Laura Smith, a PT student from PITT, completed a 6 week global health rotation at ASELSI this summer. For this blog, I’m sharing what she wrote about her time in Guatemala.

My time working with ASELSI as a physical therapy intern this summer was an incredible experience. It is evident that God is working through all of the missionaries and staff as they work to meet the needs of people both physically and spiritually. I learned so much about physical therapy, missions, and the culture and people of Guatemala.

ASELSI stands for “equipping the saints,” which comes from Ephesians 4:12, “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” I learned what it truly means to equip the saints when working with ASELSI’s Center for Physical Motor Assistance. In training local workers to provide day-to-day treatment for patients, Jennifer and Shes are embodying the meaning of the verse. Guatemalans are provided with the tools to help Guatemalans, and more people with therapy needs can be reached this way as well.

I learned that not much is handicap accessible in Guatemala, which is very different from most places in the U.S. Many people have to traverse steep pathways or stairs to leave their homes. Paths are often narrow and uneven, which makes using a wheelchair or walker difficult, if not impossible. This creates unique challenges for a physical therapist and requires creative thinking and problem solving.

Because we see patients just once a week or once every other week, I learned to focus on the big picture. Due to patients not being seen as frequently as in some of my other clinical experiences, it is even more important that they know their home exercise program well. Choosing just a few exercises or activities that you know the patient will perform well is most effective.

I learned not to be shy with my Spanish and to be willing to make mistakes. I realized that people would rather me say something with incorrect grammar or pronunciation than not say anything at all. As a result, my Spanish improved greatly (although it still isn’t fantastic), and I was able to build relationships with ASELSI staff, those I lived and ate with, and others I met along the way.

I learned that I love the country and people of Guatemala with all my heart. Rather, I was reminded of that, as I had been to Guatemala on three short term trips before. But this time was different, as I saw more of the country, observed what daily life is like, understood what struggles and challenges are faced, and met more people. Now back in the U.S., a piece of my heart remains there, and those I met will always be in my prayers.

And finally, I learned that if it is God’s will for me, I want to return someday with my physical therapy skills to continue serving the needs of children and adults with disabilities in Guatemala. God is at work through his people in Guatemala and in Chichicastenango, and I know he will continue to be in the future.