Seven Years in Guatemala

This week marks seven years since we moved to Guatemala.  In our minds it is both a short time that has flown by especially when we think about how much we would like to do still; and it is a very long time when we think about how far away we are from family.  This work is hard sometimes, and lonely sometimes, but it is fulfilling and exciting and never boring.  God has been faithful and has helped us increase our faith in him and drawn us closer to each other and to him these  seven years.  We are grateful to our both our family and our church family for the constant support and encouragement. 
We were talking to one of the elders at the church in Mactzul 6 yesterday and asking him about how he became a Christian and how the church began in this area.  He told us about how at the age of 25, some Christians from the capital came and preached in the area and he and his wife and 5 other couples believed and formed the first Church of Christ in the Chichicastenango area.  He remembers that when they were baptized, the brothers and sisters from the capital came and brought food for the families and that one of the sisters who came was an old woman who walked about 10 miles with baskets of food on her head. These young couples also began to teach others and he describes it as the gospel taking off like an explosion.  He remembers one town where over 70 people were baptized on the same day.  What a blessing to sit and listen to his memories of the work he has done the last 38 years.  He was honored this week at a local church during the innauguration of their new church building, for his dedicated work spreading the gospel and planting and nurturing churches.  We asked him if he would do us the honor of doing a written interview to collect his memories of the history of the church here and he agreed.

We are so honored to work with people like Pedro and learn from their zeal to teach others about God's saving grace.  May we be as willing to be God's instruments in this world.

Breakfast anyone?

This morning we are in Guatemala City waiting for our visiting team of Harding University P.A. students to arrive.  So we decided to go to IHOP for breakfast.  We got there at about 0630 and were the only ones there!  The waiter confimed that we were the first and only customers so far and remarked that Northamericans seem to eat a lot earlier than the local crowd who tend roll in around 9:00 on Saturdays. We enjoyed the alone time until about 0730 when other customers started filling up the tables (even some Guatemalans!).  Thanks IHOP for opening early.  Now if all the rest of the stores would do the same!

Weekend in Paradise

We've escaped for the weekend to a great little place in Santa Cruz la Laguna on Lake Atitlan.  It is a casita right on the lake, called Los Elementos.  So far we have vegged, taken a boat trip to Panajachel, vegged some more, hiked to Jaibalito and Tzununa and eaten in a great little restaurant called Isla Verde, and are back vegging.  It's great to catch up on rest, exercise and reading (Bible and leisure). Here are some great pictures. 

http://www.vrbo.com/241403

This is our view as we sit and relax.....

Dock for Santa Cruz la Laguna

Boy hanging around at the Tzununa dock

Lisa taking a breather up on the rocks-San Pedro Volcano in the back

Kemmel with the beautiful Santiago Atitlan volcano

This boat's name is Martin

Part of our winding trail, hundreds of feet above the water

Hike map

Well, the days are getting longer, finally!  We started taking advantage of the earlier sunrises to start exercising again.  So we are feeling both empowered and sore!
Our ministry work is going well, with clinics staying busy and our new outreach efforts making some ground.  We have had several contacts through clinic that Gaspar has follow up on or referred to local churches for followup.  One man and his wife are very open to hearing about the gospel and more teaching.  They are from our new outreach clinic in Chicua I. 
The Leche for Life program is still on our front burner and we are actively looking for first-time pregnant moms from our partner churches to enroll in the nutrition education sessions.  On Tuesday, it hit home how prevalent malnutrition still is here.  I saw a pair of twins, 18mo-old weighing 22 and 23 pounds (not exactly fat, but within normal).  They were developing well and came in for respiratory infections. Shortly after that I saw a 4 year-old who weighed 21 pounds.  He was so little, and had been sick with a respirtatory illness as well.  Mom said he's not much of an eater, but is active and playful.  Despite his severe stunting from chronic malnutrition, he did not demonstrate signs of acute malnutrition.  I treated him for pnuemonia, intestinal parasites, and gave him vitamins and counseled mom on proper nutrition, eliminating the ever-popular crackers and chips and candy from his diet.  The surprising thing about this whole encounter is that none of my promoters--full time or volunteer noticed that he was that underweight.  It is such a common thing to be chronically malnourished, that it is almost the norm here.  Be praying for us to be effective in our teaching as we target new moms, and later all moms with our women's health talks. 

Clinica Caris

Here are some update photos for the expansion of Clinica Caris.  We are adding 3 additional rooms that will allow for the following:

1. Extra dental operatory / dental x-ray
2. Medical Clniic that does not double as kicthen sink :)
3. Separate sterilization instead of part of the bodega and next to the fridge.  :)
4. New Bodega which frees up space for dental.
5.  New area to house and demonstrate community development items
6.  Dental Hygenist clinic room for promoters - currently normally do outside.

Then we have improved our drainage systems, added additional tile to the walls for protection, added a retaining wall and added thick stucco for outside wall protection.  We look forward to a new dentist and dental assistant within a month.  Great times and as always God is good.

Still some challenges ahead to make plans and finish before we put everything to use, but we look forward to the new services we will be able to deliver.

Addition is on right of building

 Closer look - each window represents a room.

From the backside just looks like a wall, but we have added on 25% or more.

 Small retaining wall.  Previous wall was adobe but was falling apart.

Thick stucco to protect bottom of walls.

Large drainage system to take away rain water from foundation

New storage room

Change is happening around here.  That's usually a pretty good thing in our minds, but it does make for a very busy time.  Our clinic building is coming along with the new add-on of  a dental clinic and storage and kitchenette space (so we don't have to wash and stack dished in the extra exam room!). Also, we have hired a new health promoter (Enrique) and are looking for another one to add to the team.  We have the luxury of knowing many qualified people to choose from who already volunteer in our community clinics. Right now we are waiting to hear back from one guy to see if he interested in the job.  In addition, we just hired a new dentist who will greatly help us expand our services in the area.  She seems like a mature Christian and has a desire to serve in the ministry.  With a new dentist comes a new dental assistant, so Kemmel is interviewing people for that.  We are thankful that God has provided the resources to expand like this and look forward to starting outreach clinics in new communities with the help of area churches. 
So please be praying for us as a team to work well with our new members and be effective as we evangelize the area.

ABC Celebration 2nd day

Here are some photos from the second day of the ABC Celebration in December 2011 - Thanks Eastside Church of Christ!!  Never did get a group photo either day....

Deep into the task! 

Prayer Time after finishing their prayer books with Adam.

8-10 year old girls coloring

Josefina and Kelly talking about the empty tomb.

Little Erica from Mactzul I praying.

Twins from Mactzul I

Boys from Chuchuca - always unforgettable and excited! 

Lisa and the widow moms from Mactzul I - They all live together - minus Lisa of course.  :)

2nd Day prize winners

Violeta with the widow moms from Mactzul I

Gate guards - trying to keep everyone in! and not running to the fair.

 

Luis and Marcos leading singing

The drama volunteers!!!  Awesome!

Local missionary family - The Montgomery's - coming to help

Another great day!!