Welcome to the Service Oriented Leadership Experience (SOLE) online journal.

From Nov. 10 through 23, five University of Mary occupational therapy (OT) students and Carol Olson, PhD, OTR/L will travel to Antigua, Guatemala to provide services through the God's Child Project. They will spend two days providing OT to children and adults in Amatitlan, a village close to Guatemala City. They will spend another two days helping with wheelchair fittings at Hope Haven, International, an agency that refurbishes wheelchairs and supplies them to people in need in countries around the world.

The group will also break into two teams and each team will spend three days building a 12' x 16' home for a family currently living in unsanitary or destitute conditions. The group then travels to another small village to help with a clothing and health care distribution.

Along with all the work, the students will be able to spend a few days relaxing and having fun traveling to Lake Atitlan and Chichicastenango and touring a coffee plantation.

Highlights of the experience will be posted on this journal page. Check back often for new updates.

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November 14, 2009   The orphanage and Lake Atitlan     The Orphanage on the way to Panajachel   Waterfall with the group We spent the morning playing with children at a local orphanage. Each of us attached ourselves to one or more children for the morning. Lots of giggles, games, and singing... they didn´t seem to mind English songs. It was very hard to leave. We drove up to Lake Atitlan and Panajachel through small winding roads and across a broken bridge. We took a very bumpy boat ride across the lake to do some shopping. Carol gave lessons on bargaining. No pictures for the time being. We may try to post some later and HOPE they work because we´ve got some really good ones! Adios for now!

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Previous Journal Entries

     November 21, 2009: "Casa Jackson- FINALE"
 
     November 20, 2009: "Clothing Distribution"
 
     November 19, 2009: "Hope Haven International (Wheelchair fitting)"
 
     November 18, 2009: "House Building COMPLETE!"
 
     November 16, 2009: "First Day of House Building"
 
     November 14, 2009: "The orphanage and Lake Atitlan"
 
     November 13, 2009: "Amatitlan and Nursing Home Day"
 
     November 12, 2009: "Therapy in Guatemala"
 
     November 11, 2009: "We arrived in Antigua, Guatemala"