A Blustery Day in Chiquimula

Our day started with a visit to Reyitas de Luz, a school for special needs children. Special needs children in Quatemala include children with physical or mental disabilities. The school has about 36 students. They have to turn children away since they are at capacity. Disabled children attend school until they are 21 years old. They are never mainstreamed into standard schools.



The Chiquimula de la Sierra Rotary Club partnered with the Modesta (California) Rotary Club to provide a shower for the school. Unfortunately, there are times during the day when special needs children may need to have a shower and change of clothes. Before this shower was constructed the children would have to be washed outside with cold water from a hose. It was very embarrassing for the children.


In Guatemala the government doesn't contribute anything to schools for special needs children except for the standard salary for teachers.


After handing out several bags of candy to the children at the school we went to Lorena's house for a typical Guatemalan breakfast. It was que rica (very delicious), except that Angela and I mistook the salt for sugar and ruined our coffee.

After breakfast we met up with the Modesta Rotary Club and traveled to The Basilica de Esquipulas where the the Black Christ is located. Many people in Latin America make the pilgrimage to see the Black Christ. It is believed that people are cured when they pray to the Black Christ.










We left The Basilica for Convento Franciscano Belen. It was built in preparation for a visit by Mother Theresa of Calcutta shortly before her death. There is currently 1 priest that resides there.








We enjoyed a dinner of pupesa de queso and pupesa de chicharron with the Chiquimula and Modesta Rotary Clubs.


We leave early tomorrow morning for Guatemala City and Puerto San Jose.