The very first patient I met this year was a tiny, elderly woman, dressed in her best and brightest traditional huipal and skirt.  I approached Paula, and with the help of a local translator, introduced myself and asked if she would like to share her story.  Paula smiled graciously and nodded yes.  We asked how long had her journey been...and she smiled and nodded yes.  A woman seated next to Paula informed us that Paula spoke no Spanish.  Her village is so remote; they speak only the traditional Mayan language there.               Luckily, this woman spoke Spanish and the Mayan language.  After translating my English questions to Spanish, then Spanish to Mayan, Paula would answer and the process would reverse.  We learned that four years ago, Paula's left eyelid would no longer open.  Where she lives is rocky and one must have two good eyes to get around safely.  

          I saw Paula just after her corrective surgery; she was resting in bed with a cloth over both eyes.  There was no one to translate, so I simply called her name, she smiled immediately, greeted me, and I held her hand.  We were both strangers there, but recognized each other as friends.  Eventually, Paula was allowed to lift the cloth from her eyes, she squinted, and smiled broadly.  I later learned from her friend that Paula was so happy with her surgery, that she sees well now, and is glad to see colors again.

Like Paula, I now see clearly.  I see the injustices, I see the pain, and I see how lucky I am to have been born in America.  I see that mothers and fathers love their children as much in Guatemala as we do at home.  I see we are all God's children and I can see what God has planned for me.

          I wandered one day into the Auditory Clinic-one almost needs a map to find it!  The Clinic, only two years old is tucked away, down the hall, around the corner, across the courtyard, up and up the ramp, and around the bend.  These humble two rooms, which together cannot be more than 10' x 15', have plywood floors, plain white walls a desk, two chairs, and a trunk of supplies...a humble setting for the miracles that take place there. 

          Inside I met 8-year-old Adeline.  This bright-eyed, but shy girl had just been fitted with a solar powered hearing aid.  At the home where she lives, with 100 other children who are being raised by two nuns, Adeline uses no words, but has her own signs for basic needs like hunger and thirst.  There is no medical history, so no way to determine how long Adeline has been without sound.  It was not clear a hearing aid would work, but it was worth the try!

          Adeline was seated and facing Nancy, the Audiologist, and Jessica, one of the only speech therapists in all of Guatemala.  With a fun, friendly, expressive face and hand gestures Nancy explained how to turn on the hearing aid.  Adeline was fixated, doing her best to follow everything she was asked to do.  With the aid now turned on, Nancy asked some basic questions in Spanish like, "What is your name?  How old are you?" but Adeline didn't answer...she just smiled with eyebrows raised leaning forward in her chair.  Nancy reached out and turned up the hearing aid.  Jessica held up a book of animals.  She pointed to the gorilla and said, "Oooh Oooh Ooooh". ...Adeline smiled, then repeated "Ooooh Ooooh Oooh!".  The room erupted with laughter and tears to know the hearing aid worked!

          This may have been the first time Adeline had heard anything...including her own voice.  She smiled from ear to ear as the rest of us reached for a tissue to wipe our eyes.  Adeline can hear, but has a long climb into the world of speech with few specialists here to guide her.  BUT this was a step, the first one and Adeline knows the climb is possible!  She will return each week an Audiology Team is present to keep her progress steady.

I know, like Adeline, I can now hear.  I can hear cries of pain; I can hear thanks and blessings especially to God  and I when I listen, I can hear what God needs me to do.