February 6, 2015
Hi everyone!
I just returned from my first rural village ministry trip to the community of San Pablo. This is the community where Brittney has moved to and opened her school just this week. She has four students with varying special needs, and has a classroom ready for learning. Here is the link to her blog: http://brittneyfulp.blogspot.com/.
This village is by a lake in the pocket of several mountains. To reach it, we climbed as high as 8,500 feet above sea level. The road which descended to San Pablo is quite steep and zigzags dozens of times lower and lower. Each turn was about 180 degrees and sharp enough that only one vehicle could fit at a time. The potholes in the areas that were paved were deep enough that my head nearly hit the window several times although we were only driving around 5-10 mph over them. I can only imagine this during wet season. This road did not have any outlets because no one could use land this steep and there weren't any homes here. As we descended, back and forth a million times over, we could glimpse the lake and it's towns from far above. This is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. God knows His art!
While there, I had a very refreshing visit with my dear friend Brittney, and a look at life in this small community. People are close here, and there are not many outsiders. Many of the people speak only the indigenous language of the mayan people rather than Spanish. There are 17 families that Hope for Home visits here monthly. Some receive food or formula, others receive medications, and still others need only a check up and reminder that others care about their precious children and love them with Christ's love. I was struck by the significance of this emotional support with one family in particular. This young man had been ostracised from his community because of a skin condition which we now think may be the result of an allergy. His parents praised God that someone else could see the value of their son.
As we prayed in our varying languages, I was struck by how blessed I am to witness this moment. God has orchestrated a multitude of events in an order just so precise that I could come from the middle of a corn field to see His provision in a family tucked away in the corner of a remote community in a country far from home. What an incredible God we serve!
Later we entered the home of a new family. Their 14 year old son has some lasting weakness from an illness he had when He was 5. We discovered that this illness was guillain barre, and his scars showed the severity had necessitated a feeding tube and tracheostomy. This disease attacks the nerves and starts with ascending paralysis which can occur as fast as a few hours and inhibit a person's ability to breath on their own. Praise God that he lived because this is an uncommon disease that can potentially be deadly even in the best hospital in the states, and he had gone to the national hospital (which I've heard truly awful stories about, and he is lucky to not have died from infections there). Why do I mention this? Because I have studied this disease. I have read about it, and answered NCLEX questions on it, and even briefly had experience with a patient in an ICU in the states with a similar autoimmune disease leading to paralysis who needed ventilator assistance. But here all that knowledge did little good. 9 years ago, this child was sick. Now he is healthy, and his needs have little to do with this disease he had.
Knowing about a disease means nothing now. He needs physical therapy to strengthen weak muscles. He needs antibiotics to fight an acute throat infection. And he needs encouragement that he is not broken or defective but precious to God. I was humbled yet again by how great God is and how small I am. This is exactly what I thought training in the nursing field would help me do, but training doesn't matter one little bit. God uses who he calls to do things they were never trained for, and He laughs when we are mistaken to think anything we know will amount to more than a hill of beans. Don't get me wrong. God gives us experiences in life that will build us up one piece at a time. He provides us with just the right tools to get the job done, but He never intends for us to do it in our own power. He created us to depend on Him every step of the way.
So I watched as this boy received a physical therapy and occupational therapy assessment, a plan was developed, and training was given for therapy. He was medically assessed, and found to have an active throat infection and a regimen of medication was started. He was referred to a neurologist based on a skilled assessment of his seizure like activity. His family's financial situation was noted and social work began to determine potential needs. All of this, which would take hours, days, or weeks in the US occurred smoothly in less than 30 minutes from the comfort of his home.
God knows so much more than anything we think we know. He brings the most unlikely people into the most ridiculous of situations and all to His glory. He chooses the foolish things of this world to shame the wise. What a beautiful country this is, and such a beautiful people. I believe that God created people with special needs to shame those who think themselves wise. And he uses them to show His glory. Thank you God that my skills never have to be enough. Thank you that what I know is not important to do your work. Because what I know is not very much, and your knowledge is vast beyond measure. Thank you that this is all your plan because the plans of men will fail while yours baffle our minds every time. Thank you for teaching me the same lessons time and time again because I am ignorant and need you to hold my hand for each step. I know that you must become greater and I must become less.
February 7, 2015
Hi everyone, I know a lot of you have heard that Volcano Fuego erupted today. We are about 8 miles from there, and so are safe from any lava flow, although the ash in the air is a concern. The ash has landed as far as 38 miles from the volcano. On our roof, it felt like it was snowing as the tiny particles dusted a person in seconds. Footprints traced my steps as I walked, and you could not see the nearest mountains. The sky resembled the erie color preceding a strong thunderstorm and the sun was hidden.
We quickly closed all the doors and windows, and wore masks whenever outside. Next the vehicles were loaded with wheelchairs and car seats. This is a time consuming process with so many to load. Cloths, diapers, formula, and water were prepared in case we decided to evacuate. By this time, the cloud had lifted quite a bit, though the wind continued to stir up ash. We decided that with the ash in the air dissipating, we would stay in the home and continue watching. Many of the children have respiratory problems, and transporting them through this is not advisable unless necessary. We administered breathing treatments frequently to those at risk, and maintained a sealed home.
February 8, 2015
During the night the wind has decreased so that for most of the day our home was clear, although the cloud was visible and the home remained sealed. The outside was wet down since it is the dry season and rain is unlikely to wash the ash away, or stop it from blowing. This evening there was a fresh coat of ash however, but as it was dark we could not tell how much. We are continuing breathing treatments for the children, and we are safe.
February 10, 2015
It feels good to be through all that volcano nonsense! As of today I have been in Guatemala one month. Time seems to have flown by. I have been so blessed by what God has shown me. I have a notebook full of lessons learned and relearned. One thing that has hit me recently is how crazy it is that God has brought me to this beautiful land and shown me so many of His precious children.
"What is man that you are mindful of him? The son of man that you care for him?" Psalms 8:4
"He felt great pity for the crowds that came because their problems were too great and they did not know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd. He said to His disciples 'The harvest is so great, but the workers are so very few. So pray to the Lord of the harvest; ask Him to send out more workers for His fields." Matthew 9:36-38
The more I see the more desperately I see the need for Christ both in the country I see before me now, and the one I came from. Both are bankrupt. One has such immense physical need that my heart hurts by what my eyes see. In Las Palmas children ran barefoot across cement and dirt floors. Families struggle with illnesses which would not occur if basic water and sanitation needs were met.
In the other country, the bankruptcy is spiritual. In Greenville Ohio, The need is harder to see. It disguises itself by subtly hiding behind problems seen as normal struggles. Here my heart hurts not so hard for the broken situation as for the reason behind it, a life long brokenness that is not even recognised.
It is easy to see a lack of food. The evidence is as plain as malnutrition. They symptoms are well understood and defined with medical parameters. It is not so easy to notice the spiritual bankruptcy which is so common in every country on this planet, but perhaps more so in rich countries.
It starts as a feeling of sufficiency. An ability to meet ones own needs, therefore God is only necessary when things go wrong, and cannot be fixed by oneself. This leads to sporadic time with God, because of a false impression that we can do anything without Him. This leads to pride in our own accomplishments. It leads to a mistaken sense of ownership to abilities or possessions which aren't really ours, and a feeling of entitlement to a certain lifestyle. (I may rant a little on this, but if you claim to be poor, yet find a few hundred dollars to replace a cracked i phone, you may misunderstand what poverty actually looks like).
And oh do we get angry if our expectations are not met.
Since we meet our own needs, and we deserve what we have, we grow to think that our opinion matters more than other's. We no longer communicate with our families. We are all too willing to rid ourselves of anything that reminds us that we are not the ultimate authority in our own lives.
Because we have, we no longer need.
This manifests as forgotten time with God, fights on the way to church, and wedges driven between spouses, parents and children.
Yes, we are as spiritually destitute in our wealth.
So I repeat: "He felt great pity for the crowds that came because their problems were too great and they did not know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd. He said to His disciples 'The harvest is so great, but the workers are so very few. So pray to the Lord of the harvest; ask Him to send out more workers for His fields." Matthew 9:36-38
Both where I came from and where I am now I see more and more situations where the simple description of the problem is "He really needs Jesus".
For me personally, I am very weak. I think it is far easier to live for God when I can see my need clearly. When all my needs are met readily, I am in danger of thinking I have a chance on my own. Praise God for showing me daily just how fragile we are. Thank you God for showing me my weakness that I can see your strenght.
He must become greater, I must become less.
Thanks for your continued prayer!
~Katie~
--after His heart--
