“In Him we were also chosen having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” –Eph. 1:11
I have a new love…a new love for those who are handicapped, elderly, and less fortunate.
I have a new appreciation…appreciation for those who work with the handicapped, the elderly, the less fortunate, daily.
My heart is broken…broken for the handicapped, the elderly, the less fortunate.
Seven of us girls (Colleen, Traci, Sarah, Krystle, Jackie, Lindsey, and I) have been visiting the hospital/orphanage here in Antigua, Guatemala for the past several days. Our friend Dick who lives here, but is from the States, gave us a tour of the place, cultural background, and a little history as well. There are over 200 residents of the hospital, and their disabilities range from being bed-ridden, mal-nourished, mentally ill, physically and mentally disabled to only physically disabled and the list goes on… In Guatemala, anyone who is mentally or physically handicapped is highly looked down upon.
Dick told of us of a little boy out in a village he visited who was mentally handicapped which caused his physical body to be incapable of many things as well. Their neighbors kept telling this family they needed to get rid of the boy and that the reason this happened is because of a huge sin him and his wife must have committed. They had heard this their whole lives. When Dick told them that some drainage had gotten locked in the brain when he was a baby (or something involving medical terminology) which caused the disability and it wasn’t their fault, they said they had never heard that before. The parents decided they wanted their child back in their home, the one they had left in the orphanage where the doctors couldn’t do much for him. This is just one story of many where false ideas of human value have been a burden on people’s lives.
The first day we went to work with the mentally and physically handicapped and disabled, it was overwhelming for me. This is their life! Even on this race, I go on my way everyday, living my own life, and don’t realize that people live in wheelchairs or in bed their whole lives with very little human contact or care for them. I had a hard time knowing how to handle it and learning how to communicate, how to give them what they need…I never thought I would struggle like I did that day. I felt awkward and did not even know how to work with them. It made me so sad.
There are many people who come in and play with the children, put programs on for them, and entertain them, but rarely do people go to the men or women’s ward to just spend time with them. God has definitely given me a heart for these young ladies. Ever since my first day, which was hard, God has blessed me in AMAZING ways. My second day there, I met a woman named Glenda. She had a phone around her neck that she held up for me so I could see her name. As the sun came out and it got warmer, I helped her take her sweater off to cool off a bit. She can speak, although it is a bit mumbled and slow, but she is one of the sweetest ladies ever. She understands a lot of English and Spanish when I talk to her. Today while I was at the orphanage, I had a Spanish Bible with me so I had the opportunity to read with her. Anytime I said a word wrong in Spanish she would say it correctly for me and smile. She is so smart and has given her a sweet heart.
Another new friend of mine is Gloria. She seems to be fine mentally as far as I can tell, she is missing legs and in a wheel chair. I often times wonder why she is there because she could be out on her own easily, but sometimes families abandon and since society looks down on anyone with a handicap, she may not be able to get a job and make it in Guatemalan society. She helps out around the hospital a lot doing whatever they need help with. The first time I saw her she grabbed my hand and just rubbed it against her soft face and just held it for awhile. She also is a beautiful lady and I can tell she is a good friend to anyone who comes her way. She automatically reached out and gave me a hug. Today she was not in the women’s ward and I really wanted to see her. She had wanted me to take a picture with her the first day I met her but I didn’t have my camera (since we were told not to take pictures), so I promised I would come back with it next time. So, I walked around and found her sewing!! She is so talented. She was helping sew some kind of strips of fabric, but with the language barrier I couldn’t quite understand what they were for. She was excited that I came to find her and had brought my camera. We talked for a little while before I let her finish sewing. She is such a beautiful beautiful lady. She was putting on make-up one day when I went in to see her and it made me smile.
These women are made in God’s image, so wonderful and chosen. I want to see people the way God does and love people the way He does. There is definitely already a connection between me and some of the ladies that will make me miss them a ton when we have to go. Today as I was reading God’s word to them, some of them smiled at the end of particular verses or when I read a specific Psalm I could tell they understood and were agreeing with the passage. It was such an encouragement to me to know that some of them know who God is and love him. I can see it in their eyes and it comes out from their hearts. They were each chosen by God and are loved no differently than any other person. He knew each of them in their mother’s womb before they were even born and He had a plan for them. They are each so special to Him and made in His image. They are His wonderful, amazing children.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;” –Jer.1:5
“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” –Matt.25:40
*Read Colleen’s thoughts, feelings, and prayer about our experience on her blog.
