Dick Rutgers

Yesterday I flew to Guatemala City, arrived around 2, and took a shuttle to Panajachel, the city of the beautiful Lake Atitlan. I am writing this post in advance, and scheduling it to publish, so hopefully by now Chris and I are exploring the beauty of Guatemala. Seeing as I am in this country for my first full day, I thought it would be fitting to share the story of a man who has dedicated his life to the special needs community in this country, Dick Rutgers.

Dick works with Hope Haven international and Bethel Ministries in Antigua, Guatemala, partnering with Hermano Pedro and doing outreach to families in rural areas who need support for a family member with special needs, often in the form of providing wheelchairs.

The below video, The Culture That Crawls Part II, shows Dick in action, and also highlights some of the beautiful kids he works with.



The first picture is of Jessica when she first arrived at Hermano Pedro. The second, in September, is when she is healthy again and back at home. Hermano Pedro is an orphanage, as many of the kids have been abandoned due to their special needs, but some kids, like Jessica, have a family to return home to. You can read Jessica's full story, on Dick's blog, HERE.




This post is one in a December series of National Blog Posting Month, where I am advocating for children with special needs. To make a difference in the life of someone living with special needs, check out THIS POST.