Sunday, Day 1

Today is Sunday, so the hospital is closed. Although they do have nurses on staff 24/7 and doctors on call in case of emergency.

We fell asleep last night to the song of roosters crowing to each other and dogs barking. As morning approached the symphony increased to include an inter-species chorus of birds. I put my foam ear plugs in and put my teddy bear over my face and went back to sleep.

Breakfast and dinner are to be served at the hospital most days. We had a filling breakfast of French toast made from La Loma Luz's own home made bread! It was perfectly browned and served with butter and either maple syrup or Cayao honey (from this region of Cayao). There was also oatmeal, several cereals, cantaloupe, local banannas, orange juice, tea, milk and Ovaltine. No coffee. Happily Kim brought Starbucks Via and instantly became the team's hero!

After breakfast hospital employee Wilhelm arrived to drive us to Xuntantich, the famous Mayan ruins. Wilhelm is Jack of All Trades at the hospital. He explained that he will be our driver, guide and protector. He is jovial, with a ready grin and laughing eyes. He sings and tells stories and is a joy to be around. We feel very lucky to be working with him.

As we neared the ferry across the river to Xuntantich the road was blocked by a political parade. Elections are Wednesday and Campaigning is in full swing, we drove behind a truck with loudspeakers proclaiming a candidate to the beat of Garufina music. After the parade moved on we had a few minutes to admire the local handiwork at the small market by the ferry. We picked up a few small souveniers and I finally got a drum. I've been hankerin' for a drum for a while but I never buy one because I'm concerned for the fragile drum head in travel. Today I found my drum! It's a big segment of bamboo with three cuts in the middle so when the mallet strikes make several different sounds. It's brightly painted with an image of a Toucan. I fell instantly in love and now I have my drum. Wilhelm played it for a while and announced that I'd made a good purchase.

We rode the ferry across the river, which I also remember from my previous trip. We climbed around the ruins and read the story of their excavation in the mid-20th century. From the top of El Castillo we can see Guatemala to the west, and lovely low mountains all around. Someone was celebrating her birthday atop the stone and we joined in singing Happy Birthday. When we had our fill of ancient mystery and grand vistas we headed down. We helped a young woman who was nervous about heights, inviting her to sandwich in between our team members and scooch down the steps like a little kid who is too small to walk down them. We applauded her when she reached the bottom; after all she had knowingly climbed the steps to face her fear.

On the way back across the river the ferryman let me turn the crank and Willhelm and I sang "Row row, row your boat" as a round. The team jokingly called for and encore.  For lunch we drove off the main road into the hills to a wonderful picnic spot on the river. There was a cloudburst just then so we ate in the van. But it was over as soon as it started and we got out for a walk. We rocked across the river on a classic wooden suspension bridge. The first few boards were broken out and I felt like I was in an Indiana Jones movie. Nichole is a joker and she rocked the bridge for us making the crossing more adventurous.

 We crossed holding on to the cables on both sides. A local boy zoomed his bike across fast as you can say "Bob's your uncle." A local lady crossed hold on to nothing but the umbrella she used as shade. I am impressed!

Back home we rolled up our sleeves and got out the CURE Kits. We pulled everything out of the boxes and sorted them into piles of similar items. Then we created four separate boxes of identical contents, one for each remote Clinic we'll perform. The remaining items are sorted for use at La Loma Luz and for donating to the hospital. Sorting took quite a while, and team members even sorted vitamins into scores of baggies for giving to mothers and children.

The evening started to cool off and then it was dinner time. Yummy spaghetti, fresh pineapple, and fresh, home made bread. Again, our bellies are full! Then this quick trip to town to the Internet cafe, and soon back home where we'll read or talk until bed time.