Today we visited Esmeralda, a 12 year old girl who has limited use of her hands and legs, who lives near San Juan Atitan. Pat loves this girl and is bringing her a computer to help her learn. Both Dick and Pat think she may be able to use her hands with some exercises, and use the keyboard. For now Dick has rigged up a pointer on a head band which she seems to like to use. Her brother Henry looks like he will help her a lot, also. A local pastor visits her weekly to teach her. Another very supportive family. (This situation is typical of what I have found in Guatemala. Esmeralda can no longer write because her hands are so constricted [often she hides them from sight], and her teacher said he could therefore no longer teach her. Accommodations are unusual in Guatemala—even simple ones such as allowing a child to “just” read [not copy everything] or having them dictate their answers to their work orally. A computer seems our best intervention in these situations. ~~Pat) It takes some time to set up the computer, and the MacGiver headband, and it is past noon by the time we leave.
On our way back to Huehue, we stop at Suculque, to find a man that the waiter at our hotel told us about. We find his home, and his family is bringing him towards us on a home wagon. Bartalito is lying on this wagon, smiling. He is 40 years old and is Hydrocephalic. Dick tells the family he can bring a higher and foldable flat chair, as he can not use a regular chair. 
Pat starts taking pictures and the whole family joins in, especially the little girls. Pat hugs mom when we leave, and she starts sobbing. Pat consoles her and tells her she can tell the whole family loves and cares for Bartalito. What a sweet, loving family.(This family is unusual for those I have met in Guatemala. Given the age of Bartolo, it is remarkable the love and care his family has provided him when so many disabled people at this time were hidden away. He is not only included in his family, but seems to be the hub around which they revolved. ~~Pat)
On our way to visit Amanda in Huehue, Dick asks me if I like these house calls. I tell him they are okay, but a little hard on the heart. As a song says: "Break my heart for what breaks yours, Jesus." Seeing these children sure tugs on my heart.
We stop on the way home so Calin and Esbin can get a picture of a mule, tied up beside the road. Dick and I question the boys why pictures with mules, and not with girls.
Dick also is going to get his brakes checked, as we kept rolling away from Cailin and Esbin when they stopped for a washroom break.
On our way into Huehue, we picked up Amanda, a lady who has identified wheelchair needs in the past.
She takes us to Vida Aqua, a feeding center, where we meet Claudia (who had just emailed Pat last night about when she was coming to visit !). Claudia has a feeding program, and also has families come and get water from their Sawyer water filter - much to Dick’s agreement, as this proves which families would really use one themselves. Claudia asks us if we could see 3 people tomorrow who need wheelchairs, so it looks like we are going to spend Dick's birthday in Huehue. I will let Dick tell his age! (All I can say is that he’s MUCH older than I!~~Pat)
Oh, and at dinner tonight, we meet a young boy in a wheelchair who needs a larger one, so his mom fills out a form, so they can exchange this one at a distribution here in February.
Thanks Lord, for another day in Guatemala.
Dave
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