Teach them how to fish

Working with hands to make dolls and sell them to earn income. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. 

Day Five: Manos de Esperanza

Friday morning: a meeting with Manos de Esperanza in Las Veranera , the poorer area of Armenia.

 I think that is where I will be teaching English two times a week and help with kids or women. 
When we arrived there, we met with Jorge and his wife who were helping American couple Matt and Shelly with the organization. 


Their main focus was on the community, social stability and possibly planting a church in the future. 

Some of the projects could include: 

• Teaching 
• Construction 

• Fund/Cloth raising 
• Sport camps for youth 
• Medical
• Agriculture
• Ministry 
• Micro business
• .... and many many more..... the opportunities are endless

 After a quick talk about who Emerging Voices are and where we would like to to help, Matt, Shelly, Gloria, Jorge and I took off to visit a few houses to see what could be done. 


That was incredible. People live in places that luck basic sanitary conditions. 


      

I am going back on Monday to see where and how we can help. 


To get more information about Manos de Esperanza, go to http://actisfamily.blogspot.com/p/actis-family-official-webpage.html


or 


https://sites.google.com/site/actisfamilyministry/ 

Day Two: Planting the seed

Planting the seed is always the most thrilling part of the job.

This morning we went to talk to the director of Social work in Armenia. She was excited to meet us and more excited that we were there to help. Apparently, she had tons of projects for us to work on but wanted us to meet with the rest of the “social work” team to present about Emerging Voices. 

That will be done next week but meanwhile Gloria and I decided to visit a few other organizations to see if I can start working tomorrow. When you travel, have little time but lots of desire to help, you can’t waist time waiting for a 20 minute meeting when you can start doing something good right now. 

So there we were: 

1st place: Fenacorsol IPS (the rehab for Drug addicts) There I would teach English and Zumba, or some sort of exercise class. 

2nd place: Covida (Special Ed Kids) I would help the autism, mentally and physically challenge kids with swimming lessons and physical therapy as well. 

I loved both of places and in both organizations there was a lot of potential for volunteer work and possibility to start helping that same minute.  

So what did I do? – went a got an Olympic style swimming suite to start working tomorrow! 

I am very excited and can’t wait to share more about the experience. 

        The place for people with drugs and alcohol addiction 

                          Where they cook   

                           Where they eat

                     Where they learn and talk 

                         Where they sleep 

                 The place for disabled children