Guatemala Toothfairy: Santa Lucia/Solola Remote Site

Tuesday, 14 August 2012 - Santa Lucia

With anticipated difficulties patients would have eperienced in arriving at the clinic during the week of the Feria de Jocotenango and knowing a group of FM (future missionaries) from Santa Lucia missed their appointment the week before we put together a quick trip. President Brough was upset with Counselor DeLeon for missing the appointment. Pres. Brough didn't know if they could get into the Capital again another appointment. Due to the Feria, I suggested we take the clinic to that group of FM in Santa Lucia. The Lord works in mysterious ways because we were not aware that the District Presidency from Santa Lucia were concerned about how they were going to get their dental work completed. They prayed as a group regarding their concern and a couple of days later they received their answer when Dr. Call called to see if we could come their way on short notice. We were already going to Solola so why not stop in Santa Lucia on the way. Their prayers were answered. Two and a half hour drive to Santa Lucia.. Below is the District building - largest building we've been in thus far and beautiful.

Calm before the storm...

Setting up for the big day on Wednesday - we are getting so good of setting up and taking down our clinic area.

Hotel Santiguito - finest in town they tell us - hate to see the others. Dig the hot pink chenille bedspread. We sat on the bed and it felt like we were on the springs. Make for an interesting stay. Hot water, few bugs, towels like sandpaper, drapes that did not fully close, closet - no hangers - again, we always give thanks after each stay that we came out alive and well.

Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. sharp the FM staring signing up to be seen. We saw 20 FM the first day and 10 the following day. An average of 2-3hours given to each young man. Our day ended around 6:30 p.m. another long, rewarding day. Blessed to be an instrument to further the work of spreading the gospel by improving their dental needs.

Oops! Sister Call is searching through the garbage to retrieve a tooth the young man wanted to save. She retrieved a tooth (we're not sure if it was his or not - he'll never know.) We took care of 64 patients in two days with 30 of whom were FM. Some we have an appointment to complete their treatment plan in the clinic on August 27.

Alex DeLeon, Counselor in the District Presidency and our contact person, provided lunch for us for two days. We commissioned his house keeper to be our Comedor. She fixed fabulous lunches both days. Dragon fruit with lemons was the best drink ever, picante sauce to die for and on the 2nd day - notice the pot below is Pepian soup. Very delicious soup and they usually fix this soup for special occasions but the best part is how they cook - this is how they prepare their meals - outside with wood.

Comedor

Pepian Soup -

You add rice, picante to the potato, squash, beans and pick the meat off the chicken leg or thigh that's in the bowl.

Edgar Giron - 2nd Counselor in the District Presidency

He brought us donuts both days and they were the best donut in Guatemala. Donuts in Guate are not good with the exception of his. This is his bakery.

Edgar, wife and youngest son in the bakery shop. Where would you find a scooter parked in a business. They lost their oldest son due to a liver transplant. He took him to Spain for the transplant and he said while he was there he learned to serve from watching a young man that was a patient. He told us how he forgot about himself and his health issues and serve others around him. Edgar maintains he is the happiest when he serves. He expressed his appreciation for the service we were giving to his District. Wonderful family and fabulous donuts. Bought more donuts before said our goodbyes to the beautiful, devoted people in Santa Lucia.

Stopped at an old Sugar Factory on the way out of town to see some ruins. When they were constructing the factory they came across some ruins.

The only Mayan ruin- 37 B.C. - on property.

Other ruins on the property are not Mayan and they are not sure what type of people were there because no writings on the stones. Their features were not of Mayan descent. Any resemblance???

Again, the most beautiful scenery from Santa Lucia to Solola. Coffee beans, corn, avocados filled the mountains as high as you could see - rich, fertile land. We took the back road into Panajachel. The road was not the greatest - full of pot holes. Along the road, you would see children filling in the pot hole and then want you to pay them for doing so. We had a couple of boys run after us for about a quarter of a mile - determined and speedy...

A view of Lake Atitlan as we entered the valley - breath taking...

Home for the next 6 days - Hotel La Riveria de Atitlan

Best deal in town - stay one night and get two more nights free. We were on the 12th floor overlooking the lake. Nice clean rooms, hot water, clean rooms, a fridge, closet/hangers and a view as a bonus. Mattress was hard and by the 6 night it was like sleeping on the floor - but who is complaining...

Met Elder & Sister Tanner, our contact in Solola. They are the Senior couple for Solola. They took us on a tour of Solola. First stop the market area and central square.

Lunch with a view overlooking Solola and Lake Atitlan.

Your local ice cream distributor that's a member of the church. This is his working area - amazing process and how they keep the ice cream solid in their carts.

The process is similar to making homemade ice cream. You put the cylinder holding the ice cream and place in the large pot behind the cylinder that has ice and rock salt to keep the ice cream solid.

He makes his own ice and then stores it in the sawdust. This is one of his carts that he sells his ice cream from. He has several carts throughout the market area. The people love ice cream and you always see carts everywhere and in every village.

Ice Cream owner and his son.

Don't think OSHA would approve of his setup/process.

Scenery on our way to San Jose - Garden of Eden

Most rich, fertile, rich farm land -terraced terrain straight up and down. I lost my picture in the blank spot showing the farmers working in the onions. They plant onions after the first crop of corn. We stopped so I could give a car to a little boy with his parents. When I approached him he shyed away from me and started crying so I stayed my distance. I held out the car for him to take, the parents were getting a chuckle out of our exchange. He finally took the car. He was holding a bag of seeds in his hand and after he took the car, he then handed me the bag. A precious exchange and so touching. I will add the picture at the end of this segment of pictures.

Solola Chapel and home of our clinic.

Florentin Cojtin - pianist. First real piano I've seen in any of the churches we've visited. He learned to play the piano from the missionaries and had previously been exposed to the piano by an evangelist. He was remarkable and played beautifully. He was willing to teach others, and had an old electronic keyboard in his house, but not good enough to teach others. Elder Tanner found a keyboard while he was cleaning out the library so we gave it to Florentin. He was thrilled to receive the keyboard and promised to teach others.

Monday, 20 August 2012 - Dental Team ready to start the day. Day started at 7:00 a.m. and ended at 6:30 p.m.

A group of FM viewing the education film prior to their treatment. Everyone sees the movie, receives a toothbrush, and then brushes before they are seen.

Our first patient a current serving missionary.

Touching moment when I looked over at Dr. Call's area and saw this beautiful young child holding her mother's hand during her treatment. The children's teeth in this area was intense and we were aggressive in our education to attempt to change the culture of nightly bottle feeding, and all the candy, and pop they drink at such a young age.

Dr. & Sister Wilcox

This little one wanted to see what we were doing to his mother. We treated him earlier and he was so great in letting us fluoride his teeth.

Three brothers that all had teeth removed and filled.

An adorable 3 year old that didn't move or cry during her treatment.

Our dedicated helpers for the past three days. The center man is the District President and they were all fantastic helpers. I forgot to get a picture of the Tanner's. They cooked for us all week and added 5 lbs. to each of us. You can not believer the food; homemade bread, rolls, pies, cornbread, lemon tarts, philly sandwich, and etc. We couldn't thank them enough for taking making our stay so enjoyable. WE worked long hours but we love what we're doing. We treated about 220 people on this trip. As Dr. Call would say " We don't fix teeth, we fix individuals."

Sister Call and myself have been begging to visit the Chichicastenango Market that's a must to see. Finally on the way home from Solola, we made a side trip, an hour out of our way, to Chichicastenango. Thursday and Sundays are their big market days and today was our day to see what we've read about. Colorful markets along the roadside.

On the steps of the Church - people selling flowers.

A Shaman exercising his duties for this couple praying on the front steps of the church.

Process used to weigh corn, rice and beans.

Weights used in the Book of Mormon and in the market.

Vendors do not take 'no' for an answer. They followed us all day long. More colorful cloths than another market we've shopped.

A Mayan chapel ..

Love the colorful cemetery - conflicting stories on why the are different colors. One explanation was the color indicates the day the are buried. But, not all members of the family are buried on the same day. Must check into the real story behind the colorful cemeteries.