Buckner Opens Two 
Baby Homes in Guatemala
 
By Jenny Pope
Buckner News Service 

GUATEMALA CITY – With more than 22,000 children orphaned in Guatemala, Buckner Orphan Care International works to decrease the impact everyday through orphanage improvements, evangelistic ministry and humanitarian aid outreach – and occasionally through new buildings.

This summer, Buckner opened two privately-owned baby homes in Xela and Guatemala City. Each home can support 10-12 children ages 0-4 and employs caregivers, a director and special therapists.

The home in Xela, La Fundación Lazos de Amor (Bond of Love Foundation), currently cares for two infant boys.

La Casa de Esperanza (House of Hope) in Guatemala City provides shelter and individualized care for some of the country’s most readily abandoned children.

Of the six children at the home, four have special needs. Four-year-old Juan Pablo’s face is severely burned, and Danny, 4, has fetal alcohol syndrome. Catherine, 2, has undergone two surgeries to repair her cleft palate and 6-month-old Dulce has Down syndrome.

“I still believe that this wasn’t a coincidence,” said Abigail de Bauer, director of the Baby Home. “We have children that have many emotional and physical needs, but it wasn’t on purpose. It was God who prepared our home to be a place for them.”

And just in time. After the unfortunate spring closing of Casa Alegria, a government-run baby orphanage supported by Buckner in Guatemala City, it became more and more apparent that Buckner needed its own private home.

“Having our own baby home, we can take care of things that we couldn’t in the government homes,” said Leslie Chace, director of Latin American ministries for BOCI. “We’re able to really care for their needs, take them to the hospital to receive surgeries and care, and really focus on their emotional and spiritual needs, as well.”

The children’s therapist Jennifer Perez works with all the children on speech therapy, but lends special attention to Juan Pablo, Catherine and Dulce. For Juan Pablo, she devotes her time to building his self-esteem through positive feedback and touching his face. With little Dulce, Perez helps her to sit up and use some of her weaker neck and leg muscles.

All children have shown signs of improvement since living in the Buckner home.

Juan Pablo used to not be able to accept any touch, but now he can both give and receive it,” Perez said. “And Catharine is speaking more, where before she made little noises but wouldn’t talk. Now she listens and obeys orders, and smiles all the time.”

“I think we’re moving in the right direction,” Bauer said. “We sing and dance, teach them songs and run around the room together. We are able to give them all the time and love that they need.”