When you let the world we are in trouble you, sometimes you have to do something drastic to make sense of it all.
Gwen Templeton of Watson Realty and president of the Jacksonville Women’s Council of Realtors did just that.
In July, she traveled with 25 others to Xela, Guatemala as part of an outreach mission through St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Jacksonville.
“We traveled with light baggage and heavy medicine bags,” said Templeton. “The jewelry and the makeup stayed home. The purpose of our mission was to set up clinics and provide medical care and medications to remote areas. We worked together with San Marcos Parish in Guatemala. Our youth group also completed construction on a senior center, a bathroom, handicap ramp and general improvements such as painting at the church.”
Templeton said the medical clinics were set up in makeshift structures and varied in locations from sea level to high in the mountains.
“Our group consisted of two medical doctors, an Emergency Medical Technician, a medical student, a priest and three Registered Nurses, one of which was me,” she said. “That’s right, I dusted off the old equipment and was surprised to find out just how much I remembered. The Guatemalans and the Mayans were extremely grateful for our help. We were greeted each day with long lines of smiling people of all ages who were quick to offer hugs and help. Our first day, they celebrated our arrival with a marimba band. We then began an organized process of admitting patients, taking vitals, examination and diagnosis and finally the filling of prescription drugs for many diseases. We had an elderly lady at the clinic one day who arrived barefoot. When we found out that she had never owned shoes, we sent a volunteer to town. Now she is sporting a great pair if blue sandals!”
Templeton said they worked non-stop on the trip and slept in a convent each night.
“The country is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen,” she said. “The volcanic soil is rich and the crops are abundant. We saw radishes the size of apples. It was like walking into a history book at times. The colorful native dress and customs are the normal behavior there. I know water and electricity are scarce, yet the people appeared very clean and their clothing spotless. Most of the people in remote areas walked everywhere carrying large packages, flowers, fruit, wood and even cement blocks on their heads. If you could afford to pay $6, you could ride a colorful bus called a ‘chicken bus.’ For $4 you could hang on the side.”
Templeton went on the mission trip for very personal reasons.
“I have to say that for me it was personal challenge,” said Templeton. “For two years, I went through a difficult divorce, worked full-time and was a caregiver to my oldest daughter, who died from cancer in September of 2007. After that time was over, I promised myself that I would make an effort to face my fears which was to travel to a third world country and in honor of my daughter, give back to those less fortunate as often as I could. Many have asked why I would travel to a third world country and leave everything we take for granted behind, such as, suitable housing, hot water, bathrooms, safety and Starbucks.
“I think I have always known and believed that God wants all of the people of the world to live in solidarity and peace. I also believe that it is important to leave your ego and your fears behind and help someone that can’t help themselves. I believe our net worth is not measured by how much money we have and by the ‘things’ we own. Our self worth is measured by how many people we treat with love and dignity and our unselfishness.”
Templeton said she learned that she can do whatever needs to be done in a strange environment without all the comforts we consider necessary for everyday life.
“I learned that it is so important to step out of your little soft, cushioned comfort zone everyone and then to get a better understanding of life’s big picture,” she said. “I was asked if this changed my perspective on the rough real estate market. Probably 95 percent of what we stress over or are irritated about really does not matter. I try to remember that sometimes our circumstances are not really as screwed up as we think. They are just different than we imagined. Life is just not easy all the time. We are so fortunate to live where we do. I am definitely planning on a return next year and I am going to work on my Spanish!”