Hondurian Twins accepted at Cleveland Clinic for major surgery

Roatan, Honduras Bed-build Volunteers

Children of Mayumbmab, Peru

Costa Rica Bed Building

Rain or Shine

Carrying the materials that comprise a bed up a muddy, wet mountain is not a job for the lame of heart, the hills can be steep, the path slippery and challenging--our bed-builders showed their absolute determination. The job had to be done, Waiting for the sun to shine would have been nice, but time was limited and the task was at hand. Rain or shine--the job needed to be done! With each bed build, there is a sense of joy for many; but there is saddness, as well. For those who receive a bed there is tremendous joy; however, our number of beds is always limited compared to the need. Our motto is so important to us: We RETURN



Many of our bed builds are in the tropics, the rainy season is a given. In these areas, bed building isn't for just fair weather bed building volunteers. When the rains come, the need for a dry place to sleep is at its greatest. Both children and adults are wet to the bone, without electricity, roofs that leak---something is wet or always damp at best. Children have respiratory infections, intestional parasites, ear infections, etc.



And yet the deep glow of their happiness in receiving a bed sheds a radiant light that can warm any heart. On one trip in November of 2004, an elderly lady, small as a ten year old child--skin and bone--longingly watched as we decorated pillow-cases being shared with children gathered under a large structure with only a tin roof and a cement floor. It was their church, their gathering place, there were no walls.



Her eyes watched, our hearts connected, scriptures floated my mind, "only as a child can we enter into the kingdom of heaven." First, I reached out, drawing her our of the rain. I handed her a pillow-case. She held it close, I could feel her yearning for a pillow to fill the case. I reached for a cloth marker to decorate the pillow-case with symbols of hope, love and joy. I so wanted to leave her with a universal message of love, a love that our Unity of Fairfax, Virginia had come to share. We each had a yearning in our hearts to make a difference.



Our water-proof hospital grade vinyl mattresses were limited in number at this point, maybe we had 50 left, but 100's of children. At that moment, I prayed that we would have one to give to my new friend. I so desperately wanted her to have a mattress, clean white sheets, her pillow-case and hopefully a soft pillow. Her body was old, weathered by hardship and time and yet I saw the beautiful innocence of a young child.

What an Orphanage can teach us.

The most memorable time for me was spending time with the children in the orphanage in Cusco, Peru. The opportunity to give and receive love is a powerful experience. Giving and receiving love is one of life's most powerful gifts. Children without the love of a family, living in an orphanage have so much to teach us about the power and the beauty of love. This is a lesson, I wish everyone could experience, perhaps, then there would be fewer forgotton children. Eloise

Comments from Charles Coyle

Having the oportunity to hand balloons and many,many stickers to the children of Mayumbamba, especially kneeling on the ground to look directly into the eyes of each child as I placed stickers on their cheeks, foreheads, chins and hands, was truly inspiring for me. I experienced their joy, it all seemed so simple! However, our stickers, our mattresses and the heart connection with these beautiful children living in horrible poverty sharing their joy will long live in my heart.

Comment from Amit K. Maitra

The children of Mayubamba gave me hope and inspiration to continue to remain active in humanitarian efforts that bring about change - a kind of change that sustains them through the rigors of life while making systematic progress in their health, education, and general well-being.