June 28, 2009--Wheelchair distribution in Champerico

We met at the hotel's poolside restaurant at 7:15, and were immediately served the breakfasts we had ordered the night before. The eggs were cold, but nutritious, and the bread and cookie served along with them were wonderful. And I was very grateful for the cafe con leche, since I would have taken the caffeine intravenously this morning if I could.

After breakfast it was just a short drive to the Municipal, or "city hall" where we would hold the wheelchair distribution. By the time we arrived, there were already people waiting under the canopy that had been provided by the mayor.


As soon as I walked up, my eyes immediately went to Magdalena, a frail 6 year old, who looked more like a 3 year old. This little one was obviously malnourished. It was like I was taken back to my January trip when I had met Lisvi, a severely malnourished 5 year old. As with Lisvi, I hoped my initial assessment was too harsh. Our little Lisvi had died shortly after Dick and I met her and took her and her parents to Hermano Pedro. They could not bear to leave her there, and she was just not strong enough to survive, though her family loved her much and cared for her well. She was so weak by the time we met her it was doubtful if she would have lived even if she had been left in the malnutrition ward for treatment. I still have not been able to let go of the fact that there was nothing we could do for this precious child except love her and support her parents in their decision to care for her at home.

Dick soon confirmed that my fears for Magdelena were warranted, and when we asked her parents if they would like her to be seen by a doctor, there was not a second's hesitation before the both said yes. So Dick will be returning soon to Champerico, to take them to Hermano Pedro for treatment.

I stood on the side, watching Dick talk with her parents through Saul, and was more than a little perturbed with God that He led me immediately to another malnourished child. I don't handle holding starving children in my arms very well. And after Lisvi's death, I'd pretty much decided that I wanted nothing to do with this part of the ministry. But as I held Magdalena, and watched her move about as she was fitted with a chair, God gave me more peace about His decision to take Lisvi home. Lisvi had been so weak she could hardly change facial expressions, let alone move her arms and legs or cry. Magdalena is much stronger, deliberately reaching out with her arms, and even more deliberately crying in protest while being fitted for a chair. Magdalena still had fight. I pray that I will get to see her again when I return to Guatemala.

I don't know that I can put into words what holding a starving child does to my heart. It seems to confront me full in the face with my helplessness; boldly demands that I trust God's will for each little one, accepting His soverignty when I'd rather have my own way and see them not suffer. Of all the suffering I see, this is the one that breaks me the most. For I can't help but think of my own grandson, Zach, a three year old who has non-stop energy, more food than he could ever eat, and who wants for nothing. Why does God seem to "play favorites" with children? Why do some have too much, while others have nothing?

It was a pleasure to watch team partner up to fit wheelchairs, some helping Dick & Saul with the specialty chairs, others pairing up to fit chairs on their own. It was wonderful to watch as their confidence grew in knowing what to do, and they were more and more able to focus on connecting with the person who they were fitting. A couple of times, there were
challenges in giving a person what they needed, rather than what they may have wanted for a chair, and again I saw the team's confidence grow in this area. I circled the teams and helped with translation, gathering parts, getting water, etc. God had led me to prepare for ministering more to the team on this trip rather than to the Guatemala people directly, and today I clearly knew why. While maybe not as personally fulfilling as having the memory of someone I personally put into a chair, I was able to see that, in supporting my team, I was able to support them in reaching many more people than I could have if I were directly fitting chairs. More and more God is teaching me I must learn to love and serve without consideration of my personal fulfillment, but solely for His glory. One more way I'm starting to learn that it's not about me!

Because I was able to communicate directlly with the Guatemalans, I often received the thanks that was really due to the team members working on chairs, the staff of Bethel, and those of you who supported our trip and enabled us to minister to these people. Another reminder that ministry is not about me. So I want to communicate to each of you, whether you supported us through prayer or finances, what the wife of one of the men who received the chair said to us. "Thank you for letting us know that God has not forgotten us!." That pretty much says what missions is all about.

I also received some more confirmation of the need for communication systems as I watched many of the children respond to being spoken to, but only with their eyes since they have no oral language. One of the sweetest moments on this trip was when Dick and Chris were talkingwith a teenage girl who had received a walker, and who they were discussing receiving medical treatment for her misshapened foot. I was talking with a elderly couple, when I heard Dick call out, "Pat, this one's for you!" It felt like a direct affirmation that I have recognized real need, and have something unique to contribute to the ministry in Guatemala. I can't wait to be able to get started with this, and hope someday soon to return to Champerico to give this young woman a system she can use. She is so bright, has never been to school, and is eager to learn. What a privilege if I can help her do this.

There were so many stories of this day, but what I once again realized profoundly is that in providing a wheelchair we minister not only to the individual with a disability but to the entire family, especially the wives and mothers and children who no longer have to carry their loved ones everywhere, or constantly live in fear of them falling. Today, through our team and Bethel, I got to watch Jesus as he set captives free.

After each person received their chair, they also received prayer, either from Chris, or later in the morning from Dona Mary. Dona Mary is a Guatemalan woman who works tirelessly for her people. She was instrumental, I believe, in arranging for the wheelchair distribution a year ago in Retalhuleu, which led to our present distribution. She is a beautiful woman, with tremendous faith and a servants heart. She is another Guatemalan who is dedicated to serving her people and her God. She is a woman I can learn much from.

This trip has been very different from most of my mission trips. After lunch we headed back to the hotel, and had plenty of time for a swim. Each night we ate dinner at the restaurant on the beach, and watched the most magnificent sunsets I've ever seen.