Last day in Guatemala City
Our last day in Guatemala. Attended church service at El Camino. The church has a great ministry to deaf people – around 30 or so were in attendance - and so the lively worship songs were ‘signed’ using American Sign Language. The church treated us to lunch at Pizza Hut, next door, before we returned to deliver training to 30 people from the church. Encouragingly, one of the church Elders who was attending, was keen to volunteer for all the interactive stuff and all the delegates were very enthusiastic, asking loads of questions, and joining in with the practical activities. In fact the whole training session demonstrated being an inclusive church, because we had a double translation of English, translated into Spanish and also into sign language. Also Philippa, who is totally blind, interacted with deaf and physically disabled people and at the end of the training it was like we were all long-lost friends, with hugs all round.
Re-visit
Re-visited the children at Love the Child where Philippa sang to them, and we introduced Parachute games and some worship Action songs.
Rehab Centre
Delivered training to around 30 disabled children and teachers at a Rehab Centre in Guatemala City. Maria, the Lead teacher, is extremely forward-thinking in how the students are taught, including giving the children chores to emphasise that they all have a contribution to make.
In the afternoon we saw a disturbing view of Guatemala City’s dump, where hundreds of people – rejected by society - scavenge through the rubbish to try and find anything they could sell to earn a few Quetzales.
Leaving
Leaving Antigua-Guatemala behind and travelling to visit Steve Osborn’s ministry, Love the Child (Amor del Nino), in San Lucas. Met the 48 disabled or disadvantaged children in their orphanage and ate fried chicken at Guatemalan fast food restaurant ‘Pollo Campero’. Slightly more restful day today – and much needed after more or less a week of non-stop training.
New Life Special School
170 teachers packed into the New Life special school for the training. The students performed their inclusive dance for delegates before 16 year-old Blanky gave a testimony of her school experience as a wheelchair user, coming from very difficult circumstances but graduating from New Life and giving all the glory to God. She is now studying accountancy and will make a great Christian advocate for disabled people in Guatemala. Delegates seemed to be attentive and made notes on the Bible verses. There was even a retired Banker and self-confessed atheist from Scotland, now working in a special school in Guatemala, who will have heard the Biblical perspective twice – once when I spoke in English, and then again when Amy translated it into Spanish! God’s got a great sense of humour! We then split the delegates into 3 ‘smaller’ workshops of ‘Inclusive Sport/Games’, led by myself (Tim); ‘Strategies in the Classroom’, led by Marie; and ‘Practical Assistance for children with disabilities’, led by Philippa and Julie. Feedback was universally positive and the team felt it was a very positive day.
Training
Delivered training to around 60 parents and a few pastors. Parents were accompanied by their children which added to the number, and the noise level. Delegates enjoyed the inclusive parachute games but my cultural ignorance showed up today as I got things wrong by getting delegates into small groups to discuss the Biblical context of disability. Most parents are non-literate and don’t attend training/information giving days and so this style of presentation, suitable for teachers, was new to them. I think the Enemy was trying to disrupt things as I felt I’d lost their attention, although Amy, our excellent translator, graciously disagreed and said that they were listening and particularly needed to hear from the Bible.
Special School
Good night’s sleep then breakfast of fried eggs and traditional black beans (frijoles). Judy collected us for 20 minute drive up the volcano to her special school in the village of Santa Maria de Jesus. Great welcome from the 70 disabled kids, who presented an inclusive dance to us, and the 10 teachers. The teachers leave their homes at 4.30am for the 2 1/2 hour bus ride from where they live in the villages near the Lake where we have been, to be at school for when it starts at 7.00am!! They then do the 2 1/2 hour return trip when school finishes at 1.00pm - and their wages only just keep them above the poverty line!! Absolutely amazing commitment. Discussed plans for the next two days of training - 40 or so pastors and parents on Tuesday, then around 100 teachers from all around the state on Wednesday! Amazing stuff.
A chance encounter
On Sunday morning we had a ‘chance’ encounter with an American couple at the hotel who were thrilled by our project and prayed for us all as a team in the hotel foyer which was a great blessing. Short Tuk-Tuk ride from the hotel to a church to deliver the training, after their service. The Pastor at the church, Lionel, has a daughter with Spina Bifida, Reynita, and has a real heart for disabled people. 15 people turned up which meant we could personalise the session better. It went really well and God was so close to all of us, it was fantastic. Tuk-Tuk ride back to the hotel for lunch and a bit of shopping then checked out of the hotel for the 3 hour trip on to Antigua-Guatemala. Arrived after nightfall and met with Judy of New Life With Education, and Amy, an Occupational Therapist, who gave us dinner of Meat Loaf, then Lemon Meringue pie - excellent. Staying in a B&B for the next 4 days - beautiful huge rooms with an outside courtyard in the middle and ramps everywhere because it used to belong to a lady in a wheelchair - we feel so blessed.
Only been here 3 days but feels like we have done so much. Team working fantastically well together.
On to Rolandos
Packed bags on Saturday am to travel 3 hours by van with Rolandos, of Love the Child, and Jonathan to the edge of beautiful Lake Atitlan, then 30 minute boat crosing to San Pedro La Laguna. Pizza for lunch overlooking the lake then delivered training to 60 delegates (a mix of students and church/charity volunteers). Good feedback but all the team felt it was quite hard work and that something was missing. Caught the boat back to hotel for good evening meal of typical Guatemalan scrambled eggs, black beans, cheese and plantain, washed down with Tamarind drink.
Day One
Breakfast of scrambled eggs then leave at 8.00am for 45 minute drive to America Latina school. During the journey I found a caterpillar on the front seat, and rather than throw him out of the window I held on to him before arriving at the school and putting him on a leaf. The caterpillar is a useful analogy of what we are doing here – every single disabled child is like a caterpillar, which, with the right support and encouragement can eventually be transformed into a beautiful butterfly. Delivered training to 90+ student teachers. It went really well and the team gelled together. Philippa was inspiring, sharing her personal experience of being blind from birth and one highlight was doing an inclusive dance which involved everyone. The students gave good feedback and were very receptive, particularly 10 or so who ‘got’ the inclusive message and we know will be great advocates for disabled children in their classroom so a really good start. Lunch of chicken tortillas.