Guatemala (Med) Spring Break 2023 - Nour Moussaed's Story
April 17, 2023
Members of the Guatemala Med Team after providing care to locals
I didn’t intentionally set out to go to Guatemala, but after meeting Dr. Bradshaw at the Missions Fair, learning about what we would do there and seeing the fundraising goal, I knew it was the right one for me.
Our team worked with multiple providers to offer medical and dental services to local communities. We provided care from 8am into the evening each day, whether that was working with kids in the activity center, assisting the dentist with suction or shadowing doctors as they diagnosed patients. As a group, we saw around 300 people during the week.
The leaders did such a good job of aligning the interests of the students with the professionals we shadowed. I am applying to PA school this cycle, so I spent half of my time with the PA, Elizabeth. She asked me a lot of questions to make sure I knew what was happening, and I got to ask her a lot of questions, too. It was amazing! I also got to shadow a pediatrician and a few other doctors. It was really eye-opening to see the different personalities among the providers and see them interact with both the adults and the kids. They all showed so much concern about their medical histories and talked about prevention and treatment options. Even though most were just a 30-minute consultation and had to be processed through translators, it was evident that there was a relational bond between the providers and the patients.
In addition to the medical side, I was part of a mini group that planned lessons for the kids’ activity center. Our mini group met three weeks before we traveled. We knew that language would be a barrier there, so we made sure to communicate mostly through games and artwork.
I was surprised by the number of kids we ended up seeing! At one point there were only three Lipscomb students and about 30 kids wanted to talk and play with us!
After clinic days, we would gather around a fire and Dr. Bradshaw would ask us where we had seen God that day. People had something completely different to share every time. We had endless examples of where we had seen God.
I wanted to go back the very week we returned to Lipscomb. And I will be going back because I was asked to be a student leader for next year’s team! Being a leader was never my intention, but the fact I was asked to be one solidified that medical missions is something I’m good at and can do. The more I can help people, the more it helps me, too. It’s a mutual thing. So, I’m already excited to start planning for next year!
I had never felt anything like what I felt on this spring break mission trip. And I know it will only get better the more I go back. It will never be the same. I can’t compare this mission experience to the one I’ll have next year or three years from now, and that’s a good thing.
Not a Trip
Category: Student Life