FAQ Brief History of CadaNino

Anyway, I pieced this together from old emails and added some thoughts. Talk about Roshomon. I was a true rookie this time last year and now I am becoming the quintessential sophomore...

The outline of Cadanino:

2008 - Wallers went to Guatemala to study looming humanitarian crisis related to the end of
international adoption. Ten homes were visited: 5 NGO types and 5 Government
CRPN Was the stand out as neediest and most compelling orphanage.

2009 Return to Guatemala and start Cadanino.

2010 Today we employ 5 people working physical therapies with the kids at CRPN-

January 24, 2010 - From the first brief visit to the center, I have known that God wants me involved with these kids. It can be an emotionally brutal place and the dynamics are difficult to describe. In this case, I think the photos tell the story than my limited wordsmithing capabilities. When you look at some of these pics you either get it or you don't. There is nothing wrong with not getting it. I did not get it myself until this started two years ago. I generally shunned complicated handicapped people. For me, I suspect it was a time and place thing.
My commitment to this center and these children is pretty much open ended. I may not live and work there full time for ever, but I am committed to the kids (especially the invalids of the clinic) for life (theirs or mine).

Anyway a couple of quoted emails over the past two years...


From a letter to a friend explaining the background

BTW- The YPO in early '08 started this project. Greg Garrett gave a brief presentation and it really took my heart. I felt the Lord calling me to get to know Greg and his Orphan Helpers. Part of my challenge last year was my lack of clarity and multiple mandates. In addition to the immediate identified need here, I was also trying to find Jamie Jr. (JJ) a job and career. It was not going well with JJ and I think Uncle Sam has more experience with these lads. JJ is loving the Marines. Concurrently, multiple issues in Guate and Orphan Helpers needed clarification-

2008- Guatemala changed adoption laws. For simplicity sake we'll say the change was for the better. The fear had been that many orphans would be stranded and grossly neglected. Also, OrphanHelpers had a mandate and small grant to expand from Honduras and El Salvador to Guatemala. They specialize in incarcerated males. During the year 2008, their patron for expansion was unable to fully deliver on the pledge because of the economy.

The Lord had touched my heart with this one Government center for profoundly retarded orphans. The images of the kids haunted (in a nice way) all year. I am calling the place Aurora 13 for now. It is tricky the interplay here with the government and charities. In fact when I showed up on day 1, they did not know what to do with me. Since then, the director, Celedonio, has become a good friend and we played mini-golf this weekend.

Aurora 13 has had virtually no Christian or Church support in a long time. There are about 55 people and half wear adult diapers. I have no training with mentally handicapped people unless you include Wall Street types. They have a large staff and the kids have a lot of very good food. I particularly enjoy helping at lunch feeding a couple of the wheelchair kids. Ingrid is about 12 and has almost no motor control. Her face is cute and appears normal and does not have the traits of downs syndrome or other obvious mental shortcomings. The other adorable child is AnaNin. She is profoundly retarded and also has the condition where they push their hand down the back of her throat. Consequently, she remains in restraints continuously. She also has an autism that has her hitting her head against the wall. She has scars on her forehead. The restraints prevent her from incurring more. One of the other children in restraints has given me an idea for a new appetite suppressant... more on that another time.


And another note to friend

AURORA 13 b4 CadaNino

The other project in Guatemala is what I am calling, " Aurora 13." It is the government run home in Zona 13 for mentally handicapped. The place is called Centro Residencial Psiquiatrico y Nerologico. They have about 55 residents and most are profoundly retarded. I had visited their last year with the secretary from Biesestar Social. The current director is becoming my friend and he has a good heart. He cam to play mini-golf when I took 8 of the Fundaninos boys to mini-golf on Saturday.

This government center has limited resources and little recent history of volunteers. God has called me to this home since last year as the memories of these needy people has haunted my dreams and waking moments. Because of the government involvement, I am trying to keep a very low profile. I saw that years ago there had been some negative press about inadequate care and I do not want to do anything that would jeopardize my ability to help the kids. The last two weeks my main accomplishments were:

1) Forge relationship with staff

2) Cook pizza for lunch for staff

3) Acquire medicine for epileptic sister of laundress

4) Help 8 year old nearly blind son of Seamstress

5) Acquire fabric in Zona 7 for seamstress to make clothing for residents

6) Donate 100 pounds of clothing to kids

7) Donate DVD player to the infirmary- for nurses and kids

8) Hire a part time physical therapist for a pilot program. Three months of half days on Monday-Friday

I don't mention these things to boast, but to give you an idea of the flexibility that I have. My foundation and associates are happy to put resources to work in a spontaneous and flexible way. Similarly, I made some small gifts at Fundaninos; a laptop for Kevin, meat and chicken for some visits, cookies and candy continuously. Additionally, I left a few dollars that I hope Quique can use to have Juan's front teeth extracted or fixed and also to take Emna to a different doctor for diagnoses. She is my favorite and such a cutie. She appears pigeon toed and have limited muscle response. Apparently, doctors have said she does not have downs syndrome, but there is definitely something else going on with her. Maybe is it a type of autism or something else neurological. Needless to say, I will do whatever in my power to help her as appropriate. "