A special thanks to Megan Francisco (pictured above), DPT student from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and member of the team that came to work with us in Guatemala in August, for this week’s blog post.

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the LORD.”  -Romans 12:11

My trip to Chichicastenango, Guatemala has rekindled the fire down in my soul to press on in this life and in the physical therapy profession. It was a blessing to have the opportunity to immerse myself in this beautiful culture and work with so many different people for the same purpose of serving the Lord through physical therapy, occupational therapy, and the building of assistive devices for some of the cutest little kids!

One of my favorite experiences was traveling to the therapy clinic in Canilla where my group and I were blessed to lead a group therapy class of three men whom were stroke survivors.  These men were all functioning at different levels physically, so it was awesome to mentally challenge myself to create therapeutic activities that were fun and beneficial to each participant. We created obstacle courses that focused on balance and fine motor skills and completed the session with a fun game of fútbol (soccer)! While we were playing fútbol, one man was unable to stand for extended periods of time and I could sense that he felt as if he was missing out on the fun of the game due to sitting down or not being able to run to the soccer ball as fast as the other two men. I really wanted to tell him how well he was doing and offer words of encouragement to continue participating, however my Spanish is not great, so it was very hard for me to communicate with him. Then, a very beautiful thing happened. The other two men began kicking the soccer ball soft enough to him, so he would be able to control it. I could see how his entire demeanor changed after this! He began to smile and enjoy his time in therapy!  I believe those two men showing that his participation was important not only to us volunteering as therapists, but also important to them as fellows with similar conditions gave him the encouragement that he needed to understand that he is not alone in his circumstance! It was a blessing to witness this interaction because it displayed how beautiful the human heart is, and how important it is to have a support group that one can relate to when enduring tough trials in life! This display of positive social interaction also speaks to the angelic sense of community that this country holds.

Even as an outsider, the ASELSI community embraced me as if I were a resident member of their team. There was never a time that I felt like they did not accept me or my elementary Spanish! The staff at Canilla and ASELSI offered love and friendship the second they met us, and I wish that same sense of fellowship and community existed in my home country. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to experience the Guatemalan culture, learn about their way of life and establish a relationship with the ASELSI community!

Jesus Christ knew that pursuing a career in physical therapy was the perfect path for me to take, and I hope and pray that He leads me back to Chichicastenango, Guatemala someday! Guatemala has my heart, indefinitely!