"This has been the best organized long-term medical missions trip I have experienced," says Frank Long, M.D. "Out of the 15 or more missions through many groups and in many different countries I have been on, this will have the most lasting effects."

The 15th Anniversary Xela Aid trip welcomed 20 volunteers to undertake medical and near-vision clinics, repairs at the clinic, the delivery of an ultrasound machine, a massive rehab of the greenhouse (still ailing from the ravages of Hurricane Stan), a distribution of PEX funds and update of records, a children's bookmaking project and tutoring program assessment, restoration of the clinic waiting room mural, a water and waste management assessment, distribution of infant receiving packs (thank you Alana Jolly) and more. During the medical and near-vision clinics, more than 600 people were served! From our volunteers:

Dr. Frank and patient by Megan Shulte

"Watching Dr. Frank interact with the children was one of the highlights on the trip," said volunteer Megan Shulte. "His compassion and respect for his patients, young and old, was a marvelous example of friendship, generosity and shared community."

"I came home from the trip with Xela Aid with an awareness of the feeling appreciation," said Martha Saatjian. "I feel appeciation for the leaders of Xela Aid who had and continue to have a vision for the community of St Martin; for team members who work within the framework of this vision; and for persons who financially support this vision to privide practical, dignified help for others.

"I witnessed appreciation," Martha continued. "In the voice and on the face of a child who is in school because of the support of someone she will probably never meet; in the eyes of a young mother whose child received life saving medication provided by Direct Relief International; and in the hands of the women of the co-op who provided daily meals for the work team.

"The Xela Aid project is a great experience, a life changing experience for others and a life changing experience for me."

Kids at work, by Sheryl Fontaine

"This is a picture of the PEX children writing their stories in the newly minted "Centro de Estudios" (a study/activities room upstairs in the clinic).

"Debi Esquivel and I asked the children to write stories about anything they wanted -- their family, friends, animals, school, or any story that they really liked. We also provided crayons and markers so they could illustrate what they wrote.

"We were so impressed by the intensity and care with which the children wrote -- we saw them as they searched their minds for what to write, then carefully wrote, revised, discussed, and wrote some more. The children wrote with great independence, but were also eager to have their friends read their stories and see their drawings.

"As the culmination of the story writing, during the PEX Celebration on Saturday, we invited three of the older children read their stories to the appreciative crowd in the Clinic lobby."

Colleen Dodds and Attitlan Bug, by Karen Edwards

"This picture was taken at Casa Del Mundo when a beautiful bug landed on the outside of the door to our room," noted Colleen Dodds. "I was inside at the time but as others outside gathered to see it and take pictures of it, Karen Edwards called to me to stay inside and open my mouth -- so the photo you see looks pretty scary."

PEX children and hopefuls, by Katherine Sanchez

Says Katherine Sanchez, the trip's volunteer photographer/ historian, "I have so many meaningful pictures, but this picture says a great deal.

"This picture shows how much has been accomplished with the clinic, the happy children holding their bags with tuition and a hope for the future. On the edges are the children who are not yet in the program," she says.

"The message is that there is still so much work still to do."

In Hot Pursuit, by Justin Klarenbeck

"I have lots of photos to share. This one isn't one of Jordan's favorites," Justin Klarenbeck says of a snap of son Jordan in a car, a gaggle of San Martín gals gathered just outside the window.

At a farewell fiesta, all team members were honored by the San Martín community. When asked for a message for the people of San Martín, Jordan, 12, replied, "You've got great corn."

Ungaurded Joy, by Justin Klarenbeck

"When Jordan was 3, I was distressed that I was always at work and not spending enough time with him. I felt very guilty and I could see that my absence was a problem for him. I kept thinking, 'My son needs me, I must spend more time with him.'

"Despite my anxiety, I was unable to withdraw my nose from the grindstone. Then one day when Jordan was 6 while I was away shooting, my wife Val emailed me a photo much like this one. The unguarded joy that I witnessed in that photo, much like I see in the faces in this one, made me realize that it was I who needed Jordan.

"It seems as though the language of play is the same all over the world. Of the group of us that went to Guatemala, the 'conversation' in this photo is one that only Jordan could have participated in. It was a great moment, a defining moment and sadly, sweetly, a passing moment. It was wonderful to witness."

Other Contributed Favorite Snaps...

Slippery When Wet, by Leslie Baer

Cliff Blending in with the Locals, by Carlos de la Rosa

The Green House Team, by Mel Dinkel

Up to Their Necks in Piñatas, by Leslie Baer

Wrapped Gals, by Mel Dinkel

Satisfied Customers, by Frank Long

Concludes Dr. Frank (known fondly by the end of the trip as a well of knowledge on parasites and as providing some of the most interesting meal conversation ever):

"The long term effects of Xela Aid's Clinic in San Martín are invaluable not only for the physical health of the people, but also as a hope for accomplishment and self-determination for themselves, their children, and all their neighbors to see.

"Thank you to a team of fun, gregarious, visionaries who bring hope to a community that had waited many, many years."

Xela Aid's Directors met in Guatemala and agreed unanymously to invite a new Director onboard. Carlos de la Rosa has accepted he position of Environmental Projects Director.

By day, Carlos is Chief of Conservation and Education for the Catalina Island Conservancy in Southern California. During Xela Aid's 15th Anniversary trip, he completed a water quality assessment. In coming months, he will make recommendations that will help guide Xela Aid's next 15 years.

In photo above, Carlos and Luis bemoan "Guatemalan Time" at a pharmacy that opens at 9 still closed at 9:30

Carlos shares his rememberences of this summer's trip:

Arriving at the Clinic · The Xela Aid clinic towered over the small, steep- hilled road that curved towards it. A crowd already gathered outside was a prelude to the next few days. Mostly women and children, their colorful textiles were all variations of a same theme. These San Martín patterns would become indelibly familiar to all of us over the next few days. As we disembarked from the bus, those who had been there before hugged their old friends. Those of us there for the first time got hugs too, shy smiles and "Bienvenido" greetings. Kids smiled and ran around, peeking into the bus and checking out this group of tall, fair-skinned strangers. Amalia, our long-time ambassador, comadrona and organizer gave directions in Mám to the ladies and everyone moved into action. Suitcases filled with medicines were rapidly unloaded and disappeared inside the building... Thus started a week of manic activity, of long lines of patients working their way in an organized chaos through the system we had set up, stations for registration and numbering, weight and blood pressure, doctors' examinations, samples and microbiology, pharmacy and eye glasses...

Julia and her Mom · There were many memorable moments during this week of activity in San Martín. One was getting to meet the children we are sponsoring to stay in school through Xela Aid's PEX Program. They came with their mothers to the Clinic after being advised we were there. Julia came into the pharmacy with her mom. She was shy, but immediately gave us a hug. We gave her some presents and talked with her. Her mom hugged us and started to thank us for our support, but the words did not come out. She just started to cry, quietly, sobs shaking her body while she held a small handkerchief to her face. Julia stood silently as Claudia and I just held her mom in our arms. No words were needed.

José and the Water Samples · José was a curious boy. In the first days of our visit to San Martín, he stood out from the other kids because of his hairdo and his bright-red nylon jacket. He slicked his hair back with a copious amount of hair gel making him look like he just got off a speeding motorcycle after a long ride in the wind. A pat on the head, like most other kids received, was really out of the question with José. However, his interest in everything we did was intense and he stuck with us, hairdo and all. I took him with me to collect water samples for bacteriological analysis. He wanted to do it all, collect the water, pump it through the filter system, prepare the cultures and make the observations. His interest was genuine and touching. He really wanted to learn what was in the water and how we gathered this information. His interest didn't wane. On the last day of our clinic work, he took with me that last samples of water and helped me read the results and write them into my journal. He also made sure that everyone knew that he was "my assistant" which he really was.

At the end of last year we told you about "GoodSearch," and how you can support Xela Aid each time you do a web search.

If you haven't had a chance yet, go to Goodsearch and select Xela Aid as your benefactor organization: http:// www.goodsearch.com. Find where it asks, "Who do you GoodSearch for?" Type in Xela Aid, and Xela Aid should appear each time you search as your default benefactor organization.

If you want to be sure you GoodSearch for Xela Aid each time, you can set your home page to GoodSearch in your browser's Preferences. Each time you search, Xela Aid will receive one cent -- and every penny counts!

Tell friends and family about GoodSearch and how they can support Xela Aid's important work, and who knows how much we could raise by the end of the year! Remember, just about $2,000 will keep the clinic open an entire month.