Journal September 27 - October 2, 2010

September 27-30, 2010

This week Chris joined me for 4 days of camp recruiting up in the Hueheutenango area.  It was while we were out on the road that we heard about the death of Jose Enrique.  Enrique's death was a hard blow, especially after loosing Jo Jo less than 2 weeks earlier.  I know that I will see them again but I miss them none the less.

Jose Enrique (Sept. 29 Link) 

Jo Jo (Sept. 2 Link)
 

One of the homes that we visited was  the home of Pasquel and his family.  Pasquel has been confined to a wheelchair ever since some men robbed him and then threw him over a cliff leaving him for dead.  A few years ago Bethel Ministries gave him some power tools and now Pasqule is making a living by building things and selling them.

A bit of scenery along the way.

Many roads were closed due to landslides and most that were open should not have been.

We nearly got trapped between 2 landslides 
but turned around and got out in the nick of time.

  

The hike in to where Ernesto lives was a wet one. 

 

Ernisto's mother died a few years ago and father's health is very poor. 

Ernisto's brother and 2 sister  no longer live at home so even on the days that he does feel well enough to do a little work father has to stay home and care for Ernisto.

We are considering adding this family to the list of people that need a sponsor so that we can supply them with food on a monthly bases.

Jaime comes to camp every year.  His 2 prize possessions, a camp certificate and a  picture of Pastor Bill and his wife Barb, hang over the door of his home.

Alonzo Rodriguez who is also in a wheelchair lives with his wife and 4 children  in a small room above the shop where Alonzo repairs small appliances.  The town that Alonzo lives in is quite poor so Alonzo does not get much business.  We are going to have to find sponsors for Alonzo's 2 school age children if they are to remain in school. 

Angel Gabriel  Age 8

Floridalma  age 6

Chris hits it off well with nearly all of the village children.

He didn't get much response from this one though,  but that was partly due to the fact that this is not a child but a large squash that some one had given him.

This is Jose with Father and brother.

When Jose comes to camp we are going to take him to some one that we know that makes braces to see if he thinks that there is any hope that Jose can walk.

A few more people that we met along the way.

Luz's Mom gives us some home made bread.


It was a good trip and other than lots of detours due to land slides and demonstrations Chris and I had a great time.  

 
Oh, I did have one small accident.  Not with the car but with my finger.  I tried to pet this cute little squirrel that was playing with a cat out by our motel.  Evidently the cute little squirrel did not think that I was all that cue though because it bit me.  Don't worry though becasue so far I am not foaming at the mouth but I have developed a craving for peanuts.   






Friday, October 1, 2010


With in a half hour after getting back home last night my house was once again full of kids.  I was so glad to see them that  I didn't even let the break dancing get to me.  I must admit though that I was a bit thankful when the internet went out for a while because the rap music was getting to me.

 

First thing this morning Jason ( No School ?? ) and I headed over to Hermano Pedro orphanage.  I was anxious to see how Jessica (September 13 Link) was doing.  Thinking about Jose Enrique who

had passed away on Wednesday made it a bit hard for me to go into the malnutrition ward today.  What made it even harder was to see that Jessica was lying in the same crib that I had place Jose Enrique in after holding him last Saturday.  I was glad though to see that Jessica is already putting on weight.  She was delight when I took her out of her crib and held her for a while but not nearly as happy when I put her back into her crib a half hour later.  It looks like Juan and I will be going in to where she lives some time in November to lay the foundation for her new home, and when a few friends come down the first part of December we plan to put up the house.  If all goes well it will not be long after the house is built that Jessica will be able to return to her family and her new home.  I don't know how to thank all of you who made it possible for Jessica, her mom, and 5 brothers and sister to have not only a new home but bunk beds, a well, a water filter and a stove.  Some one has also stepped forward and has made it possible for us to supply Jessica's family with food on a monthly bases.  I want to personally thank each of you!!

Jason feeding Henry.

I would have liked to have taken more than just 2 kids out to lunch today but since Jason and I were the only ones around that was all that we could take.  Byron was especially happy to get out of the orphanage because his power wheelchair had quit working while I was on the road but Jason and I got it going again so not only was he able to get out of the orphanage for a while but he was able to drive his power wheelchair to lunch.  Since Henry and Jason are good buddies we took Henry along as well.  Jason is not one of the easiest kids to have around my house but today he did remarkably well.  I think that it is good for him to see that he has it pretty good compared to the kids at the orphanage.

This evening I made a second trip back to Antigua.  On Friday nights my kids that are 13 and older have youth group at our church.  Usually the hour and a half that they are there is my time to relax in the small cafe that our church has while I wait for the kids to get out of church.  Tonight however I took some of the younger ones along as well.  Today was kids day in Guatemala so I promised the entire group that I would take them out for pizza afterwords.  I am tired but we had a blast.


Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Saturday football game

Today I took most of the kids to San Lucas where some of the kids had a soccer game.  My kids won their game even though they were one player short. 

My kids don't complain about having to ride in the back of the pickup truck but we will all be glad when I get my car out of the shop.  Two months is long enough.

Tonight we just hung out at the house.  The kids are not to tickled that tomorrow I am going to have to leave again for a few days but after this week I should be able to stay at home more.  Besides that the kids will soon be out of school so then I will start taking one or 2 of them with me when I do have to be out of town.

Goodnight, 

Yours in Christ: Dick