This month is unique because the men and women on the squad are divided. The men like to call this month Manistry, so I guess that leaves us calling it Womanistry. While the men are in Puerto Barrios doing who knows what…
Just kidding, they are actually doing a lot of the same ministry that we are.
22 of the women are here in Antigua…
We are split into 3 groups. 5 of the women are working with Nuevo Generacion with our contact Luis. They go around to schools and teach on ethics and behavior, etc.
10 of the women are working at a ‘Grandpa House’ (our contact calls it) we would probably call it a nursing home, it’s not quite a Senior Retirement Center. The first day the nurses had them groom the patients; lotion, clip nails, shave, braid hair, etc. On Tuesday’s and Thursdays volunteers come to play Lotteria (bingo) and do crafts with them.
The other 7, my group, were told we’d be at an orphanage, turns out it’s a Malnutrition Clinic called Casa Jackson. The clinic works with newborns to 11 year olds, however we have a 12 year old right now. He came in at 27 pounds and currently weighs 47. Day by day the staff work to nurse these children back to health. All of the children’s stories are so different, neglect, ignorance, teen parents, all reasons why these babies ended up in the clinic. However, they have a very high success rate and only a handful of children have had to be admitted twice.
We assist the nurses with all the daily duties. Helping bath the kids, mop the floors, change diapers, organize cabinets, feedings, play time, all types of daily needs that help bring these children back to health.
Kathryn and Jimena (1yrs) Jessica and Luis (12yrs)
Ashley and Cristina (1yr 1/2?) One of the rooms, 20 beds in all
Me and Kenner (2months)
