TRIP TO GUATEMALA

“Our goal is not to amass information or to satisfy curiosity, but rather to become painfully aware, to dare to turn what is happening to the world into our own personal suffering and thus to discover what each of us can do about it.” Pope Francis, Laudato Si

Hello Steemit community!
It's been a very long time since my last post, as life has taken me by the reigns. However, I wanted to turn to all of you for...yes...you guessed it.....

FUNDRAISING MY TRIP TO GUATEMALA

I know it's so annoying asking for money like this, but this opportunity is so close to my heart and I would love to see the true power of Steemit! (also I'm offering prizes so please stay tuned!)

THE DETAILS (in my professional voice)

As a student in the Huntington University Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program, I have the opportunity to serve in Guatemala on an international outreach in January 2019. This partnership between Huntington University and Joni and Friend’s Wheels for the World shares the love of Christ by providing seating and mobility clinics for people with disabilities in Guatemala. I will be serving alongside licensed OTs and PTs to evaluate and fit people with disabilities with a custom wheelchair or other mobility device to provide the gift of mobility. Each person who comes into the clinic will also receive a Bible in their native language and an invitation to become a part of the local church, ensuring follow-up after our short-term team leaves the country. Last year, the team (which I was not apart of) served over 200 people and we anticipate and pray for similar impact this year.

THE BEGGING

All money aside, the primary need is prayer and good vibes for our team, meeting the spiritual and physical needs of those we serve, as well as our preparations leading up to the trip. The other need is financial as each student participant will need to raise approximately $2,500.00. The cost of the trip covers our travel expenses as well as support of the outreach. The organization is intentional about investing in local businesses to support our team, providing economic benefit to the local community as well. All donations are tax-deductible as Wheels for the World is a non-profit, 501c3 organization.

If you are interested in supporting me financially, donations can be made via credit card directly into my account online at: http://www.joniandfriends.org/support/, enter my last name (Melei) and account number (4E5FC4). Or this link should work... https://www.joniandfriends.org/support/4E5FC4/WWF3FB00/

Thank you so much for your consideration and please let me know if I can give you any more information regarding this experience. This will be both my first international AND first service trip, but more importantly, it is my first ever opportunity to practice being a healthcare provider while learning all about a whole new culture. Here is a picture of me in my lab coat to make me seem really professional and successful....

THE REWARD (oh, yes....)

I know this will be the experience of the lifetime. So, here is how I will give back to the Steemit community. If I can get 50 donations from you all by following my link (I'll keep tabs via comments below), I will document my trip, tag my donors to promote them, donate some STEEM to my five highest donors, AND get my number one donor a special gift in Guatemala! So, there's some shameless incentivizing for ya'll.

In conclusion--assuming you got this far reading it--thank you for taking the time to at least read of my need. I know there are so many fundraising efforts going on these days and I can't emphasize enough that there are definitely more intense needs out there than mine. However, I can promise you that this is the gift that keeps on giving. I hope to support some people of Guatemala in a very small but valuable way--providing mobility and a face of Christ. And, I hope the people of Guatemala will support me in teaching me how to be the best OT I can.