Huehuetenango Through Fresh Eyes

In January, I was fortunate to have a week free to go with Dick visit my friends in the Huehuetenango region of Guatemala.  This trip was even more special because Anita and Gary Senesac, two good friends and fellow missionaries, were able to accompany us.  This was Anita's first trip to this part of the country, and I am sharing her journal entry because it was good for me to see this area once again through fresh eyes.

Anita writes:

Have you ever waited for something for a really long time? I mean thought about, prayed about, almost begged for something? 

That has been me for the past 5.5 years....

And this week this dream came true! You see I have wanted to visit Huehue- tenango for a very long time.It is in northwest Guatemala. 

Our family started sponsoring a boy named Freddy about 6 years ago for medicine and diapers each month. I had also met little Lionel at Hermano Pedro as well. His family also lives out there! So 2 boys and their families that I wanted to meet. Finally Dick asked Gary and I to travel together to meet both families and soooooo many more.

Anita visiting with Maria Garcia, our good friend who cares
for so many of the folks in this area, as well as serves as
our translator.  Most families here speak only Mam, a Mayan dialect.

It is hard for me to put into words how touching these days have been. To see the kids and families that Dick visits every month or so, to put a name with a face, to see the wife of the mayor reaching out to her people....man, it gets you down deep in your heart.....

Meeting the family of my buddy Lionel was so special. I was teary just driving up there! And it is up there on the side of a mountain! We meet mama, 2 little sisters, 1 of the 2 brothers, and his older sister, Jessica. We saw great report cards and got to know them. We showed them current photos of Lionel on Christmas day...there was a mix of emotions from the family. Mama was grateful but saddened by the photos. Jessica wanted to hear all about it....and asked so many questions. She wants to know and remember her brother. You see, she has only seen Lionel once or twice in 6 years. She called me friend. She loved hearing how he laughed that day...how he is feeling better...but how she knows he can't come home because they just can't care for him but she loves him so. She asked for my number to be able to call and talk to him. It will be an honor to have her call and let the family speak to him. So much love for this little guy. And they can let him know. Please join me in praying that Jessica will get to journey to Antigua (about 5 hrs by car) to see him. It only costs about $19.00 round trip. That seems like nothing to us, but for 6 years it has held them back from visiting. Papa comes and loves on him when he can...but only him because of money. Think on that....

Then we meet Freddy. The sponsored child for 4 years. He is 13 and looks 7 or so....but what a character!! His smile lit up the room. We did piggy back rides around their land and just enjoyed getting to know each other for a bit. Got to pray over him and also with mama. Special times. He is a special kid and I am blessed to know him.

We have seen so many....and help a few along the way. Today was special because we went with a special lady Clara almost to the border of Mexico to distribute wheelchairs with Dick and the boys, but also the mayor of the town...it was awesome! But sad too. God put us in the right places at the right time. A brother and sister both with severe special needs. The little girl is wasting away to bones. She is so skinny and malnurished....Dick bought her mom a can of ensure to try to beef her up. It is just a start. She needs a doctor and special care....Lord, why does this happen?

Because the mom doesn't love her? NO!! Because the mom is struggling to make ends meet with 2 disabled kids and no money.... Poverty....I hate it! So many are doing without the most basic necessities of life while others have so much excess... It is easier to overlook them or worse yet, judge them. You can do something!! We need sponsors for at least 2 kids we meet today. They are slowly dying just because they are poor.$30-50 a month to help them survive...just survive.

God has opened our eyes once again to another beautiful part of Guatemala....but a very poor side. If you look, it's all around us.... One difference is poverty paired with disabilities in children. La k of education....lack of opportunities.

But you know what? You can be content with what you have for sure! That was Gods message to me through Miss Kenya. We hiked up, up, up to her rocky, uneven yard to deliver her wheelchair. She is a picture of contentment. Her smile touched the edge of heaven and lifted our hearts. She is content and now she has a wheelchair to sit outside in. This child will probably never leave her perch up on the side of the mountain....but she is content.

I need to learn to be content even in the valleys. Smile like I am on the mountain top. Appeciate God's goodness and sacrifice for us. These people may not have much, but they have joy unspeakable in their hearts. I prayed and cried with the moms of these kids. Reminding them that God doesn't make mistakes. Their child is wonderful. That they are good moms. Even great because they are fighting incredible odds to help their children live, not just survive. Please join us in praying.

This world is packed with problems and needs. Do what you can when you can, as often as you can. Make someone smile. Let an outcast child feel loved. Bless someone with food just because. Make a monthly pledge to change the life of a child and their family. Let go of stuff. Live more simple. Help someone. Don't turn away from the homeless or unloved just because it is too hard. Do something.

Be blessed and be the blessing! Enjoy the pictures to follow! To God be the glory!

Views from the Mountain Tops

I couldn't help but share a few of the pictures I took while up in Huehuetenango in January with Dick Rutgers and Gary and Anita Senesac.  They speak more eloquently about this experience than I ever could.

Our first stop was to see Maria Garcia, a long-time friend who I met on my first trip to this area a number of years ago.  She does whatever she can to help her neighbors in the very poor area, in spite of her many health problems.  She and her daughters are our faithful translators, since many of the people we visit in this area speak only the Mayan dialect of Mam.

One way this family supports itself is through the weaving done by Maria's daughters.  Their work is precise and very beautiful.  They would like to begin selling their textiles in the US and asked me if I could help them set up an internet business.  I'm pretty well lost when it comes to this, but I said I'd look for people who knew what they were doing in this area.  Anyone have suggestions?

Our next stop was to see Rudy, a young man who uses a prosthesis to walk since he was born with the lower part of his left leg missing.  Rudy was who first brought me to Huehuetenango years ago when I delivered his first artificial leg.  He's growing so fast that he's on his third prosthesis, since there are limits on how much Dick can extend these to fit his height.

Dave Black arrived from Canada while we were up here and joined us for a few days.  You can see how seriously he takes these home visits. And people wonder why some of the children here are so afraid of gringos!  Just joking, Dave.  He and his wife sponsor a number of children in this area enabling them to continue their education.

Not wanting to be left out of the fun, Gary Senesac and Calin manage to find a sling-shot, and Gary was demonstrating his skill at "killing trees."

This was Anita's first trip to this part of Guatemala, though her family had been involved in this area by sponsoring medicine for a child in this area.  You can see how delighted she was to finally meet him.  (To read Anita's thoughts on this experience, click here.)

While we were here, Dick took the opportunity to fix a couple of power chairs for kids in this remote area.

Christopher no longer attends school, but uses his power chair to accompany his mother to the market where she sells vegetables.  He thoroughly enjoys the freedom this gives him, though I worry about his mother who has to carry him a great distance to get to the chair.  The stairway pictured at the beginning of this entry is only the first part of here trek to a house "down below" where his chair is stored.

Sweet little Gema is always a joy to visit, and her family makes us feel like we are one of them.  She is going to school and needed new batteries for her chair.  The old ones were useless since the chair had not been charged at all during the school vacation.  She, too, lives on the side of a mountain and must be carried down to the school where her chair is stored.  Fortunately for her mother, she is still a pretty light load to carry.

The family from this region with whom I have the closest friendship belongs to darling Silsa and her mother Silvestra.  I met them, too, on my first trip here, and our friendship has deepened over time.  I have not been able to travel as much since we opened Casa de Esperanza, and I was brought to tears when Mom told me that the family had thought I was mad at them since I had not seen them in over a year.  It is easy to forget how important visits are to these families, until someone like Silvestra reminds me.  

We made a quick stop to say hello to José, a very determined young man who has not let his inability to walk interfere with his goals for his life.  He is studying to be an electrician, and, though he has a power chair he uses at home, he rides a four wheeler to get from his house to his school and his job.  The rough mountain roads proved to be too much for a normal chair to withstand!

In every trip there seems to be one moment which stands out, and Yenny was this moment for me on this trip.  Gema's mother had asked us to go to see a young girl who had cerebral palsy.  Yenny had a wheelchair, but it didn't fit her properly, and with her condition really needed more support.  Dick took measurements, while I sat down to visit with Yenny. 

 As I spoke with her, her mother told me not to bother, since she didn't talk.  The picture below shows Yenny's reaction when I said to her, "You might not talk, but you sure understand what I'm saying, don't you?"

I'm so glad I got to have this conversation with her, and to share with her mother that Yenny DOES understand.  The really interesting thing here is that, while her mother speaks only Mam, Yenny has learned to understand Spanish by watching TV all day.  It makes me sad to think of the potential this young lady has which has never been tapped.

While there are many Godincient moments in our work, we had a special one on our way back from visiting Yenny.  We hadn't eaten all day, and drove past a "cantina" along the road.  Dick was hungry so turned around (which I don't think I have ever seen him do) to go back to get something to eat.  When I was walking to the restaurant after using the restroom, a young woman asked me what I was doing in this remote area.  I explained our ministries, and she asked if we could go to see her cousin Heidi who couldn't walk.  When we arrived, we found a very bright but extremely shy teenager.  We're not quite sure what her diagnosis is, but she desperately wanted a wheelchair to be able to accompany her family to church.  On our next trip up north, she will have one!  And to think, this wouldn't have happened if Dick hadn't been hungry enough to turn around!  

Advice from an "Amigo Pastor" on Serving in Guatemala

Gabriel's Dad and his grandson

We met Gabriel and his family a number of years ago through a teacher from his area of Cerro Colorado, Esquintla.  We went originally to bring him a wheelchair.  We immediately fell in love with his whole family, and were a bit surprised to find out that his father was a pastor. (He had been working spraying weeds the first time we came!)

As we got to know the family and learn their story, our friendship grew.  Gabriel had been born with Spina Bifida, and, at the advice of the doctors in the hospital where he was born, never had surgery to correct the large bulge on his back where his spina cord protrudes from his spine.  At eleven years of age, we wondered if this could be corrected and arranged for him to see our friendly neurosurgeon in Guatemala City.

Since they lived quite a distance from the capital, we invited them to stay with us when they came for the appointment and got to know them even better.  During their time with us, Dad did a lot of talking with our guys about the goodness of God and his great love for them.  I got to know not only his story but his heart.

So, what happened when we visited them the other day did not come as a complete surprise.

After consulting with the doctor and receiving a referral to a national hospital where Gabriel could have the surgery, we met a number of road blocks in the process.  This did not seem to bother Gabriel's parents nearly as much as it did Dick and me.  They repeatedly told us, "en el tiempo de Dios" (in God's time).  They seemed willing to pursue the surgical option, but didn't feel the same urgency Dick and I did.  After some time, they decided they would leave Gabriel as he is and trust God to care for him. After talking with them the other day, we came to understand why.

As we were talking about the provision of God (as we often do with this family) Dad asked permission to share some thoughts with us.  Of course, we agreed.

He began by thanking us for caring about his son and their family.  He said he knew we wanted the best for them.  But, he suggested, maybe we did not understand God's best for their family.

He went on to say that while they appreciated all the effort and expense we incurred to bring them to the various doctors, Dad was thinking perhaps we could have used our time and money more wisely, helping someone who really needed it.  You see, though Gabriel had this huge ball of nerves on his back, he had adapted well to living with it.  He did not see himself as handicapped, and his parents agreed.

Dad went on to explain that they believed God had Gabriel born as he was for a purpose.  While modern medicine said that he needed to have the ball on his back removed, he was healthy and happy, and even able to crawl around and move his legs (he could have lost this ability with surgery).  They understand the risk he faces of meningitis if he injures the ball and bacterial enters his spinal fluid, this has not happened yet to Gabriel, now twelve, they didn't think it a big risk.

They choose to trust God that this will not happen in the future, or, if it does and he dies from meningitis, this is God's plan for him.  Dad reminded us that this world is temporary, and that really, we were created for heaven.  We would all go to eternity sooner or later, and if God chose to take Gabriel to heaven sooner, so be it.

While it would be easy to dismiss this conversation as ignorance and superstition on the part of Gabriel's folks, it was anything but.  As he spoke, both Dick and I felt the conviction of Gabriel's dad's utter dependence on God and his complete trust in Him.  This is an educated man who choose obedience to what he believes to be God's will over the cold hard facts of science.  How could we challenge what he believes is God's will for his child?

As Dick and I left that day, we reflected on his words.  We didn't in the least feel chastised or rejected by this admonitions to us.  Rather, we felt honored that he trusted us enough to share these thoughts with us.  We respect his great faith, and were encouraged in our own by his example.  We also came to understand more about the best way to minister in Guatemala, to a people whose life experiences and perspectives are so very different from our own.

What we realized gave us cause to pause and reflect on our approach.  As careful as we tried to be when we first suggested the option of surgery, clearly stating repeatedly that it was solely the parents' decision, we realized today how much of this process they had gone through, not because they believed it best, but out of friendship and respect for us.  Talking with Dad about this in retrospect, we realized that they didn't want to offend us by rejecting our offer of help.  While we wanted them to have the best medical options available, they believed all along that they had the best advice, from God himself.  But, until our relationship had grown to the point where it is now, they were hesitant to share this with us--they didn't want us to feel rejected by their refusal to pursue modern medicine.

So what did we learn from this?  In a nutshell, that the best available medical care may not be what is best for an individual situation. . .no treatment is without risks, and sometimes these risks are not worth it.  Where there is pain and suffering to be relieved, perhaps the risks are worth it, if there is no other way to give relief.  If the quality of life can be significantly improved, maybe it's worth taking the chance to pursue treatment.  But, where a family does not perceive there to be a problem with the condition (such as in Gabriel's case), maybe there isn't, and it just might be better to leave things alone.

I know this goes against every fiber of our US way of thinking, that if something is medically possible it should be done.  I'm not talking here about callously looking the other way in indifference to suffering.  But how much suffering can we cause by our insistence that our US way of handling disability and infirmity is the best?  Hard questions, and I'm not sure I know the answers.

In this instance, however, I have to confess I don't think I ever really stopped to ask God how to proceed (I can't speak for Dick here.).  For my part, I just assumed that because I saw a problem, Gabriel needed to see the doctor.  I put my trust in our neurosurgeon to know what is best. when I needed to be putting my trust in God and ask his specific direction.  Truly, there was no urgency here.  Looking back, the more I prayed for the doors to be opened for Gabriel to receive surgery, the more obstacles we encountered.  You think I might have at least considered the possibility that these "obstacles" were really God's way of protecting us from charging ahead with what was not his best for Gabriel.

I often pray that I will not lag behind the movement of God, but that I will also not rush ahead of him either.  I fear in this instance, I did rush--or at the very least proceeded in my own wisdom.  I'm not beating myself up over this failure, but am grateful for God putting a godly man in my path who could lovingly help me see where I am lacking.  I pray in the future I will seek God first and always.  I pray, too, that I will be more conscious of the undue influence I might be exerting in a situation where I do not mean to.  Life in a different culture is complicated, and after almost five years, I am just beginning to understand how much so.

Graduations and Promotions

It seems during last October and early November, I spent a lot of time sitting in graduation exercises.  This is a small price to pay to acknowledge the hard work done by these guys who work with us. We praise God that in a country where 47% of the population is illiterate, these young peole are continuing with their education to develop the skills needed for them to be able to serve their people.  

Cesar, who lived with us last year while studying in Antigua and helps out "on-call" as a companion-caregiver graduated from Carera (12th grade) and is preparing to attend the University in January to pursue his goal of becoming a PE teacher. He will be in the first class of "professional" teachers who, under an new law in Guatemala, will need college was well as high school to receive their teaching licenses.  He has been coaching a soccer team of younger boys for more than a year now, and has a real gift for working with children through sports and using this medium to share the love of God with them.  He also is one of Dick Rutger's main interpreters and great mechanic.

Even Fidel got to go to Cesar's graduation, though I have to admit the car was just a little bit crowded.

Kevin has helped us as an on-call caregiver and lived with us for six weeks while he was completing his practicum as a dental assistant.  He, like Cesar, graduated from 12th grade and is ready to begin the University. He is planning on beginning his studies to become a dentist in January.

Marcos who works with us as a companion-caregiver graduated from 3rd Basico (9th grade).  While he struggles with academics, he has a wonderful heart for his people and for the disabled.   He was honored to receive a special award at graduation as the student who had shown the most academic improvement during this three years of high school. He is still investigating his options for school in January, but would like to continue his studies in either tourism or mechanics.  His ultimate dream is to become and attorney.  Both of Marcos' parents have died and he is living with older siblings, but is having to put himself through school this coming year.

Elder, Fernando, and Esbin on a recent trip with Dick to distribute wheelchairs.

Esbin. who is one of Dick's guys and a good friend of ours, also graduated from 3rd Basico.  He would like to continue his studies in tourism.  Esbin is one of the hardest workers I know.

Fernando has completed 3rd Basico and would like to continue to prepare for a career in the medical field during his last years in high school.  He lived with us last year while studying here in Antigua and is like my "Guatemalan son."  He truly is on his own, since his mother moved to the US when he was 3, he does not know who his father is, and has been shuffled from relative to relative to live.  He is very intelligent and I believe committed to finishing his education.  One of his great desires is to expose his classmates, often from wealthier families (at least by Guatemalan standards) to the poverty faced by many of the Guatemalans, and challenging them to serve their fellow countrymen.  Fernando is a wonderful interpreter, having taught me much of what I know about translating, and has a deep love for God, his people, and his country.  We just received word that Fernando's sponsor will no longer be able to support his education.  If you would be interested in helping Fernando succeed in school and life, please email me or Dick Rutgers, and we will explain to you how you can help.  We need to raise about $100 a month to keep him in school this year in his chosen field.

Elder, one of the youngest of Dick's boys, has finished sixth grade and will be starting Basico in January.  He is one of our best students, and works hard to keep his grades up.  He loves nothing better than to go out "mechanic-ing" with Dick.  

Gustavo, whose father had a stroke and is unable to work, is one of the students we are directly sponsoring.  He will complete his last year of Carera in 2015 and is studying computer technology.  He will then become the primary wage-earner for his family who is struggling to keep him in school.

Carlitos is ten years old and will begin second grade in January.  Carlitos faces many challenges due to his cerebral palsy, but works hard to keep up with his classmates.  His grades were excellent and he especially loves math.  

Maybelin is a 14 year old young lady with cognitive disabilities who dreamed of being able to go to school.  We were able to help her begin her studies in a private school in Santa Rosa where she is happily learning to ready.  Tania is another child in Santa Rosa who would like to begin going to school in 2015.  Both of these young ladies are from one of the poorest areas of Guatemala and would not be able to go to school without your help.

We are so proud of the progress that these students have made, and admire their dedication to their education when finding the funds to go to school is difficult to impossible for them and their families.  All of the students I have written about are sponsored either through Dick Rutgers or through our ministry general fund.  If you would like to become part of their futures by helping support their education, please email me and I'll give you more information on how you can do so.  

We are grateful to those of you who contribute to our ministry and enable us to give these students the opportunity to pursue their God-given purposes in life.

Meet Osmi, our (hopefully) new resident

Last week I received a welcome surprise phone call from Hermano Pedro orphanage.  Magda, one of the social workers, was calling to ask if we would consider accepting a nineteen year old young man, Osmi, to live in our home.  He is currently in the teen boys unit at the orphanage, but has the potential to live in the community with assistance.  His family is extremely poor, and unable to care for him properly in their home, so he needs somewhere to live where he can be well cared for.  The staff believes we are his best option.

I was honored to receive the call, because those of you who have been reading my journal for a while will remember all the struggles we went through to get social work to agree that our home was a good place for Fidel to live, about 16 months ago.  I believe it is evidence of the quality of care we have been able to provide for Fidel that the orphanage would initiate a placement.

In reality, Osmi has been in my heart since the day I met him.  He came to Hermano Pedro the same month that Fidel left there to live with us.  I met him at Fidel's going away party, and instantly fell in love with his tender heart and determined will.  At this time, Osmi could only lie on his left side, could only move his left arm a few inches, and was wasting away.  We all thought, the nursing staff included, that he was near death.  It broke my heart to get to know him, since I really believed in a short time we would be losing him.

My most powerful memory of meeting him was his desire to eat cookies.  At this time, he was on a feeding tube and it was highly doubtful he would begin taking normal food by mouth anytime soon.  This was all he asked for, though, so I talked with the charge nurse, Juan Carlos, to see what we might do.  With a tremendous amount of compassion, Juan Carlos looked at me, and shook his head, saying, "Why not?  He's probably not going to live long.  Give me the cookies and I'll feed them to him, a small piece at a time.  I don't think it will hurt anything.  Just keep it between us!"  So our relationship began over a mutual love of cookies and a desire to connect.

And this is where the miracle began.  Carlos, a gentleman from El Salvador who volunteers at Hermano Pedro, got to know Osmi.  He believed if Osmi could have some degree of independence and mobility it would encourage him and make what time he had left more pleasant.  Dick agreed to construct a powerchair, doubting Osmi would ever use it, but willing to try anything to encourage this amazing young man.

(Click here to read more about Osmi during this period.)

The medical staff worked hard to properly identify Osmi's problem, and he was finally diagnosed with Scleroderma.  This is an autoimmune rheumatic disease which results from an overproduction and accumulation of collagen.  This causes a hardening of the skin and connective tissues.  In severe cases, it also affects the internal organs and the digestive tract.  Osmi has the more serious, systemic type of the disease.  While there is no direct treatment for Scleroderma, treatment of the symptoms is helpful in controlling its progression.

With proper medication and physical therapy, Osmi made consistent improvement.  He began to sit upright, and gained significant movement of his arms and hands.  Using his powerchair, he began to travel the halls of Hermano Pedro, rapidly making friends with everyone he encountered.

Osmi with his teacher, Carla

He began attending classes with one of the Hermano Pedro teachers, Claudia, and he passed fourth grade this year.  She discovered he is quite a good artist, and has encouraged this ability. He began taking computer classes at one of the Antigua computer cafes.  And he wanted more. . .

Osmi's drawing of Carla

This was when Magda decided to contact us.  Osmi wants to continue his studies, and Claudia is researching distance learning programs in which he can participate.  She has offered to come and help "coach" him with this studies as needed.

While we are anxious to have Osmi become part of our family, there are some concerns that need to be addressed.  Given his significant medical needs, we estimate that our budget will need to increase by about $4000 next year to cover the cost of his medications and care.  We are negotiating with Hermano Pedro to see how they might be able to work with us to subsidize some of this added cost for at least the first year that he is with us.

We are praying, too, for donors to come along side us to help us absorb this extra cost.  If ten people would commit to donating $400 during 2015 (that's about $35 a month) we will be able to care for this young man.   We are trusting God will provide this, as He has all our needs, since we believe it is within his plan for both Osmi and our home that he should become a permanent part of our family.

The next step is getting the legal documents drawn up to formally transfer Osmi to our care.   This is not difficult as we have already been through this process with Fidel. Since his parents originally signed the paperwork admitting him to Hermano Pedro, they must come and sign this forms for him to be released to us.  This may take some negotiating, since they live in a fairly remote area, but the social work department is handling this.  So we wait and pray that we will be able to begin transitioning Osmi to our house before Christmas.  That would be the best present we could all receive!