Guatemala Children's Project (M)

Time For Change

2008-10-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!! Since our last meeting, I am now in charge of the official orphanage blog. So...all updates will be done at the new site. (please be patient with us, as the website is still a work in progress, but the blog is fully up and running)

Click on the following link for the new site:

http://www.guatemalachildrensproject.org/

We hope you will continue to follow our progress!!

Coming Together

2008-10-12T15:58:00.000-07:00

Saturday October 11, 2008 was the first official meeting for the volunteers of the Guatemala Children's Project. It's been a long time coming, and it was time that we all come together to unite our efforts and start making progress as a group. The meeting began at 8am, and finished at almost 2pm. We made some very important decisions, and I know that we will really start to see progress now. It was wonderful to finally meet everyone face to face, and bring our knowledge and ideas to the table. Tasks and assignments were delegated and everyone has a direction in which they are now clear. We've eliminated the excess tasks, and streamlined processes.
We also were blessed to have Guillermo here from Guatemala to attend the meeting. We are grateful for his example, and know he loves the children and takes great care if their needs. It's excited to be working with such wonderful individuals, and know that much good will come out of this small group of volunteers.

Guatemala Children's Project Board of Directors:

President: Kevin Callahan
Vice President/ Educational Director: Ken Mangum
Field Office Coordinator: Doug
Fundraising Director: Marta Tyler
Marketing/ P.R.: Emily Reynolds
Volunteer Coordinator: Debbie Clark
Executive Secretary: Candice Chandler
Executive Director: Guillermo Rangel
On-Site Coordinator/ Nursery Director: Mandy Brooks
I.T. Specialist: Mike Mangum

Received!!!!

2008-09-28T14:24:00.001-07:00

Kevin called me yesterday with the official news that the cargo box full of donations has been received!!! It has been quite the ordeal getting it released, and thanks to the stake president there in Chimalt, he took action out of frustration and got the wheels turning. It has Officially been released, and received by the orphanage!! I cannot put into words the relief felt by all after this frustrating experience. They will now all have their supplies, 4-Runner, and household goods. When we arrive in January, the volunteers will have the opportunity to organize, and distribute everything to it's proper place. We are so grateful to finally have it in our possession, and look forward to replenishing their chronically low stock of supplies. This will undoubtedly change their lives, at least for a little while.

Plane Tickets

2008-09-18T10:46:00.000-07:00

Plane tickets are currently being purchased by those individuals who are traveling to Guatemala for the next volunteer trip. Volunteers can go from January 9th - 16th, 2009. We are so excited to finally be able to start planning the next project, and we can't wait to get down there and see the kids again!!

Kevin has officially leased a building for which the volunteers will stay at during their trips. This will help alleviate some of the stress and work that is required of Martita when large groups come to the orphanage. I know it must be so hard for her cooking 3 times a day for so many people. She literally spends the entire day in the kitchen and doing laundry. It will also help us divide the work into shifts easier, giving each volunteer a break, and better set schedule.

Great strides are being made for the welfare of these children, but the financial burden is getting heavy. We are needing to find individuals who can help sponsor, and help raise money. There are so many good people who want to help these children, and we know once we gather all the information, compile it, and distribute to those willing to help......we can really get the ball rolling.
We'll try and keep everyone as informed as possible in the upcoming months.

Web Site

2008-08-31T08:45:00.000-07:00

It's time to set up a website for the orphanage. I have talked to one of our best friends who we consider to be a computer genius, and he has agreed to help us!! Thanks Jared, you are a lifesaver!! We need somewhere to filter all of the important information to keep everyone updated, answer questions, and give more detail about the orphanage in general. We have so many ideas and know just what we need, now it's just a matter of doing it!! It will definitely be a tedious process, but I can't wait to get started on it.
We will also link the blog to the website to keep an online Journal for everyone. There you can learn about the kids, events, and hear personal stories that occur at Ninos de Guatemala.
We'll keep everyone updated on our progress and I'll post the link as soon as it's ready!!

New Arrivals

2008-08-30T20:08:00.000-07:00

I got an email from Mandy today. Thought I should post it to keep everyone updated.

Hey Marta,
I got a new baby Thursday, her name is Alejandra and she is 3 months old. She is probably the fattest baby I have ever seen, but sooo cute. I will send you some pictures when I get some of her. Also she had an older brother and 3 cousins come here with her, So we have 4 babies and 12 older kids. It´s starting to get busy! I can´t believe how fast these babies are going through diapers and formula and I am starting to get really tired from staying up all night and working all day. But it is worth it! I love the babies so much.
So the story behind the new kids is actually really scary. Two of the older boys are brothers, and then the other two are brothers as well, and they are all cousins. But both of the families were living in the same house together, and all of their parents were part of a gang. I read in the newspaper about the gang, and what the gang does is they kidnap people and then they tie them up and negotiate with them how they want to die. Within the next 48 hours they kill them and leave them in public places for everyone to see. So the parents had kidnapped this little 3 year old girl, and they were keeping her hostage in the house for money from her family. On Thursday the police broke into their house and killed ALL of the parents, in order to rescue the little girl. The scary thing was that all their kids were in the house and saw their parents die. The good thing is that I don´t think the kids know what their parents were doing, but it´s so sad because the youngest little boy thinks his mom is coming back for him and he keeps asking me when she is coming to get him. The youngest one won´t talk to anyone except to ask when his mom is coming back, and we can´t get the oldest one to eat anything. The other ones seem pretty okay, which is surprising. The baby cries all the time, more than I have ever heard a normal baby cry and we can´t get her to eat either.

Other than that things are going pretty good. Nothing else is really new. We still haven´t found Jaquelyn. Abigail and Jenniffer say hi. They seriously miss you so much. They totally love you. I am so glad you are coming back!
Love Mandy

Home

2008-08-23T20:05:00.000-07:00

Well...it's 6:30 on a Saturday morning and I can't sleep. I've been tossing and turning for a while now. I can't stop thinking about the kids in the orphanage and it's been a week since I've returned home. I just received an email from Mandy last night. They were supposed to receive 3 newborns this week. Unfortunately, 2 of them have already died. I feel so sad that they left this earth without the opportunity to be loved...every infant deserves at least that. However, I also feel grateful that they have been blessed and will avoid the inevitable heartache and pain that is present in so many of these orphans lives.
The orphanage also received another little girl yesterday. We don't know how old she is, but the guesstimate is around 6 years. She is frightened and totally out of her element. Her dad died, and her alcoholic mom abandoned her. There is also a 2 month old sibling, they're working on getting her too.
Jaquelyn arrived absolutely filthy, and with a horrible case of head lice. So bad that they have started to burrow themselves into her scalp. They immediately applied the lice medicine, but it isn't helping. They had to go get her hair cut, and we're hoping they with more treatments it will go away.
It kills me to hear about these kids and not be there to hug and love them. I am considering going back to the orphanage in December. I NEED to go back. I love every single one of them and all the worldly cares go away when I'm helping them. When I'm there, it's not about me, I don't even care about things as gross as lice!! They have helped show me what's truly important. I'm also so much more aware of how blessed I am, and I'm so grateful for the good in my life. I have so much to be grateful for.
Mandy said Levi is sick. I'm a little worried about him. They don't have good healthcare there, and I hope he can just get better on his own. That's the hard part about being an inexperienced mom, you're not really sure when to let the kids ride out an illness and when they need to see a doctor. I hope he starts feeling better soon.

As for me...I'm finally starting to feel better. I got sick on the last day of my trip, and I've spent most of my week home in bed. From what I've heard, every single person went home sick....so I'm not alone in the sicky department. That might be another reason why I'm struggling to get back into my life again...I haven't been able to get back into my routine. Hopefully next week will be a more productive and normal week.

Update: The new girl Jaquelyn ran away from the orphanage. No one has seen or heard from her since. We are all worried about her, and hope she is okay. We will keep looking for her.

Love Notes

2008-08-18T19:04:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I received a couple hand written notes from the kids. Some were hidden, and tucked away for me to find later. They are so cute, and special...I thought I'd post them so I can always see them.

I also received am email from Alejandra. It made me cry, and I wish I could adopt her...even if she is 14. She is an incredibly good girl...and is amazing in so many ways.

hola! martita
espero que estes bien quiero que sepas que te quiero mucho y que nunca te voy ha
olvidar tueres una persona muy especial para mi y para el hogar espero que regreses muy pronto
porque te bamos estar esperando te quiero mucho muchooooooooooooooooooooooooo
eres una buena amiga para mi y espero que tengas exito en tu vida y que tus beibis esten bien
I miss you and I am sad for you because you is very especial and I am happy with you
thanks for your hep in the orphanege

ale

Final Group Photo

2008-08-17T19:03:00.000-07:00

Journal: Day 8

2008-08-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

Last night was our final evening. We made hot dogs and nachos for all the kids. They all thought it was awesome! We even planned on roasting smores over a campfire, but it started pouring rain as soon as it was time. We took one final group picture, and happily played for the rest of the eve ning.
Before bedtime, Guillermo gathered everyone together in the kitchen for one last meeting. H e wanted to let everyone know how much he appreciated all the work and support we've been able to give. He also said that he knew we would go back home and tell our family and friends about our experiences here, and that they would be inspired to help through our enthusiasm. He said that the support of the volunteers is what helps the m keep going each day. He then asked if some of the volunteers would say a few words about the experiences they've had. I offered to speak first and I asked Mari yah to translate for me. I told them I loved them I didn't exactly know why I was here, because I've never done anything like this before. I felt lead by the spirit to help, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the experience. I was nervous when I arrived, b ut I was welcomed with su ch friendship and love. I told each of the children that I love them, and that being a part of their lives has deeply affected me, and changed who I am. I told them I will never forget the m, and I will continue to be a part of their lives.
It was a very emotional meeting, and everyone held it together until Ken spoke. He is an incredible guy, and showed such love for both volunteers and children. By the time he finished, not o nly were the adults all in tears....so were all the children. Some of the kids wanted to say something to all of us....but could not get any words out b ecause they were crying so hard. The genuine sadness of the children literally broke my heart.
After the meeting was over I hugged Alejandra, and we cried for a few minutes. T hen Abigail, Mayerlli , Jennifer, and Deanna all hu gged me at the same time and were sobbing, telling me they loved me, and asking me not to forget them. I was especially surprised to see Abigail showing such emotion. She is so emotionall y closed off from everyone, and I d idn't think we had really connected. Wh at I learned was that we connected, but she attac hes herself to others in a different way. She doesn't verbally communicate with me, but she watches, sees, and feels everything. All I could do was tell them over and over "I love You" while we hugged and cried. We lef t the house at 4:00 am to m ake it to the airport on time. It's going to be an extremely long flight, and I'm dreading it a lready. I can't believe I'm going to be home in my own bed tonight. I miss the kids already, and I'm worried I'll never see them again. How am I going to make this experience s omethi ng more than just another event in a scrapbook? I must ponder this week extensively over the next coup le days.

Sadly, the cargo box never arrived. It was finally released on Thursday fro m the port, but not in time for us. Friday is a capitol holiday, and Saturday and Sunday they are closed. So....it's being del ivered on Monday. I'm so sad I wasn't able to help receive it, b ut regardless it's going to help them tremend ously. I hope I can communicate to eve ryone w ho helped donate items and supplies h ow appreciated a nd desperately needed t hey are. The beds a nd sheets we slept on w ere horrible! We had NO extra sh eets, pillow, or blankets. We were especially pa ranoid with the lice incident....but there wasn't anything we co uld do about it. The toilet paper was basically sand paper, and the towels never felt clean. Everyo ne is so excited for the supplies to arrive becaus e everything is in shortage there. Most importantly....NONE of the volunteers got lice. Go Marta and Mandy!!!!

I'm on the plane finally, heading to Miami. I won't arrive home until about 10 pm. All I want to do it sleep. Kevin is still feeling terrible and probably will need to see a doctor when he gets home. I'm so grateful for the chance to travel with him and get to know him better. His heart is huge, and he makes so many sacrifices. He is changing the lives of these kids, and helping to provide them a life full of opportunity. I can't believe it's over.......

Journal: Day 7

2008-08-16T18:59:00.000-07:00

I was told about an experience that happened at the orphanage and I thought it was really kind of neat in a weird way....so I wanted to write it down so I won't forget it.

One night there was a knock on the orphanage door. Guillermo opened the window, and there were a couple gang members at the door. They shoved a gun in his face and demanded all his money. Guillermo opened the door, afraid of getting shot and let them in. He said that he had no money, but wanted to show them the good that they were doing at the orphanage. He had all the children come out and asked the gang members to join them for family home evening. Out of curiosity, they decided to stay. They said a prayer and then Guillermo asked all the children to sing 'I Am a Child of God.' He even told the men the history of some of the children and why they are there. By the end of the evening....all the adults...all of the children...and all of the gang members were in tears. The gang leader told Guillermo that he was sorry for trying to rob them. He thought it was a really special thing that they were doing for the kids. He also said that because he was a gang member, he knew he would be dead within a year, and wanted his children to live at the orphanage after he dies. He thought it would be a special place for his children. Guillermo agreed to take them in if he died. Before the men left, they offered their protection if anyone tried to hurt or rob them. He told Guillermo all he had to do was call him on his cell phone, and he would help them.
The next day, they all came back with more of their friends to bring candy, and play with the children.
Not long after, there was another incident where someone from another gang was causing trouble at the orphanage. Guillermo was able to get to his cell phone to call his new friend for help. He said he knew who it was and he would take care of it.

The next morning...Guillermo was walking near the orphanage, and he saw the guy laying dead in the street.

Now that's what I call protection.

Journal: Day 5

2008-08-13T18:58:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy day. Mandy and I rearranged th e nursery, playroom, nanny bedroom, and the boys rooms. I am exhausted! That was a huge project, but I think everyone's happy with the resu lts.
We got horrible news about the cargo box. It's still being released from the port and we will NOT receive it before the time we leave on Sunday. I'm just sick about it, and Kevin feels worse. When we were talking about it, I could tell he was trying to keep his emotions in check. He's done everything, a nd anything he can possibly do, and still...no success. At this point, we just have to let it go, and continue to look at the bigge r picture. It will undoubtedly be released into possession of the orphanage.....just not while we're here to help. Ah....it makes me sick. I guess when you're trying so hard to do something good, you have to know that there will always be o pposition in all things.
I gave little Jo se a bath today. He was absolutely filthy, and we had so much fun! I lathered him up, was hed his hair, and I eve n let little Paula help. She was so excited! Then I noticed the bruises up and down his back from earlier physical ab use. I love that little boy. His mother came to visit a little bit ago, and when she tried to pic k him up, he started to cry and was scared of her. He has this heartbreaking look on his fa ce when he is scared or thinks he is in trouble. It is a face of GENUINE fear. How could a parent beat a child? I pray that he is too y oung to r emember what his life was like.
I a lso l ear ned that Mayerlli was left in an outdoor market, and her moth er told her to forget she ha s a family. She was left to fend for herself like a stray dog. Today she is sweet, and gentle, and loves an y one who will love her back. She has suc h a wonderful disposition, and seems genuinely h appy at the orphanage. I love her smile a nd how she radiates when she laughs!!
I have observ ed so much aggression in some of the kids. Paula actually bit Deanna on the arm today making her bleed and bruise. It's obv ious where this behavior is learned because t hey tell us that t h eir parents used to beat them all the tim e. When they love, they love with their wh ole heart. When they're angry, it's aggressive a nd mean. Esduardo , Deanna, and Paula are such great k ids and it makes me sick that they've had such adversity in their lives. I'm so glad they have each other for support. I love them all.

It's been a little bit of a strange day for me . I've felt very emotional and had to put my feeling in check more than once to keep my emotions under control. At dinner tonight, I found myself tearing up as I was watching how happy and well t aken care of they are here. They are so lucky to have a person like Kevin in their lives. I t's so cute how they love him. Every single child calls him Papa Oso which in english means Papa Bear. He h as more lov e for them than they will ever comprehend. Ken has also been an awesome support to these kids. He is sooo good
w ith them a nd he is such a good example. I c an see that they really look up to him.
M artita made tamales for Ken tonight. I love that little lady! She takes such good care of everyone, an d she was so excited to make a special dinner. She spent all day preparin g them, and then cook ing them over a fire in the backyard. She even dressed up for th e occasion. Martita is AWESOME!

The chicken coop is done!! I can't be lieve what an incredible job Ken and Kevin have done. They practically the whole thing themselves. It's more of an chicken mansion!! It will house up to 5 0 chickens, and they have every luxury any chicken would like! It's actually nicer than some people's house s that I saw there!
I can't believe it's Friday tomorrow. Where has the week gone? I love hanging out with Mandy. We get along so well, and both are Nazi's. I'm also getting to know Lindsay as well too. She's a really sweet person, and has been awes ome about helping with the kids. I really appreciate her willingness to help with the kids! I'm so tired all the time, and it's hard work....surprisingly hard. I'm sooo tired of washing dishes , and cleaning the kitchen. It's a NEVER ENDING PROCESS! I have no idea how thes e women live like this their entire lives!!I truly am so blessed!!!

Journal: Day 4

2008-08-12T18:57:00.000-07:00

It's been an overwhelming 2 days. We received our first infant yesterday. We got him from the capitol when Guillermo and Mandy went to drop off more paperwork. The mother had just arrived and was in the next office ready to hand over the baby. When Mandy went in the room to take her baby she said that the Mother was crying and so were the other ch ildren she had brought with her. She said she was a single mother, and already had 3 children to care for. She said that it would be impossible to keep him. Her son is 8 days old , and his name is Levi. He is soo tiny, so sweet, and he never cries. Late last night as I was rocking him, I was overwhelmed by the situation. I couldn't imagine how it must feel to sit at home with empty arms, wondering what would become o f my child. Here I am, with HER baby in MY arms, wondering how in the world I got here. Levi will never know his mother and father. Levi may very will spend the rest of his young life in an orphanage. My heart aches for the things they will never know or have.
I don't have a clue about how to care for an 8 day old baby. He has so many needs, but he's unbelievably good. The majority of responsibility falls on Mandy, and she's doing an awesome job with him. I help her out a lot because I think I'm the only one she trusts him with, and we wor k really well as a team . I think sharing the responsibilty of Levi makes it not so scar y. The kids love him, and always want to touch him. We have to remind them that they're not allowed to touch him with their hands, but Mandy lets them give him kisses. They love showing him love.

I just have to make a quick vent and then I'm done. I am deeply disappointed with some o f the other volunteers that are here. They have proved to be more of a burden than an asset to the orphanage. I'm embarrassed by their lack of work ethic, and respect for what is being done here. It should not be treated as a vacation or sightseeing trip. I am trying no t to let their laziness affect me, but I'm so frustrated with their lack of respect and consideration for other people. It's made me realize how much I've grown up in the last couple years, and reminded me of why I'm so selective with friends. I just have to focus on the children, and I'm reminded why I'm here. Volunteering isn't glamorous....it's REALLY hard work!! It shouldn't be treated as this 'token' humanitarian effort, where you make it look like you really did something great, but then the minute the picture's taken... you're done. ANYWAY...that's it... I'm done...I've said my piece.....back to the good stuff.
The cargo box should arrive tomorrow with all the donations. I can't wait, and we have so much work to do when it arrives. I hope there aren't any more problems.

Journal: Day 3

2008-08-11T18:55:00.000-07:00

It's been a very long and busy day for me. I started off the day with a delicious breakfast of beans and eggs. The cook Martita is back, and she is awesome!! I pig out on her food, and she loves me for it. I'm determined to get her black bean recipe, and pancake recipe!!

The Baby Nursery

Mandy and I organized the nursery today. It took about 3-4 hours, and I'm really pleased with our progress. We're very meticulous about how we do it, so it doesn't create more work in the long run. Still....there's so much work to be done.
We discovered one of the little girls has lice....only to discover ALL the girls have lic e....only to discover that the entire place is covered in them! We took each of the children and applied, set, washed, and combed their hair. Mandy and I did almost every step. We were even the lucky ones to comb out the lice. It was actually pretty horrific. I couldn't believe how big they were, and so many!!! It took 4 long hours, and I'm still not sure we got rid of them. I have a feeling they may have come from one of the new arrivals that were living on the streets. Hers was one of the worst. By the time we finished, my skin was crawling, BUT...I could feel their gratitude. It made me feel good to do something that no one else wanted to do. They kept hugging me and saying "Thank You" with their faces pressed to my stomach. I'm so attached to them, even when they're being naughty, and sometimes I start to tear up with I think about having to say goodbye. How will I ever do it??
I had a wonderful opportunity for the first time to have some one-on-one time with Erica and Alejandra. These are beautiful and amazing girls. Alejandra is 14 and wants to be a surgeon. She graduates from high school next year when she turns 15, and will apply to her intermediate school right away. Erica is 19 and has one year left of her bilingual secretarial program. She spends so many hours at school, and t hen has lots of homework. Then she spends the rest of the day cooking and cleaning for everyone. She is amazing and I have soooo much respect for both of them. I have promised before the week is over to pay for all their school supplies to get them through the next school year. As the 2 oldest children, I really want to see them succeed and make their own way. I have also promised to keep in touch with them by email, and asked that they let me know if they are in need of anything. Education is soo important for these girls, and they deserve the opportunity.

Journal: Day 2

2008-08-10T18:53:00.000-07:00

We arrived late last night. Guillermo rented a van to pick us up, along with our luggage. Some of the kids were waiting for us to arrive, they were all very excited. There are also an additional 4 volunteers here that we weren't expect ing, nor were they expecting us! It was a little awkward, and took a little while to sort through the confusion, but we have united and combined our efforts.
I only got ab out 5 hours sleep last night, and then we woke up ea rly, got ready, ate breakfast, and walked to church. The children are adorable, and it was my opportunity to get to know them a little better. I carried little J ose in my arms the entire way with Jennifer holding my other hand. The children are so loving, and only want to be hugged, and loved by us. All during Sacrament Meeting I had about 3 kids glued to my side. It amazes me how quickly they trust and attach themselves to us.
The orphanage building itself is wonderful. This is an amazing and safe place for them. They truly are s o lucky to have t he opportunity to live here. They all seem genuinely happy to be here.

There are now 10 children here. Jose is the newest of the bunch. He is about 1 1/2 years old, and arrived about 2 week s ago. H is Step Father was physically abusing him, and in the process broke his ribs and c racked his skull. He was brought here by the pol ice. I cannot comprehend how things like this occur to children.

Brian, another new boy, was adopted out by a Guatemalan couple because they believed they c ouldn't have children of their own. The woman eventually conceiv ed a child with her husband, and th ey promptly put him back in the system. They adopted him when he was 3, and kept him for 4 years!!! (He's now 7) Brian is adapting well, but you see his sadness when he thinks no one is looking. He's desperate to please, and find loving acceptance. He's a wonderful littl e boy and his intelligence level surprises me. He's got lots of potential.
Esduardo , Deanna, and Paula are all siblings. The youngest, Paula, was only given 3 days to live due to malnutr ition. She has thrived at the orphanage because of the love and care that has been given. Her mother was a prostitute and would leave the children unattended for days on end, eventually abandoning them leaving Esduardo (7) to care for his younger sisters Deanna(4) and Paula(1 1/2). There was a fire in the home and it burned down their house, and left Deanna with her hair burned off on one side of her head. It's still growing back. This left the children homele ss. Esduardo cared for his 2 sist ers for 3 months on the streets before being found. Th e police brought them to the
orphanage. Esduardo , is one of the most affectionate boys I've ever met. He just glows when given one-on-one time, and needs so much to be hugged. You can literally feel him melting u nder the embrace of a simple hug. I think he's still understandably dealing with residual emotional and anger issues from their past, but is learning to work through them the best that they can. They are sweet children and all 3 have a very close bond with each other.
Every single one of the kids has a story. All of them are ones ful l of heartache and disappointments , but in spite of it all they display an incredible amount of strength and trus t. I can't wait to get to know them better and observe them a little more.

*Cargo box is still at the Port, with no official release date. We MUST have it by Wednesday. Kevin and ken are going first thing in the morning to bribe them at the dock so we can expedite the already delayed shipment. I guess that's just how they roll here in Guatemala.

Journal: Day 1

2008-08-09T18:52:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting on the airplane flying high above the clouds, and I'm finally on my way. We will arrive in Guatemala City in about an hou r. I'm already exhausted, but anticipating our adventure. I'm traveling with Kevin, Mandy, and Mariyah . Kevin is President of the organization, and has a bigger heart than anyone I know. He's incredibly devoted to this organization, and the children. It motivates me to do more. Mandy is the girl who originally got this all started. She is an incredibly sweet girl and I enjoy getting to know her. I hope that we can grow together this week, and have s ome fun experiences together. Mariyah is the other volunteer. She just returned from a mission in Guatemala, and is very excited to return to the city and people she loves so much. She 's really outgoing and we hit it off immediately. I'm glad she laughs and jokes a lot with us.
My voice is raw because the 4 of us have essentially been talking for the last 12 hours. We have been brainstorming ideas to he lp the children from long term goals to short term goals. Education opportunities....fundraising ideas...anything you can think of..we've discussed. I think we may have come up with some really great ideas and we'll just have to do some research and analysis. There's still so much that has to be done, it's overwhelming, but in the end can help make their lives better.
The steel box with the donations, and the 4-Runner had some delays at the port. We won't receive it until the middle of next week. That means...I'm not entirely sure how we're getting to the orphanage. I heard something about a truck, and sitting in back with the luggage. I'm not sure. I'm only hope it's not true. Either way, from what I hear about the suicidal driving that goes on, it should be 45 minutes of white knuckling fun!! Lets get this started!

Leaving On An Airplane......

2008-08-08T18:51:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow morning I will depart Sin City, for Chimaltenango, Guatemala. I'm doing all my last minute packing, and desperately trying to cram everything I can into such small spaces!! As you can probably see, I've stuffed all the individual wrapped childrens toys, clothes, toiletries, a little candy....and much more. More of the space is taken by the toys, but I have to say, I'm a pretty good packer! Everyone wish me luck that I don't catch any strange parasite, or food poisoning!!

I haven't decided whether or not I'm going to update my blog while I'm there. I am going to be taking so many photos and want to include all the correlating photos and stories as I can. My goal is to use my blog as my trip journal, so I want it to be a certain way for my own personal reasons. So... check back but I may or may not have updates until I return.

Thanks to everyone who has helped my efforts in being a part of this! I'm so grateful for all your support and I can't wait to have this experience! Adios!!

Cargo Box

2008-07-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

Kevin Callahan, who is the owner of Green Valley Cabinets in Saint George, has purchased a 20-foot, steel cargo box to ship to Guatemala. On Saturday I drove down to help him load the supplies we are planning to ship. It was amazing what so many people have donated. There was a van, a washer and dryer, a table and chairs, and over 100 boxes full of clothes, food, soap and other supplies. I am so thankful for the generosity of everyone who has donated.

Things are still going well, I leave for Guatemala again on August 9th for a few months. Kevin Callahan, Ken Mangum, and a group of volunteers are coming for two weeks to help me build a food storage and to organize the materials from the cargo box. It will be great to be back there again. When I arrive we will be able to start taking in the babies, and I can't wait!

-Mandy

I'm So Grateful.....

2008-06-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

This is Kari and I at the Dollar store spending the money donated to the orphanage, we had $125 dollars and we used every last cent!! It was alot of fun, and got a TON for the money!! I'm so gra teful to those who have supported this project!!

There are about 15 boxed FULL of items sitting around us....not all are visible....but it's a full house!!!

For the past couple weeks Kari and I have been collecting items for an orphanage in Guatemala. I contacted everyone I know, and asking for a small donation to help these children. Wow...I'm blown away by the generosity that I have received from people. I'm so amazed that people I hardly know, or have never met...have been giving so generously just because I asked them to. I had goals for each of the items that I need, and I've either exceeded, or expecting to exceed that goal by Sunday!!! I don't know when it happened, but the items just seemed to be multiplying! I can't wait to get everything down there and set it up. Last night I spoke with kevin, (he's the one coordinating the cargo box) and he's given me an extra motivation to get supplies.

I thought that the babies would not be arriving at the orphanage until after we had flown back to the states. I found out last night that one of our main goals upon arrival in Guatemala....is to pick up at least 3 babies that we'll begin caring for. I was completely overwhelmed by this knowledge, and very humbled to think that I'll get to be a part of that experience. To be honest, I'm nervous about it all. I'm sure it'll be very emotional, because we can only take 3, and there will be hundreds to choose from. I hope the decisions will already be made by the time we get there. I could NOT choose a baby when there are so many. It would be unfair. With this knowledge and anticipation, I am going to do whatever it takes to get the nursery ready. This responsibility is unreal, and not likely one I'll ever experience again. I'm ready to dive in and help. Even if that means late night baby soothing, and diaper duty. Neither of which am I particularly good at, but I'm sure anything is better than what they're used to!!

Thanks again to everyone who has donated, and I promise to reportback as soon as I return!!

Cobble Creek Ward

2008-06-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

Last week, Cobble Creek Ward's Relief Society here in Cedar City put together an Enrichment activity to collect materials for the orphanage. I was amazed with the amount of items that we recieved! They brought garbage bags full of clothes and shoes, packages of diapers, bottles, lotion and shampoo, blankets, and more. I feel like I am always saying this but thank you so much for all of your donations and help. I am overwhelmed with all of the support I have received.

-Mandy

Chimaltenango, Guatemala

2008-06-10T18:46:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard about something, and known immediately that you needed to be a part of it? Last week I had just this experience. A friend of ours recently returned from a trip as a volunteer in an orphanage. As I was hearing about it, my heart just opened up. The more I learned, the more I felt compelled to help.

The orphanage in Chimaltenango, Guatemala, was started by an LDS return missionary Guillermo Rangel, and a 21 year old SUU student, Mandy Brooks. Both saw a country full of children in desperate need of help, and they knew they couldn't ignore it. Adoption has been banned by the government in Guatemala. Horrible things were happening to these children. Things I don't even want to talk about. Things NO CHILD should ever have to endure. Instead of reworking the adoption laws to protect these children, the government decided it would just be better to ban it altogether. Due to the new law, that leaves an estimated 4,000 babies homeless each year. Many come from abusive homes, drug addicted parents, or just simply parents that can't or don't want to take care of them anymore. Infants are left in the streets, and in hospitals. There's nowhere for them to go.

That's how this project all started. Guillermo and Mandy's orphanage is called Gozo, which means "Joy", in Spanish. That's exactly what they give them every day. They've changed the lives of these children who are fortunate enough to live at this orphanage. They are given love and the basic necessities. Things some have never experienced before. Gozo currently houses 6 children ages 1-14. In October they will be receiving 6 more infants, ages 0-6 months.
I know that as their organization grows, so will her ability to help more children.

I really admire their strength and bravery it takes to start a project like this. When I heard their story, I knew I had to help. In August I will be flying to Guatemala along with a couple other volunteers to the orphanage. At that time we will work to get the facility in better running condition, and help prepare the nursery to receive the infants.

If you would like to hear Guillermo Ranger's story read HERE.

If you would like to hear Mandy Brook's story read HERE.

To help Mandy and Guillermo in their endeavors, Kari Nash and I are organizing a collection for items that will be sent to Guatemala by boat.

If you would like more information about donating, please leave a comment, or send me an email at martatyler81@yahoo.com

100% of donations go to orphanage and children!!!

Note: Kari has been an unbelievable help to me. When I first spoke to her about it, she didn't even hesitate to jump on board and help organize this project. I appreciate her willingness to serve, and her BIG HEART!! I could NOT have taken on this huge task without her!!

Home!

2008-06-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

I have been home for a few days now. Things in Guatemala went really well. It was a busy month but we got a lot done. All the legal work is done, and now that the government and hospitals know that we have a place they can send babies once they are abandoned, we can start recieving them any time we are ready. We also got all the repairs done and painted the whole orphanage. Kevin and Jesse Callahan, the owners of Green Valley Cabinets in St. George, and Jesse’s brother in law Chris Syphus, came down to help and they were awesome. They made over 20 cabinets for all the bedrooms in the orphanage, which was great because we didn’t have any closets or dressers before. They also made shelves for the kitchen and laundry room, and more cabinets for storage. They were so great and so much help, and the kids loved them. We were all so grateful for everything they did for us. I was so lucky to meet them because they have been such a blessing and so much help and support. They have done so much.

I wanted to say a few things here about my parents and how much I appreciate them. They have fully supported me from the very beginning and have done EVERYTHING they can to help me, from moral support and advice to fundraising. I want my mom and dad to know how thankful I am for them. All the experiences I have had working in orphanages, seeing these kids without good homes and families, and sitting up at night with teenagers who would tell me about the things they went through with their families before they were taken away; it has really driven home how lucky I am to have a good family. I will always be grateful for how blessed I am with such good parents and brothers and sisters and a good home. I have such an amazing mother and I will always appreciate and be so thankful for her example and her service and how much she has done to make us kids feel important or special. I am grateful for what a great dad I have and how he supports us and helps us and for how understanding he has always been. Every day I wish that these kids had a mom and dad who had shown them as much love as my parents have shown our family. But that is what we are working for, and we are doing everything we can to put these kids back into their homes with a changed family who can support them and love them.

-Mandy

It's Done!!

2008-06-01T18:50:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!

I am overwhelmed by the generosity and service received during this collection for the Gozo Orphanage in Guatemala. Every single tube of toothpaste, bar of soap, blanket, and pillow will be received by those children who call the orphanage home. The items that all of you so willingly gave will change their lives and provide for them the basic necessities that we all crave.
I will be staying at this same orphanage for 8 days in August to receive the shipment. I will let them know that these items were sent with love and generosity. I will give them hugs and kisses, sing songs, and play games with them for all who would like to, but cannot be a part of this trip. I know they will feel your love, and everyday their lives will be a little bit easier because of your donations. Thanks again, and below is a rough count of everything that was collected in the

Las Vegas area.

We ended up with about 30 boxes FULL of supplies.

Twin Sheet Sets: 65

Queen Sheet Sets: 9

Crib Sheets: 24

Blankets: 24
Brand New Comforter Sets: 7

Pillows: 15

Crib liners: 12

Towels: 110

Hand Towels: 50

Wash Cloths: 100

Shampoo: 70

Soap: 120

Toothpaste: 100

Baby Powder: 20
Baby Shampoo: 50

Baby Oil: 35

Diaper Rash Ointment: 40
Tons of Diaper Wipes

Monetary Donations: $365.00

We also received enough medicine that should last about 8-12 months!!!!!

I'm also grateful for all the Misc. items we received like hair brushes, portable cribs, craft items, receiving blankets, etc...

This Exceeded nearly ALL goals set for the collection. You guys are awesome and would not have been possible without your willingness to serve!!!!

A special thanks goes out to Kari Nash and Maggie Goebel who were an integral part of the success!! Thank you for opening your hearts and time to this project!!! I love you guys!!

Update

2008-05-13T09:01:00.000-07:00

This week has gone by fast. I have been super busy. I had a TON of cleaning and repairs to do in the orphanage. The one thing about here that I have to get used to is that you can never get anything completely clean like you can at home. There will always be dust or dirt or dead bugs or live bugs or something because their houses arent built the same way or with the same materials. I am painting all the walls upstairs green, except for the babies room and I am going to paint that yellow I think. I found a perfect picture to hang up in the babies´ room too. I am having the cribs made for me and they look pretty good. I am going to Guatemala City this afternoon to pick them up. I am also having a cabinet made with drawers for the clothes and a changing table for the babies. I am still looking for dressers for the volunteers. Things are hard to find here. I had to cut all new windows for the upstairs because a lot of them were broken. Also we have a garden in the back with avacado trees but nothing else is back there right now, and I am working on planting vegetables in it. Guillermo and I are working on getting permission to go work in the hospital in Guatemala city and Antigua, in the department where they recieve babies. We are hoping to be able to go for a few hours every day for about a week. We went to the hospital yesterday to ask a doctor for permission and it was complete chaos there. There were tons of babies and not so many mothers, and it was so crazy. We will find out today I think if we are going to be allowed to work there.
That is the update for now!

-Mandy

Back in Guatemala

2008-05-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

Today is my second day back in Guatemala. I love it here so much. Yesterday I started to get everything set up on my floor of the orphanage, I cleaned everything out and painted the railings. Today I have started painting the rest of the floor and moving a few pieces of furniture in. It has been a lot of work already, but I have a long way to go!
Also, just in case, I want to let everyone know that I shut my phone off for the month I will be here, so I won´t be able to recieve my voicemails or anything. If you need to get ahold of me, just send me an email for now. Thanks!

-Mandy

Fundraiser

2008-04-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

The fundraiser went well last week. We managed to raise about $750 total, which is not too bad. I have had quite a few phone calls as a result of the article in the paper, however, and I am overwhelmed with the help I have been receiving. I had a donor named Kevin Callahan call me recently, and he generously donated enough money for me to buy all of the furniture I am going to need for the orphanage. There are others who have donated medical supplies, blankets, clothing and other funding. Also, the first four volunteers recently signed up for my next trip. I have received a huge amount of support!

-Mandy

2008-04-23T09:03:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my very first entry! Things have been going well so far. The fundraiser is coming up tomorrow and I leave for Guatemala on May 7th. I am getting really excited to be able to set up my nursery and work in the hospitals.
I just want to let everyone know that I am so grateful for your help and support! So many people have helped me get started. Thank you so much!

-Mandy