* GUATEMALA * * * * * * * * Dick Rutgers *

An ongoing journal of life as a Missionary in Guatemala. It will make you laugh and cry at the same time.

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Location: Chimaltenango, Guatemala

I work in Guatemala with Hope Haven international and Bethel Ministries. Along with my friends Chris and Donna Mooney and their family, we share the love of Jesus in various ways. Although giving out and maintaining wheelchairs is our primary ministry, we are involved in many other things as well. Building houses, feeding the hungry, providing education to handicapped children in orphanages and villages, and hosting a camp for the handicapped are just a small part of the things that God has given us the privilege of getting involved in. For several years now I have been keeping daily journals. Once a week I try to post new journals and pictures. My e-mail is dick@dickrutgers.com Guatemala Cell Phone # 502 5379 9451 USA Phone # 360 312 7720(Relays free to Guatemala)

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

The Past Month And A Half




A few months ago I wrote that I was going to do less journaling in this Blog and more posting in Facebook.  For those of you who do not use Facebook I have copied and posted some of my Facebook entries from the past month and a half.  I hope that you enjoy them.

<>< Yours in Christ Dick ><>



Two quick updates on past posts. We are still working on getting Blanca the little girl who may have leprosy in to the dermatology institute in Guatemala City.
Patricia Duff and I met with the doctor there and he wants to see her. Now all we have to do is work things out with her parents.
I think that we are also finally on the way to getting some help for the 18 year old boy that I tried to get into the malnutrition ward of Hermano Pedro. Unfortunately they can not admit anyone who is that old into the malnutrition ward but we are now working with doctor William Sosa who helps out a lot of Hope Haven wheelchair distributions and he spends part of each month in the area that this young man live in. Doctor William works with some social workers from that area and is going to see if we can get a special formula to this family and monitor the boy's progress. Doctor William will also determine if a good medical exam or even a hospital stay is necessary.
I really want to thank those of you that expressed your willingness to help sponsor these two young people.

Dick Rutgers uploaded a new video.
February 27 at 8:21pm · 
I got a lot of comments on the last post I did on this little girl so I thought maybe you'd like to see a video of her walking. ( I'm sorry about the last part of the video I think I missed the stop button on my camera.)


Although yesterday was a bit of a rough day we also had some victories. This was the very first time that this little girl was ever able to walk on her own.


a bit of a hard day today.I spent most of the day today at a Hope Haven wheelchair distribution which I always enjoy. The Hope haven group is heading to hermano Pedro tomorrow to repair and give out a few wheelchairs. I planned on going along and building a new wheelchair for little Yeffrey. His body has gotten too rigid for him to sit comfortably in his present one. Shortly after lunch today some of the staff from hermano Pedro told me that Jeffrey will no longer need a wheelchair. He is now sitting comfortably in the lap of Jesus.


(wow I just reread my post and found out that voice typing is not perfect that is supposed to be wheelchair shop not sandwich shop .)
I just got back from a four day road trip to Hope Haven wheelchair distribution. actually the wheelchair distribution ended Monday night.but on my way back home I found out that my friend luzvin power chair was not charging properly.luzvin depends on this year to get to school but unfortunately after working all day yesterday on it I still did not have the problem solved.my visit with luzvin and his family was a rather interesting one as I had no interpreter with me this time and my Spanish still stinks.we had a great time laughing at each other though and did get a few points across.I had to take the chair back to the sandwich shop today and hopefully they can find the problem. Unfortunately luzvin will have to stay home from school until the chair is done.fortunately he now has a new manual chair to sit in unfortunately there is no one that can push them to school in it.Luqman with muscular dystrophy is only able to sit straight up in the chair for short periods of time otherwise he must lean way forward like you see in the pictures. oh by the way on our way down my friend sergio and I had also stopped in at his house and we managed to take him to compros in the nearby town.


I just got off the phone and it looks like the yong man that I wrote about yesterday is to old to be allowed into the malnutrition ward of Herman Pedro.


Today this young man was brought into a Hope Haven wheelchair distribution. He is 18 years old and can't weigh more than 40 or 50 pounds. I could hide his leg behind my thumb. I talked with his mother about us getting him into the malenutrition centre of Herman Pedro. Mom has promised to call me after talking to her husband. Please pray that she does. I doubt that this young man will live much longer without medical help.


Most of the chairs that I bring out to homes are given to kids who cannot make it to wheelchair distributions. Today however we had the privilege of bringing out wheelchairs a walker and a mattress to two elderly ladies who were delightful.
 — with Marcos Ovalle and César Sa.


Dick Rutgers uploaded a new video.
February 14 at 9:00pm · 

 Blanca, the young lady who has leprosy, driving her new power wheelchair.


A few days ago we brought 16 year old Blanca a power wheelchair. Blanca's family was not sure what she had. My suspicions were confirmed when the doctor who saw my pictures said that she has leprosy. There is one place in Guatemala City that treats leprosy but the family has very little money. Most of her toes are gone and her fingers will be next if she does not get the help that she needs. (Do not view photo number 6 unless you have a very strong stomach.)


Another family who's joy does not come from possessions. (One of these days I will write about the miracle of the wheelchair that we didn't think we had.)


One of my Favorate families. Edgar has CP, Dad deserted the family and mom has to work all day. the house has only 1 1/2 beds. There is never enough food, but they are 4 of the happiest kids that I know.


I was going to repair wheelchairs at the orphanage today but ScottnLynda Hardee Jessica Anleu and I decided to take four of the orphanage kids out to lunch instead.


Erik Aguilar uploaded a new video.
February 5 at 9:05am · 
This is Sebastian having fun with his wheel chair my friend Dick Rutgersfixed the controller and now he can go to school with his wheel chair. El es Sebastian, no podia ir a la escuela porque su silla de ruedas electrica no funcionaba, pero gracias a Dios que le dio el don a mi amigo Dick Rutgers para areglar sillas de ruedas ahora Sebastian empeso ir a la escuela al siguiente dia.


Look at this Gringo trying garnachas for the first time, he only ate 16. Do you think he liked them? Miren a este gringo probando las garnachas por primera vez, solo se comio 16. Sera que le gustaron? Gracias Norma las garnachas estubieron deliciosas.
 — with Dick Rutgers.

Dick Rutgers
February 3 ·
No I have not learned Spanish.Below are entries that my friend Erik Aguilarhas posted.

Erik Aguilar
Aqui estamos con Juanito y sus compañeros de escuela.

Les presento a Salvador el estubo en cama por 41 años hasta que Dios mando a su siervo Dick Rutgers a quien le dio la sabiduria para diseñarle esta silla especial para el. Dios eres grande y maeavilloso.
 — with Dick Rutgers.


On the road again with my friend Erik Aguilar. We plan on being on the road for several days,
 — with Erik Aguilar.



Please pray for Esly. She is a highly malnourished little girl who's home we visited a few weeks ago. Yesterday the mayor's wife and a few other people from the town that she lives in brought her and her mother in to see if we could get her admitted into the malnutrition ward of Herman Pedro. It took the entire day but praise God she is now admitted into the malnutrition ward. Not only is this little girl malnurished but she has a feeding tube that is infectedand an old shut that is working its way out of her head. The pediatrician at Hermano Pedro assured her mother that she can stay as long as need be and that Esly will get the surgery that she needs.


Don't tell anybody but I skipped church today. I took elders football team to Santa Rosa which is about 2 hours away, where they won their game.
'Don't tell anybody but I skipped church today. I took elders football team to Santa Rosa which is about 2 hours away, where they won their game.'


Good Night   <>< Yours in Christ Dick ><>

posted by Dick | 5:34 PM

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