Disclaimer:
Yesterday it suddenly struck me, through my wife, that there might be some people who read my blog but don’t know me, Dick Rutgers, or Pat Duff very well. As a result, they might be tempted to read in some illusion of truth into my verbal teasing of the other two. (Those of you who know me and Dick, know we probably deserve every bit of the hassling Daryl gives us, but don’t tell him I said that!~~Pat)I wanted to take a moment to make it clear that my respect and love for Dick and Pat could not be higher. Dick was the one who taught Wanda and I how to love the children of Guatemala and was one of the main influences used by God to bring us here. And Pat has become a sister to me as she has continued our “love lessons.” So, any teasing you see in my blog is just that…loving teasing.
Disclaimer to the disclaimer:
Please do not share the above disclaimer with Dick and Pat. I wouldn’t want our relationships to get all mushy! (Sorry, Daryl, it’s too late. I knew deep down [very deep down] you had a heart after all!~~Pat)
On Tuesday morning we left our motel in San Pedro
Laguna after a quick
breakfast and headed to a
town on the other side of
the lake. Although the
town was only 14 miles
away as the crow flies, it
took us about 75 minutes
to drive there. The roads
started out nice and smooth, but our nice black top road suddenly came to an end and became a very bumpy and rutted dirt road. I observed that Dick has a talent for avoiding the potholes on the driver’s side but hitting them dead center on the passenger side. Somehow we all managed to keep our breakfast down. (On this trip, in particular, I repeatedly thanked God for having a strong back! At least now I have a witness to what I’ve been saying all along about Dick’s talented driving!~~Pat)
Our first stop was at a hospital where we were met by Dr. William Boegle. Will was a successful podiatrist in Seattle until he and his wife felt God’s call to move to Guatemala and begin a ministry for women and children in crisis. He also treats patients for free at the Christian hospital in which we met. You can read more about their ministry by clicking here.
A while back Will had introduced Dick to Emi, a little girl with Cerebral Palsy who
was in great need of a wheelchair. We
were returning to deliver that chair and
make adjustments to assure a good fit.
Emi immediately stole our hearts. This
precious 4 1/2 year old has bright eyes
and a sweet disposition. Even though
she is non-verbal, she communicated
plenty with her eyes. Each of us had the opportunity to hold her and love on her
for a while.
. Dick and I worked on making the adjustments while the doctor examined and treated Dick’s foot. (Yes, at the same time.) Dick had a run-in with a bike rack last week that resulted in a deep puncture and infection, but Will was able to provide sound advise and additional antibiotics.
We left the hospital, following Will on his scooter, and he led us to the roadside stand of a man named Ernesto. Ernesto was paralyzed from the waist down three years ago when the septic hole he was digging collapsed and crushed his lower spine. He now runs a little booth that sells videos and DVD’s that is about a half mile from his home. Each day someone has to take him to his booth and bring him home at the end of the day. He would like more independence, and Will wanted to know if an electric wheelchair could negotiate the roads to and from his stand. Unfortunately, after traveling the route it was determined that no wheelchair could handle either the incline or the roughness of the roads. However, several options were discussed, the best of which is a used Tuk Tuk adapted with hand controls.
We left Ernesto and went to Will’s house where he and his wife treated us to lunch and gave us a tour of their beautiful place. The view from their home overlooks Lake Atitlan and is surrounded by 70 acres of avocado trees and coffee plants. In addition to the work they do with women and children, this farm also serves as a non-profit ministry that provides income for local workers.I got to spend a bit of time visiting with Diane, Will’s wife, who is the main teacher and “mama” to the approximately 30 children who attend their program over the course of a week. She shared with me how thirteen years earlier God had promised her she would have many “dark skinned” children. He fulfilled this promise with their move to the lake. Her love for the children was apparent as she talked, and I enjoyed seeing where she worked with the children and the materials she used to make abstract Biblical stories and concepts concrete for these kids.~~Pat
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| Figures depicting the Last Supper and the arrest of Jesus in the garden |
We left Will’s place and headed to Safe Homes for Children, an organization that runs a feeding program for children and a school. We went there to meet some of the children with special needs and see what equipment could be provided to help them. While there we met Angel, a sweet little guy that we believe has CP. He currently has a walker and is quite mobile using it, but it was quickly determined that he could be much faster with a pair of forearm crutches. In addition, we found out about several more children in need of wheelchairs and Dick decided it would be best to return at a later date to meet everyone and do a seating clinic to provide chairs.
From there we headed back home. Of course, very few things here are simple and straight-forward, and the return trip was no exception. We found one of the bridges washed out (we believe from the hurricane last May) and had to do a short detour around that took us through a stream and more dirt roads. Needless to say, by the time we made it back Dick’s vehicle needed a wash.
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