Sunday in Zona Reyna

Last night we had some rain.  Since the living conditions here as so basic, there is no water source within the community.  When the rain started, we collected it off the roof of the building.  Sally and Erv brought a water filter with them so we had clean water this morning.

The sky was very pretty this morning and it was cool.  We had breakfast and then started clinic.
                                   

Erv hooked up things to the battery of the truck so we had lights and could charge our phones.  Even though I could not make a phone call, I use the alarm on my phone. He even connected a hot plate to the battery so we could have coffee in the morning.

This is the tent that was our home for three nights. The building in the background is the place that we set up clinic.

The children wanted to see their photo.  I think this a universal enjoyment of children.  Sally is showing the children their photo.

This is the main road of this community.  The houses are simple with dirt floors and thatched roofs.

It was a busy clinic and that is the way I like it.  We needed to use translators since the languages here are Q'eqchi' and Mam. We had one translator that was great.  You can tell when someone has worked in this capacity and enjoys helping others. About noon, Erv mentioned that it was time for a break and that sounded good to us.  We were in need of a Coke!!

We stopped around 1 pm when they told us it was lunch time.  We finished seeing all of the patients about 5:30 pm.......................................and it was hot!  We decided that we needed to head to the river to bath and it was so refreshing!  Our group walking to the river.

We could hear the laughing before we could see the others.  The guys went downstream and the ladies went upstream.  The water was cool and it felt good! 

 We all went back to the tents feeling much better.

After dinner we sat outside and listened to the singing. 

We are not sure how many patients we saw but it was over 75 patients.  Most of them  came with stomach problems which is not unusual for a community that does not have regular clinics.  Many people do not boil their water or if they do, it is not long enough.  Many children have worms with distended abdomens.  We saw several families that have scabies.  Many children are underweight for their age.  Most of the children and women do not wear shoes. One child in the community does not wear clothes.  We were told that usually the children do not wear clothes because it is so hot but since we are in the community, the children are clothed. 

As we were sitting outside and enjoying the cool weather, Erv came up to us and was excited since he had received a signal on his phone!! If he held his phone up in the air, inside the tent, near the tent pole, he had two bars!  He let me call home but since he could not move the phone, I had to yell up to the phone.  My parents appreciated hearing from us and knowing we were doing well. 

Right before we went to bed, it started raining again and we able to refill the filter.  What a great day it was!