Journal, August 18-24, 2010

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

This was our last day in Xela before heading back to Chimaltenango and Antigua. I had planned on doing today's journaling but some how Pat once again beat me to the punch. I guess I better start doing my writing before 11:45 PM if I want to beat her.

Dick

I lost my hart Again

Written by Pat Duff

I visited a children’s home in Xela for the first time. I’ve heard Dick talk about it for years, and now that I’ve been there I understand why it’s one of his favorite places. As soon as we arrived, the nuns came and greeted us. The Mother Superior came and greeted Dick, and spent quite a bit of time talking with me about their home. We then met the head therapist, Ana Lilian. These folks are the reason why this is such a special place for kids and young adults with disabilities.

Dick tells me that ten years ago, when he went to this home the first time, he wasn’t sure that he’d ever go back, it was so horrible. Most of the kids had their hands tied, some behind their backs. Dick told me how he cut the restraints off José and took them with him, he was so angry at what he saw.









Dick and Jose today.








But Dick did return, and each time it seemed that this place was a little bit better, due in large part to the attitude of the Mother Superior, Father Superior, and Ana Lilian. Now it seems to be one of the best places for special needs kids in Guatemala. It’s the first home I’ve visited here in which, when I was describing communication systems, Mother told me they already had some children using them! This is the first place where they haven’t looked at me like I was crazy when I talked about teaching kids to communicate with pictures. They are already doing it! I even saw a schedule for speech therapy on the wall—again this is the first “institution” where I’ve heard of this being done with disabled children. Mother immediately invited me to come and work with them any time I wanted to! I will probably take them up on this, since I think I could learn a lot from these people.

Our goal in coming here today was to assess the need regarding wheelchairs in preparation for a team that will be coming with Bethel in October. As Dick measured 15 kids for new chairs, and noted many more in need of repair, I played secretary and did the documentation on my computer, with the “help” of Javier. Using the computer, Javier told me he was 14 years old, and asked to come to visit my “casa” (house). What a heart-breaker. He obviously uses a computer in school, as he even knew how to access the games on this computer, which is something I haven’t figured out yet! Next time I come I want to visit their classrooms. Since we had to return to Chimaltenango and Antigua tonight, I wasn’t able to see the school in session, as they only meet in the afternoon. I can’t imagine it’s anything less than stellar, given the rest of the program in this home.

Each staff member is responsible for caring for the same kids every time they work, and the kids become “their” responsibility. For each kid who needed a new chair or repair, there was a care giver standing right there, telling us what they thought would be best for the child. The whole time we were there, I’m not sure I ever saw a caregiver sit down; they were always actively engaged with the kids. It was a wonderful sight to see, and I would be proud to have any of them work with me in a classroom.

I absolutely fell head-over-heels in love with two little girls with Downs Syndrome. Elena is two, and Yolanda is three, and they are the sweetest, most affectionate little ones I’ve ever met. Neither of them walk yet, but Ana thinks they both will. They’ve been at the home less than 6 months, so have not received wheelchairs, and are in strollers most of the day. While this is expedient, a wheelchair will provide proper support and increase the likelihood that they will be able to walk, as their muscles will develop properly. It was such fun to watch Dick measure these darlings for chairs. I really wanted to bring them home, but felt a little better knowing that they each have families who love them but are unable to care for them at home.

Yolanda

Elena

On the ride home I couldn’t help but reflect on the difference between this home and Hermano Pedro. There is so much work to do there. Change happens so slowly. I need to keep fighting the good fight, because our kids are worth it. There is so much I want to see happen to improve the quality of the care the kids here receive.

I think tonight I need to go to sleep with the Serenity Prayer on my lips:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change

The courage to change the things that I can

And the wisdom to know the difference.

Pat

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Where I belong

Written by Pat

(I know, I know, Pat is doing more writing than me lately. It isn't that I'm not trying to pull my weight. fact is tonight I started writing a half hour earlier than usual but when I sat down at my computer at 11:15 PM there it was, Pats journal.)

I've been praying for discernment to know what things I should do here among the hundreds of needs I see almost each day. Walking into Hermano Pedro today confirmed for me that I'm where I belong. I almost cried at the excitement of the kids when I came in after being gone a week. Maynor told me that the nurses had stored my materials for me, and offered to get them. The kids couldn't wait to get to work. Today, though, I mostly wanted to get reacquainted with them after not seeing them for so long. I never understood how Dick could miss them so much when he was on the road. Now I do. I love traveling, but I love being with "my" kids even more.

As soon as I walked in, I heard cries from Ervin, and just had to take him out of his crib. It was 11 o'clock, and apparently he still had not been put in his wheelchair today. I was a bit frustrated, as it seemed a number of kids were still in bed, as the nurses sat preparing for a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the children's unit on the 16th of next month. I wish they'd show half as much excitement over the kids as the do the existence of this unit. I need to reign in my critical spirit a bit, but guess my tolerance level is a bit low, given the excellent program I visited yesterday.

Today I worked for the first time with one of the teens in the Belen unit. Lanz greets me every day as I arrive, and appeared to be quite bright. Today he showed just how bright he was. He is a very independent worker, if you just give him a little praise and attention now and then.

It seems I'd just started working with the kids, when Flori, a social worker from the Santa Rosa area came to get me. She wanted me to see a child who was waiting for a doctor up in the clinic. Marco Gonzales is five years old, has a cleft lip, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy. Flori wanted to know if I thought we could get him a wheelchair someday. I called Dick who was on his way to the orphanage, and asked him to bring in an application form when he came. I visited with the parents for a while, and learned this dear little one was having multiple seizures every day--partly because his parents can't afford the $20 a month to buy him medicine. When I met his little brother, my heart absolutely melted. This was a loving family stretched to the limit by trying to care for their son.

When Dick came, he measured Marco and when we discovered he would only be in Antigua this one day, Dick called the Hope Haven wheelchair factory to see if we could get him a chair today. As usual, the answer was "yes." After a quick lunch with a few of his neighborhood kids, they were off to the factory to set up a chair for Marco while he waited to see the doctor, nutritionist, and head therapist. Some days things just seem to fall into place, and today was one of those days. Thank you, God.

While they were gone, I spent time with Estuardo, a little guy with autism. He has the highest pitched shreek I've ever heard in a child when he's upset, and makes the loudest popping noise I've ever heard a mouth make when he's happy. Today we went into a gated area outside, and he could run free, and play. I put a mat down on the floor, gave him some plastic glasses to play with, and sat down and let him have at it. Today there were many more "pops" than there were shreeks. I even heard a variety of other babbling noises from him as he ran around, occasionally hurling himself into my lap for a hug.

This may not seem like a lot, but a hug from a child diagnosed with autism is a major accomplishment for the child. It was really neat, too, that whenever someone would walk by and try to talk with him, he's jump back into my lap. For the second time today I was moved to tears. While we didn't do much "work" today, Estuardo and I spent time getting used to each other. I have to admit, though, that I'm trying to find a better way to get him back to bed after we work. I got a real cardio work-out today doing this. Sometimes I feel every bit of my age, and navigating him into the ward was one of those times. Gratefully, I finally figured out if I had him walk backwards, he didn't fight me as much. I'm sure he still knew where he was going, but cooperated, maybe because he saw the desperation on my face.

Dick and the boys returned and seated Marco in his chair. Flori still had not found a way to pay for the medicine he needed, so I made sure that at least for a month Marco would have a chance at being seizure free. What we'll do next month, I'm not sure. I know I can't provide for every kid that comes through the clinic, but today was one of those days I felt I needed to take care of the need right in front of me. If anyone would like to sponsor medicine for this little guy, please email me and I'll help you set up something. $20 a month would cover it.

Sr. and Sra. Gonzales could not seem to believe that in one trip to the hospital their son received not only the medicine he needed, but his first wheelchair. Before either Dick or I could explain that these were gifts from God, Sr. Gonzales grabbed my arm, asking God to bless us for helping them. Once again I got to explain that we only worked for God, and it was our privilege to be able to be the vehicle by which He blessed this family.

All together, I'd say this was a very good day.

Pat

Friday, August 20, 2010

Written by Dick

The past few days have not been easy ones for me. It seems like there has simply been too much going on. Both Chris and Donna and myself have been bombarded with more requests from people than we can possibly handle. So many are sick and suffering. There is no way that we can help them all. Fact is some times it seems that we can not even help those that we have been helping in the past. Tonight while 5 of my kids were showing me there warn out shoes Fernando's uncle came over to my house to let me know that he is broke. He sits with his old pickup truck in front of a local building supply store every day hoping to find some one that needs something delivered to their home or building site but many other men that have old trucks do the same and deliveries are few. Today I also received a phone call from Chris telling me that Ronny's parents called him telling him that the school that Ronny, his brother and 4 of his sisters go to told the children that they need uniforms in order to march in a parade next month. Uniforms in public schools are against the law but many of the schools have found a way around it. If you don't wear one your grades are lowered and you are in that way forced to drop out of school. Ronny's mom and dad are talking about pulling the 4 girls out of school. The past few months have more than drained our medical funds. How can we say no to a 23 year old lady who will die if she does not get medical help or a little boy who's head is bulging because his parents can not afford to get him in to a doctor yet alone pay for an operation?

Not all of the need are financial ones. Many require our time. Time that it takes to get these people to the hospitals. Time to go out and buy the needed shoes and uniforms. Time to build those houses or do those wheelchair distributions.

Some times when it seems to get overwhelming I go down to the orphanage in Antigua, leave my tools in the car and just hang out with the kids. Today I tried to do that. I took along Esben who was once again out of school (????) We figured that we would meet up with Pat. Play with the kids for a while and then take a few of them out to lunch. Even though it was nearly 11 AM when we got there we found that all of the kids were still locked in the 2 rooms where they sleep. After bringing a few of them out side one of the nurses who was sitting outside at a table with all of the other nurses working on making decorations for an up coming celebration came over to us and told us that the orphanage doctor had decided that any time that the sky is overcast the kids have to stay inside because a number of them have colds. It was overcast but it still had to be nearly 80 degrees out side. I am sure that the kids are less likely to catch a cold if they are all locked up together in 2 non-vented rooms.

Pat went inside and worked with some of the kids while Esben and I spent the rest of the day repairing wheelchairs. That to seemed a bit overwhelming. Out of over 200 wheelchairs that are in the orphanage only 4 of them are power wheelchairs. Not that there is not a need for more power wheelchairs but that is all that the orphanage will allow. (Something about too much electricity) In the few days that I was on the road 3 out of 4 of these power wheelchairs had quit running. Today we managed to get 2 of them up and running and replaced the third with one from the shop so if they ever do decide that the kids can come out of there rooms they will at least have a bit more freedom.


I am sorry if today's journal is on the negative side but it has to be known that as much as we love it here it some times gets hard. Perhaps this is just God's way of reminding us that we can do nothing on our own and it is all about Him, but we are human and we forget and we do get tired. Please uphold us in your prayers.

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Before posting what I wrote today I decided to take a look at Pat's journal. I thought that perhaps it would be better to post something a bit more uplifting. The following is what I found. Like I said please keep us in your prayers.

Yours in Christ: Dick

Pat wrote the following. (Aug 20, 2010)

Today was hard, Really hard.


I think I must have been tired or touchy or something. But it irritated the snot out of me to once again walk into the children's ward and find the nurses more engaged in making decorations than they were with the kids. All the kids were inside, some still in bed. No one was allowed outside today because the doctor has decided that's why so many kids are getting colds. I know it's the rainy season but it's spring like temps. I wonder what it will be like in January when the temperatures do get cold. Besides, cold air does NOT cause colds (sorry, Mom, but it's true!).

The kids were still anxious to work, though, and work we did, with a short pause for lunch. After lunch all the kids (even the ones who usually are left up) were put to bed. I tried to make the best of it by working with them in their beds. How I miss the days only a few years ago when I was physically more able to lift and carry kids. The only ones I can get out are the smaller ones, or those, who, like Ervin, can and will support their weight. God help me, though, if I have to get him back in bed alone!

Today it seemed a number of kids were especially needy. Henry's mother had just brought him back from a visit home, and he was very sad. Elmer was cranky and cried every time he didn't get his way. Bobbie felt like I had ignored him, and sobbed when it was time to put the activities away for lunch, because he hadn't had a turn. Byron's electric chair was broken (though Dick managed to MacGuyver it back together again), and since he couldn't move around on his own wanted constant attention. And my precious Ervin, he was just Ervin.

How I wish there were five of me. How I wish the nurses would join in with what we're doing. How I wish I had a real place to work when we can't be outside.

But I can spend my time wishing, complaining about how things aren't the way I want them to be, or I can focus on the one child that is in front of me right now. Believe me, I want to cry, complain, today even maybe scream a little. But, though that might (probably would) make me feel better, I really don't think it would do much for the kids who today needed some lovin'. Today, though, for some reason, it was hard to get my mind off of myself and focus on what they needed. It was hard to be patient when Byron dropped the spoon he was trying to put in the tray for the 10th time, and wanted me to pick it up RIGHT NOW! It was hard to remember how far Ervin has come when he would purposely knock the spoon out of Byron's hand just as he was about to get it into the tray. It was hard to be patient when 7 kids all want attention, and there are 3 more lying in their beds crying and I can't get to all of them.

And as I write this, I realize just how much I am like the kids. I stumble daily in my attempts to love. I carelessly smack (maybe just with words, but they hurt nonetheless) at those closest to me when I don't get my way. And sometimes I just want someone to notice me, to pay attention to me. And my Father patiently puts up with me in all these times. More than that, He pursues me, comforts me, heals me. And I know He'll come through for me tonight, for I can say with Paul:

But we have this treasure in jars of clay
to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed.

2Cor. 4:7-9

Guess tonight, I'm just realizing how much my jar of clay (some of my friends would probably say my "cracked pot") at times gets in the way of His all-surpassing power. "Father forgive my self-consciousness and let me focus on you, realizing you will not permit me to be crushed, nor will you abandon me, or let me be destroyed. I will not despair".

Pat

Saturday, August 21, 2010

It is the week end, so I hung out with my kids today. They helped me do some cleaning and painting and as a reward for good report cards we even took in a movie. It was a dumb one, but then again aren't most movies now days?

Later this afternoon all of the kids pitched in and we got a lot of work done around the house. What is left of my grass (after a lot of football games) got cut. My car ( or I should say the one that I am borrowing while my engine gets rebuilt) got washed. And three of the walls of my house (Same ones that were painted 2 months ago) got painted. Several of the kids wanted work because I told them that I would help them out with new shoes if they could come up with at least part of the money. I was going to wait until someone brought some in from the states but if the kids are to stay in school they need them now. It looks like Monday night we will go sho shopping.

Tonight only 3 kids are staying but these 3 love to stay up late. They don't know it yet but I have the computer sett to shut off automatically at 11 PM so at least I wont have to listen to rigatoni or rap all night.

Well I am going to at least head of to bed and close my eyes. So I will say "Goodnight".
Yours in Christ: Dick


Sunday, August 22, 2010

Still the weekend so I will try to keep this one short.

Church with the kids.

Lunch with the kids.

Visited the orphanage kids with the kids.

Hung out at home with the kids.

Rented a soccer field with the kids.




Three of my kids had to be spectators instead of players, because they had no shoes.


Tomorrow we are definitely going shoe shopping.







Went to Antigua and had supper with Pat. No Kids. I love them but everyone needs a break every now and then.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Monday, August 23, 2010

Esbin was at my door at 7 AM this morning. He claimed to have no school today so I took him along to Hermano Pedro with me. When I first met Esbin a few years ago he was mad at the world, he had a foul mouth, lyed and, had sticky fingers. He has come a long way is a short time. He is now quite pleasant most of the time. I seldom hear him cuss. And to my knowledge has not stolen anything in well over a year now. Today I found out that he still has a ways to go with the lying though. He did great at the orphanage today. He not only helped work on wheelchairs but really loved on the kids. He even did well with Ervin when we took him to lunch. Ervin was once again being Ervin and wanted nothing to do with Esbin simply because Pat and I were pushing the wheelchair of 2 of the other kids and Ervin was jellos. Esbin stuck to it though and within a few minutes Esbin wanted little to do with Pat or myself because he wanted to be with Esbin.Where did the lying come in then. Well I did not find out about it until this evening but it actually took place at 7 AM this morning when Esbin came over and told me that he had no school. When I found out that he was lying to me I went over to his house and talked to Victor about it. Victor is only 24 years old but having had to raise his younger brothers and sisters plus the 4 kids that his mother took in before she got sick and died has given him a lot of wisdom. Victor and I decided that Esbin will have to miss the Pizza feed and Fernando's birthday party that is going to be at my house this Friday. Esbin was also told that if he ever pulls a stunt like that again he will be grounded from my house for several weeks. Perhaps we should have come down a little heavier on him but thinking back to my school years I knew that I would still be locked in my room had my parents not been lenient.

After all was said and done the kids and I went shoe shopping. Four of my kids will now once again be allowed to go to their PE classes and another will be allowed to stay in school. I would say that was $100 well spent.

David, the little one in the front didn't need shoes
but insisted on being in the picture anyway.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Yesterday I was suppose to meet Geidy a little girl that lives about 2 hours north of Huehuetenango and her mother at Hermano Pedro so that she could see a one of there doctors and then be referred to a teem of ear specialists who are scheduled to come in to Hermano Pedro in January. The family had asked if Geidy's grandfather who has a hearing problem could also come along with Geidy ans her mother but I told them that since there was going to be another teem of specialists at Hermano Pedro this week things would be really busy and lodging would also be a big problem so it would be best for him to come at a different time. I still had my fears that all 3 of them would show up instead of the 2 of them. I must admit though that I was not prepared for 6 people to show up. Even though they claimed to have little or no money I told them that I had only arranged for food and lodging for Geidy and her mom and that the rest of them were on their own. As it was I had to find a hotel for Geidy and mom because Casa Defay was full. Ximora told us about a hotel that charged only 30 Q ($2.50) per person but they said that they would try to find a church or some thing to stay in. I held my ground and when we got to the hotel where Geidy and her mother were going to stay the other 4 mysteriously came up with enough money. Funny thing the same thing happened this morning when I bought the 2 of them breakfast. I hate to be hard nose but there are times here in Guatemala when it is necessary. As things turned out Grandfather managed to see a doctor and will soon be coming back to receive a hearing aid. Geidy will also be coming back in January to see a specialist who will hopefully be able to put an opening in her ear.

Oh I almost forgot to mention that this afternoon I drove Geidy, her mother and the rest of the crew down to Esquentla so that she could receive a test to see if she will be able to hear once the operation is done but the test equipment at the lab where the tests were suppose to be done was broken.


After the people at the lab explained this to the family they told me that they were sure that the operation would be a success and showed me that Geidy could hear her grandmother over a cell phone even when it was put up against her bad ear. On the way home I was also able to share with this family just why were were here doing what we are doing. So the trip was not at all in vane. In spite of the fact that 6 people came instead of 2 I found this to be a delightful family but made them promise that next time they come the only come with 2 of them unless they want to pay for everything themselves.



We have a small teem in this week and I planned on joining them for dinner this evening but after seeing the looks on the faces of the 11 kids that were in my house when I told them that I was leaving I changed my plans. I hope that the Americans understand but many of my kids go with out supper if they do not eat here. Besides that, I feel that family should always come first.



Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick

Journal, August 11-17, 2010

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

I am once again graciously allowing Pat to write much of this weeks Journal.

(I hope that she never reeds the story of how Tom Sawyer got his friends to whitewash the fence.)

Dick

Pat Writes

Today we are in Quetzeltenango, or as many here call it Xela (the city's Mayan name), holding a wheelchair distribution at the Fundabien therapy center. This is a very nice facility, with good equipment and a great staff of therapists. These folks immediately pitched in unloading the truck, setting up seating stations, and actively took part in the seating process. They were eager to learn, and enjoyed getting hands-on experience in fitting wheelchairs. Many of the people coming today were "their" patients, and they wanted to help care for them. You could tell that working with the disabled is more than a job for most of these folks; it's a calling.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,
as working for the Lord, not for men,
Since you know that you will receive
an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

(Col. 3: 23-24)

One of the first things I experienced today was a little girl sitting with her mother, who grabbed me as I walked by and gave the the biggest hug, a kiss, and the sweetest smile. Most Guatemalan children are a bit hesitant around gringos, but not this child. She was the "life of the party" as Jorge worked to adapt a walker to her small size. She was pretty fearful of using it at first, but I think within a few days she'll be running around in nothing flat.

I didn't do much today except translate for Dick when he needed me (I´m practicing my medical and mechanical vocabulary a lot these days) and talking with the moms/grandmas and playing with the kids while Dick and Jay worked on their chairs. I sometimes feel a bit guilty when I'm at distributions, because I get to do the "fun" stuff, while the others do the hard work of actually setting up chairs. Today, one little girl stands out to me. She was brought to the distribution by her grandmother. Her mother had gotten married about ten months ago, and her new husband wanted nothing to do with this little one, so she abandoned her to her own mother. This child was pretty sensitive, and would bite herself on her hand when she got agitated. I was able to help her grandmother with some ideas of how to interrupt the biting, and discovered, as with many of the children here, that singing very softly to her calmed her immediately. Her grandmother seemed pleased that someone cared enough to spend time with this precious girl, and I left feeling like maybe I'd managed to contribute something after all. More and more I realize that all I have to give is Jesus' message of love and hope and compassion to these families, whether I share the gospel in words or not.

I did get to present the gospel to one young woman in a rather interesting way. While they were working on her son's chair, I noticed he had been given a "witness bracelet" (of colored beads each representing a gospel truth) by someone on the team. I casually asked him if he knew what the colors meant, and he shook his head know. Immediately, his mother asked me to explain them, and I gladly did. Did she make a decision for Christ? I don't know--I hope she did when she talked with a pastor before leaving. But the seed was planted, and I believe that sometimes that's just what the Holy Spirit tells us to do.

Today it seemed many parents had brought their children to the distribution, but had not registered for a wheelchair in advance. In this city there seemed to be a lot of children with hydrocephalus who either had never had shunts put in, or whose shunts were obviously not working. These children need a very special type of chair, with adequate head support, and we had nothing suitable to give them. I know it was hard for Chris, but he made the right decision in telling them that they would have to wait for the next distribution to receive the correct chair. I used to think that any wheelchair was better than nothing, but working with Bethel I've learned just how wrong I was. An improperly fit chair will cause bed sores, and in this country bedsores become infected and people die. It's hard to say "wait," but it's better to disappoint a parent for a few months than to damage a child for life.

We also had another family who brought their eighteen year old son to receive a chair, but had not registered. They had brought him to the last distribution Bethel had done in this area, and left without one because there was not an appropriate chair to fit this young man. He is so rigid that he cannot be put into a sitting position, and his legs are twisted to the point they cannot be straightened. Dad was very upset that once again an appropriate chair was not available, but Dick promised to construct one at the shop in Chimaltenango and bring it to Xela as soon as possible. I'm not sure the father really believes he will do this, but he will when we make another trip there to bring him a chair made specifically for him. I hope the father will soften when he sees that Dick said "no" to him out of love and compassion for his son, and that he is a man of his word who will follow through and make a 3 1/2 hour drive to deliver a chair.

Pat

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Today the teem spent a good part of the day at Hermano Pedro orphanage. I misplaced my camera so I didn't get any picture while I was at the orphanage. Actually I thought that I lost it after I left home but later this evening Elder found it under my bed. It had evidently fallen off from my belt while I was getting dressed. If you were ever to look under my bed you would consider the fact that he found it nothing short of a miracle.

Pat was already at the orphanage when we arrived but shortly after we got there she received a phone call form Mari, the lady who's house she lives in telling her that the place had been robbed. The bandits stole Pats computer, a photo printer and a back pack. Two more computers, clothes, bedding, a stereo, and, believe it or not, a papaya were also taken from the house. Mari the owner of the house was very upset and comforting her seemed to be Pats only concern as Pat took the loss of her personal items in her stride. I think that Pat realized that things like this happen here in Guatemala and also that everything that we have belongs to God anyway. I don't exactly understand why God wanted the bandits to have her computer but fully understand the papaya thing. (Those thing are disgusting!)

When I got home this evening my kids were hungry enough that they would have eaten even a papaya but I was not mad a them so I made them Spaghetti instead.

The kids don't like it when I am on the road so much but understand that it is some times necessary. I have to go back to Xela for a few days next week but plan on spending the next few days here at home doing some fun stuff with them.

Well over half the kids have headed for home and the remaining 5 have informed me that this is going to be home for them tonight so I guess I better head of to my bed before it gets taken.

Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Friday, August 13, 2010

This morning Esbin (No School??) Elder, (Likewise??) and I headed over to the shop and set up a power wheelchair for a lady that live in Antigua. On our way to her house we stopped off at Pat's place. Since she can not wait to try out the computer that I loaned her I will let her take over from here.

Dick

Pat Wrote the following.

After lunch Dick stopped by and brought me a computer to use. (I don't know if he was trying to be extra kind to me, or just wanted to make sure we got "our" journal published!) He also invited me to go with him and Espin and Elder to deliver a wheelchair to a lady in Santa Ana who we had visited last week. Since I was having a little bit of "cabin fever" and Mari was home, I decided to tag along.

This dear lady has had four strokes, and has use of only her right hand. . She and her husband have lived in Guatemala for thirty years, and she knows both Spanish and English. She has some speech, but it is very slow and difficult. Her mind, however, is right on target, and she is a delight to visit with. I'm hoping, once I replace my computer, that I can develop a simple communication book for her so she can make requests more easily.

Today, after some minor adjustments, she was traveling around her house freely for the first time in a long time. She had used an electric chair in the past, and needed only a short time to get used to "driving" around her house. This is quite a challenge, as it is a small house with a lot of furniture, but I think she'll get the hang of it in a few days.

On the way back to town, I was delighted to hear Dick talk about how the kids had continued working yesterday even after I left. I was a little surprised when he told me how well my "students" had done working on their own, as I hadn't really thought of them in those terms before. From what he described, though, that is an apt description of these kids--they are learning much and teaching me more. I've always said that the sign of a good teacher was that her class could run without her. Today, the kids made me look good!

Pat

Saturday, August 14, 2010


Some of my boys had another soccer game this morning. We has intended on going swimming after the game but a thunder storm convinced us to postpone those plans for a day or 2. Instead I drove Pat to the City so that she could buy a new computer. Nearly all of the kids wanted to come along with us but since I was driving Chris's pickup and it has no canopy Bryan was the only one that came along with us. Why was I driving Chris's pickup and not my Land Cruiser? You guessed it. It is once again in the shop. After all it has been nearly a week since it was last worked on. Just think what it would be like if I did not drive a car that was rated as the most maintenance free car ever built. I must admit though I have been checking around just in case there is something out there that is a little more reliable. I now have it narrowed down to 3 choices.














Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick


Sunday, August 15, 2010

Eight of the kids came along with me to church this morning. Even though it was raining a bit we decided to go swimming after lunch. Lately there have been several robberies at the hot springs that is located about 15 minutes from my house so they now have soldiers stationed there. I figure as long as they are there it is a pretty safe place to swim as long as one of their machine guns do not go off accidentally.


When we got home I told the kids that I needed a few hours to myself but changed that to only an hour when they reminded me that tomorrow I head to go to Xela for a few days.

It is getting late so I will once again say "Goodnight".
Yours in Christ: Dick


Monday, August 16, 2010

Shortly after getting the 3 kids that spent the night off to school 2 others, Esbin and Elder showed up at my door. Esbin said that he had no school because his teacher was sick and Elder said that he was not going to school because he had a stomach ache. They both asked if they could go with me to Hermano Pedro to help me work on wheelchairs. Elder gave me a rather surprised look when I told him that if he was to sick to go to school there was no way that he could come along with me. I think that I was a bit smarter when I was little because when ever I played sick I waited until at least noon before I felt better. I did let Esbin some along to the orphanage with me after making a phone call that confirmed that Esbin's teacher did not show up at school. At lest she had the decency to give her students 3 days advanced notice that she was going to be sick today.

Esbin and I worked at the orphanage until about noon and then I picked up Pat. She had agreed to come along with me to Sela to help translate for a few days.


To help stifle any gossip or roomers.

Look, Separate Rooms













Goodnight,
Yours in Christ: Dick



Tuesday, August 17, 2010

In her August 13 journal Pat wrote about a man and his wife that brought their son in to the wheelchair distribution that we had in Xela. This family had not registered their son for a wheelchair so we had no idea that he was coming to this distribution. Had the family brought along the wheelchair that we had given their son 3 years ago we could have possibly made it larger so that it would accommodate their son but they had left it at home. If he needed just a regular wheelchair we would have done our best to give him one. However this young man was extremely rigid and after looking over every chair that we had I had to tell the family that I would have to take measurements and photos of their son and bring them a chair in a week or 2. At that point the boys father became extremely agitated and told me that he knew that we would never give his son a wheelchair. I promise that we would return but he would not give us a phone number and even ripped a piece of paper that had their address on it out of Pat's hand. Since they had not registered with us or filled out any paper work it would be difficult to ever locate this family. However even though Father was anything but friendly this young man needed a wheelchair. After he stomped out of the room mom told us what town they lived in and even gave us their phone number but told Pat that her husband would be angry if he found out that she had given it to us. Common sense told me that we should let this one go and do nothing about it but I had made a promise, besides I knew that a proper wheelchair could help keep this young man alive. Should I forget about him or his mother who was the one that had to carry him around simply because father was being a jerk? Pat felt the same way. That is why this morning we headed out to look for a family that we had no address for other than the nearest town which to our knowledge could be miles from where they lived and a phone number that we had been calling for the past several days but so far had not reached anyone on. Before heading out from the motel Pat made one more call and to our delight some one answered the phone. It was the boys father. Pat quickly explained to him who we were and that we had a wheelchair with us that the men at our shop had prepared for their son. Father seemed quite friendly and agreed to meet us at the central park of the small town that they lived near. When we got to the park no one was there but about 15 minutes later father arrived. He got into the car with us and pointed up a narrow dirt road. He told us that they lived only a short distance up the road. Here in Guatemala a short distance can be anything from a few hundred feet to several miles. Today's ride was even further than that. Father was very friendly though and seemed happy that we had brought the wheelchair. Perhaps we had read him wrong. When we finally got to their home we went inside. The young man that needed the wheelchair was lying on a bed. The wheelchair that we had given him a few years ago was sitting there but after taking one look at it I knew that there was no way that I could make it work for this young man. He had outgrown it and his body had also become too rigid for this type of wheelchair. I told the family that I was glad that we had indeed brought a new wheelchair. Because his old one was no longer going to work for him. About a half hour later I had everything adjusted and we had him in the wheelchair. I asked father if we could take the old wheelchair that was of no use to this family and in need of lots of repair back to the shop with us so that it could be rebuilt and given to someone smaller than his son that could use it. Father refused. I tried to explain that this wheelchair that was of no value to him would be a big blessing to some one else but he would not hear of it. Now that he had the new wheelchair we saw the same personality that we had had seen on the day of the wheelchair distribution. One look into his wife's eyes told us that you did not mess with this man. We shook hands and were on our way. I had thought about asking him to ride out with us to the town where we had met him because there were all kinds of switchbacks and turn off and I was not sure that I could find my way out but decided that I was likely better off getting lost for half a day than having his man in the car with us. I must admit the ride out was a lot further than the ride in and even though we never did get back to the same town we did eventually find our way back to Xela. Were we sorry that we made this trip? Not one bit. We kept our word, the young man got the wheelchair that he needed, mom would no longer have to carry him around and even though we are not sure how well it was excepted we did share with this family that we were there to demonstrate the Love of Jesus to them in what ever way we could.

Yours in Christ: Dick


Pat has offered to write about our next visit of the day.

Even though Henry, the boy who had the not so friendly father needed a wheelchair as badly as Christopher did the attitude of Christopher's family made this visit a little more pleasurable for us.

Pat writes the following.

After leaving Henry’s we drove on to visit Christopher’s family. I’d heard about Christopher from Dick for a number of years, and was excited to meet him. Christopher, his widowed mother, brothers and sister live on the side of a mountain near San Francisco. Much of this mountain fell in a landslide during hurricane Stan a few years back, and where their house sits is actually condemned land. But, when you have no where else to go, you live where you can.

Christopher and his grandfather were home when we arrived, and one of his brothers went to get mom. I can’t be sure, but I think she was down at the creek doing laundry, because when she came her hands were wet. She is such a little bit of a woman, it wasn’t hard to believe that part of our reason for visiting was to arrange for a tutor for Christopher. He had been attending school, but, now at 16, is just too big for her to carry up and down their hill to the house where his power wheelchair is stored. And I used to gripe about driving my kids to school! Mom is pretty heartbroken that Christopher can’t attend school because she just can’t get him there anymore.

We were able to tell Christopher and Mom that a sponsor was willing to pay for a teacher to come and tutor Christopher for five hours a week. While not the same as being in school, this news excited them both. When we told them we’d also brought a new power wheelchair for Christopher, I thought his face would burst he smiled so big.

Christopher is a bright, delightful young man. He seems to appreciate everything that is done for him, at the same time expecting nothing more than what he is given. He was more concerned with the fact that his grandfather has been ill than he was with the fact that he was no longer in school. When I asked him what he would like the teacher to work on with him, he said whatever they would teach him would satisfy him. I have met few young men his age, either in Guatemala or in the States, who are this unselfish. He’s touched my heart greatly.

We asked him if he’d like to see his new chair, and he just about jumped with excitement. Dick offered to carry him down the hill to the truck, and then we would drive the rest of the way to the house where it would be stored in the pickup. As we walked down the hill, I was again amazed at the unselfishness of his mom, who had carried him up and down twice a day for years just so he could attend school. I’d had difficulty just walking up the hill myself. I really can’t imagine how she did it. The power of love is the only explanation I can come up with.



After changing out the joystick, and moving it to the left side of the chair, Christopher was off and “running.” He had such a look of freedom on his face. Watching him, I realized that it was probably just as hard on him that mom had to carry him as it was for her to do so. I realized once again the blessing of this independence for both of them. Now if we could only figure out an easier way for her to get him to his chair. While he doesn’t go to school each day, mom still takes him with her to market so he doesn’t feel quite so isolated. Even a once a week trip up and down the hill is too much for this lady, but she does it for her son.


It started to rain, so we headed back to their house, driving them as far as the pickup could go. When Dick offered to move the car and then come back to carry Christopher home, mom refused, saying she was able to do it. As we turned around, mom stopped, with Christopher on her back, to make sure we could get out. I can’t get the picture of her out of my mind as she stood watching us leave, waiting until we were out of sight, to make sure we were okay. I am grateful for meeting this amazing lady, and someday hope to grow to be as unselfish as she is!

Pat