December 2008 Work Trip
"Blog"
The second work team from Amiguitos is in Veracruz for 4 medical clinics in
December 2008. Below are the brief updates from the
team during the
work trip. Please scroll
to the bottom to see the latest updates!
Curtis
On Friday Dec 26, 2008, at 11:00 AM, Alex
Wait wrote:
Buenos Días,
Our work team has arrived in Mexico. The only “problem” in our
journey was that nothing was open in Houston airport during our
layover, so we spent hours looking for the one restaurant that was open
and we were unable to change money. In Veracruz we had no
troubles with customs (yippee!). A friendly official walked
up to our group while we were collecting our bags and questioned how
many bags we had (37+). They wanted to know if we planned to move
here on this trip! The bishop and the officials from the city met
us at midnight to ensure everything went smoothly and to welcome
us. Of course Goldi also met us with the best gift of all …. Two
vans to bring us from the airport to our guest houses. After
loading up our van, and bags stacked on top of our extra car.
Once we convinced Goldi that I didn’t want to join the bags on top of
the vehicle we were off. We arrived at Goldi’s house (and another
guest house across the street) late last night and blew up our air
mattresses for our first sweaty nights sleep. We are currently
getting the final members of the work team breakfast and we will soon
be off to start preparation at the schools for clinics.
Here’s to the first of many stories to come!
Alex ;-D
On Friday Dec 26, 2008, at 12:30 PM,
Curtis
Wait wrote:
We had a great time cleaning the schools for clinic next week.
Youth from the Amiguito's Community Center came to help: Oscar,
Ceasar, Maria Elena, Guiermo, and Elena.
Curtis
On Saturday Dec 27, 2008, at 10:30
AM,
Katherine Rowe wrote:
Feliz Navidad! That is, Merry Christmas from Veracruz – the day
after. What a full day we had in celebration of this day of
Jesus’ birth. Presents we opened together were variously wrapped
and of many sizes and shapes. Here are a few we shared
together: meeting teenagers from the neighborhood, riding in the
back of a pickup over speedbumps and rutted roads, finding children’s
schoolwork and artwork in classrooms we scrubbed, hospitality of poor
neighbors in sharing their bathrooms during work hours (!), new bleach
bottles for the limited water supplies used to wipe down walls, desks
and floors, blessed food (!), and the varied Christmas decorations in
Goldi’s neighborhood during our late night walk.
Our focus during this present opening was to first find and then to
clean and prepare two different schools for our medical clinics next
week. Gratefully, we had transportation supplied to us by the
city of
Veracruz, which saved the time and challenge of city traveling on buses
and much walking through non-bus areas.
The evening ended with good fellowship, the gift of showers and 14
people gratefully zonking out on expertly inflated mattresses.
The
morning will bring more gifts at the community center as we head out
saying VAMOS A LA PLAYA (which we may actually do later in the
week).
Katherine
On Sunday Dec 28, 2008, at 8:30
AM, James wrote:
The temperature this day was very hot, and with high points of
humidity. Today we went to the Community center and helped teach the
younger kids colors numbers and some English. With the older kids we
helped them learn how to use computers and speak a little English.
Goldi cooked a nice lunch for the kids and us. The lunch was made of
corn tortillas, cheese, and some kind of sauce. The lunch was very good
and was well prepared.
Later we met with the doctors here in Veracruz. The Doctors seemed very
nice and talked to us about how the clinics will work on Monday.
James
On Sunday Dec 28, 2008, at 9:00
PM, Ailee wrote:
First today, we had an awesome tour of Veracruz. We went to a
water front fortress, and the beach, even though it was WAY past lunch
time.
Then, after we came home, we ate lunch, and took short naps. We
went to church, in the back of the truck. It was way too crowded, and
all my million ant bites started itching. The readings were read in
Spanish and English, and my mom had/gave a five minute sermon in
Spanish. After church, we had a talent show, and everyone says my tap
dance was da bomb (really good).
We reached the house, and while we were in the truck, there was much
worry of rain. Now, we are editing the medical history forms/
prescription order forms (adding medications that were not on there
before). And eating potato chips and cookies.
-Ailee (12 year old)
On Monday Dec 29, 2008, at 6:00 AM,
Phil Rowe wrote:
Day three in Veracruz for the work team. Sunday was
the leisure start for the team. A late breakfast
included spicy chicken and pineapple-sweetened tamales. Our
transportation hosts provided a tour of Veracruz with stops at the San
Juan de Ulua fortress and the local tourist beaches. The
fortress, the starting point for the Spanish entry into Mexico by
Coronado. The current fortress is a mixture of 17th through 19th
century architecture with lots of stones cut from coral. After a
brief drive-by of the tourist beaches, we hurried back to the house for
lunch before proceeding to the Amiguitos community center for weekly
church services.
A mainstay of our transportation to date has been a pickup truck.
During today’s travels, we have 10 teenagers and adults crammed into
the back. While it is common to see locals travelling in the back
of trucks, especially children, we feel that it is probably unusual to
see a group of gringos riding in the back of a truck.
One highlight for the service, conducted by Padres Curtis and Rick,
were the 2 baptisms. After readings in Spanish by community
members and English by the work team members, Katherine (my dear wife)
preached in Spanish. The photos show a preacher in action with
lots of facial expression and interaction with the
congregation. Following the sermon, the 65 people in
attendance shared in the baptism of two children into Christ’s family.
Following Eucharist and a blessing of the children, we all enjoyed a
show from the children of the Amiguitos’ school and the youth of the
neighborhood. This includes songs, recorder music, and a Nativity
play narrated by Rev. Goldi and a tap dance by Ailee. A dinner of
rice, black beans, plantains, broccoli and cheese followed.
As the service and festivities proceeded, I was reminded of a hymn we
often sing at our home church, “Surely the presence of the Lord is in
this place”. As I looked at the neighborhood children, and the
mothers of the smallest ones, and our work team, I couldn’t help but
feel the connection of God’s people. I hope that feeling stays
with me all week.
Phil Rowe
On Monday Dec 29, 2008, at 7:00 PM,
Alex Wait wrote:
Buenos Tardes,
We just finished our first day of medical clinic and we were out
in Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon school in the Tarimoya
Neighborhood and it went very well!
This was not the first clinic for some of us but it was for many of us
but the general feeling of the group was that it went very well!
A handful of ‘jovenes’ (teenagers) from the community center in Laguna
came and helped us out and did a very good job.
I thought that for the amount of experience of the group as a whole it
was a very very quick learning process and we got organized very
quickly and became very efficient.
This was THE MOST efficient and productive team/clinic that I’ve been a
part of in my few years of doing this work. The amount of people
that we saw (208[WOW]) compared to the people on the work team (30
including doctors and helping hands).
I have not yet gotten a sense of how tired the rest of the group is,
but I am ready for a siesta myself. We will soon head out for the
local pizza place and get a good nights sleep and we will be ready to
go at it again in the morning.
Paz y Amor
Alex ; D
On Tuesday Dec 30, 2008, at 8:00 PM,
Katherine Rowe wrote:
After being on television last night (yes, really), after a very cool
night, and after morning showers warmed with the challenging gas
heater, we gathered at Goldi’s for breakfast (scrambled eggs and
leftover pizza) and morning prayer. A quick drive in the loaned
truck and van brought us to Laguna and the school there for our
clinic. This school was definitely the cleanest and best kept of
all the locations we have been in this week.
With so many helping hands and a day’s experience together, clinic went
well. The loudspeaker at the school helped our presence be
known(!) We saw 112 people and will return there tomorrow.
Goldi and the teenagers of the neighborhood distributed notes to at
least 200 houses about the clinic tomorrow so we expect as many folks
if not more.
During the day, as we had time, small groups ventured into the
neighborhood to visit in the houses of the families that attend the
center’s programs with Goldi. It is always eye opening to see how
others live and love in environments we can’t even imagine.
After clinic and a debriefing together, one group headed to WalMart
while another went to rent the bus for our excursion Thursday to
Xico. 8pm now and just beginning cooking for dinner.
Pleasant weather and good companionship complete our day
together.
Katherine Rowe
On Wednesday Dec 31, 2008, at 6:00 PM,
Rick Meyers wrote:
My attention was drawn to Padre Curtis standing in the courtyard
of the school where we were helping the medical clinic. He was
wearing a Santa hat and fake white beard holding a box of small candy
canes in one hand and a mini boombox in the other dancing to rhythmic
Latin musica (La Factoria). Drawn to him like a magnet, Omar,
Cesar, Raul and I followed him out the door onto the dirt street,
dancing and smiling in the wonder of the moment. For the next
forty minutes wound our way through the Laguna barrio dancing with the
music, handing out candy, and inviting people to the clinic’s health
fair.
Ten minutes after we arrived back at the escuela, the mothers,
children, and grandparents began to arrive. The music and dancing
continued. The smiles grew. The people were treated
medically. The staff was fulfilled.
Another snapshot in time for you from the Centro Communitario Amiguitos
in Veracruz, Mexico at the end and beginning of another year.
Feliz Nuevo Año! Gracias del ayudanos! Thanks for
your
help.
Padre Rico + 12/31/08
P.S. A new year's tradition here is to stuff paper
into old pants and shirts (the "old man" of 2008") and then light him
on fire! Happy New Year!
P.S.S. If you want to get a real feel for this, go on live and check
out “La Facturia”, a contemporary pop Mexican musical group.
On Thursday Jan 1, 2009, at 8:30 PM,
Barry Pardus wrote:
Coffee beans, bananas and waterfalls -
Where can you find all three? Xico, Mexico. Today we went
on an adventure in the mountains (two hours outside the city of
Veracruz and up in the mountains). It was not only special for us
but also to the children from Goldi's Community Center.
First, we stopped in the city to do a little sightseeing and grabbed a
snack, coffee and hot chocolate at the restaurant “Campanario.”
The next stop was the beautiful waterfalls. Awesome views and
magnificent water. But, one had to pay 3 pesos to use the
baño (bathroom!).
Our lunch stop was at Saul's home for a grand meal prepared by his
mother. One could wonder when the last time Saul had over 25
guests for lunch - much food and laughter was had by all!
We also stopped at the market in Coatepec And the Anglican cathedral
church and diocesan offices for southeastern Mexico in Xalapa.
Adios!
Barry Pardus
On Thursday Jan 2, 2009, at 7:00 PM,
Dana wrote:
So today, was our last clinic in the neighborhood of Vias Ferreas at
the Enrique Segarra school. I would say that it was a successful day,
due to the number of patients we saw. In total, we served two hundred
and fifteen people today (621 patients total in the four clinics
combined).
My job is taking height and weight in the triage part of clinic. As I
worked, I gave out tattoos to the children. I found it interesting that
they didn’t know what they were or how to put them on. Even still, as I
put them on for them, they smiled and laughed like it was the best
thing they had ever seen. I not only speak for myself, but for the rest
of the team when I say that the people have touched us and changed our
perspective on them and Mexico as a whole.
I was moved to look at our culture and society and compare and contrast
morals, ideas, and ways of living. The people of Veracruz have touched
my heart, and will always have a special place in us all. Tonight, we
plan on having a celebration dinner Gran Café, which should be
fun. We have had an awesome trip!
~ Dana ~
P.S.- We ALL miss Barry, James,
Charles, Omar, Cesar, y Raul today especially!!
* * *
Thanks to all of our team from Mexico and the USA who made this
Amiguitos work-trip a great success. Goldi, Saul, Cecilia,
Maria-Elena, Omar, Cesar, Nayma, Guillermo, Elena, Raul,
Kay, Rick, Dana, Alex, Curtis, Anne W., Phil, Katherine,
Sutton, Ailee, Donna, Anne L., Barry, James, Charles and
especially Guadalupe, Porfirio, Raymundo and Tomas (our doctors).
Hope to see you all in June for our next work-trip to Veracruz!
Click here for
more photos
Curtis
