We had a wonderful trip to Mazatlan, Mexico in January. The team was an amazing mix of personalities and skills, all with great serving hearts for the disabled community! Several members of our board of directors were joined by 12 students from University of Puget Sound, studying for their Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy and a mother/daughter team from Hutchinson Kansas. 

The team was able to be present for a great moment in Push International’s history, the opening of the new wheelchair repair and refurbishing shop. They were present for the ribbon cutting ceremony and were instrumental in moving our inventory and tools from the old warehouse into the new one. They were also there to see Sergio, our wheelchair repair and maintenance manager receive a donated wheelchair lift van which he will use to deliver wheelchairs to people in rural areas who can not reach Mazatlan on their own.

We held the first distribution in La Palma, about 20 miles out of Mazatlan. After traveling down long, rough and dusty road we came upon this quaint little village of farmers and ranchers, quite picturesque of the “old west.” We got the privilege to meet, laugh with and serve roughly 20 recipients with mobility aids. One unique opportunity came in La Palma to do a few home visits, personally delivering wheelchairs to those who could not physically come to the town square. The team was quick to learn the process of seating recipients in wheelchairs and proper adjustments, but the most impressive part of the day was seeing how each member gave their hearts, kindness, and contagious love and compassion. 

Our second distribution was at our home base in Mazatlan, Padres y Compadres. It was our biggest day of the week, serving more than 35 recipients with mobility aids. The Felton Foundation provided a clown for entertainment at the distributions and the whole day felt more like a party than work. Recipients, families and all involved were laughing, hugging and dancing in their seats! One highlight came when Bree Lair our co-founder had the opportunity to re-seat Pedro. 8 years ago she had the opportunity to give a little boy his first wheelchair at a distribution. He had long since out grew his old wheelchair and now this young man has a much better suited wheelchair for his active lifestyle.

Tecomate was the town of our third distribution, roughly 30 miles another direction outside of Mazatlan. We worked in the shade of a beautiful Catholic Church in the town square and were able to bless 21 more recipients with mobility aids. The whole town seemed to come out to support and celebrate with the recipients. Again there were hearts full of joy, laughing and dancing along with the clown, in their new seats and in the dusty road.

The momentum was so great this week we couldn’t stop! Our final day in Mazatlan, typically reserved for a little R&R, one last opportunity came up. Earlier in the week four children were coming to us from another town to receive a wheelchair at a distribution, but did not make it. They were able to come the last evening, and it was quite a late and rewarding ending to the week being able to fit 4 more children in very customized wheelchairs. 

We hope you can join us next time and experience even more amazing moments yourself.

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