tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13231337322714095932024-03-04T23:23:38.501-05:00Rotary Club of Perth - Guatemala Eye Clinic '10Bill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323133732271409593.post-70954209507453516612010-04-24T09:53:00.001-04:002010-05-02T11:41:15.983-04:00Back home in Canada<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQv0_NDRbo3ImwnNzBafFkVw3LJiGj_u1J-gy7Qr5UsMUSLG2BtZ0aYXwvlbLR_jCiWawH05t0rBnnAXG8vHSR9V1ZYgbfYVb99p5xI3WnBIkBeJGGBMmLdqe6Ypjenv2jByO2cfwBMgvP/s1600/IMG_1399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQv0_NDRbo3ImwnNzBafFkVw3LJiGj_u1J-gy7Qr5UsMUSLG2BtZ0aYXwvlbLR_jCiWawH05t0rBnnAXG8vHSR9V1ZYgbfYVb99p5xI3WnBIkBeJGGBMmLdqe6Ypjenv2jByO2cfwBMgvP/s320/IMG_1399.JPG" /></a></div>Friday morning we got up at 3:30 a.m. and boarded our shuttle to the airport in Guatemala City at 4:00.<br />
Things were very misty and our flight was delayed about an hour. Other than the delay everything went fine with our departure.<br />
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We said "Good-bye" to the beautiful hills, mountains and volcanos of Guatemala and made our way to Mexico City and then on to Toronto.<br />
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We said our "farewells" in the lobby of the hotel. Having shared this very special time together the friendships and bonds that we have made during this great adventure will be life-long.Bill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323133732271409593.post-68119222388171902522010-04-22T19:50:00.001-04:002010-04-22T19:51:34.549-04:00We arrived in Antigua<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-S0iwPrJDLrQmflpmFcMREWeqqXPLlNevvROHbhmByKIYeqAyMG5IsOvvlxZBuqeL12gvCI_vX4WHqrtUha0wLAafTKmjRVey5as7kpAIi7F1JFsAoXAIf7bBC4kUa2b6x7X5mY_DT5WM/s1600/LunchIMG_1346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-S0iwPrJDLrQmflpmFcMREWeqqXPLlNevvROHbhmByKIYeqAyMG5IsOvvlxZBuqeL12gvCI_vX4WHqrtUha0wLAafTKmjRVey5as7kpAIi7F1JFsAoXAIf7bBC4kUa2b6x7X5mY_DT5WM/s320/LunchIMG_1346.JPG" /></a></div>Here we are at lunch in Antigua - this is like a world away from where we were earlier today. We enjoyed a late lunch with Clara, Utzil and Hose as our guests.<br />
Tomorrow we get up and leave the hotel at 4:30 a.m. to catch our 6:30 plane from Guatemala to Mexico and then on to TorontoBill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323133732271409593.post-67657834662559537822010-04-22T00:27:00.001-04:002016-01-30T09:59:38.106-05:00Final numbers 470 / 240<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today was the final day at the clinic - our final numbers draft numbers are 470 patients seen and 240 pairs of glasses dispensed - we felt good about what we have accomplished.<br />
In this picture you will see some varied dress that spans traditional to modern, we saw just about every kind of dress over the 6 days of clinics.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_54-XMP13ZjiWigSBNajFu-TgjP4YhblP_UYD8jx7tojBymQH1WnRzJL9CY3QKJYdZxXmZoe5cKTgNcyZIvS7dFfJMHx4orRDE2WCW2PU93O9muC6olXIq08n48t_hFGvAZZknI-XMGV/s1600/Wed+Ap+21+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_54-XMP13ZjiWigSBNajFu-TgjP4YhblP_UYD8jx7tojBymQH1WnRzJL9CY3QKJYdZxXmZoe5cKTgNcyZIvS7dFfJMHx4orRDE2WCW2PU93O9muC6olXIq08n48t_hFGvAZZknI-XMGV/s320/Wed+Ap+21+004.JPG" /></a>Here Barbara Whitehouse is doing the basic acuity test on this young man who turned out to be mostly blind in one eye. Some cases we could refer them for surgery and others like this one we couldn't.<br />
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This is one of the final views of the hills around the school. The horse in the horizon has been grazing this hill all week.<br />
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Janet Batchelor is testing this man's new glasses. It was always fun watching the look on their faces as they see things come into focus that haven't been that way for sometime.<br />
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We saw about 80 plus people at the clinic today. There was a higher percentage of glasses and referrals today for some reason.<br />
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examinations and medication that should make a difference to them.</div>
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When the day was over there were some speeches and thank yous from the local village from the villages that traveled to the clinic.<br />
In this picture a representative from Chuicutama presented a very special ceremonial shirt to Barbara Whitehouse and then a scarf to Carl. <br />
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What a handsome couple they are decked out in their new finery.<br />
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After we had packed up and left the village Clara had arranged to take us to a school in Cantel to here are special school band play for us. This band has been together for about a year and a half now. Their instrument were a gift made by Chris and Bill Hale in honor of son's and daughter-in-law's wedding in July 2008. Michael and Melissa are very supportive of the work done in Guatemala and have been part of several projects and have also travelled to Xela where Melissa worked with Clara as an intern. It was very touching to hear the young people play - when we get home to a faster internet connection I'll try and put up a video so you can see and hear some of their concert.<br />
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This school has some strong links to Canada as the money to build it was raised by Canadians. In this picture you see the school leaders, Oscar the teacher, Clara Colop who is our coordinator and who makes all of this possible and works so very very hard, and Chris and I. Their school flag is made from the colours and shape of the Canadian flag in recognition of the bonds that they have with Canada.<br />
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And lastly before I sign off for tonight and possibly until we get home here is a picture of one of the people we were able to help. This sweet girl's smile says it all and this is why we want to again thank all those who helped us to make this trip possible with the donations of supplies and equipment. Thanks as well go to my fellow team members for their time efforts, good humor and sacrifices and to their families for letting them spend the time here. Special thanks to Dr. Carl Whitehouse, Barbara Gutherie and Janet Batchelor all who we could not have done this without and to David and Pat Batchelor who did an amazing job on the logistics letting alone being our Perth headquarters for putting together the glasses and other supplies.<br />
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Tomorrow we will disperse the remaining medications to a local clinic and then travel back to Antiqua to catch our flight home on Friday.<br />
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One last van ride, one last dilemma for the group to consider - "What's better - diesel fumes or dust?"<br />
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Bill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323133732271409593.post-58013316858843939412010-04-20T22:28:00.081-04:002010-04-20T23:35:29.826-04:00Tuesday -April 20th - Chuicutama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoR_KaDTsF0GHQupGjy_HrRZDGODFJMWpPyRFoaWilxTPyxzzl5CTZovBgLQMVgFM4vj0hVz5096-3zx3jFqqAtk30_qWGjwPn6c8lN62gl336vWNBtujKFu1yITNhVlIMTOg0eCV5X60/s1600/School+Tues+Ap+20+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidoR_KaDTsF0GHQupGjy_HrRZDGODFJMWpPyRFoaWilxTPyxzzl5CTZovBgLQMVgFM4vj0hVz5096-3zx3jFqqAtk30_qWGjwPn6c8lN62gl336vWNBtujKFu1yITNhVlIMTOg0eCV5X60/s320/School+Tues+Ap+20+026.JPG" /></a></div>Today was a good day, we saw more than 80 patients and got through about 3:30 which was in time to get back to Al Refugio before 5:00 p.m. Our hopes were up that the chocolate store on the premises would be open so we could have a treat of some hot chocolate but no luck it was closed.<br />
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The school in the village consists of a three classroom building and a one classroom building. Only the one room building seems to be in use and we aren't sure why, perhaps there is a lack of teachers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYi9mIXcdyR4XRDjkIaJV49zcnxrZsO1HsKLR96SxZRjld4XJeVxYzA7S6bPxiERg6CfRmUTjtq8rAO4ywHWBBAtuSo1p7ONwMZlAXYZDmeDExa9JkQVPSNGu4WZsfoq_Xw_PSRzuQvMg4/s1600/Tues+Ap+20+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYi9mIXcdyR4XRDjkIaJV49zcnxrZsO1HsKLR96SxZRjld4XJeVxYzA7S6bPxiERg6CfRmUTjtq8rAO4ywHWBBAtuSo1p7ONwMZlAXYZDmeDExa9JkQVPSNGu4WZsfoq_Xw_PSRzuQvMg4/s320/Tues+Ap+20+031.JPG" /></a></div>This is the registration desk which we keep outside of the clinic room to reduce congestion and confusion. The door way is always crowded as there are lots of on-lookers taking peeks at what is going on inside.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGa3XxFx3dTbXixxYvIA3SOVFmGjCmfFIrQsGPf-KZtpRvi03J8bOLcSWsO7UFRZzYT_C2VGyCXrqNIX3-HrpjGk4_r8ET4YHuGOJ_ZytR11TtKUzfLtSET-GOJHI1veujjNBkXPBSnqB/s1600/Tues+Ap+20+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGa3XxFx3dTbXixxYvIA3SOVFmGjCmfFIrQsGPf-KZtpRvi03J8bOLcSWsO7UFRZzYT_C2VGyCXrqNIX3-HrpjGk4_r8ET4YHuGOJ_ZytR11TtKUzfLtSET-GOJHI1veujjNBkXPBSnqB/s320/Tues+Ap+20+033.JPG" /></a></div>This 81 year old gentleman shook the hands of the volunteers as he went through the clinic and gave us a blessing of some sort. I'm not sure if he was a cleric or not.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHS54CYTblXHkiSGW2YKmXgFASqXk2tXIe47RW0OI_5v9IFug12mQ3lSGNaQolXLwKQBiQcyjcfTFCG4l1utwQvSiydg8LMEoKbU2Z5wd-bi5JFNmUH-SJhFTRU6ys9MSB-w2eqT-kEOq/s1600/Tues+Ap+20+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHS54CYTblXHkiSGW2YKmXgFASqXk2tXIe47RW0OI_5v9IFug12mQ3lSGNaQolXLwKQBiQcyjcfTFCG4l1utwQvSiydg8LMEoKbU2Z5wd-bi5JFNmUH-SJhFTRU6ys9MSB-w2eqT-kEOq/s320/Tues+Ap+20+038.JPG" /></a></div>There were lots of children through today and most were in pretty good shape although most could have used a good bath. Some of their hands and faces were quite dirty although it seemed that the ones with scabbies were some of the cleanest ones. We do hand out soap to each family along with the tooth brushes and paste. We hope that the bit of training they receive at the clinic will be enough to make good and proper use of these supplies.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7FtCFlcjuGSz2c9AAqdfShp8Kj9O5uSC7aR9IHP_N8LL9hdGdg6t38ia9egpr0XYw0S6SP7FkDZ_HlDHwnzE4l9aLzjMB2yzvPW5gfK5mCr5EIbMuJrdFgaPsRkM41qvJyWCjBEz8GXY/s1600/lunch+Tues+Ap+20+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7FtCFlcjuGSz2c9AAqdfShp8Kj9O5uSC7aR9IHP_N8LL9hdGdg6t38ia9egpr0XYw0S6SP7FkDZ_HlDHwnzE4l9aLzjMB2yzvPW5gfK5mCr5EIbMuJrdFgaPsRkM41qvJyWCjBEz8GXY/s320/lunch+Tues+Ap+20+029.JPG" /></a></div>We had our normal sandwiches for lunch on the run while others set up a more traditional lunch out side for themselves.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqyvEhkk_NVWNEBk0vISc1CFaDOmnXwwpro0ZhR5nvoQ-Uj6QOLs9QL2PGhclzXysFC56H4ldZymZb-26202zLgEBvokOlk-ZWsIwCkkB8Xffd9B57_Ruu-3nUlbYYMpPHGmhhXSB5WUW/s1600/Tues+Ap+20+049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqyvEhkk_NVWNEBk0vISc1CFaDOmnXwwpro0ZhR5nvoQ-Uj6QOLs9QL2PGhclzXysFC56H4ldZymZb-26202zLgEBvokOlk-ZWsIwCkkB8Xffd9B57_Ruu-3nUlbYYMpPHGmhhXSB5WUW/s320/Tues+Ap+20+049.JPG" /></a></div>Notice the load that this women in the foreground and the men in the background are carrying. It is common to see people walking on the roads, through the fields or up in the hills with heavy loads on their backs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2cK-4eVmtw7IfBBDPrB90Kr0qvafA-psvlKSHq0QOuDptvRAJq-7s1W0YbNZPsCqXD8xGEh55l6XXdgR3yyOjBcZCLMCcn5A5TPTae-McNjeiKvMH5_CjGwkKGnZmHhoLp1ngEjJLolm/s1600/Tues+Ap+20+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2cK-4eVmtw7IfBBDPrB90Kr0qvafA-psvlKSHq0QOuDptvRAJq-7s1W0YbNZPsCqXD8xGEh55l6XXdgR3yyOjBcZCLMCcn5A5TPTae-McNjeiKvMH5_CjGwkKGnZmHhoLp1ngEjJLolm/s320/Tues+Ap+20+045.JPG" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wnGgObWTdXk0pgLUOTrqpTQP2oMWMzKoYp40JLQmMX_FIJxPwRBMePTF7sFkoVGO-tu4Zr1ROZoslwQPfP9xHe4MgNe7TyYwYwcVyTNkWJvbTzwFmIEnyDaVr-8KXc80409Xg08Usopu/s1600/Tues+Ap+20+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8wnGgObWTdXk0pgLUOTrqpTQP2oMWMzKoYp40JLQmMX_FIJxPwRBMePTF7sFkoVGO-tu4Zr1ROZoslwQPfP9xHe4MgNe7TyYwYwcVyTNkWJvbTzwFmIEnyDaVr-8KXc80409Xg08Usopu/s320/Tues+Ap+20+044.JPG" /></a>As the clinic was winding down some of us went up to the village to see this woman weaving on her back-strap loom. The detail in her work was incredible and it gave us an appreciation for the time and skill that it takes to produce the many beautiful fabrics that we saw on people in the clinic. Most of this work is for their own use we were told.<br />
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When I asked whether they had cooking stoves we were shown this stove and they commented that it wasn't large enough for large families which I suspect is the norm. While this didn't have the large plancha that the stoves that I have seen and built with the Guatemala Stove Project I was relieved to see a chimney to direct the smoke to the outside.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AZYAP4o4Tm81tmddexRgfclCozmrWJUczfaiSXYXIAKkJjk5Ugh6F7Yg8FDeXMZTWp-qh6shvVkimrYCHpZHWeBBzv-LSTkfiC8y89cOj0U0w44IewLTNpYQZKUyYFwENyudoxRVKnux/s1600/Team+Tues+Ap+20+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AZYAP4o4Tm81tmddexRgfclCozmrWJUczfaiSXYXIAKkJjk5Ugh6F7Yg8FDeXMZTWp-qh6shvVkimrYCHpZHWeBBzv-LSTkfiC8y89cOj0U0w44IewLTNpYQZKUyYFwENyudoxRVKnux/s320/Team+Tues+Ap+20+047.JPG" /></a></div>Last thing we did before we left for home was to take a team picture with the volunteers (Rotarians, friends of Rotary and Megile who is from Panimaguim and stayed with us all week), translators, Clara and Ushime and our drivers.The only person missing was Chris Hale who stayed back at Al Refugio today to recover from a cold.<br />
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Tomorrow is our last day at this village and the last day of the clinic. We are told that there is going to be a surprise in the afternoon and we're to wear something nice. That's a bit of a challenge given our working conditions and the limited wardrobes that we have.<br />
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Tomorrow I'll report on the surprise... stay tuned.Bill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323133732271409593.post-39464369693274888522010-04-19T22:51:00.001-04:002010-04-20T22:17:47.857-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZU5nYBSH1e9uNpmPJkK1xjfzpMijdTT1i1hHT7b-t4-QHQxvOCkMTJK0xqpockcRvkDmYcuGy8Og6Pptpz2-te5zGR6tSzlHRwLuXEWsEODTGf7WNbDewQGY36BNC_NHMy-djv1Bi3y5/s1600/field+Mon+Ap+19+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZU5nYBSH1e9uNpmPJkK1xjfzpMijdTT1i1hHT7b-t4-QHQxvOCkMTJK0xqpockcRvkDmYcuGy8Og6Pptpz2-te5zGR6tSzlHRwLuXEWsEODTGf7WNbDewQGY36BNC_NHMy-djv1Bi3y5/s320/field+Mon+Ap+19+001.JPG" /></a></div>Today started out as normal with breakfast at 6:45 a.m. and then we gathered to meet the vans at 7:30.<br />
The workers had already been in the field beside the hotel for some time planting their potatoes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfsxyx5EDf8-L1djQs412bhMUk2Ah9IS2NmvnU0iC6WC94zsVnm8st7YHkx0J-CIS7e_ZFxsrtvtZyQCvFMAoVclenJ5AtlQuQ-v8VeNGK222YoNr1uZIQpH_dMdQqjox6EZhkf4P-tu8/s1600/volcano+Mon+Ap+19+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfsxyx5EDf8-L1djQs412bhMUk2Ah9IS2NmvnU0iC6WC94zsVnm8st7YHkx0J-CIS7e_ZFxsrtvtZyQCvFMAoVclenJ5AtlQuQ-v8VeNGK222YoNr1uZIQpH_dMdQqjox6EZhkf4P-tu8/s320/volcano+Mon+Ap+19+009.JPG" /></a></div>On our trip up the mountains we stopped very briefly to take some pictures of the volcano that was in the distance.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YzAzKq2hEipSqVoh9HcyQJ9xgjSr-95yPIR94xUU2OSp7Jn9wYuZ5dnXXpPIIwqZX5ZhthUrOUA7HLfPyQRI2JyMvx9V3K-WDGee6n2slvA1vMAQ7d3NA51cVGtwIRoOernTW_kjr1qz/s1600/walk+Mon+Ap+19+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YzAzKq2hEipSqVoh9HcyQJ9xgjSr-95yPIR94xUU2OSp7Jn9wYuZ5dnXXpPIIwqZX5ZhthUrOUA7HLfPyQRI2JyMvx9V3K-WDGee6n2slvA1vMAQ7d3NA51cVGtwIRoOernTW_kjr1qz/s320/walk+Mon+Ap+19+017.JPG" /></a></div>There was a minor washout on the road near the school in Chuicutama. This is the next village that we are working in so we walked the last little way. Later the road was temporarily repaired so the vans could get right to the school which was nice as that meant we didn't have to lug all our heavy cases too far. We got set up and were running within about 15 minutes of arriving.<br />
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We strive to get the eye drops in a few patients as soon as possible as we can't finish our testing until they have be dilated for at least 30 minutes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_WBNnN06V-CgQaTe2K_IFCULEq0wk5VSjfVVhP3WpK-Q22rdldEXVIEalKEEoK0JqOk40hJOBsXaLeYsu5VUu6txlsfflK44JaSXh0oEUuBbcvpf5g1ujs2ZDecqla2NLZOggTuazcwC/s1600/School+Mon+Ap+19+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_WBNnN06V-CgQaTe2K_IFCULEq0wk5VSjfVVhP3WpK-Q22rdldEXVIEalKEEoK0JqOk40hJOBsXaLeYsu5VUu6txlsfflK44JaSXh0oEUuBbcvpf5g1ujs2ZDecqla2NLZOggTuazcwC/s320/School+Mon+Ap+19+035.JPG" /></a></div>This beautiful school was built after hurricane Stan by CARE. The views from the front of the school are of the fields rising up into the hills. Today, just about every where you looked, you could see either and animal grazing or someone working a field way up on the steep slopes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-ShO9mLzj01ollITpRuTUrfk81t0f9TP7l-XXcCNObvL17IIl78ZWunsz_pMvI6oZr61GcWkUVl-7xuSK_XUfKev3QJgx2GTEVuUTQPuezgOMSNcUSJeWrhNZOVbFOAZeZJLQGHKXeeQ/s1600/Sticks+Mon+Ap+19+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-ShO9mLzj01ollITpRuTUrfk81t0f9TP7l-XXcCNObvL17IIl78ZWunsz_pMvI6oZr61GcWkUVl-7xuSK_XUfKev3QJgx2GTEVuUTQPuezgOMSNcUSJeWrhNZOVbFOAZeZJLQGHKXeeQ/s320/Sticks+Mon+Ap+19+023.JPG" /></a></div>This person was coming back from gather fuel - mostly sticks that they will use for their cooking fire. They have a long way to carry the heavy load that is on their back.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9oVvUDzboB3Xi2Cx3pVJeQmrocLkNlDqsGvvJKPoF0qVXYSl7aU6MBsQ5ueGiqTvkrXSASMICiATFXMmqX_PTw6MH66Xx8F8BvsaoRUm1p0lvcG3m0JP3qwAU0kgKG8VHjQDgdsXwx2B/s1600/warm+up+Mon+Ap+19+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9oVvUDzboB3Xi2Cx3pVJeQmrocLkNlDqsGvvJKPoF0qVXYSl7aU6MBsQ5ueGiqTvkrXSASMICiATFXMmqX_PTw6MH66Xx8F8BvsaoRUm1p0lvcG3m0JP3qwAU0kgKG8VHjQDgdsXwx2B/s320/warm+up+Mon+Ap+19+018.JPG" /></a></div>Here's Cr. Carl and Cano doing their warm-up exercises. Actually Carl is showing Cano what he could do to try and stretch out some of his sore mussels from a soccer game that he had yesterday.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcI6VeAFD2HAC1eqZYyaFDkIkF7SBzuPqQpsjArAPbbphYXBDZkQqzniZ_vL2lNetYTGiLKnt6jfocUzkEC9BSb15JQxrn0AQBgVq47p2m3Lw2LSoLcBuyojJOjOv2GygHJXhgx3m33jv/s1600/girl+Mon+Ap+19+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcI6VeAFD2HAC1eqZYyaFDkIkF7SBzuPqQpsjArAPbbphYXBDZkQqzniZ_vL2lNetYTGiLKnt6jfocUzkEC9BSb15JQxrn0AQBgVq47p2m3Lw2LSoLcBuyojJOjOv2GygHJXhgx3m33jv/s320/girl+Mon+Ap+19+044.JPG" /></a></div>Today we saw 94 patients which is a record for us. We're really "in the grove" as far as efficiently processing people and giving them that extra little bit of attention and care that we feel they cherish.<br />
Our work is bitter sweet. We're so happy when we see someone that we can help. On the other hand it is heartbreaking when we come across someone who we can not help. The 13 year old young women with the sun glasses on was one of the heart breakers. She was diagnosed with practically no vision, her retinas were destroyed likely by parasites and there was nothing we could do to help her, she is essentially blind. Dr. Carl will try and refer her to an agency for the blind if one can be found. For the many others who we are able to help with glasses, medicines and other treatments the smiles on their faces is reward enough for us. We received some very good news that some Doctors will be coming for a surgical clinic in May and they should be able to see our cataract referrals which is amazing that they will be getting this treatment so soon. <br />
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Tomorrow and Wednesday will be busy days at the clinic as we try and see as many patients as we can in the final 2 days.Bill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323133732271409593.post-54645619635515890612010-04-19T00:47:00.000-04:002010-04-19T00:47:38.357-04:00My apologies for the typosI want to apologize for the typos in the blog. There just isn't enough time in the day - actually it's usually late in the evening, to get the pictures and material into the blog, do all the editing and proofing. Tonight the team wanted to see the blog and as I was going over it with them we discovered several typos that need to be corrected. I hope to be able to do that some time but feel that the limited time I have is better spent posting so that our followers can keep up to date.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoiopT2xqqkQDG72MkKCTe9ya_btyS_RwDepkrAvN8Qj0xSAS0ZVwEP2QmblkYgWVmUXlJIAf-dOoT5zIbG6Mc-IKQb7vv6FXVSBvXPh675DTGy7yNJWokhpMMRt4K8Nfit_ALwsTBTmW/s1600/Fri+Ap+16+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoiopT2xqqkQDG72MkKCTe9ya_btyS_RwDepkrAvN8Qj0xSAS0ZVwEP2QmblkYgWVmUXlJIAf-dOoT5zIbG6Mc-IKQb7vv6FXVSBvXPh675DTGy7yNJWokhpMMRt4K8Nfit_ALwsTBTmW/s400/Fri+Ap+16+029.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Thanks for your understanding. / BillBill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323133732271409593.post-7246845580425777702010-04-18T11:45:00.001-04:002010-04-19T00:08:10.359-04:00Sunday's adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqJmbqkcQM2k0jHE0p4sl0L_l6SL0juqS6AhRdGcpULo170IJLhaPJuJcurLy8-XUqr97-u4Ktb4hHrmdc_-yWWGkZ9afLI5ZBy6icwVrBet99sQYwl5iIIj2kZsWOjxqqZccrjANpDey/s1600/1Sun+Ap+18+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqJmbqkcQM2k0jHE0p4sl0L_l6SL0juqS6AhRdGcpULo170IJLhaPJuJcurLy8-XUqr97-u4Ktb4hHrmdc_-yWWGkZ9afLI5ZBy6icwVrBet99sQYwl5iIIj2kZsWOjxqqZccrjANpDey/s320/1Sun+Ap+18+005.JPG" /></a></div>Some of us woke up to the shaking of the building today - it was a 5.6 earthquake. We thought this was quite something and then a quick google check told us that there were 3 quakes in Guatemala in the last 24 hours. There was no mention of this at breakfast so we're now concluding that this is not that abnormal.<br />
We're off the the market in Chi Chi today and I hope to be able to update the blogs later tonight.<br />
This is what some of the houses along the highway look like.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIxtFO6mlLL2ntvmEoBSg4hp6wyNDtnIMaWsD1cpisPxwNXUjeVgjwpBLfHMUlpeny6dFYdo94oXR2lNWBCy6NcagRKRGBvJRgQr6i_Dzhjt4U1g4s54MlTezPkVnyKVpg6Bs8RBjVekQ/s1600/2Sun+Ap+18+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIxtFO6mlLL2ntvmEoBSg4hp6wyNDtnIMaWsD1cpisPxwNXUjeVgjwpBLfHMUlpeny6dFYdo94oXR2lNWBCy6NcagRKRGBvJRgQr6i_Dzhjt4U1g4s54MlTezPkVnyKVpg6Bs8RBjVekQ/s320/2Sun+Ap+18+010.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLqUfM4Tbr9fLU8IJRJRfFuT5djuRYMQ5-cpsQasJEhZkhTZHzCn09BsDWjUzIjDH0sPtn-fHhwz2RfDQqLRNUv-gZSaXfDSnVQJrOnYH8ObbemivzdQ-6QcMOEcVChCDj4kfFp7uaSQC/s1600/6Sun+Ap+18+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLqUfM4Tbr9fLU8IJRJRfFuT5djuRYMQ5-cpsQasJEhZkhTZHzCn09BsDWjUzIjDH0sPtn-fHhwz2RfDQqLRNUv-gZSaXfDSnVQJrOnYH8ObbemivzdQ-6QcMOEcVChCDj4kfFp7uaSQC/s320/6Sun+Ap+18+044.JPG" /></a> The flowers and fruit at the local road side stands are magnificent.<br />
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The road to Chi Chi is very, very windy and steep at places. The switchbacks are amazing with the van having to make some very sharp turns - you can't find roads like this in Canada as they would be lethal in icy conditions. We did see a few spot where vehicle had failed to navigate the corners evidenced by missing and mangled guard rails.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXKaN3i3nxaD6gkPcd8fqWdsU-t3Kx_PduewFKQfXbiTt0kZ-LPLQQhfsFhBVVPRZWQyQEJ6uH9VQ1jynBS7xwEkJCIs-9edl3ndy2xjDaF0QjbR0ytx3p0rnTrq_m2VNmKYOCKuKfjsE/s1600/3Sun+Ap+18+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXKaN3i3nxaD6gkPcd8fqWdsU-t3Kx_PduewFKQfXbiTt0kZ-LPLQQhfsFhBVVPRZWQyQEJ6uH9VQ1jynBS7xwEkJCIs-9edl3ndy2xjDaF0QjbR0ytx3p0rnTrq_m2VNmKYOCKuKfjsE/s320/3Sun+Ap+18+022.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Once in the market at Chi Chi we saw people bartering with live foul. Here the negotiation is going on to trade a chicken for some corn. The shop keeper is weighing and checking this chicken out. After she tool some corn from one of the sacks and fed it to the chicken. The lady at the right who was hoping to barter the chicken then wrapped it up in her wrap and continued on her way.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rpD5KGy_E7ONUpyLApxO-pyrG8hiHbF_t1M3djF3jKAHpEe0Fw9CnQosURWcZlbeBUb9Qs-7LPfQLptqpts3X_jgpO-_QLTDTKLWkWqflPMJFA-Ec8bq-auL0kpzqWvdM42V2axlACqW/s1600/4Sun+Ap+18+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rpD5KGy_E7ONUpyLApxO-pyrG8hiHbF_t1M3djF3jKAHpEe0Fw9CnQosURWcZlbeBUb9Qs-7LPfQLptqpts3X_jgpO-_QLTDTKLWkWqflPMJFA-Ec8bq-auL0kpzqWvdM42V2axlACqW/s320/4Sun+Ap+18+024.JPG" /></a></div>The market is a very busy and crowded place with both store or booths on the side and vendors walking in the street who if they can catch your eye and think that have even a slight possibility of a sale will follow you for blocks trying to get you to barter for their goods.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMe0IcTWNV2NCrT8RIoaFLDw8EF3qDBzvmOZV9cdiaypTh9JAYln-uQ13eoUPmqcu3CZnbbdFTgC5dLmp-WUfRnR1lG9VZBTDbVaKu1Kz6wv6DmXPmemZ5WL7yJzw5ZzAYDIHBh5dsrFTK/s1600/Sun+Ap+18+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMe0IcTWNV2NCrT8RIoaFLDw8EF3qDBzvmOZV9cdiaypTh9JAYln-uQ13eoUPmqcu3CZnbbdFTgC5dLmp-WUfRnR1lG9VZBTDbVaKu1Kz6wv6DmXPmemZ5WL7yJzw5ZzAYDIHBh5dsrFTK/s320/Sun+Ap+18+059.JPG" /></a></div>The weather today was magnificent and the country side is incredible.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Y9glwTaO7giLLF1HOr4Y-RH2ERJlMCTd6ITlZhkFAFdYlQd97wCUz_x3ar5Sqjt743Qt9mGnFNigVMkJF33xzgbutCVfG41UfmHOj6neng2Jeckam8BpV2bnXKNcCbaa1dRe2nPhXzon/s1600/7Sun+Ap+18+067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Y9glwTaO7giLLF1HOr4Y-RH2ERJlMCTd6ITlZhkFAFdYlQd97wCUz_x3ar5Sqjt743Qt9mGnFNigVMkJF33xzgbutCVfG41UfmHOj6neng2Jeckam8BpV2bnXKNcCbaa1dRe2nPhXzon/s320/7Sun+Ap+18+067.JPG" /></a></div>When we got back to Al Rufugio we had some vino tinto and cerveza before dinner.<br />
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Tomorrow we're off to our next village.Bill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323133732271409593.post-11475184402612925102010-04-18T11:41:00.002-04:002010-04-19T00:39:34.526-04:00Saturday - visit to the coffee plantation<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmm_qVtl5LfDeIPOwXpEbhJdKKjH81X51vxmwK1RA9GFMY-fnBnu1GltBkKq5jnHRlt_nHWdj5bFeR_9XbIHtnc1QpqkzAX_NqE2fTtDxkUw5FeFp_g5spsPKzc-I-q5wT4G_QKQ-aRIi/s1600/Coffee+Sati+Ap+17+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmm_qVtl5LfDeIPOwXpEbhJdKKjH81X51vxmwK1RA9GFMY-fnBnu1GltBkKq5jnHRlt_nHWdj5bFeR_9XbIHtnc1QpqkzAX_NqE2fTtDxkUw5FeFp_g5spsPKzc-I-q5wT4G_QKQ-aRIi/s320/Coffee+Sati+Ap+17+015.JPG" /><span style="font-family: inherit;">H</span></a>Here we are at the coffee plantation which is much more than that and has a very interesting story.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not too many years ago this plantation went bankrupt and was eventually bought by a group of employees with some help from some organizations.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0-bKleVxhWeSfH3cARWjey3ovOwampCEMVnwAjF8jSbVLQgRTrdcDC8YQoexZTffK5wmBZV07_naAgB4CNQ1lQAzPZ15lXEZv6GM8VUxFgPMTsQzvOp_4q9RVDspuD6r5aw4ZW-Kfv2b/s1600/nutsSati+Ap+17+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0-bKleVxhWeSfH3cARWjey3ovOwampCEMVnwAjF8jSbVLQgRTrdcDC8YQoexZTffK5wmBZV07_naAgB4CNQ1lQAzPZ15lXEZv6GM8VUxFgPMTsQzvOp_4q9RVDspuD6r5aw4ZW-Kfv2b/s320/nutsSati+Ap+17+032.JPG" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The employees diversified and have been quite successful. They now grow macodenia nuts which the harvest year around and whose slower season is October to January when the coffee is being harvested. They have also taken advantages of the four springs on their land and bottle and sell about 300 large bottles of spring water each day. Their forth business area is bamboo - they make furniture and crafts to sell to the tourists.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSU4H9Yccu01v41wmTiJqU1Edq3SsLG-WSIsKS4wyfDywAYoor4nGH2Y5XVmILk1WECne3kE6ducDEChSIFL9cEGPt9gq8KLEL4ijk2RDAu47_7Qx4ZVPqNQh2AzYIybUI3AV1N7BSuocW/s1600/truck+Sati+Ap+17+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSU4H9Yccu01v41wmTiJqU1Edq3SsLG-WSIsKS4wyfDywAYoor4nGH2Y5XVmILk1WECne3kE6ducDEChSIFL9cEGPt9gq8KLEL4ijk2RDAu47_7Qx4ZVPqNQh2AzYIybUI3AV1N7BSuocW/s320/truck+Sati+Ap+17+014.JPG" /></a></div>All along our travels we see pickup trucks with people and other things packed in the back.<br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZwmIRtZ55g4XeJu-K_jtWkJEllIRhZEMFPMDxNiuWQbKG-MxYvqDM-P-VaLih_ZyzKLyRDbFt2y1bLKVnD_HUD_khq__-glprc-HfjEzo8jD1oZtLCPqgDb2iaigL_AyWqDny6ObXGOR/s1600/sueSati+Ap+17+126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a></div>We went to Clara's house right after the visit to the plantation as she lives on that side of Xela and it didn't make sense to go all the way back through Xela and then have to return to her place where we were invited for dinner.<br />
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We were welcomed into her 'Friendship house and were honored to meet her family and the families of our translators. There were speeches and presentations of gifts to each of us. She has a very loving and compassionate family and we were touched by their hospitality and overwhelmed by their kind words for the work that we were doing on this mission as well as the other many projects that they wanted to thank us for.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSU4H9Yccu01v41wmTiJqU1Edq3SsLG-WSIsKS4wyfDywAYoor4nGH2Y5XVmILk1WECne3kE6ducDEChSIFL9cEGPt9gq8KLEL4ijk2RDAu47_7Qx4ZVPqNQh2AzYIybUI3AV1N7BSuocW/s1600/truck+Sati+Ap+17+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZwmIRtZ55g4XeJu-K_jtWkJEllIRhZEMFPMDxNiuWQbKG-MxYvqDM-P-VaLih_ZyzKLyRDbFt2y1bLKVnD_HUD_khq__-glprc-HfjEzo8jD1oZtLCPqgDb2iaigL_AyWqDny6ObXGOR/s1600/sueSati+Ap+17+126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZwmIRtZ55g4XeJu-K_jtWkJEllIRhZEMFPMDxNiuWQbKG-MxYvqDM-P-VaLih_ZyzKLyRDbFt2y1bLKVnD_HUD_khq__-glprc-HfjEzo8jD1oZtLCPqgDb2iaigL_AyWqDny6ObXGOR/s1600/sueSati+Ap+17+126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">Ev</a></div>Bill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323133732271409593.post-48227507966528832032010-04-18T10:25:00.004-04:002010-04-18T23:43:26.959-04:00\FRIDAY - Every day is an adventureWe saw more than 80 patients today.<br />
When we arrived there were people waiting for us who had walked 4-5 hours from another village, starting out in the dark, to come to the clinic.<br />
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Our vans left immediately to make the 1.5 hour drive to another village to bring some 40 plus people for the examinations.<br />
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We gave out soap, tooth brushes and paste to each family. Everyone got a banana as many people hadn't eaten in hours nor would they eat again for quite some time as their return trips home would take many hours.<br />
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Our excitement for the day was the weather, In the afternoon it rained very hard and we got a report that the vans we stuck on the road and were not sure they would be able to make it to the village. We had thoughts about what it would be like to stay in the village for the night and how everyone, including the villagers would manage.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtiV-9mR3Ip8t9SXjgLr4QeAYtvZfjZ5zs90SaOUUtOhka-AV5nHdmlE5mDzhGMdMTNITBnZQyd2Fn__NaGD5m6iB2U2GZ2fz7du-0G84b11YkKgr91XT4aRtFLRUNxWfQg_4m14YCLZp/s1600/Boys+Fri+Ap+16+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtiV-9mR3Ip8t9SXjgLr4QeAYtvZfjZ5zs90SaOUUtOhka-AV5nHdmlE5mDzhGMdMTNITBnZQyd2Fn__NaGD5m6iB2U2GZ2fz7du-0G84b11YkKgr91XT4aRtFLRUNxWfQg_4m14YCLZp/s320/Boys+Fri+Ap+16+015.JPG" /></a></div>As fas as it had clouded over and rained, the weather cleared up, the sun came out and things started to dry. We were optimistic that we would get back to Xela tonight.<br />
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These two boys mugged for the camera with this magnificent view behind them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XwDhDiHaFzV1mPLdMrYmwv3J2AImsHcf3Ue9m9Z9URwE1ss-KdmOLNiZJufIA1nQX1BYt84MNkOc0K97dI0Y-5TAKjFzyjgm27i49Q3dlSilNX_fiv_6e5kwA1DyQRMfb_0KuJfUb1Lk/s1600/Chris+Fri+Ap+16+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">At<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XwDhDiHaFzV1mPLdMrYmwv3J2AImsHcf3Ue9m9Z9URwE1ss-KdmOLNiZJufIA1nQX1BYt84MNkOc0K97dI0Y-5TAKjFzyjgm27i49Q3dlSilNX_fiv_6e5kwA1DyQRMfb_0KuJfUb1Lk/s320/Chris+Fri+Ap+16+009.JPG" /></a></div>At the end of the day before we left the village there were presentations and speeches.<br />
In this picture Manual thanks the Rotarians for the help that has been provided to the indigenous people<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiga9la1GuO0mcc57Wy8-ILE-Pz1YesEBXAVGqaBdGVtAMzQmxQ86dS5j9JcUrhe72xultmIyzCxCl-jf4FhaqJ6La7PY7BUFwqv4N55mIOzVR_fMb61hAtRiuGkGm1mxcjZvZMith3nzP1/s1600/Turkey+Fri+Ap+16+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiga9la1GuO0mcc57Wy8-ILE-Pz1YesEBXAVGqaBdGVtAMzQmxQ86dS5j9JcUrhe72xultmIyzCxCl-jf4FhaqJ6La7PY7BUFwqv4N55mIOzVR_fMb61hAtRiuGkGm1mxcjZvZMith3nzP1/s320/Turkey+Fri+Ap+16+046.JPG" /></a></div>We packed up all our equipment and then had to carry it to the other end of the village as this was the only road that was accessible after all the rain.<br />
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We were entertained by our resident turkey whisperer Sue who called these birds from across the field and they "came a running". The talents that our team members have never ceases to amaze us.Bill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323133732271409593.post-8744882599679180112010-04-16T00:20:00.003-04:002010-04-19T22:13:05.649-04:00Thursday April 15th - More than 60 patients todayToday's blog will be mostly pictures from the village.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt05BrdohL1FHGFoT7Dn2TtYiP9VAbowDW4L4wy9P6ug8C8VlvnehL4IDyQ_PrH3oB7UBqHJoEOFGauxUVXs39ob0sb6xKni4uMnwf4rcNr_-741TVdl7Kkh9Yo9cN1M7dkgOrYJFVWS3-/s1600/Drip+irrigationIMG_0760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt05BrdohL1FHGFoT7Dn2TtYiP9VAbowDW4L4wy9P6ug8C8VlvnehL4IDyQ_PrH3oB7UBqHJoEOFGauxUVXs39ob0sb6xKni4uMnwf4rcNr_-741TVdl7Kkh9Yo9cN1M7dkgOrYJFVWS3-/s320/Drip+irrigationIMG_0760.JPG" /></a></div>Here is a drip irrigation system in use. This simple but ingenious system of a bucket and some piping provide the opportunity to irrigate a garden with one bucket of water a day as there us much less evaporation and the water goes directly to the plant. These systems were brought to the village last fall by Carl Whitehouse and Melissa Ekdom-Delorrne when the came to Guatemala on a recognizance visit last fall.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6Cw-20UC32w-fLmqsf-akKGogV9LkhInXen2XNfGkop7b2iMGFVg4wqry0kNosdOQjPfM7d9BlTAfbUDYONkVi9nGgOX-N1Uv5TZEU7wR9XqJbSoIkGhsfTrHfYGvmcnSWGJE_qGHo6A/s1600/Green+HouseIMG_0771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6Cw-20UC32w-fLmqsf-akKGogV9LkhInXen2XNfGkop7b2iMGFVg4wqry0kNosdOQjPfM7d9BlTAfbUDYONkVi9nGgOX-N1Uv5TZEU7wR9XqJbSoIkGhsfTrHfYGvmcnSWGJE_qGHo6A/s1600/Green+HouseIMG_0771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6Cw-20UC32w-fLmqsf-akKGogV9LkhInXen2XNfGkop7b2iMGFVg4wqry0kNosdOQjPfM7d9BlTAfbUDYONkVi9nGgOX-N1Uv5TZEU7wR9XqJbSoIkGhsfTrHfYGvmcnSWGJE_qGHo6A/s320/Green+HouseIMG_0771.JPG" /></a></div>This is Chris Hale and a local standing by one of the new green houses that are under construction. These help extend the growing season which is so very important for their food supply and livelihoods.<br />
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We were invited out to lunch at one of the local houses and the group made their way through the mist as the cloud often envelope the village any time after 11 in the morning.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EQwtQO_WwbyulxGYUN7x7ELpOjTm5gcHotHwdzox3BOwkZ5ULXXfJefQCF68YhakNhrrZxNqQd3GGPDkLeITNFXLFk4VEiU-FrjdMUoOVU-HiQHX6Kdlp3fte5dVDPfLptrNU9_qm1Wz/s1600/HeartIMG_0840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EQwtQO_WwbyulxGYUN7x7ELpOjTm5gcHotHwdzox3BOwkZ5ULXXfJefQCF68YhakNhrrZxNqQd3GGPDkLeITNFXLFk4VEiU-FrjdMUoOVU-HiQHX6Kdlp3fte5dVDPfLptrNU9_qm1Wz/s320/HeartIMG_0840.JPG" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mBC0mD_RBewNOFI2fujB2xzCL0vkk_B-iB_xchEWxhu0sAkxUSJtQsLlQ64FeUMqSjwvPCP3hK4sWJK5UE_qn74__IdQjFhhfMUzSDLzdd1lV0zBzGod7oEcbhVObKTnqUOsK8wlx6fN/s1600/ChurchIMG_0765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mBC0mD_RBewNOFI2fujB2xzCL0vkk_B-iB_xchEWxhu0sAkxUSJtQsLlQ64FeUMqSjwvPCP3hK4sWJK5UE_qn74__IdQjFhhfMUzSDLzdd1lV0zBzGod7oEcbhVObKTnqUOsK8wlx6fN/s320/ChurchIMG_0765.JPG" /></a>We also visited with this little girl who is being held by her Mom. This sweet thing had a hole in her heart and it was surgically repaired thanks to the generous donation by one of our wonderful sponsors. Clara, who is on the left explained that before the operation this little girl hardly had the energy to walk. Now she's running around just like the other kids - amazing and so very touching.<br />
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Here's a peak inside the local church. Note the huge sound system, we're not sure how they powered it as there is no electricity in the village - perhaps the have a generator somewhere they are able to borrow or they run a very long extension cord to the neighbouring village.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWbqMKG0M0vzi5cD8olBuPgwsq9SH9P9Yj0kXQqPsHt9adhht_X9VhH_RgAVqLPHnGzvle_iegxVohBzDHn6qotLECbvqSSkNWKTbaeB_-ZxplzgJGFMfqAOUrNwxa_B3xa539jU5xTSZ/s1600/GroupIMG_0824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWbqMKG0M0vzi5cD8olBuPgwsq9SH9P9Yj0kXQqPsHt9adhht_X9VhH_RgAVqLPHnGzvle_iegxVohBzDHn6qotLECbvqSSkNWKTbaeB_-ZxplzgJGFMfqAOUrNwxa_B3xa539jU5xTSZ/s320/GroupIMG_0824.JPG" /></a></div>This picture is of the villagers that were waiting outside the clinic when we returned from lunch.<br />
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We completed about 60+ more patients today with about 25% getting glasses, some referals for cataract surgeries and dispensing of medicines. Each family received a hygiene pack with soap tooth brushes, paste and some bananas.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMXnidnc-GE4aRZPB4sQ4Wy0k9OEPp7KCRv8r0r0ZnXD56354lrkjzKxZEWE6dz0W1kWhgdxxpAs4hNyfe1NQ7g-ChKRobcRW4cpzWRxc8ICpFezYA-v6NmF70ToqEdVs0alybRJ4gr5f/s1600/RainIMG_0872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMXnidnc-GE4aRZPB4sQ4Wy0k9OEPp7KCRv8r0r0ZnXD56354lrkjzKxZEWE6dz0W1kWhgdxxpAs4hNyfe1NQ7g-ChKRobcRW4cpzWRxc8ICpFezYA-v6NmF70ToqEdVs0alybRJ4gr5f/s320/RainIMG_0872.JPG" /></a>We ran out of cream for scabies, we though we had lots but there were several large families (one with 7 kids) who needed treatment. One of our Rotarians donated $200 on the spot so that more cream could be purchased so any who needed it tomorrow would have some. And that's how it goes, the generosity of those who helped us get this far has been amazing and the dedication and generosity of our volunteers is overwhelming.<br />
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Tomorrow is our last day at this village and Monday we move to a second one.<br />
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This last picture is near our hotel and shows the rain which was just teaming down. I wonder what this will do to the roads into the village that we will be driving on tomorrow morning? <br />
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Stay tuned for more - thanks to those who have provided comments and word of encouragement.Bill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323133732271409593.post-67099179902061047042010-04-14T23:22:00.000-04:002010-04-14T23:22:45.312-04:00Wednesday April 14th - First full day of the clinic<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 10" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 10" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CBill%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><o:smarttagtype name="Street" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="address" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is Wednesday our first full day of the clinic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRxBxhsA2Y0ReBFVgTX63hD0aYKXdi8v8Sa7uFgOh1rpSqNY376XCL7fBW-Ba9vjsNfzrLUEn4S6igCcP77K7oT-YQ4-AK79RcHEW-HwrycBWgAQ_2DZX7-ViJxtVIi6SEiZDqffDO4z6/s1600/hotel+343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRxBxhsA2Y0ReBFVgTX63hD0aYKXdi8v8Sa7uFgOh1rpSqNY376XCL7fBW-Ba9vjsNfzrLUEn4S6igCcP77K7oT-YQ4-AK79RcHEW-HwrycBWgAQ_2DZX7-ViJxtVIi6SEiZDqffDO4z6/s320/hotel+343.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our hotel is on the outskirts of Xela and it operates as a training centre for various trades and other educational groups.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pWGTqB23vuKIaL7ngxsYomCJ6ySTSgJ3tmgko_f7rGDm3lCQcB_gipXis-lh962dPcsF81tblV_l9Ig_-E67B-N9nerafKkyA4i33-S4_vVT-ZWLDYtDOObZk0oGARo08nI6XtZruUV9/s1600/Gather+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pWGTqB23vuKIaL7ngxsYomCJ6ySTSgJ3tmgko_f7rGDm3lCQcB_gipXis-lh962dPcsF81tblV_l9Ig_-E67B-N9nerafKkyA4i33-S4_vVT-ZWLDYtDOObZk0oGARo08nI6XtZruUV9/s320/Gather+002.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We get up each morning and meet for breakfast at 6:45 a.m. so we can be outside waiting for the vans to pick us up at 7:30 Guatemala time - which usually translates into 8:00 a.m.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWgjwVZ1binVIFVTquLcUCdb9UQRAtizvdavpSVjnrnHBSpZBJqJKdQ_R4cVZYfqdQmpZ5mG0U5q0GHkoD9HxfIXQDMSHtdy7JNhJL_Sms4xnKDDvmKiOtM6TLwgaZ0EveUP9h85quZF_/s1600/Terrace+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWgjwVZ1binVIFVTquLcUCdb9UQRAtizvdavpSVjnrnHBSpZBJqJKdQ_R4cVZYfqdQmpZ5mG0U5q0GHkoD9HxfIXQDMSHtdy7JNhJL_Sms4xnKDDvmKiOtM6TLwgaZ0EveUP9h85quZF_/s320/Terrace+008.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> It takes us about a 1.75 hours drive to get to the village. We start from the outskirts of the City then travel into the Xela through the winding streets most of which as just wide enough for two cars. The surface of the roads is very inconsistent – from smooth pavement to no pavement, no garvel and a sea of potholes and mud – they make <st1:street><st1:address>Wilson Street</st1:address></st1:street> in Perth look like a new super highway. The terraced fields are magnificent and one can't help but wonder what it is like working on fields on such steep slopes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHx0FQZVe8IiJxAP0H_ck5z_07Mwvpb61I57nIYaVB9hz3hp9ToqxJgI8giwnE4kVNVWRwdk_r2ykwTMBsclim1LOXSxpQvIEVM8WlVrSPTrB55cvrdsxF9ylul4hWaZwhEvlpAxDQc7M/s1600/Clouds+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHx0FQZVe8IiJxAP0H_ck5z_07Mwvpb61I57nIYaVB9hz3hp9ToqxJgI8giwnE4kVNVWRwdk_r2ykwTMBsclim1LOXSxpQvIEVM8WlVrSPTrB55cvrdsxF9ylul4hWaZwhEvlpAxDQc7M/s320/Clouds+018.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once we get out of the City it’s about 10 km to one of the outlying Towns and then we start the long climb up the mountains. Switchbacks are the order of the day, this is a new highway however the drivers are careful as there are many tight curves that take gearing down to get around them safely. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At mile sign 171 kM we leave the highway to start down the bumpy, windy road to the village. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Both days there were people waiting for us at the highway who had arranged rides with us. Once they are on board and we leave it’s a bit like entering another world with the narrow roads and the looks to infinity over the banks at the slide of the road.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">People were waiting for us to arrive in the village and not long after we got there people of all ages started to gather in front of the clinic.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilT3WRRyC65Kn_GeR6nxip0FfDE8OH1-g93QlBVqXeBMy6igXgejn4TAtDeSbafj9UCmJ07P9WkDn7-ekA69W8HQPDdxsPaG7TIc9jcXcwIGI_Ra-7G6pBrwUeEfTu4KiGWfh26NrAeWoY/s1600/Man+native+dress+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilT3WRRyC65Kn_GeR6nxip0FfDE8OH1-g93QlBVqXeBMy6igXgejn4TAtDeSbafj9UCmJ07P9WkDn7-ekA69W8HQPDdxsPaG7TIc9jcXcwIGI_Ra-7G6pBrwUeEfTu4KiGWfh26NrAeWoY/s320/Man+native+dress+030.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This 77 year old man in his native dress seems to be very pleased with his new spectacles. Today we saw over 60 patients and Dr. Carl gave the Team a seal of approval as our plan was 48 or one patient every 10 minutes. Our goal isn't really how many we get though it's doing a good job with them and trying to be efficient at the same time.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On the way back in the van the clouds or fog was so thick it reminded us of the blinding snow storms back home.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stay tuned for more adventures tomorrow......</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div>Bill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323133732271409593.post-83705785113667052552010-04-13T21:07:00.004-04:002010-04-14T22:38:20.155-04:00Tuesday - Practice Clinic DayTuesday was our day to get to the village and set up for a test run of our clinic.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcx8NITKkg7015-pEC7wDGDCB4MH8r9vN5gDSw82eBRFb6IaHwT8kYxRNHFpdY-xXbzoWlSps5Yf6fgSBj5fEiH5RcRxFD6F-XETpT6h4VT-AdzGHfNJURIc7jeoUeGMxQbtwv2O6hsz5/s1600/Pat+588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcx8NITKkg7015-pEC7wDGDCB4MH8r9vN5gDSw82eBRFb6IaHwT8kYxRNHFpdY-xXbzoWlSps5Yf6fgSBj5fEiH5RcRxFD6F-XETpT6h4VT-AdzGHfNJURIc7jeoUeGMxQbtwv2O6hsz5/s320/Pat+588.JPG" /></a></div>We started out with a visit to the school where we were welcomed with speeches thanking the Rotarians for the new furniture and whiteboards that we provided.<br />
In this picture Pat Batchelor is reviewing some of the schoolwork that the children have worked on.<br />
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Barbara Whitehouse is conducting the basic acuity test with Basilio Chay. Basilio is one of our four translators and we put all of them through the process so that they can provide first hand information to the people who will be going through our 7 days of clinics.<br />
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At lot of our patients were seeing 20/30 which means they see at 20' what the average person can see at 30'.<br />
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Here Pat Batchelor administers putting drops in Basilio Chay's eyes to dilate them for testing. It take about 15 minutes for the eyes to become fully dilated.<br />
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While we're waiting for the 15 minutes to go by Barb Gutherie oversees a basic health check. First Barb takes their blood pressure.<br />
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Then Sue Landry takes and checks a blood sample to see if there are any concerns about diabetes.<br />
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Steve Brown is using the autorefractor to determine the strength of lenses that the patient may need. Dr. Carl uses this information as part of the diagnosis to finalize the prescription for any corrective lenses required.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIssGVXy0nrctJbg-N8Q9HJOtaGUAD2YCB8_kUhsRt-HRfcD_U8VXaXb5y79Kx6SLouNlwBfNOuNBZI9vur6vlE3iJB4p_1AN05hPy7D-bzjJ21g9Ja5hwKmOUH-X2Kd_iUVsLtAIdKHD/s1600/Dr+carl+636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIssGVXy0nrctJbg-N8Q9HJOtaGUAD2YCB8_kUhsRt-HRfcD_U8VXaXb5y79Kx6SLouNlwBfNOuNBZI9vur6vlE3iJB4p_1AN05hPy7D-bzjJ21g9Ja5hwKmOUH-X2Kd_iUVsLtAIdKHD/s320/Dr+carl+636.JPG" /></a></div>Here Dr. Carl Whitehouse examines the inside of Salone Huinac's eye and then prescribes the type of glasses if they are needed.<br />
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After the glasses have been selected from the 2600 odd pairs we have brought with us Janet Batchelor fits them to the patient and has them do a quick test to see how they work.<br />
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Tomorrow we return for our first full day of testing.<br />
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Stay tuned for an update........Bill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323133732271409593.post-63756197547210415962010-04-13T21:00:00.000-04:002010-04-13T21:00:39.280-04:00Monday in Antigua - Day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3M-aE6ztPbhd7gviDUxUNVILTelfmDcyvNJm0b8sd2srQbFbEyiTozpemZzNPmyEts00zzCcomb-rhptuOHvQEov6ymwBs7pls0Bj_K7nM0ZmXcXV4imk8WexoJv5QY67Q6tJ4YXSK_S/s1600/Sat.+Mar.+13+444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3M-aE6ztPbhd7gviDUxUNVILTelfmDcyvNJm0b8sd2srQbFbEyiTozpemZzNPmyEts00zzCcomb-rhptuOHvQEov6ymwBs7pls0Bj_K7nM0ZmXcXV4imk8WexoJv5QY67Q6tJ4YXSK_S/s320/Sat.+Mar.+13+444.jpg" /></a></div>This was out first full day in Guatemala.<br />
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People got up early and made their way to the roof-top of our hotel to enjoy the views and sounds of Antigua.<br />
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After breakfast we went on a walking tour of the Antigua and made a long climb up to the cross that overlooks the City.<br />
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This City has a lot of history with many derelict building that are left over from various earthquakes, volcanoes and other natural disasters.<br />
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After our tour we loaded up the two vans that had come all the way from Xela that morning and we made the 5 hour return trip to our new base. The Team was glad to have arrived and start to get settled.Bill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323133732271409593.post-31321233562909299202010-04-11T22:23:00.000-04:002010-04-11T22:23:11.942-04:00Here we are in Antigua<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9w9ICKe8jzgT0DzTYVbT-RVZ67UNESWqEkJDwryDbJjiBWmx6qvQ7E5SpHAUtEPUrNst9eIjUPnJqVo0ywrC8N2dH6_WPZfsWiNYqx5a-D1eZJ2bJZSVbEZxYPpm2Ft75yigqVewWpot/s1600/Fondo+de+escritorio.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9w9ICKe8jzgT0DzTYVbT-RVZ67UNESWqEkJDwryDbJjiBWmx6qvQ7E5SpHAUtEPUrNst9eIjUPnJqVo0ywrC8N2dH6_WPZfsWiNYqx5a-D1eZJ2bJZSVbEZxYPpm2Ft75yigqVewWpot/s400/Fondo+de+escritorio.bmp" width="400" /></a></div>Bill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323133732271409593.post-13384380903232472452010-04-11T19:51:00.000-04:002010-04-11T19:51:43.040-04:00We've arrivedWe arrived safely in Antigua after a failrly long day. The group will get together shortly for dinner and then likely an early night for all. Torrow we're up for breakfast at 7 and then a tour of the city at 8am.<br />
More later.......Bill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323133732271409593.post-19721259244741757122010-04-08T08:53:00.000-04:002010-04-08T08:53:33.115-04:00Ms. Dean's Spanish Class<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKNv9r9TIv9yCIUgDZNDhThHIOj2GJRcoWD5vWQjFsMcEa0B1JvdGB-_ZV8e2g5RNSGBGSLQH440cDUw1gnFvhy2bGvEX65-ogb2ZA5BszM8rE-FDjNrHN01BJVYw8WWY_qJHBbG_Gcb_/s1600/img191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKNv9r9TIv9yCIUgDZNDhThHIOj2GJRcoWD5vWQjFsMcEa0B1JvdGB-_ZV8e2g5RNSGBGSLQH440cDUw1gnFvhy2bGvEX65-ogb2ZA5BszM8rE-FDjNrHN01BJVYw8WWY_qJHBbG_Gcb_/s320/img191.jpg" /></a></div>Laura Dean took on the task to try and teach us Spanish in 8 weeks!Bill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323133732271409593.post-46630136424216559902010-03-29T23:26:00.010-04:002010-04-01T10:52:01.245-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHCX1VPPubDsseohQXbE38ccKlUjP-6Omyp1-Pvh2ElS_qwUxxG0ZXDFpcgpamXWKC4wk4NVYsSjuzQmwfFkPdIL-vHylIuINnU3i1IJYkRa3HvwDY6TihCvRo4VU5TcXuGwj_El6Nm1U/s1600/IMG_0389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHCX1VPPubDsseohQXbE38ccKlUjP-6Omyp1-Pvh2ElS_qwUxxG0ZXDFpcgpamXWKC4wk4NVYsSjuzQmwfFkPdIL-vHylIuINnU3i1IJYkRa3HvwDY6TihCvRo4VU5TcXuGwj_El6Nm1U/s320/IMG_0389.JPG" /></a></div>On Saturday March 27th several Rotarians and friends of Rotary came out and let the Rotary Eye Clinic team put to use the skills that we had been working on for several months. It was a good chance to see how our equipment set up worked as well as the flow and timing of patients.<br />
In the photo on the right Dr. Carl goes over the plan for the day with the team. <br />
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This is our intake process where we get information from the patient on their medical history and other vitals.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpj_KHxMDx5l41KNoBqfLYhOlKeFAWukVM-HjK_nlffWbM-GGMlo6LoY3lH5abK9cx8_hNVCSw_pN9WcDB60TQb466HVtogFBgNyjpiStruCUSVAbwlpFsf-8H93WRoj2NRDGDke2AbaOh/s1600/My+Pictures0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpj_KHxMDx5l41KNoBqfLYhOlKeFAWukVM-HjK_nlffWbM-GGMlo6LoY3lH5abK9cx8_hNVCSw_pN9WcDB60TQb466HVtogFBgNyjpiStruCUSVAbwlpFsf-8H93WRoj2NRDGDke2AbaOh/s320/My+Pictures0003.jpg" /></a></div>Next step is the basic chart reading exercise to test visual acuity. In the test we have set up for use in Guatemala we use various rotations of the letter E and ask the patient to indicate to us, using a card the position of the E that is being pointed to on the chart. We anticipate that some of our patients we will see in our clinic will not be able to read hence the use of the rotating E and the card.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrY8jtyvoeVadWvxxlnbqeAVNTXc7bOt-RnnYStFh8DyDZFd-EqdaEYa-tHrqezNpWjrOxMWPIokX2N9mLVEsZXbY5QRE794xNICOoLl6u0No3JL_o12aJBYtewxvCiB78iLdT-ThTUrlA/s1600/My+Pictures0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrY8jtyvoeVadWvxxlnbqeAVNTXc7bOt-RnnYStFh8DyDZFd-EqdaEYa-tHrqezNpWjrOxMWPIokX2N9mLVEsZXbY5QRE794xNICOoLl6u0No3JL_o12aJBYtewxvCiB78iLdT-ThTUrlA/s320/My+Pictures0004.jpg" /></a></div>Nest step is to put drops in the patient's eyes to dilate their pupils. This is necessary so that we can properly assess their condition and determine their prescription if needed. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUvOL0WU0FQt_nXo_FalAGTmSDVseD0JCw50_8JGZWk8CXkIozoMRWu9ndabTksIF1evkMUIsQmQP9rsUXX_IcJI-QpoVpT6kbeN8YAWmbBEELlA4Oa0eeyclaQlsDMFaXXhyg8IXuQg3/s1600/My+Pictures0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUvOL0WU0FQt_nXo_FalAGTmSDVseD0JCw50_8JGZWk8CXkIozoMRWu9ndabTksIF1evkMUIsQmQP9rsUXX_IcJI-QpoVpT6kbeN8YAWmbBEELlA4Oa0eeyclaQlsDMFaXXhyg8IXuQg3/s320/My+Pictures0006.jpg" /></a><br />
Then the patients get to see Dr. Carl who examines them and then pulls all of the information together to determine what the patient needs and he prescribes the corrective lenses if required.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SogbMp9PhA0SE36M-Z-xDxUs11x_whXQe93lQQ3yiuRpsQtwhsr_z_GQXhXpDVM-GEUUWYpwVrk4qL_ecAylbD6J8Xl3RZh6ptqnbaDf72m2xKil3xC1YBXEUoOon19OUgENWTiG9vrM/s1600/IMG_0401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SogbMp9PhA0SE36M-Z-xDxUs11x_whXQe93lQQ3yiuRpsQtwhsr_z_GQXhXpDVM-GEUUWYpwVrk4qL_ecAylbD6J8Xl3RZh6ptqnbaDf72m2xKil3xC1YBXEUoOon19OUgENWTiG9vrM/s320/IMG_0401.JPG" /></a></div>After a check-up with Dr. Carl patient go to the dispensing station where we look up their prescription in our data base. We retrieve 3 pairs of glasses that are nearest their requirement and then fit the most suitable one to the patient. For our "test" clinic we didn't dispense any glasses but the "mock" process helped us refine our processes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0olSJrqbkNu0WjLHbrgs1IUd_xXWdlltqV4E5CS3ImuLF1l_m801m6FLTFV-jVJPX82yID3AdakOk83bFm96k3vXtKthxPqgZkbxRuzfD9OEVjqH2We2bHtdJIQClqDgtbfFkffCiq-wc/s1600/IMG_0402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0olSJrqbkNu0WjLHbrgs1IUd_xXWdlltqV4E5CS3ImuLF1l_m801m6FLTFV-jVJPX82yID3AdakOk83bFm96k3vXtKthxPqgZkbxRuzfD9OEVjqH2We2bHtdJIQClqDgtbfFkffCiq-wc/s320/IMG_0402.JPG" /></a>As per most of our training sessions we ended up with some hospitality - today was homemade chili, veggies, salad, bread and focaccia. We finished off with some magnificent chocolate peanut butter cookies. Check out our recipe section if you are interested.<br />
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Thank you to the volunteers for helping us prepare for our clinics in Guatemala.Bill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323133732271409593.post-33474769312630801082010-03-17T20:40:00.000-04:002010-03-17T20:43:56.003-04:00Preparations are under way<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Rotary Club of Perth will be conducting eye clinics for the indigenous people of Guatemala in April 2010.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Preparations have been underway for many months. Key activities have been logistics, linguistics and lasagne - the 3 L's.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">More about the 3 Ls:</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Logistics included everything from getting there, getting the eyeglasses, training the volunteers, raising the funds for equipment and designing the workshops.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpe2OSqCR-G-pldwNF7aEDYct-aGOB9CYuHOMY-uxrVK_BVds3II_a6Uuc3L_6ewdZ5WSLe624weHZSX46DLM8I8wRXWRL5ByLmgPZ0jxzAFK6LxRLqzRn3kG5j-TWgjGb34fQWYE1fHH/s1600-h/IMG_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpe2OSqCR-G-pldwNF7aEDYct-aGOB9CYuHOMY-uxrVK_BVds3II_a6Uuc3L_6ewdZ5WSLe624weHZSX46DLM8I8wRXWRL5ByLmgPZ0jxzAFK6LxRLqzRn3kG5j-TWgjGb34fQWYE1fHH/s320/IMG_0039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Linguistics included getting the team up to speed with some basic Spanish and arranging for translators to translate from Spanish to Mam or Quiché which is the dialect of the native Mayans who will be attending the clinics.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lasagne is about one of the favourite foods that the Team had at the many dinners during our various training session. “Feed them well, perhaps a glass of wine and they gladly participate and let us dilate their eyes” could have been our modus operandi. In those sessions the Team took turns getting and giving eye drops, taking and giving blood for diabetes testing and monitoring blood pressure levels.</span></div>Bill Halehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02140370374669088851noreply@blogger.com0