BELIZE KC Mission Trip 2012

Some of us saw more than others... SIGHTS Text Some of us saw more than others...

Beautiful ocean and it’s creatures SIGHTS Beautiful ocean and it’s creatures Flowers Lots of patients

Sweat, dirt, and hard work SMELLS Salt water Marie’s cooking Flowers Sweat, dirt, and hard work

Marie’s awesome cooking rice and beans Marie’s awesome cooking Chicken Fajitas more rice and beans and more rice and beans salt water

Early morning roosters SOUNDS Lots of laughter Early morning roosters Education Spanish Waterfall Serenity!

My feelings throughout trip Tired Anxious Excited Successful HOT! Happy Accomplished Selfless Exhausted Overall - BLESSED

Belize health care Many Belizeans live day to day and can not afford proper health care. The money they earn for the week is to live and eat on for the next week; they live day to day. Health care is rather expensive and most could not afford health care - that’s why we came to help with our mission. Surgery, ultrasound, blood samples are very hard for any Belizean to afford.

Our health care We have many more options to health care than those in Belize. We are able to pick and choose which doctor we see or if we even want to see a doctor. Our health care may be expensive as well, but most of us have insurance to pick up some of the cost.

For future...I learned... That you can not work alone, it is necessary to work with others. Through my career in the medical field this has always been evident, but even more so in the field. You may not always get along with who you are working with, but you must always remember the patient and the mission are priority. That you will always have barriers, like language, so it is always good to brush up on the central language or recruit interpreters. You need to understand and know the culture so you don’t offend anyone. You must utilize the materials you have and will make anything work if you have an open mind. You can get through anything if you set your mind to it!

Professional view This was my first actual nursing experience and have never been more endowed and felt as accomplished from anything I’ve ever done in my life than this mission trip. I have made great friendships with people I have never met before and hope to continue a relationship with them. I learned more than I thought I would, not just medically, but culturally as well. I learned you have to be accepting, not judgmental of anyone’s life style because we are all brought up different and taught different values, cultural roles, and religion. This is something I will always use in my professional role as a nurse. I will take my patience and compassion for treating anyone throughout my career as a nurse and a friend.

5)Santa Familia Village Health Fairs 3)San Antonio San Ignacio Town 2)Santa Elena 6) Caye Caulker 4)Belmopan 5)Santa Familia Village

Friendships that will last a life time...

Pictures worth a million words...

Summary of trip After my voyage to Belize with the KC group I want to make it my mission to continue volunteering throughout the world. I feel I have grown not only as a nurse, but as an individual too. The experiences throughout this trip have given me a sense of pride and put my future nursing goals into perspective. I was just so amazed at the amount of work and dedication that everyone put forth in this mission trip. This was definitely one of the best experiences of my life. I hope to do this not just once more, but as many as I am able to. This mission trip really opened my eyes to what a difference can be made with a group that is excited, confident, and compassionate about health care.

Farewell!