Despite the intense heat and humidity, more than 400 people showed up for the clinic and vitamin distribution today in the village of San Agustin (see map). On the car ride to the clinic this morning, some of the doctors were talking about the extreme malnutrition they have seen and reaffirmed that the vitamins for mothers and young children are absolutely essential. They described treating children who were so deficient in iron that their natural instinct was to start eating dirt to obtain some nutrients.

One of the best parts of coming out into the field is connecting with the individuals we are reaching. Their stories are just amazing. And while delving deeper into personal stories can initially seem a little too invasive - first and foremost we wish to respect the dignity and sometimes challenging life situations of all beneficiaries - making that connection and building that trust can be so rewarding. Today's experiences show just how meaningful those personal interactions can be, for both sides. It is not only an opportunity for us to learn about those we serve, but for them to share their stories.

This morning we had the opportunity to speak with a group of mothers visiting the clinic. Nearly every mother we spoke with complained of their children having stomach aches, headaches and a lack of appetite - all signs of malnutrition. When we asked women what they wanted, they said they wanted to be able to feed their children. Looking at the children, malnutrition is readily apparent, stunting (short for their age), anemia, vitamin A deficiency, skin problems, and lots of babies who haven't made it. 

The drought for the last couple of years has only complicated an already bad situation. Most of the poor people we met are laborers or work on the coffee farms, many of them making only $2-3 a day (and this is when there is work). The drought for the last few years has diminished crop yields, cutting down on what food is available and reducing employment opportunities. This on top of minimal government support for healthcare has resulted in challenging conditions and malnutrition for many families. 

Jessamyn spoke with Claudia, a mother who told her she could not afford to buy a pot or even a pestle to pound her corn. Her family eats only corn and beans. A bit later Jessamyn had women literally lined up, wanting to talk with her. They heard someone was writing down their stories and wanted to share their lives with someone who was willing to listen. At the end of her interview, Esperanza who is 7 1/2 months pregnant started crying, saying how thankful she is that Vitamin Angels and Faith In Practice had come to help her and the women in this community. She knows what a difference the vitamins will make to her health and that of her baby. She said that quality vitamins, like those she now has access to through the clinic, are just not available in Guatemala.

Tomorrow, (our last day), we're back in San Agustin handing our more children's multivitamins and prenatal multivitamins (thanks again to all of the contributors who make the donations from Andrew Lessman, and ProCaps Labs possible!), and getting more chances to connect with these moms, children and babies. For more personal accounts from our beneficiaries (new ones from Guatemala will be up soon!), check out our field stories.

Notes from the Field, Guatemala - Jessamyn with Esperanza from Vitamin Angels on Vimeo.