Wheelchair Workshop in Chimaltenango Guatemala

I was able to spend the day visiting the Bethel Ministries Wheelchair Workshop.

   What an amazing place! The wheelchairs that are donated and shipped from the states are refurbished here.  Some of the chairs are completely redone including new vinyl, seats, backs, laterals, headrests or whatever they might need.

They employ locals with and without disabilities and provide wheelchairs and other equipment for people all over the country of Guatemala.

Ruby, the mechanic for specialized chairs, took me through the entire process of cutting down and rebuilding a wheelchair to fit a child.  Here I am lending a hand (and hopefully not getting in the way)!

      Thanks Chris, Donna, Lizeth, Carlos, Ruby and all of the staff for taking the time to show me what you do at the workshop.

Guatemala Family Retreat April 2012

      It's been an amazing weekend at the Joni and Friends Guatemala Family Retreat. We have 15 families enjoying their time at the beautiful El Faro resort center. The kids have participated in singing, watched clowns, played games, did crafts, swam and had a talent show. The parents were able to spend time talking and even had date night away from the kids tonight. The weekend centered around how special each family member is to God as they learned how they are His workmanship.

    See the empty chairs on the dock?  All of the kids are in the water having fun.  I joined them after I took this picture.

        Look how hard Darwin is working on his craft project.  He is one detirmined little boy!

     I was able to work with 4 Guatemalian physical therapy students.  We met with each family individually to give therapy suggestions or encouragement.  In this picture, we are meeting with Katerin's family.  She is such a sweet girl with the biggest smile.

              Such a great weekend!  I know that each family was touched in a special way.
    

Spring Newsletter

iTOT Times 

Spring 2012                                                                                         www.iTOTinc.org
                         

                              The Haiti Special Schools Project

            On February 27, 2012 the first school program for children with special needs was started in Haiti in one of the poorest districts of Port-au-Prince at the Evangelical Church of Emmanuel.  The pastor graciously provided a corner of the school room for the program while the other children in the school moved closer together to make room for the new class. Sixteen children with special needs and their parents crowded into that small area and slowly a class began to form as the Haitian teacher began working with her new students.  On the first day, wheelchairs and walkers were fitted to the children that needed them while toys that were donated to the school came out of the box to be explored.  On the second day, all of the children returned and the smiles from the parents told us exactly what this new school meant to them and their children.  There were some big moments during that first two days including a child who walked for the first time but none was more profound then when the pastor and a volunteer stated that they were committed to having this program for children with disabilities at the school.  These men had attended the pastor’s conference two weeks before and they said they now knew that children with disabilities were created in God’s image and that He loved them.

                                                  Evangelical Church of Emmanuel

            The second school program was set up at the Hope Christian Church in Port-au-Prince.  This church was newly constructed out of wooden beams, a tin roof, tarps and sheets.  This building was filled when we entered with thirteen children with disabilities and their family members.  Curious and perhaps skeptical looks met us the first day but were replaced on the second day by friendly smiles and greetings.  The parents had watched their children blossom during the first day of school after being seated in a wheelchair for proper support, walking with walkers for the first time, exploring new toys, playing with other children, singing and learning.  The parents were so grateful that they ended the second day with a time of sharing to tell their story and to express thanksgiving to the church and to God for such a gift for their children.  The pastor told us that they have some families that will be attending the program that do not know Christ as Savior, at least not yet.   

        

                                                           Hope Christian Church

            These churches are the first of the partner churches in Haiti to add a classroom for children with disabilities to their school.  The churches are reaching out to the disabled in their communities to extend God’s love.  What a blessing to be able to help these churches get their programs started!  Our plan is to start four more classrooms in July and four more classrooms in September in other churches who have shown an interest in having a class for children with disabilities.  The hard part is only picking a few at a time!

                                                Meet Some of Our Kids

           This is Mickelina our little star!  She is 3 years old and has diplegic CP (her legs have muscle tone and movement problems).  She worked hard with Erin in standing and with the walker until she was able to take steps on her own.  You should have seen her mother's proud face!  Mom had her walking in a circle for the next hour.  I bet Mickelina slept all afternoon!

        This is Benby.  He is 13 years old and has Down Syndrome.  He is a very sweet and thoughtful boy.  He is very happy to be in school for the first time.  I think he may be teacher's helper in a few week :)

        The boy on the left is Samuel.  He is 14 years old and has Muscular Dystrophy.  He used to walk but can't anymore.  He is a very sweet boy with a beautiful smile.  I am so glad that he can attend school now. He will be a good "big brother" to the other kids.  The boy on the right is Ricardo.  He is 4 years old and has diplegic CP.  He is a little firecracker!  He is smart and mischievious.  The teacher, Melrose, had better keep an eye on this one.

     

       This is Gary.  He is 18 and has a left side hemiplegia.  He can walk but he had sores on his feet that weren't healing because he didn't have shoes.  Sara and I looked for shoes for him on the streets of Port-au-Prince after school that first day but Sara didn't see any that would work well for him.  The next day she put her own sneakers on his feet.  I have never seen someone so excited to be getting shoes!  He turned to everyone around him and in a very excited voice said, "tennies, tennies"!  The kids in Haiti are so grateful for the things we often take for granted.

      This is Jennifer in red and her sister Jenus.  Jennifer doesn't walk yet at 2 but loves to try.  She can walk with  a walker or with her hands held.  I think she could walk around the classroom all day if she had someone to help her.  Her sister Jenus has visual problems but is always on the go.  Their mom was so happy to be given a double stroller so she doesn't have to carry both of the girls when she takes them out.  The girls loved playing with the toys.  After they figure out how megablocks taste, I'm sure they will learn how to build with them too!

     The school programs are being supported by iTOT and Connect 2 Ministries for now.  Later we will help the churches start programs that will fund the classroom. This is being planned for next year.  If you would like to make a donation to help support the classes, send a check payable to iTOT to 231 Adrian Court Lansdale, PA 19446.

                          Upcoming Outreaches for 2012

Guatemala (April 11-18) A family retreat with Joni and Friends providing therapy for the kids and training for the families and local therapists

Ghana (May 7-18) Providing training for Ghanaian therapists and working side by side with them in their clinics for practical support and training

Haiti (July 14-25) Adding four more school programs for children with disabilities in the church schools

Romania (August 26-Sept 4) A family retreat with Joni and Friends providing therapy for the kids and training for the families and local therapists

Haiti (September 21- October 3) Adding four more school programs for children with disabilities in the churches and providing additional training for the Haitian teachers

Ghana (end of October) Providing additional training for Ghanaian therapists and equipping the churches for disability outreach in their communities

Hope Christian Church

      We set up the second school program for children with disabilities yesterday and today at Hope Christian Church in Port-Au-Prince Haiti.   As you can see, the church is constructed of wooden beams, a tin roof, tarps and sheets.

We helped their new Haitian teacher set up the classroom with toys and activity seats. We also made sure each of the children who needed a wheelchair was fitted properly in a donated chair.

     It was very exciting to watch the kids start learning from the teacher and each other.  The parents were so grateful to God, the church and the people who put together the new program.  Their children, who are usually ignored, have a place to come to learn, grow and be accepted. 

     Please pray for the two churches who will be running these new schools in Haiti for children with special needs.  Remember the pastors, the teachers, the parents and the kids. 

Haiti Preschool Programs Day 1

     Today was the first day setting up a preschool for kids with disabilities in Haiti.  We are working at a church in one of the poorest areas of Port-Au-Prince.  Our team is made up of Greg, me, Lynne a special education teacher, Sara a PT, Erin also a PT and our 2 Haitian translators Roselyn and Jhon Adams.

                                                   This is a picture of the church

We had no idea exactly what we would be doing today, what would be set up before we got there and who would come but God provided a wonderful teacher, a volunteer and some adorable children who we believe will benefit greatly from a school program here in Haiti.

The Haitian teacher Janice is wonderful with the kids.  Here she and Lynne are sharing ideas.

Michelena is a four year old girl who never walked before Erin worked with her today.  After some practice in standing and with a walker, she took her first steps all by herself! 

Luis was abit shy with us but loved inspecting the toys.  We will try to get him up and moving tomorrow.

More pictures and story later in the week.

Equipment Run November 4th 2011

     In the coming year iTOT and its partner organizations will be taking a shipment of mobility equipment to Haiti in order to accomplish many goals including:  to start preschool programs in the church schools for disabled children; to continue to provide mobility equipment to people with disabilities to improve their quality of life; and to extend to the disabled an invitation to the church and to a relationship with Jesus Christ.

     The first week of November donations of equipment were made almost every day and the week ended with my father and I driving a van to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (the second trip there this week) and to a warehouse in Ewing NJ to pick up the donations.  Here is what our day looked like:

The leaves looked nice along the drive

 The van was close to full as we took off for home

We unloaded the van onto my front porch



Here is what my extra bedroom looks like now

 Thank you to everyone who has made donations this week! 

For anyone who may have things to donate, I am looking for: 

wheelchairs (children or adult)

small children's activity chairs

walkers (childrens or adults)

crutches (childrens or adults)

canes (all types)

a small table and chairs (for small children)

preschool toys including puzzles, coloring books and crayons, shape sorters, ring stacks, balls, cars and trucks, figurines such as little people or anamils, picture books and other appropriate items

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