Two more teams

I don’t spend a lot of time with teams who come to Guatemala, as most focus on food distribution, house=building, etc.  I’m really trying to maintain my focus on working with kids with disabilities, so sometimes I do link up with groups doing wheelchair distributions, but I’m really trying to focus on Hermano Pedro more.

This past month, though, we have had two teams at Hermano Pedro who have not only worked to benefit the children, but have helped provide further training for me in better serving the kids.  Their presence has been a great shot in the arm for my enthusiasm and my hopefulness that things can and will change, however slowly.

The first group was sponsored by Four Friends for a Difference.  These are four high school students who have made a commitment to provide 1000 hours of cumulative community service during their four years of high school, and are on a campaign to encourage other students to do the same.  I love their unique idea, and encourage you to visit their website to learn more about what they are doing. Two of these young women came down to Guatemala with Nancy who is a feed specialist who has been here a number of times.

Those of you who read my blog know the struggle I have with how the children at the orphanage are fed, especially with the size of the wholes in the nipples of the bottles which are used (way too large).  Nancy has been coming for years, slowly trying to impact this problem, and this year I was excited to meet up with her and take advantage of her expertise in feeding children with special needs.  I learned a lot from her while she was here, and she is making a training video for the staff (and hopefully volunteers) about the best practices to use with the children.  I hope to have a hand in training future volunteers in this important area of care for our children.

In addition to Nancy’s expertise in feeding, this group brought many supplies and materials to be used in sensory stimulation with the kids.  The orphanage has recently opened a sensory stimulation room, but only some of the kids are using it, and then only once a week at the most.  These materials will help volunteers provide sensory input on a regular basis, especially to the kids who are either deaf and/or blind.  A great contribution. . .

The other group which had a direct impact on my ministry was a group of therapists from the University of Texas in El Paso.  In the past the University has sent down teams for Physical and Occupational Therapy students with their professors.  This year Connie, a professor in the area of Speech/Language came down with one of her students.  I was able to connect with her, and partner with her as she worked with those receiving instruction in the school program offered by Hermano Pedro.  This has been a great introduction into working with the teachers hired by the orphanage.  Claudia, one of the teachers, is especially interested in using Picture Communication with her students (most of them adults), and I hope to work with her in the future.

I also was able to take Connie and Dan (I think!) to visit New Life School in Santa Maria de Jesus.  There is a critical need for someone to work here in the area of communication, and though I have tried to get up there regularly, it seems it just hasn’t happened this year. 

We are hoping that in the future maybe someone from their program will do a type of “internship” with the school.  We had a great visit with Judy Kerschner, the founder of the school, as well as the teachers and students.  I hope this will give Connie some thoughts on future ways of involvement here in Guatemala.

 

 

Thanks to both groups for not only serving our kids here, but also encouraging me and challenging me to see better ways I can minister to the kids we are working with.  I hope both your groups will come back and would love to serve with you again!