Every morning since May 28 there have been people staying here in my apartment and in the mission house. Thursday morning when I got up, it was deathly quiet. Everyone had sneaked out in the middle of the night and left me all alone. :-) There will be one more team coming Sunday and then a respite until October.
For the last three or four weeks it has been truly "The Land of Eternal Spring" in Guatemala. There has been a break in the rain and the weather has been too beautiful for words.
Sometimes I wish FFBC were here with the Feed the Sheep Shop. The word has gotten out that if you go talk to Senora Luisa, she will give you money for food. Now I'm not talking about lots of money. I'm talking Q5, Q10, Q20....that's from less than $1 to $2.50. Maybe I should never have started it, but when a mother comes here with a baby in her arms and three or four more hanging on her skirts and says they are hungry, I can't turn them away. Maybe I'll just start my own Feed the Sheep Shop.
Luisa
Jul 31, 2009
Jul 7, 2009
Summertime and the living is not easy, but it is fun
Summer is more than half over and I still don't know where the first half went. Summer for me is the end of May until mid-August. By the time the year is over, there will have been 21 teams that have come to the mission house for a week and have gone out to build houses, hold medical and dental clinics, pass out food to families, hold block parties, do evangalistic work, get sick, climb volcanos, overeat, make new friends, share their hearts, listen to some good singing and preaching, and a host of other things. A lot of them come here as strangers to me and leave as friends. Some of them I get closer to than others and it is hard to see them go.
It has been a while since I wrote an update on Berto. Someone left money here for him and his family for food and other needs. It is to be doled out to them weekly rather than giving it to them all at once. Last week I went to take it to them and every time I go my heart nearly breaks. They have absolutely nothing, and are always so grateful for anything they receive. He is in the bed most of the time now and Vilma cannot work because of needing to stay home to care for him. I have no idea how much longer he will live, but his main concern is what will happen to his family when he is gone. Please pray for him and his family.
Luisa
It has been a while since I wrote an update on Berto. Someone left money here for him and his family for food and other needs. It is to be doled out to them weekly rather than giving it to them all at once. Last week I went to take it to them and every time I go my heart nearly breaks. They have absolutely nothing, and are always so grateful for anything they receive. He is in the bed most of the time now and Vilma cannot work because of needing to stay home to care for him. I have no idea how much longer he will live, but his main concern is what will happen to his family when he is gone. Please pray for him and his family.
Luisa
Jun 21, 2009
Where Have I Been?
Talk about hitting the ground running! When I returned to Guatemala on May 23rd, I thought I would have a few days to get ready for the team coming on the 28th, relax a little, and catch up on my blog. Was I ever wrong! Plans change hourly here.
We are on our fourth team now since May 28th and there has not been a day when there has not been a team in the mission house. One of those, of course, was FFBC which made me extremely happy. What didn't make me happy was that I was sick the day they left and didn't get to say goodbye to them.
Even though the days have been busy the people of Guatemala still have needs. For example, some ladies brought me a written diagnosis from an ob/gyn doctor in Chimal of the aunt of one of the ladies. Discretion demands that I not go into detail as to her condition, but let it suffice to say that she was no doubt in very much pain and discomfort and was in desperate need of surgery. The family did not have the money for surgery so pleas were sent out by email for help and the surgery was paid for. I visited the lady a couple of days after the surgery, the day she was going home from the hospital, and she was most grateful.
In a couple of other instances ladies have come to ask for money for food. Two ladies asked for Q10 each, the equivalent of $1.25. Another lady needed money for an x-ray for her son who had been beaten and robbed.
Health care here in the national hospital for the most part is free, but no one wants to go to the national hospital because of the poor quality of care. Doesn't say much for socialized medicine, does it?
I have a work crew this summer to help clean the mission house and it is great. I actually have a couple of days off each week. My crew fell in love with Don and his team. They call him Pastor Don, so I fully expect to hear him preach next time I am home.
Luisa
We are on our fourth team now since May 28th and there has not been a day when there has not been a team in the mission house. One of those, of course, was FFBC which made me extremely happy. What didn't make me happy was that I was sick the day they left and didn't get to say goodbye to them.
Even though the days have been busy the people of Guatemala still have needs. For example, some ladies brought me a written diagnosis from an ob/gyn doctor in Chimal of the aunt of one of the ladies. Discretion demands that I not go into detail as to her condition, but let it suffice to say that she was no doubt in very much pain and discomfort and was in desperate need of surgery. The family did not have the money for surgery so pleas were sent out by email for help and the surgery was paid for. I visited the lady a couple of days after the surgery, the day she was going home from the hospital, and she was most grateful.
In a couple of other instances ladies have come to ask for money for food. Two ladies asked for Q10 each, the equivalent of $1.25. Another lady needed money for an x-ray for her son who had been beaten and robbed.
Health care here in the national hospital for the most part is free, but no one wants to go to the national hospital because of the poor quality of care. Doesn't say much for socialized medicine, does it?
I have a work crew this summer to help clean the mission house and it is great. I actually have a couple of days off each week. My crew fell in love with Don and his team. They call him Pastor Don, so I fully expect to hear him preach next time I am home.
Luisa
May 29, 2009
Shake, Rattle, & Roll
For some reason, I just happened to be awake in the wee hours of yesterday morning when my bed started to tremble, then shake, then really shake. Several thoughts went through my mind and being the slow thinker that I am you know that this quake was a long one. My first thought was, it will quit in a few seconds. When it didn't my next thought was, maybe I should get outside, but I didn't. My next thought was, o.k., it's time for this to stop. When finally, after 45 seconds, the shaking started to subside, my next thought was, wherever the epicenter was there is probably damage. When I did finally get up and check the news, I found that it was a 7.1 and there had indeed been damage and death. This was the longest quake I have experienced since being here. They usually only last 10 to 15 seconds....it only seems longer. The mission house and apartments have been built to stand a quake of the magnitude of 8 or higher, but when I look at some of the cracks in the concrete, I can't help but wonder.
In one of my early blogs, I stated that there were plans in the works to teach English to the principal of the school in Santo Domingo. So far, that has not come to pass and now another person has asked me to teach him English. What's up with this? Am I supposed to teach? First of all, I have had no experience as a teacher and also there are other obstacles to overcome, none of which God cannot overcome, in fact already has if this is His plan. Please help me pray about this and be open to His leading and enabling.
Luisa
In one of my early blogs, I stated that there were plans in the works to teach English to the principal of the school in Santo Domingo. So far, that has not come to pass and now another person has asked me to teach him English. What's up with this? Am I supposed to teach? First of all, I have had no experience as a teacher and also there are other obstacles to overcome, none of which God cannot overcome, in fact already has if this is His plan. Please help me pray about this and be open to His leading and enabling.
Luisa
May 18, 2009
On the road again....or rather in the air.
My time in the U. S. is rapidly coming to a close. It has been good to spend time with my family and friends and to once again worship with my church family.
But now it is back to Guatemala to make preparations for the teams coming this summer and to check on some people in the villages. It is going to be a very busy summer starting a few days after I get back and continuing until mid-August.
Hopefully, I will be able to make time to blog and keep everyone up to date on what is going on in Gautemala.
As I read the news of things that are happening in the world and especially in our country, it mystifies me that so many people cannot see a connection between the economic problems and unrest in the world and the prophesies in the Bible. That is until I read that those who are not spiritually enlightened are not spiritually discerning.
Maybe the reason I like my job so much is because I get to be around people who love God and are not afraid to say so.
Luisa
But now it is back to Guatemala to make preparations for the teams coming this summer and to check on some people in the villages. It is going to be a very busy summer starting a few days after I get back and continuing until mid-August.
Hopefully, I will be able to make time to blog and keep everyone up to date on what is going on in Gautemala.
As I read the news of things that are happening in the world and especially in our country, it mystifies me that so many people cannot see a connection between the economic problems and unrest in the world and the prophesies in the Bible. That is until I read that those who are not spiritually enlightened are not spiritually discerning.
Maybe the reason I like my job so much is because I get to be around people who love God and are not afraid to say so.
Luisa
Apr 24, 2009
Soapbox Time
It's soooo easy! Just swipe your credit card through a little machine, sign your name and you are in debt. I had to learn this week how to use one of those little machines, now I have it down pat.
There was a friend of mine once, when I lived in Michigan, who was a truck driver and received a monthly expense check. He decided to put all his expenses on his credit card then pay that bill off when his expense check came. Unfortunately, his expense check first and he spent it on other things so he didn't have the money to pay the credit card bill. This friend eventually declared bankruptcy. Do the phrases "take responsibility for your actions", "payday someday", and "paying the piper', come to mind?
When I used to work as an escrow agent doing loan closings for people who were refinancing their homes in order to pay off some debts, it was astounding to me the amount of money some people owed to credit card companies. How could they let this happen? It is so easy. It is amazingly easy to obtain a credit card and even easier to use it, often times irresponsibly.
What is it about us that we almost think we are being unpatriotic if we are not in debt. You might say we are helping the economy when we buy things because if we don't buy, there won't be a demand. We have been demanding things for years and where is the economy.
Sadly, I see the same thing happening in Guatemala. More and more people are handing over the little piece of plastic in Maxi Bodega (Wal-Mart).
I heard on the news just this week that the average person has eight credit cards. My word! Why would a person need eight credit cards? I don't mind being below average in this respect. I only have one and have considered shredding it, but it is so convenient. Oh well, if I get too far in debt, my faithful government will bail me out.
Luisa
There was a friend of mine once, when I lived in Michigan, who was a truck driver and received a monthly expense check. He decided to put all his expenses on his credit card then pay that bill off when his expense check came. Unfortunately, his expense check first and he spent it on other things so he didn't have the money to pay the credit card bill. This friend eventually declared bankruptcy. Do the phrases "take responsibility for your actions", "payday someday", and "paying the piper', come to mind?
When I used to work as an escrow agent doing loan closings for people who were refinancing their homes in order to pay off some debts, it was astounding to me the amount of money some people owed to credit card companies. How could they let this happen? It is so easy. It is amazingly easy to obtain a credit card and even easier to use it, often times irresponsibly.
What is it about us that we almost think we are being unpatriotic if we are not in debt. You might say we are helping the economy when we buy things because if we don't buy, there won't be a demand. We have been demanding things for years and where is the economy.
Sadly, I see the same thing happening in Guatemala. More and more people are handing over the little piece of plastic in Maxi Bodega (Wal-Mart).
I heard on the news just this week that the average person has eight credit cards. My word! Why would a person need eight credit cards? I don't mind being below average in this respect. I only have one and have considered shredding it, but it is so convenient. Oh well, if I get too far in debt, my faithful government will bail me out.
Luisa
Apr 13, 2009
The Sky is Falling
What is that stuff falling out of the sky? There has been little to no rain in Guatemala since mid-October and the day after I arrived in the states, it rained all day. I'm sure the Easter egg hunters were disappointed, but it looked good to me.
Just before I left Guatemala, a couple of people came to me with needs for help in paying for medical exams. One was for a woman's son who needed x-rays and other exams on his back and another was for a lady who needed an ultra-sound to determine if she had miscarried. She got the results a couple of days before I left and it looks as though she has lost the baby. Whether this was brought on by stress or would have happened anyway, I don't know. It can be very stressful when men show up at your house with shotguns demanding to see your husband as they did at hers. She managed to close the door on them and no one was harmed, just frightened out of their wits.
As I spend these few weeks in my home country, I am reminded again of how blessed we are here with material things. If material things were all that we needed, America would have no needs. We don't know that we are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and naked, and blind. But there is hope....in Jesus Christ.
Luisa
Just before I left Guatemala, a couple of people came to me with needs for help in paying for medical exams. One was for a woman's son who needed x-rays and other exams on his back and another was for a lady who needed an ultra-sound to determine if she had miscarried. She got the results a couple of days before I left and it looks as though she has lost the baby. Whether this was brought on by stress or would have happened anyway, I don't know. It can be very stressful when men show up at your house with shotguns demanding to see your husband as they did at hers. She managed to close the door on them and no one was harmed, just frightened out of their wits.
As I spend these few weeks in my home country, I am reminded again of how blessed we are here with material things. If material things were all that we needed, America would have no needs. We don't know that we are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and naked, and blind. But there is hope....in Jesus Christ.
Luisa
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