The clinic was set up in a rural community about an hour's drive from Guatemala City. The elder Schibler was part of the kitchen crew of four, working from 4:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. in order to feed the 70-80 doctors, nurses and staff team. The surgeons, however, sometimes didn't finish up until 2:30 a.m.

Schibler describes it as one of the most spiritual adventures of his life. He was constantly amazed and awestruck at the proficiency and the planning of the medical endeavor. "I never saw a group come together so focused, so quickly, in just a very few hours." The entire team seemed to know just how to swing into action.

There were four operating theaters, and doctors performed some 18 operations a day. It was an intense five days and Martin watched several operations, since his son wanted all members of the Helps' team to be witness to exactly why they were there.

Five high school students from Guatemala City served as interpreters for any of the medical staff who didn't speak Spanish. Martin, a retired transportation manager from Westinghouse, is experienced in quantity cooking, having been part of feeding crews for events at Sacred Heart Church. He's been helping in that capacity during his retirement years.

Helps' volunteers pay $1,500 to serve on the team. That sum helps to cover airfare and food for the week. Martin enlisted Los Gatan Peggy Montoya and her son Andrew into the cause. They are friends from Sacred Heart Church.

Fortuitously, Andrew, a recent Santa Clara University grad, is fluent in Spanish.

CRUISIN': Lois and Creaghe Gordon went on the cruise that goes around the southern tip of South America I mentioned last week and talked about some of the highlights the trip held for them. The Gordons loved the variety offered and lauded the warmth and hospitality of two shore excursions.

Especially memorable were the Santa Rosa winery in Montevideo, Uruguay, and the gaucho ranch outside Buenos Aires. The owners in both instances were "so warm and welcoming, as though we were old friends." There was a native dance program at the winery, including the tango, and Lois danced with the owner.

An exhibition rodeo was held at the day at the ranch. Other high points: "The glaciers were like glass; we were lucky with the weather. We enjoyed the ride on the train at the end of the world at Ushuaia, Argentina," said Lois. It had been built by convicts to carry out wood. A penal colony had been one of the only human habitations there earlier.

Accompanying the Gordons were former Saratoga Mayor Ginny Fanelli and former Stanford Rose Bowl football coach John Ralston. Another cohort and former Saratoga mayor, Linda Callon, has a son, John, living in Rio, and he set up a guide and tickets to Carnivale for the foursome.

Thus, the locals got to see the culmination of the parade--the winners--and impressive it was, they report. The doings start at 9 a.m. and go on until near dawn. The Gordon party didn't last till the final wrap-up, but gamely stayed past midnight. Sugar Loaf and Empenema Beach were other standouts in Rio.

When they got home, the Gordon grandson Stephen Heneghan spotted their airplane boarding pass. "You went first class," he wailed. "We went last class." The Heneghans--Sandy, Sean, Nicole and Stephen--had recently taken a Caribbean vacation.

ENGLISH TEA: The annual English tea, a fundraiser for the AAUW Committee for Homeless Women and Children, will be held April 8 at West Valley College Campus Center, 1-4 p.m. Tickets are $30 from Jackie at 408.867.0108. The event benefits the homeless in Santa Clara County at four different shelters.

BREAKFAST ON GRAPES (OF WRATH): Steinbeck expert Susan Shillinglaw will talk about "John Steinbeck in the Santa Clara Valley: Author as Activist" on April 5, 9 a.m., at Saratoga Library. Former director of the Center for Steinbeck Studies at SJSU, Shillinglaw has edited five books about the famed author.

Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath, completed Of Mice and Men while living in Monte Sereno. His friendships with Martin Ray of the Mountain Winery and Charles Erskine Scott Wood of Los Gatos will be discussed. The cats in front of Wood's estate became the symbol of Los Gatos.

SPRING & HAIKU: Fay Aoyagi and Wendy Wright are featured poets at a haiku reading April 8 at the Japanese Friendship Garden, San Jose. A haiku workshop is at 10 a.m.; reading at 1 p.m., followed by open reading. The event is free, but parking is $6. Former Los Gatan Roger Abe, county park ranger, is the organizer.

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