Journal August 30- September 6

(Click on any photo to enlarge)

Saturday, August 30, 2008, 8:34 PM

Since it is Saturday I am going to let these pictures do more talking than me. These first 3 are Pictures of 9 year old Lionel. The first one was taken about 3 weeks ago when his parents brought him in to the wheelchair distribution that we had in Huehuetenango.






The second picture was taken a week later when we brought him in to the malnutrition ward of Hermano Pedro. He weighed in at 17 pounds.





The third one was taken today. In just 10 days he has gained 4 pounds. As you can see he is much happier and far more alert.











Most of my day was filled with happy kids. Abner and Alex who accompanied me to the orphanage today had a great time playing with the orphanage kids and helping me repair wheelchairs.






All 3 of the kids that we took to lunch had a great time as well.





















When I got home Alex and Abner washed my car and then the 3 of us plus 7 more kids that magically appeared out of the woodwork, walked down to the shopping mall and got some Pizza. Not exactly health food but they were as happy as the kids that we took for lunch.


Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick



Sunday, August 31, 2008, 9:04 PM

Shortly after finishing up last night’s journal I received 2 e-mails from friends that had visited here only a few weeks ago.

Please pray for the daughter and children of Pastor J in Guatemala. I just received a email from her saying that they are being extorted. They have received a letter telling them that if they do not give the extortionists $20,000 in 15 days they will kill one of their children. They are currently in hiding. Please pray for their protection. Pray for wisdom. This is not the first time and each time they increase the amount they must pay.

Thanks! Tara

Things like this are becoming all to common here in Guatemala. Unfortunately when fear tactics like this are used it is often hard for friends and family members to think rationally. In most cases weather or not a bribe is paid has little effect on the outcome and more often than not just like in this case it only marks you as the perfect target and the extortionists are back within a year.

Just last week some neighbors of mine who opened a small store in their home only a few months ago moved away with out telling anyone where they were going. Why? About a week before moving 2 men came into their home and demanded protection money. The men politely told this family that if they did not get the money their lives would be in danger. Not unlike most small family stores in my neighborhood this store wasn’t taking in enough money to keep the lights on yet alone to pay a monthly protection fee. So instead of paying these men off the family moved. Unfortunately if they try to open another store this gang or another one like it will once again pay them a visit.

I have always said that if anyone kidnaps me don’t give them a red cent. That is easy for me to say for myself but what if it was one of my kids? All we can do is pray that God will give us the wisdom what to do if a situation like this arises. I have said it before and I will say it again.

"Please keep these people that God has put in our paths, and us, in your prayers."
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.


Proverbs 29:25

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

Last night I was once again reminded of why there is no other place that I would rather be than right here in Guatemala. Three of the ten kids that were here all evening decided that this was going to be home for them the entire night. At around 10:30 I told them that I was heading off to bed and that it would be a wise idea if they did the same within the next hour or so. Usually we do evening devotions together but since they were still going strong I did mine on my own. I am not quite sure how long after I had gone to bed I was waken up by the sound of some one talking. I recognized the voice as being that of Miguel. Miguel is one of the quieter boys so I was surprised to hear him doing all of the talking. I thought about asking him to stop talking so that I could get back to sleep but instead I listened for a while. It was then that I realized that 15 year old Miguel was praying with the 2 younger boys. I thank God for each day that he allows me to be part of this.

Oh, you may be wondering what went on today. Since it is getting late I will once again try to let the pictures do most of my talking.
I don’t want it to look like I do all of the work. This just happens to be the only picture that got taken this morning. All 7 of the kids that were here for breakfast pitched in and helped with breakfast as well.

Moises and Byron love it when we stop off at the orphanage and pick them up for Church. A lot of the other kids would like to come along as well but taking more than 9 kids to church at once can be a bit of a hand full. The kids that come along from home are great about helping out with the orphanage kids though.

After church we took Moises and Byron home for the afternoon. Abner and Fernando’s aunt and Uncle invited us over for lunch.
Tonight I am just relaxing at home. In a little while I will send the half dozen kids that are still here home.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Monday, September 1, 2008, (Written on Saturday September 6)

I just reread my journal before publishing it and realized that I have either accidentally deleted Monday's entry or altogether forgotten to write it. Either way at my age it is hard to remember what I did a few minutes ago yet alone think back 6 days, so I guess all I can say is it must have been a rather good day because I am still healthy and I don't see any new dents on my car. Yours in Christ: Dick

Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 3:18 PM

Calin ended up spending the night here but only after we played the game of “Who’s the Boss” for nearly an hour. For no other reason than that he did not want to be told what to do he refused to wash his feet before bedtime. Even though I was already half asleep when he went to bed, and his bed was on the far side of the room, my nostrils immediately told me that he had not done as I asked. I then told him that he would have to get back up and wash his feet but he told me that he didn’t want to. When I told him that he had no choice he accused me of being bossy and not allowing him to have any choice in the matter. I had to admit that he was right so I gave him a choice. “Wash your feet or go home.” I did admit to him though that he was write about me being bossy but then reminded him that since this was my house and I was older than him I had the right to be the boss. He turned on the tears for a while and then slowly headed towards his bed. I then reminded him that I had given him 2 choices and this was not one of them. I don’t know what got him the wettest, the shower or the tears but 20 minute later Calin was fast asleep and my sinuses were beginning to clear. This morning he was once again talking to me and even left a peace offering of a bag of potato chips for me. Some times it is hard for me to be so stern with the kids but then again if I wasn’t they might stop thinking that I loved them so much.

Judy Kurschner and I had made arrangements to meet at the wheelchair shop this morning. We had made arrangements for her to bring in 2 little girls from Santa Maria Dejesus that needed wheelchairs and walkers. I had previously thought that they would take me most of the morning to fit into wheelchairs but both girls fit comfortably into normal wheelchairs and seating them took no time at all. After that Carlos drove in from Antigua and the 2 of us met for lunch.

At around 7:30 I plan on heading for Guatemala City to pick John Bosman up from the airport. John only plans on being here for 4 days. We are heading for Huehuetinango tomorrow morning and it looks like we will have a full schedule until he leaves on Saturday.


5:02 PM

Fernando just came to my door in a bit of a panic. Four men were outside with a wheelbarrow full of water meters that they had dug up and removed from nearly half of my neighbor’s homes. They were now in the process of digging mine up. I had Fernando ask them what they were doing but the men seemed to ignore him. Thankfully Lizet who lives next door came out of her house and they were a bit more willing to talk with her. They told her that nearly half the people in my neighborhood had not paid their water bills so they were removing their meters until the bills were paid. I told her to tell them that even though my water has been off 95% of the time I had been paying my bill regularly. The men insisted that I had not paid my water bill in over 2 months. Lizet asked the man that had a hand full of paper work to show her the bill. He reluctantly did so. Sure enough there it was in black and white, a water bill for a whopping $3. The only thing was the bill was not for my house but the one next door. The man with the hand full of bills apologized and told me that he was sorry about the mistake. I was glad that the problem had been resolved before they had the meter completely removed because 2 years ago when they had made a similar mistake I had to go to the same man’s house at 8:00 at night to convince him to replace my meter because of a similar mistake. As I thanked the man for not shutting off my water, which has only been on for an hour or 2 a day, I noticed that one of the other men was still removing my meter. I politely asked the man that was holding the wrong water bill in his hand to explain to the other man that I owed them no money. The man with the bill in his hand then told me that while they were accidentally removing my meter the noticed that some water and mud had flowed from my alley into the hole where my water meter was so they were still going to have to shut off my water and remove the meter until the problem was resolved. “What problem?” I asked. Of course there was water and mud in the hole in the ground that is in my alley, which has about 6 inches of watter in it every time it rains. The man politely explained that the mud could seep into the sealed meter and pipe that ran through the inspection hole and contaminate the water of the entire neighborhood. I didn’t fully understand how mud could seep into a water pipe that is made to be underground but I could see that I was fighting a loosing battle. “What can I do to resolved the problem?” I asked. “I am a fare man.” said the man that I was more and more beginning to distrust. “I will give you until morning to build up the sides of the cement inspection hole a few inches so that water will not seep into the inspection hole.” He said. Great! It was now 5:30 I had to leave for the airport in an hour and a half and was planning on leaving for Huehuetinango at 6 AM. I explained this to the man and asked if there was anything else that I could do. “Oh yes.” He said. For around 200Q I can have one of my workers fix the problem for you and that way we won’t have to shut your water off at all. Now I have never been one that believes in paying a bribe but a few years ago I ended up giving a police man $25 for the convenience of sleeping in my own house instead of jail. Tonight I am another $25 poorer for the convenience of having water for an hour or 2 a day. Hopefully this will keep the storage tank that I just installed full enough to keep me supplied with water for the other 22 to 23 hours a day that I have no running water due to the community water tank that fell over last month.

Yours in Christ: Dick


Wednesday, September 3, 2008

I picked up John at his motel room at 6 AM and the 2 of us headed towards Huehuetinango. We got an early enough start that we got through most of the construction areas before the flag men were out so we made fairly good time until we got to within about 20 minutes of our first scheduled stop. This was one of those, close to an hour that leave you scratching your head trying to figure out why, type of road closers. We still managed to pull in to the Xela orphanage at around 10:30 though so we didn’t complain. Neither did the little boy who had been with out his power wheelchair for several months. We only stuck around long enough to unload the power wheelchair and say a quick hello to the kids and then we were once again on our way.

Before leaving Xela we picked up Rolland. Rolland is a man from Sweden that I had met at the wheelchair distribution that we had in Huehuetinango a few weeks ago. He lives in Xela and is quite active in working with various organizations that are involved in helping the Guatemalan people. It was Rolland that first introduced me to most of the people that we planned on visiting tomorrow. Wishing to avoid the traffic tie up that I had encountered on my way into Xela I decided to take a road to San Francisco that I had been on years ago. Since a good part of this road was not paved and it had no signs telling me were I was at or which fork in the road to follow I doubt that we saved any time but the scenery was spectacular. A few hours later we reached San Francisco. After reaching the far side of town we parked my car at the end of a dead end road. The family of a 16 year old boy that we had promised to bring a wheelchair to was waiting for us there. Donna Mooney had contacted them for us and told them that we would meet them there. We were still about a half hour drive from their home but I had never been there so they had agreed to meet us here. I explained to them that before driving to there home we were going to hike in to Erica’s home to deliver the 2 suitcases of medicine that John had brought along from the States. I told the man, his wife, and 16 year old son that they could wait for us by my car until we returned and that we would then drive them to their home but they decided to hike in to Erica’s with us. This was not an easy task considering that it was raining and the 16 year old boy could not walk but the man loaded him on his back and away we went.
Our visit at Erica’s was much to short but we still had to bring out 3 new friends to their home and set up the boys new power wheelchair before dirving to Huehuetinango.

We had been told that we would be able to drive right up to the home of this family and that even though the ground that surrounded there property was a bit uneven they had a large flat yard that surrounded there home. When we got out of my car and I saw no house I began to wonder. When the man took us to the edge of what looked closer to a cliff than uneven ground and pointed to the roof of his house that was located below, John and I looked at each other in amazement. Had I not already promised this boy a power wheelchair I would likely have changed my mind on the spot. I have my doubts that a dirt bike could have climbed the narrow trail that led to the house. O well they had told us that the yard that surrounded the house was large and smooth so at least the boy could use the wheelchair there. I wished that we had taken a rope along to help us lower the wheelchair to the house but with no less then 3 people at a time on the wheelchair we managed to get it down to the house with out loosing it. On our way down the side of the mountain we realized that, a bit of uneven ground, must mean something entirely different to the Mayan people than it does to Americans. Once we finally reached the house we also be came aware that, a large smooth yard, also has an entirely different meaning. Oh well at least he could probably use the wheelchair on the floor of the large home that this family had told us about. Guess what, the dirt floor of their small home was not much smoother, or dryer, and was a lot smaller then the small uneven yard just out side of their door. Oh well a promise was a promise. Besides that there was no way that we were going to try to get this power wheelchair back up the side of this mountain. Once we got the boy into the wheelchair we realized that it was all worth it though. Even though he could do little more than go in circles and the wheelchair got stuck a few times inside of the house the boy and his entire family seemed to be overjoyed. Father assured us that once the rains quit the house would dry out and that he would even try to smooth up the yard a bit. I promised that I would stop by the next time that I came through and check on them, and then we were once again on our way.

The rest of our trip to Huehuetenango was rather uneventful. Traffic was light so I was only run off the road twice. The motel here is a nice one and tonight more than ever it has a feel of home. I guess that is because the water has been off most of the evening.

Well the battery of my computer is getting low so I better say goodnight. Hopefully the electricity will come back on during the night so that I can charge it. At least the beds are soft. Now if I had only brought my flash light so that I could find my way to the shower. Oh that’s right; we still don’t have water anyway.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Thursday, September 4, 2008

This morning the 3 of us headed about an hours drive north of Huehuetinango and then turned off from the paved road onto a narrow winding mountain road that you would think no one lived on. I had never been here before but Rolland assured us that he had been here by buss and that there were numerous small villages located along this so-called road. How a bus could navigate the tight turns and make it through some of the narrow spots that had us nearly hanging over the cliffs is beyond me, but sure enough when we got into the first village we saw a few old school busses. It was in this village that we picked up Maria Garcia the lady that would be helping us locate the people that we wanted to see today. Rolland had been good friends with her son who was only in his twenties but had gotten sick and died a few months ago. Maria’s son had been involved in trying to do what ever he could to help the countless poor people that lived in this area. Rolland told us that after Maria’s son died most of the projects that he was just getting started fell by the wayside because they had not yet gotten off the ground. Maria is now trying her best to rekindle some of the projects that her son had been working on. Our next stop was at a smaller village another 15 minutes up the road. We seemed to be the item of curiosity when I parked my car near a school that had the only wide spot that I could find in the road that would allow another car to pass, by just in case one did come up this road today. Maria walked us back down the road to a small sore where a young man named Rolando was sitting on the ground. His legs were twisted and he could not walk because of the CP that he had but he had one of the warmest friendliest smiles that I have ever seen. I guessed his age to be around 16 but his father later told us that Rolando was 21 years old. Most of the other people in the village were quite shy and kept their distance at first but after we took one or 2 pictures of Rolando curiosity got the best of them and they came over to see the pictures that were on the screens of our digital cameras. It was not long before some of them wanted us to take their pictures as well. Others were more cautious and would turn their backs or even run away whenever we pointed a camera in their direction. Rolando who has never been to school simply because he can not walk told us that he once had a wheelchair but that it became so warn out that he could no longer use it. To my surprise as we were talking another young man who appeared to be a few years younger than Rolando came up the road in a wheelchair. As he got closer I recognized him as one of three children of a family that we had given wheelchairs to when we did a wheelchair distribution near Huehuetinango a few weeks ago. Rolando’s father told us that even though the road is extremely rough this young man, who up until he received his wheelchair was mainly confined to his house, was now going up and down the road all day long. You should have seen Rolando and his father’s face light up when I told them that one of the reason that we had come today was to see what we could do about getting Rolando a wheelchair. Moments later I was taking measurements and analyzing what type of wheelchair Rolando needed.

By this time a large crowd of people had gathered some of whom were adults and Children that Roland had arranged for us to see today. Several of these people were in need of wheelchairs so I did the necessary measurements and paper work on them. Others were people who needed medical attention but had never seen a doctor in their entire life. I had to keep telling them that I was not a doctor but they were so desperate to have anyone that had even a little medical knowledge look at them that they kept coming. We now have list of people that we are going to try to get to Hermano Pedro so that they can see a doctor there. We also gave Maria some money and arraigned for her and Roland to take one lady in to see a doctor in Huehuetinango tomorrow but want to keep it at 1 until we determine weather or not the doctor is any good. In far to many cases the city doctor’s only concern for the Mayan people is to see how much money they can get from them.

After measuring up more people for wheelchairs they brought Rudy to me. Rudy is the 4 year old boy that I met at the same wheelchair distribution that the young man who was continually going up an down the road was at. Even though he was not on our list of people who were to receive a wheelchair that day we had enough kids wheelchairs with us that we were able to give him one near the end of the day. The only problem was that what Rudy needed more than a wheelchair was an artificial leg, but where were we going to find the money to buy him a leg? Even here in Guatemala the cost of materials alone with out labor for an artificial leg is well over $1000. Guess what, thanks to of a lot of prayer and a lady that stumbled across what I rote about Rudy the day of that distribution I have been contacted by someone in the USA who is willing to make an artificial leg for Rudy. Today I was able to get all of the needed measurements and John will be taking several pictures that we took and a plaster mold that we made back to the USA with him on Saturday. Hopefully Rudy will soon be getting a new leg. A few years ago we did an arm for a man the same way and it worked out great for him.

After we finished up with Rudy we saw a lot more people. Some of them we had previously arraigned to see but many of them came hoping that they could get some type of help in receiving a wheelchair for themselves or a loved one. Others came seeking medical help for things that ranged from seizures to deafness. We will do our best to try to get some of them to Hermano Pedro in the near future but I am also praying that I can find a doctor that will be willing to come into this area with me for at least a few days and see these people.

Rolando’s father then took us to visit some people that lived further up the road. They also had various needs. Some of them were so poor that the dirt floor houses that they lived in had absolutely no furniture. The only clothing that I saw was what they were wearing and in many cases there were no beds or blankets so at night they had to sleep on the dirt floors of their homes. The needs seemed endless and it would have been easy to throw up our hands and walk away, but that is not what Jesus would have done.
After eating lunch at Rolando’s home, which had little more in it than the homes that we had just visited, we went to the home of the young man that had been going up and down the road in his wheelchair all day. It was this family that had originally drawn me to come here when I met them at the wheelchair distribution that we had come to a few weeks ago. This young man’s father had died a few years ago leaving his wife, and what I thought at the time were there 8 children, with out anything. We had given the 3 older children wheelchairs because 2 of them could only walk a few feet without blacking out and falling over and the other could not walk at all. I had wanted to stop at this home to share some good news with the family. A friend from the USA had read about them in my journal a few weeks ago and had offered to give some money so that we could help give this family some food each month and also put a younger sister of the 3 that are in wheelchairs into school. Even though the village has a public school, not unlike the rest of Guatemala, there are costs involved that many of the parents cannot afford. In this village it costs around $13 per month to keep a younger child in school and after grade 6 it jumps to around $30 per child. It was not until we saw this family today that I was made aware that 2 boys that were school age were not attending school either. All 3 of the kids said that they wanted to go but had never been able to because their mother has no money. I thought to myself if only the family were not so large perhaps at least on of them would have had an education by now. Don’t you just hate God’s timing at times? Moments later I was brought to teers when Rolland told us that the 2 boys that were not going to school were not the biological children of this lady who had almost nothing. I was told that she had adopted them when their mother died. “Why?” I asked, “She has so little.” “Because they had even less.” I was told. After the tears left I told this mother that when the new school year starts next January we well see to it that all 3 of these children are enrolled in school.

It had been a long day and a real tear jerker at times but one that I would not have traded for the world. We had made friends with a lot of people who were afraid to come near us only a few hours earlier. We did not preach a sermon to them or even share our theology but we let them know by both actions and words that we were doing this in the name of Jesus Christ. How could we do anything less after all that He did for us?

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick

Friday, September 5, 2008

Last night the lights in out motel room did a bit of blinking but we never fully lost our electricity. Even more important than that, the water stayed on all night. This is a luxury that I have not had recently, neither at home or in the motels that I have been staying in.

After breakfast we got in my car and drove north on past where we had been just yesterday. We had told Luis (Lionel’s father) that we would meet him out on the main road that led up to his village at 9AM. Both he and his wife were waiting for us when we arrived. Today they were going to ride back to Antigua with us so that they could visit with their son Lionel, whom we brought to the malnutrition ward of Hermano Pedro about 2 weeks ago. Luis asked if we wanted to meet his other 5 children before heading to Antigua and I instantly said yes. I had wanted to see them because since their brother was starving I feared that perhaps they were not doing well either. As far as I know this families only means of transportation is by foot but I was beginning to wander if they possibley owned a Learjet when what I was told would be a 5 minute drive turned out to be more like 15 or 20 minutes. It also made the winding trail that I drove yesterday seem like a freeway in comparison. There were times as my tires had little breathing room between them and the cliff that I wished that my car had been a few feet narrower. We found no busses at the end of this road. Luis and his wife then walked us to their small one room adobe house that was only a short walk up the trail. We did a bit of joking about not taking my car up this trail but even a 4-wheel drive Toyota has its limits. Luis’s house looked no better than the worst of homes that we had been in yesterday. Other than a small table that was made from an old road sign and a homemade ladder the house was empty. When I asked where the children were Luis told to us that they were about 5 minutes up the trail at the home of their uncle, where they would be staying while Luis and his wife were in Antigua. John and I both looked at our watches as we headed up the trail. We were both wondering if the 5 minute walk would take as long as the 5 minute drive that we had just made. It didn’t matter much though because the scenery along the way was spectacular. There were streams to cross, waterfalls to look at and all different types of vegetation. The first part of the hike took us past some coffee plants that belong to Lionel’s family. Luis told us that growing coffee provides the families income. He then went on to say that if he works hard and has a good year he can clear around 2000Q. That comes out be $270 per year. When we neared uncles house mother went on ahead to tell the children that we were coming. All 5 of them were quite shy at first but it did not take long before they warmed up to us. I had been told that they had all cried the day that we took Lionel to Hermano Pedro so I had taken my computer along with me in my back pack, so that I could show them some pictures of how well he was doing and how happy he was. The entire family was thrilled and for the first time since I had met her I saw mother smile.Father told me that all of these children with the exception of the baby had been attending school, however the older daughter had to dropout 2 years ago because putting her into 7th grade would cost the family to much money. We were informed that the oldest boy who had only 2 months of grade 6 left would also have to drop out of school after this year for the same reason. It seemed such a shame because both kids seemed so intelligent. The older girl went into the house and got her report card from 2 years ago. This quickly confirmed what I already know in just meeting her. It was then that I once again put my big foot in my mouth. “Would either of you like to continue with your education if you were able to?” I asked. Now in the USA that might not be a stupid question but here I got an immediate reply even though I did not need one. In this case it did not take long to find a sponsor. John had fallen in love with this family as well. I try to never make my journals a plea for money but if anyone is ever interested in helping one of these families out with food, shelter, education, or something that can help them to make a better living just let me know. I have an ever-growing list of names of people and what their needs are.

Driving out from where they lived is noticed a small monument that had many names written on it. Louis told us that it had been put up in memory of 46 villagers that had been massacred there in 1988. He told us that 2 of his brothers were among the 46 people that the army had killed, because they felt that the village had helped the gorillas. Luis said that since he was just a child at that time he was allowed to live. For the villagers there was no right side to be on. Rolando’s father whom we had just eaten lunch with yesterday is still suffering from injuries that the gorillas had inflected on him at about the same time that these villagers were slaughtered. We were told that if the Gorillas or army came in and asked for food or anything else that you had you would be killed if you said no. However if the other side heard that you gave it to them they would come in and torture or kill you. No wonder some of these people have a hard time trusting strangers. Just yesterday we almost had to bypass seeing a little girl that was in need of a wheelchair because her father thought that we were perhaps there to kidnap her and some of the other children. Fortunately after meeting with us some of the villagers who’s family members had received wheelchairs from us a few weeks ago, went and talked with him and he later came out and talked with us. He proved to be a very nice man who was simply worried about the wellbeing of his family.

(Click on any photo to enlarge)

On our way down the mountain Luis asked if we would be willing to make one more stop. He said that he knew of another child who was much like his son Lionel, and wondered if I could look at him. From where we parked my car it was only a short walk in to where this child lived. I hesitate to even call this dwelling a home because it consisted of little more than a tin roof had corn stalks that had been tied together to form walls. Inside the house we found an old lady and a 10 year old boy. The boy was curled up on the dirt floor and it was apparent that he was quite handicapped. The old lady told us that she was the boy’s grandmother and that the boy’s mother was in another village for a few weeks picking coffee. I asked if I could look at the boy and was surprised to see that he appeared to be in fairly good shape considering his surroundings. As I started working with him to see if there was a possibility that he could be untwisted enough to fit into a wheelchair his 80 year old grandmother knelt down next to me. She showed us some stretches that she had been doing with him and said that she had been doing them every day. What she showed us amazed me because many of the things that she was doing were the exact stretches and exercises that therapists are trained to do. The little boy simply lit up every time this loving grandmother got near him. The love that she had for this child was something to behold. Even though we had mentioned nothing to her about it, she announced to us that she did not want her grandson to be taken to any hospital or orphanage. I assured her that we were not there for that reason but only wanted to see if there was some way that we could help. I had already promised Luis that I would send some vitamins back with him for his family when he returns from Antigua so he agreed to take some back for this child as well. We also told the grandmother that we would see to it that her grandson got a wheelchair so that he did not have to spend his entire time lying on the dirt floor. When I tried to explain to her the importance of getting this child out of a continual lying position she wholeheartedly agreed. I was amazed at not only the love that this lady displayed for her grandson but her medical common sense type of medical knowledge was beyond belief. Luis then told us that she was the medicine woman for this area. At first I thought of the Indian medicine men that I use to see in the old cowboy movies but this old gall did not dance around bonfires shouting and chanting. She, much like some of the true medicine men used plants and herbs many of which are used some of today’s drug store medicines to treat their patients. She even told us that every other day she puts her grandson into the steam bath that resembles a brick oven that many of the people have next to their houses. I hope that I will see her again because I have a feeling that she could teach me a lot. One thing for certain, even though this was one of the poorest dwellings that I have ever been in it still radiated with love.

On our way home we dropped Roland off near the home of Maria, the lady that we had worked with yesterday. She and Rolland had offered to take a young lady that we had met yesterday to see a doctor in Huehuetenango. Rolland is going to keep a close eye on things so that we know weather or not is best to pay a doctor in Huehue to see some of these people or to try and take them all the way to Hermano Pedro. The drive back to Antigua took around 5 hours but everything went well. Luis and his wife had asked if it was all right that they take their youngest daughter along since she was still nursing. I said that it was fine and almost invited the other kids along as well but was not sure wether or not I could get lodging for the entire family at Casa Defay.

Even though it was past 5:30 when we arrived at Hermano Pedro they said that it would be all right for Lionel’s family to visit with him for a little while before I brought them to Casa Defay. Once again I saw the smile come back on his mother’s otherwise expressionless face, and once again I felt the love that radiated between this child and his family.

It has been an emotional week. It is always hard to see people hurting knowing that you can’t help them all but praise God that he allows us from time to time to be used by Him.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick

Saturday, September 6, 2008, 2:10 PM

You may wonder what I have been doing all day. After getting back home from bringing John to the airport at 3:30 AM I went back to bed for a few hours. Ever since then I have been getting caught up on this journal. It will undoubtedly be another few hours before I get the pictures arraigned and the journal posted. I would hate to count up the hours that are spent behind this computer each week but it gives me the opportunity to look back on how God has been working. I also feel that it is important to share this information with those of you that are praying.

Yours in Christ: Dick

Journal August 23-29

(Click on any photo to enlarge)

Saturday, August 23, 2008, 10:28 PM

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH. I think that it has been years since I heard those words but I was reminded of them last night when I was proof reading the journal that I just sent out.

Just last Tuesday I had written these words but just 2 days later I had all but forgotten them.

Yes, allowing him to help took up precious time but what is this ministry all about, wheelchairs, or sharing the love of Christ with people? Some times it is so easy to get caught up in what we are doing to help someone that we scarcely have time for the person that we are helping. The kids that are always waiting at my gate when I get home from a long day at the orphanage are a constant reminder of that. It isn’t always easy to keep an even balance but it is my prayer that by God’s grace I will never get so busy doing God’s work that I do not have time for those that He places in my path.

Just 2 nights later, on Thursday night, I wrote the following.

You may be wondering how I am able to find the time to write after being gone since Monday morning. Since we had taken the van and not my car I had Saul drop me off out on the road and then I sneaked down my alley and into my house with out being seen. At least I don’t think that I was seen but my phone has started ringing more than usual and I have already had someone knocking at my gate. I think that the kids do that weather or not I am at home though. They just keep checking in case I come home with out them knowing it. Well I can’t hide out forever. Besides that I really miss them so I think that I will close for now and let them in. Then again a nice warm shower would feel good. Perhaps I will hide out for another 15 minutes.

Friday night I had allowed the kids to come in to my house to eat and to play but my mind was preoccupied with getting this week’s journal published, and getting caught up on a lot of other things that I fell behind on while I had been in Xela. The kids were all but begging me to focus my full attention on them but they had to understand that I was busy. Wasn’t offering to take them out for a quick Pizza and allowing them to play in my house while I worked enough? Some times it is, but last night they needed more than that. I had been away from home for 4 days and they needed my full attention. That is when I decided that mowing the grass, washing the windows, answering piles of e-mail, Selling the old tires from my car, and what seemed like a million other things that I had intended to do today were not as important as focusing my attention on a group of kids that desperately needed it. No we didn’t pack up and go to the zoo or the water park as we often do when I recognize that I am spending more time on the ministry than on those that God has given me to minister to. Instead I simply shifted gears. After breakfast I taught the kids how to play Uno and they loved it. Actually I think that it could have been tiddlywinks that we played and they still would have loved it. It wasn’t what we were doing together it was that we were doing it together that mattered to them. The fact is, even though I decided that I was going to focus my full attention on the kids today all of the other things that were on my list and more some how got accomplished. After an hour of Uno some of us went out and mowed my grass, nearly everyone chipped in by washing the windows while a few of the girls swept and mopped my floors, The kids thought it was a ball to be able to go along with me to a shop that buys and sells old tires. Calin did the bartering for me and was quite proud of him self when we got 500Q (around $60) for my old tires. This afternoon we strung a rope across my yard and used it as a volleyball net. No one seemed to mind that we had to stop an pump up the old soccer ball that we were using every few minutes, and Abner was the only one to complain about the bounders being twice as long on one end of the field than the other. Even he was Ok with it though when I explained to him that I had to keep them shorter on the end where my house was because we were out of new windows. At half time we drove to the glass store and bought a dozen new pains of glass then returned home and moved the boundaries. After the soccer game we replaced 2 broken windows and by then the kids were ready for some time to themselves playing on the computers or getting some schoolwork done. I even managed to get caught up on some of that e-mail.

This evening supper consisted of 2 roosted Chickens and lots of bread and some potato chips. Six kids are spending the night but we once again have a shower problem. I got mine in before the water went off. Well at least half of it. Warm wash cycle cold rinse cycle. There would have been no rinse cycle at all had it not been for my foresight to fill up an old garbage can with water earlier today when the water was on. I was careful not to use too much of the water that was in the garbage can though because there were still 6 kids that desperately needed baths. Not to mention having to keep enough water to flush the toilet a time or 2 during the night.

Well the kids are all settled in. Three of the older ones have claimed the living room and the 3 smaller ones are already fast asleep on an old mattress that is located next to my bed. During our evening prayers several of the kids mentioned how thankful they were for such a fun day.

Goodnight:
Yours in Christ: Dick


Sunday, August 24, 2008, 10:19 PM

I cannot say that last night was the most restful night of my life. I had just drifted off to sleep when I was suddenly bombarded by the 3 kids that had been sleeping on the floor next to my bed. One or 2 of the older boys had decided to sneak into my room and scare them. I am not sure what they did to scare them but they did a good job of it. It took me the next hour to convince 3 trembling kids that my twin bed was not big enough for 4 of us. Even though I got them back onto the floor and fell back to sleep I woke up a bit later only to find Fernando back on my bed. This time I waited until he fell to sleep to put him back with the others.

Today instead of going to church In Antigua we headed to San Marten. Alex’s mom and a bunch of people from there church had already headed up by buss earlier this morning. This was the day that they were going to dedicate their new house. After the church service that we had at their new home we were served lunch then some of us hiked down to a small river. The country side where they are moving to is beautiful but the living conditions will be a bit different than what they are use to. At least for the time being they will have no electricity or running water. Windy, who has recovered well from her burns, has decided to drop out of school so that she can help her mother around home. I have considered talking to her to see if she would continue school if we found her a sponsor but it sounds like she does not want to continue her schooling. Alex and Elder will attend a small country school that is located about a mile from where they will be living. It looks like Chino is going to try to find a place to stay here in Chimaltenango so that he can go to high school. I have not yet been asked if I have room for him but will not be surprised if I am.

Tonight Calin is my only overnight guest. He is already fast asleep. There are on other kids here to scare him so I thing that I will have my bed to myself. I am tiered enough that I probably would sleep right through a dog pile on my bed anyway, so I am going to say goodnight.

Yours in Christ: Dick


Monday, August 25, 2008, 10:52 PM

You would think that after buying 12 new windows yesterday that I would have a replacement for the one that the tire pump went through tonight but you have to take into account that 2 of those windows were used up yesterday, and that not one of the 147 pains of glass that are in my 3 room house that has windows on only 2 sides seem to be the same size. I know that everyone has heard that people who live in glass houses should not throw stones but I think that they should have included soccer balls and tire pumps as well. At least chasing down the kid that threw the tire pump through my window gave me some exercise and as an added bonus I also retrieved the flashlight that he had taken from my house.

Actually I got more exercise than that today because this morning I got into the pool with some of the kids at Hermano Pedro. The influx of volunteers that were there in June and July has ended so once again it was just a few therapists, one other volunteer, and myself. The hand full of kids that we managed we to get into the pool really enjoyed it but I felt bad for many others who would have loved the opportunity to get into the pool.

After swimming I went up to the malnutrition ward to see how Lionel was doing. I know that up until now I have been calling him Dionial and that is the name that I read on his paper work but today they had Lionel Gabriel written above his bed so I guess we will go with that. Lionel seems to be doing well. He still looks like a little skeleton but the nurses claim that he is putting on some weight. One thing for certain he is definitely becoming more alert. Today he was looking around and focusing on things. I even got him to smile when I held him. Perhaps you are thinking that smiling is not a big accomplishment for a 9 year old but it is when you have been starving to death all of your life and weigh less than 18 pounds. I asked if I could carry him out into the sun light but the head nurse said that he had to stay in isolation for a few more days yet. I am just thankful that it looks like he is going to make it. I am sure that if he does it will open up a new door to reaching others that live in his community. In a week and a half I am planning on going there to see a family that has 3 children that cannot walk. After seeing them at the same wheelchair distribution that we met Lionel at we were all fairly certin that the main reason that 2 of them cannot walk is due to starvation. Another reason that I want to go up there is to take measurements and make a plaster cast so that Ruby, another child that we met at the same distribution can get an artificial leg. Lionel’s parents also plan on riding back to Antigua with us so that they can visit with their son for a few days.

I was hoping that I could find a few people that were able to help me take some of the orphanage kids out to lunch today but no one was available. Moses reminded me though that I had promised to spend an hour or 2 with him when I returned from Xela.

This after noon I was told that Sam Sam would be moving to a different orphanage tomorrow. I understand that this one is in Guatemala City and deals primarily with autistic kids. Today I reached out to give him a hug but he pushed me away. Five seconds later he walked up to me threw his arms around my neck and gave me a slobbery kiss. It will be hard to see him go after knowing him for over 8 years but I am praying that he will get the kind of help that he needs there.

One of the nurses brought Alex to me today ad showed me that he was not sitting properly in his wheelchair. I thought about repeating what Sam Sam had just done to me but didn’t know if this nurse liked slobbery kisses. This has to be one of the first times that I have seen any of the nurses show much interest in how the kids were sitting in their chairs. I have seen the nurses and other staff show a lot more interest in the kids in the past few months though and to me this was another milestone. I had intended on working on another child’s wheelchair but wanted to show the nurses that it was important to me that they took an interest in the kid’s well being so I went right to work on it.

On my way home I stopped off to see Caser, the man who has the infected leg. His mother has been changing the dressing fo rthe past few weeks ecause it has been difficult for me to find the time. I must say that I am pleased with the results of the unnaboot that is being used on his leg. Contrary to earlier beliefs I think that Ceser is not going to have to hav his leg amputated. Now that his leg is healing his overall health seems to be much better as well. Every time that i visit this family gets even friendlier if that is humanly possible.

For the first time in I don’t know how long I actually made more to eat than the kids could finish. It did not go to waist though because one of the kids took what was left home to his family. Some of the families are really hurting financially and a meeting that many of them attended last night has them worried because they are saying that each family that gets it’s water from the association that had the water tower collapse may have to come up with as much as $200 US if they expect to see a new water tower in the near future. For many families this is an impossibility. On Wednesday pastor Juan from Tecpan, is planning on coming over to my place and we are going to install a plastic storage tank on my roof. That way I should have water all of the time provided that they turn on the community pump for at least an hour or 2 a day. There is talk that they may cut down on the amount of time that it is turned on though because since it is now pumping directly into the lines instead of a storage tank it could burn out.

Well it is once again that time of night.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Tuesday, August 26, 2008

This morning I headed to the wheelchair shop where I had an appointment to meet with a family that had a little boy who needs a wheelchair. He was a delightful kid and we hit it off right from the start. The boy’s father told me that the family had been praying that their son who had very limited hand use could perhaps receive a power wheelchair. They lived in Guatemala City and had electricity. Their home was also located on level ground and had wide enough doors to accommodate a power wheelchair. There was just one problem. Even though their son was extremely bright he did not have enough hand control to use a joystick. I placed my hand on the back of his head and asked him to push back with his head. He did exactly as I asked. I then asked him to look to the right, Perfect. His head movement to the left was the same. He was the perfect candidate for a head controlled wheelchair. My next hour was spent looking through the supplies that we had in the shop. We had a few power chairs that were his size but no head controllers that could be adapted to them. I phoned Mark over in Antigua and he told me that I could come and see what he had in storage there but didn’t thing that he had what we needed either. I then went in and explained to the boy and his family that I could put their son in an ordinary wheelchair right away but if they were willing to wait a few weeks, until I could locate the right parts and build the proper wheelchair he would have one that he could drive around in on his own. The response from the entire family was unanimous. They would wait until their son could have a head controlled chair. I thought that it would be hard for them to go home without receiving a wheelchair on the spot but knowing that their son will be able to get around independently seemed well worth the wait for them. Please pray with me that we can now locate the head controller to build the chair that this boy needs.

Only a hand full of kids came over tonight. Perhaps it is due to the rain or perhaps it is because I worked up a sweat today but I have had no running water the entire day. I think that I will go and heat up some water on the stove and take a sponge bath.

8:23 PM

Just finished my bath and now the house is filling up with kids. I guess I better start using some stronger deodorant, at least until we get this water thing taken care of.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Wednesday, August 27, 2008

This Morning Chris brought pastor Juan, who lives in Tecpan over to my house. Juan has been helping Chris prepare the land for a pre-fabricated house that will be put up for a widow later this week. Today Juan was going to help me put a water storage tank on my roof. It looks like it could be months if not years before they decide what to do about the collapsed water tower that served at least 400 families so I decided that I had to do something. Hopefully the 1 to 2 hours a day that the water is on will keep enough water into my new storage tank that I will have water all day long. It is 300 gallons but only time will tell how full it will get each day. There is a shut off float in it just in case it ever does fill up. I have it connected to my one and only water faucet, my toilet, and my shower. If it works I will be in he lap of luxury. Can you imagine running water 24 hours a day? My only worry is that once the word gets out that I have running water the line ups to my shower will be longer than ever. I guess I may have to put a 5 minute time limit on each shower and raise the total number of people that are allowed to shower at once. I will make it perfectly clear though that the owner of the shower still likes to have shower time to himself.

Supper was late tonight because the chef had a long day but all of the kids pitched in and we managed to eat at around 9:30. Abner and Fernando who only 24 hours ago stomped off saying that they were never coming back here are my overnight guests tonight. Fact is they have been here ever since getting out of school at around 12:30 this after noon. I can’t remember exactly what they were mad about last night but it takes very little put Abner into a bad mood. Fernando on the other hand seldom gets upset but the last few days have been a little hard on him. He has been trying to get hold of his mother, who has been in the USA for the past 9 years, to remind her that it is his 11th birthday tomorrow. She has not returned his call. I talked to his aunt this evening. She said that her and her husband simply did not have the money to have any kind of a party for him. Now they do. Tomorrow night we will have cake and a piñata over at their house.

Well the kids are fast asleep and I am half asleep so I will close for now. I once again have my pots and pans stacked under the water faucet so if the water comes on I have little doubt that I will sleep through it.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Thursday, August 28, 2008

This morning I spent a few hours in the shop working with Alturo on a power wheelchair that needs to be repaired by Tuesday. This one really had us stumped but we finally located a small wire that was periodically loosing contact. The problem would have been much easier to locate and fix had it been something larger. I am sure there is a good object lesson here somewhere but we won’t go there right now.

After leaving the shop I headed for Hermano Pedro where I had intended on working on some wheelchairs. It was not until I arrived there that I realized that I had left my tools back in Chimaltenango. I am sure that there is a good lesson there as well but I am afraid that it has something to do with getting more forgetful as you get older, so I certainly don’t want to go there. I guess that I should be thankful that I still have a good enough memory to remember what it is that I forgot.

My day was not wasted though because I ran into 2 people that were willing to take a few of the kids to lunch with me.

Today we took Minor, Ervin and Bobby (Roberto). Minor was an angel. Ervin did pretty well considering that he is Ervin, and Bobby did a better than average job of getting more food on himself and on the floor than he managed to eat. After we ate we let the kids play on the playground equipment. We did not put Bobby on the slide though because he was too sticky.



.^ . . .Click on arrow above to view movie.

When we got back to the orphanage I met up with 2 people who have lived in Antigua for several years. They had never been through Hermano Pedro so I showed them around. By the way that they took to the kids I am sure that they will be spending more time there now that they have once visited.

When I got back to Chimaltenango this evening I went to the store and bought 2 cakes and a piñata. Fernando’s mom has still made no contact with him and he was pretty bummed out about it. A big birthday party at his aunt and uncles house helped cheer him up though. I wish so that his mother took enough interest in him to at least call him on his birthday.


Friday, August 29, 2008, 5:48 PM

Today we had a wheelchair distribution here in Chimaltenango. Since the group that was coming in from the USA had to cancel out due to predicted hurricanes in Florida we had mostly just the shop crew here to do the fittings. Fernando had no School. (Why ???????) So he came along and helped as well. Today’ distribution was not one of our larger ones size wise but we had quite a few kids and adults that were not easy to fit. The first little girl that Fernando and I worked on did well at first but by the time that we had finished she was not a happy camper. Her new wheelchair fit her well but she wanted to go home.

Our second customer was just the opposite. This 11 year old boy was so petrified of us at first that his whole body would get stiff as a board any time that we got near him. Fortunately he calmed down more and more as we kept working with him and by the time we had finished he had a wide smile on his face.

When I got home this evening the first thing that I did is hop into the shower. After being so long without running water I realized just what a blessing it is to have it. So far most of the neighbors have not caught on to the fact that I have running water 24 7 even though the water is on only 2 hours a day. I am sure that the news will get out soon but at least for now I can use my shower without standing in line or having an audience.
Next week john Bosman is coming down for a few days. We will be going into an area to the north of that does not see to many outsiders. There is still a lot of mistrust of white people in this area. So please pray that the people are not frightened of us. There are many needs in this area but unless they trust us we are quite limited in the ways that we can help.

Yours in Christ: Dick

Journal August 16-22

WELCOME

(Click on any photo to enlarge)

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Abner and Fernando came along with me today. Fernando is always cheerful, optimistic, and ready to jump right in and help out wherever possible. Abner is a constant reminder that not everyone in this world is like Fernando. I love them both but must admit I have to spend a little extra time on my knees to keep it that way with Abner.
When we got to Ronny’s house we discovered (not to my surprise) that the 9 people that Ronny’s mother told me would be coming along from their house to the water slides had now reached 12. It was a bit cozy with 15 of us in my car and Ronny’s power wheelchair tied on top of my car but at least the water park was only an hour’s drive from where they lived. I had previously told the kids in Ronny’s family that unlike the beach where I had taken them another time appropriate swim ware consisted of more than a pare of old underwear. I guess they felled to relay the message to their dad. Fortunately he spent most of his time in the water so we did not get kicked out of the place. The water park was a new experience to many of our guests but it did not take long until all but a few of the little ones had made their way from the wading pool to the water slides. The only other time that I had taken Ronny to the water park I could not convince him to get into the water. Today however with a little coaxing from his dad and my self he let us carry him into the pool. Ronny has lost a lot of strength lately so we had to hold him carefully but he really enjoyed being in the water. It is hard to see him going down hill so fast. I could not help but think of Carlos who passed away a few weeks ago. Ronny has the same condition and I know his days are numbered. We stayed at the water park for about 3 hours then a thunder storm moved in so we decided to change back into our clothing and head somewhere for lunch.

Rule # 183 When going swimming at one of the classier places in Guatemala be sure and mention to the Guatemalans that are going with you that they prefer that you wear a swim suit instead of your underwear or anything less.

Rule # 184 When mentioning that you are going swimming at one of the classier places in Guatemala that prefers that you ware a swim suit it may be wise to mention this to the adults as well as the children.

Rule # 185 When mentioning that you are going swimming at one of the classier places in Guatemala that prefers that you ware a swim suit it may be wise to mention that they have dressing rooms that the management would rather have you use then the open area at the pool side.

Front of My Car..... . .. .. . Middle of My Car ... ....... . . . Back of My Car

I was thankful that we did not have to lift Ronny’s power wheelchair back onto the top of my car when we headed for home. It was raining much to hard to place it out side of my car. I must admit though that it made things a bit crowded now that it was packed inside of my car with the 15 of us.


I had promised everyone that we would stop at their favorite restaurant on our way through Esquentla. Notice I said theirs and not mine. I never thought that I would say that about Camperos then again I never thought that I would be their millionth customer and that they likely would have only been up to 500, 000 customers if it were not for me.

..............It felt good to be able to bring Ronny’s family back to a nice dry house. I can remember the days when I would see them standing knee deep in water inside of the shack that they called home. They are so happy with their new house that you can’t believe it. Mom will never get the good housekeeping award but she has certainly come a long way since when I first met her. I guess that makes sense though. It is much easier to sweep a cement floor than a mud one. The family has even planted all kinds of plants and flowers around their new house and it really looks like a home.

After saying our goodbyes we drove over to where Carlos the little boy that was having lots of seizures do to lack of medicine lives. He has been doing much better now that we have found him a sponsor that provides the money for medicine for him. In his case it is not one sponsor but a group of senior citizens that are from my hometown.

Fernando, Abner, and I stopped off for a hamburger before going home but that didn’t stop close to a dozen other kids from being hungry. I pointed to the cupboards, the fridge, and the stove, and said, “Have at it.” So they did. I may not have to restock my shelves but I did not have to lift a finger and the place was spic and span when they had finished. Perhaps spic and span is a little bit of an over exaggeration but you have to remember that I have always been a bachelor so my standards for a clean house may differ a bit from yours. You also have to remember that for the past few weeks I have only had running water 1 or 2 hours a day and I am not always there when one of those magic hours arrive.

Well the kids are fed, the house is clean, and it has been decided which 4 are not leaving so now all I have to do is figure out a way for those 4 to at least wash their feet before they drive me to making them all sleep outside, and then I will head off to bed.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Sunday, August 17, 2008, 10:31 PM

Seven of us headed off to church this morning, ten of us arrived there. We figured that the car seemed rather empty after the 15 of us that we had in it yesterday so we stopped off at Hermano Pedro and picked up Moises, Byron, and Henry. We didn’t put all 3 of their wheelchair into the car though. We tied 2 of them on top. It is on days like these that I find it easy to convince myself that although owning a motorcycle would save me a lot of money in fuel, for me it just would not be practical.

Rule # 186 If you plan on taking 3 orphanage kids to church with you remember to take clean clothing along for the kids.

Rule # 187 Even potty-trained kids have accidents.

Rule # 188 Remember that when a potty-trained kid who no longer wears diapers has an accident things can get messy.

Rule # 189 Remember when carrying a potty-trained kid that if they do happen to have an accident they are not going to be the only one that will need a change of clothing.

(Rule # 186b Remember to take extra clothing for yourself too.)

(Note to self) {Remember to return the shirt that Pastor Mike loaned you.}

After church we stopped off at Burger King with the 10 of us. Then we headed for home. The kids played on the computer and watched videos while I tried to take a quick shower. It was not until I turned on the faucet that I remembered that I had no water. At least I had filled up some pots, pans, and garbage cans with water the last time that it was on so I was able to pour some of that on me. Usually I heat it up first but today I felt that getting clean was far more important than waiting 10 minutes for warm water.

When I got out the kids and I went out side a played with a small plastic helicopter that some one had given Alex for his birthday. No remote control here, not even batteries. You just pull on a string and watch it fly for a few seconds. The kids all thought that it was great though and played with it until it was time to return the 3 boys to the orphanage.

Now you are likely thinking that I probably went home and rested this evening. To be honest with you I had serous thoughts about doing just that. The only problem is that tomorrow is Alex’s birthday and I have to be gone for a few days. Fortunately I did not have to throw a big party for him though because a circus has moved in across the street in the same spot where the rodeo was last week. I have written about Guatemalan Circuses before and you likely remember me saying that anyone who can stand on their head for over 2 seconds or any animal that is not dead even though it may look like it is, is a candidate for a circus act. I must admit though that this circus was a bit more than the last one that I went to. The best balancing act was still the audience trying to stay perched on the 2X4 bleachers but the trapeze acrobat that doubled as the fat lady was quite entertaining and Christina and Calin will never forget being selected out of the audience to have a python wrapped around them. Actually I think that the clown was pointing at me but Christian is gullible and I convinced him that the clown was pointing at him.

Well that’s about it for my weekend so I guess that I will head off to bed. I stacked up some pots and pans under the faucet that is out side where I do my dishes and left the faucet turned on. If my plan works, when and if the water comes on, the pans will topple and the noise will wake me up so that I can take a shower. If not I will at least have cleaner pots and pans and a watered yard.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick

Monday, August 18, 2008, 9:54 PM

I spent a short time at Hermano Pedro this morning swimming with the kids. Only 2 therapists and my self were there to swim with the kids so only five kids were able to get into the pool. I was surprised to see that Minor who was on oxygen just a few days ago was one of he kids that got to swim today. I was told that the breathing problems that he experienced a few days ago were from some medication that he was given. No one is saying if it was an allergic reaction to something that had been prescribed for him or if he was accidentally given an overdose, or perhaps even the wrong medicine. All I know is that he is doing well now and I am thankful for all of your prayers for him.

After swimming I went up to the malnutrition ward where Luis, Dionial’s father, was waiting for me. He was at his son’s bedside just like he has been everyday since we brought his son into the malnutrition ward close to a week ago. Today Luis would be riding along with Saul, Hanna, Gustavo, and myself as far as Xela and then catching a buss to where he lived. Saying goodbye was not easy for father or son but Luis knew that if his son did not stay in the malnutrition ward of Hermano Pedro he would likely die. I told him that I am planning on being up in the Huehuetenango area in a few weeks and I promised that I would take him and his wife back to Antigua to visit their son then.

Our drive to Xela was a normal one. We only got run off the road 2 or 3 times and other then a one our stop for road construction we made fairly good time. These one hour stops would not be so bad except for the fact that all of the buses force there way to the front of the line and park on the shoulders and in the oncoming lane. The big problem is that the buses from the oncoming direction do the same thing so once the flagman lets the traffic go you have a Guatemalan stand off. These are fun to watch from a safe distance but being in a car on a mountain road and being surrounded by busses that are insisting on going opposite directions can get a little exciting.

We managed to get into Xela before dark and we are taking it easy tonight. The motel that we are staying in is a nice one. It has a good restaurant in it and it even has running water. This is a luxury that I wish that I had at home. I hear roomers that a new water tank to replace the one that collapsed will run around $80,000. Unless the government steps in and helps I am afraid that I will have to get used of having water only and hour or 2 a day.

Good night,
Yours in Christ: Dick


August 19, 2008, 9:22 PM
After getting the breaks adjusted on the van that we took to Xela we headed to the orphanage. We try to get here at least every three months to refit, repair, and replace the wheelchairs that the kids at this orphanage use. This time it had gone way past 3 months so the needs were great. We had been sent a list of around 35 kids that had chairs that needed attention but with in an hour our list had grown by another 10 wheelchairs. It helped that there were 3 of us repairing wheelchairs and that Hanna was there to do the needed paper work and make sure that we had a new person picked out once we had finished with who ever were working with. Hanna also worked on some of the wheelchairs with her husband Saul.

My first customer was an easy one it was a blind girl who has been there ever since I first came there close to 9 years ago. She had recognized my voice the minute that I walked into the place and after a few hugs she told me that her brakes needed adjustment. It looked like today was starting off to be brake adjustment day. Perhaps I should have hoped for that anyway because this was a 5 minute job. At this rate we would be able to have everyone’s wheelchair done in no time. That is when (excuse the pun) the breaks really came on though.

My next customer was also an old friend that I had met on my firs visit to this orphanage. I will never forget the day that I found Mario lying in a small circular cage with a body that was so bent and twisted that the heals of his feet were firmly planted on the back of his head. That day we did not have enough wheelchairs for Mario or many of the other kids who we found lying on the floor or tied in little wooden chairs with their hands behind their backs. I still remember both Chris and myself getting physically sick from the hopelessness of what we saw. By God’s grace less than 2 weeks later we were able to return with wheel chairs for each and every kid in that orphanage. Things were not easy there at first. Often times we would return only to find that the wheelchairs were a handy thing to tie the kids in. I am happy to say though because of persistence and some caring people that work there this orphanage had made great progress. Oh yes there are still kids that spend far to much of their time locked in cribs but things are much better. Many of the kids now attend school and the girls that care for them are really starting to care about them as well.

Anyway back to Mario. The first time that I ever worked with him it took nearly 2 hours to get him out of the position where his back bent so far back wards that his feet touched his head. And it took over a day to set up a wheelchair that would hold him in a position where his muscles would not suddenly contract not only causing him possible physical damage but at one point actually snapping the frame of a wheelchair. Now nearly 9 years later 17 year old Mario is sitting straight and tall 99% of the time. It is that other 1% that make it necessary to constantly be repairing or replacing Mario’s wheelchairs. Today we had brought along a new chair for Mario however I had not realized how much he had grown, so after looking thing over I decided that it would be easier to readjust and use his old wheelchair then to try and make the one that we had brought big enough. The only problem was Mario’s old wheelchair needed a lot of repairs. That is why in spite or the fact that I got done with my first wheelchair in record time the total number of wheelchairs that I got finished with today was 2. Thanks to a slightly higher number of wheelchairs that Saul and Gustavo did we may be able to finish up some time on Thursday. That is as long as there are not to many Mario’s left to do. It was all worth it though because this evening he was once again sitting straight and tall in his wheelchair. He looked a lot happier than he did earlier today when I found him tied in his bed.

^ . . . . . ......... Click on button above to see movie.

On our drive back to the motel we shared stories about some of the kids that we had worked with either today or with in the past few weeks. Saul and Hanna shared about the absolute joy they saw in the face of one of the children that they gave a wheelchair to today. Since she had evidently come into the orphanage after out last visit. Not having a wheelchair for her, the people at the orphanage did the best that they could by putting her into a stroller. It served it’s purpose in being able to move this sweet little girl from one place to another but she had to remain wherever she was placed until some one came along and moved her. Not anymore! Today from the moment that Saul and Hanna got her seated into her new wheelchair she was nonstop. I managed to get her to sit still long enough for a picture but then she was once again off exploring a whole new world.

Gustavo, who is himself in a wheelchair got a smile on his face that was as big as that of the little girl that Saul and Hanna had just put in to a wheelchair as he shared with us about a little girl that he and Carlos had given a wheelchair to when on a recent trip to El Salvador. He said that he had never witnessed so much joy in a child.

Not all of this joy is necessarily seen in those that receive wheelchairs. Today I had to tell the only child at the orphanage that is in a power wheelchair that I did not have the parts to fix his powers wheelchair with me, and that I would have to take it back to Chimaltenango with me and repair it there. You would think that he would be in tears knowing that it will be at least 2 weeks before he gets his wheelchair back, but he was all smiles. Why? Because he was busy helping me drill some holes so that we could mount some brackets onto Mario’s wheelchair. Yes, allowing him to help took up precious time but what is this ministry all about, wheelchairs, or sharing the love of Christ with people? Some times it is so easy to get caught up in what we are doing to help someone that we scarcely have time for the person that we are helping. The kids that are always waiting at my gate when I get home from a long day at the orphanage are a constant reminder of that. It isn’t always easy to keep an even balance but it is my prayer that by God’s grace I will never get so busy doing God’s work that I do not have time for those that He places in my path.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 8:33 PM

Today was much like a repeat of yesterday, more kids, more wheelchairs. You would think that after doing this for nearly 9 years that it would sort of become old hat. How many hundreds or perhaps more like thousands of people can you give wheelchairs to before it no longer sends chills down your back to see what a difference a wheelchair can make in their lives. I have no idea and I doubt that I will ever find the answer to that. It seems like each child or adult that we are able to give a wheelchair to has such joy that we can not help but feel the way we did when we handed out our first wheelchair. Notice I am saying we because judging by the conversation at tonight’s dinner table the whole crew feels the same. Another thrill is to be working with Saul and Hanna. Little did I know at the time that the little girl that helped interpret for me at the very first wheelchair distribution that I had ever been part of would be working with her husband along side of me 9 years later. When the Mooney kids told me that day that they were missionaries they meant it.

I am going to keep this one short tonight because tomorrow looks like it is going to be another busy one. Besides I have heard that a picture is worth a thousand words. Here then are several thousand words.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick

Thursday, August 21, 2008, 6:11 PM

After 4 days in Xela we are finally back in Chimaltenango. Our morning was once again spent at the orphanage in Xela where we worked on wheelchairs until noon and then headed for home. Even though we worked there for 3 days we still did not get finished with everything that there was to do. There were just too may chairs that needed to be repaired or replaced and a lot of the cases were difficult ones. Hopefully we can get back there soon and finish up on those that we could not get to. I think that it was time to leave anyway because we were beginning to get as attached to the kids in this orphanage as we already are to those at Hermano Pedro in Antigua. Today I had more little helpers than I really needed but it meant so much to each of them to feel like they were doing something constructive and to get a little attention while doing it that I just could not say no.

After leaving the orphanage we drove back to the motel, got cleaned up, had some lunch, and then headed for home. The first part of our trip went quite smoothly and the traffic was not to bad. Then an hour road closure put a stop to the light traffic thing. Once we got moving it was wall to wall trucks and busses. Some of these drivers are totally insane. At times busses or truck would come up behind you so close that you could only see their front bumper in your mirror. There was not much that I could do about it because I was usually had trucks and busses right in front of me. I think that I have an idea what anything that goes inside of a sandwich feels like. Add to that the fact that every now and then you suddenly find your self on a section of new road that will eventually be 4 lanes. The only problem is that you are switched from one set of lanes to the other so often that no one is cretin weather or not they are in there lane or that of the oncoming traffic. At one point today while following other traffic I discovered that we were the ones in the wrong lane. I had been following a car in front of me and both of us missed seeing a hand painted arrow on a rock that indicated that we had to cross through what appeared to be a small ditch into a newly opened section of highway. Fortunately there was a wide spot not too far down the road where we and the people that we had been following were able to turn around. That was a rather humbling experience and it even made me feel bad that I had gotten a bit angry about several other cars that we had met in our lane a bit earlier. Anyway it is good to be back home.

You may be wondering how I am able to find the time to write after being gone since Monday morning. Since we had taken the van and not my car I had Saul drop me off out on the road and then I sneaked down my alley and into my house with out being seen. At least I don’t think that I was seen but my phone has started ringing more than usual and I have already had someone knocking at my gate. I think that the kids do that weather or not I am at home though. They just keep checking in case I come home with out them knowing it. Well I can’t hide out forever. Besides that I really miss them so I think that I will close for now and let them in. Then again a nice warm shower would feel good. Perhaps I will hide out another 15 minutes. Oh that’s right, NO WATER!

Yours in Christ: Dick


Friday, August 22, 2008, 8:54 PM

Whenever the kids play soccer I have them open one of my car doors a little ways so that if a ball or kid happens to hit my car the alarm does not go off. Since I was gone from home since Monday morning all I can figure is my car door stayed open ever since Sunday night’s soccer game. I found out this morning that no matter how good your battery is it will go dead if the interior light of your car stays on for 5 days. Anyway that is why I was a bit late getting into the Hope Haven warehouse in Antigua this morning. A few weeks ago when Hope Haven did a wheelchair distribution down near the coast around a half dozen people showed up whom we did not have the right wheelchair for. Instead of giving them something that would not be right for them we asked if they could come to Antigua and be fitted into the proper wheelchairs. Today was the day that was decided upon. I was glad that Saul had decided to come along and help as well. Even though there were 6 people that needed wheelchairs it still took us a few hours because 3 of them were difficult cases. By around 3 PM we had finished up though and all 6 people were extremely happy.

^ .......... . . . . . Click on button above to see movie.

One of the more interesting cases was a lady that appeared to be in her thirties. She had been born with deformed arms and legs and was extremely overweight. As far as I know she had never owned a wheelchair and her size made it next to impossible for any one to move her. Due to her size and the deformity of her arms there was no way that we would be able to give her a manual wheelchair that she could propel on her own so Mark and I started looking at the power wheelchairs that he had stored in the warehouse. We doubted that we would find anything her size and if we did the chances of it running would be slim because none of these chairs had been checked out yet. Upon looking around we found an extra wide power chair but since it had arrived from the States without batteries we had no idea if it was in working condition. I had not brought any of my test equipment along from Chimaltenango because we were not planning on giving out any power chairs today, but we decided to put batteries in it hoping that it just happened to run. I guess this was another one of those Godincidence days because it ran well and it fit the lady perfectly. All that was needed were some modifications to the footrests and in less than an hour this lady who had never been able to move around on her own was driving all over the parking lot. She was thrilled and so were we. A little later a happy vanload of people waved goodbye as they headed back for the coast.

I thought about stopping off at the orphanage for an hour or so before driving home but it had been a long week. Besides that I knew that the kids in my neighborhood would be waiting for me.

I was not home for 5 minutes before my house had 8 kids in it and by the time that I announce that we were going out for pizza tonight there were 12 of us. The 3 that came a bit later told me that the police had just shot and killed a man in front of their house. I think that in the five and a half years that I have in this neighborhood at least half of my kids have seen some one get shot and killed. Some of the kids are staying tonight because they said that they did not want to walk down the alley where the man was killed. I offered to walk them home but they said that they rater stay here.

I am still trying to figure out how they will shower but since my head cold has cleared up and I once again have my sense of smell we will figure something out.

Well it is getting late so I think that I will say goodnight.

Yours in Christ: Dick

Journal August 10-15 2008

(Click on any picture to enlarge)

Sunday, August 10, 2008, 9:47 PM

Today was just a typical Sunday and did that ever feel good. I love the groups that come in but every now and then I have to reminds myself that I have to break away and concentrate on the kids in the orphanage and the ones at home. Since I got home a bit late last night not all of the kids were around so only 4 of them came along to church this morning. That worked out for the best though because after lunch we headed straight to the orphanage to meet up with some of the people from the States that I had been with most of the week. I find that if I take to many kids along with me to the orphanage it can get a bit to wound up if I don’t keep a constant eye on them. As things turned out our group showed up about an hour late but another group that was told earlier that I could not be with them ended up getting a mini tour until the other group showed up. Both tours were a rather condensed version of those that I generally give but I wanted to keep an eye on my kids and I wanted to simply spend time with the orphanage kids. It must have been a week since I had been to the orphanage and both the kids and I really missed each other.

Most of the kids are doing well. In fact a few of the kids that were in malnutrition have gone back to their homes. Unfortunately one of the little boys that went home returned back to the malnutrition ward only 4 days later. It is amazing how much weight he has lost in such a short time. He is in pretty rough shape. Luis Andres, a little boy that Chris and I brought in nearly 2 years ago has been doing well even after he was moved down into the ward where the permanent kids stay but today I was surprised to see that they had a feeding tube in his nose. Know one knows why but about 5 days ago he stopped eating. This is very unusual for him because he usually eats like a horse. They have run all kinds of tests on him but can’t seem to find anything wrong with him. Pleas remember him in your prayers.

At around 4 PM I decided to bring the kids home while Chris and Donna took the group junk (Souvenir) shopping. It seem like I always get left out when it comes to shopping. I had intended on dropping the kids off in Chimaltenango and then meeting back up with the group for supper but when I got home I was reminded that I had intended on spending this Sunday the way that I do when we do not have teems down. By around 7:30 well over a dozen well fed kids were playing on one of my computers, Break dancing, Playing football, or just visiting. Now things were getting back to usual.

10:30 PM

I finally got all but 4 of them to go home. I think that they are all trying to make up for the 4 days that I was on the road. For of them want to make sure that they get caught up, so they are spending the night. Tonight’s showers may be a bit of a challenge because we are once again without water. I think that this water outage is going to make the 2 weeks with out water that I experience a few months ago seem like kids stuff. Today at around noon the water tower that supplies this part of Chimaltenango collapsed and fell over. It is located right next to the house where Alex and his family live. Fortunately the tank fell to the west, which is the only direction where there are no houses. Damage was still done to 2 homes but no one was hurt.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Monday, August 11, 2008

I ate breakfast with the group that is here from the USA then Chris and Donna took them to a village that is about a half hour from here to build a house for a needy family. I had previously intended on going along with them but ran into too many wheelchair needs while I was at the orphanage yesterday. It seem like whenever I am gone for a few days all of the wheelchairs break at once. I made up my mind that even though I had a lot of work to do at the orphanage I was going to take a few kids out to lunch and I also took and hour off to swim with the kids. I don’t know who suffers more when I am gone for a while, the kids or me.

Since I could only find one volunteer to come along with me I was only able to take 2 of the kids out to lunch. It was next to impossible to choose whom to take because I know that there would be others who would cry if they colud not go. Ervin was the hardest to leave behind. He had not let me out of his sight all morning. When I told him that I would have to take him another time he screamed so loud that you could hear him a 2 blocks away.

I ran into 4 or 5 people who were at the hospital seeing doctors who desperately needed wheelchairs today but all I could do was give them forums to fill out. Hopefully we will be able to supply them with wheelchairs in the not to distant future. I would love to be able to give them each a wheelchair right away but the needs greatly outweigh the number of wheelchairs that we have.

One of my most grateful customers today was Byron whose power wheelchair had been out of commission for the past several days. He is pretty hard on head controllers so I had to rebuild his today. I don’t dare to add up the hours that I spend on keeping Byron and Fidel’s power wheelchairs running, but if you saw the difference that these chairs make in their lives you would agree that it is worth it.

I guess that old saying the squeaky wheel gets the grease is true. After talking to anyone that would listen to me for the past 8 years most of the kids at the orphanage are not being put back to bed at noon each day and left there until the following morning. Instead most of the kids are taken from their wheelchairs and placed outside on mats for an hour or so and then put back into their wheelchairs until around 3 or 4 PM. I am not sure how happy the caregivers are about this but it is much healthier for the kids. I would still like to see each care giver being in charge of her 6 or 7 kids instead of the hit and miss way that they do things by having 5 or 6 of them working with a whole room full of kids, but perhaps that will come in another 8 years. One thing about Guatemala is that you learn to have patience if you don’t go crazy first. I think that God is slowly teaching me the patience thing but I wish that He would do it faster.

I had intended on stopping off at Cesar’s house and changing the dressing on his leg but a thunder storm broke out just before I left the hospital so I called and told him that it would have to wait a few days.

Tomorrow I plan on driving to Huehuetenango where I hope to pick up the starving 9 year old boy that we met at last week’s wheelchair distribution. We just received word that he is still alive but it sounds like he is not doing well at all. I pray that we can get him in to the hospital in time. I can not help but think of the 9 year old girl whose home I went to 2 weeks ago only to discover that she had died a few days before we got there.

Well it is time for bed I have to get up at 6 AM to shower because that is when they plan on turning the water back on for an hour.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Tuesday, August 12, 2008

I am pleased to announce that someone wants to sponsor the family that has the 3 kids that showed up for wheelchairs at the distribution that we had in Huehuetinango last week. I also have leads on someone who may know where I can get an artificial leg for another child that was at the same distribution. Thanks so much to those of you who responded to these needs.

I managed to get up early enough for that shower but judging by the color of the water I am not sure it I am now cleaner or dirtier. I guess now that it is not going into the water tank the dirt is not given any time to settle. Perhaps the weight of the settling dirt is why the water tank fell over .

Calin got out of school at around 11AM and Lue arrived by buss from Antigua a short time later. The 3 of us then headed out to Huehuetinango. We made it there in record time. I figured that we would not get there until around 6 PM but the traffic was light and the construction delays were few, so we arrived shortly after 4 PM. Tonight we are staying in the San Francisco Hotel. This is one of the nicer hotels that I stay in here in Guatemala. It is a bit pricey at $20 for a single and close to $30 for a double room but I have heard rumors that 5 star hotels cost even more than that in the USA. We even have wireless Internet so I am going to take advantage of it and get caught up on answering dozens of e-mails. I promised Calin that I would play him a few games of foos ball first though so I guess I better go.

Yours in Christ: Dick

Wednesday, August 13, 2008, 5:28 PM

After breakfast we headed for San Sabastion, which is about a half hour from Huehuetinango. Dionial (spelling), his father, mother, and Uncle were already at the Catholic church next to the central park waiting for us. Both mom and dad looked very nervous. I am sure that they know that there son would not live much longer if they did not allow him to come with us to Hermano Pedro but this is an aria that is extremely untrusting of white people. Less that a year ago after taking some other Americans into this area we received a phone call from a Guatemalan family that we know telling us that we had really frightened the people by going into that area with hat many Americans. Some of the people were worried that we had come there to scout things out so that we could kidnap their kids. I am not sure what the feeling was but a lot of eyes were on us today as we walked through the park and into the Catholic Church where Dionial’s mother was waiting for us. As we talked with Dionial’s uncle and Father his mother sat silently, with tears running down her face, holding her starving son in her arms. I soon realized that father had as much concern for his son as mother did. Letting us take him to the malnutrition ward of Hermano Pedro was not an easy decision for them but I think that they know that it was the only way that their son had any chance to stay alive. They told us that they had both wanted to come along to Antigua but since there were 6 more children at home there was no way that they could both go. Father asked if he could stay in Antigua at least a few days to make sure that his son was getting good care. I told him that he could stay as long as he wanted. A lot of people stopped what they were doing to watch us as we left the church and walked through the park back to my car. I was glad that Dionial’s family was with us. I don’t mind barbeques but they are not all that great when it is you that is being roasted. I am sure that not unlike Julio’s case several of the villagers had told this family that they were making a mistake by allowing their son to come along with us. I do know though that if he can be returned home in a few months in better shape it will open things up so that others will allow their children to get the help that they need. I also know that this little boy would die if we didn’t do something so we had no choice. Why 2 days drive to get 1 kid to the hospital? Because God had led us to him.

When we arrived at Hermano Pedro 5 hours later I had expected to do nothing more than get a paper signed that gave us permission to have Dionial and his father stay at Casa De Fe for the night. Generally you have to be in line at the door of Hermano Pedro by 6 AM to see a doctor. All of the doctors had gone home for the day but the people that work in the social work office went out of their way to help us. They even bent a few rules and got most of the paper work done so that tomorrow morning instead of arriving at 6 AM and standing in a long line we can arrive later and go directly to see the doctor. I have little doubt that once the doctor sees him he will admit him into the malnutrition ward.

I have once again snuck over to Camperos to get yesterday’s and today’s journals done. I can’t believe that I have managed to hide out here for nearly 2 hours with out being discovered. Woops my cover has just been blown wide open. 5 kids are suddenly at the table with me and 3 more are looking in through the window. Fortunately I have already paid my bill or they would all want Chicken. Tonight they are going to have to settle for pizza. I can go out side and buy them, 2 pieces of pizza and a coke for 10Q ($1.30) each. Mark Richard has just showed up and offered to treat the kids to ice-cream cones.

Well I better go before more of the kids show up.

Yours in Christ: Dick


Thursday, August 14, 2008, 8:16 PM

Fernando came along to interpret for me today. You guessed it, he had no school today. We picked up Dionial and his father at Casa De Fe and took them to Hermano Pedro. The office did not have his paper work finished yet but told us that we could go straight up to the doctor’s office and they would bring the needed paper work when they had it ready. I could not believe the red carpet treatment that we were given. Everyone seemed so caring and went out of their way to help Dionial and his father feel welcome. We had to wait a while before the doctor showed up but when he did we were the first ones that he saw. He was very friendly and took a genuine concern in Dionial. Even though he already had dozens of patients waiting out side of his office he took his time with examining Dionial. He was also very patient with Luis (Dionial’s father). Luis’s Spanish is quite limited since the mane language spoken in his area is mam. Mam is just one of 23 different Mayan languages spoken here in Guatemala. There was no question as to 9 year old Dionial being malnourished. He tipped the scales at 17 pounds. The Doctor told us that there was one thing that could keep him from being admitted into the malnutrition ward though. By listing to Dionial’s breathing there was no doubt that there was fluid in his lungs. The doctor told us that he would have to have an x-ray taken and if it showed that there was an infection in his lungs he would have to be admitted into the national hospital instead of the malnutrition ward of Hermano Pedro. I know that his father would take his son back home before he would put him into a national hospital and frankly I didn’t blame him. All we could do is pray that there was no infection, and pray we did. An hour later we got the good news that Dionial was going to get to stay at Hermano Pedro. I can’t express how happy I was. I didn’t realize how relieved I would be but the unsuspected tears started flowing. Not only will this little boy be given a chance to live but also if he does well I think that it will open up the opportunity to help more people from where he lives. It is still going to be an uphill climb for him so please continue to pray for him and his family.
I know that a lot of people believe that some of these families bring more hurt then necessary upon themselves and their children by having such large families but until you fully understand there culture please don’t be to quick to judge. All I know is that there are children and adults that are starving to death and I know what Jesus told us to do for them.

I managed to get away from Hermano Pedro for a short time and with the help of Fernando, Lue, and Carlos we took 4 of the kids from the orphanage out to lunch. We had another GODINCIDENCE thing happen today. On our way back from lunch Carlos took a slightly different rout through the park than the rest of us. The next thing I know he was calling me to come over to where he was. He had accidentally run into a family that was carrying their 16 year old son who could not walk. They gladly followed us to the orphanage where I took measurements and filled out some paper work that will insure that this boy gets a wheelchair in the not to distant future.

Dionial made it through the entire day with out a tear but when his father told him that he was going to leave for the night it was too much for Dionial. This father has so much love for his son that it is amazing. Even though Dionial made it until the end of the day without crying his father did not. Nor did his mother when we drove away with her son yesterday. This family may not have much in the way of material goods but I think that there are a lot of people that would envy them in some ways.Well it is once again getting late. I have already taken my shower because 6 PM seems to be the magic time that they turn my water on for about an hour. Tonight I filled a glass container with water just to see how much dirt was in it. Lets just say that if you get clean while taking a shower it is not because the water is clean but you have more than likely been sand blasted.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick

Friday, August 15, 2008, 9:14 PM

How to learn patience even if you don’t want to.


-First you stand in line at the bank for a half hour then you go and stand in line 2 pay 2 bills and it makes the wait at the bank seem like nothing.

-Next you wait for the group that never arrived as planned yesterday to arrive. At least today they call to tell you that they are running an hour late. 2 ½ hours later they arrive.


Once they did arrive we had a good time together. Chris had planned on showing them through the wheelchair shop but had grown impatient and left for Guatemala City. Actually he had to leave. His son Judah had stopped in from the USA to visit for a few days before heading off to Paraguay for a year and he had to leave today.

After I showed the group around the wheelchair shop I took them to Hermano Pedro orphanage and showed them around. They quickly fell in love with the kids and had a great time there. I think that they all wished that they could stay longer but they were still going to try to drive to El Salvador tonight.

Dionial, whom we brought in yesterday seems to be doing well. His father has been with him the whole time except to go to Casa De Fe to sleep. Father told me this morning that when he called home his wife told him that all of the other children had been crying. They were all worried that their brother might not make it.

Minor, who came along with us to lunch yesterday, suddenly got very sick this morning. I am still not clear as to weather he had a seizure or if it was some type of breathing problem. When I went in to see him early this afternoon he was on oxygen but was non responsive. However at about 4 PM one of the nurses came and got me and said that he had been asking for me. He was still week and could only whisper so I put my ear down by him he grinned and softly whispered, “Camperos.” I told him that we might have to wait a day or to but I promised him that I would take him there as soon as he was feeling better.

Before heading for home Calin and I (Yes, Calin had been with me the entire day. Why no school? I didn’t bother to ask.) stopped off for something to eat. Tonight I told him that he could order what ever he wanted. He had been a great help today. It seems that Luis (Dionial’s father can understand Calin’s Spanish better than anyone else’s. I think that it is that touch of Spanglish that he accidentally throws in every now and then.

There were only a few kids at the door when I got home but the numbers have gradually gone up all night. At last count there were 13 kids and myself. I know that because Calin and I didn’t eat again and each kid had exactly 2 ½ hot dogs and I made 30 of them. I have found that you really have to do your math around here because if any of the kids gets even a bite more than the others I hear about it for the rest of the night.

Well I guess that I will call it a night. Tomorrow I am planning on playing. I have been promising Ronny’s family that I well take the 9 of them to the water slides for quite some time now. Originally I was only going to take Fernando along as an interpreter but having only 11 people in one car seems like such a waist so I think I will give in and let a few more kids come along.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick

Journal August 4-9 2008

(Click on any photo to enlarge)

Monday August 4, 2008

Not much for news today because I was still under the weather so I stayed at home. About the only exciting thing that happened was that Fernando broke my window. Actually that isn’t anything all that exciting because that happens about every other day.

I hope that I get over this sore throat and head ache soon because the home remedies that some of my neighbors are giving me are going to give me an upset stomach before long.

Yours in Christ: Dick


Tuesday, August 5, 2008, 5:01 PM

Today I decided that I had enough of this lying around the house and headed for Hermano Pedro. I felt like a big meaney though because I didn’t get close to any of the kids due to the sore throat that I still have. The main reason that I went there was to fix Fidel’s power wheelchair. It broke while he was on his way to Carlos’s funeral last Thursday. Fidel gets depressed quite easily and loosing his friend Carlos has been hard on him. I knew that if he did not have his power chair to move around in that things would be even tougher for him. A phone call that I got from the orphanage indicated that Fidel’s wheelchair had broken in half so I was prepared for the worst. Although the chair was indeed in 2 separate pieces it is designed so that you can take it apart for transport so after replacing one broken bolt and tightening the other it was soon back together. Fidel was happy to got out of the his old manual wheelchair because he is has to rely on some one to do everything for him when he is in it.


Even though I had tried to make this orphanage visit a secret several of the kids found out that I was there so I had to explain to them that I still was not feeling 100% so I could not spend time with them today. They are smart kids and I think that most of them understood but it did not make it any easier for them or for me.

I am taking it easy this afternoon because we have a large group coming in from the States tonight and we are planning on driving up to Huehuetenango tomorrow and then having wheelchairs distributions on Thursday and Friday.

I just got a phone call from Chris. He had good news and bad news. The bad news is that most of the luggage that the group who is coming in tonight started out with is going to come in a day late. The good news is that since there is very little luggage arriving tonight. This means my car will not be needed to pick the group up. I usually love picking up the groups but this will give me one more night to get over this crud that I have.

Perhaps the drive to Guatemala City would have been more restful but the kids were glad that I stayed at home even if supper was about a dozen top robins of assorted flavors made in one large pan. I made sure that the kids got a well balance diet though. For fruit we had grape cool aid and only Fernando missed out on his vegetables. He didn’t want any ketchup on his top robin noodles. The kids are good about eating what ever I give them besides that I promised that as soon as I get back from this distribution I will stock up on good food. I hope that they still have that sail on hot dogs. Everyone has left except for Abner and Miguel. Some one has offered to help out with his education so I was able to tell him that tonight. It looks like he will no longer have to work all day then go to school at night. I don’t want him to think that he is just getting a free hand out so I talked to Chris about having him work a few mornings a week in the wheelchair shop and going to school in the afternoons. This will also give him the opportunity to learn how to repair wheelchairs. I asked if his father could possibly chip in a little for his education as well but Miguel says that since he makes only $130 per month and has to pay $38 per month to rent the dirt floor house that they live in there is barely enough money to put food on the table.

One more window is missing tonight. Funny thing though I never heard it break (although with my hearing that is nothing unusual) and there is no broken glass around. That means that unless some one stole it, Fernando broke it. I know that if it was broken it had to be Fernando because he is the only one that picks up after himself without being told.

Well it is bedtime again so I will say goodnight.

Yours in Christ: Dick


Wednesday, August 6, 2008

After loading around 100 wheelchairs into George’s truck moat of us headed on our way to Huehuetenango for Tomorrows wheelchair distribution. Most of us amounted to around 12 people. There should have been 6 more in our group but Chris had to stay behind to pick 5 of the Americans whose flight from the states was canceled yesterday. We had been told yesterday that it was only their luggage that was gong to be a day late but they were delayed as well. Our drive to Huehuetenango was a bit tense due to lots of construction and a lot of crazy drivers. A few of my passengers accused me of being one of those crazy drivers from time to time but they are not used to Guatemalan driving. If you are too passive you are likely to get run down by a buss. Any way we made it here with little more than a few shattered nerves and shattered eardrums. One of the American ladies that visits each year can really scream when she gets frightened. I promised not to mention her name though because Ardie gets embarrassed easily.

On our way here we stopped of in San Francisco (Guatemala not California) and hiked some medicine in to where Erica lives. The group liked seeing Erica but some were not used of hiking at 8000 feet. No CPR needed but a few looked like they were on the verge. Erica and her family are doing well. They are very happy with the results that they have seen since using the medicine. Before leaving Erica’s mom served us some bread and coffee. We did not stay long because I wanted to make it there before dark. None of us could help but think about the crew that Chris was picking up at the airport in Guatemala City at 9:30. They will likely not get here until around 3 AM. Driving here with so many of the roads torn up for construction even in the daylight is a challenge but in this case they have no other choice than to drive at night or they will miss tomorrows wheelchair distribution.

Well I am going to call it a day because tomorrow’s distribution is supposed to be a big one.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Thursday, August 7, 2008 (Written Friday, August 8, 2008, 2:08 AM)Following Thursday's wheelchair distribution in Huehuetenango we moved on to Sacappulas. Once we got settled in to our motel and had finished supper I got on my computer and tried to write down everything that had happened that day. Putting the things that I had witnessed into words did not come easy for me though. It had been a bittersweet day. Yes we had been able to share the message of the love of Jesus to hundreds of people. We had also given out over 40 wheelchairs and given each person that received a wheelchair the opportunity to see a doctor. For some all 3 were first time experiences. It had been a good day so why was it that I could not get my thoughts together enough to write about it until 2 AM the following morning? I guess holding starving kids in my arms and seeing families that had not just one child but 3 that were in wheelchairs primarily due to malnutrition was just to hard to write about. Sometimes it is not easy to think about such things. Besides that we had done our part. We had worked hard all day doing what we could to eliminate some of the pain and suffering that we had seen. There was nothing more that we could do. Besides that there are so many people like the 9 year old child that I held in my arms that was starving to death that it seemed almost silly to try and reach out and help just one more. Earlier today some one had come up to me and said, “You know just giving someone a fish to eat with out teaching him or her how to fish is only a Band-Aid”. If I hear that line one more time I think I am going to puke. I learned back in my EMT days that a Band-Aid or some other type of first aid was exactly what was needed to keep some one alive until you got them to the hospital. Rehabilitation has it place but you do not try to teach the people how to get back on their own 2 feet until the bleeding has stopped and the hilling process has begun. That is why we continually ask God to give us the wisdom of knowing whom to feed and clothe until we feel that they can make it on their own with the help of a new sowing machine, carpentry tools, a pig to raise, or what ever else it takes to get them back on their own 2 feet. For some it comes quickly, but much like those that we give wheelchairs, walkers or crutches to, some need support their entire lives. In some ways I guess it is a bit like Christianity. Another one liner that I have heard far to often is “Isn’t Christianity just a crutch? My answer to that is, “Yes and that is exactly what a cripple like myself needs.” Face it, none of us can make it on our own. That is why God’s own son had to suffer and die for us. I can’t help but wonder though if we have not become as calloused to His suffering as we have become to the suffering of those around us. I have met many people who have come here on short term missions that say they are glad that they have come here because God has really opened their eyes to the needs of this world. They also tell me though that they have to pray about how to return home and not feel guilty about living the so called good life with out feeling guilty about it. I wish that I had a comfortable answer for them but perhaps God is asking the same question.
After tomorrow’s distribution I will make a call in to Hermano Pedro to tell them that next week we are bringing in another starving child. I will also see what can be done about finding some one who can make an artificial leg for a little boy. We will also try to find a sponsor for the entire family whose only meal of the day consists of 2 corn tortias. Thank God for people like the Mooney family and for many others who are doing what they can to help those that are dying with out food, or without ever knowing what it is like to see the love of Jesus being demonstrated through his own children.

Here is part of a letter that I received a few days ago.

I have been checking your web page out and I plan on keeping myself updated with what is happening in your part of the world. How can life in America be so far removed from what is happening there. What a reality check. I want you to know my life will never be the same again since my visit to Guatemala. I can no longer bury myself in outside influences (TV, work, etc) to the reality of what is happening there and probably in so many other places. One of the things that stands out so much to me is the people who have so little seem to have so much faith. The hand of God is so evident and I would like to live my life with that kind of faith. I have taken so much for granted all my life. I feel I received so much more than I could ever possibly give back. Now that my eyes have been opened, I need to figure out the best way I can help. Thank you again Dick.

Your sister in Christ, R….

Well, it is nearly 3:30 Am. I think that I will try and get some sleep. We have another wheelchair distribution scheduled in the morning and undoubtedly we will see a lot more needs. I guess that we will have to remember that we can’t help them all but I still can’t help but wonder if we couldn’t be doing more.

Yours in Christ: Dick


Friday, August 8, 2008, 7:54 PM
I managed to get back to sleep and actually felt quite rested when I woke up this morning. Our breakfast consisted of the same thing that we had last night, beans, eggs, and tortias. Some of these small town restaurants do not have many choices on their menus. This one had none. They gave us a choice of what kind of meet we wanted mixed in with our eggs though. Last night choice was hot dogs or ham. This morning’s choice was ham or hot dogs. Last night I picked choice number 2 and this morning I picked choice number 1. I always liked ham better than hot dogs.

After breakfast we drove to the municipal hall where today’s distribution was to take place. We were happy to see that once again we had a large building to work in. Today we gave out 50 wheelchairs. Which is about the same amount that we gave out yesterday. Once again several of the people that we gave wheelchairs to were quite severe. I could not help but think what they would have been like had we been able to give them wheelchairs 5 or 10 years ago. Several who were in their upper teens or early twenties were so deformed that we could not get them into a seated position or even get their legs uncrossed. I have little doubt that had they received just a little therapy or been seated in a good wheelchair when they were younger their bodies would likely have not been so deformed. Never the less all of them went home happy to be in a wheelchair that at the very least they could lye in.

After the distribution we took a vote and unanimously decided to try a different restaurant to eat at. Although this restaurant was nothing to look at, and you had to sit on long wooden benches that looked questionable in their ability to hold even one yet alone several Americans, the food was delicious. Even though they were on the menu no one ordered beans or eggs.

After lunch we headed to Chichicastenango where we are spending the night. Tomorrow we are planning on heading to Panajachel to spend most of the day at the lake. Personally I would much rather be giving out wheelchairs or spending the day at the orphanage with the kids but I am sure that I can find some place to hide while the others shop.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Saturday, August 9, 2008, 5:33 PM
I am finally back in Chimaltenango but I am still a half mile from home. It was hard not to go directly home after being gone for 4 days but I knew that if I did not stop off at Camperos and use their free Internet I would have no opportunity to catch up on 4 days worth of e-mail nor would I ever get this journal out this week end. The way things look right now the journal thing may still be iffy but at least I will try and get a bit more done.
This morning we went to the lake and after breakfast we decided to go zip lining. There is a mountain along side of the lake where you can do this. I thought that since I use to do a bit of aerobatic flying that this would not be to exciting but I must admit that sliding across canyons hanging from a pulley that is connected to a cable nearly 2 hundred feet above the ground is a bit breathtaking, and the view is spectacular. I tried to take a few pictures from one of the 8 cables that we crossed back and forth on but it is hard to snap pictures while you are hanging on for deer life. Not everyone that was in our group went but those of us that did totally enjoyed it. The ones that chose not to go said that they totally enjoined that they did not have to go. Perhaps when I get old I will feel that way to.

After lunch most of the group decided that they wanted to do some souvenir shopping. Three of the people that were in our group said that they really wanted to get back to Chimaltenango and just kick back at their motel. You all know how much I enjoy shopping for junk that no one back in the states would be caught dead with, but since every one else was as egger as I was to go shopping I made the ultimate sacrifice and offered to head for home early with the only 3 sane ones in the bunch.

When I checked my e-mail a few minutes ago I got the folowing letter that I would like to share with you. It is from a lady that I accidentally ran into in the park a few years ago. A few days before leaving for the wheelchair distribution that we just had in Huehuetenango she just happened to contact me and tell me about a little girl that desperately needed a wheelchair. It just so happened that she lived close to where we were having the distribution and just by chance, even though this lady was in the USA, she managed to gather all the necessary information that we needed in order to bring the right wheelchair, and fortunately she was able to contact the little girls father in time for him to bring his daughter to the distribution. Boy what a stroke of luck. Or was it? Here is part of the e-mail that I just received.

Dear Dick.... I don't know where to start. I want to tell you how much I have appreciated all that you have done to get Elida Dinora Francisco Juan fitted in her new wheelchair. I do believe that all of this was a GODINCIDENCE! I am still floored that I only contacted you last week and Elida now has her chair. I quickly spoke with her father, and he says that he and Elida are very happy with the chair and are most appreciative!! So am I. Thank you so very much! Thank you to everyone involved, it is just amazing!

Sincerely, Tana
God is so good!

Yours in Christ: Dick

Journal July 27-August 3

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Sunday, July 28, 2008

After Church 2 friends that we met there, the 8 kids that came along from home, and I went to Burger king for lunch. We then went to Hermano Pedro where I was supposed to meet of around 20 people at 2 PM. Unfortunately they arrived close to an hour late and my kids were getting very restless. I had promised a good friend that I would show the group around but was apprehensive about leaving my 8 kids unintended. When they get restless they can make all 240 residents of the orphanage look like angles. Fortunately the 2 friends that had accompanied us to lunch were gluttons for punishment and offered to hike with my kids up to the cross that overlooks Antigua. I was glad that I had stuck around for the group because my friend that was supposed to have accompanied them had gotten sick. The entire group was extremely touched when they met the orphanage kids and even though I had to leave after showing them around they stayed and played with the kids.

Since the hike to the cross from Hermano Pedro was a long one I got there only a little after the kids did. No I am not a faster hiker than they are it simply takes a lot less time when you drive up there. The hike had done wonders for the kids, in fact a few of them asked if they could ride back down in the car instead of walking. I made sure that those still tht seemed the least bit restless walked though.

Tonight the entire crew that was with me today is pretty calm. I only wish that all of the other kids that showed up were this evening as tired. I can’t complain though because only one window has been broken tonight and that was not with a soccer ball. Believe it or not Abner offered to wash my windows for me. He got a little over zealous though and managed to push one out of the frame while washing it.

Hay I just remembered that I said that I was going to keep my weekend journals short.

Yours in Christ: Dick


Monday, July 28, 2008, 9:06 PM

Today Fernando, Marcos, and Cesar came along with me to Hermano Pedro. (No School again????) For the first time in a month they used the pool today. My 3 kids did a great job of helping out with the orphanage kids. The more volunteers that we can get into the pool, the more kids they can put in for therapy. Some times therapy consists of little more than holding a child motionless for close to an hour but once we convince the adults who were trying to keep their hair dry that this just ain’t going to happen they seem to loosen up and have fun with the kids. I had to quit swimming a bit early because another group was arriving that wanted a tour of the orphanage and they also wanted to take some of the residence to lunch.

It seems some groups are hit harder than others with the reality of institution life. Today many of the members of this group broke down and cried as they met the adults and the kids. I had to remind a few of them to just zero in on one or two kids whom they could make a difference to today. Those are easy words to say but often times when I am saying them I have to remind my self to listen. It is so hard to know who to give the attention to when there are so many. The 3 kids that came along with me from home were even a bit upset with me today because I did not sign some of their favorites out for lunch. They are quick to forgive though and once I explained to them that I had taken those kids out a few days ago they cheered up and really helped out with the kids that we did take to lunch. Today we took a mixture of teens and younger kids and it seemed to work out fine. A few of the kids that that had come along to help got a little carried away and what started out as a bit of splashing in one of the fountains turned out to be a full fledged water fight, but all of those involved seemed to enjoy it.

Every thing went well all morning but perhaps I got a little too confident with the perfect little angels that I had taken along with me from home because as I later discovered the water fight did not end there. Several of the people that I had shown around this morning asked me if they could see the malnutrition ward. Kids are not allowed up there so I asked my three boys to stay and play down in the ward where the younger kids were, while I took some of the group up to the malnutrition ward. About a half hour later I got a visit from Jessica. She told me that Fryer Francisco had caught them splashing and playing by the pool which is off limits when therapy is not being done. I don’t think that they really did that much out of the way but Fryer Francisco has a way of seeing things differently. I asked Jessica if I should go and talk to him but she suggested that I let her try and calm him down first. I had a talk with the boys though and they are truly sorry that they caused any problems. They even offered to go and talk to Fryer Francisco themselves but Jessica suggested that we give that some time as well.

Tonight I was feeling a bit under the weather so I told the kids that I was going to have the place to myself. I don’t know why it is that I only have to tell one kid that we are going to have pizza, or I am planning on taking them swimming, and every kid in the neighborhood immediately knows about it, but when I tell one of them that I am not feeling well and don’t want any one ringing my door bell, they have to come over one at a time to see if I am going to let them in tonight. If they all came at once it would not be so bad but in the past three hours, ten minutes has been about the longest that I have had between visitors. One thing for certain, if walking is good for a headache I should be better by now.

I have now had over 15 minutes of silence so perhaps they have all gotten the message, even Elder who has been told three times that I was not letting any kids in tonight, has not been back. Then again perhaps the batteries have gone dead on my doorbell or they have sneaked in and are hiding in some of their favorite hiding places. Either way I am going to say goodnight and head off to bed.

Yours in Christ: Dick


Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Today I took another large group of people through Hermano Pedro. Much in the same way as the dozen or so groups that I have had the privilege of taking through the orphanage in the past few weeks, this group also fell in love with the kids. At noon we took 9 of the residence to Camperos. Today we took mostly teen age boys out to eat. On our way back from lunch we played in the park until a thunderstorm started to move in. We beat the rain by about 30 seconds because we no sooner got back to the orphanage than it started to pour.

This after noon I took some of the group up to the malnutrition ward where they held and helped feed the kids. Since I can only bring 3 or 4 people in at a time I had each group stay for about a half hour and then another 3 or 4 people would come in. In a few cases I almost had to pry the children from the arms of the adults who had fallen in love with them. The kids were not overly fond of the idea of going back to their cribs either. After all 3 groups had held and fed children it was time for me to go as well. One of the nurses pried the child that I had been holding the entire time from my arms and I said goodbye.

Miguel who is 15, has been showing up at my house every Sunday to come along to Church. I seldom see him any other day of the week though so when he showed up at my house this evening I had Abner tell him that I wanted him to know that he was always welcome here and does to have to limit his visits to Sunday. Miguel thanked me but told me that he has little free time. He explained that there are 6 other children in his family and that his father is a hard worker but only makes 1000Q ($130) per month and by the time that he pays rent on the families 1 room dirt floor house, and tries to put food on the table there simply is not enough money left for Miguel’s schooling. Miguel has found a job at a bicycle repair shop so he now works there from 8:00 AM to 5:PM every day and then goes to night school. When I asked Miguel how much money he made working at the gas station he told me that he was paid 50Q a week. That is bout $6.75 a week, or just a little over $1 per day. He told me that he got very tired and found it hard to find the time to do his homework but he desperately wanted an education. I asked what it would take to get him back into school in the afternoons. That is when most junior high students go to school. He told me that he thought that the owner of the bicycle repair shop would let him work half days for around $3.40 a week so if he could somehow come up with another $6 or $7 per month he thought he could make it. I told him that we would talk more soon because I was quite certain that I could find someone that would be willing to sponsor him.

9:45 PM

I just returned from Alex’s house, where I had a long talk with him and his mother. Tonight while Alex was at my house I found him ripping up some pants that he had found in a drawer. He told me that they were his and he was making cutoffs out of them. After he left I found the ripped up pants in my garbage and realized that they were not his but were a new pare that belonged to Kevin. I am not sure why Alex chose to destroy these pants but I doubt that it will happen again. He was pretty humble when I told him that what he did was bad enough but lying to me was even worse. He was in tears when I left and said that he was sorry for what he had done. I put my arm around him and told him that I loved him but I did not like what he had done. I also told him that he was welcome to come back into my house in 2 weeks. Alex assured me that he would be counting the days.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Wednesday, July 30, 2008
This morning was spent paying bills then this after noon I helped Alex’s family move some of there belongings to the new home that they will soon be moving into. Alex’s mom is unable to come up with the $100 per month rent that they are paying for the home that is near my house so they are moving to some property that her father owns that is located about a 45 minute drive from here. Alex’s grandfather built the house from cement blocks tin and wood. It has no electricity or running water but it’s picturesque setting on a wooded hillside give a charm that makes it feel inviting. Alex, Wendy, Gladys, Elder. and Chio had never seen it until today and had shared with me how much they dreaded having to move there but once we got there they seemed to like it. It will be a big change for them but I think that they are going to like finally having somewhere to live that they can call their own. Alex’s mother was so happy that the children liked the place that she asked me if she could phone her husband who has been in the USA for the past 3 years just to let him know. He was also pleased. We spoke on the phone for a while and he shared with me how much he misses his family but said that he will likely not be able to return to Guatemala for at least a few years because he will have to earn enough money to pay back his father in law for the house before he can return.

It rained all the way from Chimaltenango to their new house and the going was slow because the road there was full of deep potholes that were hard to see because of all of the water that was on the road. Having 8 people, a bed, a kitchen table, 6 chairs, and a whole lot of other household goods in my car did not help. Actually just before leaving Chimaltenango I had to tell several of their relatives that had already jammed themselves into the car with us that I simply could not take them along this time. I didn’t make any new friends by doing that but felt that it simply would not be safe to drive the steep mountain roads without being able to see where I was going.

Some of the kids and myself unloaded my car while Alex’s mom and older sister swept and mopped the new house. Several of us then went for a walk through the woods and just enjoyed being out in the country. Everyone came back to Chimaltenango with me but Alex’s mom plans on moving in to the house as soon as she is able to get a few more things from home. I think that she is afraid that the house will get broken into if no one lives in it. The children are planning on staying in Chimaltenango until the school year ends in November and then they will move. Mean while they will only stay with their mom on the weekends. I know that I just told Alex that he cannot come over for 2 weeks but if the children do not feel safe staying alone I may have to figure out a different punishment.

Calin just showed up at my door and asked if he can spend the night. Due to situations at home I never ask why. I simply say yes. Chris is suppose to be dropping Benjamin off here pretty soon as well because he and I are planning on joining Mark Richard and several people that are here from his home church in South Dakota for the next few days. Calin has been begging me to let him go as well but he has exams in school tomorrow so I had to say no.

Calin has been giving me that look that tells me that he has something on his mind other than not being able to come along with me tomorrow so I think that I will close for now so that we can talk a bit before Benjamin arrives.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick

Thursday, July 31, 2008, 9:30 PM

After getting Calin off to school Benjamin and I headed off to Antigua where we met up with mark and the group. We then headed to Nueva Consepcion, which is located about 2 and half hours from here. Mark and his church group are planning on having a wheelchair distribution there tomorrow. Our caravan consisted of 5 vehicles, one of which was a truckload of wheelchairs. Once we got to our destination we started to unload the wheelchairs in a large building that was located near the center of town. Even though the wheelchair distribution was not scheduled until tomorrow a few people had accidentally showed up this morning. Some of them live close enough that returning tomorrow would not be a big problem but 3 of them lived several hours away. We had planned on spending the, entire afternoon at the beach but it did not take any arm twisting to get us to stay and fit them into wheelchairs before we left.

When we had just about finished up a mother with a little boy showed up. I am still trying to get the story straight but from what I can gather this little boy was not some one that was on our list of people that would be receiving a wheelchair this distribution. It is not clear weather she had brought her son from their home that was several hours away simply hoping that we would give him a wheelchair or was she in this town with her son by GODINCIDENCE. What I do know is our trip to the beach got delayed for about another hour and no one seemed to mind. When we finally left for the beach it was not until we all said goodbye to a smiling mother and her son who was sitting straight and tall in his new wheelchair.

We still made it to the beach and had a good time there but tonight as we gathered as a group and talked about the highlights of our day the beach was not even mentioned. Instead everyone talked about the people that received wheelchairs.

I wish that I could end today’s journal here because what I am about to write is not easy. I mentioned in Monday’s journal that some of the kids that we took to lunch that day were teens. One of those teens was Carlos. Carlos is one of the 7 kids that we have in our school in Hermano Pedro. He has also been coming to camp each year since he first arrived at Hermano Pedro about 6 years ago. Lately he has been getting weaker due to the muscular dystrophy that he has and because of this he had to cut back on the hours that he spends in school. Just last Monday after taking him to lunch I discussed with Jessica, the head therapist, the fact that I thought I was going to have to come up with a different way for him to drive his power wheelchair. Even though he was still able to drive it all the way to Camperos and back that day I could see that he was getting weaker and told Jessica that I knew that it was just a matter of time before he could no longer push the joystick with his hand. Jessica greed and asked me to do what ever I could so that he could continue to drive it because she knew how much this independence meant to him. Although neither of us wanted to admit it we both knew that the day would come when Carlos would pass away. Today I received the phone call that I knew I would some day get. Carlos had died early this morning. I could write novels on the positive effects that this dear friend had on me and on those that knew him. Even though Carlos himself knew that his days were numbered he always remained positive and happy. He seemed to have an inner piece about him that radiated to those around him. I know that he has gone on to a better life but those of us who knew him will surely miss him.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Friday, August 1, 2008

The motel that we spent the night in was not the worst one that I have ever stayed in. In fact as far as small town motels go here in Guatemala it was not bad at all. I think though that for some of our USA friends it was a bit of a shocker. I guess they are not accustom to having the electricity going off for most of the night, and perhaps we should have warned them that if they wanted to take a shower they had better take it when and if the water was on. A few of them also learned the hard way that it is wise to fill a small container up with water before you take your shower. That way you can get most of the soap out of your hair if the water does suddenly stop flowing at 9:30 PM. Oh well everyone did enough sweating once the sun came out this morning that most of the soap and shampoo got rinsed away.

(No, this is not a picture of the motel that we stayed in. It is a picture of A home. Many people in Guatemala have no idea what having running water or electricity is like.)

I think for most of them any small inconvenience of finding out that a 5 star hotel in Guatemala, is simply one that allows you to see 5 stars through the holes in the ceiling was quickly forgotten once they saw some of the inconveniences the people that came for wheelchairs had to deal with. Having to carry your loved one around on your back because they have no wheelchair has to get a bit tiring for a parent or a spouse. I also felt bad for the parents of 3 different children whose heads were so large that you would think that they would burst open at any time. Oh yes we have kids that are hydrocephalic in the USA but generally they are operated on at a very young age and the symptoms all but disappears. Moat of these children will not live to see their teen age years. One young man who was 20 years old was one of the fortunate ones though. Even though his head was twice the size that it should have been he was still alive. The entire time that we were setting him in a chair he remained expressionless while his mother carefully held his head up. An hour and a half later we put on the finishing touches by installing a headrest that we had to modify to accommodate the size and weight of his head. We were careful to get everything right. I have little doubt that if his head were allowed to fall forward or to the side he would likely sustained serious injury to his neck and possibly die. After I had finished I put my hand on his shoulder and uttered a small prayer in silence. Suddenly I felt a hand on mine. I thought that perhaps it was his mothers hand as she had continually been trying to express how grateful she was to have a wheelchair for her son. To my surprise when I looked down I saw that it was the hand of this young man who up until now had sat motionless with a blank stare in his eyes. He was looking up at me with tears in his eyes. He then opened his mouth and made a sound that was not Spanish or English but none of us had any doubt that this was his way of saying thank you. After wiping away his tears and mine I gave him and his mother a hug and said goodbye.


Another grateful family was the family of a young lady who also appeared to be in her early twenties. I spotted her as soon as she was carried into the door. We usually try to seat the people in the order that they come into the door but since she was one of the last people to show up and knowing that it would take the best part of the day to seat her I immediately asked her family to come over to my work station. I figured that we would be fortunate to have her finnished by the time each of the other seating teams had done 5 or 6 people each. I am terrible on remember names but I think that the name of the man that was helping me was Dean. If not I hope that he forgives me. At any rate he was awesome to work with. Even though he had never before worked on wheelchairs his mechanical skills were great and much like myself he liked to improvise by building what was needed out of what we had. Never before have I had to put a backrest on the side of a wheelchair but that was what this young lady who’s hips were rotated and fused at a 90-degree angle needed. I know it helped that we both liked a challenge but when we had finished we had to stand back and give the glory to God. Not in our wildest expectations had we thought that we were going to end up with a chair that worked out so well for this young lady. In a few short hours she had gone from some one who was lying on her mothers lap in excruciating pain, to some one who although very twisted was sitting comfortably in her new wheelchair with a large smile on her face.

(Click on any picture to enlarge)

I could share many other stories with you of others that I had the privilege of working with today, and those would only be stories of the 5 or 6 people that I personally worked with. Multiply that by about 50 people that receives wheelchairs not to mention their family members that were as happy as they were. Then talk to the over 20 people that were seating them or working with them in some other way and you could fill a novel with the things that we saw God do today. Yes we got tired and sweaty and a few of the Americans had streaks of shampoo mixed in with the sweat but I don’t thing any of us were sorry that we had come here and shared just a little of the love of Jesus with these wonderful people.
Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Saturday, August 2, 2008
Calin turned 14 today so I let him pick what he wanted to do to celebrate. He chose to invite 7 other kids, all of them relatives, to some water slides that are down on the coast. This water park is a bit more pricey than the one that I usually take the kids to but yesterday some friends gave me money to spend on an outing of some type with the kids so we decided to go fro it. We even stopped off at a Camperos in Esquentla and had some lunch. The man that sold us our tickets first told me that I would have to pay adult rates on everyone that was over 10 years old, (that meant all but one of us) but Calin negotiated with him and he let everyone but myself in at children’s prices. Since this water park is located right on the ocean you can go back and forth from riding the water slides and swimming in one of many pools, to swimming in the ocean. We stayed until closing time and then stopped off in Antigua for some Pizza. My kids let me know that they each wanted to do a repeat of today’s activities on their birthday but I told them that an outing of this size could only happen about once a year.

Tonight Miguel and Cesar are staying over. I have come down with a sore throat so I am heading off to bed early. I asked them to lock the gate and turn out the lights when and if the other kids leave.


Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Sunday, August 3, 2008, 10:29 AM

I am still a bit under the weather so I have decided to stay home from Church. To my surprise only Miguel and Cesar were here when I woke up this morning. That did not last long though because by the time I had the pancakes made there were a lot more kids. Usually I let the kids help flip the pancakes but I have just washed my ceiling so I decided to do it myself. I told them that they were all going to have to leave right after breakfast but they have been playing so quietly that I have not said any more about it. I think that I will ask them to leave pretty soon though because I could stand an hour or 2 just to myself. Besides that they keep asking me if I have taken some pills that 2 of them brought me. They said they are not sure what they are but just one of them made their mother feel better in less than a half hour, so they are sure that they will do the same for me. The envelope that the pills are in has some Spanish writing on it that leads me to believe that the pills are for morning sickness. Oh well I guess it is the thought that counts. Another reason that I want the kids to leave pretty soon is that I am thirsty and there is no way that they will let me get near the refrigerator for something to drink. Every Guatemalan knows that drinking anything cold when you are not feeling well will make you much sicker. I think that one is right in line with the fact that the kids keep bringing me a jacket and hat to put on. Perhaps I should listen to them but it is already 80 degrease out side. I also need a shower but that is another no no when you are not feeling well. Another reason that I will wait on the shower is that modesty thing that we Americans have. Like I have said before, watching Americans take showers seems to be just under watching a succor game as far as favorite spectator sports are concerned. The only draw back on sending the kids home is that those that have parents will tell them that I am not feeling well and within a half hour I will have people lined up at my gate with home remedies, some of which make cod liver oil seem appetizing. Oh will I guess that I should feel honored that everyone in the neighborhood tries to take such good care of me. I guess they figure that anyone who has not learned Spanish after all of these years needs all the help that he can get.

Yours in Christ: Dick