OUR NEWEST 7 YEAR OLD FUNDRAISER; HELPING US FEED MORE KIDS

KATIE IN THE MIDDLE READY FOR SCHOOL WITH MARCUS AND ADDY

KATIE WITH MOM ERIN

KATIE IN THE GREEN WITH OTHER DALIA GRANDCHILDREN

KATIE WITH MOM, DAD AND SIBLINGS

I kind of devour John Woods' books. You see, he is the founder of Room To Read. And he has a yearly budget of $39,000,000. That's right 6 zeroes. He forms chapters all over the world of very wealthy people to do his fundraising. So I am trying hard to copy his ideas. And we do have some adults doing chapters. Kent, in TX and Debbie in GA. But the ones that tickle my heart the best are the kids, the young kids. Like Raquel in NY City who personally handed out the formula she raised the money for . [Pictures and story to follow when she returns to the USA ]
Now our new youngest fundraiser is Katie. Katie is the cute little blond in all the photos. The top photo is the most recent and she is shown with your younger bro and sis on the first day of school. She is doing a yard sale/lemonade stand on Sat. Sept. 14th in Stamford, CT. Katie raised donations for our feeding programs when she was just a toddler and took them down to Guatemala and delivered them herself. You see Katie is my granddaughter and the daughter of Erin, who many of you know through the work she does for us.
We love our young fundraisers. If your child is interested in doing a fundraiser, just let us know. We will send them rack cards and business cards to hand out. We also will send some woven bracelets, hand made by our women in Guatemala that are easy sells.

Vicki
Director of www.casadesion.org
20.vicki@gmail.com

OUR LIST OF NEEDS

This is a starter NEEDS LIST
These could done as a part of Eagle Scout Projects, Church Groups, Katie's Group and Vacation Volunteers, etc. 

Important Relative Fact: Besides the orphanage over 5000 meals per month are provided for not just the Los Robles community, but 5 other extremely poor communities. 

Over 60+ monthly/ yearly Student Scholarships (correct #?) are being provide by the Dalias/ Casa de Sion.

Projects:

Farming assistance, weeding, irrigation, organic fertilizing, bringing in black soil, cultivating etc. 

Clearing Farm Land, removing rocks, weeds, sticks, cultivating and preparing ground, etc. 

Fruit Tree Care, Pruning, Aerating, Picking Fruit, transporting. 

Fence Building: Two areas for fence 1. new Farm Area and 2. chain link w steel posts installed in orphans playground and for safety on front highway side. We should have at least 2 rows high of block circulating the external perimeter ideally. I don't know how strict they will be, but if we can get it donated and done by volunteers, it would be good. The fencing would go up from their total of 2 meters (6+ feet high). 

Playground Equipment and Installation: Need basketball hoop and pole, ........... (we have some equip already) to be coordinated.

Metal Signs: We need high quality metal signs painted with high grade weather resistant paint to post at every area. They ALL must be uniform. This is a strict requirement from several government agencies. examples: Playground, Kitchen, Drinking Water, Irrigation Water Only, Dining Area, Parking Area, Tutorial Area, Boys Bathroom, Girls Bathroom, Supervisors Bathroom, New born - 2, Toddlers 2 - 4 yrs, 4-6, 6-10, 11-15 yr olds (over each door). We will need a sign for each child for their personal locker (We prob need some blank ones made up for future children and then we can paint names ourselves later). These should be Cute maybe using our logo. 

New Orphanage Sign for building: We need a good artist to do this very professionally. This can be done as a mural with the new logo. 

Strip and paint front wood fence: I suggest that we need this wood fence for more privacy even though we are putting up chain link in front of it. 

Parking Area needs to be separated with fencing of some kind so it is secure and separate from children's area. Important to CNA.

Grounds organization: building walking paths, developing gardens. Children should be taught horticulture, farming and be surrounded by flowers and all the beautiful exotic plants that are characteristic of the region.
MAJOR CONSTRUCTION: Labor to Add third floor to existing orphanage home, includes: masonry work, plumbing (2-3 bathrooms with showers), electrical, windows, doors, trim and finish work, paint, etc. 

MAJOR CONSTRUCTION: Labor Expand kitchen and eating area, includes: masonry work, windows, doors, electrical, etc. 

Artisan Training Courses: Need volunteers to come and teach sewing, weaving, crocheting, painting, (especially pottery making). I have a vision of Los Robles being a pottery production center. NO ONE does this well anywhere around the region. It can also be know for basket weaving. All this should be done to preserve the artistic and cultural signature of their Mayan heritage. Requires planning and acquiring proper materials.

Musician Courses: We have access to many professional musicians in the USA and in the capital through the Universities such as La U. de Landivar, etc. We need musicians to come with simple instruments and have music classes for them to learn: Guitar, Ukulele, Flute, Recorder, Singing, Marimba, etc. There are over 1000 simple ancient instruments used by the Mayans. We should figure out how to make some of them and teach them to play them as a group. Form and children's musical group.

Secondary Projects:
Build Music building where the children are taught music lessons. We could be a music training center and even expand to the community. God knows they need it. 

Build a mechanic shop near the road: We would like to start the shop as a welding shop, basic tire repair and auto repair shop. It could serve us for repairs and projects as well as service to the community.
Build an art shop/ store for sewing, arts and crafts production shop/ store. We can also sell our goods and produce there or up in Godinez. Now we are creating enterprise and productivity

ITEMS NEEDED to be donated:

Plumbing materials for 3 bathrooms and for 10 showers 

Concrete, gravel, sand

Re-bar (various sizes), wire ties

Lumbar: 2"x4"s, 4" x 4"s, FORMS: 8'x12"x1"

electrical wire, plastic conduit, plugs, light sockets, fixtures

10 Windows

Tile for flooring and bathrooms

Metal Stair Case (1 flight)

2 Steel Doors, Hardware, etc

Paint

8 Computers with Internet (because we are in a remote area some kind of receiver or booster would be necessary) Along with installation and training. I know a guy who specializes in this service in the lake area to help: We have the computers, just need everything else.

Books for Libraries both in Spanish and English or Kakchiquel if at all possible. 

Decor for the orphanage

5 Fire Extinguishers (one per floor and per area, Kitchen should be special for grease, ABC (I believe is rating). Required by CNA and gov agencies. 

Tools: welder, buckets, shovels, pick ax, saws for both metal and wood, pliers, cutters, hammers, trowels, etc.

Television: Questionable??? probably not necessary unless can be used as a computer screen???

DVD player and G rated or educational kid movies

NEED TO ADD MORE PLAYGROUND TO MEET ORPHANAGE STANDARDS

NEED ALL KINDS OF CONSTRUCTION HELP

NEED ROOMS PAINTED FOR LITTLE GIRLS

NEED MEDICAL MONEY

NEED ROOMS PAINTED FOR LITTLE BOY

This list includes items and points from my meeting with Edy Tum back in May 2013. This is just a rough draft, but we need to post this, so we can get it donated. If people know, then they might be more likely to do it. 

Get involved in making kids lives better

Donate any amount. It will help

thanks

Vicki

20.vicki@gmail.com

EXPANDING FOR THE ORPHANAGE IN GUAT

 TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE NEW ORPHAN KIDS ON THE 1ST AND 2ND FLOORS OF OUR EXISTING BUILDING, WE NEED TO ADD A THIRD FLOOR FOR OUR VOLUNTEER TEAMS TO STAY ON. HERE ARE PICTURES OF MY HUSBAND, JODY, MEETING WITH TWO OF OUR GREAT BOARD MEMBERS, ABINADY AND JOSE MIQUEL.  ABINADY IS A BUILDER IN GUATEMALA, MY HUSBAND BUILDS HOUSES IN THE USA AND JOSE MIQUEL JUST SEEMED TO KNOW A LOT ABOUT IT.

THEY ARE DISCUSSING ROOM DIVISIONS AND ALTHO IT IS NOT SET IN STONE YET, WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE 2 OR 3 DORM TYPE ROOMS WITH 2 OR 3 BATHROOMS, A SMALL SITTING AREA, A LAUNDRY ROOM AND A CLOSET FOR STORAGE OF ITEMS OF TEAM LEADERS.

 IN ADDITION TO THE THIRD FLOOR CONSTRUCTION, WE ARE BUILDING A NEW STORAGE ROOM WITH BATHROOM NEXT TO THE KITCHEN/DINING AREA AND INCLOSING THE DINING AREA. ALSO WE ARE PUTTING UP A SECURITY FENCE ALONG PARTS OF THE PORPERTY

NOW HERE IS WHERE YOU COME IN. WE NEED MONEY TO BUILD. WE NEED CONSTRUCTION CREWS TO BUILD OR JUST HAUL BLOCK. WE NEED PAINTERS AND TILE LAYERS AND FURNITURE.


PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH ALL YOU KNOW AND HELP US GET THIS GOING SO WE CAN GET THE KIDS ROOMS READY FOR THEM ON FLOORS 1 AND 2. IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS OF WHERE TO GET GRANT MONEY FOR CONSTRUCTION OR KNOW OF ANY FAMILY FOUNDATIONS WANTING TO HELP ORPHANS OR EDUCATE KIDS, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

THANKS
VICKI
20.VICKI@GMAIL.COM

HELPING MEDICALLY FRAGILE KIDS

MARIA

LUCIA

HERE ARE PICTURES OF TWO MEDICALLY FRAGILE MAYAN KIDS WE HELP. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 30 PLUS THAT WE HELP. I HAVE A HEART FOR KIDS WHO ARE 'NOT PERFECT' AS I HAVE SUFFERED WITH PTSD MY WHOLE LIFE AND KNOW HOW HARD LIFE CAN BE IF YOU HAVE A PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY. 

WHEN I WAS A TEEN I WORKED AT TWO DIFFERENT PLACES FOR KIDS WITH ISSUES. ONE WAS THE LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE KIDS WERE LEFT AFTER BIRTH. I WOULD GO IN ON SUNDAYS AND SIT IN A ROOM WITH 20 OR MORE INFANTS WHO SUFFERED FROM SPINA BIFIDA, DOWNS SYNDROME,ETC. I WOULD HOLD THEM AND FEED THEM. THEY WERE SPECIAL TO ME. ON SATURDAYS I WENT TO A INSTITUTIONAL HOME FOR 'SPECIAL' KIDS AND PLAYED WITH THEM. THAT WAS IN THE DAY WHEN THE SAME KIDS I KEPT AT THE HOSPITAL WERE SENT FROM THERE TO THE INSTITUTIONAL HOME..

THEN AS AN ADULT I ADOPTED 'SPECIAL KIDS': A DOWNS SON, BLACK KIDS WHEN IT WASN'T POPULAR TO ADOPT BLACK KIDS, ETC. SPECIAL KIDS ARE SPECIAL TO ME.

AT ONE POINT WHEN WE HAD THE OLD ORPHANAGE I WAS ASKED TO TAKE A 3 YEAR OLD 11 POUND, SEVERELY MALNOURISHED LITTLE GIRL WHO HAD SEVERE CEREBRAL PALSY. SHE WAS THE CHILD OF A PROSTITUTE AND HAD BEEN HOSPITALIZED HER WHOLE LIFE. SHE HAD LAIN IN A TINY CUBICLE AT THE HOSPITAL AND ONE OF THE NURSES ASKED ME TO TAKE HER. WE DID. SHE WAS FINALLY HELD AND LOVED AND GAINED 5 POUNDS IN 5 MONTHS.  WE FELT IMMENSE JOY WHEN WE HELD HER AND WHEN SHE WOULD GIVE A CROOKED, WEAK SMILE AT US. THE NURSE HAD TOLD ME SHE COULD DIE ANY DAY, BUT THAT WAS NOT ON OUR MINDS. ONE DAY WHILE I WAS IN THE USA, SHE ASPIRATED ON HER MILK AND WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE SHE DIED. WHAT A SAD DAY FOR ALL OF US. WE BURIED HER AS A BELOVED CHILD IN THE LOCAL CEMETARY. BECAUSE OF HER DEATH, MALICIOUS RUMORS SPREAD THRU TOWN AND NOT ONLY DID WE HAVE THE PAIN OF HER PASSING, WE HAD THE PAIN OF LIES BEING TOLD. FIVE YEARS LATER, I HEARD SOMEONE SAY ONE OF THESE MALICIOUS LIES AGAIN AND IT STILL HURTS. 

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH LIFE IS IF YOU STEP OUT OF THE BOX, YOU OPEN YOURSELF TO RIDICULE. I DO NOT REGRET TAKING THIS CHILD AS I KNOW HOW HAPPY SHE WAS WITH US AND I KNOW HER LIFE BEFORE THEN.

SO NOW WE STILL HELP MEDICALLY FRAGILE KIDS. THE TWO ABOVE LIVE WITH THEIR FAMILIES. WE STILL STEP OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE TO HELP BECAUSE IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG, WE ARE ALWAYS BLAMED. BUT I LISTEN TO THE LORD [ MOST OF THE TIME LOL] AND TRY TO FOLLOW HIS PATH AND KNOW HE WANTS THESE KIDS HELPED.

MARIA WAS DISCOVERED HIDDEN IN HER HOME. SHE HAS SPINA BIFIDA AND HAD A HUGHLY INFECTED FOOT. IT WAS SO BAD SHE WAS NEAR DEATH. YOU PAID FOR HOSPITAL CARE IN THE CITY, HER AND HER MOTHER'S TRANSPORT THERE, HER MEDS, ETC. SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A WHILE AND FINALLY RECOVERED ENOUGH TO COME HOME. WE GOT HER A WHEELCHAIR AND HAVE TRIED TO GET HER TO SCHOOL, BUT SHE IS TOO EMBARRASSED TO GO. WE CHECK ON HER EACH TIME WE ARE IN HER COMMUNITY AND TAKE MEDS AND BANDAGES FOR HER FOOT AND GIVE HER MOM ONE MORE LECTURE ON KEEPING IT CLEAN. 

LUCIA WAS DISCOVERED A WEAK, BARELY FUNCTIONING CHILD WHEN WE HAD DOCTOR KIM FROM WA. DOING PHYSICALS ON SCHOOL KIDS WE HELP. DOC KIM DISCOVERED A HEART MURMUR. THEN DOCTOR PETER FROM BOSTON TOOK OVER AND EVENTUALLY LUCIA HAD HEART SURGERY. SHE IS A DIFFERENT CHILD. GAINED 25 POUNDS. RUNS AND PLAYS. HER HAIR EVEN GOT DARKER.

GLAD WE DIDN'T STOP HELPING BECAUSE OF RUMORS AND CRUEL PEOPLE.

WE ,AT CASA DE SION, STILL NEED YOU TO HELP US. PLEASE DONATE SO WE HAVE A FUND FOR MEDICALLY FRAGILE KIDS AND NEVER HAVE TO SAY NO. ALSO PRAY SO WE ARE PROTECTED AS WE CONTINUE TO HELP.

WE LEAVE AGIAN FOR GUATEMALA IN A MONTH. IF YOU WISH TO DONATE, WRITE ME FOR AN ADRESS TO SEND DONATIONS.

WE NEED FOLKS TO DO FUNDRAISERS FOR US. WE HAVE IDEAS. WRITE FOR THOSE.

THANKS

VICKI

20.VICKI@GMAIL.COM

Want To Decorate an Orphans Room??

 Hey folks, we need your help. These handy Eagle Scouts came all the way to Guatemala to build us some beds for our new orphanage. Four regular size bunks and 3 toddler bunks. We can't say enough about how much we appreciate them.
Now we need people to decorate the rooms. here's the deal: you pick a room you are dying to decorate. It can be our baby room, our toddler room, a boy room or a girl room. We have 6 we need decorated..You raise the funds to pay for the paint, the tile on the cement floor, the bedding, the curtains and the wall decorations. Then you either come down to our place in Guatemala and put them together yourself or you send us the funds and decorations and we will put them together for you. You will get a picture of your room with the kids in it. You will also get first dibs on being the loving sponsors/parents from a far for one or all of the kids in the room.
Check out your favorite organization or church and see if they are interested in helping you. Write me at 20.vicki@gmail.com for more info and let's get going on making a cozy, warm, homey room for these kids who have been living on the streets

Raquel, the wonder 8 year old fundraiser

Raquel has family in Guatemala. She and her mom, dad and brother are going to visit there this month. She had a conversation with the Lord where He talked to her about helping the children of Guatemala. We were lucky enough that she was led to help us at Casa de Sion. With the help of her mother she decided to do a lemonade stand. They were very successful.

My 7 year old granddaughter Katie is going to a yard sale to raise money for the kids in Guatemala. More power to the 7 and 8 year olds of the world and their wonderful moms. We need a 100 more of them.

Below is Raquel's story as told by her mom.

" I am so happy to inform you that Raquel raised $828.30 during Saturday's Lemonade Stand. It was an exciting day so much so that no one noticed the almost 100 degree heat. I was very happy to see neighbors, friends and family pitch in to help make this a success. Even our local businesses helped. All the lemonade and supplies were donated by our local Keyfood supermarket and 300 cookies were donated by Raquel's favorite bakery. One of my co-workers made nutella wafers, one of my Boy Scout moms made red velvet cupcakes and even my mom made donuts.

I am very proud of Raquel. We were happily surprized to have a reporter for our local news station arrive to do a segment on Raquel and the Lemonade Stand. Raquel's story will air sometime next week as part of the NY1 - New Yorker of the week series. I could not be prouder. I will send you a copy when it airs. I have also heard that Raquel will be mentioned in our local tribune/courier papers. Raquel hopes that the extra media coverage will bring in some more donations. I will keep you posted on that. Raquel will also be taking pictures and providing a report on her experience in Guatemala for the same news reports in NY."

lemons donated by the store

more items donated to help

putting out the signs

the big day

yeah, customers

and now the tv people

friends helping

lemonade sure was good on this 100 degree day

we love Raquel


Want to help us too
You can donate here on the blog
You can like us on www.facebook.com/casadesion
you can help your child or teen learn the art of compassion

The Miracle of Edison

 here is a picture of Edison and his mama. She brought him to Casa de Sion 2 years ago when he was 2.5 years old. He could not hear. But he had the sweetest look in his eyes. You could tell he was unsure of the world by the way he never smiled, clung to his Mother's skirt and never played. We had him checked out by Dr. Peter who said he definitely could not hear. then he recommended treatment at Fundibien in Panajachel. Casa de Sion  found a sponsor who has paid for the transportation. Then they started a school in Pana for special kids like Edison. Again their transport was paid for. we never could come up with the $1000.00 needed for the hearing aids tho. But the school found him some. I saw him for the first time with his new hearing aids a couple of days ago and he is a different child. Coming up to me and signing hello. Smiling and laughing and looking like the world is not such a scary place. Oh how he touched my heart. Then his mama gave me a basket full of hot homemade tamales. So poor, but so generous. How I love this Mayan family.

my basket of tamale feeding the men at a staff meeting

Have you ever seen a sweeter smile

what about this one; see his little hearing aids?

Donate now so we never have to tell a child like this no

Check Out Our progress in Self-Sufficiency

 Jody and I toured our gardens in Los Robles, Guatemala Sunday after church. Here's what we found. A hoop house full of tomatoes, 50 beautiful brocolli plants and 50 caulifours ready to harvest in a couple of weeks, green beans, quisquil, carrots about 4 inches long, onions growing, swiss chard and a hugh field of black beans, plus assorted herbs.

heads the size of a basketball

 Did I say everything is being grown organically?

this is quisguil, similar to a squash and very popular here

The most exciting news tho is we have 13 more acres just waiting to be planted with something. We have hired a new gardener who is knowledgeable in everything we want to move forward with. He knows how to take chickens thru the process from laying eggs , to setting the chicks, to harvesting the eggs to eat to killing the old chickens and using them for meat. We want to get started on this right away and increase our chickens from the 20 we have right now to the 100 our chicken house is set up for.
We want to add the raising of pigs to our self-sufficiency dream. There is a good market for them and the addition of pork and eggs to our feeding programs would be most welcome. We want milk animals to be able to give the children fresh milk. Last but not least, we want to plant fruit trees. Apple, peach and avocado. And blueberry bushes. I want to use our farm as a training farm for the people in the community. I have wanted to do something for the men to strength their ability to make money, but also to strength their feelings of self-worth. A once a month farm lesson for them with a lunch to make them feel special and for them to take to their homes the knowledge to produce more of their own food and give their families something to eat besides beans and tortillas. It will also be a great training tool for the children and women we serve. The children can grow up knowing how to plant and harvest the foods they need FOR optimum health.

DONATE NOW TO MAKE THIS DREAM COME TRUE SO WE CAN USE ONLY THE FOODS WE RAISE IN OUR FEEDING PROGRAMS AND USE OUR FARM AS A TRAINING TOOL FOR THE COMMUNITY. 

THANKS
VICKI DALIA
20.VICKI@GMAIL.COM

Wow there is a lot of work to opening an orphanage. My husband, accountant and I met for 3 hours with Edy Tum yesterday. He is the consultant that handles the opening of new orphanages. He checked out our place and gave us a blow by blow of everything we need to do and need to get. Here it is. If you have ever wanted to help the orphans of the third world here is YOUR chance.  Below is the list.

A picture of the addition we want to add to the playground

Edy, Roy and my husband meeting at the orphanage building. I, of course, am taking the picture.

CONSRUCTION List of improvements to Los Robles

Edy Tum says these need to be done by mid-October.

 

1.        Extend dining room  out 8’ to 10’ and close in.  I like the idea of large windows to allow for ventilation.

2.       Water and sink put in kitchen. Possibly build a new kitchen and use old one for food bodega.  Two cabinets with doors for food storage.    

3.       Add bodega space possibly near the kitchen area.  More much more space.

4.       Pila with 3 faucets for teeth brushing outside of kitchen.

5.       Gas tank for kitchen has to be enclosed or outside back beyond the kitchen wall.

6.       Fire pit has to be enclosed.  Possibly put beyond back of kitchen area.

7.       All windows that are broken need to be replaced.

8.       Umbrellas for tables.

9.       Add laundry room on 3^rd-4^th floor or near kitchen  area.  Must be enclosed if kids nearby.

10.   Fence around perimeter of property.  Must include new gate for cars, to clinic, and beyond to gardens.  Two meters high with maya embedded in cement at bottom.

11.   Fence  near parking area.

12.   All inside doors need knobs and locks that kids cannot use.

13.   Need fire extinguishers.  At least 2 preferably three.

14.   Painting inside and out all over except clinic. 

15.   Signs for all doors preferably in English as well as Spanish.

16.   Closets need to be painted and screwed to walls.

 

 

We need to build a third floor to accommodate teams which bring in money and donations and labor for the programs.  This will allow the bottom two floors to be exclusively for the orphanage.

 

 

Jody & Vicki Dalia

20.vicki@gmail.com

www.safehomesforchildren.org

www.casadesion.blogspot.com 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other things that need to be done

 

1.        All board members need to have submitted to Edy Tum by tomorrow the following:

Scanned copy of your passport or DPI which includes Name, age, passport number, passport origin, and additionally your occupation and marital status.

 

2.       Need bell, Furniture for orphanage:  enough to outfit two living rooms for orphanage.  Couches, rocking chairs, etc.  Wall decorations for children.   LDS posters would be nice.  CD player with church CDs.   One TV with DVD player and DVDs that are educational, uplifting or clean recreational entertainment. 

3.       Bedding: kid oriented sheets, quilts and pillows.  Bedding for twin and crib size. 

4.       Diapers, formula and other baby items.

5.       Table and chairs for studying.

6.       Spanish children’s books.

7.       Larger van for transportation to church.  Pickup truck. Newer car.

8.       Children’s toys.  Small ridding toys for toddlers.  Sports equipment. 

9.       More playground equipment.

10.   More bunk beds and cribs.

11.   Kitchen equipment.  Silverware, pots & pans, plastic plates & cups, blender & other appliances.

12.   Anyone with connections to food producers in the country: for example, supplies of cheese, yogurt, milk or the like.

13.   To increase our self-sufficiency we have 13 unused acres and could use: livestock, cows, goats, pigs, chickens, fruit trees, etc.

Tocayche takes off with new feeding programs

We finally got our feeding programs started at Tocayche. The community bought the big pots and pans, KAH supplied the nutritional rice and Casa de Sion bought the rest. Now 60 elementary children and 35 children under 5 are being fed  lunches each day.

Dominga with Casa de Sion keeps things in order but the community women do the cooking and run the program

proud of their new pots and pans that they bought

the women are proud of their cooking

BUT MOST OF ALL THE KIDS ARE HAPPY








WANT TO PARTNER WITH US AND FUND A COUPLE OF TEACHERS [ $500.00 a month] or ADD THE MAMA/TOT PROGRAM [ $500.00 a month] OR SPONSOR ONE OF THE 8 STUDENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO COULD NOT GO TO MIDDLE SCHOOL THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF FINANCES [ $300.00 a year]

WRITE ME AT 20.vicki@gmail.com or just DONATE

Dental Team visit: a wonderful powerpoint of service

The following is the power point presentation that Kindersmile made about their dental team trip to help the Mayan communities that we serve.

They gave so much..

http://www.kindersmile.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Jr-board-Presentation-Hec-Casa-De-Sion-V1.pptx)

Nurses Final days of Volunteer Work at Casa De Sion

AS YOU CAN READ, THIS WAS PROBABLY A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR THESE NURSES. FOR THE FAMILIES THEY SERVED IT WAS HOPE THAT THEY MIGHT FEEL LESS PAIN OR GET HELP FOR AN ILLNESS THEY COULD NOT AFFORD A DOCTOR OR MEDICINE FOR. MEDICAL CARE IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR MOST OF THE MAYANS IN THE COMMUNITIES WE WORK IN. PLEASE DONATE AND WITH YOUR MONEY INVEST IN THE MEDICAL HELATH OF THOSE WHO CAN NOT AFFORD IT.

Day 7: Another beautiful morning. Everyone traveled to a local village Chutistancia (pretty sure that is spelled wrong-sorry). We had to make two trips to fit all of us and the equipment. I was working with the NP that day and was really excited to start working. We set up in a large building and made a make shift exam room. I worked with Susan for most of the day and switched to working with Paul the last half. It was a fantastic day and I learned so much from both of them. I even helped to diagnose a few problem and suggest possible treatments and alternatives for other ailments. It was great to see what I could be doing and helping with after I obtain my DNP and start traveling. It also made me want the degree more! 

      Lunch was brought to us and was a delicious chicken salad sandwich and banana. I also walked over to the store across the street and bought a pepsi made with sugar cane instead of corn syrup. Definitely tastes different and I like it better! We then headed back to the clinic in 2 loads. 

       After returning the girls all painted the little girls fingernails and then each others. We also handed out the rest of the toys and played with the kids for a while. Then we had dinner and our team meeting. Afterwards we all set out to do our assigned chore and clean up the clinic and the grounds. It was a great team effort and was done with time to spare. We all played cards and a couple rounds of Mafia (a fun and interesting game) before heading to bed. 

   Day 8: This was to be our last full day in Guatemala. The morning started as beautiful as always. We had our breakfast and loaded up in the van and Samy's car to make the journey to Panajachel. On the way down we stopped at the outlook once more. This time the view was unobstructed and breathtaking. We took a quick group photo and continued on our journey. We arrived in Pana and were already overwhelmed with the magnificent view of the volcanos and the texture of the land, not to mention the beautiful goods all around us. But we did not have time for shopping and sightseeing just yet, we had a boat to catch. The entire group finally made it onto the boat and we made the lovely and relaxing 45 minute trip across Lake Atitlan. 

    We then arrived in Santiago Atitlan. After docking we met Samy's grandparents who welcomed us with a beautiful poem! We then started our journey into the city with some of the best tour guides of the city. Shopping was an experience I will never forget and only wish it were the same in the states. All the handmade goods were so beautiful. We stopped at a few art galleries as well and bought some paintings. We did find an interesting fruit which we bought and tried. It was really good. I still haven't researched the name or anything but you should try it if you find it! :) A large number of the group stopped at a restaurant for lunch. My group was a little late arriving so we stopped at the next door taqueria. I had rapiditas- amazing!! Then it was time to journey back across the lake and venture around Pana. I did find many wonderful things in Pana as well. 

     The group then piled into the vans and headed back to Casa de Sion. After returning we had dinner which consisted of rice, tortillas, and envueltos de ejotes (They were so yummy I looked up the recipe and made them last night.). After dinner we brought out Tyler's pinata and watched him enjoy it. Shortly after, all of the interpreters except Adam packed up and rode with Samy to Guatemala city for the night. It was an emotional goodbye but a happy one. We grew to love each other that week and bonded in a way I never thought imaginable. Afterwards we stayed up playing cards and enjoying our last night. 

Day 9:  The morning was glorious yet again but also a little dreary. The clouds were pretty thick and obstructed some of the views. It helped make the leaving more bearable.  Dominga made us another wonderful breakfast and we packed up. The ride to Guatemala City was long but it was great to see the countryside and spend some time with everyone. When we arrived to the airport we saw Diana, Matt, and Taylor again and said another goodbye. Katie was staying another night and made a quick get away before anyone could start tearing (she doesn't like goodbyes). Once inside we all checked our bags and made our way to the food court for lunch. I ate at the Pollo Campero one last time and then we said our goodbyes to Susan and Adam. And then headed to our security checkpoint. After security we then met up with Adam, Matt, and Taylor again haha. We walked them to their gate and said our final goodbye for the trip and then found our gate. It was an uneventful plane ride and connection in Miami. But it was wonderful to hear my guys voice and see them on facetime again. The flight home was also uneventful but an exciting landing. We all could not wait to see our family and return home. It was a late night but I believe I had more of a culture shock arriving in the USA than in Guatemala! It was an amazing trip where lifetime bonds were made. I hope to return to Guatemala soon and even start venturing to other countries. I also hope to see everyone from the trip again soon. 

AS