Day 11

Day 11 5/23/14
 
Today we split in half to complete our final day working with the San Lucas mission. The pharmacy students and Dr. Northrup went to the clinic to continue the progress with the construction work we have been doing all week. 

The engineering students were sent outside of town with the long term mission volunteer, Gracie, to build stoves for local Guatemalans. Most of the time these families already have makeshift stoves inside their homes but have little ventilation for the smoke. Studies have shown that families who have stoves in the house develop respiratory problems, reducing their life expectancy. In order to fight this problem the San Lucas mission has been building new stoves outside the home with a better ventilation system. However there was a mix up with the Guatemalan workers and the group was unable to actually build the stoves.  Instead, we went to a different part of San Lucas to help build a house that a family will eventually occupy. The pharmacy girls proved to be excellent construction workers by helping build more metal columns that maintain building structure as well as moving a lot of dirt. The engineers dug up dirt and moved it to make a base for the floors in the new house. Concrete will eventually be poured on top to finalize the floor structure. 

 

 

Seeing the progress at both construction sights has been very rewarding for everyone. It has given us new insight to what life in Guatemala is like and how it can be improved by the help of others.
We had the afternoon free of work to finish some last minute shopping, donating clothes to the mission, and changing our Quetzals back to dollars. We also said our goodbyes to all the people and stray dogs that have become friends of ours over the past few days. Especially this cutie who we call Maggie. 

Later we had our final meeting with Katie, the head long term volunteer at the mission, and then went to Hotel Toliman for our last dinner. We were happy to have Mario join us again as well as Gracie. The rest of the night was used for packing and spending our last hours together. We are all sad to be leaving Guatemala but will be happy to be home with our families and in our own beds. 

¡Buenas noches!
Emily