​For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
En efecto, nosotros somos colaboradores al servicio de Dios;
y ustedes son el campo de cultivo de Dios, son el edificio de Dios.
1 Corinthians 3:9

We truly desire to be co-laborers and co-workers in God’s service, not working independently in Guatemala; but truly collaborating in unity for his mission to those affected by disability in Santa Maria de Jesus. YOU make that work possible!!

​With Therapists
MaryAnn has been volunteering with GOT since February to assist with supervision of our OT students, and help us develop sustainable therapeutic solutions for our ministry and families.

​Maricruz is a Guatemalan Speech Therapist who has worked one day a week alongside GOT since July. She will join us for morning therapy every day next year so we can provide more sustainable services to our families. We hope she is the first of many Guatemalan therapy providers!

​​With Ministries
Through collaboration with 4 new ministries serving the community, our kiddos (Eymi, Rosario, Estefani, Gladys, Vivian and Santiago) and their families, have received medical care, and some have received new homes and nutritional resources. This makes a huge difference
in the capacity for change and impact for families effected by disability. 

In occupational therapy, we create goals with the families and teachers to guide our work with each individual child. These goals are directed towards participation and engagement in life, community, family, and school.

​When Chulo’s mama, Haley, showed up at our door, she struggled with hopelessness and fear. Her 4-month-old baby did not have a name, so we called him Chulo, “Cutie” in Guatemalan Spanish. During that time in therapy, we focused on basic development, attachment between mama and baby, and education on resources needed to support the health of sweet Chulo.

One of the last visits with Chulo, after talking about the need for medical attention, Haley announced that she had named her sweet baby boy - GERSON ALEXANDER! She had seen the worth and value of her child. Gerson’s parents had begun the process to register his birth when our sweet gift passed away and went to be with Jesus. We were notified hours after his death and had the privilege to be by the family’s side as they grieved. It’s an honor and a privilege to be a part of God’s work in this family. 

We hope you consider collaborating with us to help expand the depth and breadth of our therapeutic work in Santa Maria de Jesus in 2020 by adding Guatemalan therapists to our staff, and investing in sustainable strategies for meeting the need for therapy.
 
Please click the link below to join us and be co-workers in God’s service.

GOT Ministries connected with Gladys and her family this spring at 10 months old.  She is an adorable little girl with Down syndrome and a lot of potential.  Unfortunately her mom received misinformation about her' capability, including Gladys would never talk, walk, or eat.  Understandably, Gladys' mom became very discouraged. Fortunately another organization in Santa Maria de Jesus connected the family and GOT Ministries, and we had the privilege of telling this family about Gladys' capacity and the full life she can live! 

Today Gladys is sitting up on her own!!  

GOT Ministries encouraged the family regarding how Gladys not only would be able to talk, but just like any kid maybe more than they would like at times : )  Gladys can learn to walk and live a life of amazing potential.  Mom and Gladys learned how to play together through therapy visits, and mom cried watching her child play.  Gladys continues to develop and her momma walks this journey with her with hope and encouragement.  It is truly a privilege to empower and serve these kiddos and their families!  We are so grateful when we see the hope in the eyes of the families we serve!

​
​Julia Wofford is a Masters of Occupational Therapy Student from the University of New Mexico.  After raising her four children working as a high school math and Spanish teacher, she served for two years as a volunteer in the Amazon basin of Ecuador planting churches among the indigenous Quichua people.

On her return to the United States, she began the journey to becoming an occupational therapist to work with marginalized populations both at home and abroad. The opportunity to partner with GOT ministries for fieldwork was a natural step forward in her ability to serve the indigenous peoples of Latin America.  

Santiago joined the GOT Ministries caseload in the fall of 2017. When he first came to see us, the tension in his muscles did not allow him much range of mobility.  He did not play with toys or interact with people.  Through occupational therapy with GOT Ministries, Santiago gained range of movement and began to reach out for toys.  He started feeding himself and he and his family began to learn to use his wheelchair.

Not too long after GOT Ministries started working with Santiago, his family's home burned down.  The family has struggled to regain their home over the past year.  Additionally, the father has been out of work recently. Making sure Santiago receives the nutrition he needs is challenging. He is in a nutrition center right now to help with this challenge. To be away from his family is hard, but we are grateful he is receiving the nutrition he needs to grow and develop. We are also excited to hear the family may be able to build a new home soon!

​Julia Wofford is a Masters of Occupational Therapy Student from the University of New Mexico.  After raising her four children working as a high school math and Spanish teacher, she served for two years as a volunteer in the Amazon basin of Ecuador planting churches among the indigenous Quichua people.

On her return to the United States, she began the journey to becoming an occupational therapist to work with marginalized populations both at home and abroad. The opportunity to partner with GOT ministries for fieldwork was a natural step forward in her ability to serve the indigenous peoples of Latin America.  

​Megan and Abigail met Calixto at 18 months old through a referral from a missionary in Santa Maria de Jesus.  Born cross-eyed, he was unable to see at birth and had spent a lot of time on his back.  The mission organization funded a neurology appointment for him and GOT began serving him and his family through occupational therapy.  His vision is improving, as well as his potential for development.  He likes bright lights and began reaching out and kicking more!
 

Today we celebrate because Calixto is WALKING!!! 

After just a few months of therapy and encouragement for his family, Calixto is developing and leaning into his potential.  Excited about Calixto's potential, his mom implements therapy techniques learned in his sessions with Abigail in the home!  Calixto began walking and is moving forward in his development.  The smile on his mom's face reminds us of the reason we serve these families.  We love to see hope shine through.  GOT Ministries is so excited for this little boy and his family!!  

Megan and Abigail met Chulo through a referral from a current GOT family.  Born unable to move his head and neck, his mother was told he would not grow up well.  Because of this discouragement, she struggled to have hope in her child's future and hid him from his family and friends for the first four months of his life.  She was unable to name him, so we called him Chulo, which means sweetie or cutie in Guatemalan Spanish.  Chulo spent much of his first four months on his back, hampering his development and growth.  He and his mom struggled to bond because the situation appeared hopeless.
 
​
Today we celebrate!  Chulo has a name!!  We would like you to meet Gerson Alexander!!
 
Megan and Abigail support this family through occupational therapy, allowing Gerson to now be able to move his head and experience developmental growth!  Gerson and his mom know his potential for growth is great.  More importantly, the family knows they are loved and supported and empowered in the journey of Gerson’s growth and development. Gerson and his momma are able to bond and spend quality time together.  We are so excited to continue in this journey with Gerson and are currently encouraging his momma to register his birth so he is officially recognized by the government.

Hello there! My name is Abigail and I am thrilled to be serving with GOT ministries this Spring. When I first met Megan at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) conference in 2017, I immediately felt called to pursue a partnership with GOT. I first learned about occupational therapy in the pediatrics environment; while throughout my schooling I have experienced OT in a variety of fields, I am excited to finish my degree by working with kiddos. Also, how cool is it that I will be completing academic requirements AND experiencing a beautiful and exciting culture AND joining with GOT Ministries to share Christ’s love?
 
I am currently finishing up by Master’s degree in OT from Towson University in Baltimore, MD. I love to read, cook, jog, swim, and travel, and I love to teach and share these activities with others. I feel abundantly blessed to be on this journey.

Guest Post by Jean Wetherilt

In occupational therapy we often refer to the adaptive response, described as the interaction between an individual and the environment in which the individual meets the demands of the task.  The “Adaptive response” took on new meaning both personally and professionally as I walked the cobblestone streets of Antigua and Santa Maria de Jesus, Guatemala. I learned from the wonderful people in those communities including the children and families, the staff and volunteers of New Life School and the best teacher and translator ever, Megan Lewis!
 
Experiencing the daily life of Guatemalan children gave me a different perspective of pediatric occupational therapy.   Many years of working with children have been focused on my Americanized views of the occupations of children:  to develop independence, to learn through play and an education, and to be social beings. In Guatemala, where living conditions are significantly different than in the U.S., these occupations are similar but also uniquely different. For example, play looks different.  In the market, I watched siblings wrestle behind their mama’s table, while another little girl gathered up her pile of plastic spoons to pretend to sell them, using what she saw her mother do daily as a model of this play task.  In the therapy room at New Life School, I watched a boy build his version of Antigua, a nearby town that he has heard of but may never visit, with wooden blocks. On rooftops little girls played house as they did the real household chores of hanging laundry on lines with their stuffed bunny wrapped on their back like their mothers care for their babies. 
 
In Santa Maria de Jesus, the school day ends at noon because children are needed at home, in the fields and in the market to help their families make money and survive.  The family unit is the priority in this culture, different from the U.S., which means children and adults collaborate together to ensure survival.  Unfortunately, the important daily activities rarely include play like we may expect it to look here in the U.S.  I saw situations children needing to grow up fast in order to take care of their siblings at a young age, do all household chores, and manage adult activities and responsibilities.  Most of the children we worked with have not had a chance to have a carefree childhood that we, in the US, might hope for all children.  One night while walking through a market I saw a toddler of about 2 years of age, propped against a fence asleep while his mom sold her wares.  Some extremely unfortunate and dire situations lead to children being taught to not only beg but also steal from tourists.

My name is Sarahi Lerma. I am an occupational therapy student from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor's degree in life sciences and a minor in sociology.

My family comes from several small towns in Mexico with limited resources for appropriate healthcare services, such as therapies, and I have personally experienced how this has a great impact on quality of life. Through these experiences I have found my love for occupational therapy and I am very passionate about giving back to communities with limited resources in sustainable ways. 
​
In the past I have volunteered and worked in programs for children with special needs such as summer camps, special events, foster care, respite care and habilitation services. For the past 2 years I have been gymnastics instructor helping kiddos from the ages of 4 months to 12 years grow physical, social and cognitive skills in a positive and non-competitive environment. I am very excited to work with GOT Ministries to learn new skills that will help me become a better servant leader and for the opportunity to work with amazing kiddos.