Today, Love & Hope Children’s Home would like to continue to introduce the members of our staff. Jessica and Kirsten are our psychologist and educator, respectively. Jessica and Kirsten work together closely with Rachel and with Gloria, our social worker, to ensure that the Love & Hope kids are getting the emotional, behavioral and educational support they need at home and at school. Together they meet with teachers, advocate on behalf of the kids, and strategize about how to aid the Love & Hope kids most effectively.
Having emotional, psychological and behavioral support available for the children is essential, and Jessica is the perfect fit for that role here. Jessica was hired to be Love & Hope’s full-time psychologist two summers ago and she has done a lot to develop a strong rapport with the children here. In the afternoon it is typical to find Jessica sitting with one of the kids, playing and talking quietly. Her gentle and calming nature, paired with her naturally smiling face, are a wonderful combination for working with the Love & Hope kids. Jessica says that the best part of her job is helpin one of the kids overcome trauma or a problem, to see them smile, to see a change. Jessica has formed a special relationship with Erika during her time here. She says that getting to know and help Erika has been her biggest blessing. Erika often heads straight for the office upon arriving home from school just to talk to Jessica about her day or ask for homework help.
In addition to offering psychological support to our children, Jessica also accompanies them to medical appointments, attends parent-teacher meetings, provides weekly training for our staff, and works personally with the families of our children. She cares about the well-being of the Love & Hope kids like they were her own. Jessica is a new mom (and often brings her little guy to visit!), but her dedication to Love & Hope Children’s Home is obvious; she says that her “heart is divided between her baby and the kids.”
Kirsten, Love & Hope’s “educator,” brings care, humility, and a desire to improve to the home. She says that the thing she wants most is for the kids to love learning, experience success and exude academic confidence, and one day to have the opportunity to go to college; she labors patiently at this goal. Kirsten moved to El Salvador in April 2012, almost seven years after her initial visit in 2005. She spent six months volunteering as a caregiver in 2009 and it was then that she felt called to serve at Love and Hope long term, but decided to return to the States for a degree in education before making the change. Kirsten’s choice reflects the fullness with which she gives herself to the community.
Working and playing one-on-one with the kids is Kirsten’s favorite thing; this is perfect since much of her daily work consists of private tutoring hours with each child. This is also difficult: as with all children, each child at Love & Hope has different strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes. However, Kirsten persists to create an individualized, focused space in the tutoring room. She makes a point to do supplemental activities and educational games rather than just homework with the kids, expanding and not just reinforcing, their skill range. Kirsten’s calm and calming, humble, appreciative, and accommodating personality with kids and co- workers alike aids her as she does her best to help the Love & Hope kids experience academic success.
Jessica and Kirsten’s favorite scriptures reflect their desire to serve God by recklessly loving the Love & Hope kids. Jessica cites Matthew 19:14 as her favorite verse: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Kirsten is inspired by 1 John 2:5-6: “But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”