My team just learned that we are headed to
a town outside of Panajachel, Guatemala. We are not positive about where we are for
sure going or what we are definitely doing, but we know we are headed out of Antigua. We leave tomorrow about noon and should arrive in Panajachel about 3pm. We have a contact that lives outside of the
city, but we are not going to connect with him until Tuesday. I will write
another blog when I know more about what is going on and when I have internet
connection.
a town outside of Panajachel, Guatemala. We are not positive about where we are for
sure going or what we are definitely doing, but we know we are headed out of Antigua. We leave tomorrow about noon and should arrive in Panajachel about 3pm. We have a contact that lives outside of the
city, but we are not going to connect with him until Tuesday. I will write
another blog when I know more about what is going on and when I have internet
connection.
The last week we have been working with a
ministry here in Antigua called “Our God’s Children”…I would write it in
Spanish, but I have no idea how to spell that. They work with families and
kids who are too poor to go to school. They go into the dumps and find kids
who aren’t in school or find kids who are being trafficked (child labor or sex
trade) and try to get them into school.
ministry here in Antigua called “Our God’s Children”…I would write it in
Spanish, but I have no idea how to spell that. They work with families and
kids who are too poor to go to school. They go into the dumps and find kids
who aren’t in school or find kids who are being trafficked (child labor or sex
trade) and try to get them into school.
On Wednesday night, myself and two of my
teammates, Cindy and Steph as well as one of our squad mates, Christi, went and
stayed at a center (Casa Jackson) attached to the school that helps babies who
are about to die because of malnourishment. When the babies go into the
center they have a 90% chance of dieing and just by entering the center they
have a 95% chance of survival. We had an all night shift, from 7pm to 7am
and during that time we woke the babies every 2 hours to feed them, did
multiple loads of laundry, cleaned the floors and weighed each of the kids to
see how much weight they had gained in the last 24 hours. (PS Katie is the
greatest.)
teammates, Cindy and Steph as well as one of our squad mates, Christi, went and
stayed at a center (Casa Jackson) attached to the school that helps babies who
are about to die because of malnourishment. When the babies go into the
center they have a 90% chance of dieing and just by entering the center they
have a 95% chance of survival. We had an all night shift, from 7pm to 7am
and during that time we woke the babies every 2 hours to feed them, did
multiple loads of laundry, cleaned the floors and weighed each of the kids to
see how much weight they had gained in the last 24 hours. (PS Katie is the
greatest.)
There was one baby there who was only 6
weeks old and SO tiny! Waking that poor child up to feed every two hours
was so sad. Christi was the one in charge of him and it broke her heart to
try to get him to drink the milk. The hard part was that we knew we had to
feed them…we know that in the end, them eating is what is going to make them
better, but when they are used to eating only coffee and tortilla’s, it is hard
to try to make them take milk.
weeks old and SO tiny! Waking that poor child up to feed every two hours
was so sad. Christi was the one in charge of him and it broke her heart to
try to get him to drink the milk. The hard part was that we knew we had to
feed them…we know that in the end, them eating is what is going to make them
better, but when they are used to eating only coffee and tortilla’s, it is hard
to try to make them take milk.
There were also two baby girls there
who were each a year and a few months. Both the girls were only big enough
to wear 3-6 month old baby clothes. They were just so teeny!
who were each a year and a few months. Both the girls were only big enough
to wear 3-6 month old baby clothes. They were just so teeny!
Another beautiful boy was Jose. He is
a 6 year old little boy who has cerebral palsy. When we got a tour of the
facility we were told that we would fall in love with him. When I got the
chance to feed him, I found out why. He struggles so much to eat, not only
because of his cerebral palsy, but also because he is sick at the moment with a
cold. He can’t breathe out of his nose, so it was a constant struggle for
him to breathe while he ate. It was so hard to watch and take part in…but
then he would smile at you! Oh my goodness…his smile was
beautiful. In the midst of his constant struggle he manages a smile!
a 6 year old little boy who has cerebral palsy. When we got a tour of the
facility we were told that we would fall in love with him. When I got the
chance to feed him, I found out why. He struggles so much to eat, not only
because of his cerebral palsy, but also because he is sick at the moment with a
cold. He can’t breathe out of his nose, so it was a constant struggle for
him to breathe while he ate. It was so hard to watch and take part in…but
then he would smile at you! Oh my goodness…his smile was
beautiful. In the midst of his constant struggle he manages a smile!
Those kids taught me so much in just one
12 hour shift. While I struggled to stay awake, they were struggling to
stay alive. I got to go home and sleep after my shift, but they live this
life. They live a life full of struggle and hardship. They are always
going to be in want and always going to be in need…and yet, they find time to
smile. These are the kind of people I have met on the Race. These are
the memories I will have forever.
12 hour shift. While I struggled to stay awake, they were struggling to
stay alive. I got to go home and sleep after my shift, but they live this
life. They live a life full of struggle and hardship. They are always
going to be in want and always going to be in need…and yet, they find time to
smile. These are the kind of people I have met on the Race. These are
the memories I will have forever.
