El Salvador - Day Two

"The Lord keeps every promise forever and is the One who gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry.  The Lord frees the prisoners and opens the eyes of the blind.  The Lord lifts the burdens of those bent beneath their load.  The Lord loves the righteous and protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but He frustrates the plans of the wicked.   Psalm 146: 7-9

Anna and I are sitting here absolutely exhausted in every way, not to mention very greasy!  We have only been in El Salvador for two and a half days, but it seriously feels like we have been here at least a week!  Can they possibly fit any more meetings or emotional encounters into this already crazy journey. We are so spent, emotionally and physically – but exhilarated at the same time!  Our morning began with a long meeting with ISNA, which is the government entity that oversees all children’s issues in the entire country.  After this meeting we visited one of the local child protection centers populated with severely handicapped orphan children.  The time we spent with these children was absolutely heart-wrenching. Each of the children were sitting in dilapidated wheelchairs and all were pretty much totally non-responsive.   There were a number of young girls between the ages of 8 and 15 whom they called institute interns walking among these children and eating ice cream.  What we found out was that these “interns” were in fact young girls who had been abused and are now living together in this facility with these other handicapped children.  This was clearly an extremelyunder-funded and understaffed institution and not one of the children we saw was in proper condition or was receiving much more than enough to simply stay alive (at least based on what we saw). The experience was extremely emotional for all of us because at this place we saw very little light or hope. 

Next we visited a daycare facility for children and young adults who have cerebral palsy but are still being cared for in the evenings and weekends by their own biological families.  This facility was started by four wealthy Salvadoran families, all who had biological children born with cerebral palsy.  One of the founders told us that the greatest gift God ever gave to her was her daughter with cerebral palsy and that it was this gift of her daughter that caused her to have empathy for the poor families of El Salvador who were forced to beg because they had handicapped children and could no longer go to work and for the children themselves who were treated like animals in the society.  This center provides schooling, therapy, medical care, and training in a trade as the children grow and then when the children are grown it will employ them in one of their workshops or bakery for the purpose of earning a living.  The things produced at this center were very good quality – love the cookies, baby blankets, and the pocket books.  It was incredible to see the huge contrast between the deplorable condition of the children in the first center and the positive condition of all the children in the second facility. The hopelessness we felt and could be seen by the tears on all our faces (particularly Jeanie’s who completely fell apart) at the first facility was replaced by a sense of hope after visiting this one. We actually had invited some representatives from Joni and Friends (Joni Earekson Tada’s organization) to join us for the tour of the facility.  (We had met them at church the day before).  And while we were touring the place, they showed us some of the kind of therapeutic wheelchairs they desperately needed and the irony was that the ones they showed us had originally come into the country with past Joni and Friends teams.  Anyhow, the highlight of that meeting was that together we made a decision to partner for a pilot program which will give an opportunity to 25 of the children in the poor facilities to come and be a part of this facility and receive proper care and a hope and a future. 

Our third major meeting was with the Central Authority – OPA and the Prosecutor’s office which handles all adoption cases.  I have met several times over the last five years with the Prosecutor and on this occasion I felt like we accomplished some significant things on a number of fronts.  I believe that this was due to much prayer and the grace of God!   But much prayer is still needed as it relates to great change that is imperative for the systems which are overseeing the wellbeing of the children in this country.

Jeanie said it best when I asked her how she would summarize the day when she said, “It just feels really good to be right where God wants you to be. And I know we are supposed to be right here right now.”

Well, there was a lot more to this very full day, but I am so very tired and very hungry. Our food just arrived in the hotel room and we leave at 6 am tomorrow for Honduras, so I’d better sign off.  We covet your prayers.  Oh and my little Maya has taken some major steps back in potty training since I've been gone from home.. oh well.    

Comments

[Sweet Joni]

I was blocked from posting for awhile so I hope this works... if not well that's life :)
May God shine His light thru you giving HOPE to these children & those involved and may He give you much Strength both Emotional & Physical to carry out His works!!!
~Joni

[anonymous]

Kerry,

Good morning:) Thank you for including us along on your journey!!! Again sitting here in tears, feeling so hopeless and inadequate on this side of the screen....you all were such Hope and Light to those in the despairing orphanage. You saw the despair and begin to walk those waiting there into Love and Light!!! What amazing work and gifts of love and strength you will be bringing to those sweet children, who deserve to be loved and cared for!!!

I pray of for you all. I know that even on this side of the screen I can and will be doing that. God already knows what you all need, He sees it and has seen it all way before you guys. So, I praise in my prayer for you all. I thank God for being God. For being right beside you all. Holding you and His sweet orphaned child and ill child up when you and they can not.

Praying also for your family at home. As a Mama of five...Kerry, please do not worry about Maya stepping backwards, just means she is waiting for you to come home to enjoy her successes!!! She is waiting upon you to cheer her on. AND, she will be right back on track in no time!!! Rest in the fact that you are exactly where God would have you be!!

Thank you for the JOY of praying alongside you all!!! God's Blessing shower you all today!

[Diane]

Me again:)

Just wanted to thank you so much for your posts. So often many go on these mission trips or journey's and we learn so much of how we can support those on the journey as well as those who are being ministered to through you being the Hands and Feet of Jesus.

So, thank you for sharing so consistently, Kerry, it does give us a real mirror into your day with those who are most in need.

Sorry about the anonymous posts...it's just me:) and I'm not sure why...but, just me!! Thanks for bloggin'....keep it up!!!!

[Debbie from Ohio]

Sounds like you've all had some heart wrenching experiences as well as hopeful ones. Praying that a difference can be made in the one facility where it seems the children are just getting by day by day...God comfort and wrap His loving arms around them is my prayer....

[Dani R.]

HI! My name is Dani and I somehow came across your site! I remembered your last name and came here and realized the connection with SCC. I love the Chapman family! :) Anyway..I have a huge heart for orphans and am so glad that I found your blog. I will keeping up to date with it. Thanks for sharing a glimpse of what God is doing through you over there. It's a blessing. Anyway...

Love to ya,
Dani

[Ann]

Kerry,
Thanks for sharing! I'll keep praying!
Praying--Ann