Day 1 - Remarkable

On this first day, a very excited team travelled 30 minutes outside of Guatemala City to the rural community of San Pedro Ayampuc. By the time we got off the bus at 9 a.m., hundreds of people were already in line. Toothless grandmothers clasped the hands of their grandchildren while young mothers bounced squirming babies on their hips – each one eager to see the Canadian doctors and dentists that waved as they got off the bus.

The team quickly found their spots and began treating patients. By 6 p.m. 789 people had been seen by medical staff, and 90 people had received dental treatment from our two dentists. Below are some stories from a very remarkable first day.



Twenty month old baby – gun shot wound and parasites
This little guy arrived in the arms of his young mother with abdominal discomfort and diarrhea. A kind paramedic examined him and his incredible story of survival unfolds. One month ago while being held by his father in a local store, a robbery took place and a bullet was fired. The bullet killed his father and miraculously passed through his small body without hitting any organs. The sad eyes of his 23rd old mother, now alone with 2 small children, pierced many hearts today. However, the gift of warm hugs, medicine, vitamins, food, and new clothing for her children went a long way to show this young woman that she is not alone – there are people who care.



Five year old boy – fillings for his teeth
He hides behind the strong arm of his father knowing that this big man will not leave his side. As I fill out his patient dental sheet, I ask his father if he has any health concerns. His father’s sad eyes speak louder than his words and I soon learn that this chubby little boy has lymphoma. His father tells me I will never know how much he has suffered and I let the tears fall as I tell him about my own granddaughter’s battle with stage 4 cancer. We weep together for just a moment – knowing that we share a bond of understanding as we trust God for continued miracles. I gently lead Kevin over to Dr. Jack – knowing that this doctor’s cheerful banter and mispronounced Spanish words will bring a smile to these two faces that deserve so much.





Dr. Jack gives Kevin a new ball and I run for another toy as Dr. Jack fires up the drill and gently begins his work. I stroke Kevin’s chubby hand knowing that today this darling child and his father have both received much more than beautiful teeth – they have received kindness and hope to face as many tomorrows as they have together.

Nine year old boy – heart trouble
He arrives at the clinic with an elderly neighbour who tells the doctor that he has heart trouble. The doctor is at once concerned and begins a thorough examination in search of heart irregularities. After finding nothing, he questions the elderly lady and she begins to explain that his father died a few months ago, and that recently his mother abandoned him, leaving in her wake a boy with a very broken heart. Things become clear and the concerned Canadian doctor speaks gently to the boy telling him he is sorry – his eyes tell this sweet child that he can only imagine how his heart must really feel. There are no words to describe this kind of pain and each team member wishes they could scoop him up and take him home. But…he is one of many hurting children and at best all that we offer is a warm smile, a hug, and some vitamins – momentary solutions that give him the courage he needs to follow his neighbour lady home in search of a cure for his broken heart.

Young woman – kidney failure
She receives dialysis three days per week, and has a donor who will give her a kidney but she cannot afford the surgery. Dr. Tony does what he can for her but he knows that time is not on her side, and that we must find a way to help this young woman get the surgery that she needs in order to live and together we will.

These are just a few of the reasons that motivate us to wake up in the morning at 5 a.m. to do it again tomorrow in the community of Saxsui, where we are anticipating the arrival of 1000 people.



Thank you for your support of this trip and of this organization that really does Feed The Children in so many more ways than one.

The Team Has Landed!

We were a very energetic group of Canadian medical/dental professionals that walked off the plane yesterday in Guatemala City. Feed The Children Guatemalan staff welcomed us with hugs and two buses to transport us and all of our luggage. Twelve returning members were busily becoming reacquainted and laughing about memories from their Honduras trip, while welcoming six new team members and the exciting addition of a dental team.

The team was quickly settled into the hotel and spent the remainder of the day discussing logistics and sorting through the items that will be distributed to the visiting families at the clinics each day.

Today,(Sunday) we took a bus ride to the historical city of Antigua. Cobblestone streets still welcomed guests to this quaint city which was built in 1543.

As I stood on a rooftop overlooking the town, I could see hundreds of clay tiles on every roof – a sea of wavy terracotta baking in the hot sun. Warmly painted, connected homes lined the streets in every imaginable shade of gold, orange and rust. Ornate wrought iron decorated the windows that flourished with exotic flowers in reds and purples.





Along with us, many tourists wander through old cathedrals and abandoned convents wondering about the stories that the old stone walls would undoubtedly tell if only they could.



A fruit vendor stands beside a small cart preparing bags of papaya and pineapple which he sells to feed his family. Women hold hands with their little brown eyed daughters in typical dress making their way to the huge cathedral, while other women pass by our team carrying bundles of wood on their heads in order to cook their next meal.

Today we are tourists in this warm colorful city, but tomorrow at the first clinic in San Pedro Ayampuc, we become God’s hands and feet – doing His work with the use of stethoscopes and dental tools – a team of caring Canadians sharing God’s love with these beautiful people who really do need the hope that we have come to bestow.

Well & School Dedications Bless Two Communities

On Friday February 22, 2008 Ken Dick and FTC Canada Representative, Ryan Fletcher, drove up the mountain to the region of Palencia to dedicate the new well and school. Many families attended the dedications and spoke directly to Ken – thanking him for changing their lives and for giving their children a promising future.





One mother said, “I have lived in this community for more than 40 years and 32 years ago we were promised water. This has always been our dream and today it is a reality. I have brought my daughter here today so that she can witness this dream that has come true. Every day we had to walk two kilometers to get fresh water. She tapped on her heart and gently put her arm around her daughter's shoulder and said, “I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Now, my children will not have to wait many more years for fresh water, and they will not have to walk a great distance to wash or to get a drink. You have changed our lives forever and words cannot express what is in our hearts toward you.”

At the school site, hundreds gathered to celebrate this auspicious occasion – a day that the children of Bejucalito will never forget. They now have a school and a library to call heir own. A place to be proud of – a place of learning that will give them the tools they need to succeed. The children sang songs for the visiting group and Mayor Beto and his wife were very moved as with tears in his eyes Ken said, “Denada” (you’re welcome) to all of the people who clapped and cheered. In short, it was a very emotional day for the Canadians who had travelled up the mountain to show two communities how much they really care.

School & Well Dedications Next Week

The children living in Bejucalito are becoming very excited as daily they see more of their school. Just imagine the value these children, (who have watched the construction) will place on education – real walls, a library, and several blackboards provided by caring Canadians, will be the beginning of opportunities that will change their lives forever. Next week FTC’s President, Ken Dick, will travel up the mountain to officially dedicate the new school at its official opening. With the arrival of every new photo, Ken’s excitement has been visible to all of the FTC staff, who know that their leader has an incredibly big heart when it comes to changing a child’s life. It is his passion for this work that encourages each of us to press on in our efforts to help children.



In a nearby village, many will gather around the well that is also being dedicated next week – people thrilled to have potable water near their homes. Once the well is operational, the city of Palencia has promised to run the pipes directly into the community. In the western world, we don’t think about not having water in our homes. This is a huge blessing for these humble families who appreciate this gift more than we will ever know.



On February 23rd, FTC’s medical team will fly to Guatemala and with every communication we can “feel” their excitement. The dental equipment shipped from Canada has arrived, and our team in Guatemala is busy with the pre-trip groundwork. They are packaging the rice, beans, cereal and coffee that will be distributed to each family visiting the medical clinics. In addition, each child will receive a new piece of clothing and a small toy – all tangible items that will bless these Guatemalans with hope and show them that someone cares.

The School Walls Are Going Up!

The children in the small mountain community of Bejucalito are very excited as they see the walls of their new school going up.



Currently, each grade is taking turns attending the small school (which is a tin shack) because there is not enough space to accommodate all of the students. Director of Feed The Children Guatemala, Efrain de los Rios, says, “When I visited the children of Bejucalito this week, I could see the excitement in their eyes as they gazed across the yard to watch the construction workers – knowing that soon they will have a new school where they can all attend at the same time. This is the project of their lives and they will never forget this gift. Thank you FTC Canada for investing into the future of these children.”



FTC knows that without education children cannot succeed. It is very exciting to be making a lasting impact in this Guatemalan community, where the gift of education will be received by many generations.

A Well & School for Communities in Guatemala

In the western world, we often take for granted what children and families in developing countries simply do not have access to. Poor sanitation and contaminated water contribute to illness, infection, and even death. It is also a sad fact that many communities do not have schools, so most of the children do not receive an education. The children pictured below are forced to walk 4 kilometers over the mountains to get to a school and so most of the younger children cannot make the trip.




Each year during their medical team trip, FTC Canada embraces additional projects in direct response to the community needs in that area. Last year in Honduras, 25 latrines were constructed, and a well was installed in a community where more than 400 families enjoy fresh water today.




In Guatemala, FTC is currently installing another well that will benefit more than 1,500 people living in a rural community. A little further up the mountain, the children in the community of Bejucalito, are receiving a school of their own. The ground has been cleared and construction has begun.




A dedication ceremony is planned for both projects on Friday February 22, 2008.FTC Canada’s President Ken Dick will be in attendance.

FTC's Medical Team Is Getting Ready To Travel

FTC’s medical team is excited about leaving for Guatemala on February 23, 2008. Most of the team members traveled to Honduras with FTC last February, and words cannot capture their thoughts as they prepare themselves to once again bring hope to humble families trying to exist in some of Guatemala's poorest neighbourhoods.



Last year, it was amazing to see how a firm handshake from a Canadian doctor, or the touch of a cold stethoscope on a small brown chest could actually lift the human spirit. A little compassion goes a long way in places where is none, and each day people left the mobile medical clinic with a renewed light in their eyes.

This year, we are very pleased about the addition of a dentist and a dental assistant so that we can run a dental clinic as well. We anticipate treating over 3500 patients during the five days of clinics, in areas where there is very little medical/dental care.

Medical team members have been collecting items to ship to Guatemala this month in a container that sails next week. Items like small toys, warm hats, gloves, tennis balls, underwear, blankets, children’s vitamins, and food will be distributed at the medical clinics each day. Simple acts of kindness from the team, will give these Guatemalans the opportunity to catch their breath and receive the courage they need to go on.