Shane's Internship with the Itzamna Society

Mr. Shane helps some students
Originally uploaded by Creation Care Study Program.

Well I’m back from San Antonio, a Mayan village deep in the Cayo District and better than ever! I spent three weeks there working with the Itzamna Society, getting to know the community better, and helping with some local development projects. My days were spent patrolling Elijio Panti National Park on horseback and teaching young eager students to read and add their numbers. My main responsibility was to work with the village council committee, by doing need assessments and proposing new development plans. For my first project, I put together a project plan for a new public playground that was in the works. I found out later, that a group from North America had seen my plan and was willing to come down this summer to help fund and build the playground.
I hope I was as big of a help to the people of San Antonio, as they were to me. Each day and night was an opportunity to meet and talk with people who would share with me their stories and their love. My few weeks at San Antonio were a great experience in a beautiful place that I will never forget. RUFIO!

Shane Mueller
Gordon College

Stephanie's Internship at the Belize Zoo

Steph Tries Falconry
Originally uploaded by Creation Care Study Program.

I did my three week internship at the Belize Zoo. The zookeepers taught me what goes on behind the scenes and what it takes to care for the animals at the zoo. I learned the daily routines of preparing food for the animals, taking food to the animals, and cleaning the animals’ management pens. The veterinarian also let me accompany him when he was tending to the medical needs of animals. He also taught me how to observe and record the behavior and appearance of the animals in order to keep a steady record of the animals’ health. I also helped the zookeepers with any odd jobs I was asked to do. Interning at the Belize Zoo was a very positive experience overall. I was able to be around animals more than any other time in my life. I was able to care for the animals and to work along side really great people. I learned the importance of working hard and building meaningful relationships along the way. I really liked that at the end of my time at the zoo the keepers trusted me more with responsibilities because they saw how much I learned. I will not forget my experience and I will not take for granted the lessons learned.

Stephanie Day
Spring Arbor College

Ruth's Internship in Local Health Care

Ruth in the Maternity Ward
Originally uploaded by Creation Care Study Program.

For my CCSP internship, I spent three weeks working for the Belizean
Healthcare System. I spent two weeks at the San Ignacio Hospital (one
week in the outpatient ward, one in maternity) and a week at the Mopan
Medical Center in Benque Viejo. Both are public facilities, and are
funded by the Government of Belize. There are four resident doctors at
the San Ignacio Hospital, and a pediatrician and internist from
Belmopan visit once a week to see patients. The Mopan clinic is much
smaller, and hosts one nurse and one doctor. They have a small
pharmacy, and all drugs and services at both locations are distributed
free of charge.

In the outpatient ward at the hospital, I spent the week taking patient information, giving out numbers, and taking vitals. I was able to assist in the procedure room a little this week, and even gave a shot! I did spend a few hours in the emergency room assisting suturing, and
the removal of sutures, too. I also helped stock the ER. In the maternity ward I basically followed the nurses and doctors around when they were doing anything with patients, and translated for a Nigerian nurse who did not speak Spanish. When there was no observing to be done I either read a midwifery text or visited with the patients. When I was able to help I took vitals and assisted laboring women (your basic, you can do it!). I also got the opportunity to see two births and clean a new born baby.

I spent this past week in Benque at the Mopan Medical Center (MMC). I took vitals, patient information, and gave
numbers. I also tested blood glucose levels and helped count, organize,
and distribute medication.

Ruth Mulder
Calvin College

Kristen's Internship at Plenty

Kristen at Plenty
Originally uploaded by Creation Care Study Program.

I did my internship with a non-profit organization called Plenty Belize. They are a branch of the Plenty formed from a commune called “The Farm” in rural Tennessee. The organization developed out of the commune and began providing international aide in the 70’s to Guatemala after a huge earthquake hit. Their time spent in Guatemala made them never want to leave and by the early 90’s they had established a branch in Punta Gorda-a town in the southernmost part of Belize that is surrounded by several remote Mayan Villages.
Although they had worked on such projects as soy production, midwife training, alternative energy, and the school feeding program in previous years, their main focus is the Garden-based Agriculture for Toledo’s Environment or GATE project. I worked with sustainable gardens and relevant educational/nutritional workshops to support the progression in school gardens both in the Mayan Villages and in Punta Gorda. The unique people I met along the way and being able to see a sustainable development project in action has taught me a lot. In the midst, I still saw much hope, fire and dedication in individuals and the ways they impact their surrounding communities.


Kristen Mcphee
Hope College

Emily's Internship with Aurora Saqui

Emily making chocolate
Originally uploaded by Creation Care Study Program.

I have spent a few weeks with a Mayan healer by the name
of Aurora Saqui. Although my expectations of interning
with a healer were highly romanticized and slightly
ridiculous, I was still able to grasp the essence (if
that's not too vague) of what role a healer plays in
a community. My hopes of learning the names, faces, and
characters of Mayan medicinal plants are satiated for the
time being. I've actually gained so much from these
three weeks, that I've decided to use this material
for my undergraduate thesis. Although Aurora showed me
how to collect and prepare certain medicines, I could only
partially grasp the most important part of her healing
which is an intimate part of Mayan spirituality. She has
blessed me with her wisdom and stories. I now have a
collection of Mayan legends with a collection of Mayan
recipes exclusively from the memory of this woman. I
spent endless hours strolling back and forth on her
medicine trail, stooping, studying, and kind of hoping
that someday I can make a real connection between the
chemical constituents of plants and the Holy Spirit.
It's not a far stretch really.

Emily Carlson
Eastern University