~WORDs from our volunteers~

 “Today I was given the humbling experience to help the Village of Las Sopas, Guatemala. Words can not describe the feeling I had when we arrived. I saw all of these beautiful little faces, smiling and waving at us as we pulled up. My heart instantly was filled with joy, knowing that I was there to help these tiny little souls.  We served over 100 people today, 90% of them were children. To see the conditions they live in and what little they have, was heartbreaking, but yet they were just as happy as can be.  This little one girl in my picture captured my heart. She was so full of life. She was smiling from ear to ear,  the whole time she was speaking to me. We even had a moment where we grabbed each others hand across the table and laughed together, yet none of us knew why. I think we were both happy to just be there. She was matter of fact and was totally confident in that little body of hers. I gave her the nickname spitfire. These children do not know what they are missing in life, they are just happy to be living.  As an American, you do not truly know what you have until you come to a country like Guatemala. AMOS has opened my eyes to what I have in the states. This mission has been very humbling, and reminds me of how fortunate I am to have what I have in America. I just can not explain what my soul is feeling right now because there are no words that can explain it, its just a feeling that you have to feel. I am a lifer and will be coming every year, if I am able, to help as much as I can. I truly feel like this is one of my callings just like the hospice work I do at home. ♥️♥️” 

 “Words cannot begin to describe the amount of happiness and gratitude this experience has brought to my heart and life. Every day that I am here in Guatemala has been a reminder of the blessing it is to give to others in need. It’s such a blessing to be able to help people get the medications they desperately need or the referral to a doctor to address serious medical issues that they otherwise wouldn’t have known about. Meeting the sweet and kind people who walk for hours just to be seen at our clinics has been a truly humbling experience. My only hope and prayer is that I have been as much of a blessing to them as they have been to me. Thank you AMOS for giving me the opportunity to help others in this very special way. This experience has truly been a blessing in my life.”  

“Where do I start, coming into this trip, I had no idea what to expect. After the first day of clinic yesterday, my perspective of caring for others has a completely different outlook, but the love and passion remains the same. These individuals walk distances just for a Tums or Tylenol, meanwhile we take full advantage of the short drive to Walgreens on the corner to get all the OTC meds we need.

One family that stood out to me so far this trip was a middle aged woman with 14 kids, yes 14. These kids all had very nice clothes (little to no holes) and they all were very well fed. She did this. She raised all 14 kids, keeps them fed and brought them all to clinic just for Tums, Tylenol, tooth brushes and toothpaste. THATS IT. This mom to me was a superwoman. The amount of gratitude she gave just for those things broke my heart. 

Coming from a critical care background and knowing how many meds we pass out like candy in the US and people being so ungrateful for Tylenol; giving this woman Tylenol for her children that have been in pain but never once complained, warmed my heart and broke it at the same time. 

This trip is far from over and I am so looking forward to helping more mommas and families along the way. NEVER take for granted what you have in your life, even if it’s just toilet paper. I’m so thankful and grateful for AMOS and this opportunity to care of the Guatemalan community”

“During our first day of clinic for the trip, I was reminded of just how blessed I am. I’m not talking  about running water, internet at my beck and call, & all the luxuries that come with being an American. Yes, those are great blessings I am afforded; but I mean the blessings of unfailing support, grace, & opportunity. It is because of the support I have at home & in my community that I am even here. It is because of the grace of God & others that I have an education that allows me to assist others. It is because of the sacrifices of others & faith others have in me that have granted me the opportunity to do medical mission work. 

We are here to help others, to provide them with the most basic of necessities for health management, to connect them to resources within their country with the support of other Guatemalans, & to assist them in establishing sustainable practices for the betterment of their community at large. But I must confess, in the end, I am the one who walks away with more. I have the privilege of showing a mama how to feed her baby & allow for optimum muscle development. I am the one who has the pleasure of ensuring families that their loved one(s) are as beautiful to me as they are to them & watching their faces light up. I have the honor of being trusted by complete strangers in the most intimate & vulnerable ways. 

The people of Guatemala allow us to be here. They allow us to work with them. They allow us to love them. & for all that, I am grateful.
Grateful for my Guatemalan family, thankful for my A.M.O.S. family, & thankful for my U.S. family. I wouldn’t be here without any of you.” 

“A.M.O.S. (A Mission of Service) has completed the final day of medical clinics in Esquipulas, Guatemala. What a wonderful week it has been serving the beautiful and gracious people in this beautiful country. We were able to spend time with the people in the remote mountain village of Los Cerritos. Spent time with the children at St Anthony's Orphanage, visiting with their teacher and seeing their classrooms. We saw and treated many people at the medical clinic and were able to refer others to nearby clinics, through the Quique Ceron Foundation. This has been my third trip here and it has been amazing to see the growth in the medical services provided here with Fundacion Quique Ceron!!!  

I am blessed to be here and hope I am a blessing to those we serve. We also presented a health and Hygiene program for  the girls of a nearby school, that was well received! 

We are all so grateful for all the volunteers that are with us from morning to night, interpreting and helping us. We Could Not Do this Without any of You.”