Medical Mission Day 4

Wow what a day! We started the day a little different today...we forgot to mention that one of our medical students, Ellen is a zumba instructor. As soon as the teachers learned she was an instructor, they asked us would she do a class with the kids, so we picked today as the day. We started with the three younger classes, the kids were a little apprehensive at first but after a couple of minutes they were all dancing and trying to be the best. They absolutely loved it, the team didn't seem to mind it either...can you spot a few doctors in the picture?

After Zumba, the children started painting canvases, Steve had this fantastic idea of getting the children to paint a canvas and then auctioning them off back home (keep an eye out). Of course, nobody knew what to expect but they are all amazing, from the youngest class to the oldest. Each class was allowed paint two canvases each and all had to come up with their own ideas of what to paint. For the younger classes Steve and Sarah had already painted the bark of the tree so they had to decide on what to paint for the rest of the picture, they came up with some amazing ideas! I would show you the pictures but I think you should wait for the auction :)

At the clinic, the doctors continued doing great work and saw over 80 patients today! The Together in Hope staff cannot believe the amazing work of the medical students, they are working so hard and learning so much each day. If it wasn't for them we may have only seen half the patients, as for our amazing translators and staff at the pharmacy, they are incredible!!!!! This trip would not be doing as well without them! Thank you so much to everyone on the team, you guys (if you read this) are amazing!!

Medical Mission Day 2 and 3

Wow! What a great couple of days, the trip just keeps getting better and better! The doctors have seen almost 200 patients over the last two days, over 30 children have gotten their teeth cleaned and around 60 children have gotten physicals at the school. That means that almost 300 people have received health support in some shape or form. I think by the end of the week, we will see a much higher number and a lot more people will benefit from the service.

We asked the team to share some of their personal stories today and give us some feedback about their experiences in the community. Patti was working with some of the children at the clinic who were waiting for their mothers/fathers doing some basic art and exercises. All of a sudden as we were wrapping up for the day, a mother came over and gave her a picture. She thought the child had drawn it, but it was actually a picture the mother had drawn with the words of a simple blessing to thank her for taking time with the children and doing some art with them. Diane (who has been working with the children all week at the clinic) reflected how the children get so excited about something so simple as a page and some colors. For most, they have never had their own. Diane has asked the children to draw their houses and write what they want to bee when they grow up, most say a doctor, a footballer, a nurse or a teacher. It is great to see all their dreams and ideas and we can only hope that true Together in Hope we can make them come through!

                                       

Today (Wednesday) to give the team a break from work, we surprised them and brought them to the Salvadorean Symphony. Many of the volunteers struggled with the idea of us working in such a marginalized community and afterwords going to the symphony! Dr Recinos told us the story of the symphony. During the civil war much of the Salvadorean culture was suppressed, buildings were destroyed, people couldn't play music, it was war time therefore a lot of the culture was lost. The people of El Salvador have been trying to bring back their culture and little by little, they are doing it. The symphony is just one example: World famous conductor German Caceres has worked all over the world but has returned to El Salvador to bring back his native culture. The group of musicians come together to form the symphony and non receive any salary or any compensation, they play for peoples enjoyment and to regain their culture. Afterwords, a group of us met one of the musicians and thanked him for such a wonderful performance. His eyes filled up and he said 'no thank you, I cannot believe a group from the United States came to see us preform, it means so much to us' 

                                        

Being in El Salvador always humbles us, we take so much for granted and don't focus enough on the simple things in life- people always think we come and help the community, but we actually learn a lot from them.

Medical Mission- Day 2

Well the first day is over, I think most people were apprehensive and didn't know what to expect but boy did they do amazing.From the doctors to the med students to the translators to the volunteers at the school, everyone did fantastic and once again nothing went as planned but went great.

Alta Mira Flores

Let's start withe the clinic. The doctors did amazing work, we have three professional doctors seeing the patients, there are also two medical students and our nurse Ruth doing intake along with our pharmacists. They all did great work and saw more than 50 patients today, don't worry, we warned them that number is going to get much higher :) It is amazing to see how happy the patients are just to have some one to talk to and listen. They have opened up to each doctor with great trust, we couldn't have wished for anything better. 

Basic Physical

The other half (us non medical folk) went to work at the La Rosa Blanca school. The kids greeted us with two wonderful traditional dances. After their wonderful performance, the group divided in 3 groups, two of the medical students came with us to the school and did basic medical exams on the children. They saw a total of 28 children and thankfully there were no big problems. 

Traditional Dance

The rest of the group did art with the children, we made bracelets from different colored beads and shared stories of what each color represented- Yellow= light/sun, blue= sky and sea, we even got to teach them some English.  After school time we packed 28 kids plus some parents but the 6 team members of TIH into a small bus and  brought the kids to a big open space where we played soccer, basketball, and frisbee. The kids loved playing the different games and learning some new ones as did the volunteers. All round it was a lot of fun, and everyone got to know each other and the kids got to know the team. 

The older kids with their bracelets

After today and how well it went, we are so excited to see what the next few days have in store and how great this medical/outreach mission will be. Thank you to everyone who has made it possible for us to be here.

Making Kites for tomorrow

Medical Mission to El Salvador- Day one

It has taken over a year to plan and a lot of hard work but we are here! We made it to El Salvador safe and sound with all of our medicine intact and all of our team members :) We are so excited to have a group from Bellaire United Methodist Church and six students from University of North Texas Health Science Center at Forth Worth Texas volunteering with us on this trip.

                                                (Don't we all look pretty at 5:30am?)

After a day of getting adjusted, and the group getting to know each other, we did some sight seeing. First, the team went to see the location for the clinic and also the school so we could plan activities. After we drove around Alta Mira Flores and learned a little bit about the community, we visited the tomb of Oscar Romero. The civil war started after Romero was shot at the alter in 1980. (for more information see https://www.un.org/en/events/righttotruthday/romero.shtml). After visiting the tomb of Romero, the team met with Bishop Gomez, an amazing man who despite all odds survived the civil war. Bishop Gomez received numerous death threats from the government as he opened his church to all citizens that were in danger. His most interesting story is that of his cross. During the war, he asked the community to write the sins of the government on the cross, they wrote things like 'hunger', 'death', 'persecution'. When the government came to arrest Gomez he was in hiding but they found his cross and arrested the cross and 'put it in jail'. It remained 'in jail' until the end of the war when the bishop came out of hiding and asked the government to give it back. It now hangs in his church beside the alter and is a reminder that good always overcomes evil. The Bishop inspired us all, and really showed us why we are here. 

(The team with the x convict- the cross)

The rest of the evening was spent doing some serious team bonding.....by sorting supplies :) After two hours, all the medicines and school supplies were ready to go. The team worked extremely hard and had a well deserved late dinner.  Everyone is pumped for tomorrow and can't wait to see what it brings but for now..buneas noches. 

(Sorting medicine brings such joy)

Making Progress

It has been a HOT productive, wonderful time in the Philippines working with the children and families who have invited us into partnering with them as they seek to build a new future with hope.  In Upper Javier, the sewing center is being expanded and Alan Miller, our construction supervisor, is employing local labor, creating jobs and stretching the budget like only he can - he barters for every penny we spend to make it go as far as possible.  The expanded sewing center will create more jobs for more community members and the construction is also employing and training community laborers in need of work. The pre-school has a new floor and our teacher, Ate Olive, is excited about school starting again on Monday - the parents are so grateful and contribute by keeping the building clean and preparing the meals that are served each day to the children - for some, the only real meal they have each day. Thanks to the generosity of our donors we have funded another full pre-school year with the Jessica's Table feeding program included.  Bellaire United Methodist Church and St. Stephens United Methodist Church have been particularly generous in this regard.  Thank you!

In Malis, we have three young people finishing  college through Strings of Hope: Rosette is getting ready to take her teacher's licensing exams, Jenny is in her 3rd year toward a degree in education, and Jesusa is in her 4th year at Harris Memorial College.    Rosette and Jenny are also supporting their families as their parents cannot find work.

Jessica's Table continues with 205 children regularly attending and registering and usually 300 children total attending each week.  These children are receiving education and leadership training, as well as nutritional support.The young people from Malis who first participated in this program are now helping to lead it and the mothers and father's in Malis go early to the market to buy and prepare the food.  It is a program fully lead by the community in which it was born.  Because of our reputation in the community, we were also invited into the elementary school for the first time and were able to donate volley ball equipment as well as soccer balls, school supplies, and provide a nutritious meal for children that had not eaten all day - the government here offers public schooling but cannot provide meals, school supplies, uniforms or transportation.   

I have been accompanied on this trip by Rev. Tori Butler and 5 youth from Bellaire United Methodist Church, Elizabeth from St. Stephens United Methodist Church (who is working in Upper Javier for 3 months as a volunteer) and Alan Miller from Memorial Drive United Methodist Church.  We are so grateful for our faithful volunteers! 

The Philippines 2013

Our team has arrived in the Philippines, June 8th 2013

Yesterday I went with a team of college students to the Mallolos Juvenile Detention Center where 95 young men ages 17-24 are house in very close quarters and never get to go outside.  Many of them have been there for years and abandoned by their families - some for serious crimes and others for crimes born out of poverty and simply wanting to eat or addiction.  Here in the Philippines also, a generation is being destroyed through and criminalized for addiction. We are looking at what it might mean to bring healing and hope to these young men whose choices have taken their future and also young women who are victims of abuse of all kinds - both these young men and women are some of the poorest of the poor when it comes to a future with hope.

It is not even the rainy season yet, but here in Obando, a very poor fishing village on the coast, the streets have flooded from last night's rain - entering into the first floor of the houses and the people simply live in the water, even the animals are living up to their bellies in water.  When the typhoons come in the fall it is devastating for those without first floor houses.  Even those with high enough homes are separated from services, food, and drinking water for over a month.  My pastor friends Jordan and Malu, and their two young girls - my goddaughters - are living and serving in this community.  This place, like places in El Salvador, rings with the groaning of all creation that is hoping for restoration and redemption. 

Launch Charity Challenge

Together in Hope is delighted to announce that we won the Reason2Race Launch Charity Challenge. For the last number of months, 10 athletes have been working extremely hard to run in the Woodlands Marathon/half marathon and 5k. Not only have they been working hard physically but each person has been fundraising to raise much needed funds for the Alta Mira Flores development program in El Salvador. Their motivation for fundraising...other than helping people living in poverty? The Launch Charity Challenge.

<em> 'This program is an avenue for athletes of all levels, to challenge themselves in setting and achieving your goals by sharing your racing journey with family, friends and community. Sharing goals makes them a reality, and with this challenge. As you train for and compete in The Woodlands 5K, Half or Full Marathon, you also get to make a difference in our community, spreading awareness and raising funds for one of their official charities or any organization represented below.'</em>

Each of our athletes put  a minimum of $1,000 as their fundraising goal. Almost all our athletes reached their goal, our Executive Director Diane McGehee raised a whooping $14,035 putting her in first place to win the Launch Charity Challenge! The Grand prize was $3,000 bringing our grand total to $23,460. This money will be used to purchase the land in the Alta Mira Flores community, San Salvador, to build a new community center, medical clinic and school! Thank you to every who gave their support and helped us achieve so much!

Run for a cause

In 2.5 weeks on March 2nd 2013, 10 athletes are running in the Woodlands Marathon to raise funds for the Alta Mira Flores community in El Salvador.

'I run for the forgotten children of Alta Mira Flores, El Salvador: children who have never run in an open field of fresh green grass, in well-groomed sport fields, along a beach, up a mountain path or in an organized race. I run so that these children can have nutritious food to eat, the chance for an education, and access to medical care when they need it. I run to help you see them and to respond. I run in hope: the same hope that sparkles in their eyes, dances in their laughter, and warms their welcoming embrace of a life that should not be lived like this and yet they live it- in hope.

I run to make that which seems impossible possible- one step forward at a time, step after step, toward what for me was an impossible dream when I started – running a full marathon. Eight months ago, at 56, I was so out of shape that I could not even run a single mile and didn’t even dare to dream of running 26! But step by step, one day at a time, pushing forward with a slow and steady focus, not quitting even when it felt too hard, that impossibility is becoming possible. I run not only to make my impossible dream possible, but also to make their impossible dream possible: the dream of a better future - a future that is sufficient with enough food to eat, enough opportunity for an education so that they can learn and be able to work well in the world, enough medical care and nutrition to stay healthy, and enough space between the hard places of life to love, laugh and live fully. I run and, with every step, I pray that one day their dream will be a reality. I run to help make that dream a reality – one child, one family, and one community – this community of Alta Mira Flores - at a time. As I run, I find myself changed by their presence in my heart and life. And so I keep running toward that future where not only you and I have enough of what we need to thrive, but they do too. I run with them, together in hope- Diane McGehee Executive Director of Together in Hope.

If you would like to support Diane as she reaches her goal of running a full marathon, you can support her here: https://my.reason2race.com/DianeMcGeheeDannyFeiler

Return from Ethiopia...

It's hard to believe that this time last week I was still in Ethiopia, and that the two weeks have come and gone. For the first time, we got to see the project in real life, up to now we have been envisioning what it would look like, making changes, meeting with the necessary people to make sure it was going to happen.

Some of the community members and children at the celebration day

To be able to meet the community and see that they are so involved in the project is much more than we could have asked for. Not only are there 15 local staff working in the community, but there are also local volunteers, part time teachers and even a parents committee! On paper there are 200 direct beneficiaries this means that 200 children get educational support (schools supplies) psycho social support(counseling services) and tutorial classes, but after spending two weeks at the center every day, it is clear that there over 200 children using the youth center. This is what we always wanted, a youth center where children can come and play, use the library, join the clubs, no matter what their back ground is and the youth center is just that. Along with the 200 direct beneficiaries, we have 17 young adults on the vocational training program. Eight young women have already graduated, and nine boys will graduate in the coming months. As they graduate more adolescents will be added to the program. We will be bringing you some stories about these young adults soon and also stories about their employers.

One of the adolescents on the vocational training program

We hope through the blogs you got to understand a little bit more about the project and what we are doing! Thank you so much again for all your support and encouragement! If you are interested in supporting Together in Hope's project in Ethiopia you can make a donation online www.togetherinhope.org or send a check to 

 

Together in Hope

1250 Wood Branch Park Drive, Suite 625

Houston, Texas,

77079

memo:Ethiopia

If you would like to contact us please send an email to laurapower@togetherinhope.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible.Thank you so much and thank you to our wonderful team on the ground! You guys are AWESOME! 

 

 Laura with the Youth Release team from Ireland and some of the children from the culture club at the center

Painting the youth center

Painting the youth center

18th-19th January

So after a five day debate of ; what color would we paint the youth center? What should we paint on it? Does purple go with blue? Decisions, decisions. Eventually we decided on yellow, purple and blue.

The youth center before

Some of our local friends came along to help us as we thought it would just be us and them, to our surprise half the community showed up to paint the youth center. Every one grabbed a paint brush and got to work. First people were painting the wrong wall the wrong colour, so there was a little bit of direction needed but all in all it went great. 

By lunch time we had 3 of the four sides done, and the staff even decided to paint the trees purple. After that, every thing in sight was painted the gate, the trees, the side wall, the windows every one just went for it to get the job done! Every body got a chance to paint from some of the children to the elderly women, they were the ones taking the paint brushes from us!! It was incredible to see the community take ownership and how proud they were to be the ones painting it. The first day we had the first coat done on the four sides of the youth center,  and half of each and every tree was painted purple.

We arrived at  the youth center at 10am on Saturday morning to continue painting. When we arrived the we found the community had been there for a couple of hours painting without us. It was fantastic to see such a great group effort and that everyone played a part. We painted the windows blue and drew some games for the kids to play with.

After a couple of hours and a lot of hard work, the youth center was finally finished! 

The new and improved youth center :)