We hit the ground running and I had meetings at hospitals and clinics in San Jose, then we began assembly of wheelchairs for distribution to nursing homes in rural areas outside San Jose.
I don't have a whole lot of pictures of my time in San Jose, because those 2 days were mostly just meetings. Which are always good and productive, but not exactly photo ops.
After two days in San Jose we traveled to the northwest region to a town called Liberia. There I spent three days involved in wheelchair distributions and following up with recipients who had received chairs in previous months.
When I first got to Costa Rica I couldn't help but be skeptical on what the need for wheelchairs really was there. They have a pretty stable economy and government and things seemed ok by the looks of things. However as soon as you turn off the main road and get a little deeper into the jungles there is poverty everywhere, I no longer questioned the need. Here is some of what I saw.
This little old lady, Silvia, is taken care of by her daughter, Diana. Their home has no bathroom, so they must take her outside, and Silvia is blind and 90 years old, hardly able to move. The wheelchair that she now has will be a blessing to the entire family and help give them a little hope amid their trials.
This is Hector. He was so proud of his new wheelchair. I did not get much of his story, but his smile says it all! 
Laura and her father Jorge are from Nicaragua. Laura sells tomatoes to tries and provide for her family, but there just never seems to be enough. Laura approached us while we were doing a distribution in the town square and wondered if maybe we could come to her house and give her father, who suffers from a hernia, a wheelchair so she could take him outside and did not have to leave him in bed all day long while she work. We gladly threw a wheelchair in the back of a truck and navigated our way to her home. She kept telling us this was a gift from God, and we assured her she was right and how much God loves her and her family. 
Patrona is 92 and was on the move as soon as we sat her in her wheelchair, she was already embracing her new found independence of being able to move without relying on someone else to carry her. Happy day! 
Catalina and Jorge are full of life and laughter. We met them in San Jose at the Caipad Fundadis Guadalupe were there were over 30 children and adults who all were provided opportunities to learn and grow. Catalina is 30 years old and had a charm and wit about her I just adored. She could get the whole room rolling with laughter as she told stories of her morning breakfast. Jorge loves life. He sat in his wheelchair and just wanted to clap for everyone as he appreciated so much all of his teachers and friends. Their joy for the life they have been given was a humbling experience that brought tears to my eyes and I realized how incredibly blessed I am, and how often I forget to enjoy the journey of life and the blessings God has given me. I am so grateful for Catalina and Jorge and am blessed to have met them. 
We had one day off. so we hit the beach, but since it is the rainy season there we didn't have the greatest weather at the shores. That is my friend Valleria, she was so much fun, and a total surfer girl! 
We hit the zip lines as well, which is always a fun time. The wonderful family that treated me like their own. Silvia, her daughter Valleria and her brother Mauricio. I had so much fun with them!
It was a great trip and I am so thankful that I am able to have these experiences, they have helped me appreciate so much more all the blessings I have!
1 comment:
Oh, I love the story of Laura and Jorge! How awesome that you guys WERE able to help her! Great photos. I love what you do...!
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