Parched

Posted on April 24, 2016 by adrienneorris

I dreamt of rain last night. And each day it is impossible to not hear conversation about rain. Right now the valley is covered by a heavy haze from burning fields along with gusts of dust from then the wind picks up every speck of dust and blows it across the land. It is hot. It is dry. It hurts to go barefoot as the ground is mostly thorns and crunchy grass. Sweat is inevitable. Just sitting.

Yet I remind myself daily that many others areas of the world are more desolate than this. At least we have trees and mountains. At least there is a breeze. At least we have sunshine. And an occasional cloud. I find myself searching more for the things to be thankful for than not thankful about. I want a heart of gratitude. Even when it seems like the land is parched and I am parched of life. I want that grateful heart that sees the good.

Often we find ourselves parched, or at least I have. Where I want to have that drop of rain, or drop of the Spirit, or drop of peace where I would feel not as dry. Thankfully these times are not constant. Thankfully when we call upon God and ask for rain, he brings it. Not in physical form, but in spiritual form. And with the first drop of rain, we find ourselves desperate for the next one and the next one. There is nothing greater than a shower of God to remind us of His faithfulness and refreshment.

Last night I dreamt of rain. And today I felt a raindrop. And saw the trace of precipitation on the ground. The rains will return. The freshness will return. Just as God brings refreshment to the ground. He brings it to all of us… and so… we press on. With the hope of what is to come. Day by day. Parched or full of life.

Hebrews 6:7

For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God.

Here is a contrast in the difference in the grass. The green area received water from the canal for an hour and immediately was green the next day. The brown grass is what it looked like the day before. This brown patch was elevated too much and the canal water never touched it. Soon we will turn all brown areas green.

What Started it All

Posted on April 10, 2016 by adrienneorris

The mountains that called my heart 16 years ago….

Sixteen years ago I embarked on an experience that I had no idea about – no idea about the implications. No idea that it would lead to this. No idea of what a mission’s trip even was. No idea of the gains it would give me, of perspective, or the changes that would happen because I stepped foot on that team. And I still could not list how my life was changed because of those 11 days that I first spent in Guatemala. We often say, “I would not be here today if not for this.” Well that ICO trip serves as this moment for me…. The beginning of seeing the world immensely differently.

The truth is that I did not want to go. The truth is that a year earlier I was asked about going on that trip. And I said no – selfishly. I didn’t want to raise money for a mission’s trip. I didn’t want to give up my spring break. I didn’t understand missions. I needed to study and catch up on my academics after a long basketball season. I didn’t really see the benefit that a week could have – on either side. Except for a waste of money. And that is exactly how I felt. It was a waste of time and money. My roommate at that time asked me about going and I said no quite quickly – without praying about it. Without giving it any thought. But as she was preparing for Guatemala, and as her trip came closer and closer, I realized that God really was calling me to Guatemala. I realized that when my roommate asked me to go on that trip, that really that was God nudging me towards that trip. Nudging me towards surrendering more of myself and giving up yet something else. It was one of the first times in my life that I realized that my “no” to going was actually a “no” to God and an act of disobedience. This taste of disobedience is something that I have tasted a few times since… something that is stirred from within that I realize God is asking me to move and I need to be obedient to this calling. Whether I want to or not.

And so, before she even left, I made a promise to God to go the following year if God still wanted me to. That was my sophomore year. And as the beginning of my junior year started and trip signups began, there was no doubt that God was calling me to go. It was something strong within my heart. It was the call to obedience. And so, regardless of the fact that the Twin Towers had just been destroyed and there was a lot of fear about travel, I committed to that team that year. And my life has never been the same since. I never expected God to call me to the mission field again. I wasn’t going on the trip to explore what a life over seas might be like. And I most certainly did not think I would ever live overseas. I simply went because I knew God wanted me there. And I completely expected it to be a one time and done thing. Yet, like so many times….God had more in store for me.

There are moments that I can remember so clear while I was here the first time – where God spoke to me about my return here. And where I denied in my heart what He was doing. Time with the children. A culture that stole my heart. My understanding of missions broadening. Dena (the director of the orphanage) telling me that I would return here to this place. Not being frustrated through the challenge of communicating. And so as the following year came and God called me to return, I already understood a little deeper what obedience and disobedience looked like. I can’t say that I followed the path of obedience easier… or that it ever becomes easier. Or that I ever get it right. But I can say that that call God put on my life has changed everything. Absolutely everything.

I reflect upon all of this because last week that team from Grove City College just made another trip to the home – as they have year after year since that time. I didn’t get much time of interaction with them, except for a visit they made over here. But one thing I am sure of – there were hearts there who are open to what God has for their lives. They are hard workers. They have hearts full of love for Guatemala, for others and to serve. I am still grateful for a college that saw a need to give its students a greater perspective of the world. What started as inner-city outreach ICO has reached around the globe. And it made me reflect on what it was like to be in their shoes… and how I walked on this dirt here at the age of 20 having no clue that really God was doing something in my life that would change my future forever.

Here are a few pictures of the team that came this year…. Looking the same as we did 15 years ago.

The faces and smiles that captivated my heart.

The team taking a look at the hospital.

March Pictures

Posted on April 5, 2016 by adrienneorris

The dry season – hot, dry, hot, dust, hot, no rain, fires, hot…. but beautiful sunsets!

Easter Sunrise celebrating our Savior together!

Traditions – new and old! The egg roll as done in England signifying the stone being rolled from the tomb. Congrats Grace!

Another litter of rabbits – continuing to expand the project!

More roof is set and rooms continue to be readied.

A trip to the top of the canal!

Tunnel Vision

Posted on April 5, 2016 by adrienneorris

I remember when I started traveling, and I began to see the world from a bigger perspective than just the small town living that I was accustomed to. I took in all of the sights and sounds and places and cultures. And then I went to college and I heard the word “worldview” for the first time… and I felt like my ideas and how I saw the world and my perspective on life changed – drastically. No longer did I see life through blinders that were up where I only saw what existed around me. And then I went to Guatemala for the first time and Mexico and the Dominican Republic…. And I saw poverty and needs differently. And God opened up that vision even more. It’s like the walls beyond my vision were knocked down and I began to see the world even differently. And yet, as I continue to live here, and I continue to live in a culture that is still foreign to me. As I continue to seek after what God has for my life and the purpose that is in front of me, another wall has been torn down. Instead of just seeing the physical world and considering all that is here on earth, it is like other walls have fallen and I see things that were in front of me all the time, and yet I didn’t see them before. I viewed the world leading up to this point was through tunnel vision, and yet now I see peripherally. A simple concept to many, but something that I think I have taken lightly until recently. This is how it has felt through other moments of my life as well, when I saw what was in front of me and all of a sudden, I saw the pieces that went together to create the bigger picture.

I do not want to have tunnel vision. I do not want to see just what I can see directly in front of me. I want to be able to see around me. I want to see need for what it really is. I want to see life for what it really is. I want to see the world for what it really is. I want to see what is in front of me in the physical and the spiritual and to understand what implications that has for my life.

And so… I press on… to see past the tunnel….

Furry Friends

Posted on March 16, 2016 by adrienneorris

I have had a love for rabbits almost all of my life. They are clean, they don’t smell, they are soft and most importantly they aren’t sneaky or slobber on me. And so I have been attempting to get a rabbit project going around here. I have taken it seriously and have nine little ones to raise. Most importantly, I am sharing the love with the little ones around here and doing my best to win the kids to my side that a rabbit makes the best pet. Just in time for Easter!

Visitors

Posted on March 15, 2016 by adrienneorris

Who do you live with? This is a common question that I am asked, and one that is forever changing. There are the families and individuals that are here permanently, but as 2016 rings in, we have had over 60 visitors already that have come through our doors, for three days, a week, two weeks, six weeks. Each group comes from a different chunk of time. And each person leaves their footprint here. Sometimes it is difficult to keep track of all the coming and going and where everyone is…. but these individuals and families pour into our ministry and visit. It is our hope always for those that come that they would be touched by what God is doing as well as to see the people for who they are. Here are just a collage of those who have been here in the first two months of the year.

The Epperly family with their enthusiasm and joy! They were here for 6 weeks with other family members helping in the clinics and at the hospital.

Sherwood, Areli and Rebecca were here for a month to help in clinics and join in the community.

A group of young people came from Spain and spoke in the schools and encouraged the young people from the area.

Arlen came and helped facilitate conversations between the medical team leading up to the opening of the hospital

A team from Chicago came and helped build cabinets and serve within the ministry.

Sharing community time around the bonfire.

Heidi Bell was here with residents to introduce them to Guatemala and Pastor Phil brought his friend Stephen to check in and encourage us.

Ryan Korpral made a quick visit and the Lifegate group was back.

As well as friends of Katie and Ryan to help wherever they could.

Life here is much different than it was three years ago – and the amount of visitors are constant and there is always change. But it also helps us connect with life outside of Guatemala. This understaking is something that God is pulling together, little by little and we trust that He has a purpose for each person that comes thorugh our ministry. I don’t have pictures of all the people that have come through the front house…. but looking over who has come and gone just in two months, helps put things all in perspective. Be blessed today and walk with the King!

Finishing Touches

Posted on March 11, 2016 by adrienneorris

The hospital continues to complete the final touches – drywall, water and exterior corridors for Phase One. There are windows in the rooms, the floors have been stained and sealed. The interior walls have been framed, electrical circuits have been placed and drywall has been hung. Walls have been painted and the roof has been placed. We are still weeks/months away from moving the clinic over to the clinic rooms, but we no longer have to visualize what it will look like. The structures are in place to be able to start to really see what it will be like to have people coming through the gates.

Finishing the walls of the kitchen.

Bringing in dirt for the interior courtyard.

Drywall and windows for the admissions office and laboratory.

Staining and sealing the floors.

Cabinets for each of the rooms and the dental suite.

God’s beauty as he paints the sky and reminds us that this is all his.

The kids have a new place to play with the water storage tanks.

Framing the walls.

The front corridor.

Hospital Update in photos

Posted on February 18, 2016 by adrienneorris

More is happening on the inside! Take a look!

The lab, clinic rooms and dental rooms are being split for drywall.

The walls have been finished and windows placed. They are in need only of a coat of paint.

The floors are being washed and stained.

The roof is being welded to extend to the other side.

The Big Pour

Posted on February 18, 2016 by adrienneorris

This picture does not encapsulate all that went into this day. The finished product does not show the 3600 pounds of sand that was collected from the river, or the 3600 pounds of rock that was collected and then crushed to go into the cement. It doesn’t show the rebar that was bent and molded and connected together or the forms that had to be placed and supported. Months of labor went into preparation for this day – without a guarantee that each kink had been worked out. For the second floor of the hospital, that would serve as a roof over the OR and a floor for the second level, the cement had to be laid in one continual piece. If one section dried before the next, it would not stick together and it would crumble. And so, the men prepared everything necessary for the pour that they could ahead of time and began at 2 AM with the mixing of the first load. They worked non-stop through the day with their team of workers to complete this pour. And the floor stands as you see it now with 2 inches of water on it to cure for 15 days.

Here is a mix of photos to try and show you what it took for this pour to be completed. It was another day that God showed His favor over all that is happening here. A day of unity. A day of teamwork. And another step towards opening the doors.

Laying of the rebar and beams and support system that the cement will cover.

Placing the forms and then supporting the weight with boards underneath the entire project.

Placing of plumbing and pipe and wire – anything that would be wanted in the future.

Each piece of rebar was bent and twisted and connected together for strength throughout the whole structure.

Crushing 3600 pounds of rock gathered from the river.

Sifting and washing 3600 pounds of sand to be used in the cement. Clean sand is a must.

Setting up a lighting system so that they could continue to work until the project was completed. Here they are in the early morning starting the first pour.

Making sure that each pocket is completely filled with cement.

Two conveyer systems sent cement up to the roof where it fell into a wheel barrow and was taken to the area of the roof that the team was working on. The men formed an assembly line to complete this process and truly worked as a team.

And then when the cement was all poured, it had to be worked so as to have a smooth floor. This photo was taken at 8PM – still on the roof.

The hospital as seen from the air. Before and after the pour.

A New School Year – Sneak Peak

Posted on January 25, 2016 by adrienneorris

I love how every year in teaching has a new feel to it. It was the same in the states, and it is definitely multiplied here. And each class has their own personality. I have yet to put my finger on a word that would describe the new classes that we have taken into the school this year. But we have begun our new year and we have much hope for what lies ahead. Here are some pictures of how things have started.

Our new class of auxiliary nursing students receiving a tour of the school.

The courtyard

Our Quinto class receiving rules on the first day of class.

Our 4to Bachi room ready for students.

We prayed over every inch of the school before classes opened.

Our new students in the high school program on the first day of school.

Teachers diligently preparing for the first day of class.

Students serving the community at our weekly worship night gathering…. learning to bake.

Working together during laboratory.

Studying together and building friendships in the afternoon.

Thank you for your prayers as we start this new year. We trust that God’s hand continues to lie on this place and that his presence is in every room for all that will enter in the upcoming year.