Day Two: Del Herman Pedro

We knew that this day was going to be a mixture of extremes.  It was going to be emotionally taxing.  Our first visit was at Del Hermano Pedro, which is a Catholic Church run hospital that houses eight different wards for disabled persons.  There aren't any pictures that we were able to take of this part of our day because there was a man who would come in and take pictures of one of the patients and then try to get moeny from people by saying it was his son and he needed money to help take care of him.  Our coordinator, Steve was allowed to take some pictures so we will try and post those when we can get them from him.

When we first arrived, we took a tour of the hospital.  Emotions ran from sad at the situations of these people to happiness at the sheer joy that many of them expressed.  In the women's ward there is a woman who will run up to you, ask you your name and then decide whether she likes it or not.  (I think that Nick and Suzanne's names passed the test.  The rest of us apparently need some name changes!)  She would shake her finger and say, "no me gusto" (I don't like).  But she'd say it with a big smile!

Then, we arrived at the children's area.  They were all in wheelchairs, sitting in a sunny courtyard.  We were told to wash our hands and then we could start playing with the kids.  Many of us were anxious to get started but we just didn't know what to do.  Most of the children didn't have the ability to speak and we weren't sure how to intereract with them.  Some of us just started walking around, touching them on their arms or their heads, kneeling down to pray, or singing to them.  And then, God stepped in.  Their disabilities, language barriers, and our fears just seemed to disappear.  The nurses began taking children out of their wheelchairs and handing them to us to hold.  We discovered that several of them loved to play with "pellotas" (balls), and they loved the bubbles that we brought with them. 

Diego loved to hear anyone just say his name.  His entire face would light up with sheer joy anytime anyone came near him.  He and Daniel would smile and toss their heads back and forth if you sang to them!  Irvin and Nick Anderson tossed a ball back and forth.  Jeff and Joy bonded with Elmer who was QUITE a character.  He had a backpack on his wheelchair that he had stuffed to the gills with books and toys.  Alicia learned a sad story about little Ariana who, praise God, was doing so much better now that she'd been at Hermano Pedro for two years.  Crystal rocked little Perla for hours.....a little girl who couldn't talk or walk but LOVED for you to stroke her hair or bounce her on your knee.  Alison and Beth played with Lesly, a blind girl who would clap and laugh if you sang to her.  The younger boys, Logan, Brandon, Jake, and William pushed several of the children in their wheelchairs around the courtyard and sang to them.  Logan learned "Jesus Loves Me" in Spanish and sang to several of the children.  

The nurses asked if we could stay and help feed the children and of course we said yes!  With 17 extra hands, lunch would go so much faster for everyone.  Hopefully we can share a video soon of Keith feeding a little boy.  It is hilarious and heart-warming! 

The nurses who worked in this ward were so wonderful with the children.  Even without what we would consider to be modern medical conveniences, the children were being so well cared for.  It tugged at our hearts to know that many of the children would neved leave that facility.  But we also saw the blessing that they had somewhere they could go and be cared for. 

We will be going back to Hermano Pedro tomorrow (day three) and we know that God's presence will surround us once again as we just love and care for these precious children. 

We will post later on about the second half of our day two when we got to go the "El Club", which is a Kid's Club, and work with about 75 children!

Continue to pray....God is with us and He is GOOD!

Love and Blessing from the Guatemala Team :)