more contacts

I love the new AOTA Connections forum. I have met so many other students and therapists that have the same goal and asperations as I. I have recently been speaking with a couple of students who have been on missions trips to current facilities. One that continually keeps coming up is the Miriam Center in Haiti. The newest contact from the forum has been numerous times and this is what she said: I am a graduate student finishing my last semester and have similar goals as you with working OT in 3rd world and developing countries. I agree there is not much literature out there but it is becoming more widespread. I have been working with a disabilities orphanage in Haiti for 3 years now. I am planning on going in this summer again prior to taking my boards. Since I have started working there, we have set up many programs. We have grown to 24 kids in the orphanage and the daily program for parents to bring their disabled children in and get 2 meals a day, therapy, and educational play has grown from 7 in June to 25 today. Very exciting! We are finishing up a new therapy room with an enclosed trampoline, foam playground, schedules, treatment plans for each child, etc. We are in the process of partnering in with four organization (orphans promise, kimmy's house, shephards crook, and global orphan project) to build a state of the art 150 disabilities orphanage. The land has been bought and plans are being drawn up. It is super exciting. You can check out the work we are doing at my blog www.autumnsreflections.blogspot.com or the missions website www.nwhcm.org or Courntey the director of miriam center at http://haitihappydance.blogspot.com/2009/11/god.html I have been in contact with an OT from Oklahoma who has started her own mission and goes to 4-5 different countries as well her name is Lori Basey and her website is http://nbint.org/founders.html. I did a project in school and read one of her articles, called her up and talked and this past summer she visited our orphanage :) If you would like more information feel free to contact me, my email is marshall010@gannon.edu
Is God not awesome?! I will have to pray about when to go and how but God works in wonderful ways to lead you thorugh your journey. Leaving for Tulsa now :)