Support for Morgan

Last fall, for my final semester of college, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Latin America. I did things that I would never dream of doing, from herding oxen on horseback, to learning that sometimes it is more important to just be with people than to be doing things for them. I spent most of my time in Costa Rica, but also visited Nicaragua and Cuba. Being in Latin America really stirred my passion for the culture and the people. I was fortunate enough to spend enough time down there to learn Spanish as well. When I returned to the United States, I enjoyed meeting up with friends and talking about what we had been doing during the fall semester. From one such friend, I learned about the Frontier Wheelchair Team from LeTourneau University (my Alma Mater). Last December, the team went to Guatemala as part of an engineering trip in which they were redesigning the footplate of a wheelchair. He told me that the team was intending to go back to Guatemala over Spring Break and that they were in need of a translator. My Spanish is far from perfect, but I jumped at the opportunity to go back to Latin America.

To back track a bit, at the beginning of the academic year, the Frontier Wheelchair Team from LeTourneau University set out to design a new footplate for a wheelchair manufactured by Hope Haven in Guatemala. The previous design did not allow the wheelchair occupant to exit the wheelchair without personal assistance. For people with disabilities, but some mobility, having the ability to be self-sufficient for little things like going to the bathroom, can be empowering both physically and mentally. Many of these wheelchairs are for children with cerebral palsy, and so they have moments where they will tense up and push down on the footplates. The concerns for these footplates are that they could either break or move with this exertion, which is not desired. With the newly designed footplates, the plates can swing out of the way while still being able to take the force and weight exerted on them. Designing a plate that was able to do both was the challenge. With two prototypes now in use and the design on the verge of being manufactured, the new footplates will be life altering for the people who can benefit from their installment on their wheelchairs.

The Hope Haven factory where the wheelchairs are manufactured was our home for the week we were there. Eleven of the twelve people employed there are also in wheelchairs. Our team had the opportunity to work side-by-side with the workers in the factory and learn a little about their lives. One man in particular, named Gustavo, was tremendously intelligent and resourceful. He became a good friend while we were there. He even said that if I moved to Guatemala that he would adopt me. :) He worked intensively with our group, making sure he understood all the changes that were being made to the chair, and even came up with ways it could be better, right on the spot.

The work that we did in March was helpful on many levels. The Hope Haven factory employs disabled employees, thus the factory is not maximizing their production possibilities.  Therefore they are not producing the necessary profits to afford research and development to stay current in the market of wheelchair technology. With the help of LeTourneau University’s Frontier Wheelchair Team, the factory can both continue to provide jobs to their workers who would be otherwise unemployed, and can continue to provide wheelchairs with more advanced modifications.

A few of us from the team have the opportunity to return to Guatemala for the month of May. Our main liaison at Hope Haven talked about their need for all the things our group has to offer. We have the engineering ideas, but they also want help with the business aspect of the factory. Currently, the person in charge of all their public relations, grant writing, accounting, and other business and administrative tasks is their physical therapist, who is being asked to wear many more hats than is possible. Our group also brings a spiritual element into the factory as one of our group members regularly leads praise and worship at LeTourneau, and in March we all participated in having worship time during our week there.

The goals of the Hope Haven factory are to continue to employ its disabled workers and to continue to produce wheelchairs that are on the cutting edge. Some of these wheelchairs are given away when the need is great, and the recipient has no ability to pay. They need our team and others like us, to help out in any way we can. Our mission is not to create dependence on us, but rather to teach them to think and do the things we already know how to do. Because my area of knowledge is business, I want help in the business operations of the factory, as well as serving as a translator.

Currently, I am seeking support to return to Hope Haven in May. In addition to desiring your blessings, good wishes, and prayer, my target for the financial support I need is $3000.00. My parents are encouraging me in this endeavor, but we agreed that I have to do my part to raise support. They have committed to match what I raise by May 1st. With this money, I will be able to travel to Antigua, Guatemala and live for a month. I will be working with the engineers, helping translate for them, fitting children in wheelchairs, and working on the business relationships with various partners in Guatemala and the United States. With your help, we can make a difference. This blessing cascades from those who work in the Hope Haven factory, to those receiving wheelchairs, their families, and on and on. So your support of me, helps me to be a conduit to help others, who can in turn, help even more people. 

Love, Morgan