Another Semester

Posted on August 20, 2015 by adrienneorris

The idea of having a university here in Canilla had been just talk for many years. And often it seemed an overwhelming thought…. but as we pursued other options for nursing programs. As we realized the difficulty that it would be for those from this area. As different doors continued to close – and other doors opened – we were led to begin this nursing program here. It is government approved, Ministry of Health approved, and all of the hundreds of hoops that we had to jump through have been completed. Maybe. These are unchartered waters.

Last semester I taught the math course – focusing on skills they would need within the nursing profession and critical thinking skills. This semester I am teaching biology.

The format here is like those working on their master’s program in the states. Most of the students here work during the day and then take courses at night. It is dark. The students are tired. And honestly I really am teaching them how to study and retain information, just as much as I am teaching biology. We believing in raising the level of education. We believe in teaching values and challenging students to do more than they thought they could. And so we continue to forge on. We continue to lay foundations. And we continue to pray for the hearts of each of these students.

Study break

Posted on August 4, 2015 by adrienneorris

This week is exam week here and I caught Cesar studying his physics in on of his favorite places – the wheelbarrow. Exam week is one of the weeks that is unlike what we do in the states. The students take their exams for the quarter all together – starting off with four exams on the first day. It is an exhausting and stressful week for the students and they could surely use your prayers. This week marks the end of the third marking period with only 8 weeks of school left. This year has sure gone fast!

A Day Off

Posted on July 26, 2015 by adrienneorris

Here’s the gang…. we took an adventure on our day off and traveled the bus system to Solala. If you never leave Canilla, you feel almost as if you are living in a bowl and forget that there are humans anywhere else at times. It was nice to get away – and very, very stress free. We were definitely noticed wherever we went because of the amount of white skin.

Let God Come

Posted on July 26, 2015 by adrienneorris

When we began our Spanish worship night, it was to provide an opportunity for our workers and families to seek the presence of God. And as we have continued, God has been faithful to bring this group back week after week. It is the young people that are hungry for something…. something that they cannot put into words. Something that keeps them coming back. And it is just what God has purposed for them here – to know God and to seek His truth. So many of them have been broken – by their families, by the church, by broken promises.

It is something different – something different for them to experience. And as I have learned, different many times teaches us more of who God is. More of what God wants for us. It has been my hope that these students can learn how to encounter God and hear His voice. To know His truth. And so we seek opportunities to open the door. Opportunities for His truth to shine through.

These opportunities have brought about conversations that show how God is working in their hearts – how God is working in the hearts of all of us. They are seeking acceptance. They are seeking to know who this God is and what he has for them. They are seeking to choose the right path. And we want to encourage all of this. I have seen change. I have seen hope. And this encourages me to press on. Please pray for them.

Currently my favorite Spanish worship song

Dame Tus Ojos

Dame tus ojos, quiero ver
Dame tus palabras, quiero hablar
Dame tu parecer

Dame tus pies, yo quiero ir
Dame tus deseos para sentir
Dame tu parecer

Dame lo que necesito
Para ser como tu

Coro:
Dame tu voz, dame tu aliento
Toma mi tiempo es para ti
Dame el camino que debo seguir
Dame tus sueños, tus anhelos
Tus pensamientos, tu sentir
Dame tu vida para vivir

Déjame ver lo que tu ves
Dame de tu gracia, tu poder
Dame tu corazón

Déjame ver en tu interior
Para ser cambiado por tu amor
Dame tu corazón

Give Me Your Eyes

Give me your eyes, I want to see
Give me your words, I want to speak
Give me your likeness

Give me your feet, I want to go
Give me your desires to feel
Give me your likeness

Give me what I need
To be like you

Chorus:
Give me your voice, give me your breath
Take my time; it’s for you
Give me the way I should follow
Give me your dreams, your desires
Your thoughts, your way to feel
Give me your life to live

Let me see what you see
Give me your grace, your power
Give me your heart

Let me see inside you
To be changed by your love
Give me your heart

New Faces

Posted on July 12, 2015 by adrienneorris

June was a CRAZY month as we hosted two LARGE teams, had a family of 8 join our ministry as well as two other volunteers for the school and other random visitors during the month. Needless to say, it was constant around here. A constant that I welcomed because much of the help that has come will focus at the school, but it certainly made June fly by. Here are a few of the new faces around here.

Worship time with the team at the school and visiting the Gardners.

Trevor doing a physics lab.

Lauren and Taylor doing lab with the kids.

Megan, Lauren and Taylor

With new faces comes change and adjustment and living together in community. It is not the natural way of doing things and it is not necessarily what we are accustomed to doing as Americans… but little by little, we are learning how to do this. Each of these faces brings a heart for the people here, a heart for education and a desire to interact and love those that God places in their path. And for this – I am thankful for these faces around here.

Hospital Update

Posted on July 5, 2015 by adrienneorris

It is not always easy to see the progress in pictures. Plumbing, electrical work, and groundwork are some of the things that take the most time and yet are hidden. But as you can see from the top picture – more and more rooms are taking shape. We are far from finished, but today I walked through the hospital room by room and could see it coming to life. I could see people walking through the corridors, I could see beds and nurses and the kitchen full of people.

This shows the height of the walls – now just for the roof.

There is progress that is being made on the well – which is an exciting thing for the biology teacher in me…. they have hit quartz! Only a few hundred feet to go before (we hope) to hit that endless supply of water!

Fourth of July

Posted on July 5, 2015 by adrienneorris

No, we don’t celebrate the Fourth of July here. There were no fireworks. No mention of it actually BUT there was a “Rally” in town that just so happened to fall on this weekend. So we will count is as our 4th of July celebration. Plus I wanted to share about what “FUN” is around here.

Needless to say – this activity provided a positive energy outlet to those involved and they were smiling – two things I like to see!

New Creation

Posted on July 5, 2015 by adrienneorris

We had to opportunity to teach some lessons in the elementary school here in town. There was a group here from the states that we teamed with the share the transformation of a butterfly – and coupled this with the fact that in Christ we are a new Creation.

My heart is in teaching and I was really thankful for the opportunity to visit and to see the innerworkings of a school here. For having so many kids, they were cooperative as well – and I definitely left the day exhausted.

Drawing the life cycle of a butterfly.

Luis sharing how Jesus changes your life.

Me teaching about butterflies.

Playing with the kids

Very thankful that God blessed me with a teacher voice this day!

Teaching the key verse – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away and the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Teaching at the Chiminisijuan school

You Said….

Posted on June 28, 2015 by adrienneorris

You said, ask and you will receive…. Whatever you need.

You said, pray and you’ll hear from heaven…..and I’ll heal your land.

Tonight starts our continual prayer and worship sets for 72 hours straight. The above signs are what hang at the school inviting those to come…. And so we ask …. For the nations…. We ask for the youth of this area. Please pray for all involved as we go forward. That the spirit moves and that hearts are open.

Darkness

Posted on June 20, 2015 by adrienneorris

Darkness.

This is one of the themes I have thought about a lot in the last month – figuratively, literally, and spiritually. The sun shines most days in Guatemala. There is color all around. It does not appear dark -but you can feel the darkness at times. Actually, most of the time.

I went to market today – an area that is bursting at the seems with people and chaos. People are shouting, kids are running around, everyone is moving. And as I walked through I heard screaming – very high pitched screaming. At first I thought it was a pig being led through the streets, but as I got closer I realized the sounds were coming from the back of a white truck. I tried to read what was written on the sign from a distance, but the screams haunted me and I did not want to get close. Written on the side was “Fantasia” but the sounds coming from inside were anything but a fantasy world. The screams were of fear and being hurt, not of enjoyment.

Darkness.

Ironically this truck was parked outside of the Catholic church. It was also accompanied by other demonstrations of “magic” and other “healings” that you could receive. To me – it was a demonstration of how dark this area is and how great the need continues to be. Sometimes while you live here you do not realize the oppression that falls on this place. You do not realize the heaviness that can entangle the people here. Yet when I leave, I realize it the most. When I set foot in a place that is not surrounded by this oppression. When I am among people who have not be strangled with this fear.

Darkness. While I was gone a boy who was only 12 committed suicide. 12 years old. Still in elementary school. A cry of desperation. A demonstration of the need to be released from this spirit that resides here.

And so we pray. More feverently. More passionately than we have before. That the youth in this area would step into the light.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. – Ephesians 6:12