RPC Guatemala: We arrived safely in Guatemala!!!!

Saturday, June 14, 2014

We arrived safely in Guatemala!!!!

Parents, Church members and Prayer Partners,

We made is safely with everyone and all pieces of luggage to Chichicastenango! Thank you for your continued prayers for our trip! Our flight was great and so was the weather! The whole team did a fantastic job rolling with the punches today! Our bus was not at the airport when we showed up and after waiting for an hour and a half for him to show up we had to make different transportation arrangements! We got a great van service to take us to Chichi and they even let us listen to the World Cup on the radio so we wouldn't miss a beat! We made it to Casa del Ray hotel around 6pm and unpacked and had a great dinner a wonderful devotion lead by Brad and then it was time for the peanut butter and jelly crew to get to their sandwich making! Tomorrow we will have a church service here at the hotel and then go in to town for market day! Thank you for checking in on us today. We can already feel and see God doing great things with us on this trip!

Blessings,
Stephanie Dunn

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: So glad you made it safely! Happy Father's Day to the dads on this trip and thank you for taking care of our boys! We are praying for your safety, great memories and changed lives.
Big hugs!
The Coffees; June 15, 2014 at 5:36 AM

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Some Background on how we got involved

One RPC member has been involved in Guatemala for over 30 years. It began with his grandfather helping to purchase and start both a school and a hospital there. His father designed the original plans for the hospital, and then scavenged hospitals in the US for used equipment to ship to Guatemala. This RPC member spent 2 months during the summers of 1974 and again in 1976, in Guatemala.

The hospital and school reflects the bond of two families. The Hays' and the Morris' and two generations of each family. Bill & Arthur (first generation) were the visionaries that saw the need for both the school and the hospital. They worked together to create the foundation of what is going on today. Mr. Hays was in Guatemala as a missionary. Today the second generation, Tom & Mark, continue to travel to Guatemala and work together to maintain the visions of their fathers.

The Utatlan School is a Christian school in the city-state of Quiche. It provides Christian education for 1200 students, both boarding and day students. Grades K to technical school are offered. The biggest challenge of the school is to provide enough classrooms and dorm space for the students. Most students are on financial aid (RPC members sponsor many students).

The hospital is a charity facility in the city of Chichicastengo that provides medical care to all, as well as a Christian outreach. When the second floor was completed, a new OR suite and patient rooms were added. One private room was also created for private, paying patients. The hospital also has facilities for a Pediatric Nursery, Labor, Delivery, and an OB-GYN with diagnostic ultra-sound. A dental clinic with a new and improved dental chair has also been added. While these facilities don't measure up to our expectations, they do surpass the government hospital in the next town over.

The work is on-going. Nurses quarters. The drilling of a well for clean water. And right now, an up-grade of the current x-ray equipment.

As members of the RPC team, you will get to visit with the fabulous people who work at the school and hospital. You may be part of a painting team (yes we do upkeep), or a VBS teacher at the school, or a concrete worker for a new addition. Open to serve, where ever the call may be.

There's much more to tell.

Helpful Hints on packing

Scrubs are my personal favorite for packing (little space), comfort (it's like being in you pj's), and they can really take a beating and be worn another day or two. The weather tends to start out cool, you work up a sweat, it rains, and the evenings go cool again. You can pick these up at the local thrift shops from $2 to maybe $4 bucks a pair. 3 pair would be plenty.

T-shirts. Again find the local thrift shop and pull 5 fun t's (be mindful of nothing offensive posted across your chest).

Girls, sports bras are way more comfortable to work in all day.

Mission trips are not fashion statements. Make up is usually forgotten by day 3. Matching is never required. Comfort and practical is what you're looking for. Hair in braids, pony tails, stuffed under a hat, or covered with a rain hood; get the picture?

CLOSED TOE SHOES! We can't say this enough. You HAVE to have shoes that your whole foot is enclosed in. Any time you leave the hotel you will be REQUIRED to be in a solid shoe.

PACKING LIST!

Travel/church/non-work clothes could be:

-1 pair shorts/athletic type (NO short shorts, ie soffees)

-3 shirts/t-shirts or blouses with sleeves (no tanks)

-1 pr of jeans (no holes, tears, or cut offs) or khakis or casual dress (2" pass your finger tips in length)

-modest swim suit (one piece)

-8 prs underwear

-sleepwear

-light weight jacket/sweat shirt/flannel (it gets cool)

-rain jacket/wind breaker with hood (it rains)

-work shoes and tennis shoes (comfortable walking shoe)

-empty/refillable water bottle (wide mouth is best)

-toiletries; hair & tooth brush, paste, shampoo, deodorant

-small flashlight

specific to Work clothes:

- 3or4 pair of scrubs/long pants/jeans (they get dirty)

-4 t-shirts with sleeves (no spaghetti straps or tank tops) all long enough to cover your torso (even if your hands are up)

-work boot/rugged shoe for hiking, walking, hauling in, shoveling in, etc. (water resistant is a good thing)

-thick crew sock for construction (non-cotton is recommended)

-work GLOVES (extra courage to dig in!) YOU NEED THESE

-optional safety glasses/sun glasses

-hat or head bandana (pony tail bands too)

-hand sanitizer or container of Wet Ones

-Sunscreen

-small roll of toilet paper or pocket size tissue packs

Other:

-a small bible

-a pen

-wash cloth or thin quick drying towel

-non perishable snacks/candy

-plastic grocery bags to pack up soiled or wet clothing

-disposable camera

FYI- don't pack anything that would make you sad about loosing it. Ipods, digital cameras, jewelry... leave it at home if you can't stand the thought of never seeing it again. Things get lost, get destroyed, picked up by strangers...

NOTE: NO camouflage anything! No camo hat, shirt, pants, nothing. This is NOT acceptable apparel.

Personal Carry On Bag/purse/day pack: PASSPORT, passport, passport! prescriptions, glasses/contacts, book, e-ticket, camera, and a small bottle of hand cleaner. Remember you can only have 3 oz bottles of liquids on you which need to be inside of a zip lock baggie. Maybe a few dollars for munchies at the airport (once you go through security).