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In July last year I went with a team from Through The Roof to Guatemala, one of Latin America's poorest countries. we went to promote the lives of disabled people, by showing that disability is not something to fear and look down on.
In Guatemala they believe that disability is caused by either the sin of the child or the sin of the parents. they believe that it is a punishment from God. People with disabilities find it hard to live out there. Children who are disabled are left uneducated, are not talked about, and are in some cases abandened, because the stigma attached to them is too great to bear.
We delivered workshops to several groups of people. we spoke to trainee teachers at America Latina, and gave them tips on how to deal with children who have disabilities in their classroom (EG treating them as normal, but giving any help needed), we showed them inclusive sports, an inclusive dance, and a parachute game.
Our team leader Tim then went through verses in the bible that illustrate that God does not love people with disabilities less than he loves people without. verses like "we are all equal in Christ Jesus". then I gave my personal experience of growing up as a totally blind person, and my testomony of how I became a Christian.
this was the basic form our training took throughout our 10 days stay.
we also visited a children's home, Love The Child, where all children are cared for with love, and do not leave without knowing about God and how he cares for them.
We visited a school called New Life school, which is half way up a volcano. this school is a school spasifically for disabled children, and it is wonderful to see how god is working there, including using our workshop there to connect the surrounding schools with New Life, and showing them how they could include disabled children, and letting the parents of the disabled children who attend New Life see what their children can achieve.
The church we attended on our last Sunday in Guatemala has a ministry for the deaf. it was wonderful to see how the deaf people were so much at the heart of the church.
Everyone was very friendly to us, and what was especially nice was the way they included me. everywhere we went we could see people taking our message to heart.
we hope to return to Guatemala in July this year. I am looking forward to seeing what God has done in the past year! please pray for us all on the trip!
I am very greatful for any help that you can give me, If you can help me by donating anything, then thank you very much!
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"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:6-7)
