Note: This blog is written by Shes Rivera, Guatemala Director TCI.

This month, August, marks my first anniversary working full time with Therapy Clinics International (TCI). It has been a great year. I have learned and grown so much. However, my history with TCI started seven or eight years ago as I was finishing physical therapy school, but I had heard about it before then. 

During my second year of school, my dad told me about the therapy program at ASELSI and encouraged me to go visit and see what they were doing. “You should meet Jennifer, the physical therapist who started the program,” he said. “She is a very sweet person, full of love and joy. You could learn from her.” Focused on school and not ready to go, I told him I’d go some day when I could. 

My last year of school, my final assignment was to complete a research project. I had everything planned to do the research at a clinic in Xela, my hometown. The plan was well thought out, since I had the opportunity to apply for a job at that clinic after finishing the research. Not only would I potentially have a job, but I could stay at home with my family. All I needed to do to start my research was to submit the final paperwork. 

Then, I remembered what my dad had said about the therapy program at ASELSI in Chichicastenango. This crazy idea came to my mind: “What if did my research project there?” I asked my dad and he thought it was a great idea. He coordinated a meeting with Sharon Harvey (founder of ASELSI) and Sharon connected me with Jennifer. 

During my trip to Chichi to meet Jennifer and talk about the possibility of doing my research with them and helping in some way, she invited me to come back later to attend a training session she and Erin Cottos (missionary physical therapist) planned for the rehabilitation promoters and a trip to a Cotzal to deliver some equipment. I accepted the invitation, not knowing what to expect and not knowing how much it would impact my life. 

During my time with them, I felt God ask, “Are you willing to get out of your comfort zone?” I didn’t have a car and my dad couldn’t drive me to ASELSI, so I had to take public transportation, alone, for the first time.  Also, as a shy person, meeting new people scared me. The only person I knew was Jennifer, and I had only talked to her for a few minutes on my first trip to ASELSI and through a few emails before I arrived. However, everyone was so friendly when I arrived, I felt at home. 

I also had my eyes opened to what poverty looks like. I knew there was poverty in Guatemala, but during the home visits outside of Cotzal, I saw it first-hand. It changed me. I also now understood why there were areas of the country with little or no access to rehabilitation services. 

I remember as we were driving through a coffee farm in the back of a pickup truck to literally the end of the road, I asked myself why anyone would come all this way and travel like this just to see one or two people. I felt God remind me that the Shepherd left the ninety-nine to go after the one sheep that was lost. 

In just a week, I learned about the heart of TCI and discovered the impact that can be made through the work of physical therapy missions. I saw the love of God through the teachings provided by Erin and Jennifer and the love and joy in the rehabilitation promoters as they learned and practiced new things. As I rode home alone on the bus, I couldn’t help but wonder: What difference would it make for the children in the mountains if instead of having one visit by a physical therapist, they could be visited regularly by a rehabilitation promoter from their village? 

I’ve now seen what can happen when children get regular therapy from a rehabilitation promoter that is trained not only in basic physical therapy techniques but also in how to share the hope of Christ with families and people that can feel forgotten. Who knew what path my life would take with a simple suggestion and encouragement from my dad? Who knew, but God?