quality medical care to the people of Guatemala.
Jordan Gurgiolo
Team Blogger
