'Moms on a Mission' reach out on trip to Guatemala
By Renee Krejci
For Sonya Zumbiel, the connection with her adopted child's homeland of Guatemala didn't end at the adoption center. In fact, it didn't even end at the airport or at La Casa Grande hotel. Her son is 2 going on 3, and when it comes to trips to Guatemala, at the end of June she was 6 going on 7.
"No matter what country, you really owe it to your child to commit to giving back to that country and show them that it's not just about gaining a child, but also their country and history," said Sonya. Now she's not only in love with her son, but also the rich Guatemalan culture and history.
From June 26 to July 2, Sonya, along with Mary Allen Staat MD, MPH, director of the International Adoption Center (IAC) at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, IAC occupational therapists Kari Hufnagel, MS, OTR/L, and Barb Elleman, MHS, OTR/L, BCP, 14 other mothers and three teenagers, made a journey to Guatemala. Nicknamed "Moms on a Mission," they went to experience Guatemalan culture first hand and to give back to the country that had given many of them the children they loved.
The mission trip was organized through a non-profit group called Friends Through Guatemala Adoption.The group consists of more than 100 local families that have adopted children from Guatemala, the third most popular country from which local families adopt (behind Russia and China).They raised over $20,000 in cash and donations, which was all taken on the trip.
The trip, Sonya explains,was two-fold. Mary, who has three adopted children from other Latin American countries, and another doctor opened and ran a clinic. They brought with them $6,000 worth of supplies, and in the context of a week saw more than 300 patients.
While the clinic was up and running, the others spent time in various orphanages — scrubbing them down, fixing them up, and giving them an overall makeover, complete with hand-painted murals. Orphanages in Guatemala are all privately run with absolutely no funds from the state. Working under the organization Orphan Resources,"Moms on a Mission" supplied orphanages with shoes, baby equipment, sheets, curtains, first-aid kits, formula, kitchen utensils, and toys to set up a playroom.
The orphanage situation in Guatemala is much different than in the U.S. Most children at an orphanage are either abandoned or were removed
from their home. It often takes three to four years for the child to be legally considered abandoned, so many will never end up being adopted.
"We picked that organization [Orphan Resources] because we wanted to do something for kids who would never have the option of a forever family," said Sonya.
But for mothers such as Sonya and Mary who have given their children a forever family, the trip was an eye-opener and a chance to help.
"[The mission trip] was one excellent way and example to serve others and give back to the country," said Mary. "You're not only making a difference in their lives, but in your own as well."
And sometimes, as Sonya recalls, it's the little things that make all the difference. She tells the story of an expectant mother who was visiting the clinic for the first time. Using a fetal Doppler monitor donated by a mission participant, the soon-to-be mother was able to
listen to her baby's heartbeat.
"Her eyes just lit up," reminisced Sonya."A bunch of moms,we got all sappy." Later on they saw the same woman back at the clinic accompanied by a man. She had brought her husband back so he could hear the heartbeat himself. "It really was a moment for her," said Sonya.
There were many special moments on the trip, but for Sonya and Mary, the hardest part was knowing that at times they were just placing a hypothetical band-aid on many of the problems. For example, said Sonya, no matter how much medication you give, until you can change their root problems, such as bad drinking water and unsafe cooking fires, you're never going to permanently impact the status of their overall health. Being the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, approximately 20 percent of Guatemalan children will never celebrate their 10th birthdays.
"The hardest thing was wanting to give and do more," said Mary.
Many of the families that have traveled to Guatemala do go back and give more. Organizations in Guatemala are currently working to place stoves in rural village homes. Many families must prepare meals over an open fire inside their home. For only $120, a stove can be purchased for a family that allows them to safely cook their meals and greatly eliminate the toxic fumes they have lived with for years while cooking over an open flame on the floor. This purchase, far out of reach for most rural families without the support of charitable
organizations, greatly reduces the number of respiratory illnesses and severe burns.
"I think we all walked away with a better understanding of Guatemalan culture," said Sonya.The trip was such a success they will make it an annual experience.
"I'd love to see this happen for other countries," said Mary with excitement.
"It was a powerful start," concludes Sonya."I think each year it will grow with its success."
