Hold My Hand

The hand is such a powerful tool when it comes to connecting spirits. The hand can be such a beautiful sign of respect, a thank you, a sign of appreciation, wishing another well, and the spirit crossing paths. 

Within the Francisco Church, I found myself constantly connecting by the hand. While they were waiting in line to get in the church, I would smile and extend my hand out.  There are some who are shy and reserved-these people are given more space.  It was a shake with a hand placed over our hands. I let them know I care with that human touch they crave.  

When they hold my hand, some don't want to let go. They look into my eyes expecting something more- looking at something beyond just me. There eyes are full of pure longing and desire. This was something new for me as I enjoy the high fives, the hugs, the pats on the back, but the shaking of the hand came alive in Nicaragua. It was happening in Guatemala, but a highly increased amount in Leon.   

As one human being, I can only do so much
 but I am one person who extended their hand. One person to acknowledge the being. To have that smile and handshake or hug three times a week-this can make someone feel some hope and inspiration to become better. 

It seems like just a moment, but these moments are what can move mountains. 

People need non-verbal words of encouragement and reassurance. When we have faith and believe in people, they will rise to the occasion and thrive. We have to give them that human contact they deserve in order for them to get better. We can't just feed them and not give them any of God's direct attention. 

        They need it, they want it, they love it.

Take my hand and I will smile towards you and extend God's grace your way....PRIS
 

The God Given Purpose

When I was a child, there was always this deep curiosity inside of me. I knew that there was more than the suburban life I was given.  There were people in my neighborhood with problems who I gave my time, my listening, and support. Truly, I was a born therapist with a heart for others. It was in my genes from a father and grandfather who dedicated their life to others.  I believe it was also in God's plan to be his assistant in helping humans feel better and become better individuals.

With this growing mind, I knew there was something much bigger out there.  My curiosity grew for people. Why people were ill and why they suffered.  When people asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up I said "A Clinical psychologist." That's what I thought would cure human suffering- a doctor.  As many others believe, I thought that a psychologist could help a person and cure them of this pain. 

Now I realize there are two different healing processes: one involves medicine and the other involves God. It's possible for someone to combine both of these healing processes into one and this is what is most powerful.  

With the young Priscilla being passionate for psychology, she studied some theology, but endlessly studied psychology. The human behavior of people

 fascinated me like no other and everyone was aware of how passionate I was about this subject. From the age of 12, I was sure that I wanted to study human beings for life.  Instead of taking a couple courses, I took all psychology electives. Any opportunity at a job to take a new training on depression, abuse, mental illness-I took it. I needed to fill myself up with all this knowledge to do something with it.  To cure the human suffering with my knowledge and with the one spirit that changes lives. 

With this spirit and with my knowledge, it all came packaged together into something priceless.  This girl who wondered about suffering and the world did not sit back and sit on her curiosity.  She went out and explored different communities, different population from Los Angeles East LA, South side Chicago, Bronx New York, India, parts of Asia, Africa, and Middle East.  She bravely lead herself out into the world as one woman alone who had intentions to help, heal, spread love and spirit, and acknowledge others. When it's a purpose, it's not a job.  It's something that many don´t understand because they have not felt it- I apologize to those people and I hope they can feel it before our time has run out. 

The combination of knowledge, experience, and purpose is pure power.  When you have explored and connected with so many cultures and you can see, feel, and hear the impact-it's a pure blessing.

As a woman, I'm still curious about people, communities, history, politics, religion, art/history, violence, and human choice/behavior. My curiosity will never end because curiosity will always be present in a world so diverse and ever changing. The difference between then and now is that I'm not a little girl anymore. 

I can ACT on my curiosity and I feel empowered to create CHANGE with my higher power on my side and the world in need of my being and services.  The human suffering can be cured with medicine, but I plan to cure it with human interaction.   PRIS

Disaster Theory

While traveling from country to country, I meet wonderful souls-directors, founders, volunteers, and staff. These select people are wonderful because they have passion for the population and the community they serve. They put their own culture behind and they truly focus on the community needs in front of them.

Unfortunately, there are those who perform great work, but they are too influenced by their superiority within their own culture. They want to "bash" the community on their off hours or even while on the clock. This can be truly hurtful to a population when they are constantly belittled.  They are assigned low expectations because they live in an under    privileged community with poor education, poverty, and environmental setbacks.   It becomes a disaster theory when a foreigner believes people cannot individually succeed because their culture is doomed. This leads them to push their culture, values, and morals onto the person/community. 

Unfortunately, this was presented to me by one of the staff.  They reported constantly feeling devalued and being called "stupid." The person claimed that even with all "her efforts," it was impossible to change their cultural mindset.  While this is often a huge road block, it is just the reality of working with these populations. They live on an island where they follow their culture within their tribe or area. Most of these locals have never even left the island except for a trip on the boat to La Ceiba. It is not the fault of the people for the culture they were brought into and empathy needs to be substituted for superiority.  It is one thing to think you are superior and it's another thing to present that you are superior. When you present it, you can be hurting rather than helping a population. 

An example of hurting involves my friend's feeling hurt with indirect speech.  It was said in front of her, "It's hard working everyday with stupid, uneducated minds." My friend was the only local that was there and she was not suppose to hear that, but she did. She reported not being surprised at all as those comments are made everyday.  She feels no appreciation or praise working there. She is working their temporarily and she is so eager to leave.  With all these constant comments, she feel devalued as a worker and a human being.  Usually, my reassurance works, but this time she had no hope for change left inside her. 

It must be noted that this person cared very much about working with kids and had a very good spirit.  Unfortunately, her negativity towards their improvement and change was extremely present. Her superiority did shine through and that is when a problem comes.  Of course, we all get frustrated when we don't see the change we expect. But the change will come when we believe in people. One may be working with a community long term for ten years, twenty years, or thirty years.  But we must never lose the belief in people.  When that happens, we lose our direction and superiority is in a harmful place.  Staying on a hopeful or faithful track is always a bit more positive. 
                                      PRIS 

The Hardest Part

  

     

  

The Hardest part is not the work, but the hardest part is saying good bye. It's a short time you build connections, you make people feel good, you listen to them, you challenge them, you empower them, and then you leave. It's why organizations encourage you to volunteer for longer periods of time. Sometimes you can be "hurting" rather than "helping" a community when you come for such short time with no goals and just a strong desire to "help people." This is not enough to make an organization grow rather it's just temporary work to satisfy your own self rather than benefit the actual organization. 

As a clinical therapist for years, social worker, life coach- I am aware of the positives and negatives with working short term in an organization. With hard work and dedication to making a difference, there can also be amazing seeds planted for the community or even for new volunteers.

As a human being, I made the choice to make the most impact possible per organization.  With a short time of 2 weeks per organization in each country, I made a community and or clinical assessment on what needed to be done and I did it.  Instead of just "volunteering", I made a commitment to leave something permanent at each organization whether full behavioral reports, rewards systems, power point trainings, and full efforts with staff and clients working to my potential  . It was me leaving something useful for them rather than just playing with some kids and walking out the door like many volunteers.

With these short term connections, it becomes difficult to leave. When you are working with preschoolers and young children, it becomes even more difficult to leave. With the preschoolers, they don't always understand why I am leaving and they look at me funny. You get the questions, "Where are you going?" "Why are you leaving?" One student even said, "Can I come with you?" I joke that I will just take everyone with me and we will all take a big bus together and travel through Guatemala.  I will feed them fruit and lots of ice cream.  We will all be content with each others company not in need of another intellectual to give us their directives.  It's just a dream I mentioned and the teachers absolutely love this idea. There is no harm in a perfect dream.  

In reality, I have to leave to go to the next project, which was organized ahead of time. It's not an option to stay longer when I made a commitment to another NGO.  Organizations like Mayan Families with clients and a community who touch my heart-saying goodbye is the hardest part.  While the teacher did make an announcement, many children don't actually comprehend what is happening and leaving my favorite clients is difficult.  

In my case, the teacher made an announcement and many kids ran up to say Goodbye. My favorite client and my little learner, Angel, looked surprised to hear me leaving and he didn't look content. It made me sad to see his little brown eyes look like a puppy dog. Me encanta el!  This little munchkin was walking to the door waving his little hand. It continued to waive out the door as he was walking with his father. We just kept waiving at each other until distance was lost- difficult, but life keeps moving and more clients keep coming.

The teachers were so sweet and thankful saying I was the best of everyone in Mayan Families. It is so sweet that they recognize my work and my commitment to people-that's a wonderful connection.  It was truly a blessed experience and I would definitely consider visiting again and potentially working with the indigenous community. 

With beautiful communities comes people who carry your heart into a distance, which brings you closer to a better tomorrow .  -PRIS-