·         Meet Clara at Antigua bus station (behind mercado)  0745

·         45 minute crowded ride (3 to a seat) on the chicken bus, paved road to El Rodeo

·         Walk short distance on unpaved road to Clara’s home

·         Visit VA Escuela to meet school director, Lester and 1 teacher. Currently Guatemala schools on long Vacation until January when new school year starts. VA continues to provide 'summer' school for a few children

·         Visits to 3 homes to see water filters and wood burning stoves in action, also 1 home with open fire stove. VA insists on keeping homes clean and tidy, clothes clean, regular washing and teeth cleaning especially for children if families are to remain in their programs.

·         Also 1 consultation with family on the street

·         Another bus ride to Zapote, the next village and the VA clinic. Clinic staffed by VA nurses each day and 1 day per week by semi-retired volunteer family physician.

·         That day VA health promoters (6 promoters 3 of whom are now qualified nurses) were interviewing a family representative and the children to receive scholarships for the next school year. $100.00 per year for primary and $300.00 for secondary school. Children and families must sign a contract that includes staying school for full year, clean clothes and teeth, paying attention at school and completing homework.

·         Not all complete the year but a high percentage do

·         VA also provides basic clothing and some nutrition for children

·         Also viewed the clinic pharmacy and noted needs for future donation of medications and provided small donation of meds (mainly oral analgesics, NSAIDs and some antibiotics) from H4H meds left over after mission.

·         Another hair raising 1½ hour bus ride on the dirt road clinging to cliff sides with steep drop offs to Selan the highest village at about 7000ft on the slopes of Vulcan Fuego (see photos on Facebook)

·         Dinner of beans and rice with tortilla with Felina at her house, Above average house for village with partial concrete floor, 2 lights inside and 1 outside, water filter, efficient wood stove and also gas cook top with 2 burners. Outside sink with running water, outside toilet (no sewer), plastic chairs only, the only TV in Selan, beds with minimal padding, comforters for covers.

·         Uncomfortable sleep on hard bed that was only as long as Cindy!

·         Breakfast of fried potatoes with egg, instant coffee

·         2 home visits to see families with and without stoves, a senior living alone, post cataract surgery at the obras, and needing food supplements

·         Return to Felina’s mum who runs the children’s meal program. 1 meal per day provided to malnourished children with some food to take home, pasta or rice dish with protein drink

·         Tour of village and various home visits, all dirt roads, a lot of garbage around, stand pipe for water at most street corners ( water comes from higher up Fuego but not treated), no sewage system or waste disposal, minimal free land, no farming, 1 store, no industry, government clinic closed for months,(Felina is only health professional in village), bus service once daily to Antigua, electricity to most homes but only used sparingly for 1 light per house, 2 rooms school building again has half day summer school provided by VA. In school year government school in AM VA in PM

·         More home visits to families refusing help from VA although they need it, and some families in the program. Some have stoves some water filters some both but there is still great need of both.

·         Stoves cut wood consumption by 50%, take smoke out of house reducing chest problems and eye problems. They also enclose fire reducing burn risk for all but especially children

·         Water filters reduce water borne infection a major cause of morbidity and mortality in under 5’s (Guatemala still has highest under 5 mortality in Americas). We can attest to effectiveness of water filters as we drank from them for 2 days and so far have no ill effects.

·         Hair raising return to Zapote in the back of an open truck, clinic with physician just finishing and more school interview going on.

·         In summary VA provides the following programs to 24 villages in the Esquintla area on the lower slopes of Vulcan Fuego

o   Primary school for 6 grades, employing director and 5 teachers

o   Half day school in Selan with 1 teacher

o   Food program in Selan for kids and elderly

o   Scholarships about 1000 for primary and secondary education

o   5 health promoters 2 of which are registered nurses provide home visits, social  assessments, medical aid, follow up with families, help in clinic, travel with village patients to town for clinic or hospital treatment, women’s health and family planning

o   Pig program

o   Also have many other volunteers from the communities who receive assistance, food and clothing

o   Advocacy for government assistance