luchar

Posted on August 2, 2014 by adrienneorris

“Give a man a fish, and you will feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime.”

If I were being honest, I would have to admit that it seems around each bend is a new challenge when it comes to school. I am often asked, what do you find most challenging teaching in Guatemala? And I would have to answer – the system. I am not a person that thinks inside of a box or fits a particular mold. And so…I am constantly in search of the balance, as the education I am accustomed to is so different from the customs here. And if I were being honest, I would say that it would be much easier to just fall into a pattern and change my teaching to fit the mold here. Each time I’m faced with a new challenge. Each time I find myself in a situation that required God clearly reminds me that I am to continue to teach the way I have taught for so many years and continue to challenge those in front of me with the personality that he has given me… which is often very direct. To do this I rely on strength, wisdom and discernment from God to guide me as I still have a huge language curve!

There are a few words in Spanish that I have found myself surrounded with. The first is “luchar” which means to fight and the second is “ganas”. Which is used more like, I don’t have the “ganas” to do this today or I don’t have the willpower to do this any longer. I find myself using these words often, for myself and for the students. The first year for anything is often one of the most difficult, and this year for sure is a test of my ganas in which I must luchar much.

This past week refueled me as I had other beside me other science brains who could break down the massive world of physics into words and demonstrations that the students could understand. They tasted the same frustrations, experienced the same need to press on, and for this I am grateful. The last day Trevor and Stephanie taught on energy, a concept foreign to the students. But they used every day examples and lots of demonstrations to teach the kids…. and the smiles on their faces and the excitement they had in the classroom encouraged me to press on in this manner. Yes we are in a different country, yes it is Here are a few more pictures from last week.

Barbie Bungee

Constant Change

Posted on July 16, 2014 by adrienneorris

I recently read a post about things that change when you live abroad, and so many of them were true. It’s true that you start to unlearn your original language and words that came quickly in English seem to vanish from memory. It’s true that normal becomes the new normal if you can even identify normal at all. It’s true that it’s hard to find words to tell about what life currently is like, but I think the strongest truth is that your world is constantly changing. Although there is some routine, everything is always in constant change and there is something new every day. You no longer have this job that you go to every day with clear-cut defined responsibilities. There is little routine to life, and if someone asks what you did today, each day will be completely different.

In the last week alone I spent Thursday at Chumisa. This first picture is of the boy whom Leslie gave the prize of the day to. He came into clinic, struggling to walk and sat down. He proceeded to tell Leslie, “I can’t see, and I have this” lifting up his shirt to reveal scabies all over his stomach. He believed that the scabies caused him to go blind within the last month. Clearly it didn’t, but he was convinced of this. He has tried to get to the states twice and has been sent back. He has waited the month (went blind in the meantime) and wants to try to reach the states again. When asked what he thought he would do there, he thought he would work. Forgetting that he is blind, can’t see anything, and probably can’t get a job let alone maneuver through the deserts, rivers, and trails that it will take him to get to the states. To find the root of the issue, he will need more testing – which means he will have to maneuver the government system here in Guatemala. He reminded me of that child-like faith that we are supposed to have though as he was eager to pray for healing, eager about having Jesus in his heart. In fact, when Leslie put her hand on his knee to pray with him, he grabbed her hand and held it… which is what this picture captures… the hope for something beyond the medicine we can give.

Friday the students came to the clinic for their first field trip. They were excited all week for this opportunity and I was glad to be able to share in the morning with them. We have been learning about embryo development and growth in class and they came to observe ultrasounds and wet their appetite for nursing. They are so curious, so eager. I find myself lacking the Spanish to explain to them deeper some of the important concepts, but this was a day of encouragement to us all!

And as we look to things that constantly change, it is encouraging to me as I ride by the hospital property at least four times a day, to see constant change in the ground there. Yes, there will be a hospital one day. A place where people can be treated and encouraged. Here are pictures of the progress. The fence is up in the front and the ground continues to be leveled.

Cultural Effects

Posted on June 29, 2014 by adrienneorris

As we debriefed as a group, I always enjoy seeing things through the eyes of someone looking fresh at a culture. Even if it was the dogs that repulsed them or the sound of a marimba at night that they could have done with out. These are the things that I don’t see anymore. Things that I have forgotten about. Yet things that scream Guatemala. Embracing and living within a culture is difficult and there will always be things that are counter cultural. Being surrounded by friends though is like having a piece of home here… and so I cherish the days that we spent together and have tidbits to share from each of them …

Things we loved
Laughter of the children and seeing the smiles on their faces
Being greeted everywhere we went and others actually talking to us on the streets
Mountains – everywhere
Beauty of country
Puppies (3 of them living right next to our room)
Hosts
Family atmosphere
Seeing the vision and hospital
Respect for culture

Cultural difficulties
Language barrier
Being careful not to offend people
Sanitation/ lack of
Transportation/ difficulty of travel
Dogs – everywhere and not looking healthy
Cockroaches

I speak on behalf of everyone that this week gave a window into the life and ministry that is in full force in Guatemala. The favorite part of the week was being able to experience first hand the presence of God. Seeing the hospital ground and the school and seeing how the pieces all fit together. Thank you to all who have been a long on this journey.

10,000 Reasons

Posted on May 14, 2014 by adrienneorris

It is finished. That line rang in my head numerous times today. It is finished. Jesus used this line before he bowed his head and took His last breath here on Earth, but in contrast to this, this thought of “it is finished” is one to rejoice about. After days of Duane’s life spent on the phone, waiting in lines at banks, and traveling…. it is finally finished. The money transfer didn’t go as smoothly as we imagined. The Guatemalan government and banking systems had plenty of bends in the road, but the important thing is that we are moving forward still and the land has been turned over.

We spent the afternoon praying over the land, walking the land and rejoicing in what God put together in the last few months. The finances from the land did not just come from a few wealthy people, but from a conglomeration or people who wanted to see the fruit of our prayers. And so, it is with this confidence that we proclaim the land as God’s masterpiece and trust Him to continue with His plan. Dream with us of what will be….

The future site of the hospital

The operating rooms and labor and delivery.

The front gate

” For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find”

el ambiente

Posted on March 17, 2014 by adrienneorris

Now that I am teaching in Spanish… I am learning many new words – some useful and some that I may use in very special situations. El Ambiente is the environment. I watched a beautiful sunset the other night and wanted to share it… how often do you see the sun go down while a full moon is shining bright in the sky. Because of the reflection of the sun, the moon isn’t quite as bright in this picture, but none the less, quite impressive. The moon is all the way to the right in this panoramic view of the valley.