I have cried, hugged, loved and prayed like no other time in my life. It was simply amazing.
In Guatemala I was able to clean out a health clinic! Sally, our contact, has an open clinic every tuesday and is able to distribute donated medicines to locals who might otherwise not be able to afford medical attention. Now Sally has a new clean work space to better serve and diagnose her patients!
After the clinic was all cleaned up, we were able to give it a face lift with a new paint job, including a few murals!
Not only were we able to perform manual labor, but we were also able to build relationships by teaching at the local school just down the mountain!
Our team had come up with a great plan on how we were going to all work together to teach the kids English, but on the first day we were informed that we each had our own classroom. After a minor internal freak out, we each bravely walked into our seperate classrooms…
So I present to you Senorita Brittany's Class
But they usually looked more like this…
After my first day of teaching, I had decided that I was going to come back to the US and get my teaching certificate; I absolutely loved it! The kids laughed at my broken Spanish as I tried my best to teach them English, but we had an amazing time. I doubt any of the English I taught them will last (except for maybe head-shoulders-knees-and toes!) but I am praying the relationships I made with them do last!
Class usually ended with some fun by rushing the school yard for a few rounds of pato, pato, gonzo (duck, duck, goose) or raton y gato (cat and mouse).
As I gave to Guatemala, it gave right back tenfold.
As I swept all the dirt out the clinic, I realized I was sweeping all the crud and lies out of my life.
As I painted the walls of the clinic white, I realized that I too was getting painting white and new.
As I loved on the kids, they loved on me just as hard.
Guatemala- you changed me. I am going to miss you.
Last day of school
Last team picture outside the clinic with some of the kids we got closest to.
Below is my theme song for this month. I heard it while painting the clinic and it just stuck.
