Hospitalito Atitlan (http://www.hospitalitoatitlan.org) is in Santiago across Lake Atitlan. It is the largest indigenous city in Guatemala, and Central America. The hospital provides very necessary healthcare with emphasis on women and children and public health issues to the Tzutihil Mayans.

I had told them they couldn't get all they selected on the truck - They are grinning because they proved me wrong. All three of these men are bilingual, at least one is trilingual. They were pleased with the medicines, supplies and the wheelchairs.

as one group leaves the other comes up the driveway - it was that kind of day!

Common site - we cannot keep rope to tie down loads, so groups are supposed to plan ahead in that department. They take the plastic wrap from the recycle pile and twist it and use it for rope. The blue wrap is from MAP in Brunswick GA USA.

Isaura is really that short but what a fire cracker. She is a blessing to her region of Guatemala.

If you have seen me speak in the USA the last three or four years, this is the couple that makes the vests I wear. The back is full, the wheelchairs tied tightly on top. Iliana ALWAYS looks like she is going to get in trouble with the teacher! She does a lot of work with expectant mothers and children.

I confess on this day we were so busy that we did not pray with all... this pastor from San Marcos department asked to pray with/for us. We never say no to that. We are truly blessed.

Dr. Luke put all those wheelchairs on top and strapped them on while the rest of us loaded the compartment. Clinica Bethesda is in development stage working through the government regulatory system to be able to expand its services. Vine International are helping supply the clinic outside of Xela.

This load is going towards the Pacific coast, La Gomera, Esquintla. This group brought Cindy her first live chickens. They often bring fish and shrimp often caught the night or morning they come to pick up stuff at the bodega. Did I say we were blessed? smile.

Always a joy to see Dr. Carlos. He is Cuban and his Spanish is faster than a gatling gun. He looks so much better this time, so good to see him picking up boxes and working. the last visit he was in midst of treatment for cancer of prostate and could barely stand.

This is a project to Hospital Elena in Cobulco. Again they serve still another tribal region. 40,000 plus people who would have little or no access to healthcare without AMG and the great staff at Hospital Elena. They are in an expansion and remodel program to be able to improve local service. They depend heavily on national staff and do a very professional work. It is a joy to be able to work with them. Just wish they had a bigger truck.

Back to Dr. Jose from La Gomera. Not a lot of white hair in Guatemala, Dr. Jose and I have most of it! jajaja

I call her Jessie, as she cries every time she sees me. Her family works with Mayans outside of Xela. She never sees 'giants with white hair'. It is all right. It might take a couple years but you will be riding on the fork lift with me and laughing. Just wait and see.

I am safe with mom!!! But still don't trust the Big Guy. This family has I think for a generation, working on second generation been delivering babies and helping with womens health issues in Olintepeque north of Xela. The matriarch of this clan is a pastors widow and a very hard worker.

Dr. Eric Estrada and his wife have hearts bigger than their chests. I have seen him do a house call and get 'paid' with a live chicken. The dental chair is going to the far north in Quiche Department. The folks there remind me of family in central WV... so far from city they are independent, strong characters. The Estradas provide a huge blessing to the region by providing medical and dental care. This is the region hugely effected by the long civil war in Guatemala.

GRRRR. usually container doors are secured by a device we cut with bolt cutters. In 8 years I have never seen this, further the KEY WAS SENT BY A DIFFERENT VEHICLE that did not arrive with the container!?!? Neither driver or guard had a key. That's OK our neighbor has a metal grinder. You should have seen the look on that guys face when he finally brought the key and we gave him the lock in two pieces.... we were half way unloaded by the time he arrived.

The Platillero family sponsored this container of wheelchairs. As of this writing they are completely distributed (200 chairs in about three weeks). Gracias is never enough David. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Ana Lu, Ruby, Juan Carlos, David Mollineda, Domingo and Cindy helped to unload this wheelchair container

Just a scene from the front yard.

Domingo helping to unload the Platillero Wheelchair container. These are a lot of hard work as each chair is unloaded individually. The neighbors kids helped us too. Lilly even came later. We have good neighbors here. I think I have said we are truly blessed!?!

Cindy you recognize, Alessandra is the newest person in the photo. Lucia, Sonia and Andrea had their babies within six weeks of each other. This is the family that works so closely with us to import the containers. They asked me to dedicate their children. They all had HAIR!!! and lots of it.

Hope for Home and Dick Rutgers do so much work with special needs children in Guatemala. We gave them the childrens chairs that were on this load. Children and some adults need to be specially fitted and padded in chairs in order to keep them from getting pressure necrosis and infections. Very few people are properly trained to do this well. We do our best to direct material where it will be used safely and best.

Blue head hummingbird, stunned itself when it flew into the window at the office. Their heads get iridescent blue when the light hits it just right.

THE CREW from Hope for Home. This is an awesome 'family' I encourage you to check them out on facebook and blog. Daryl Fulp is the guy in the middle. Someone else must have dressed him on this morning... sly grin.