We returned from Guatemala on 09/23/2012. Over the seven days we were there, we were very busy. We first slept in a seminary on the night of our arrival before traveling two and half hours to Panajachel. The next day we visted the Community Center for Education and Health in Patanatic. In Patanatic, we learned how to assemble water filters, administer medication, and test glucose levels for the surrounding communities. It was an experience like we have never had before. The villages around Lake Atitlan’ consist of deeply impoverished homes and families while being surrounded by some the most beautiful landscape we have ever seen. The lake itself is very large and is surrounded by three volcanoes. The area is all mountainous. Panajachel has very narrow streets with street vendors lined up on both sides. Our hotel was nice for that area, but not nice compared to what we are used to. You have to brush your teeth with bottled water, because the tap water can make you very sick. The village we did most of our work in was Patanatic. It is in the mountains at 6,600 feet above sea level. The views from this village are absolutely breathtaking. We went to several other surrounding communities as well. After we were finished, we had given worm medicine to over 2,000 students, took blood glucose readings from 300-400 sixth graders, replaced over 50 water filters with more efficient water filters, and worked in the community garden. In the community garden, we had to clear jungle from the mountain side with a machete, so they could plant coffee trees. We also built a rabbit hutch and planted some of the coffee trees. Two people of our team spent the afternoon teaching the local children how to sew. We also attended an all-day celebration for the first four nurses Patanatic has ever had. The first part of this day was watching them graduate and second part of the day was the town of Patanatic celebrating the fact that they will now have nurses in their community to help them with health concerns. Patanatic has never had a clinic or nurses to staff one. This was very moving for the people of Patanatic and our team. It is hard to express in words the need for what is being accomplished here. We still have more to do and we will give you more detail when we give our presentation. A link to a large on-line photo album is forthcoming. This is just an example what Rotary International, District 5710, and Topeka South can do with the help of its members.