Journal, June 26-July 4, 2009

(Click on any photo to enlarge)

Friday, June 26, 2009

This morning we went to the airport and picked up a teem of ladies that will be with us for about a week. They had been traveling all night but when we got to Chimaltenango they all eagerly helped us load up Jorge’s truck with wheelchairs and a house kit that we will be taking with us to the coast on Saturday. The teem plans on doing a wheelchair distribution there on Sunday, then building a house and distributing some food to needy families on Tuesday and Wednesday.




Saturday, June 27, 2009



Please pray for Pat because this is what she ate for breakfast. So far so good but I get sick just looking at the picture.





Today was suppose to be a leisurely 4 hour drive for the teem that was heading to the coast but 3 out of the 4 vehicles that were heading there got caught up in traffic that was due to road construction and sat in line for over 5 hours. The three of us that were in my car had stopped at a store for some junk food and gotten behind the rest of the group. I knew of a way around the traffic but by the time I got there the others were already past the turn off and were unable to turn around. I guess the moral of the story is that stopping off to eat junk food really pays off. Actually I felt sorry for the others because they were very tired when they arrived at the motel this evening.


Sunday, June 28, 2009, 4:20 PM



We had a wheelchair distribution her in Champerica this morning. Even though this was a first time experience for every member of the team that was here from the USA everyone did well. There were not as many difficult cases as usual but we all stayed busy. Both Chris and I reminded the team that even though the wheelchairs are an important part of the ministry it is not the reason that we are here. We told them that the reason we are here is to show the love of Christ to these people whether it be by actions or with words. This team did exactly that.







I will likely be coming back here in a week or 2 because today we found another little girl who is very malnourished. I would have guessed her to be 3 years old at the most but her mother and father told me that she was 6. They said that even though she is very sickly they have never had the money to take her to a doctor. I told them about Hermano Pedro and asked them if they would like it if I could arrange for them to see a doctor and possibly even have her admitted into the malnutrition ward for a few months. They didn’t even need time to discuss this with each other but both responded with an immediate yes. This little girl needs help so please pray that they do not change their minds.



Shortly after we got back to the motel John, Pat, Donna, and myself headed over to the home of a little girl that lives only a few miles from here. Chris and I had given this little girl a wheelchair nearly 3 years ago and I was certain that she would have outgrown it by now so we wanted to give her a new wheelchair today. When we arrived at her home relatives told us that her mother had taken her to the hospital in Xela a few days ago. We were told that she was having convulsions, and also that her lungs were very congested. I would have loved to leave the new wheelchair with her relatives but this little girl Had CP and needed to be fit properly.
The rest of the team has already headed down to the beach so I am going to close for now and drive down there and join them for supper.


Monday, June 29, 2009

Today we drove for about 2 hours through sugarcane fields and an old rubber plantation to a remote little village where we were to build a house. We had met the family for whom we were going to build this house at a wheelchair distribution that we had in Ratio Laio a few months ago.


The family is very poor and the mother cannot walk. This village is rather remote and the weather gets down right hot. Knowing that Americans embarrass easily I have taken the liberty of adding fig leaves to a couple of my pictures.






We had a big crew so I was able to act my age and not work as hard as I did yesterday. Actually we all worked hard but I did break away from time to time to visit with some near by families and took a lot of pictures. On their last trip here John and Arles Bosman brought me a battery operated printer that can be attached directly to my camera. What a hit! It gave me the opportunity to go into several homes of people that I am sure that I would have never met had it not been for the fact that they wanted me to take a picture of their families. By some of their reactions you would have thought that I had given them a $1000 bill. Most of them would put on there best clothing before I photographed them others will have to learn to draw fig leaves.




Even though the weather was extremely hot, the bugs were bad and everyone got very tired, the crew finished the house in record time and by around 2:00 PM we were celebrating a home dedication with this family.










Howie and Nan have headed back to Antigua. The rest of the crew went back to Champerica , where we have been staying for the past few nights. Tomorrow they plan on giving out food to some needy families. I am at the Bamboo Hotel in Mazatenango. Tomorrow morning I plan on heading the rest of the way home. Stephen Snell is coming for a visit so I will be picking him up from the airport tomorrow night.



Well it is getting late so I am going to say, “Goodnight”.

Yours in Christ: Dick


Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Most of my day was spent either driving home from Mazatenango or driving to and from the airport. It was well worth it though because Stephen has come to visit. I first met Stephen who is now 24 back when he was 8 years old. I worked for a number of years with Stephen who has cerebral palsy. I can’t really call it work though because from the very start Stephen and I were best friends. Even though we have not seen each other much in the past several years we remain in contact and having him here for a week after not seeing him in well over 2 years is a real treat. I really want to think the members of Faith Community Church for making Stephen’s visit possible. I am especially thankful to Gary and Pat Hawkens who accompanied Stephen on this trip.


Even though I had to return home in order to pick Stephen, Gary, and Pat up from the airport the rest of the group is staying 2 more nights at the motel in Champerica Instead of me telling you what they did I am going to post a few of their journals.


Wednesday, June 30
Written by Rachel

After awaking to a squawking bird an hour before my alarm went off, I took a quick shower, had a Guatemalan breakfast complete with ice cold “jugo de naranja” (orange juice), and we headed off for our food distribution day. Today has been the most draining day, both emotionally and physically. Basically, we would drive to a neighborhood, walk to the home, spend a few minutes talking a praying with the family, and then leave the food and move onto the next house. Though I wish we could have stayed longer with each of the families, this was truly the only way we were able to distribute as much food as we did.
Today I saw a woman living in an abandoned train car, Guatemalan children with yellow skin because of malnutrition, a 24 year old boy who couldn’t speak but had a smile as bright as the sun, a child screaming and crying when we walked up because of myths about North Americans, a man who loses parts of his home and belongings to the nearby river if it rains for more than an hour, a woman crying and praising God because of what He had given her through us, a handicapped girl laughing because a young American boy held her on his lap, and many other glimpses of what is taking place in the nearby communities.Though I don’t understand all the political or social problems, I do know that suffering is part of life. I don’t know why these people go hungry while I whine because my mom didn’t buy the kind of cereal I like. I don’t know why a woman works all day and yet still does not have enough to provide basic necessities for her and her son. But I do know that I don’t need to have the answers; we serve a God who knows, and sometimes that has to be enough for me. I am grateful for the blessing He has poured out on the United States, and I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to get to know His children here in Guatemala. God is here in Guatemala and He is just as faithful and just and loving and wise as He is in America. This morning God led me to my favorite Bible story about the Samaritan woman at the well. Throughout the day, so many parts of the story ran through my mind. The food we brought those people will last a month, but the Bread of Life is eternal. Christ took time out of His journey to talk to one woman, and because of that, her entire village was saved. Though it seemed like we didn’t have enough time with these people, we told them why we were there. We brought them food and told them why we came; the Holy Spirit will do the rest. Christ’s disciples didn’t understand what He was doing at the well or why He was talking to such an outcast, but He knew it was the will of His Father, and that was enough for Him. I’ve been on missions trips before and sometimes people don’t understand why we come, why we pay money to sweat and cry and hurt, why we spend all this time and energy when we may not even see the results. I do it because I am called. I may not see any of these people come to salvation, I do not know what will happen to the house or the food, but I know that we are serving Christ and loving His people, and these people’s lives and hearts are blessing and teaching me.




Wednesday, June 30,
Written by Kristin

My favorite part of this day was experiencing the amazing way the Hispanic culture prays. Although my Spanish speaking skills are minimal, I truly understood the meaning of these prayers. Chris or Pat would begin the prayer, and would be followed up by many Spanish speaking voices in the background. Each voice thanking God and asking for prayer among the family we were visiting. All the voices in prayer would occur at one time, and were so powerful. I could feel it in my heart the words they were saying even though I could not understand them. Sometimes we pray by saying words but not feelings. Today, we all could really FEEL the prayer, but not from words. It was such an amazing experience that meant so much to many of us and really helped us feel that God was with us all and taking action. This by far is my favorite experience of the whole trip.



Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Stephen, Garry and Pat arrived last night. Stephen who is now 24 years old has always been like a son to me. I started working with him 16 years ago when back when I volunteered at our local public school. Having CP and not being able to walk did not stop Stephen from leading a fairly normal life. I can still remember the day when Stephen who was only 10, was at my house and his mother showed up unexpectedly. I had just cut down a large tree that was threatening to fall onto my house. When mom pulled up to my house she asked me where Stephen was. I sheepishly pointed to the pick up truck that was towing the tree to the other side of my field. “Who is he with?” his mother asked. “He is by himself," I said. Mom looked at me in disbelief. “My dad let me drive when I was that age.” I exclaimed. “Yes but you don’t have CP” “If you don’t want me to let him drive my truck or ride on my motor cycle anymore just let me know.” I said. “No, I realize how good it is for him to do these things but being a mom I do have the right to get a bit nervous.” Maria did well at letting her son be a normal kid when he did things with me and she even got used to most of the things that we did. Although I must admit she did turn a few shades whiter the day that Stephen came home and told her that I had taught him how to fly my airplane.

(Note to Maria)

Don’t worry Maria I am taking good care of your son. I do not have an airplane here in Guatemala. You will be happy to know that I did manage to talk him into getting a haircut. I told him that he would likely get his hair caught in the pulley if we went zip lineing.


Thursday, July 2, 2009



Today we joined back up with the group that I was with earlier this week and we all spent the entire day at Hermano Pedro. Gary and Patty have worked a lot with special needs kids back at home so they took to the kids right away. The 7 people that are here with Pat Duff did equally as well. The highlight of our day was taking 9 of the kids out to Camperos for lunch even though it was a bit of a challenge getting them and Stephen back to the orphanage in a thunderstorm.

On our way back to Chimaltenango I got a call from Alex’s mom telling me that Alex was back in the hospital. He had been over to my house a few nights ago and other than feeling a bit week he told me that he was doing OK. Today he had another episode where his hands and legs went numb and he also experienced chest pains. When we got home Garry and Pat Stayed at my house with Stephen while I took Alex’s mother over to the hospital. Alex had been there since 1 this afternoon but due to the swine flue panic no visitors were allowed into the hospital. We were able to talk to Alex on the phone and he was crying because he was all alone. When we got to the hospital the night watchman told us that we were still not allowed in but after pleading with him mom was finally allowed to stay.


Friday, July 3, 2009

This morning Gary, Patty, Stephen, Mario and I headed down to the coast. There is a 16 year old boy there who has outgrown his wheelchair. I stopped at his place a few days ago and had decided that it would be easier to bring a new wheelchair to him than to have the family come all the way to our shop to receive one. On Thursday Gary and I spent some time at the wheelchair shop setting up this chair according to measurements and photos that I had taken earlier in the week. Today we did some final adjustments but the new chair fits Minor well. Mario did a marvelous job of interpreting for us and we had a wonderful visit with this caring Christian family.



After stopping off at Seritta’s for ice cream we headed out to Where Ronny lives. Ronny’s mom told us that he had gotten so sick last week that they thought that he was going to die but today he looked better than I had seen him in over a year. The family is doing well but it seems that there is still a lot of feuding going on between them and some of their relatives. Last week one of the uncles once again came on to there yard and threatened to kill them.










While we were there we gave out some shoes, clothing and vitamins. It was hard to say good bye because everyone that was with me had fallen in love with the children but I felt that it was best to be out of this neighborhood before dark. We did stop off at one of the not so friendly uncles and gave some shoes, and vitamins to his children. The family was a bit standoffish at first but by the time we left they had become a lot friendlier.









We made one more stop at Seritta’s on our way home. This time we stopped off for supper. When we got home Alex’s sister came over and told me that Alex and his mom were still at the hospital. She said that Alex was still having some problems and mom did not dare to even go out for food because she was afraid that they would not let her back into the hospital. I do not say no very often but when Gladys asked my if could take her to the hospital so that she could bring some food to her mom I told her that she would have to wait until morning. As tired as I am tonight I don’t think that I should be driving.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Saturday, July 4, 2009, 10:12 PM
This morning I picked up Garry and pat from their motel and brought them to my house for breakfast. Stephen, and the 3 neighborhood boys that had spent the night were just getting out of bed when we got back to my place. We were soon joined by a number of other kids and everyone pitched in with making breakfast. Even though Pat and Garry have never been to Guatemala before they seem to fit right in where ever they go. Today’s visit to my house was no exception. My kids loved them and they loved my kids.

After breakfast Calin, Cesar, Stephen, Pat, Gary and I headed over to the Maxi mall to do some grocery shopping. We wanted to visit Maria and her children today and knew that they could use some groceries. About a mile before Maria’s house we saw a large number of people standing in front of a home. I nearly drove by until Calin said that he thought that he had spotted Maria and her children. As soon as I stopped the car we were surrounded by most of the kids that had been standing in front of the house. I recognized 2 of them to be Mari’s kids. Evidently they had told the others who we were because everyone wanted to have a look at these faded people that are called Americans. Not long after that Maria came to the car. She told us that this was the home of one of her relatives. She said that the large gathering of people was their to morn the death of her 10 year old nephew who had been run over and killed by a car. Maria later told us that her nephew’s death had been exceptionally hard on her because it brought back memories of when her husband was run over and killed by a hit and run driver. She told me that the funeral was now over so she would meet us up at here house. Some of her children and other children quickly jumped into my car but the rest of them headed up a trail that was too narrow for my car. Even though Mari’s home was over a mile away we only beat them there by about 30 seconds. I must admit that we did not drive all that fast because the designated driver that was sitting on my lap had never driven a car before.

Maria still misses her husband and her children miss there father but overall the family seems to be doing OK. They are still as poor as church mice but over all they seem to be a happy family. After giving Maria some groceries we invited her family and several others out to my car. It was obvious by looking at their feet that most of the shoes that he children had been given when school started back in January were in need of replacement. The next half hour was spent sorting through the supply of shoes that we and taken with us and finding that perfect pair for everyone that needed them. Thank to the portable printer that I had been given we were also able to give several of the families pictures of themselves. This may not seem like a big deal but for many it was the first time that they had a ever owned a picture of them selves or of their children.





All to soon it was time to say good-bye. I had promised my neighborhood kids that we would rent a soccer field at 4 PM and we did not want to be late for the big game. All of the kids that had ridden with us from the home of the little boy that had been killed jumped back into my car and road back down the hill with us. Several of them scrambled for my lap because they all wanted to drive but I finally convinced them that I could only allow one of them to drive at a time.



We managed to get back into Chimaltenango just in time to wolf down a hamburger and then get to the soccer field. To my surprise when we got there none of the kids were there. A quick phone call confirmed that the kids had thought that they were supposed to meet at my place but within in a few minutes 14 of them were at the soccer field. Once they saw that soccer here is played on cement Patty and Gary quickly volunteered to be spectators along with Stephen. I played goalie but at times felt more like a target.








Since I had not gotten all that much chance to visit alone with my company I told the kids that I would help rent the soccer field for an additional hour so that they could play soccer while I took Gary, Patty and Stephen some where and just visited. We then went to Camperos and visited. I figured that I had burned of enough calories playing soccer so I ordered a piece of pie.





Tonight was suppose to be lock out night for the kids but that did not happen. As I was walking into the door of my house I received a phone call from Gladys asking if I could bring her and her sister over to the hospital to bring some things to there mother. Alex is still not doing well and I am not real confident it the doctoring that he is getting at the National hospital. On Monday we are going to check with a few places that are in the City.

When I got back home I told the kids that had been staying here with Stephen that they were going to have to sleep at their own homes. Not a way to win friends and influence people but tonight I needed to work on my journal. Fernando was so mad at me that he would not even say goodnight when he stomped out of my house but knowing Fernando he will be all smiles when he shows up at my gate in the morning.

Even though it will be several hours before I get to bed I am going to say “Good Night.”

Yours in Christ: Dick

Journal, June 20-25, 2009

Great news! The container of wheelchairs that was being held up at customs has been released. Thanks for your prayers!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Weekends are supposed to be relaxing but this one did not start out that way. Friday night at around 11 PM Alex’s sister Gladys came over and asked me if I had the phone number of the doctor that I had taken Alex to see earlier in the day. I told her that I didn’t and that there was no way that I would be able to get it until Monday because all of the offices at Hermano Pedro would be closed until then. Gladys told me that he was feeling worse and that he was vomiting. I quickly went over to his house to check on him. His pulse was racing and his color did not look good so we decided to take him in to the National hospital here in Chimaltenango. Most of you know what I think of the National Hospitals here in Guatemala but I knew that they had oxygen and was hoping that they could give him something to control the vomiting. Actually they did both for him but I am glad that it was not a life and death situation because it took them 3 hours to do this. I managed to get to bed at around 2:00 AM but woke up early because the kids that were at my house when I went over to see Alex the night before had decided to stay and unfortunately by 7:00 Am they were slept out.







After breakfast, (At least I think that we had breakfast) Calin and I headed over to the wheelchair shop. Before knowing that I was going to be at the hospital all night I had agreed to meet a family who was coming in all the way from Cobon to have their daughter’s wheelchair refitted.









At 4:00 PM the kids and I went over to the soccer field. I had sent one of the kids over to reserve it earlier in the day but when we got there at 4 we were told that they had accidentally rented it to someone else as well so we could not have it until 5 PM. Since I had to be at the airport at 7:00 Pm to pick up a group that was coming in I was not able to play soccer but the kids got to play.


I know that I usually keep my Saturday and Sunday journal entries short but since the group that came in has offered to do most of this weeks journaling for me I figured that I would at least do today’s journal.

Anyway I hope that you enjoy the following journal entries that are done by various members of the 12 member teem that is here for a week.

Yours in Christ: Dick


Ellis wrote,

Wow, I find It hard to believe that Just earlier today I was asleep, safe ; warm in my bed, with my cell phone and laptop available for me to use whenever I wanted, and now I am on a plane, headed to Guatemala, armed with only my IPod nano and books to entertain me for the next couple hours on the plane. Originally my father, Kelly, and I were supposed to share 3 seats right next to each other. Thankfully Emma volunteered to take my Dads place and Sandwich between Kelly & Me. Luckily our trip has had only 1 minor Setback , the plane was delayed 25 minutes. I can’t wait to get to Guatemala now! I know the feeling, it will be like boy scout camp, can’t wait to get there, can’t wait to get home once you get there. I Didn’t sleep well last night, so goodnight, I am going to sleep, Blog ya later!



Emma wrote,

Hello from Dallas Texas!! I miss you all already!! The plane ride is ok. Its kind of boring, but reading makes the time go by! Last night I was at my boy-friends party and slept the night away. I got up at 5:00 in the morning to catch a 10:15 flight. Crazy, huh? Anyway, the plane ride isn’t as bad as usual. We were supposed to arrive at 3:15 in Dallas but the pilot was having some technical difleculties so we are now, arriving at 3:55. Can believe only one more hour till Guatemala? I’m so excited!! I will write back tomorrow. You will be in my prayers!! See you all later!!!


Sunday, June 21, 2009


Ellis Hughes wrote,

This morning Brad, Josh and I woke up to the horrible sound of josh’s foghorn alarm after not being able to fall asleep until about 1 or 2 in the morning, Guatemalan time. We arrived in Guatemala about 8. Customs was quick, and only Cathy was tested for swine flu. Dick and Chris Drove all around Guatemala City to take us to the BK, and wow, I am glad none of us were driving. There are almost no rules! People were getting cut off, and I didn’t see anyone use a blinker. On our way to Antigua we saw a guy lying on the side of the road. Ted asked Dick if we should stop, but Dick said that if we stopped, the police would think we did it.


Sharron Leinweber wrote,

I am sitting here in the open air courtyard outside our rooms watching the rain fall. I am just in awe of the incredible beauty. It was dark when we arrived in Antigua last night so I couldn’t tell how rich and green everything is. All the flowers are in bloom and the colors are so vibrant. Surprisingly I slept really well. I think I was the first one out in our room. Luckily, we are all readers before bed so that worked out really well. I woke up this morning to the sound of beautiful Guatemalan women outside in the courtyard making and selling the most amazing textiles. Good thing I haven’t had a chance to get any small casallas (I don’t think that is how the money is spelled, but you get the idea). Well now I am going to eat breakfast and then be off to church.




Molly Anderson wrote,

Hello ! I wish you could see all of the things we have seen. We’ve been here less than a day, but I already love Guatemala. Even our hotel is amazing. Although it is raining, it is warm and we’re eating breakfast under cover in the courtyard. The food is great; they gave us eggs, beans and fried plantains, as well as the “ best watermelon on earth”. Now I’m not a watermelon fan, but even I thought it was pretty good. I am totally enjoying the company of everyone, especially my “roommates” Marlene, Sharron, and Emma. Oh my goodness, I think we were all a little loopy last night. Emma had a sudden fear of cockroaches after Marlene told her that they are in every tropical country. Emma wanted to leave the lights on all night to keep them away, but we finally convinced her that they weren’t gonna bug her. She swears she heard them moving last night, but I have yet to hear or even see a single bug. Well I guess I have to go get my prayer book, everyone is done with breakfast ( desayuno) and we’re getting ready for devotions out in the courtyard. Adios!
Brad wrote, . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hay haws it going? Today we went to Hermano Pedro (orphanage) and that was one of the hardest things in my life to do. We stand outside and Dick told us about himself and how he got involved and that was cool. Then we went inside and we went and saw some of the kids and then things got hard. We went to the babies and then we were expected to hold them; I could not do that. I don’t know why I just couldn’t. Our tour of the hospital was H... for me!!! The rooms as they go on they get worse. Starting with the adults all the way to the disfigured babies. In the end I “played” soccer with a kid that can kick my..... in a walker.



I’m worried that when we go back on Thursday it will be as hard or harder for me.


Monday, June 22.2009

Brad, Josh and Ellis, wrote,

Last night we had to change our room to a couple rooms down. Apparently the toilets here can’t...…… How were we supposed to know? Anyway, after we moved from room 3 to room 9 because it was “necessary”, we tried to fall asleep. At that time it was about 8:30, and there was to be no sleep for us for the next couple hours, unbeknown to us. The room was definitely the same size, but it felt smaller. Then something happened. Brad started to laugh almost uncontrollably, and Josh and Ellis were so tired, they started to laugh at Brad, ..............

Bill Hughes wrote,

We all rose early this morning to be picked up at 5:45 AM. All of were ready, when Dick arrived but Chris, the wheelchair guy with the van, overslept. Cathy made the executive decision that I would take Ellis, Josh, Molly, and Brad with Dick. Dick had brought along Fernando, an eight year old from his neighborhood. Plus, Dr. Brad was in to provide free medical advice. The eight of us crammed into Dick’s Toyota that can seat five comfortably, and left. (Do not worry. We complied with all Guatemala traffic safety laws, at least the ones that are enforced.)

(Good thing that Bill was not with us the day that I had 21 people in my car. Dick)

As we left Antigua, we passed through a shanty town. I have seen these in pictures, but this is the first time I have seen one in person. THIS is poverty. The drive was beautiful. There is a volcano on the horizon that looks like a textbook volcano. It is spewing ash. Fortunately it is very far away.
(Click on any picture to enlarge)

We drove to Rio Bravo, about two hours out of Antigua. We set up in a covered area with a dirt floor. It is about the size of a skating rink. However, ice would not last more than a second. It was in the 80’s and high humidity. Most of us were uncomfortably hot and were drinking as much bottled water as we could hold. Some of the Guatemalan folks were wearing wool sweaters. We set up plastic chairs for the “patients” and their families. I think that whenever I see a plastic chair when I am in the US, I will think of Guatemala. They are everywhere here. We lined up 35 wheel chairs from a truck. Dick taught us the basics of fitting a wheelchair as the local politicians greeted everyone. What looked like a news crew filmed the process. Only Ted took more pictures.

Dick Rutgers, Ellis, and Brad set up an area for “specialized” chairs. These were the more customized units for more severely handicapped people. We also set up an area for Dr. Brad to meet patients. Father Tom and a local pastor met with individuals at another station. The rest of us broke into four teams of two for the “standard” wheelchair recipients. Chris had distributed pieces of paper with numbers on it.

Cathy and I started working with patient #1. He was an elderly gentleman with crutches. We helped him by picking from the selection of chairs in terms of seat width and height. We adjusted the foot supports to his needs, having to scavenge some pieces and parts. When we were done, he asked to see the doctor. We took his picture with us and wheeled him over to the doctor. The routine was the same, but each individual had his or her own story. One patient that touched me was an elderly lady. She said that she had broken her leg. She really had broken her hip. She is relatively frail, and in her 70’s. Her husband was in his late 80’s. He was really thankful to have us help his wife get around. The love for each other was apparent to me and all of us. Her prognosis is not bright. Dr. Brad gave advice to help her heal in the best way possible. We were able to help them get along in their lives.




Towards the end, Dick, Ellis, and Brad were working hard on a chair for a boy that needed a custom chair. Each time they added a piece, such as a chest belt or a head rest, he would break out in a BIG smile. It was a golden moment each time. He could not speak, but he did not have to.




After we gave chairs to everyone, Axel, our local contact, invited us to his home for lunch. A committee of women made us a delicious meal that we ate local delicacies on his patio. We all chatted about the people whom we served and had touched our hearts. We then loaded up and drove back to Antigua to take a shower.


Ellis wrote,

This morning we woke up too early. Granted, it was the time that I normally would wake up for school, but that night I had fallen asleep around midnight. After waking up, and getting dressed, we saw no one out in the courtyard, and assumed everyone had not woken up. After a few minutes, I saw some other people getting up. When Dick got here, only my dad, molly, josh, brad and I fit in with the gear, and two other people. When we got to the place to do the wheelchairs, brad and I got assigned to work on special wheel chairs.

The first kid that we helped was about 6, and after 3 hours, the chair had been modified and fit the child with Cerebral Palsy and seizures. The father and mother were thrilled, and eagerly learned how to move the angle of the wheelchair and move it around.
The next kid that was brought to us had scoliosis so severe that his organs had started to be destroyed. Brad, Dick and I took his leg, back, and waist measurements, and chose a wheelchair. Because Brad and I had gotten some experience from the previous person, our modifications were a lot quicker, and in less than two hours, the child was fitted and ready to go.



When we strapped him in, his smile almost split his face in half, and even though his scoliosis had almost bent his spine so it was nearly unrecognizable, he sat up strait in the seat. That had to be the highlight of my day.




Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The group will be with Chris and Howie building a house for the next few days. I will continue to post their journals but will also be writing about a few highlights of some of the things that have been taking place around here.

Doctor Brad Kamstra is here for a few days. About a year ago Brad is showed me how to treat the leg of Cesar, a man that 3 other doctors had told that his leg would have to be amputated. Brad had not seen Cesar since that first visit but I stayed in close contact with him and he continued to advise me on how to treat it. Several months of treatment and a lot of prayer proved positive and Cesar's leg is doing well. Today brad finally got to see Cesar again. Cesar and his family could not believe that Brad would take the time to visit them and thanked him over and over again.

Dick

Molly wrote,

Another early morning, and another great day. After showing up almost 45 minutes late yesterday, Chris Mooney decided to arrive to pick us up twenty minutes early today, much to my surprise (I was still in the shower when he pulled up, oops!). Although the hotel usually provides breakfast, six AM was too early for them, so we ate a gourmet breakfast at Burger King. After that deliciousness, we broke into two teams of six. One team jumped into Chris’s van and headed to the hills to build a home for a family with five or six children at home, and two more that are severely disabled and live in an orphanage. They spent the day leveling the lot, laying down cinder blocks, and mixing and pouring cement ( all by hand). They all worked very hard and got very dirty.




The team I was on went on a food distribution. At the beginning of the day, we sorted out several suitcases full of clothes into general age groups and packed six bags of food into the van, and headed out to visit families in need. Every family we visited was one part heartbreaking and one part awe inspiring. The children especially surprised me with their resilience. Even though they have faced hardships much more severe than I can fathom, they were cute and funny and downright joyful. Being able to communicate with them ( I’ve taken Spanish since 8th grade) more than most on the G-team has made it very easy to earn their trust and as Dick says, “Love on them”.


Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Emiliana Tol Vargas and her 4 children live in one room of a mostly vacant building in Chimaltenango Guatemala. Emiliana is unable to work due to poor health. Her oldest daughter works 3 days a week but after paying rent the family has less than $15 per month left for food, clothing, or any other expenses. We have found a sponsor so that the 2 younger children, Iadelaida and Estuardao can go to school and so that some food can be provided each month. Silvia who is blind was thrilled when I took her hand and explained each button of the audio bible that Calin, Cesar, and I brought her today. You should have seen her face light up when she heard the New Testament being read to here.

Emiliana tol Vargas and her 4 children
with their new Spanish audio bible.

Daughter Silvia , who is blind (holding bible) loves listing to Christian Music but up until today she had no way to read her bible.




After visiting Emiliana and her family the boys and I stopped by the shop to drop off some paper work. Our 5 minute stop turned out to be about an hour and a half though because a family that had a little girl that needed a wheelchair was there and there was no one around to fit her. My work was made easy though because Calin is getting really good a working on wheelchairs. Cesar does not have as much experience as Calin but he is very willing to learn.






Since I will be gone with a group on Saturday and Sunday, the boys and I took advantage of an hours break in the thunder storms and played soccer this afternoon.

I spoke with Alex today and although he still has to take it easy he is feeling much better. Please pray for a complete recovery.

Dick

Sharron Leinweber wrote,

Do you ever have those days when you know exactly what you are doing and everything is clearly planned and it doesn’t take you long to realize that God is laughing because you are silly enough to think you are in charge? Today was one of those days for me so bear with me as this may take a bit to explain. We split up again today and half the team began distributing food and clothes early this morning. Like yesterday, the first family we saw had several children without shoes. I cannot tell you how it feels to see these people in the muddy, dirty streets or hauling water without anything on their feet. That being said, I am already working on a way to possibly help alleviate some of this. The rest of the day was similar and we ended up finishing the distributions early. Our last stop was to bring food to the family of the build site. We were excited about helping the rest of the team with the build, but there were just too many people so we were stepping on each other. Some of us ended up taking some of the children for a walk instead, besides, we had a few members with “crummies in their tummies” so we needed to find a farmacia (notice the use of Spanish). We had not been gone long when a thunder storm began to threaten so we headed back. I have good news: the roof of the house does not leak and the gutters work great. Unfortunately, after such an intensive downpour – we could not finish the build. Now, if you remember, we have a few members that found the orphanage to be more than they were ready for and did not have the skills to cope with the feelings they encountered. Tomorrow is the day we get to go back and serve at the orphanage again. Well, here is the part where God was laughing because he saw how much stress this was causing and he already had it worked out. The boys (and Kelly) have to go back tomorrow and finish the build and will therefore be unable to join us on the trip to the orphanage. Wow – who could have planned that rain better? I sometimes wonder why I worry so much and take so long to just trust in the Lord. It sure would save me an awful lot of stress if I could figure that one out! Well, I am now off to bed – Buenos Noches! Sharron


Thursday, June 25, 2009

Today most of the team that is with us this week came along with me to Hermano Pedro. For many of them this has been a real exercise in broadening their comfort zones, but I think that today the group was prayed up and most of the fears of really getting in there and loving on these kids that some of them showed on Sunday appeared to be gone.







At noon we took nine teen age girls to lunch and I don’t know who had the most fun, the girls from the orphanage or the team. Overall I think that it was a win win situation. Everyone ended up with new friends and everyone was a bit richer for it. After lunch we spent some time in the park and a few of the more childish members of our team even had a water fight in one of the fountains. I made a promise to the rest of the group that I would try to grow up and refrain from getting any one wet if we ever do this again.



























We got the girls back to the orphanage at around 2 PM. That is when reality set in for the members of the team. The team members noticed that all of the wheelchairs were sitting empty in front of the rooms where the kids sleep and one of the ladies asked me if the kids were all taking naps. When I told her that they were in bed until 8 AM tomorrow morning they all looked at me in disbelief. “That is 18 hours!” one of them exclaimed. I think that they were still a bit in disbelief until the care givers motioned for them to bring the girls that we were bringing back from lunch to there beds so that they could be placed there until morning. Some of the team members stood by their beds weeping, others retreated for the halls where they could sit in silence. I know that some of them thought that I was a bit pushy when I insisted that they go in and say goodbye to the younger kids whom they had played with earlier in the day but I wanted the reality to sink in. Yes it was hard for them but I know that it would have been harder if they just walked out with out saying goodbye. Besides that, were we there so that we could feel good or were we there for the kids? So many people come and go in and out of the lives of these kids. Some of them refuse to love on the kids because they know it will hurt too much when it is time to say goodbye. Others leave when things get a bit uncomfortable. Thanks team for being there for the kids even if parts of your visit were difficult. I know that you made some of these kids very happy. I have a feeling that the kids had a positive impact on you as well. I wish that I could say that I no longer shed tears when I go to the orphanage. Then again perhaps I should be thankful that I do.


Yours in Christ: Dick


Only in heaven will we see how much we owe to the poor for helping us to love God better because of them.

Mother Teresa

Journal, June 13-19, 2009

This week I have not had much time to write, so my journal entries will consist of a lot more pictures than writing.











Sunday, June 13, 2009 -


On Saturday we manged to get the Lionel's house nearly completed.






All of Lionel's family were excited when they saw us unload a wood burning cook stove from the back of my car. Mom and oldest sister were the most though because they are the ones that spend countless hours cooking over an open fire.













On Sunday morning Howie and Nan headed back to Antigua while Ben, John, Jerry ,and I returned to Lionel's home to put some final touches on the addition to his families home.

While John, Jerry, and Ben installed the chimney I took out my computer and showed the family some of the photos that we had taken during the past few days.




The family liked seeing the photos of themselves and of their house being built but when I told them that I had pictures of Lionel they really got excited. Since most of the family was standing behind me I could not see their faces but Jerry told me that there was not a dry eye in the house. Just 2 days ago, after having prayer with the family and dedicating the house I had talked with them about taking Lionel back home. I explained to them that even though he was getting physically healthier at Hermano Pedro, that he was very homesick and that he spent a lot of his time crying. Mom and dad told me that they knew that he was close to death when we had taken him there and were afraid that the same thing might happen if he were to return to his home. They promised that they would think it over. They said now that they are getting some monthly help with food and 2 of there children's school needs are being taken care of that they were doing a lot better but that they were still worried that they could not properly care for him. They did promise that they would talk it over though.


The remainder of Sunday and all of Monday was spent visitig peole in various villages.







One of our first visits was to a boy that lives only a short distance from Lionells family. I had met this boy several months ago. His 82 year old grandmother takes extremely good care of him but she is very poor ,so up until today he has never owned a wheelchair.






...................

We were also taken to a home of a neighbor who has been bed ridden for several years now. I told the family that the 3 wheelchairs that I had in my car were already spoken for but promised them that I would get one for them as soon as possible. It is hard to make these families wait but we always have far more people needing wheelchairs than we can supply.

One of our visits was to Rolando,
a young man for whom we are providing a teacher.

Another visit was at the home of Rudy. Rudy needed some adjusting on the artificial leg that we gave him a few months ago.





Rudy is now walking well but he is growing fast so I am afraid that he will soon outgrow this leg.











Ben did an excellent job of interpreting for us and he was a big hit with the kids.











On Monday we made the 3 1/2 hour drive from Huehuetennago to the area where Lisvi use to live. The trip there can usually be done in 2 hours but when we were 45 minutes out of Huehue we realized that we had left the 3 wheelchairs that we were planning on giving away back at our motel. We all blamed Benjamin for that one. After all he was the only one of the 4 of us who was not over 60 years old. How on earth could any of us old codgers been expected to remember something like that? Never the less we finally made it up to this aldea that is located up a dirt road that takes you from 3800 feet above see level to 8200 feet above see level in the shortest distance humanly possible.




A few months ago Lisvi's family had asked me to take her back home with them instead of allowing her stay in the malnutrition ward of Hermano Pedro. I must admit that I had a rather sleepless night the night before taking them back to their home. During the trip back and the following day I got to know this family a lot better though and God gave me peace about this little girl going back to the loving arms of her Father. He even gave me peace when her father phoned me only 2 weeks later tell me that she was now in the arms of her Heavenly Father. Today I was able to see even a little more why knowing Lisvi for even a few days was so important. God had used Lisvi to help the people where she lived see that we were there because we cared, because God cares. I am quite sure that we will be seeing these people on regular basis.

John 4:34-36

"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don't you have a saying, 'It's still four months until harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now those who reap draw their wages, even now they harvest the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together."

We had planned on taking a northern rout back to Chimaltenango on Tuesday but on Monday night I received a phone call from Ronny's mother saying that Ronny has steadily been getting worse. She wanted to know if I could get him into Hermano Pedro to see a doctor there. I told the group that it would not be as scenic but explained the situation and asked if it would be OK if we took a bit of a southern detour home so that we could pick Ronny up and take him to Hermano Pedro. They unanimously agreed. The following morning we were on our way to the coast.



While on our way to Ronny's I received a phone call from Vicky, a friend that lives near the lake. She wondered if I could come and take a look at a little girl that had been coming in to a feeding center that Vicky and her husband operate. I told her that I would not be able to for at least a few days but suggested that she have someone bring the little girl in to Hermano Pedro and meet me there that evening. Roland Elf was also scheduled to meet us there with Florinda, the little girl that he and I had met last week.
It is now Thursday after noon. I brought Ronny back home yesterday. The doctor gave his mother some medicine but explained to her that Ronny is loosing strength and there is not a lot that can be done. Ronny’s mom broke into tears when she got home and tried to explain things to Ronny’s father. I have met several kids that have the same disease. None of them have lived to see their 18th birthday. Ronny is 15.






The little girl that Vicky sent in has also returned to her home. Even though she is blind and is hydrocephalic I think that she is going to be all right.













Florinda is not looking well but at least they have admitted her into the malnutrition ward of Hermano Pedro. Thank you Roland for being every bit as persistent as I can be.








A few hours ago I went over to Alex's house. Yesterday I found out that he had spent the weekend at the hospital. 13 year old Alex has always been one of my healthiest and most athletic kids. On Saturday night he woke up with severe chest pains. He is still quite week and cannot eat anything. The doctors at the national hospital are saying that it is his hart but tomorrow I will take him in to Hermano Pedro to get a more qualified doctor to look at him. Please pray for this family. In the last several months 3 of the children have been hospitalized. Pray also that Alex's father who has been in the USA for the past 6 years returns home soon. His family needs him here.




I wish to thank those of you who responded to Pat's journal a few weeks ago. Had it not been for that response I am not sure that any of the kids that I just wrote about would have gotten any medical help.

One more thing that I would like you to pray about concerns a phone call that I got last night. Chris Called telling me that a container of specialty children’s chairs that has been sent from the States is being held at customs. We are not sure but is sounds like any charitable goods that come into Guatemala can only come in through the first lady. I don't exactly know what that means or just how it is going to get resolved but there is a fee for every day that the container sits at port and around 200 children have to go that much longer with out wheelchairs.

Matthew 19:26

Jesus looked at them and said, "With human beings this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Thursday night, and things are pretty much back to normal, or at least as normal as things get around here. I just said goodbye to 16 American visitors who brought in pizza for the 20 or more kids that were here for supper. Since I had not been at home for several days to cook for the kids everyone was hungry and the 12 pizzas disappeared fast. Everyone had a good time though but the floors that Fernando had swept for me this morning looked more like normal. Before supper he had offered to sweep them again after dinner but after taking one look at them he mysteriously disappeared for the rest of the night.

Well I am now down to just 2 kids and myself so I guess I well call it a day. Before I do though I would like to speak out in defense of the food that I feed my kids and my personal eating habits.

A few of you have been writing to me stating your concerns about the type of food that I feed the kids and myself. I want you to know that I do not take your comments lightly even when you are wrong so I asked my Guatemalan Doctor if there was a slight possibility that I was wrong and that you were right. Here it is straight from my doctors mouth. Now remember though that I am fairly deaf and my Spanish leaves a bit to be desired so there is a chance that a little bit got lost in the translation. Any way this is what I think I heard.

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! ..... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO! Cocoa beans ! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

AND.....

For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you..


I think that I'll go and have bowl of ice cream and a Pepsi and then head off to bed.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Friday, June 19, 2009, 2:31 PM

I just returned for Hermano Pedro with Alex, his mother, and older sister. Not only was Alex able to see a regular doctor today but he also saw a hart specialist. It appears that there is a slight problem with one of the valves of his hart so the specialist prescribed some medicine that he is to take for a month and then the doctor wants to see him again. Meanwhile no running or any other strenuous activity. This is not going to be easy for Alex because he loves to play soccer.




While I was at Hermano Pedro I went up into the malnutrition ward to see Florinda. They have inserted a feeding tube so hopefully she will gain back some much needed weight. To my knowledge the doctors have not yet determined what she has. Roland and I had thought that a medical student had pinpointed it when he said that she had all of the symptoms of tetanus but her doctor told us that there is no way that she could have stayed alive this long if she had tetanus. Pleas pray that they can figure out what she has before it is to late.







I also spent a bit of time with Jose. Jose who is now nearly 3 years old is no longer 8 pounds but he still looks like a baby. People are really shocked when they see that he can walk.








7:23 PM

I just got back from Antigua. Chris, Donna, Benjamin, and Cindy picked me up and we then went to Hermano Pedro and picked up Fidel. It was his 24th birthday this week and we had promised him that we would take him out for supper. We have been celebrating birthdays with him for several years now. Fidel has no living relatives so he sort of considers us family. Fidel gets pretty lonely at times and this outing meant a lot to him.


Well it is Friday night and my house is rapidly filling up with other kids that are begging for some attention, so I will say, “Goodnight”

Yours in Christ: Dick





"Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat."

Mother Teresa

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick

Journal, June 6-12, 2009

(Click on any picture to enlarge)

Saturday, June 6, 2009, 8:54 PM

Weekends are made for relaxing so this morning Calin, Fernando, and I went to the Orphanage and relaxed by playing with some of the kids. As expected Calin and Fernando got hungry at around noon so we decided to go to Camperos and have some lunch. Since we had taken no tools along with us today for fixing wheelchairs we decided that we just as well use our hands for something so we each took an orphanage kid along with us to lunch. Now you may think that taking 3 kids that are in wheelchairs out to lunch is no way to relax but don’t knock it until you have tried it. One big advantage of coarse is having 2 kids like Calin and Fernando come along with you to help out. These 2 are so in love with the kids at the orphanage that there is no way that I could convince them that pushing wheelchairs several blocks over cobble stone streets and then trying to feed your self with one hand while feeding some one else with the other is anything but fun. Come to think of it I would be hard to convince that there is any better way to spend your weekend.





We managed to get back home in time for 2 of us to get haircuts and also bought a week’s worth of groceries. Well I thought it was a week’s worth but what is becoming our weekly Saturday night soccer game worked up some appetites and the 12 kids that were at my supper table put a pretty good dent in what I thought was a weeks supply of food.








I told the kids that I needed a bit of quiet time tonight so I actually have the house to my self. I think that it may be short lived though because I told Calin that he could come back at 10. His mom and step dad have been fighting again and mom has been staying with Calin’s grandmother for the past several days. There is not much room at grandmother's house for Calin and he really does not want to stay at his house with his step dad.

Well I still have a half hour, so I think that I will kick back and listen to the silence……whoops there goes the door bell.

Mother Teresa once said,

“Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.” She also said, “I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.”

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Sunday, June 7, 2009, 9:17 PM

Moyses and Byron joined The 10 kids that came along with me from home and myself and the 13 of us went to church and then to Chimaltenango for lunch. I dropped off 8 of the kids before bringing Moises and byron back to the orphanage because I wanted to visit with Jo Jo and figured that 10 unsupervised kids would be pushing it. My kids love going to the orphanage and playing with the kids but 10 of them at one time has proven in the past to be a mistake on my part.

Just 15 days ago, in my May 23 Journal entry I wrote the following.

"Even though they were just reprimanded for it last week the nurse that fed Jo Jo, who has severe breathing problems, managed to squeeze a full bottle of milk into him in approximately 30 seconds. The way that he gagged and coughed during and after the feeding indicated that a lot of the milk went directly into his lungs."

This morning I visited Jo Jo who was in the intensive care unit of Hermano Pedro. Judging by his condition I was not sure weather or not this would possibly be my last visit with him. He was unresponsive and even though his eyes were open his pupils were not visible. When I returned later this afternoon I was happy to see that his condition had improved greatly. Praise God, even though he has a long way to go it looks like he is going to pull through another bout of pneumonia.

Tonight all 10 of the kids that came along to church with me are back plus another half dozen. Those that are not playing a board game in the house are playing a lively game of soccer out in my yard and by the sound of things I better get out there and supervise if I want to save my windows and keep the first aid kit full.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick

10:24 PM

I just received a phone call from Rolland. He is in a village that is located about an hour out of Huehuetenango. On May 26 Roland and I took Balanca a little girl with club foot from this village to Hermano Pedro to see about the possibility of having a teem of orthopedic specialists that are coming in from the States operate on her in July. Tomorrow at 4:00 AM Roland is taking her and her family in to Guatemala City by buss so she can receive some final tests to determine weather or not she is a candidate for this surgery. Tonight’s phone call was about another little girl that Roland found this evening who is starving to death. Just a few days ago I had to tell Roland that we had nothing left in our medical funds and we would have to stop taking new kids in for medical attention until we received more funds. Roland told me that the little girl that he had met tonight reminded him of Lisvi a little girl that had died just a few months ago. He said that did not look like she would last more than a few days if we did not get her into the malnutrition ward of Hermano Pedro. I have not checked to see if any money came in this week that has been designated for medical expenses but it doesn’t matter. If her family agrees, Tuesday morning Roland and I plan on driving up to her village to pick her up.




Mark 10:14 (New International Version)



When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”









... .. . . Lisvi 2003 - 2009


Goodnight again,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Monday, June 8, 2009

Wow! Monday’s are the days that the therapists are supposed to swim with the kids at Hermano Pedro. What is incredible is that today it actually happened. Granted only 6 of the kids got to swim but at least those 6 enjoyed themselves. A few of the therapists got into the pool with full intentions of keeping their hair dry but Byron and I had other plans. Once they found out that there was no way that that was going to happen all but 2 of them joined in on the fun. I still can’t figure out why some people believe that anything that is good for you can’t be fun. Sort of like, Church and school, back when I was a kid. Any way most of us had fun and both the kids and the adults got plenty of exercise.



After swimming I signed Henry out and we went over to Hope haven’s wheelchair factor and picked up 2 brand new wheelchairs. Henry had a great time visiting with some of the workers while I loaded up the chairs. While driving back to the orphanage Henry made it perfectly clear that he was in no hurry to get back there, so he and I stopped of at the Café that our church runs and had some lunch. After lunch I fitted Edwin a new boy at the orphanage into one of the wheelchairs that we had picked up.




I headed for home at around 2 PM because I needed to have some more work done on my car. After all it had been nearly a week since it had been into the shop. If you could spend a week with me and see where this car goes you would understand that this car is not a lemon In fact it has to be nothing short of a Sherman tank to have stood up this good. Just ask anyone who has ridden in it and they will at least tell you that it rides like a Sherman tank. Four hours later my car was once again ready for another week of battle. I figured that was $12 well spent even if $3 per hour is outrageous.

Lots of kids tonight and either they were a lot louder than usual or I am getting my hearing back. I had previously told them that they could all stay until 10 PM but by the time 9 PM rolled around I seriously considered making my home the only one in all of Guatemala that observed daylight savaging time. Even after 12 of them left ant there were only the 4 that I had previously given permission to stay things still stayed a bit on the wild side. Fact is I got a bit frazzled when it waked out of the house and saw water flowing out of the door way to my bathroom. My first thoughts were that a water pipe had broken but I soon discovered that there was a water fight going on. I guess I must have not used my Mr. nice voice when I not so politely asked the kids to stop because with in a matter of seconds the water that was flowing was coming from the eyes of a few of the boys. I instantly apologized for yelling but went on to explain that I did not appreciate seeing nearly every item that was not securely anchored down flowing out of my bathroom door.

It is now close to midnight. The kids have all been reassured that I still love them, even though the water fight had gotten completely out of hand. All of the tears have dried. Now I can only hope that my bathroom floor will do the same.

Goodnight:
Yours in Christ: Dick

(Note to self) If you need the bathroom during the night remember to put on your high top shoes.


Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Funny ting how last week I threatened to cut back on my journal writing but and then discover that so far this week my journal entries are longer than ever. I can’t exactly explain it but some how I seem to be finding more time to write. I guess that is why I find my self sitting here at 3:23 AM writing this entry. I guess this is my hour break from a good night’s sleep.

This morning I met up with Rolland Elf at Hermano Pedro. Yesterday Roland had taken Blanca along with her parents to get some tests done in the capital that would help to determine weather or not she was a candidate for corrective surgery of her two clubfeet. Today she was scheduled to see the neurologist who would make that final decision.

Pat had mentioned in one of the journal entries that she had made for me last week that due to a drained medical fund we were going to have to stop bringing kids in for medical help for a while. Have you ever tried saying no to a six year old girl who has been offered the opportunity to walk though? We couldn’t say no, and I don’t think that God wanted us to. Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. (Luke 8: 41 & 42) I have my doubts that Jesus checked how much money he had in His wallet before heading out to see this girl. Could it be possible that these verses had been placed in the bible so that we could learn something from them?


We were unable to stay with Blanca’s family at the hospital long enough to here what the neurologist’s decision was though because we were on our way to pick up Florinda, another little girl that needed medical attention. I know what we wrote last week but how do you say no? Three and a half hours later when we walked into the mud brick dwelling that Florida’s family called home it was confirmed that we had done the right thing. I feared that this frail little 3 and a half year old may not even survive the car ride to the hospital but we had to let this family know that some one cared.






About a year ago when Florida who up until that point was a healthy happy little girl had developed this mysterious condition her parents had taken her to the national hospital in Mazatenango only to be told by the doctors there that they did not know what was wrong with her but that she would likely dye. Florida’s parents know that their daughter was very ill and that our taking her to Hermano Pedro was no guarantee that she would survive but they also know that if she did not get medical help that she would not last more than a few days. It nearly broke my hart when they told us that they had no money to pay to burry her if she died along the way. As mother and father walked to my car carrying their precious little daughter I looked back to say goodbye to the rest of the family. Several of them were crying. I know that they were wondering if they would ever see Florida again.The trip went well and we got the family settled in to Cassa Defay before dark. Tomorrow morning Florinda and her family will see a doctor who cares. We are praying that something can be done for this little girl. I feel though that just by showing this family that some one cares a lot has already been made it worth it.

Oh by the way when I got home I had an e-mail from some one saying that God had laid it on their harts to send some money to be deposited into our medical fund. This will help take care of the medical expenses of these 2 girls but I can guarantee you that there will be a lot more Florindas and Blancas. Fact is on our way home I received a phone call from someone telling me about Edvin Baudilio Requiac Morales, she asked me if we had a wheelchair for Edvin. She went on to tell me that 9 year old Edvin weighs 23 pounds.

I have just received word from the neurologist that next month Blanca will be able to have corrective surgery on her 2 clubfeet.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Wednesday, June 10, 2009


Fernando and his Mom (actually his aunt) were at my door at 7:00 AM. Fernando’s aunt has been having chest pain and at times almost blacks out, so she had agreed to come along to Hermano Pedro to see a doctor today. When we reached Antigua we stopped of at Cassia Defay and picked up Florinda, her family and Rolland. And then headed to Hermano Pedro. When we got there the hallways were already filled with people that were hoping to see a doctor. Had it not been for the fact that the hospital staff had saved a number for both Florinda and Fernando’s aunt I am not sure that they would have been able to see doctors today. It was still quite a wait but shortly before noon Fernando’s aunt was escorted into the doctors office. After examining her he asked if she could come back tomorrow for more tests. After asking the doctor how much the tests would cost she told the dctor that she would not be able to return. She explained that there was no way that she could come op with the $15 to cover the cost of these 2 tests. I asked her how much money she could get by tomorrow and after she told me I agreed to pay the remaining $ 12.

Roland stayed at the hospital with Florinda and her family while I drove Fernando and his aunt back to their home. When I returned Roland told me that our prayers had been answered because the doctor that examined Florinda had agreed to admit her to the malnutrition ward of the hospital. The doctor said that there were 2 children in the malnutrition ward that had some thing contagious though, so he felt that it would be best if Florinda’s family kept her at home for a few days and then returned with her on Tuesday. Since I plan on being up in Huehuetenango for the next few days we had to arrange for the family to travel by buss.



Florinda’s condition had me puzzled because she had been a healthy little girl until a little over a year ago and then her health had gone down hill rapidly. She now showed all of the symptoms of some one that had severe cerebral palsy. The doctor said that if the doctor that Florinda’s family had taken her to when she first started having these spells had given her something to control what he feels were petty mall seizures, chances are that she would be a fairly healthy little girl. Unfortunately since that doctor didn’t seem to want to give Florinda’s family as much as the time of day each seizure that she had did a little more damage and no there was likely some permanent brain damage. We are praying that once they get her on the right medications and into the malnutrition ward that we will see improvements though.



I got to see Jo jo for a short time today and he is doing well. We can only pray that the care givers have learned from this and that they start taking the necessary time that it taks to feed the kids properly, but so far I have not seen much improvement.







Today I also spent some time with Jose the little boy who was two and a half years old and weighted 8 and a half pounds when he was admitted into the malnutrition ward a few months ago. Jose is now gaining weight quite rapidly and he is dooing well.







After getting Roland, Florinda, and her family on to the buss I headed over to a place called the Jackson house. The Jackson house is a fairly new facility that also works with malnourished kids. I had stopped in there a few days ago after being told about Jose, a little boy that was in need of a wheelchair. Jose who appears to be around 6 years old was brought into Jackson house about 6 months ago. His family had abandoned him because they did not consider him to be perfect. Wow! I am sure glad that my heavenly Father never considered doing that to me. I am quite sure that he could have found plenty of reason to say that I did not meet up to His standards and thrown me out. Since Jackson house works primarily with younger children It is not certain how long Jose who appears to be around 5 or 6 years old will be able to stay there but I am praying that he does not have to be moved too soon. The staff that works at this place are very loving and even though this facility is not set up for some one that is in a wheelchair I am convinced that love is more important than a flight of stares.




Thursday, June 11, 2009, 8:18 PM

Tonight we are in Huehuetenango. My ex-boss John Bosman and an old high school buddy Jerry Zyelstra flew in last night and this morning the 3 of us, plus Howard, Nan, and Benjamin headed up ths way to build a house for Lionel’s family. Presently mom, dad and Lyonel’s 5 brothers and sisters live in a mud brick dirt floor structure that is much smaller than most peoples bedrooms. A good part of our day was spent driving here and then buying some of the supplies that well be needed to add an adjoining room onto their present dwelling. We managed to get up to the job site this afternoon but plan on starting the actual construction tomorrow. Lionel’s entire family is very excited about getting this new room added onto their home.

At around 4 pm we said our goodbyes and drove down off from the mountain where they live. Luis, Lionels father rode along with us to the nearest village. There he introduced us to a man that sold gravel. For less than $100 he said that he would sell us 5 pickup loads of gravel and have it all delivered to Louise’s home by noon tomorrow. Knowing what the road to Louise’s house was like we didn’t even try to barter on the price.



Tomorrow morning we will try to buy all of the remaining supplies here in Huehuetenango and then drive back up to Louise’s house and start building the 12 by 14 foot addition to this family’s house. 12 by 14 may not sound like much but that will nearly double the living space of what this family of 8 is presently living in. The cement floors that we plan to put in should also be a pleasant relief from the damp mud floor that the family has been sleeping on. I don’ think that I will ever again complain about my mattress being too hard.





Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick




Friday, June 12, 2009, 8:08 PM

After loading up Howe’s pickup truck and my land Cruiser with lumber. metal siding, and bags of cement we headed up to Lionel’s house. Howie’s pickup truck had the blunt of the load on it but he managed to get the entire load up the steep dirt raod with out loosing anything. The fact that the entire load had shifted back about 8 inches simply made it easier to unload things when he got there. To our surprise all of the gravel that we had ordered last night had been delivered as well so we went straight to work.




There was plenty of work for everyone and it was an extremely warm day so we are all tired tonight. Tomorrow we plan on finishing up the cement floor and then starting on the framework of the house.











This evening we picked up a wood bringing stove that we are planning to install tomorrow. Most of the people in this area cook over open fires but since the fires are usually under a makeshift roof or even inside of an enclosed structure many of women that do the cooking have lung problems. This new stove should also cut the amount of firewood that is consumed down to at least half of what they had been using.










Not unlike the wheelchair ministry from time to time I have to remind myself that as important as it is go get this family into a new house; houses and wheelchairs are not what this ministry is all about. What we are here for is to share the love of Jesus with these people and what a better way is there to to show Christ's love then by helping meet some of their physical needs? But as happy as I am to see this family get a new home, I am even happier to see that they are realizing that we love them with a love that only God can give. The highlights of my day was when a little girl that cried every time that we got near her reached out her tinny hand from around the corner of the doorway where she had been hiding and placed it into mine. This was the same little girl who's 2 uncles along with 39 other villagers had been slaughtered by other strangers that had come into her village not all that many years ago.




Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick

Journal May 30 - June 5, 2009

(click on any photo to enlarge)

Saturday and Sunday, May 30 & 31, 2009

Since it was the weekend I am going to keep this one short. Since things have been so busy lately I am trying to spend more of my weekend time with the kids that hang out at my house and those at the orphanage. This is even difficult because they are still allowing almost no visitors into the orphanage so I am unable to take any of my neighborhood kids along with me when I go there. Hopefully this will change on Monday. My neighbor kids certainly hope that it does because they really miss the orphanage kids. Mean while I will have to try to figure out how to better divide my time and we will have to have separate soccer games on the weekends.





My friend Pat Duff has graciously offered to share her Monday and Tuesday journal entries with me.

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. . . .. . . . . . .^ Click button to play

Thanks Pat.


Monday, June 1, 2009 (by Pat Duff)



Today I finally got to spend the day with the kids at Hermano Pedro. I was walking around saying hello to the kids, and came upon little Brenda. As I said hi, and tried to walk by to see other kids, she quickly lost her smile and began to cry. All she wanted was a little attention, and was happy to be wheeled around with me as I saw some more of the kids. Shortly after I got there, Dick came in with Di, a nurse/paramedic from Australia who is down doing volunteer work in Guatemala. Di is a very interesting lady who has quickly become bored with the tourist activity of Antigua and was looking for something more challenging to do with her time here. Dick immediately invited her to go with us to Esquintla tomorrow to visit some families in that area.


It seemed that as soon as Dick got into the children’s ward, there were constantly staff members coming up telling him about one child or another who needed a chair fixed. His goal for today was to fix Fidel’s power chair, but before he got to that, he fixed a walker, two head rests and was told about a new boy who needed a wheel chair. How he manages to keep all this straight is beyond me. He even took time to show me how to fix a few things on chairs. He has much more confidence in my mechanical ability than I do, but, if I can tighten a few screws to keep things from totally breaking, and maybe lighten his load a bit, I guess it’s worth stepping outside my comfort zone. My biggest fear is that I’ll mess things us more than I’ll help, but I guess that’s how I’ll learn.

Dick also walked me through the process of signing out kids for lunch. Since there were only two of us here today, we could only take two kids. You could see the inner struggle Dick was having deciding who to take. This was one time I was more than happy to be “submissive” because then I didn’t have to carry the guilt of the sad faces of those who could not go. Moises had been promised a trip out a couple weeks ago, and then the orphanage was “closed” to volunteers and outings to keep out the swine flu. Today was the first day kids could go out, so Moi needed to go with us for sure. Henry was our second lunch guest. He’s a really bright 5 or 6 year old, who only recently returned to Hermano Pedro after being at home with his family for a number of months. Dick said he just doesn’t seem to be himself since he returned, so we hoped a trip out would cheer him up.

Our original plan was to go to Campero’s, but when Dick asked him if he wanted to have lunch at Camino’s Café (run by the church), Moi jumped at the chance. As we were walking there, Mark Richard, from Hope Haven Guatemala drove by, and decided to join us. With him was a gentleman (whose name I can’t remember, but you can feel free to fill in, Dick, if you do!) from Hope Haven in Rock Valley, Iowa. This is the second time I’ve met someone here in Guatemala who lives only about 2 hours away from me back in the States! They joined us for lunch and I got to hear a bit more about what Hope Haven International is doing here in Guatemala.

The boys had a chance to wheel around while waiting for our food and enjoyed the freedom. There was a little boy about 3 years old in the café, who you could see was fascinated by the boys’ wheelchairs, but was too timid to come over to them even with encouragement. Moi and Henry seemed to enjoy “showing off” for him a bit. When lunch came we all settled down to eat, though I think Henry was a bit disappointed that he got stuck with me helping him rather than Dick, but we managed. He did get to sit on Dick’s lap for a bit, and I think that satisfied him.

After lunch Moi wanted to take pictures with my camera, so we started taking pictures of flowers and the garden area. There was a young woman (the three year old’s mom) sitting on the couch and Moi wanted to take her picture. I told him he would have to ask her permission, and I swear he blushed. But he did, and she was happy to “pose” for him. We began talking and I discovered that Rosa Angelica was born in Antigua but was married to an American and has lived in San Diego for the past 20 years. She was interested in finding opportunities to do some volunteer work with her children (Lauren, age 10 and Christopher, 3) and was very interested in knowing more about Hermano Pedro.

After he had his fill of photos, Moi decided he wanted to get out of his chair onto the grass in the garden area. Henry didn’t even have to think about joining him, and soon the two boys were crawling around and playing with Lauren and Christopher. It was a delight to see them interacting so “normally” with kids who could walk. And, to their credit, Lauren and Christopher seemed totally comfortable with the boys. A couple of times we had to reign in Henry because, though he’s only a couple years older than Christopher, he’d actually get a bit rough with him. If I didn’t know them, I’m not sure I would have been able to tell which of the four kids on the grass needed the wheelchairs. When we talk about “normalization” for individuals with disabilities, we get all technical and theoretical. This was real “normalization,” just letting the kids BE normal and getting out of their way! I’m grateful we met this wonderful young family who was willing to reach out to our two kids.

When we got back to Hermano Pedro, Dick finally got to fixing Fidel’s chair, with Moi’s help as “tool handler.” I went and got Brenda and we just rocked and rocked and talked. She would just light up with the least bit of attention. Dick then introduced me to Eduardo, a new boy at the orphanage. He literally looked like a tiny little waif, and almost appeared to be “shell shocked” in his responses. What happened next is one of my best memories from this trip. Ervin, whose nickname used to be “monster” wheeled over and tried to play with Eduardo. He didn’t get much more of a response than Dick and I did until he started clapping, and Eduardo brightened and imitated him. Ervin kept this up, and Eduardo came out of himself more and more, even beginning to vocalize a bit. I haven’t seen him smile yet, but am hoping this will come if Ervin keeps “working” with him. I don’t think that there is anything that touches my heart more than to see these kids reaching out to each other.


After helping Moises with his homework, it was time to head home. I still had a couple of errands to run and it was getting late. This was a full day, but a satisfying one. It seems every time I am here, each day is better than the last. After a day like this, I fall into bed exhausted, but I wouldn’t trade this exhaustion for a week in the Bahamas!

Pat

Tuesday, June 2, 2009 (by Pat Duff)

Wow! Each day seems to get more jam packed than the last, if that’s possible. While I can’t say the pace is hectic, it sure is intense, at least when I’m hanging around with Dick. But what I get to experience going out with Dick makes the exhaustion at the end of the day well worth it.


Today we planned to leave early for the Equintla area. Shortly before he was to pick me up, Dick called saying that he’d be late (yes, this is Guatemala. . .yes, this is Dick. . .’nuff said!). He thought his steering felt a little off, and when he got down to check it found that 3 of the 4 bolts that hold the steering arm on had snapped off. He thought it might be a good idea to get these fixed before we set off on a two hour drive, so he’d be a little late. I guess this time, he was right. I’m so grateful that God let this happen BEFORE we set out, and even more grateful for Dick’s sensitivity to what’s going on with his vehicle.

This gave me time to work a bit on my journal. I now know why Dick only publishes once a week. This last week we’ve been too busy DOING for me to want to spend much time writing about what we’ve done. On the other hand, I don’t want to forget any of it, and, if I can give you just a “taste” of Guatemala, it’s worth the effort.

About 11 I met up with Di, the young woman we met yesterday at Hermano Pedro. She was anxious to get out of the city and see some of the “real” Guatemala, so was coming with us today. As she shared her experiences, and Dick shared some of his, I kind of felt like a “poor relation” tagging along, but enjoyed their stories immensely. Cesar, one of Dick’s boys, came along with us, too, since, once again, he had no school today. I couldn’t quite get a good explanation of why this was, but do know that there seems to be no such thing as a substitute teacher in Guatemala, so if the teacher will not be there, there is no class. I was glad he was coming, though, because I’d wanted to meet him since I met his brother, Miguel, last January.

As we headed out I was excited to get to return to a part of Guatemala I’d visited with our mission team last year. This coastal area is very different in almost every way from Antigua, and I think that’s some of the reason I’m so attracted to it. Our first stop was to see Sergio who lives near Santa Lucia. Going to his home seemed like an exercise in “you can’t get there from here.” We kept hitting dead ends, closed roads, impassable parts. When I went to take a picture of one of these dead ends, Dick calmly suggested that I might not want to do that, since this would greatly increase our chances of getting lynched before we got out of town. Seems the folks in this area are not too sure of white folks, given the stories they have heard about foreigners. Somehow Dick, with the help of his GPS, managed to find the house. Sergio was not going to school because the wheel on his power chair was broken. It just so happened that his mom had called Chris Mooney, head of Bethel Ministries, about this just the day before, and Chris called Dick to find that it just so happened that he was planning to go to this area this week. Godincidence Perhaps?




When we got there Dick discovered that all that was needed was a nut to go on the bolt of one of the front wheels. It seems incredible that something so simple can keep this young man from school, but this was the case. Since I was the only one on the trip with a passable knowledge of both English and Spanish I got to do the interpreting today. I’m continually impressed by the willingness of the Guatemalans to help me muddle through. This family was no different, and I think Mama even enjoyed having someone to talk with about her son. I tried to explain to them that if this happened again, they could perhaps get the part at a bicycle or auto shop. Am not sure they “got it” but it was worth a try.





I am always humbled by the hospitality of the families we visit. As soon as we enter a home, the family scrambles to find chairs for us to sit on. In this case, they also brought us juice to drink, and offered us a snack. Sergio’s brother enjoyed having to teach both Di and me how to eat guyaba. I don’t know exactly how to describe these except that they look like a tiny green orange. So I started trying to peel it, much to the family’s amusement. I now know that the entire fruit is edible, and the pulp inside is a bit sweet.

Our next stop was Ronnie’s. I was really looking forward to seeing this family, because I was part of a group that had painted their house last summer. Ronnie is one of seven children, and has Muscular Dystrophy. He is obviously much weaker than he was a year ago, but was still able to show his excitement at seeing Dick. We were bringing him a new battery for his power chair so he could go to school.


It was wonderful to see this family again, and I got tears in my eyes when Clara, the second oldest daughter, came up to me and said, “I know you. You painted my house!” I’d fallen in love with the three older girls, and it touched my heart that she had remembered me. It was nice to see, too, that the family had made “improvements” on their home, putting a fence around the yard and planting flowers on both sides of the “walk” to the house. You can tell they appreciate and take pride in their home.


Dick and Cesar, with the help of Ronnie’s dad, were able to trade out batteries in no time at all, while I got to visit with his mom about the family. Orlindo, the 6 year old boy, had just “made” his school’s soccer team and was so proud. All the children were doing well in school and Dick was happy to hear that Jessica, the oldest daughter, was still in school. She had been having some problems with her teacher because she was often late, after helping get Ronnie ready and to school. It seems her parents have resolved this issue with the school at least for now. It is so good to see these parents willing to advocate for their daughter.



Mom told me that Jessica would turn 15 next year, which is cause for a great celebration when a daughter hits this milestone. Dick tells me the families often make a bigger deal about a “quinsinera” than they do a wedding! Evidently Mama was already starting to dream about what she would like for her first daughter’s “coming of age.” I’m hoping I’ll be here to attend Jessica’s party. The two older girls were excited when Di gave them a dress and blouse she’d brought with her. She literally gave Clara the “shirt off her back” and the two girls tried on their new clothes and looked like princesses.


Since it was getting late and threatening to rain, we cut our visit with this family short and started back for Antigua. We did have time to stop at a clinic operated by a doctor from Cuba and his nurse Walter. They help with providing food for some of the children in the area who have returned home from the malnutrition program at Hermano Pedro. Walter updated us on Julio and Milton, two of these children. Dick was not sure that Milton would still be alive, and was pleasantly surprised to hear that, at least for now, he is doing well. Even though it was after 5 in the afternoon and there were still a number of people in the doctor’s waiting room the doctor came out to greet us in between patients. He is such a kind and gracious man.

As we finally headed back for Antigua, I was pretty well exhausted. But Dick’s day was not nearly over. He still needed to connect with Roland who had brought a young girl with spina bifida and clubbed feet down to the hospital. Roland needed money for some tests the girl was to have done in Guatemala City next week. Dick provided these funds from his own resources, but had to firmly explain to Roland that Bethel’s medical fund was completely out of money. With all the things I’ve gotten to watch Dick do, having to say no to helping someone always seems to take more out of him than anything else. From the little I’ve been here I can understand this. There are so many people in need. How do you decide who gets help and who does not? All they can do is pray and trust God to show them who to help. When there is no money available, however, this makes the decision easier, but even more painful. If you’d like to donate to this fund, please e-mail Dick at dick@dickrutgers.com or click on Bethel Ministries to find out how you can help. I know Dick doesn’t like to ask for donations in his journal, but I’m hoping in this case he’ll make an exception and allow me to make you aware of this great need.


While I’m sitting here writing this, I have (finally) realized just how different my experience of Guatemala has been because of my friendship with Dick. I first met the kids at Hermano Pedro through him, went into a traditional village for the first time with him, and have gotten to tag along and meet countless “real” Guatemalans over the past 2 years and even have the privilege of sponsoring a wonderful young man named Miguel so he can stay in school. I probably would have been very satisfied to stay with the “traditional” volunteer activities here in Antigua, were it not for his encouragement to step out and try something different. When I first thought of moving to Guatemala, he was one of the first people I talked to abut this, and his belief that I could actually pull this off gave me the confidence to take the risk of pursuing this dream. And if I “fit in” with the Guatemalan people, so much of this is due to what I have learned watching him and from his stories. Little did I know a few years ago what would happen when a young man in the Guatemala City airport told me that I needed to meet “this guy” in Antigua who makes and fixes wheelchairs. Thank you, God, for all the “Godincidents” you’ve given to show me the way, and thank you, Dick, for letting our Father use you in growing me.

Pat









Wednesday, June 3, 2009 (by Dick)

After stopping off at the shop and picking up the powered wheelchair that Cesar and I had rebuilt for Myrna. I headed out to Hermano Pedro. I had forgotten a few things at home so I stopped of there to pick them up. When I pulled into my alley I was greeted by Fernando He told me that he had woken up with a stomachache so he had stayed home form school today. His stomachache was no over but if you are not at school by 7:30 you are not allowed in. It took a bit of talking by both Fernando and his aunt but I finally gave in and let him come along to Hermano Pedro with me. When we got to the orphanage we were met by Pat who already had all of the needed paper work completed, so that we could take Ervin, Brenda, and Bobby out to lunch. I think that Camperos my be loosing some of my business because we are starting to enjoy the food and relaxing atmosphere of the cafe that our church has. Even though there is no playground equipment and no toy with your meal the kids seem to enjoy it every bit as much as the adults. They love playing on the large grassy area as well.


After lunch Fernando, Pat, and I drove up to Santa Maria De Jesus. Myrna had been with out her power chair for far to long so I was glad that we finally had the opportunity to bring it to here today. What we did not count on was a cloud burst that soaked us and the wheelchair while were pushing it up the narrow alley that leads to her home. Even though we tried our best to keep the chair as dry as possible something got shorted out and when we finally got it into her house we discovered that it would not run. I tried my best to get things dried out but could not get it going. Myrna’s family was very understanding though and seem far more concerned about how wet we were than the fact that the wheelchair would not run. They even found a shirt for me that somewhat fit and even attempted to dry me off with an old towel that felt like sand paper. We visited for about a half hour but the rain did not let up. I told the family that I would leave the wheelchair there and return for it on a dryer day.

When we got back to Antigua we drove straight to Hope Haven’s wheelchair factory. Mark had called me earlier in the day telling me that some one was bringing in a little girl that needed a wheelchair. Shortly after we arrived Moraine a lady that live in Chimaltenango arrived with 2 a and a half year old girl that is named Lady. Moraine operates a small orphanage for special needs children right here in Chimaltenango. Judging by the love that was shown to Lady by both Moraine and a caregiver that had come along I think that I want to visit this orphanage as soon as possible. I nearly wept when I was told that this precious little girl had been thrown into a hole and left to dye bye her parents because she had some brain damage. Praise God she now has people that love her to care for her. Both Pat and I would have loved to have the opportunity to hold her more but Fernando beat us to the punch.


Thursday, June 4, 2009




Ronny’s mom had called to say that Ronny was quite sick and that they had no way to get him to the doctor. I picked up Pat and we headed to his house. The rest of our day was spent in seeing doctors, and having tests done at various labs and clinics. He has some infection in his lungs but it looks like it has been caught in time to prevent it from turning into pneumonia. Please pray for Ronny because he seems to be a bit weaker every time that I see him.









Friday, June 5, 2009

I would like to write more about days like yesterday and today but lately I simply do not have the time. I am finding it harder and harder to find the time to write these journals. I don’t know the answerer but may have to stop doing daily entries and just post the highlights of the week.....Just five minutes ago I received a phone call form a lady in Antigua who I promised a power wheelchair to over 3 months ago. Yesterday when we went to see Ronny I had taken a wheelchair along for a boy who lives in Esquentla hoping that I would have enough time to get him fitted. As severer as he was I need several hours to do this. This chair still sits in the back of my car. Even with out stopping there last night I did not get home until 10:30 PM. I have been praying about this and it seems that one thing that takes up a lot of my time is this journal. I love doing this journal because it gives me time to reflect on what God is doing down here and I know that it is also important to keep people informed, but I often find myself having to put off things that are possibly more important. Please pray that God gives me wisdom in this matter.

Yours in Christ: Dick