Wider vision

May 5, 2015

It has been a busy week, and a busy month.  I am approaching the end of my forth month here, but this time seems to have flown by.  It feels like yesterday that I came home to Guatemala.  I have met so many increadible families in the villages, and I have held our children here for hours on end.  I adore our kids!  Bt when you look at their backgrounds, it is increadible to see how far each one has come.  Some of our kids were abandoned with nothing more than a first name to call their own.  Others were removed from their homes and placed here through the courts because their living contitions are atrocious.  Some of our kids were send to us by families who want them to have better care than they know how to give.  

And in the villages, we meet the families who press forward to care for their children as best as they know how.  I have been so blessed by meeting such families.  

This week we traveled again to the village of San Pablo, off of lake Atilan, and to La Gomera and Sipacate on the Pacific ocean.  

San Pablo is a community which holds tightly to their mayan traditions.  This seperates them from the other villages around the lake who have adapted to allow tourism.  In San Pablo we get to see stories of God's provision from baby yosalin who recieved a desreately needed shunt which changed her from a labile baby failing to exhibit any traditional signs of development because of the swelling in her head.  She now laughs and smiles and plays.  Many families here have seen God's hanf of provision. 

On our long drives we see a lot of villages and cities, many mountians, and hills.  On our drive to San Pablo, we spend some time on a highway with more or less decent roads.  On this highway, while traveling around 50mph, we came around a curve and encountered a man running with a woman who was covered in blood.  We pulled over, and backed up as they reached the bed of a truck.  She had stood up in the back of the truck and fell out while they were driving at full speed.  We checked her out and found that she miraculously had no serious injuries aside from the shock she was in, and what looked like a broken or fractured foot.  We threw some bandages on some of her many scrapes and road rashes, and they were on their way to the hospital.  Later we learned that she had not broken her foot, and had survived this fall with only the lacerations covering her arms, legs, and face.  Praise God that she was not killed!


Plase be praying for a young man named Gaspar.  He had a severe skin condition which has left his face scarred.  He has long faced ridicule and fear from neighbors, but since his face cleared up, this had improved somewhat.  When we met with his family, he was withdrawn, and looked downcast.  We asked him about school, and if he was studying hard and getting good grades.  His report from school had a umber of low scores on it, and he was very upset.  We then came to learn that his teacher had told him that he shouldn't even boher coming back because he was never going to learn and shouldn't even try.  His teacher broke him down before all of his friends.  I can't understand how an adult who supposedly has a desire to teach children could say something so devistating to a young man.  Please pray for Gaspar as he has been told his whole life that he is worthless and less of a personby everyone except his loving parents.  Pray for this teacher because he/she has fallen so far to say things like this to a child.  We hope to get Gaspar into another school run by christians in San Pablo.



In Sipacate, many of the children are sick, or have recently been sick with respiratory symptoms.  Some of these seem specific to the child, but there seems to be a virus traveling through families here, so please pray for them also.  

 

 

I have now been taking Spanish classes for a few weeks, and I am encoaged by how much I can understand, although I am still far from verbal.  In the home, we are all healthy at the moment, although Humberto struggled this month with a particularly nasty respiratory illness.  He was nearly hospitalized, but with an agressive antibiotic regimine and breathing treatments coupled with close watch, he is now back to his smiley yet stubborn self!  (He's happy that I no longer approach him with a shot hidden behind my back.)

I thank you all for your love and support, Happy mother's day!



May 19, 2015

Here are a few pictures of life in the home.

Rosalinda (right) and Olimpia (left) enjoying an evening meal together

 

                                  Brayan and Giovanni in the playset.

Esther trying on some new boots.

                                                                                  Giovanni

House church one week.

 

                               Louisa, Giovanni and Ruavis on the phone

Rafael playing hide and seek.

 

                                                          Rafael "doing" a puzzle.

Just out the front door after a mild/moderate rain. 

                                                                Ruavis laughing.

The Slechter family team reading with some of the kids.  We are so blessed by some of the teams that come through, and this family is specifically increadible.  Ben red to the children in spanish.  

May 20, 2015

On Monday, our director, Daryl, laid the vision of an expansion of the ministry that he had been praying over for some time.  To specifically read his thoughts about this, check out what he wrote in his blog concerning it: hopeforhome.blogspot.com.

As I heard this idea of expanding the ministry which is already stretched very thin, and multiplying it more than tenfold, I am reminded of my thoughts when God first laid on my heart to move to Guatemala: God, you're crazy!  I am not a ible scholar or very clever with words, and si I call it crazy when others might have some respectable awe inspiring way to refer to work which cannot possibly be completed by man.  I have bee reading a lot from some of the pioneers of missionary work, and both George Muler and Hudson Taylor felt is urge to pursue a vision which was outrageous and impossible.  God's plan revieled to them was crazy.  But "wisdom that worldly men esteme is foolishness to God".

To state it simply, I have been here four months and cannot count on one hand the number of children who we were asked if we could take, who were in a desperate state, and he had to say no.  We are over full.  And yet, we hear about another little boy named Mikah.  He has severe special needs, and in the best of cases will be walking with Jesus very soon.  He is daying alone in a hospital with no family, and no friends aside from a few caregivers whom God has graced with a love for him.

We sat together as a family to discuss him.  He will die.  We would have the extreme privilige of walking him home to Jesus.  But this home has lost two little girls in the last year.  This is hard for adults who chose to come and love on hurting children.  This is an aweful burden on children who loose their siblings.

We have been praying for him for a few days now, but we got word that he took a turn for the worst a few days ago.  His extreme hydrocephalas (for lack of a better term, I am not fully sure precisely what his needs are) has left his head grosly mishapen, and his head is nearly the size of his body swollen into several segments.  One of these sections of his head burst, and he has lost some neurological responces for example he no longer cries.

Today, Daryl and Wanda are driving to meet him and pray with him, and love him.  We still do not know what will happen, but having simply heard his name, I feel as though I must meet him.  I need to.  I love him very much.  Please be praying that God will guide him home with as little pain as possible.

Much further, pray for the others.  While learning about this little boy, we were told about another little girl at the hospital who has significant special needs, and was hospitalized because her family was unable to care for her.  We were asked also to take her.  While we were still in prayer, she was sent home.  Her family may be able to help her if they have assistance.  Or they may not.

In the time that I have been here, I have heard about so many children that could come to us, but we have had to turn away.  I love this work.  But I hate these calls.  It's all well and good to be aware that kids are in distress, but to have the name and basic story of a child who is in desperate need, and to know that you can't do a thing about it; to watch as they are turned away into who knows what future...  Children are dying.  Children are dying without hope.

Please pray desperatly for these kids.  Pray that the ministry may grow as God blesses it to give resources to every distict of Guatemala.  Pray for 10 more homes (this contry has only 5 such homes in the entire country) to recieve these kids and never say no to a hurting child again.  Pray for the Godly parents and nannies to run these homes, for the educators and therapists and nurses and nutritionats to help these children.  Pray for the servants of God to stand up and lead as directors of these regions.  Pray pray this very second because children are dying.  Children are dying around us.  



~Katie~
--after His heart--

Easter and village trips

Appologies, I somehow deleted all my pictures, so what I have below are the few I gleaned from others.  

April 3, 2015

People like what we get to do.
Who doesn't wnt in some way to help out orphans.  There are some who do not understand a love for people with special needs, but in general, most people think of ministries that help those with special needs, or the poor, or the children as humanitarian aids.  The thing is, meeting physical needs is only at the very surface.  Christian missionaries are known to work to help build schools, and set up clinics.  They can be seen helping to feed and cloth and love the unfed, underclothed, and the unloved.  But if that is what the world sees, then I think we are missing something pretty big.  By definition, "humanitarianism is the doctrine that humankind may become perfect without divine aid."  Christians are not humanitarians.  The goal of a Christ follower is not to physically aid the tangible ailments of the body, but to minister to the soul.  Don't get me wrong, it's pretty hard to sing praises through lips parched from thirst.  But we were not sent to treat the symptoms while ignoring the disease causing them. 

It can be a little hard to focus on this because I want to help people.  The problem is that this has never been, and will never be within my power.  We focus so much on helping someone we see physically hurting that we ignore their spiritual deficit.  We throw food, medicine, and advice at the need we can see.  This makes us feel good about helping someone, but truly we have missed it if that is all there is.  What a sad thing it is that we are so spiritually blind.  We feel good like we had a part in helping them because we see a physical transaction of goods.  This puts the feeling of power in our hands.  This makes us rob God of His credit.  What a shame. 

We are sent to "Preach Christ to the nations, and to only use words if we have to."  So while it looks like we are here to fix wheelchairs and help families get enough food, we were really sent to share the gospel with them through actions of love. 

April 5, 2015

Happy Easter, He is Risen!
Here are a few pictures of the alfombras laid out for processions during Holy week.  [Ooops, all my photos were deleted]  These are intricate patterns made of colored sawdust, or pine needles, or vegetables.  They can include candles,or animals, and can be massive or quite small.  Alfombras and processions are mostly performed by the strongly catholic peoples here.  Processions show pieces of biblical stories, and during holy week these correspond with the story of Christ's crucifixion.  What a beautiful thing it is to see this form of worship.  

         

April 7, 2015

God is good.

April 11, 2015
This week has involved a lot of time on the road.  I traveled with the rural village ministry team to our two farthest villages.  At least, farthest for now as we have heard about some great needs in areas even more distant.  What this has meant for me is time away from our group home and the kids I adore, but being blessed by visiting dozens of families and sharing God's love.  I love this! 

But this week I saw more of the hard side.  Just under two months ago, a family we visit and love lost their daughter from complications ultimately related to her special needs.  This was heartbreaking although I understand that God has brought this daughter home to where she will no longer suffer.  I thought this was going to be the hardest part about serving in a ministry like this.  I was wrong. 

On our trip to San Pablo, one family asked us not to come anymore.  This was quite a surprise, and was both frustrating and very sad.  As a result of their decision, their daughter will no longer be receiving the formula she needs.  Through the formula, this 12 year old child has gained a lot of weight from her original 12 lbs.  Without it, she will not be able to maintain all the progress she has made in two years. 

During this visit as I listened to words be translated from English to Spanish, then to Tz'utujil, then back to Spanish, and finally into English again.  The entire time I found myself praying and praying yet again for God to work through the words spoken to resolve this situation in a way that we can continue bringing the formula for Marta.  As time drew on, I began to plead with God, laying out my prayer as a petition stating all the reasons why it would glorify God and help Marta if He were to allow us to continue bringing the formula.  But God said no.  I do not understand because in all my logic in all my reasoning, it seems good both for the benefit of Marta, and for the glory of God that her family and their neighbors could see His hand continuing to provide for Marta.  I still do not understand.  But I know that God is good.  I know that He must have some purpose in this though I cannot see it.  "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God". 1 Corinthians 3:19.  I admit that even knowing this, it is hard to look past what I see as a very sad situation and trust that God really knows what He's doing here.  I have been thinking about this situation a lot over the past few days and it is hard to know what to pray about it. 

Please be praying for Marta, that God continue to fulfil His plan for her.  Pray also for her family, that they might come to know Him.  Also please pray for us because, even though our translator, who is a native from this town, assures us that we did not act incorrectly, it sure feels like we personally have let Marta down. 

On our way home from San Pablo, we began to have vehicle trouble.  The ministries truck was already in the shop, so we had taken our other vehicle with four wheel drive because I don't think any other type of vehicle could make it down the mountain to San Pablo (I could be wrong here because Guatemalan drivers are a mixture of brave and crazy so I'd believe almost anything).  Roads here are death on vehicles!  Between the potholes a foot deep and the inclines, it's a wonder anything drives.  The transmission began to give us trouble.  We were able to make it into chimaltenango, a city 45 minutes or so from home, when the clutch just hid the floor with no results.  We were caught in stop and go traffic in a busy city for nearly a mile and a half of forcing into first gear, and trying to keep rolling as long as possible before stalling again, only to try restarting the engine and trying again.  But praise God we made it home.  

This meant that now we had two vehicles in the shop, so we had to borrow Mr. Beyer's truck for Friday's trip down to Sipacate and La Gomora.  I admit that after two days on the road already, and the second day having a number of frustrating moments and one heart breaking visit, I was not feeling refreshed before leaving for this all day trip.  But God is so good and he showed me that His mercies are new each morning.  Along with a multitude of families and children who are truly beautiful, each of the children we visited were in good health, and good spirits.   

 The drive home from Sipcate and La Gomora

During this visit, we went to visit a new family, a young boy who now has a sponsor.  We drove up and down dirt roads, looking at tin walled house after crumbling cinderblock house until we started just asking neighbors if anyone knew of a little boy with special needs named Selvin.  Finally we found a neighbor who knew of a boy with special needs, but when we knocked on that door, the woman who answered said that nobody by that name lived here.

 But her son does have special needs.  So we were introduced to 12 year old Gelson (my Spanish is still pretty terrible so this may be grossly misspelled).  His family is quite poor and he has significant cerebral palsy.  when we met him, he was in a makeshift walker because his wheelchair was both too small and very worn.  

While Gerardo and Manuel were collecting some information about him, and taking measurements for a proper fitting wheelchair, I met his younger brother.  He played the shy hide and seek which is common to toddlers, until he finally came out and started drawing with me in the dirt.  Smiley faces, stick men and hearts decorated the floor proving that dirt floors are s source of endless amusement.  I loved playing with my little friend in the dirt. 

After we left their house, we resumed our search for Selvin's house and found it almost immediately.  We had literally driven right past it three times but God had kept our eyes from recognising it.  If we had not been so lost that we asked all the neighbors we could find, we would never have found Gelson.  God lets us get so unbelievably lost that we cannot find our way on our own.  Because only then do we find where He was leading us. 

I am continually astonished by what God teaches me, and how many times he must teach me the same lesson.  I praise God for his provision, and I thank Him for putting up with the slow ones like me. 

Thank you for your prayers, we all sure need them. 

~Katie~
--after His heart--

A world where children die

February 18, 2015

Where to start on this one...

This week, a team from Generations church from North Carolina has been serving in our home, at HP, and in the rural villages.  First off, this team was fantastic and truly wanted to serve Christ.  In our home, great love and care was shown to each child, even those who are easily overlooked.  What a joy it was to see loving hands holding Ruauvis and Angelita even though they are not able to give much acknowledgement of being held. 

This got me thinking; what exactly is it that we have to offer to God?  We sing songs about giving Him our all, but what is it exactly that He is getting out of 'our all'?  Nothing.  Nothing at all.  There is nothing that I am that God needs.  Not one skill, not one ability.  So why is it that He has brought me here?  "Who am I O sovereign Lord, and what is my family that you have brought me this far?" 2 Sam 7:18  What does He possibly want me to do that someone else could not do?  Again, nothing.  But that's just it, I am not here, we are not at this place in our walk with Christ because of anything we can do, but solely because of the grace of God who saw fit to bless our eyes with the wonders of His work. 

And so I think yet again, how blessed am I beyond belief that He saw fit to pull me out of ashes and allow me to see the fruits of His labor. 

 The team also spent an afternoon and helped with a childrens program in our village called Paso a Paso, Step by Step.  There are around 50 children who come here for help with homework, a fun place to play, and loving support from teachers whose love for them shines vibrantly.  The children learn bible stories, and sing songs which they sang for their guests.  The team ran and played with the kids, and set up fun games, crafts, and balloon animals and lots of laughter was shared. 

In the group home, bottles were fed, diapers changed, and hundreds of black beans were sorted.  These seem like simple things, but usually it's the simplest things that make the biggest impact.  For example, it can take hours to sort out all the tiny rocks from the bags of black beans, but after a large group set to work, 8 gallon sized of beans were sorted in around an hour.  That's roughly 24 meals for this many mouths. 

Sometimes serving God can look a lot like sorting beans and changing diapers. 

February 19, 2015

Today we traveled to a village called Sipacate, which is by the Pacific Ocean.  Since it is at sea level, it is very hot here; 95 degrees while we visited.  Also, being this close to the salt of the ocean, wheelchairs and other equipment quickly rust and degrade.  We tightened the breaks of a wheelchair, which is no small feat through the rust and corrosion.  Following this visit, we visited and encouraged several families bringing food baskets to some, and formula or medication to others. 

My Spanish is still very poor so it can seem hard at times to show the support I want to show to these families who struggle daily to care for family members with sometimes extreme disabilities.  Many neighbors and even family members are unable to see the gift of this child sitting right in front of them.  Parents can see it, but cannot share it with those who are blind to God's gift seated before them. 

At one house, while phone calls were being made (in Spanish) to resolve an issue, I had the extended opportunity to play with a child who is very contracted from CP.  She smiles and laughs and pleases God with her joy.  And people say she is broken.  I believe that she knows more of God's unconditional love than anyone who can walk or talk or think they know anything.  I played peek a boo through her hammock, and each time I peered over the fabric at her, I think I was more excited to see the joy in her face than she was to see mine.  What a gorgeous child!  Oh what a sad thing to only know one word for beautiful in Spanish because  wanted nothing more than to share with her mother what an incredibly beautiful child she was.  So I find myself mumbling over and over "es muy bonita", which is about all I can manage.  But somehow God got this concept through my broken Spanish, and before we left, this loving mother and I shared a hug and some words I know were only understood by one or the other of us.  God uses our weaknesses.  I am unable to communicate with words.  He communicates for me beyond words. 

At another house, the child we wanted to visit was at school, so we visited briefly with her mother, and young sister.  Again, I am struck by the methods God uses.  Praise God for hide and seek around corners and finger painting in the dirt.  I have never grown up with a lot of experience with children, but I cannot now understand how you could not love such a beautiful creation of a child. 

We visited with families whose children are sick.  I kinda hate seeing children hurting when they cannot fully understand why.  When children with compromised immune systems become sick, it can become very dangerous. 

Dorcas also has CP, and is well cared for by a very loving family.  Because she cannot walk, she spends a lot of time in bed or her wheelchair.  Many children with CP have very limited movement and are at an increased risk for obtaining pressure ulcers.  Dorcas has a small open sore on her bottom.  Even a small area like this is at a risk for infection, and because the damage under the skin is larger than the sore on the surface of her skin, a pressure sore can get worse very quickly.  We explained to her family about bed sores, specifically that even though only a small area is open, that there is a lot of damage beneath her skin that cannot be seen.  We explained how to properly care for her sore, and how to prevent them in the future. 

Please pray for Dorcas, that her sore begins to heal, and for her family who loves her greatly. 

Maria Jose is about six years old, and has CP.  When we visited her, she had been struggling with a throat infection, cough, and fever for a few days.  Her family was already taking care of her sickness (she has apparently struggled with this for years) and were treating her with an antibiotic and fever reducer, so we encouraged them take her to a doctor if she did not improve. 

(Since first writing this, Maria Jose has gone to walk with the Lord.  I'll share more about this later in this post.)

Leslie's family was preparing to take her to the doctor when we arrived because her skin was pale, and her eyes jaundiced.  She has had hepatitis and a few acute flare ups.  A quick assessment and questions later definitely pointed toward the beginning of another flare up.  We encouraged them that she did in fact need to see the doctor, and that they were doing the right thing in taking her that day.  Several members in Leslie's family are suffering from a local illness called chikungunya.  Chikungunya is transmitted by mosquito and presents with flu-like symptoms and joint pain. 

Please be praying for Leslie, and her family. 

This trip also had a few new experiences for me.  I have never seen the ocean before, so before we returned home, we stopped by the beach for a little while.  The black sands were beautiful in contrast to the ocean.  I was not expecting the smell of the salt water misting over us.  The ocean is incredible because if you look to the horizon, you can just see the curvature of the horizon.  I had also never eaten fish (discounting fish sticks) because darke county is pretty far from any large body of water.  I like fish, and I think it likes me since it was smiling and staring at me the whole meal!  Also, the farther we got from mountains, the land flattened out and my eyes were once again blessed to see the beauty of endless rolling fields like those in Ohio (except not currently covered in snow).  I love the mountains, but it was very refreshing to see familiar fields stretching as far as the eye could see, and so much sky. 

March 4, 2015

I have not written in a little while.  Life here has been busy, but also, my mind can be a little slow to fully process some things.  As I write some of these thoughts, I need to mention that this is not where some thought provoking statement about pain and death is made and you walk away feeling inspired.  Honestly I don't want to talk about this, I just want to go on about Christian laughing so hard he snorts when you tickle his neck. Or Alejandra standing at her standing bar for a 90 seconds today.   Or even just being tired and overwhelmed at times would be nice to write about.  But writing about this feels like I'm Picking off scabs where I thought I had dealt with emotions, only to find that they still bleed. 

You just read about our trip to Sipacate.  One week later, as we were traveling to Guastatoya, we received a phone call that stopped our car on the side of the road.  I did not know what was being said, but I knew that it was serious.  Then I was told that Maria Jose had died.  She was about six years old. 

This was and is a lot to process. 

We live in a world where children die. 

The week before I left, I was asked if I was prepared for the loss of a child. 

That struck me. 

How could I ever be?

Over the last year I have personally encountered more loss of young people than there should ever be.  Some from far away, like the two children in Hogar de la Esperanza, who I had never met, but had been praying for daily.  I never got to hold them, but I got to cry for them, and praise God that they are home.  I lost a cousin at 17 years of age.  He was kind, polite, funny, and so smart.  I also knew him mostly from afar and only saw him only on occasion.  I also lost a friend only a few weeks younger than me.  I now treasure every little moment growing up in youth group or at churchwide events.  I was so blessed to get to spend some time with him and his family and friends before he met Jesus a few days before Easter.

After each of these deaths, I have done a lot of thinking.  I grieved the loss of Ezperanza and Thania, because although I had never met them, I loved them.   I was sad in part because I had not gotten to hold them or help walk them home.  I wish I had been more a part of my cousins life.  I regretted time not spent in correspondence, and not knowing more about this young man I always thought I'd have more time to know.  I grieved the loss of my friend because even though he got to meet Jesus first, and is now walking and in no more pain, he was not here with us anymore, and it hurt to see his family hurting and to know that he will not be in sunday school every week anymore.  For each these children, family and friends who have gone home before me, I have prayed, and cried.  I felt sadness, pain, anger, guilt, and emotions I can't fully define.  I have been flooded with emotions for a situation mankind was not intended to have to face.  We know death because we know sin.  And we live in a world where children die. 

We called the home and informed them that this precious child is not sick anymore, and has been cured of CP.  Members of our ministry loaded up the next morning to travel for her funeral.  Only a few could go because life continues and our children still need clean diapers.  They spent time with Maria Jose's loving family, and they cried with them.  What a blessing it must have been to get to know this family, and to love and hold Marie Jose.  I thank God that I got to meet her and see her families love for her. 

Later on our trip in Guastatoya, I got to meet a new family whom Daryl had told us about.  Dora is 50 years old, and has several birth defects that have left her unable to walk.  Her elderly mother helps care for her.  There was no food in their house on Daryl's initial visit, so we had brought a basket of food for them, and will continue to do so.  I was unable to meet Dora as she was not home when we stopped in.  I am told that she was out begging.  Part of the complication with Dora and her mother is that the stairs leading to their home are very narrow, uneven, and turn.  This is impossible to navigate in her wheelchair, so Dora crawls on dirty concrete stairs every day of her life.  Once to street level, Dora's elderly mother would push her around.  Her mother had recently broken her upper arm.  When I saw this arm I was greatly disturbed.  Her upper arm is at an angle close to 75 degrees where it should be straight.  This caused her great pain although the injury was "fixed" nearly two months ago.  While examining her arm, I saw that although it had enough blood flow, it was very swollen and even discolored.  She said it had been like this since she left the hospital.  Did I mention I was greatly disturbed?  What I mean is I am angry.  How could anyone with any medical experience at all look at her arm and say that it was ok?  Who set it?  Worse, who sent her home like that?  The damage is done and were she to go to the best specialist available, her arm would never look normal again.  This pain she is having now, and the immobility of her right arm impede her daily life.  And they sent her away. 

March 7, 2015




Additionally, the therapy tub has finally arrived, and with the concrete walkway already in place, it is now in place, and ready for use with the kids.  This will really help with the children with high tone CP.  Warm water therapy pools create a pressure around a person caused by the water around them.  This is called hydrostatic pressure.  This is useful because hydrostatic pressure is a slight constant pressure even across a persons body.  Even someone who can't move by themselves will have increased circulation and blood flow, and less pain.  The warmth also aids in relaxing contracted muscles so that our children will have increased range of motion in their tight arms and legs.  Since many of our kids have neurological impairments causing spascity, the warm temperature is especially helpful to reduce tremors and spacity. 

If your interested, a good site for basic benifits of warm water therapy pools is at http://www.brainline.org/content/2009/05/creative-therapy-why-aquatic-therapy_pageall.html.  This is an easy read with good references, but if your interested in more resources, let me know and I'll send you what I've found. 

Hi all, I can finish off on a happier note, this week our home was blessed with a visit from Mike Tobes, an Optometrist from the states who provided free eye exams for everyone in the home, both children and staff.  Glasses will be provided for those who need them at no cost.  Praise God! 

March 10, 2015

Today Christian had a hearing to determine if he is able to return home to his family.  Just a reminder, Christian is 5 years old, has autism, and is mostly blind and deaf.  He has been here over a year, and is very much a loved part of this family.  His family first approached Hogar de la Esperenza seeking help in caring for him.  They attended a training session to better understand how to handle Christian's sensory difficulties, and what to do to prevent, or care for his meltdowns.  So, are very sad to see him go because we are loosing a son and brother.  However, he is going home with a family who loves him.  Please pray for wisdom and patience for his family as we trust that God knows what He is doing.  Thank God for sending Christian into our lives. 

Once again, I would like to thank you for your prayers.  Please be praying specifically for the family of Maria Jose and their great loss.  Pray for Leslie and her continuing battle with hepatitis.  Pray also for the members of her family who are sick with chikungunya.  Pray for Dorcas that her sore will heal quickly through the diligent care of her family.  Pray for Dora and her mother, both for her mother's pain, and their situation. 

~Katie~

--after His heart--

Rural villages and Volcanos

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!  

 

A few of the smiling faces in San Pablo.

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.  

At this point, we intend to remain indoors for a few days and spray the outside with water a few times once all the ash settles.  We are all safe, and God has blessed us with such a large home that can be effectively sealed from the outside.  Praise God for fresh fruit and vegetables delivered just this morning.  Praise God that our two bedrooms detached from the rest of the indoors are currently uninhabited so no one has to venture outside.  Praise God that at this point we do not have to evacuate all 22 of us.  Praise God for continued electricity and clean drinking water, and showers to wash off the ash.  Praise God for His protection and provision.  

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--