Hi, my name is Jonathan Schauss. I am a physical therapist going to Guatelama with Bay Presbyterian Church from Nov 6 - Nov 13th. Myself and a group of 12 others will be the first of multiple mission trips committed for 5 years to this community from our church to go to this part of the world. We will go into the mountains of Guatemala to the region of La Loma Rio Blanco, about 5.5 hours from Guatemala City.

I have felt compelled to use my gifts as a physical therapist to help these people in this region. As far as I know, we will be going into a village of about 300 families. 100 children need services and education, so we have a dedicated team for them. As a team, we will be laying a cement floor for the new church they want to build in the community. We also have 6 medical professionals going alongside me: 4 nurses, a PA, one OT, and a medical doctor that lives in Guatemala sponsored by Global CHE Enterprises (Community Health Evangelism) whomethe mission trip is sponsored through. We will be working along side the full-time missionaries in this community, assisting them and helping them meet their long-term needs for the village.

I am looking forward to the challenge of using my manual skills as a physical therapist with 28 years of experience since resources are scarce. I have been asked to help with various musculoskeletal disorders in the community and provide treatments with limited resources for pain, such as dry needling, KT taping, postural exercises, and manual techniques to the best of my abilities. I have received several donations of medical supplies already from some of my medical vendors, even dental supplies for the kids (brushes and toothpaste), and I feel blessed to be able to take these to these kids.

As a missionary, it is a volunteer position. All expenses must be paid by each person traveling to Guatemala to cover our airfare, lodging, food and travel costs for the week, plus some medical supplies I have personally purchased for a successful trip.

I hope you find it in your heart to help support this worthy cause as I leave for Guatemala soon. I know God wants me to be here to help his people in this part of the world. Thank You.

I have included a couple of pictures of maps where I am traveling. I believe this is a picture of some of the school kids in the region (La Loma Rio Blanco) I will be traveling to, seen below.