When You Know Their Name, It Changes Things: A Month of Building Relationships, Therapy, and Hope in El Salvador
- 45 minutes ago
- 11 min read
I’m sitting here this morning, drinking my Salvadoran coffee and reflecting on everything that has happened over the past six weeks in El Salvador.
If you’re curious about the week we spent doing medical clinics, you can find that update here. But to recap, we saw over 340 children, and I identified four with disabilities or developmental delays that I planned to continue seeing through follow-up care. Since then, I’ve stayed in touch with their families, and they are so excited that someone is paying attention to them for once - looking toward them instead of away from them, putting them first, and bringing resources directly to them.
After the medical clinic, I came home for about two weeks. My mission during that time was simple: find a physical therapist willing to help me develop plans of care for these children and collect the supplies needed to begin in-home therapy.
During those two weeks at home, God provided.
I reached out to an occupational therapist I knew, and she connected me with a physical therapist. That physical therapist quickly offered to meet, and before long I found myself sitting down with her and a coworker to discuss each child. Together, we developed exercises and routines tailored to their needs. From there, I translated everything into Spanish and created an in-home therapy guide complete with pictures and explanations. It’s such a simple resource, but it will be incredibly valuable.
For the first time, these families have something they can refer to every day – something that helps them understand how to work with their child and improve their mobility at home.
I’m so grateful for people like this physical therapist, someone I had never met before, who willingly gave her time and expertise to help both me and these kids.
At the same time, I shared a list of critical supplies needed to get started. Once again, God provided through all of you. Almost everything on the list was purchased within 24 hours, and by the time I needed to leave, every item had been provided. I boarded my flight back to El Salvador with a duffle bag full of therapy equipment and resources – everything these kids would need to begin their therapy journey.
These things may seem small, but to me they are reminders of a truth I’ve seen over and over again: where God leads, He provides.
I’m thankful for every person who has come alongside me in this journey—those who pray, those who give, those who purchase supplies, and those who encourage me along the way. You are part of something much bigger than any one of us. Every contribution matters, and none of this would be possible without people like you.
When I arrived in El Salvador, I had another mission to accomplish before seeing my therapy kids. I would be working alongside my good friends at One ATTA Time to deliver 600 clean water filters to families without access to clean water and conduct follow-up visits with families who had received filters in the past.
For two weeks, we also led a group of Vanguard University students on their global outreach project. I actually enjoyed this part of the trip more than I expected. We had nursing students, pre-med students, pre-vet students, and others pursuing careers in science and healthcare.
Throughout the trip, I had the opportunity to share my own journey – how God first called me into missions, how He carried me through difficult seasons, and how those same seasons shaped me into the person He needed for the work I'm doing today.
My hope is that some of those conversations stay with them. Many came expecting to learn about clean water filters, but I hope they left seeing something bigger: that God can use whatever career path He calls them to for His glory. Whether they become nurses, doctors, veterinarians, researchers, or something entirely different, I hope this experience helped them see how their gifts and professions can be used to serve others and bring the light of Jesus into places that need it most.
After the two weeks with the students, I took a day or two to recover from the long days before turning my attention back to the children I would be following up with. As I began coordinating visits, God continued opening doors in ways I wasn't expecting.
One of my goals has always been to connect these children with resources that already exist within their communities. A while back, a surf therapy organization called Surftismo came across my Instagram feed. Surftismo works primarily with children on the autism spectrum and with developmental differences, using surfing and water-based activities to build confidence, coordination, social skills, and connection. I reached out, and during this trip I was able to spend a day with them and participate in one of their sessions. We spent part of the day in the pool and part of the day at the beach and nearby river, working alongside the children and experiencing firsthand the impact the program has on their lives.
After talking with their founder, we began discussing ways some of the children I work with might be able to participate when I am in-country and able to assist. I would love for some of these kids to experience the program – not only because of the physical benefits, but because it would allow them to interact with other children with disabilities, build confidence, and participate in something they may not otherwise have access to.
At the same time, spending the day with Surftismo sparked another vision for these children. As I worked alongside the kids in the water, I began to see how some of my own therapy kids could benefit from dedicated water therapy sessions focused specifically on their individual needs. The water creates opportunities for movement that can be difficult on land, making it easier to practice balance, mobility, strength, and other movement patterns in ways traditional therapy sometimes cannot.
This is something I am actively pursuing. The founder of Surftismo has already offered to help me identify a pool the next time I am in El Salvador, and if that doesn't work, I'll keep looking until I find one. My hope is to create opportunities for these children to experience both the community of programs like Surftismo and the therapeutic benefits of individualized water-based therapy.
Around that same time, another opportunity appeared unexpectedly. My friend volunteers twice a week with reading programs at a local school, and one day I joined her. During a conversation with one of the leaders there, I learned about a physical therapy and horse therapy program operating in the same area where these children live. I reached out afterward through Instagram, and what began as a simple message turned into a long conversation about ways we might work together in the future. We are now planning to meet the next time we are both in El Salvador.
The more time I spend doing this work, the more I realize that opportunities rarely appear fully formed. More often, they come through conversations, relationships, and simply being willing to take the next step. Whether it was connecting with a physical therapist back home, reaching out to Surftismo, or unexpectedly learning about a horse therapy program while volunteering at a local school, God has consistently provided the next piece just when I needed it.
I don't see myself as a therapist, let's be clear. I see myself as a facilitator, an advocate, and a connector of dots. I see a bigger picture of people coming together to support these children, and I believe God has called me to help bring those pieces together.
So far, He has shown me that this is exactly what He had in mind. He's used my natural ability to see connections where others might only see individual pieces. Where others see dots on a page, I see how they connect to form a picture. Not because I'm any better than anyone else, but because God has given me a vision for these children and the ability to connect people, resources, and opportunities in a way that helps support them.
This time, because of schedules, I was only able to see two of the four children. But I was able to complete the first in-home therapy session and deliver each family's therapy kit so they could begin working on exercises at home. A lot of what I brought was provided by people like you who might be reading this. Other items I purchased while in-country. Together, those resources became the foundation for these children's therapy journey.
For the little boy with spina bifida, home-based therapy is especially important because every time he leaves his house, his mom must carry him across a river. Accessing services that many of us take for granted can be incredibly difficult. Without people willing to bring resources directly to families like his, therapy simply wouldn't be an option.
This boy has never received therapy before.
That reality still amazes me.
Therapy won't change his diagnosis, but it can help him move better, grow stronger, gain independence, and improve his quality of life. Just as importantly, it shows his family that they haven't been forgotten. That people see them. That people care. That they are loved by both me and by God.
A few days later, I was able to see him again at La Red. La Red and Extra Mile Pediatrics partner together to host the medical clinics twice each year, and over the last several years they have become dear friends and ministry partners. Now, they are also helping create opportunities for these children to receive ongoing support.
I joined their church service that morning, where the boy and his brother were able to attend. I helped in the children's class alongside them, which gave us another opportunity to build trust and strengthen our relationship. One of the things I learned while being with them in this environment is that both he and his older brother love reading. The problem is that they only have access to books while they're at school. The next time I return, I'd love to buy a small collection of books for them to keep at home. It's a simple thing, but sometimes simple things matter. It's one small way to invest not only in their physical development, but in their hearts, their education, and their future.
Afterward, we held another therapy session at La Red.
We reviewed the exercises, worked on areas of weakness, and I was able to coach his mom through some of the things she can continue practicing at home. Having access to the open space at La Red was a tremendous blessing because it allowed us to work on things that simply aren't possible in the limited space available at home.
After seeing him in the morning, I was able to see another child that afternoon.
This little girl was one of the children I first met during the pediatric clinic back in April. Her parents were excited to see me again, and so was she.
I delivered her therapy kit and in-home exercise guide, just as I had done for the little boy a few days earlier. We practiced the exercises together, and I was able to get a better understanding of both her strengths and the areas where she needs support.
But what stands out most about her isn't her diagnosis or her limitations.
It's her eagerness.
The pure joy she experiences every time she tries to stand.
This little girl wants to be upright. She wants to walk. She approaches every exercise with excitement and determination because she finds genuine joy in trying.
Watching her reminded me that hope can be incredibly powerful. Sometimes all someone needs is an opportunity, a little support, and someone willing to believe in what might be possible.
This post is about ministry updates, but I wouldn't be me if I didn't try to leave you with a lesson too...
The thing that has stayed with me most from this trip is the joy of that little girl.
The pure excitement she experiences every time she gets the opportunity to stand.
It's made me think differently about the things I do every day without a second thought.
I want to see life through her lens. I want to feel gratitude when my feet hit the floor each morning. I want to remember that even the things that feel ordinary can be incredible gifts.
What brings me joy is obviously going to look different than what brings you joy. But I challenge you to find the thing that lights you up – the thing you can't wait to wake up and work on, move toward, and be a part of.
Something God has shown me recently is that I've simply been lucky enough for Him to widen my circle. My circle now includes these children, these families, these communities, and friendships I never expected when I first stepped on a plane years ago. What started as a place I visited has become a place filled with people I genuinely care about.
Some of the most meaningful parts of these trips aren't found in the projects themselves, but in the relationships that have grown along the way. The people who have welcomed me into their lives, invited me into their communities, and walked alongside me in this work have become a gift I never expected.
But we all have a circle.
Maybe yours is the town you grew up in. Maybe it's your workplace, your church, your neighborhood, or your family. Whatever your circle looks like, I believe God has placed you there for a reason.
My prayer is that we would all look for ways to bring hope, joy, and encouragement to the people within our circle. Because when we do, I think we begin to experience a little more of the joy God intended for us all along.
What's next?
Over the next few months, I'll continue working alongside One ATTA Time as we expand clean water access into Mexico through our first-ever filter distribution there. In August I'll fly down and be helping train local volunteers and laying the groundwork for long-term follow-up with families. We will distribute around 100 filters.
After that, I'll return to El Salvador to continue building the therapy program. My hope is to follow up with the children I've already begun working with, continue refining their home therapy plans, and connect them with additional resources in their communities.
I'm especially excited about the possibility of introducing some of the children to programs like Surftismo, exploring partnerships with a local horse therapy program, and continuing to use spaces like La Red to provide therapy sessions that aren't possible in their homes.
I also hope to reconnect with the children I haven't been able to see recently and continue building relationships with families across multiple communities. While there are still many unknowns, I'm excited to see how God continues to connect the dots and open doors for these children in the months ahead.
How You Can Help
First and foremost, please continue praying for these children, their families, and the growing therapy program in El Salvador. Pray for wisdom, opportunities, resources, and most importantly that each child and family would know they are seen, loved, and valued.
If you'd like to support this work financially, you can do so through my monthly or one-time support page here:
One of the unexpected things this trip gave me was a new idea. While helping in the children's ministry at La Red, I noticed the older brother of one of my therapy kids spending his time reading books instead of playing with all the toys around him that he also doesn’t have at home. Read that again, he chose books over toys. When I asked if he had books at home, he told me no – only at school.
That simple conversation sparked a desire to begin putting books into the homes of the children I work with. My hope is to start building small home libraries for these families, giving children access to books they can read, enjoy, and keep.
Because this ministry is about more than just therapy – it's about their hearts. It's about helping these children and families feel seen and heard. It's about showing them that people care about them.
This is one small thing I can do. And sometimes the small things matter most because they show you're paying attention. They show that you're listening and noticing the little things people reveal about themselves without ever realizing they're doing it.
If you'd like to help make that possible, you can view my Books in Every Home wishlist here:
Thank you for being part of this journey. Every prayer, every donation, every book, and every word of encouragement helps ensure these children and families know they are seen, valued, and loved.
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