Mixed Emotions

Day Four (11/8/24 )

Reflection from Kim Hiniker

Here we are! Day four and our third day of clinic! It's another beautiful morning here in Guatemala. I don’t ever get tired of listening to the birds singing or the breathtaking views. Today, Susan read us a poem by St. Theresa that touched all of our spirits. Any doubts, worries, or negativity that I had been feeling dispersed into the air over San Toliman. We started our day with a song sung by Emily and we as a group followed along before another delicious breakfast. 

After we ate and washed dishes down the mountain we went to our third village. I loved this village the most because it was located right next to a school where Jess and I could watch the kids play at recess. The laughter filling the air, the sound of the soccer ball being kicked and the joy on the kid's faces made my heart feel so pure. Our morning today was the slowest we’ve had. We saw only a total of twenty-one patients which was significantly less than yesterday. I was able to take a few more photos and live in the moment with my “family” on this trip before our afternoon began. In the afternoon we saw fourteen patients making our total thirty-five patients. Maybe it wasn’t as busy of a day, but our work was still very appreciated. The children touched my heart to the core and personally, 

I believe, we experienced the poorest village today which left me with mixed emotions. I found myself more in my head today and a bit more homesick but being with my family from MN (and Emily from IL) made me feel better. Finishing off this wonderful week with dinner at the Toliman with mi familia.

Hasta Manana!