Day 2: Clinic!

The courtyard of the church is a mix of interesting whitewashed concrete architecture, beautiful stonework, and lush greenery and flowers.  The temperatures are in the 70s and there’s a perpetual breeze ruffling hair and creating the atmosphere of those perfect, lazy summer days.  The hospitality is remarkable as volunteers and church members and those visiting the clinic mingle and eat and chat.  There’s the kind of enjoyable chaos you often see at family gatherings and church potlucks with kids chatting and grownups hugging and catching up and visiting.  And the steady buzz of work by those cooking and serving and teaching and working in the clinic.

This isn’t the first eyeglass clinic for Katie, but it’s the first one for the rest of us.  So we’re figuring things out and finding our way as the days goes on.  The camaraderie and helpfulness creates an easy atmosphere and it doesn’t seem like we’ve only known each other for a few months.  We’ve gotten past a most excellent lunch catered in and we’ve rotated through so that we’re now all fed and pleasantly full.  We’ll be at clinic for 3 more hours or so and then be able to stay to watch Cristian (a musician and our companion and interpreter for the week) practice for a couple of hours.

Tonight’s agenda is flexible - we’ll eat at some point, likely visit a small market, and have our daily meeting.  I’m looking forward to what the rest of the day holds and the friendships that are forming with both hosts and fellow travelers. 

Buenas tardes from Guatemala City!