Meeting Dulce Maria Valiente

Just as I started crying uncontrollably, obviously.

Having been to Guatemala already I thought I was pretty well prepared for the poverty, the lack of basic necessities, the complete absence of medicine and all of the emotions that come along with experiencing that for the first time.  Four years ago it was really, really hard for me to go to the clinic everyday and see these girls, younger than me with four or five kids, no money, no education, no safe place to sleep. I cried a lot, and got mad when we couldnt take them all to the hospital to run tests on them. I couldn't do much to help them, and it tore me up inside. 

Fast forward to last summer when Jon and I were planning our wedding, we knew we wanted to donate to charity in honor of our guests rather than giving away favors. I contacted the group we went to Guatemala with and asked them if they had any ideas for ways we could contribute and they emailed me a picture of a little girl who needed some help with affording school. Just like that we became sponsors to Dulce Maria Valiente of Las Palmares, Guatemala. Our donation gave Dulce her uniforms and shoes, all of her school supplies as well as computer classes and health care.  Most importantly it gave us a connection to this little girl, and to the people of Guatemala that we love so much. 

I cannot even begin to tell you how nervous and excited I was to finally meet her when we went back to Guatemala in March. I wasn't quite sure what to say to her, or what she would think of us. Her mother, who is the same age as me, explained to her that we were her "Padrinos", her godparents, which made me even more nervous. That is a big responsibility, and this probably wasn't the time to be explaining to her that I was an atheist. We gave her the gifts that we had so carefully picked out: a new backpack that could be converted into a messenger bag when she gets older, a set of 100 markers (all we really knew about her was that she liked to draw), a pink glitter-filled jump rope that turned out to be about 3 times too long for her, a notebook with puppies on the front just like the one I had in first grade, and of course toothbrushes for her whole family.

She smiled, and thanked us, and I could tell how excited she was. Her mom asked me how many kids we had, and Jon laughed. It didn't seem appropriate to tell her how we didn't feel financially ready to have kids just yet given that she scrubs laundry in a river and her husband picks melons and they provide as well as they can for their family of 5 on less than $400 a month. 

My sponsor child can swing better than you sponsor child!

I asked Dulce if we could take a picture together, I picked her up and she hugged me so tight and I just melted. Tears started pouring down my face. She probably thinks I am insane. I was just so excited to have met her, and to hopefully give her opportunities that she might not have had without school.

As we left, she jumped up on the monkey bars and swung back and forth and waved and smiled with her big toothless grin that all six year olds have and I was shocked at how incredibly good it made me feel to be in her life. We are very lucky.

For more on how you can sponsor a child in Guatemala or other ways to help, visit HeartsInMotion.Org

Clinic at an elementary school- Gualán, Guatemala

My favorite day in Guatemala was Wednesday. The temperature dropped to a comfortable 90 degrees, and we set up clinic outside of the elementary school in Gualán.  I let my husband get his clinic station set up and took a few minutes to photograph the school children and their families.  I plan on sending prints of the kids back to the school.

The students quickly realized that they had visitors

and ran to the wrought iron bars that separated their classrooms from the open air.

This young man stood still and stared at me while I snapped away.

They patiently waited in line for their turn to have their teeth varnished with fluoride and to learn how to properly brush.

Girls stood in one line, acting far more mature than their seven years

While the boys did their best to entertain the guests!

The adults chatted in another area while they waited for the numbers to be handed out.

Stickers always help break up the wait.

Delicious fried bread with hot sauce will also do the trick.

I loved taking pictures of the kids in their uniforms.

And their great grandparents as well.

The cute kids were abundant...

and that was my Wednesday with the studious, vivacious, and lovely people of Gualán.


For more about my Guatemala adventures, check out my post on a day in the medical clinic here

A day at the medical clinic - Zacapa, Guatemala

You arrive and there are people waiting, for some this is the first time they have seen a doctor. 

The doctors, pharmacists and helpers start unloading the medicine and organizing their stations

The dentists prepare their tools, and find a somewhat private area to pull teeth

You start to realize that their are dogs everywhere, but nobody is petting them. You let the nice ones sit under your chair while you see patients.

You see little kids with sore throats and allergies...

and mothers who could really just use some tylenol.

You see men who work hard in the melon fields even though they have crippling arthritis. You give them something to alleviate the pain, but it will only last for a month.

Sometimes you have to tell a person to eat less salt, but keep the fact that they are in heart failure to yourself because there is nothing to be done without proper testing and medication; something we weren't prepared to do and she can't afford.

Sometimes the only thing you can offer people is a lollipop, and they are grateful.

Sometimes there are emergencies...

...and other times it is purely fun. 

And sometimes a person comes in because they cant see...

...and if you are really lucky, you can actually help them...

...and you thank this woman for giving you the opportunity to give opportunities to someone else.

Home!

Escuela Primaria Gualan,Guatemala

We returned from our week long trip to Guatemala last night, which is always bittersweet. Every time we come back it really makes us take stock of what we have and to be grateful for: education, a roof over our heads, water when we are thirsty, or aspirin when our heads hurt. It makes us realize how much we consume, how much we judge, and how truly lucky we are to have our basic needs met. I hope you don't mind if I spend a part of the next few weeks sharing some of my experiences with you. To be honest, it is incredibly difficult to think about weddings and shopping and design for a couple of days after returning from a place where people struggle to feed their children. I promise to continue to bring you more design as well, but I think you will find my adventures to be inspirational (and quite unconventional).

Friday Photo-Zacapa, Guatemala

Gallo Corriendo 

In two weeks, my husband and I are returning to Guatemala for our second medical service trip* and I can't wait. Last time we went we had this really old Nikon from the '70s that had a broken counter and inaccurate light meter, but it took the best pictures. I am sad that we cant fit him into our luggage this time.

* I of course will not be seeing any patients, even though I am quite good at diagnosing parasites and chicken pox! My job is to translate for the doctors, and to play with super cute kidlets.