It took some time – but the blog is up and running! I have to say I never expected to be doing a blog – but here goes… It is probably best to start at the beginning…
What is Nuestros Niños? The group started out solely as an adoption support group for families that adopted children of Latin American heritage. In my heart it grew to have a service component. Over the months and years to come, I will hopefully give you insights through my words and pictures of what inspired me to give back to our children's birthcountry.
Nuestros Niños is now a 501(c)(3) non-profit group with 3 primary purposes: 1) to help children and families in Guatemala; 2) instill a sense of service in “our children” through volunteering, fundraising, and service trips; and 3) to give children adopted from Guatemala a sense of pride in their birthcountry and culture. By the way, Nuestros Niños translates to “Our Children.” This originally referred to just our adopted children, but to me it really stands for the global idea that the children of the world are “ours” and we must work to help those less fortunate than us.
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| My 3 Children - "Inspiration & Motivation" |
There are moments in life that move us & hopefully inspire us to do all we can. Throughout my travels and service trips to Guatemala, here are just one or two:
In 2008, during our first service trip, we provided over 30 food baskets to families. They contained: 2 Bags of Oatmeal, 1 bag of beans, 1 bag of rice, 6 spaghetti packs, 1 bag of soap, drink mixes, shampoo, toothpaste, cooking oil, jar of peanut butter, bag of sugar, and a dozen eggs.
I can still remember going to one home in Villa Hermosa and seeing this little girl. For me, her eyes said it all – there was such sadness in them. She appeared to be school-age, but probably her family wasn’t able to afford the necessary items for school.
Villa Hermosa translates to “beautiful view” – and that it was. These two children were at another home peering out a window overlooking this beautiful view – but what a ironic twist that their life may not be a “beautiful view” if they don’t have the opportunity to attend school or have enough food to eat.
On the other hand, I visited a preschool program in San Antonio Palopo near Lake Atitlan in July 2010. This village had experienced such devastation from landslides and torrential rains, but a new preschool had been opened through the non-profit Mayan Families that we partner with. This little girl was getting a nutritious meal and the opportunity to learn. Her eyes just glowed…
I have so many more “moments, stories, and pictures” to share – and as my friends know I can continue on for pages – but I am going to “rein myself in” and save them for later. So, please return often as I plan to update the blog several times a month. I will give ideas on ways children can help others; successes Nuestros Niños is experiencing; inspirational “moments” during the service trips; information on current projects such as chickens, ONIL stoves, sewing machines, school sponsorships, and so on. I will leave you with a picture or two of the beauty of Guatemala – both in the land and the people.
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| Volcan Toliman is in front of Volcan Atitlan - photo taken from the docks of Panajachel |
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| Children from El Barranco performing traditional dances |
