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Nine missionaries from various professions in the U.S. meet up with Dr. Otto Hernandez and his son Paul in Guatemala (11). Together, we run 4 clinics over 4 days in two mountain villages; treating and praying for each of the 536 people. We also provide 4 children’s missions (4³) and several adult worship services (the total people we met and serviced is well over 800 in 5 villages).

My dream became reality in the first village of Belén. After teaching the kids to play duck, duck, goose and taking several turns myself, I headed out of the circle towards the women who had been cooking our meals. Several scooted off worried that I was coming to pull them into the game. An older woman scolded one of them, calling out “Olibia, Olibia”. I stopped dead in my tracks! My dream had me in front of an aqua colored wall, in a bright room with a woman saying that Olivia was here. In this case, Olivia was running away—the dream was in Spanish so I probably misinterpreted. As I reached the edge of the building all I saw was the tail of her skirt as she rounded the back of the building. Disappointed, I turned around to be blinded by the mid-day sun and found myself standing in front of the church which until then I had failed to notice was painted a bright aqua blue!! I scouted out Olivia and chatted with her through an interpreter later that afternoon, my telling her of the dreams and not knowing why I was to meet her—only that it were odd that I did.

This was a journey of tremendous personal growth: I am still processing and figuring out how to absorb and utilize it all. The easiest parts of the trip to talk about are the general humility, graciousness, gratitude and welcoming nature of the Guatemalan people. For example, upon our arrival in the first remote mountain village we learned that several families had given up their beds for us to sleep in. These were heavy wood framed beds, with mattresses and several blankets each which had been carried by men from the homes, over the terraced landscape, up the hill, to the ante-room of the church which was designated as the “women’s sleeping area”.  Picture 8 women silenced by an act of total generosity. This set the tone of how we would be treated on this mission.

There were several amazing experiences which will have an everlasting impact on me.

There is Marta, a forty-ish woman with a clubbed left foot a result of being run over by a cart at age 8. The bone became infected and weakened, her left foot turning in and over at the ankle 45 degrees to the right. She walks on one crutch with the ankle on the ground bearing the weight of her left side (instead of the sole of her foot). I washed the dust of the dirt roads from her leg and foot, massaged the muscle then rebound them in new cushions and ace bandage.

Antonio, only 34 years old but already crippled by rheumatoid arthritis. Massage was less effective for his hands and arms, but more effective as a spiritual boost. He reminisced how strong he used to be and how now his family and friends had to help him come to the clinic. We prayed with him for a healing miracle. And others.

Then in Los Arcos, Tejutla, I meet Marielena, a 14 year old with a weakened right arm and leg resulting from insufficient physical therapy following brain surgery at age 10. It’s amazing she was able to get the brain surgery. Through a translator, we provided instructions on strengthening and kinesthetic/movement exercises and encouragement that tenacity would be rewarded by improved physical capabilities.  She had sufficient strength on which to build, but had lost hope of improvement.

Patricio, about 80 years old with severe arthritis in his hands recollected about the hard work he used to do to support his family and how his wife had massaged his hands over the years. She was now passed on and no one left to do the massage. He was tearfully grateful for the treatment.

Before I left for Guatemala, I was concerned about what a massage therapist could do in very short sessions on a medical mission. The trip proved to me that any of us has a place on a medical mission. Much of what was needed could have been done with the compassion and caring you show to your closest family members-—no special training needed. Just an interest in focusing for a few minutes on the needs of a stranger who quickly becomes a friend.

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