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The Tapestry of Love Which is CCCI
Edited by Ellen Wright, BS, MT(AMT) US/International Case Coordinator
Due to many questions from you, our volunteers and supporters regarding how CCCI began… the following is written…with thanks….for without you CCCI could not exist. In honor of you, we dedicate this narrative.
In 1981, Pam Rundle was working on her PhD in Psychology and running her own successful private consulting firm. Her husband Ken had a growing dental practice. They were ready for the next step in their marriage, a child. Though they had tried for many years it became obvious that this was not in GOD’s plan. It was the culmination of much soul-searching by Pam, trying to determine HIS direction for her own life as well as whether or not she was meant to be a mother. Pam had recently been named as “Young businesswoman of the Year” in Fayette County and went on to the State Convention. There she met another young woman who had just adopted internationally. The course became clear and 12 months later a tiny baby girl born in El Salvador became the child Pam and her husband wanted so badly.
El Salvador was in the midst of a savage civil war – although all Pam really cared about was that it held her precious baby girl within its borders. What she did not realize was how poor the country was and how many children lived in abject poverty.
The simple truth that GOD was weaving a Tapestry of Love through Pam’s work became clearer in 1985 when an infant boy was shown to her in one of the government orphanages by the 1st Lady of El Salvador. The baby boy - Luis Fernando N. - was dying of a condition easily correctable in the US. Pam and Ken brought him home to Atlanta weighing only 7 lbs at 9 months of age and through their love and medical attention provided at Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital, he flourished. Soon an adoption process was begun on this tiny baby and he became Bradford Antonio Mateo Rundle. That same year Pam, with Ken’s blessing, sold her business and dropped out of her PhD studies 20 hours short of completion, to devote herself to her children and the world’s children in need. Children’s Cross Connection was born.
GOD continued to open avenues of service. A terrible earthquake hit El Salvador in 1986. Pam went south the next day to evaluate what could be done to help. The country’s infrastructure was virtually destroyed. Every hospital including Hospital Benjamin Bloom (the only children’s charity hospital) was destroyed. Subsequently, more children were brought to the USA for medical care. These children unlike Brad had loving families to return to in their home country. As an outgrowth of this disaster response, Pam began to envision taking medical teams into El Salvador to “train while teaching”, thus being able to leave a more enduring legacy in the country. This concept of “teaching a man to fish so that he can feed himself forever” resulted in the growth of CCC into Children’s Cross Connection, International.
The original “we” of Ken and Pam grew into countless volunteers who gave of their time, resources and talents to change and save children’s lives throughout the world with quality medical care. The Tapestry that GOD is weaving grows more beautiful each day, with each child that is touched by a volunteer, the design becomes more complex.
Though the child who sparked the beginning of CCCI is now a mother of three, CCCI continues to serve children the world over in 16 countries. From bringing difficult teaching cases to the US for treatment and training of foreign physicians, to sending medical/ dental teams to other countries to treat and teach, to building playgrounds at orphanages and starting its own orphanage in Ethiopia; literally thousands of children have had their lives changed by CCCI volunteers who have touched those lives because of what they believe in – the miracle of GOD’s love.
Many of the original children who were treated by CCC are now adults and we are beginning to see some of them making a difference for others in need…..and the love goes on. It is incredible to watch the miracle that happens when people come together to help a child who has no means of returning the gift. The tremendous love that flows, the healing of hearts and lives that takes place, the renewal of soul and spirit that takes wings to fly – all of this happens whether or not the volunteers actually ever see the child. |
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What you can do:
CCCI is a point of connection where those with the desire to serve can meet those with needs. We are the facilitators who have seen the problem. You are the actors. Whether you have a home to open to children and doctors visiting the States, are a medical professional and want offer your expertise, or you have available funds or supplies you wish to donate, we and the children we serve appreciate your help and support and promise to put your gifts to good use.
Host Families
Every time an individual comes to the States, CCCI must locate a family to house them for the duration of their stay, which can vary from a week to several months, depending on the nature of the procedure or training session. Families hosting children are responsible for oversight of hospital visits and basic home-care after surgery; and families hosting doctors arrange transport to hospitals for training.
Hospital Sitters
During recovery, children have to stay in the hospital for several days to several weeks. Volunteers for playing with the children at the hospital or for standing post during surgery to receive doctors' reports are extremely helpful.
At-Home Play
In the case of a long at-home recovery, volunteers to take the children out to the park or reprieve host families for an evening offer a change of scenery for the kids, and are a great help for families.
Transportation
For doctor/nurse training visits, daily transportation to and from hospitals is required.
Interpreters
We always need interpreters fluent in Spanish or Amharic to be available for phone translation and hospital visits.
Office Work
CCCI can use any secretarial talents for the amount of administrative work that must be done to run this organization. If you can write newsletters, help with computer issues, prepare financial reports,organize, you are most welcome.
In Ethiopia and El Salvador, we may have annual openings on our mobile trips for medical and dental professionals as well as non-medical help for pharmacy, crowd control, and administration. All team members are expected to raise their own support, which can be donated through CCCI and is tax-deductible. The following forms will become available three months before the leave date, but if you are interested in joining our mailing list, please use the Want to Know More link and indicate your interest.
El Salvador medical/dental professional team application form
El Salvador non-medical team application form
Ethiopia medical/dental professional team application form
Ethiopia non-medical team application form
Seeds of Hope, our orphanage in Ethiopia, is in need of the following:
A team of organic farmers and farmhands to establish and teach the children to tend a garden on our property - contact Emily with questions and ideas
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