Last week we had several experiences which can best be appreciated with pictures, so I will try to keep my thoughts short. Because Morris needed to train the nurse in the Guatemala East Mission in Zacapa which is about a 4 hour drive from Guatemala City, we decided to also try to deliver our first baby kits in this area. We left early in the morning on Tues and arrived around noon in Zacapa. We took the nurse and her companion to lunch, and then we went to a church close by to do the training. After we finished, we asked the sisters if they knew of a hospital in the area where we could deliver some baby kits. They told us that there was a government hospital in Zacapa where a lot of poor people went which was on our way home. When we got to the hospital, we were directed down a long hall to the maternity unit. The new mothers were in one big room which had a couple of partitions. We were able to personally give each mother a baby kit and the ladies were very appreciative. One lady asked if she could have two kits because she had just given birth to twin girls. We delivered 25 kits. We noticed that some of the babies were wrapped in old hospital gowns or sheets.
One of the senior missionary couples (the Oylers) is going home on Wednesday of this week, and last Thursday we spent the day with them delivering items they had purchased for the hospital in Cuilapa and also delivering other items which had been donated to them. They had arranged for some maternity hospital gowns and some childrens' pjs to be made for the Cuilapa hospital by a member of our branch presidency who is a tailor. We stopped by his house to pick those up, and then we also went to Sister Pietre's house to pick her up. She is a member of the church who volunteers at the hospital and was able to make arrangements for our visit. After we dropped off the gowns and pjs, we were able to deliver 50 baby kits to the maternity unit. There were about 70 ladies all in one big room. Some had delivered their baby already and others were there for various reasons. Because I only had 50 kits, we just gave them to the moms who had already delivered their baby. I really needed about 100 kits for this delivery. We also went to the Pediatric Unit where we gave out stuffed animals, coloring books, wooden trucks, small bracelets, a few more baby kits, and other items.
After the hospital, the Oylers wanted to deliver some of the other donated items to a small village that was up in the hills at the end of a rugged dirt road. As we approached the village, a young boy saw the car and took off running. Within about 10 minutes around 35 children and parents surrounded the car. We gave out stuffed animals, balls, hair clips, wooden trucks, and other items. The children were so happy to receive even the smallest gift. When we got back to apartment that afternoon, I was emotionally drained but also grateful to have had these opportunities to brighten the day of some sweet mothers, children, and families in Guatemala!
Nurse Sister Barra (in pink) and her companion
A new mom in Zacapa
Another mom who received a kit
A recipient of a baby kit!
The mother on the left delivered twin girls
A little boy playing by his adobe house in El Cerinol
The tailor's kids. They are in our branch in El Cerinol. The Oylers gave them new sheriff and BYU hats.
A tailor and a member of our branch presidency. He likes his new BYU hat!
The tailor's treadle sewing machine
A new mom in Cuilapa who received a baby kit
The maternity unit in Cuilapa
A young patient in Cuilapa who received a new stuffed animal
Sister Pietre - a sweet lady who volunteers at the hospital
A little girl in the village we visited
Children in the village
Members of the El Cerinol Branch saying goodbye to the Oylers
The Oylers donating maternity gowns and childrens' pjs to Cuilapa Hospital
A patient in Cuilapa
The hospital sheets are hung out to dry
People waiting for their turn outside the hospital in Cuilapa
Giving out donations to the people in a small village
The children love their new toys
The people in the village
New stuffed animals
A man carrying some wood back to the village
A sweet patient in Cuilapa with her coloring book, new bracelet, and headband
A kit for a new baby in Cuilapa
She loves her new stuffed animal!
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