On Friday, Morgan and I went to Hermano Pedro Hospital to fill out paperwork to help volunteer this weekend. It is so different here. In the U.S., you would have to get fingerprints, criminal history check, sex offender list check, social security number, and it would take a few weeks before you could volunteer. We walked in and all they needed was a copy of our passport and two passport size photos, which we had, so we were in business. We told the woman we would like to work with babies or kids, or wherever was most needed. She said that are usually short of volunteers on the weekends so it would work out perfectly. She took us up to the baby ward, introduced us to the contacts, and set up for us to return at 9:00am on Saturday morning.
Morgan and I in front of Hermano Pedro
Morgan and I walked to Hermano Pedro on Saturday morning excited to love on these children. We put on official volunteer badges and walked up to the baby ward like we knew what we were doing. We walked in and our confidence turned to hesitancy as we looked for a woman named Ana, the nurse we had met yesterday. We saw her literally run by us. Then, we heard a woman sobbing. We looked over to see a Guatemalan woman sobbing and melting into the arms of one of the nurses. Her daughter was lying on the table wrapped in many blankets as nurses tended to her. We found out later that she was very sick and needed to go to another hospital. We tried to step out of the way, when a nurse came and plopped a child into Morgan’s arms and explained it was time for breakfast. I washed my hands and a child was plopped into my arms as well. His name was Jose. I’m guessing that he was about 2-years-old. I am not sure what he has, but his head shook a lot, making it somewhat difficult to feed. I was able to talk to him and there were a few times were he would stop shaking his head and make perfect eye contact with me. I could almost see my reflection in his dark, Guatemalan eyes. He was precious.
A nurse came and took him away and replaced him with another child. This child’s name was Jose Leonardo. Jose Leonardo was in the hospital for malnutrition and not wanting to eat. I didn’t know that at this point, but began to feed him. He has big round eyes that are simply to die for. He ate a few bites then began to push my hands away. I got to hold him for the next hour. Each time I sat down, he would cry, so I walked around with him to keep him content. One of the nurses told me that he never smiles and is always sad. After hearing that, I thought for sure this kid smiles and I was determined to make him smile. I wish I could tell you that I did, but I didn’t. You could talk to him, tickle him, and make faces at him and receive that same blank face in return. I took the time while I was holding him to pray for him and speak truth over him. It is my prayer that one day he will experience joy.
How it works when you volunteer is there a room with many cribs and not enough nurses to hold them all so you put one kid back and take another. So, I put Jose Leonardo back down. Of course, he started crying and I immediately picked him back up. I guess I’m a sucker for tears, but one of the nurses saw me and encouraged me just to put him down. So, I did and walked away to find a new child. I came across a cute little girl with some crazy, pigtails. Her name was Seidy. I have forgotten how old they all are, but am guessing that she was about 2. She has down syndrome and cannot walk or have much muscle control. I got to hold her and play with her. She liked to laugh and liked her belly to be tickled. She quickly mellowed out and just laid in my arms as we rocked in the chair. At this time, Morgan was holding a 2 month old premature baby named Katerine. We decided to swap kids. Katerine was so small, I’m guessing about 5 pounds. She didn’t respond to much, but was so precious as she would yawn, move her tongue, and try to suck on her thumb. I got to feed Katerine her bottle, which she sucked down like it was nobody’s business. I also got to feed another girl named Ismaelita who also has down syndrome.
Our time at the hospital went fast. I really enjoyed the experience. It was a blessing and an honor to spend time with these children. We were able to speak truth into their lives about being children of God, being created in His image, and that there is a plan and purpose for their lives. We were able to pray for them and thier families.
