My Nonprofit Reviews

We had an AMAZING trip to Mazatlan Mexico in March. We were gone almost two weeks over spring break which even on laid back Mexican time went by very fast. A few weeks before the trip Lexi (age 9) & Alan (age 7) asked their classes to join them in collecting school supplies and writing notes to the kids we would see in Mexico. Lexi took charge and was able to give away about 40 packets of school supplies. Some to kids receiving a wheelchair, others to siblings, children and grandchildren of those receiving the wheelchair. We also stocked them with bubbles and other toys to share in hopes of helping them overcome the language barrier and participate in their own unique way. Lexi was a big help in the administrative end of things, paperwork & photo taking, while Alan was more interested in helping Jeff in the mechanical world. He would hang out in the shop, follow Jeff and other guys around like a shadow, fetch tools and other tasks as he is beginning to enter the “man cave” phase. Lexi, Alan and I were also able to participate in some “art therapy” with the kids attending Padres y Compadres rehab center. I had fun watching faces light up as the kids dotted, blended and smeared colors of paint on the paper, floor, themselves, each other and me! My camera even had an added stroke of red from sweet Marisol by the end of the day.Later in the week we were able to color with the children as well and learned a very important lesson: make sure you only bring washable markers! A few of Lexi's classmates were gracious enough to donate packs of markers, and we discovered not all of them wash off easily off floors, walls, legs, faces etc. Alan may have come up with a new approach to physical therapy, I think we should call it “boys will be boys therapy!” Alan & Carlitos played catch for quite a while and I was amazed how far and accurate Carlitos was able to throw a ball. Later the two of them with Leo (who is blind) built a tower blocks, crashed it, built it again, crash, build . I left the room for a while, but all over the campus we heard laughter and happy screams and later the stories of the “ultimate ball war” where everyone in the room got into the game. I believe it began tossing or kicking a ball back and forth, then two at a time, maybe eight, soon a dozen or more all going back and forth. In the air, on the ground, over heads, through legs, whew! Everyone looked a little tired after; adults, kids, mobile or not. While the kids and I played, Jeff and others spent several days working hard in the sun & dirt refurbishing 100 wheelchairs for the distributions. As a much awaited gift on Jeff's birthday, the truck we loaded at our house before we left showed up with 100 more wheelchairs ready to distribute! The truck was running on Latin time and was expected mañana, mañana, mañana. (which literally translates more like “not today”) We were just hoping it would arrive while we were still there:)! It was SOOO cool to see the whole campus and many kids from the neighborhood gather to unload the truck. Even Anna (age 22 with Cerebral Palsy) came to help! Overall we were able to give away around 60 wheelchairs plus walkers, canes & crutches. Jeff was able to work on one wheelchair with Lexi & Alan. He had to take time out from running like the energizer bunny between the other groups, and it gave Alan the chance to use more tools! We were able to see Israel again. Jeff gave him his first chair in 2003, and a walker last June. With great caregivers and therapy he is receiving from Esperanza's, a partnering therapy center, Israel is growing into a very strong young man who simply needed a bigger chair! The unique aspects of this week came when participating in a few home visits. Jeff celebrated his birthday giving Aurora a wheelchair, who then gave him a beautifully decorated Christmas decoration she made. Note: she is blind and the detail is amazing! The team was able to encourage her to continue her crafts, and it gave her much joy, hope and purpose in her current situation. The team was able to build a ramp for Carlitos home and adapt one for Jorge's as well. We were able to give away “our first” Hoyer lift. It was donated and shipped down, but sat in a storage room for months as no one knew what to do with it. This was a new and exciting part of the ministry week. We hope to continue this aspect of adapting homes for wheelchair access and other support that may arise as well! And oh my, does God show us His timing through these small acts of service. The whole week we saw the hands and feet of God at work, but the personal invitation into the peoples home made it real. One quick story, (remember we experienced over 60 in the short week) Jorge received a wheelchair on a home visit midweek. He has been bedridden for six months after a sever car accident where he broke his neck. He and his mother were very thankful, but she was unable to lift him into it much less get it over a door jam in their home. By chance (aka Gods amazing timing), we were able to give him a Hoyer lift and build a ramp to aid his mother in moving him. He was able to get outside for the first time in six months to enjoy the warm air and sit under a beautiful and fragrant limon tree in his front yard. We were also able to coordinate a visit from a doctor and possible therapy in home. Neither of which he has received the last six months. I stood back and attended to my job of taking pictures, paperwork, and taking it all in, I thought about: It was quite a nice neighborhood actually, beautiful and well cared for homes. I cannot describe the amazing scent from the limon tree, we just don't get anything to compare to in Colorado. Watching this dedicated and diverse group doing what they can for this sweet man and his loving mother, yet strangers. Jorge smile at us crazy gringos as we picked the limons, especially noting him smile and laugh at Lexi pretending they were eyeballs or something. Followed by sadness knowing he is probably missing his own daughter he hasn't seen since the accident. Happy that our silly kids brought some joy to him that day. And many other things that you cannot put into words. Mostly I will not forget the look of hope on Jorge and his mothers face as we were leaving. I was looking out to them resting under the tree as we drove away and Jorge waved goodbye. I looked at Jeff and said, “Hey, I didn't think he had use of his hands!” Through Gods amazing blessings Jorge found hope for his future and the will to try, even if it starts with a simple wave. I can't wait to go back and see his progress, and maybe add another story to our memories! The offer is always open for you to join us sometime:)

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