Something that's really touched me while in Guatemala are the sounds. Each sound has struck a different chord. There are the roosters which are a fairly standard sound. Fireworks going off at all hours of the day. The Stray Dogs barking, yelping, growling, or getting into fights. The marching band practicing in the evening. A local band playing tunes. The ambulance siren as they fly into the hospital next to us….and the sound of wailing.
The wailing has effected me most and reminded me again how thankful I am for modern medicine in the United States. One or two of our teams have worked at the hospital with various construction and painting projects. One of the gals from the team asked our contact why we don't hear more codes or sounds for very acute patients at the hospital. The contact simply said…by the time the ambulance arrives from however far the injured persons location is…its often to late by the time they reach the hospital…or very little hope.
Each day we walk past the hospital on our way to our ministry location at the school. Daily there is a woman wailing that her infant or young child has died…daily…and each time it gets to me. She's not ushered into a private family room to lament the loss, I'm doubtful there's a hospital chapel…shes just there consoled possibly by another women or family member or not at all. Some of my teammates have been able to pray with the women…and I just think wow…when we're not here they just have no one. I mean if they believe in God they have that hope but otherwise…NO ONE. The other thing that is typical with 3rd world countries is just that close to 99% of these illnesses or conditions had they been treated in the states…these babies would have hope. There are coffin stores just as common as a typical tienda (store) here in Guatemala…with every-sized coffin. That reality is so…REAL.
So… as I think of my family and all the modern conveniences that I sometimes which I had back home…I am so so grateful for my Jesus and all the daily blessings that can be easily overlooked in the states.
