iTOT Fall Newsletter 2011

                         

Fall  2011                                                                                            www.iTOTinc.org

International Therapy Outreach Teams in Romania

     iTOT was in Romania in September at a Joni and Friends Retreat for families that have children with autism.  I gave a workshop for the parents on ways to handle sensory processing issues and how to add activities to help improve function and social interaction.  Individual sessions were also offered to each family in order to answer each parent’s specific questions about their child.

     The parents were eager to learn and very appreciative for the help with their children. The kids had a great time with the many fun activities that the Romanian staff from the Christian agency Children to Love International had planned throughout the week.  The kids were able to ride bikes, make crafts, sing, jump on trampolines, explore sensory bins, have water play and enjoy many other activities.  The kids and their parents participated in Bible Studies and learned about God’s love for them and their families. 

International Therapy Outreach Teams in Haiti

            I have a special place in my heart for the people of Haiti and feel blessed whenever I can return there to work with friends and provide therapy. The disabled Haitians have no resources in this severely impoverished country.  The trip this October was even more special because I was able to take my brother Michael to be the mechanic for our team of three therapists.  Michael was able to help with the over 163 adults and children that were given mobility equipment or taught therapy techniques that will help to improve their function and their quality of life.  He also visited two orphanages with the team during the trip and enjoyed playing with the kids.  I know his life will never be the same now that he has shared his heart with the people of Haiti too. 

            It is hard to fathom the desperate conditions that the people of Haiti live in every day.  Contaminated water, lack of food, no work, trash in the streets.  A hundred children die every day in Haiti from disease and starvation.  Last year I held in my arms an adorable little one year old girl who was in the process of being adopted.  Unfortunately, she never made it to that new home.  She could be considered just a statistic but for me Evena is a reminder of why I listen to Christ’s command to go to the poor, the fatherless, the hungry and the weak in His name.  Can you imagine how I feel when someone looks me in the eye and says “You came to help us. Thank you.” 

The pictures top to bottom:  5 year old Jean Louis who has a deformed leg learns to walk using little crutches; Michael, Greg and me working on a wheelchair for a young girl with cerebral palsy; and, coloring with the orphans at Delmas 31, an orphanage in Port-Au-Prince that is home for 21 disabled kids. 

                          How you are helping!

            Your donations and prayers are helping the disabled and their families in developing countries around the world by providing them with therapy to improve their quality of life.  iTOT works with Christian partners to connect the people we serve to the local church in order to meet their spiritual need for salvation in Christ and receive support from a Christian community.

            To donate to support therapy outreaches make check payable to iTOT and send to 231 Adrian Court Lansdale, PA 19446.

            To help the orphans in Haiti make check payable to Connect 2 Ministries and send to 2635 Brindle Court Simi Valley, CA 93063 (specify that the donation is for the orphanage) or consider sponsoring a child at www.houseofhopeorphanage.org

Scenes from life in Haiti

Haiti Therapy Outreach days 3-5

We went to St. Marc on Wednesday, Verrett on Thursday and Leogone on Friday.  We drove in the taptap (taxi that is a truck with a cab) for up to 3 hours to get to the people who needed therapy. We were able to spent time with each person to show them therapy techniques and give them equipment if they needed a wheelchair, walker or crutches.  Here are some pictures from those trips:

This little girl was curious about what we were doing.  She followed me around for the next few hours holding onto my shirt.

This little boy with severe hydrocephalus was very sweet

This little guy looked great sitting up tall after some therapy from Becca

Our translator explains to this blind man how to use an audio Bible

We worked at the local churches and the pastors welcomed the people too.  We hope that each person understood that God cares about each one of them and loves them. The Haitian people have a special place in my heart too. I will be back again soon.

Haiti Therapy Outreach Day 2

We arrived in Haiti on Friday October 7th and will be traveling around the country providing therapy and therapy equipment to the disabled in various towns.  Yesterday and today we were in Jacmel and KiJacmel with our team of 2 physical therapists, a mechanic and me, the occupational therapist.  We worked with the disabled from the church who have no access to therapy or equipment.  Here are some pictures of our day:

Michael fixing legrests on a wheelchair

Working with a little one with Down Syndrome.  SO Cute!!

Becca playing with the kids at the orphanage

This is how you get your wheelchair home.

Tomorrow we are heading to St. Marc to see another group of people with disabilities who have not been able to receive any therapy or equipment.  I'll post more pictures soon.