Phil's Guatemala Diary

Audio By Carbonatix

This is the latest version of the "Guatemala Diary" written by Phil Boyce, Salem's Senior Vice President who is responsible for both WMCA and AM 970 The Answer in New York:

They say if you go back to Guatemala to help feed starving kids a second time, you are "all in." I guess that applies to me, since in February 2015 I made my 3rd trip to Guatemala, after my one trip to Haiti. All of them were with the relief organization Food for the Poor.

I admit my first trip to Guatemala in February 2013 changed my life, and changed the way I look at WMCA and AM 970. It helped me understand how these two radio stations could help "change the world" one starving kid at a time. When I got back from that first trip my listeners at WMCA and AM 970 raised enough money to feed over 600 starving kids for a year. I was amazed and inspired to do it again.

On that first trip, I walked into a rehab center on our last day where about 20 kids were playing. I speak a little spanish so I sat on the floor to get closer to the kids, and they decided that was the time to jump all over my back. I had kids on both shoulders and both knees, when I felt a gentle tug on my little finger. A little girl who looked about 3 was tugging on my little finger saying "venga" and I responded with "donde." She persisted, and ended up pulling me down the hallway where she introduced me to her 1 year old little sister. It's as if they were both saying to me "here we are...we need your help...don't forget about me."

Timma stayed on my lap for about an hour and sang, in spanish, "Jesus Loves the Little Children." It was a song I remembered from my childhood, and a stark reminder about the love Jesus had for kids. It touched my heart, and I committed to working with Food for the Poor in their tireless efforts to feed thousands of the "least of these."

February, 2015

By now I had been back two previous times to Guatemala and one to Haiti to witness for myself the need in these countries, and what Food for the Poor is doing there. My fourth trip was no less amazing. We returned to the San Geronimo feeding enter, where Sister Marta and her angels feed about 150 kids and their families each day. I sat with them and helped feed them. There is a school there also supported by Food for the Poor, and I had blast with my bubble gun which the kids had never seen. I had little gifts for each kid, and by the afternoon I had made several friends for life:

The amazing thing about this center is how far your gift will go. For merely $50, you can feed one child for a year and provide water for life. That is because Food for the Poor is now drilling many wells all over this country, so these precious people have clean water to drink. They have many partners in country, and many food donations, so your monetary donation helps get that food to the mouths of the needy.

The next day our bus took us hours into the mountains, to find some of the poor remote villages that this organization helps. We found a new center built by FFTP that is now saving the lives of scores of kids found by the nuns in the surrounding villages. The kids stay here and are nursed back to health, and the parents are allowed to visit and take part. The parents are learning about the nutritional needs of these precious kids.

Here I met Meredith. She is 6 years old, but was abandoned by her drug addicted mother at only one year old. She is healthy and happy although can't hear and can't see well. The nuns here love her and take care of her, and it was my privilege to take care of her for this one day. I filled up a backpack at Target before I came here, specifically to give to little Meredith. She would not stop smiling, or holding my hand.

Later that night, we had a long drive back down the mountain and were late getting to the hospital where some of the babies are being cared for my the nuns, who are supported by Food for the Poor. On my last trip to this hospital I found little Gabby, 6 years old and full of life. She had almost starved to death but the nuns were nursing her back to health.

This time it was getting late, about 7pm, and we were not sure if the kids would still be awake. As we entered the nursery, there was a section for older kids, and 6 year old Christina was laying in her bed pretending to be asleep. I noticed she open her eyes quickly, and then close them again.

I had a gift for Christina, a little barbie doll. I place it in front of her, and she immediately woke up. She never smile, and never said a word, even though I spoke to her softly in spanish. I learned later that Christina never knew her father and had lost her mother only 2 months before. She only had the nuns and Food for the Poor to care for her.

Christina did not want to stop holding my neck. She was so appreciative that somebody was caring for her. I put her down on her bed, and open up my backpack. I still had a few toys left for the girls, and gave them all to her. Finally I saw a little smile. Christina had almost starved to death and was being nursed back to health by the nuns there. I only had a few moments with her, but she touched my heart. ALL the kids I found in Guatemala did that to me.

On every trip I have made, I have been amazed at the heart and love shown by Alice Marino, one of the executives at Food for the Poor. Not only does she speak perfect Spanish and is a good interpreter, she truly has a heart for the poor. Here she is with bb Meredith in our special home for starving kids. She is one of many fine people I have met with Food for the Poor. These people are special and have devoted their lives to helping "the least of these."

We live in the greatest country on earth. We are truly blessed with many material things. But sometimes you realize that life is bigger than yourself. It is my hope that the listeners of WMCA and AM 970 The Answer will help us again as we provide assistance to Food for the Poor. We recently changed our name at WMCA to AM 570 The Mission. It really IS our mission to help these people, and our NewsTalk listeners can help as well.

Please call 855.919.4673 (HOPE), or click on the donate button. Some can feed one child for $50 dollars with water for life, and some can send a lot more, to feed many more children. It truly is our mission.