When I think about international service projects, I often picture the heartwarming moments of helping others. But the real story is more complex – and more meaningful – than most people realize.
Take, for example, a medical mission to Guatemala – my sister Nancy's first encounter with an international project. There, medical professionals faced challenges that no medical textbook would have forseen. Many patients arrive carrying not just their physical ailments, but also deep fears about modern medicine. For them, hospitals aren't places of healing – they are places where people go to die. This belief came from sad experience: most families only seek medical care when home remedies have failed and their loved ones are critically ill.
Breaking through these fears takes more than medical knowledge. It requires patience, understanding, and the ability to build trust. We learn to listen not just to symptoms, but to stories. Each patient teaches us something new about their culture and their courage in seeking help.
Then comes the language barrier – and it's often bigger than we expect. Guatemala has 25 recognized languages, with 21 of them being Mayan. Even with translators, explaining medical concepts across these linguistic divides proves challenging. We have to get creative, using pictures, gestures, and simple demonstrations to communicate important information.
But perhaps the most eye-opening challenge is realizing how different daily life is for many of the patients. Something as simple as "Take this medicine three times a day" becomes complicated when we learn that many people had never owned a clock or watch. We have to reframe our instructions completely, tying medication schedules to the movement of the sun: "Take this when the sun rises, when it's directly overhead, and when it sets."
Despite these challenges – or perhaps because of them – the work becomes even more rewarding. We aren't just treating illnesses; we are building bridges between different worlds. Each small success, each moment of understanding between a medical team and a patient, feels like a victory worth celebrating.
The experience with these types of projects has taught me that true international service isn't just about what we give – it's about what we learn in return. Every challenge forces us to think differently, to be more creative, and to see the world through others' eyes. In the end, we come away with far more than we brought: a deeper understanding of humanity, of different ways of life, and of what it truly means to help others.
These are the stories that make Rotary's international work so powerful. When we push past our comfort zones and truly connect with others, we don't just change lives – we change ourselves.
so true