This month my squad and I are working at a special needs facility called SOS Hogar. Here, about 72 adults reside who struggle with many different conditions. Most are in wheelchairs but a few are capable of walking around on their own, holding small jobs, and helping out with the other residents.
Overall, there are six houses with residents that the staff refers to as “ninos” a.k.a “kids”. Each house has 3 to 4 “Tias” that help the kids with everyday life. These are the real superheroes of this world. The Tias work for 28 days straight and then get 8 days off. The overturn here is ridiculous and it is not just because of the hard work. It is because it is a government funded facility and the government is not a reliable source of income. Often the staff members, especially, the Tias go without pay for months. Although they are without income, they often times are the only staff members that stay without payment. The most amazing thing to me is the age of some of the dedicated Tias.
The young woman in my house, Heidi, is 19 years of age and working non-stop with these extremely dependent adults. She is one of the most patient people I have ever met and loves her “kids” unconditionally. Although there is a major language barrier between her and my team, I have learned so much from her. The perseverance this young girl has is more than most adults have today. She never gets angry with the kids and is always smiling and laughing with them. If you watch her closely, you can tell that she is drained and tired, but she never lets the kids notice. I have begun to pray for her daily, that she will continue to stay strong for these kids, that she will feel appreciated and seen. I have asked God for ways to connect with her so that we can share His love with her and see her become a true warrior. She is Wonder Woman, and I hope to continue learning from her.
Here are the kids in my house, this ministry is extremely draining in every way, but it is helping us all grow in ways we never expected.
Juan is the boy who has won the hearts of all us girls. He loves going on walks around the property, especially on the soccer field. He enjoys dancing and learning new sounds. Although he cannot speak, he communicates through different noises. He has such an adventurous spirit and loves to learn by touching and smelling.
Daisy is an intricate woman. She likes to keep to herself but we have found she enjoys physical touch. If you hold your hands out in front of her, she will timidly grab them and hold on tight. She responds well to music but is not as big of a fan of the outdoors. She is a beautiful soul that has much to give to this world.
Milba is a wild child who will cling on and never let go. Physical touch is her need in life and it is one of our favorite pastimes snuggling her. She loves playing with our hands and listening to music. We are always on guard with her, however, she is most definitely the jealous type and will bite the arm off of anyone who tries to steal our affection. We love our Milba and look forward to cuddling her every day.
David can be found with a ball in his shirt and a smile on his face. He loves to watch and listen as we make bracelets and read stories. Although he cannot understand the English version, he still listens intently as I read from the bible. His optimistic outlook on life gives all of the others hope throughout the day and his smile brings joy to us all.
Doris is the youngest girl in our house at age 18. She cannot communicate in any way but her eyes are the best way to guess what she is wanting. She also enjoys music and stories but likes to be outside just as much. She is such a beautiful soul.
Carla absolutely loves to move, we spend a good chunk of our day rolling her around in her chair and “dancing” with her. Holding her hands and rubbing her knees is the best way to calm her down but she is normally a happy human. Her smile is absolutely stunning and can be seen almost all day.
Nora is our dancing queen. Any time a song is on, she is instantly in position to start her side step groove. We are unsure of her age but she can outlast us all on the dance floor.
Giselle is silent but extremely wise. We have dubbed her the most likely to secretly speak English. She can be found sitting in her hammock all day but watching and observing everything happening around her. Every once in a while, normally when someone gets hurt, she can be seen laughing. Our everyday goal is to try and get her to talk or smile, it has yet to happen but we are determined.
Karen is the only girl in a wheelchair who can speak clearly. She likes to sing with Heidi and talk about the day. She loves to play catch and hold hands. Karen is also one of the only ones who can move around in her chair which makes it easier for us to know where she wants to go. She too enjoys being outdoors and going for “walks”. Oh, and her favorite color is pink 🙂
