June 20 Flight to Newark

Flying home today after three weeks here. I am settling into a routine with all the attendant benefits and liabilities. Most days, I spend the majority of working hours at CRPN working with the kids. Our two employees, Carmen and Rosario are there and working hard. Carment has broadened her work to stimulate the arms of Pascal and Mario. We also have wrist braces to help them with strengthening excercises.

Our new psychiatrist, Alexandra is wonderful. More precise diagnosis and medications have been a huge improvement in freedom and mobility for several residents. There were a few of the boys who had some "crabby" days during their change in meds. Also, vecause the new construction is nearing completion, we are cramped into even smaller quarters during the day.

The new girls dormitories and too common rooms are so close to opening. We also get a small yard and some avocado trees back as the construction finishes.

Wednesday we celebrated Father's Day. Very nice luncheon meal with small gifts and lots of laughter. Sonia gave me a great keychain holder and a male cardboard figure with a) Bowtie and b) two razors. I can only surmise that she channeled the bowtie thing and the razors is because I skip shaving many days. There are about eight males working at the center and I could not ask for a better group of guys. Yestrday, we hoisted the basketball backboard and rim into place. Not sure Bob Veila would approve of the approach or durability of our efforts.

Lot's of small benchmarks for progress. Ingrid can stuff a cooie in her mouth (eventually) and is drinking from a child's sippy cup. Anahi is almost starting to crawl. One day she had the sniffles and just wanted to be held. For ten minutes she clutched me and nuzzled my neck. That ten minutes she was not doing her autistic rock and endless monosylabic chant. Suzi is growing and putting on weight. She understand what we say to her. She is blossoming. Angelito has put on some weight and was actually laughing when we set up the wading pool. Just two months ago he was hospitalized for malnourishment and dehydration. The anti-depressants give him some appetite and that is huge.

Employee turnover has been disruptive, but long term beneficial. Some wonderful new folks have been hired and we are optimistic about the future.

En El Nombre de Jesus

misc

CadaNino Back Ground June 2009 CRPN

                                              CadaNino   (each Child)  

 

In early 2008, the US and Guatemalan government implemented the international treaty governing international adoptions known as the Hague Convention.  Previously, US Citizens were adopting children from Guatemala at the rate of approximately 4000 kids per year. With a tiny population, Guatemala trailed only China and Russia in the total number of US adoptions. Though a theoretically conservative, Catholic country, Guatemala was known to have an accommodative adoption processing capabilities that was believed to be bordering on fraud and human trafficking.

 

   The Government in Guatemala, stopped taking new applications for international adoption at the end of 2007, but there remain approximately 2000 cases slowly winding their way through a new and somewhat obscure emigration process.  Though the strains on the social fabric and network of orphanages  has been tangible, the fears of widespread starvation of newborns and infants has apparently been avoided.  Poor diet remains a challenge for much of the poor in Guatemala, but the family friendly culture has largely absorbed any surplus of unwanted children.

 

  CRPN (Centro Residencial Psiquiatrico y Neuorologico) is  small hospital for  mentally handicapped children and young adults. Some residents have family, but their handicaps are too overwhelming for the family to address. In recent years, the government run organization has experienced significant turnover at the management level as well as in the social service areas of the government.  As an outsider who sees extreme poverty in many areas of the Guatemalan topography, these residents are well treated. They have nutritious meals three times a day, clean clothing, basic medicine and people who work hard and care about them. They have a variety of educational programs with excellent teachers, but not enough time or resources for continued individualized tutoring. Generally, individualized development and education is the area that CadaNino focuses. 

   A combination of cultural ambivalence toward mental retardation and a government that is frequently in flux, has limited the access and implementation of volunteer programming at CRPN. A variety of not for profits and Churches have helped from time to time, but currently there is not a lot of support outside the government.  CadaNino has two employees who are paid by the foundation, but who report to the Director of CRPN, Celedonio Soto.  The first  EV (employee/volunteer)  is a physical therapist and she has had remarkable success with a core group of bedridden children. The second EV,  (employee/volunteer) is a nurses aide who has just started a full time position working similarly to develop and engage some of the neediest cases on an individualized basis.

  Cadanino’s objective is to make a difference in the quality of life of these children.  Through the adaptation of management techniques we hope to keep each child’s development plan under constant review and revision. Progress toward independent and healthy living is the objective. For some children that may mean learning to crawl and maybe walk some day. For others, it means being able to feed themselves. Some of the others it may mean a refinement of anti-seizure medications and additional education that might lead someday to living with a family or a half-way house. The love of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit manifested in the love, time and commitment will reap  miracles and success stories. Though I have joked with staff that my expectations are that two of the kids should be attending Harvard in the fall of 2009, that is perhaps a lofty and unobtainable goal. However, I do think there are several diamonds in the rough that will surprise on the upside with proper care. I think of Helen Keller and how low expectations were for her prior to her communications breakthroughs. Pray for these people for surely they are loved by Our Almighty God.

 

 

Birthday Girls This weekend

Ingrid turns 9 today and Anahi turns 7 tomorrow. They are happy special little girls

Waterpark Adventure

A great, but exhausting day at the waterpark. We took a short bus ride outside of the capital to a beautiful waterpark. There were 27 kids and we were each assigned supervision of a few. I had the good fortune to be working with Lucas and Pascual. Lucas was very adventuresome and he learned how to hold his breath underwater. Pascual was fearful of the water and he felt a chill that he could not shake most of the day.

It was a great experience and several hundred photos taken.

Special Olympics

Alright now, no kidding around. We are in training for the Special Olympics. Yesterday, we worked out at the track and toay we are going to a pool.

It is the beginning of winter here and the weather is overcast more of the time.

Our friend William and Marie Theresa came to the hotel pool and then for some pizza... Their parents came with us. A great evening.

The fastest week in Guatemala

Progress and growth for all of us here. My bio kids had the opportunity to help at Fundaninos. In addition to playing with the kids a lot, they helped at the school and with basic child care. With 5 am wake ups, they also attended 6am Bible study and enjoyed the delicious high carb meals.

At the Government Center, I shared the clothing donated by Renaissance Families and participated with the Physical Therapist. Seeing her skillfully manipulate the childrens arms and legs gives me the hope that they are progressing and may enjoy some level of autonomy eventually. I delivered a radio walkman with headset to Beatrize and she is in heaven listening to music. Her teachers find it a reasonably good tool to get her to comply behaviorally. They with hold from her when she misbehaves...

this keyboard does not have normal punctuation so I apologize...

JJ and Baila climbed the Mountain with the Boys

A typical Sunday afternoon here in San Jos Pinulla. I had committed to cooking the traditional Easter Spaghetti feast for 70, so Jamie Jr., had to lead the hike up the mountain. Took some great photos.

My kids arrived yesterday from the States and are a bit jet lagged. The cheap tickets had them flying at such weird times they vitually ulled all nighters getting here.
They are playing great with the kids and Baila is a good addition to the clan.

Alfredo eating... Yummy

Watch this and enjoy...

Here is the link to video 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3BiDaUqg34

The two kids that stole my heart

These two cuties are my very favorite children. The girl on the top is Ingrid and the other girl is
Ananin. They both have significant disabilities. They respond well to attention and
are very happy, well fed and healthy youngsters. My favourite activity is helping them at
lunch time. They have sweet good natured dispositions.

If a picture conveys a thousand words, you have read my novella.

Thnx Ren Friends Mision Pascua 30 hours till take off

Thank you friends from Renaissance. Around Saturday I panicked as I realized I would be heading down with empty luggage. Last trip I managed aslightly overweight 110 pounds of gifts and clothing. This trip exceeds my capacity to carry, but Lizzie and Rianna can carry the res on Saturday. You guys are the BEST ad I thank you on behalf of the chiquitos.... Bendiciones.

Looking forward to seeing Lucas

Lucas is a wonderful young man. He has a thirst for learning. He carries a notebook with him at all times. He stuff it into his shirt and pulls it out at a moments notice. He loved his visor with the Baltusrol logo on the side. He loves wearing my eyeglasses, but cannot wear glasses on a regular basis because they could be a bit dangerous. When I gave him my basic 1-2-3-4 finger eye test, he failed every time, but I was unable to distinguish if it was counting or eyesight.
Prayer for this special young guy. I can't wait to see him.

Fun Video about Fundanios