Volunteering In Guatemala

This post is long overdue but an experience that I would like to share.

I enjoy doing volunteer work. I volunteer in my local community and have gotten my children involved in various projects since before they could talk. I have done work project trips in Africa and in South America were I worked with children at local schools. This is something that I wanted to share with my children. While we were in Guatemala the boys and I volunteered at a special needs school.
The teachers at this school are amazing and kind. The boys and I had the opportunity to join some classes, see how the school functioned, donate clothes, toys, art and school supplies and facilitated an art class.
It was a fine balance for me as a seasoned volunteer, now in the role of mother too. It was important for me that my boys feel comfortable with the experience as well. Most of the children were very quick to hug and touch. Between the language barrier and the fact that some of the kids were bigger and older than my boys, we concentrated on working with the younger children for short visits in the afternoon.
I am confident that my boys took from the experience all that I had hoped they would.  On our last day there they both expressed that they would like to do something like this again. Personally, I found it rewarding to have the privilege of spending time with such vibrant and loving boys and girls and meeting their families. Prior to this school, no such program existed in this region of Guatemala and several families travel a great distance to participate.  We had the opportunity to meet many of the parents when they dropped their children off or stayed to help out.  Their gratitude of being part of this program was palpable.

This little girl loved to see photos of herself on my IPhone

Out of respect for the students I only took a few photos during the art class the boys and I facilitated.  We came up with a simple 'how to' cut a heart using zig zag scissors and then colored them and glued some eyes on.

I am so grateful to my cousin who mailed a box of baby clothes from NYC, to our many friends at home who dropped off toys, clothes, school supplies, bike supplies and medical supplies.  I am so grateful for my mother in law's golf friends for donating money to cover the transport of donations and the purchase of pull ups and for clothing donations from her friends and neighbors in Florida. Dr. J's cousin for donating money towards donations. My fabulous blog friend Valarie sent us a box of of school supplies, arts and crafts and first aid supplies.
Finally I really really appreciate all of the support I got from all my readers here.  So many of you sent kind words of encouragement and for that I am forever grateful.

Above: The box of clothes my cousin sent and supplies from Valarie who is also the author of:

A million thanks, 

xoxo Ren and Monkeys