A different perspective

Posted on July 20, 2014 by adrienneorris

This is a post written by Katie about the school. It will give you a different perspective. Yes, at this point we are all weary although I don’t want to admit it easily…. but we persevere as we remember the reason we began this school in the first place…

We are at our halfway point in the first year of this education project’s existence. And we are tired. The newness is gone, the cultural and language differences are wearing, and the daily grind has been set in place. The students are tired, the staff are tired, the administrators are tired. And yet, as I have sat in the midst of this tired group of people (myself included), and turned my questions to God, I have been encouraged. Because these are the times that perseverance comes completely through a strength not our own; that this is when we hit our knees, we pull together, we release the challenges to God, and He pours His spirit and strength out upon us and allows us to become conquerors much greater than we could ever be on our own; that this is a time to speak out the vision that God has given us for this place and remember the amazing ways He has already provided and brought about that which no man could.

One of our original Auxiliary Nursing students (now in the Bachillerato program) with her mom cooking up some food in the coffee shoppe for a party we had.

In December, as we were preparing to open doors for the Auxiliary Nursing Program in January, we learned that our teachers did not meet the requirements that are involved in opening an auxiliary program. So, we stood our ground; we fought for the program; we called in other Guatemalan friends of ours to go fight for the program as well; we had everyone interested sign a paper saying so; we prayed and prayed and prayed… and after a month and a half of this, we realized that God seemed to be shutting this door. Even more of a confirmation was that out of the 35+ people that had pre-registered for the program, we only had 4 students actually register when we opened registrations.

So, we prayed some more, and we discussed things as a team. Greg and Helaine Walton, the South African couple who had joined us here with over 15 years of education experience in rural Guatemala, encouraged us to keep seeking God out in this – that He seemed to be doing something, and that He didn’t seem to be finished yet.

In all honesty, I really half-thought “Yay! The ridiculous challenge of working with the Department of Public Health is over! I can go back to just working in the clinics and taking care of my family, and be done with this segment of my life. Sorry to all that were involved that this school didn’t happen… just doesn’t seem to be what God is doing anymore.” Thank God He has surrounded us by people much more mature and much farther along on this faith journey than we were…

because He was about to explode our world.

As we started exploring other options, Greg and Helaine explained more of the education world here in Guatemala. It is actually set up almost identically to the European system, where at 15 years old, students that would like to continue studying can decide if they would like to take more of a practical/technical degree route (like auxiliary nursing or mechanic) or if they would like to take a two year high school/college prep course with plans to continue on to study in the University afterwards (where they can study professional nursing or accounting, etc.). Greg and Helaine had already been running one of these college-prep programs – called a bachillerato (bah-chee-air-ah-toe) – and helped us look into putting one in here. Now, this program involves an insane amount of paperwork and trips to Quiche (2 hours away) just to open the doors. During a conversation with the local education director here in Canilla, he actually laughed out loud at me when I suggested that we put one of these programs in instead of the auxiliary nursing program; he then explained to me that it will take at least one year to get all the paperwork approved just to open doors! I countered with our thinking of how valuable one of these programs will be since it will not only raise the level of education here in Canilla, but also prepare students to go on to the University afterwards where they can receive a professional nursing degree and graduate with better training, better job opportunities, and better pay than the auxiliary degree would give them. A long-time friend of ours, he agreed with me, but still could not help smiling as he shook his head at my ridiculous optimism that allowed me to even consider pursuing this.

But God knew what he was doing, even if we were clueless 🙂 With the connections that Greg and Helaine had in the Department of Education here in Quiche, the excellent reputation they had built up with their school system, and the fact that they could have done this insane load of paperwork almost in their sleep, we opened doors TWO WEEKS after we submitted the original proposal!

Friends, this is a MIRACLE – especially in a country where NOTHING happens in two weeks’ time.

Our friend, the local education director? Yes, he stood in the school’s front lawn one week after we opened the doors, signing up his sister-in-law for the program. A broad smile crossed his face as he again shook his head at me… except this time, as he laughed with us, it was because he was as shocked as we were. Nobody could deny that God was moving… and little did we know, it was still just the beginning.

Ultimately, this education project is a story of the faithfulness of our God. It is a story of faith stretched and hope renewed. It is a story of restoration and redemption. It is story where the Creator of all comes down into the mess of a physically, emotionally, and spiritually oppressed people and answers their prayers, going above and beyond what they even knew to ask… a promise that God still walks among His people, that He still sees the tears and stains, and that He still gets out His lily white cloth and washes them away.

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.

The Children of Guatemala

Posted on July 6, 2014 by adrienneorris

This week for lab we extracted DNA, an enriching experiment, but what came out of it was even deeper. As the students were waiting in between steps, I encouraged the students to talk. The conversation that unfolded was one I wasn’t expecting… one boy was asked what happened to his parents as he mentioned his sister was coming to get his grade sheet that day. His quick response of, “My dad died before I was born and my mother left” was followed by another students response of not having parents either. And another and another. They spoke nonchalantly about it, but I knew the deeper wounds. Many of them have expressed to me the difficulty in their lives without parents. In fact, I believe not having parents has driven many of them to pursue education. I knew the reality of the situation earlier, but to hear the students talking with one another about their lack of parents, who they lived with, and what happened to their parents made the reality even more real.

This week much has been said concerning Guatemalan children and adults in the US along with deportation. And many from the states have asked me what it is like here. The reality is that many here believe it is the only option, to risk their lives to live illegally in the states. It is estimated that 90% of the men in this area have at one point in time gone to the states to work. Most of them are still there and many have never returned. Their kids are not true orphans, but many of them are living without parents, and have been since birth. It is heart breaking on both ends. To see the poverty and desperation, and to hear the stories of the dangerous travel to the states and what they risked to even get there, and to be a citizen of the states knowing the rules and regulations…… for me it is a mix of emotions. I would never, ever, ever encourage anyone to go to the states illegally. Yet years back Leslie was talking to a father in clinic about going to the states and he said to her, “You will never know what it’s like to have starving children that you cannot provide for.” And it is so true. For girls in this area, if they leave to go to the states illegally, they start on birth control shots three months before they leave because they are expecting to get raped as part of the journey, that is if they make it. Many of the boys tell stories about being forced to carry drugs, fight companions in chicken fights to the death, crocodiles in rivers, starvation, extreme heat and dying of dehydration… the stories are endless. Yet the stories of desperation and poverty here are endless as well.

These stories are yet another motivation to provide an education for these students. So that they don’t feel helpless. So that they have a hope and a future and don’t feel like they have to leave illegally for the states in order to provide for their families. We always encourage fathers to take care of their wives and children and stress the importance of not leaving for the states, but finding a means to support their family here. And we continue to feed hope into a generation…. the hope of a life here full of provision.

Here are a few pictures of these students enjoying the joy of learning as they extracted DNA. These are the students in which I place my hope that they can lead a new generation…

Breaking Ground

Posted on July 2, 2014 by adrienneorris

This post is a little behind…. because ground breaking happened in June… but I continue to get the question, “Where are you on the hospital property?” Well… we are currently moving dirt. Leveling the ground, bringing in good dirt, moving dirt, digging ditches. Actually I am doing none of that – just observing. BUT we have officially broken ground and are moving forward! Exciting times!

Have a look…

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.

A Visit to Chiminisijuan

Posted on June 27, 2014 by adrienneorris

Our last day here we were able to visit a village high in the mountains to collect baskets and share a message with the widows in that area. This was a sweet ending to our time here as we were able to see the homes and area of the people from this area. This project has been ongoing with a focus on helping the widow’s provide for their families. They make baskets from the pine needles around their homes and the sale of these supports their daily needs. They are able to make as many baskets as they can make in a month and then they bring them to the clinic once a month. During that time, there is an encouraging word that is given, we ask about their lives and we collect their baskets. This month we also brought a few things for the kids and played with them a little bit. Jaxs with Jim was a big hit! Lisa shared about her own struggles and related to the women, and then we headed home. Here are a few pictures from our day!

Counting baskets

Miguel proud of his jax skills

Flor talking to a widow

Learning how to make a new item (coming in July)

Lisa sharing with the group of women

Playing with the kids

Walking to the clinic

How we roll

A group shot

Wednesday

Posted on June 26, 2014 by adrienneorris

Today was our rest day and we took advantage of the day to spend time together and see the town and surrounding areas. We checked out the Mayan ruins, took a prayer walk through town, got an ice cream cone, headed up the canal for a scenic view. This day was very enjoyable as we were able to learn about the area here and see more of the beauty in this place.

Why We Are Here

Posted on June 25, 2014 by adrienneorris

This is my second trip to Guatemala. Since I knew basically what to expect, I was able to relax more and observe things I didn’t observe last year. One thing that I noticed when coming down this time was the amount of people with means traveling to Guatemala. I also noticed many people who appeared wealthy in Guatemala City. Guatemala City is not an extremely modern looking city. However, it still has people of means-like any other city.
As we flew over the mountains on the way to Canilla, I was once again struck by the beauty of the mountains and the surrounding countryside. It truly is God’s country. This area and the people of Canilla may not be modern, with all the conveniences like in the city, but the simplicity and beauty of the area with the surrounding mountains points your heart to God, the Creator of all beautiful things.
So why are we here? Not for the excitement of the city. Not for what the small village has to offer us, but for what we can offer them. What is that? Not school supplies and books. Not the English language or technology training- all of which are important and part of our day. We are here because we will come. We come to a people that no one else will come to. They are feared, looked down on, misunderstood. But we come. Come to share the love of Christ to a people in an area that others who have the means and ability would never venture. We come and we are blessed. ~Lisa

School Days

Posted on June 24, 2014 by adrienneorris

Monday

As a team, we worked at the school today. When we arrived we sorted all of the school supplies the church, school and others graciously supplied. (Thanks!) Everyone at the school was very thankful for the new supplies (thank you, thank you). We were able to clean the rooms at the school by scrubbing the walls and dusting the ceiling. The ladies worked on school projects for the English school such as making flashcards and games for the students to practice their English. While they ladies worked on school items, Jim painted and helped grill our delicious lunch. We ate lunch at the school with Aaron, Katie, and their family, the Director of the school, Greg, and his children. We worked at the school till around 4:30 and came back to rest. At sunset we walked with the Fickers to view the hospital property. The outline of the property is dug up so we could see the outline of where the hospital will be, very exciting! We ended the evening by enjoying some time together and making our plans for tomorrow. Thank you for your support and prayers during our trip, they are much appreciated and we can’t wait to tell you about the trip.
-Allison

Jim grilling

Megan and Lisa working on manipulatives

Allison and Jim enjoying contact paper!

School supplies sorted and displayed

The hospital property – starting to dig!

A Day in San Andres

Posted on June 23, 2014 by adrienneorris

Today, we went to San Andres to help with the clinic. The people who need to be seen line up really early in the morning and get a ticket with a number on it. We got there a little before 9 and started seeing people. One room was seeing all of the pregnant women and checking on how their pregnancy is doing. The other room was seeing chronic patients, including the people who have diabetes, high blood pressure and other conditions. We also helped with the nutrition program, weighing kids and recording their information. We helped out in the rooms for a bit, but none of us have medical training, so there wasn’t much we could do in the clinic part. There was a courtyard where the people waited for their number to be called. We brought some things to do with the kids who were waiting with their parents. Jim made bracelets and necklaces out of pipe cleaners, while Lisa, Allison, and I helped kids do those things where you scrape off the black layer on top and there’s colors underneath. It took a while for them to join in, but once they did, they really liked it. At around 11, Jim, Allison, Lisa, and I went down the road to the market to look for souvenirs to take home. Adrienne stayed at the clinic to help Leslie, so we were on our own! It was a bit difficult to communicate, but we were able to figure out how much they were charging for what we wanted. Adrienne met us and we got some snacks to take back to the girls helping with the clinic while they finished seeing the last people. We rode back to the mission in the truck on a very bumpy, windy dirt road. Allison and I were in the back of the pickup which is something I don’t know if I could ever get used to. We ate lunch and then organized some of the books and school supplies that we had brought. Jim helped Duane work on some electrical stuff while us girls headed up to what they call “Bunker Hill” to watch the sunset. We walked down to the cemetery and enjoyed the end of the day. We grabbed some snacks and debriefed for the night. Tomorrow we will be heading back to the school. ~ Megan