Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro: A brief intro

Hermano Pedro was pronounced "pious" in 1980 and with the idea of imitating his charity, Fray Guillermo Bonilla Carvajal started Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro around his tomb. Following destruction from a powerful earthquake in 1976, the building has been restored and repaired progressively, and today, accomodates more than 230 patients. The patients range in age and arrive at Las Obras for various reasons, including: severe handicap, abandonment, and poverty.
Las Obras is run entirely (!!!) on volunteers and donations, including financial support, but also including food, plants, clothing, medical equipment, furniture, cleaning, etc. Donations also include medical missions, surgical materials, medications, and professional services, such as physical therapists (also the presence of PT volunteers is not as extensive as medical doctors or nurses).

Las Obras' vision: Be a religious and humanistic institution that extends charity and solidarity, beign an example of Saint Hermano Pedro, giving integral attention in order to offer a better quality of life and dignity to people, with emphasis on the poor, regardless of religion, race or condition.

APTA's vision: Guided by integrity, life-long learning, and a commitment to comprehensive and accessible health programs for all people, physical therapists and physical therapist assistants will render evidence-based services throughout the continuum of care and improve quality of life for society.

The similarity in the theme of serving ALL people is uncanny - additionally, the guidelines for pro bono work supports our role at Las Obras through the facet of donating professional expertise and service to charitable groups or organizations, such as Las Obras. And while these statements do provide reinforcement for our work here, it was humbling to be at Las Obras and to witness and become involved with the love and care that is provided for the patients that reside there. We have so much to share and will do so over the next few days...but we hope that you will familiarize yourself with the work at Las Obras and perhaps consider how you might be able to join them for the betterment of this society and of physical therapy as a profession.

The real purpose of our trip

Today was our first day at the clinic, Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro - many interesting experiences...and we'll post later on with details, but suffice it to say, we learned about "G-time" or Guatemalan time, the amazing (!!!) work going on at Las Obras and how this organization functions, and that heat + fatigue + hunger leads to sleepy although still attentive individuals, whether Guatemalan or American...some things never change :)

Buenas tardes amigos! No siesta for us...we're off to the clinic again this afternoon.

Our Casa

So...this is home, at least for the week...not only do we have a really safe and secure spot to rest our heads at night (the complex is surrounded by a wall and there is a security guard 24/7), it is also a very inexpensive paradise (only $20 US dollars a day per person - even Motel 6 can't touch that...)

Up up and away...with WINGS

Today was a day where we sought out and were confronted with cultural clashes. However, don't mistake "clashes" to be negative, as we actually found that rubbing elbows with the locals was not only entertaining, but also quite enjoyable.

The day started with a stroll to the Sunday market. Here, we were able to see many of the traditional objects (clothing, toys, jewelry, etc) that Guatemalans make and use. The majority of vendors employ a version of the following line: "No pay to look and touch." And so we found ourselves looking and touching, often with the Guatemalans encouragement to learn about their culture. The market also included local food products, such as the plethora of mangoes, limes, and papayas pictured here. One other thing that was included - but never advertised - was bartering. Guatemalans enjoy the art of bartering - and although it took some of us awhile to get the hang of it, most began to look for opportunities to engage in conversations beyond just the bartering.

This evening continued the cultural experiences of the morning. Sue Patterson, of WINGS, joined us - WINGS aims to improve the lives of Guatemalan men, women and children by providing health education and service referrals. Dinner was a typical Guatemalan meal of rice, guacamole, tortillas, and pepian; the latter can be likened to a spicy stew with vegetables and meat, which is then ladled over the rice. Sue then presented a history of Guatemala, addressing topics such as health care, poverty, education, government corruption, and health beliefs. We learned that only 2% of the national budget is allocated to health care. Additionally, given illiteracy rates, health care myths are rampant and provide yet another barrier to access. For example, many Guatemalans believe that receiving a cervical screening led to the development of cervical cancer.

The experiences of today really brought cultural differences to a forefront - and while we will not claim expertise in the Guatemalan culture, we will say that we at least have a better understanding of their joy in life and of their difficulties. Today was instrumental in setting the stage for the real purposes of our visit which begin tomorrow...

Lent - Guatemalan style

The Lent season is marked with processionals throughout the streets of Antigua on each Sunday leading up to Easter. The series of processionals begin with a massive dance in the streets surrounding Central Park. Picture hundreds of arms belonging to teenage boys, caballeros, spinning lovely teenage girls, senoritas, all dressed in finery. Now add thousands of eyes staring at them plus the collective clicking sound of cameras capturing the moment. Imagine that at your high school dance and you'll get an idea of the awkwardness. Yet, as part of the guilty, it was amazing to be included in this experience, to see the excitement (and a bit of embarrassment, can't blame them) of these youngsters as they proudly showed off their culture. After their dance, umbrellas in pastel shades opened in the arms of the teenage girls as they shaded themselves and their partner for the walk through town.

Later in the day came the religious floats. Each Sunday, a different church parades their version of the Easter story through the city. Today, the floats were carried and accompanied by many men and women dressed in purple robes. As the floats passed, many of the Guatemalans surrounding us would cross themselves or mumble what sounded like prayers, highlighting the deep religiosity of this country. Incense filled the air, magnifying the juxtaposition between the old and the new, the tradition of Guatemala and the unorthodoxy of the post-procession, which consisted of a carnival of treats - cotton candy, colorful balloons, cheap toys - and the "sweepers" which followed with large brooms.

Regardless of religious affiliation, this experience added to our understanding of the Guatemalans. Although poverty is extreme, illiteracy rates are high, education is low, and access to health care is rare, the Guatemalans still embrace and celebrate life. And today, we were able to embrace it with them, side by side, sharing in the joy of their culture.

A volcanic myth

The word 'volcano' comes from the little island of Vulcano in the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily. Centuries ago, the people living in this area believed that Vulcano was the chimney of the forge of Vulcan - the blacksmith of the Roman gods. They thought that the hot lava fragments and clouds of dust erupting form Vulcano came from Vulcan's forge as he beat out thunderbolts for Jupiter, king of the gods, and weapons for Mars, the god of war.

In Roman mythology, Vulcan, the god of fire, was said to have made tools and weapons for the other gods in his workshop at Olympus. Throughout history, volcanoes have frequently been identified with Vulcan and other mythological figures. Scientists now know that the "smoke" from volcanoes, once attributed by poets to be from Vulcan's forge, is actually volcanic gas naturally released from both active and many inactive volcanoes.

Volcan was Hephaistos - the Greek god of fire and craftsmanship, named Vulcan by the Romans.

He was the son of Zeus and Hera - although some versions of his story state that he had no father, with Hera bearing him alone in retaliation for Zeus having brought forth Athena - Hephaestus was born lame and ugly, and his mother Hera hated him on first sight.

In one version of the myth, Hera herself, after seeing that he was born deformed, casts him from Olympus. In another version Zeus hurls him from heaven because he tried to defend Hera when they were having a quarrel. Upon landing on Lemnos - after falling for a full day - Hephaestus brakes his legs and becomes lame. In any case, the sea-goddess Thetis then finds the crippled infant on the beach, and takes him to her underwater grotto where she raises him with the help of Eurynome, mother of the Graces.

To regain his rightful place among the gods, Hephaestus used a clever ruse. He built a golden throne and sent it to Hera as a gift. Upon sitting on it, Hera got imprisoned by its golden arms, which promptly clamped her. To reclaim her freedom Hera had to extract a promise from all the gods that Hephaestus would be accepted into the Pantheon.

Hephaestus became the smith and manufacturer of art, arms and armor for gods and heroes, using a volcano as his forge. According to the Iliad he is married to Aglaia, one of the Graces, but in the Odyssey he is said to be married to Aphrodite.

(Borrowed from: http://www.crystalinks.com/volcanomyth.html)

Pacaya...not Papaya

Mission: climb the Pacaya volcano, which first erupted ~23,000 years ago and today, erupts continuously

Elevation: 8,373 feet.

This afternoon we ventured to the Pacaya volcano with Hugo of Expeditions Guatemala (or as he likes to say guat-ever). After a twisty-turvy 45-minute car ride of passing two 18-wheelers simultaneously with a cliff on one side, we arrived to the base, where young boys sold us “walking sticks” (or literally, wooden branches). The first 200 meters of ascent were on a concrete base…it was at this point that the “taxis” or horses’ owners called out to us, “Amigos, need a lift?” Was it that apparent that we might not be able to make it? We paused for a few moments to gather the group – one collective sight of panting and clutching one’s sides.

Luckily, the path became soft ground and we turned down the taxi ride…we were going to conquer this volcano by feet. A 60-minute hike later, we found ourselves at the base of the volcano. A soft red glow was visible in the distance. Our path transitioned to hardened lava for another 20 minute hike. And then we arrived. Pools of red-orange lava oozed slowly – we neared it cautiously, eyes wide opened, feeling the warmth envelope us. We found spots to sit and began our picnic dinner – sandwiches, chips, and banana bread never tasted so good. And for dessert? Marshmallows roasting on an open fire :)

After dinner, we began our descent in pitch darkness. A sea of headlamps lit the way, but still, it was a bit treacherous. But we embraced the lesson – as PT’s, we ask our patients to push through their pain, their fatigue, their fears. And as group, we did just that- some of us had pain, most of us were fatigued, and one of us conquered her fear of heights. And by having pushed through, we were able to savor in the present moment, the beauty of Pacaya. And although not directly the same, we are hopeful that moments like this will help us to help our patients find their own moments of beauty.