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| On the Friday of our trip our entire group was in the Limonada. This was also the day that we had learned of Jamie's cousins accidental shooting death. It was a day of mixed emotions for Jamie and her family. There was joy in the rebuilding of her house and there was sorrow over her cousins death. Ashley asked if we would join together in prayer for Jamie and her family. There we stood around the shell of Jamie's house hand in hand. We were not American and Guatemalan, nor were we gringos or Limonadians, we were all just one. First Pastor Jean offered a prayer in English and then Ashley offered one in Spanish. It didn't matter the language in that moment. This is what we had really come to do -- unite with our fellow brothers in sisters in Christ as one body. Though Jamies family did not know the Lord, I think they found some comfort in the prayer and I hope that they will always hold the memory as I will of us all standing together as one. | | |
| Hannah’s Hope Orphanage was the original reason for initiating this mission trip. Because of Wendy and Leo and their experiences and stories of their adoption journey, our youth felt the call to Guatemala and Hannah’s Hope. The one thing I know for sure is that the children who end up at Hannah’s Hope are the fortunate ones. This is an incredible, safe haven in a dangerous world. The children are well cared for by the Special Mothers, there is a good ratio of care givers to children, they have clean living areas, clean clothes and food each and everyday. There are several security measures in place, including barbed wire around the houses and armed guards. Right now, all but 3 of the older children are adopted and waiting to go home, which is a process that can take an extremely long time. It’s a truly incredible facility.
We did 3 days of vacation bible school activities with the children ages 2 to 14, and in singing songs with them, we discovered they knew some of them. So, it’s obvious that the children are being taught about Jesus, at least through song. Geralyn took the lead on the VBS activities and it was awesome! The kids participated in songs, stories, and games. They made t-shirts, bracelets and picture frames. These children embraced us and wanted to be loved by us, which we did willingly. On Friday, we threw them a party complete with 2 piñatas.
Since Hannah’s Hope is blessed in many ways we were at somewhat of a loss as to what we could do that would make a long lasting positive impact. When we heard about the clinic that the orphanage was trying to establish we knew that was it. Dr. Castro was brought on board in January 2007. After spending some time with him I found him to be very passionate about his calling to Hannah’s Hope. He is also quite a visionary. He has many plans that if he has the resources to implement will benefit many. He is currently working on training curriculum for nurses and mothers and would like to establish a milk clinic. He has hopes of being able to feed all the babies with mother’s milk versus formula. For our part, we donated to the clinic over $1500 of equipment. Diane and I went shopping with Dr. Castro one afternoon where we looked at many things, but what seemed most important to Dr. Castro were 2 sterilizers. In the end, the clinic was furnished with 2 sterilizers, a lamp, a tray, a surgical set, a variety of scissors and a lighted scope for examining ears, nose and throat. We were so very happy to be able to help Dr. Castro establish this very important clinic and we hope to be able to continue to support it.
On Friday night, Heather and her mother, Jan, had dinner with the group (the founders of Hannah’s Hope along with her father, Ron). She had a great message for our youth about walking close to God during this time of their lives. It was so much better coming from her than a mom or dad that I hope it had an impact. And despite the many blessings that Hannah’s Hope does have there are still many struggles. Because of some less then ethical practices of some other facilities and legal entities in Guatemala there is a distinct possibility that adoptions out of Guatemala will be closed in January 2008. This would not just be devastating for the many children who need families to love them, but it also means an end to funding that Hannah’s Hope currently receives. We were all asked to pray that this incredible facility continue to be viable and a safe haven for these children. Also, Heather is in need of good leadership, which she is always seeking, to keep things running as well. Please join us in these prayers for Hannah’s Hope Guatemala.
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| Guatemala appears to have strict barriers between its social classes. There is not a large middle class, so the disparity is huge. The Limonada is the poorest section of Guatemala City. Built in a valley, it is a community made up of many people living in small, crowded spaces and houses made of lamina, cardboard or if fortunate enough, block. It is a territorial area with at least 3 to 5 sections (I have heard both numbers). Gang activity is extremely high, so you must be careful not to step outside your portion of the Limonada or you literally risk death. The small river running through the Limonada also serves as their garbage dump. When we asked what the residents who do not work do during the day the response was, “they go to the ‘surface’ and steal”. However, there are many who do work hard at legitimate jobs each day. Jamie is one of these people.
Jamie is 19 years old and a special mother at Hannah’s Hope. She lives in her father’s house (a term I use very liberally) with her brother and sister. Her mother is very ill and lives in a home, presumably some type of nursing home. She has not had a relationship with her father in 9 years. Her father is remarried and lives with his wife in another house. From what we understand the second wife has been the catalyst for the estrangement between Julio (Jamie’s father) and his children. With the children fending for themselves, the house has seen little to no improvements or repairs. The lamina roof has several holes and when it rains, which is everyday in the rainy season, the water pours in. Yet, they do not complain and ask for nothing.
You may have already read previous posts that explain the work our group has done on Jamie’s house, but here are some things that may not have been shared or not shared in detail. To emphasize the class disparities that exist I will share 2 separate incidents. First, Jamie’s brother injured himself pulling the lamina roof off the house. He cut his hand pretty bad and most likely needed stitches. If he had gone to the emergency room his wait would have been most of the day. Ashley made some calls to find someone to pick them up or to come and treat him in the Limonada. No one was very willing to do either. She did secure a ride a ride to the clinic at Hannah’s Hope where the doctor there, who due to some miscommunication was expecting an injured American, but he did treat him. Second, most of your restaurants deliver food. This includes your fast food like McDonald’s and Burger King. Ashley and Jamie called McDonald’s to deliver lunch for the group working in the Limonada one day, however they refused to deliver. They did not believe that a group of gringos would be in the Limonada and that anyone there could afford to pay for the food once it was delivered. This is just how things are in Guatemala. The people grow up knowing nothing different. We just hope we put a small hole in the barrier between classes.
The Limonada is a dangerous place where death and illness are just part of everyday life. As if to illustrate that for us there were 2 deaths while we were there. I should say first that our group never felt in any danger while they were working. Ashley paved the way for us prior to our arrival by earning the respect of one of the local gangs be getting a tattoo. Her tattoo of choice was a fish on her ankle, which she explained the significance of to the gang members. They have nothing but respect for this gringa and protect her and some have even tattooed themselves with the fish. That, as well as, Jamie’s family “hosting” us while we were there, our safety while not guaranteed, was increased. The first death was a gang shooting. One of our gang members encountered a couple members from another gang and he was shot and killed. The second death was Jamie’s cousin. In honor of their fallen brother they will often fire their weapons in the air as a tribute. Jamie’s cousin fired a couple rounds into the air and at least one came down and hit him resulting in his death. Such senseless death is hard for me to grasp, yet these people deal with it everyday.
Even with all the despair and inhuman (at least by our standards) conditions in the Limonada, the people are happy. Most everyone embraced us with open arms once we were no longer a spectacle for them. Our folks earned their respect by working hard each and everyday through all sorts of weather conditions. Food was offered, which was extremely humbling when they had so very little for themselves. They washed our shirts after working in rain and mud and gave them back clean to us the next day and offered their own clean shirts to wear in the meantime. They respected how hard our guys worked and we were later told that just the carrying of all the materials would have potentially taken a year to accomplish and we had done it in 2 days.
The work on the house is slow going because everything is done manually, so the house was not completed before we left. This was a big disappointment for the people who worked on it throughout the week. However, much more happened in the Limonada than just the building of the house. We met Marvin, a former gang member who now works to buy wheelchairs for people who cannot afford them. Julio (Jamie’s father) showed up one day, renewed his relationship with his children and really became foreman of the crew showing our guys how to build the house. Before we left, Julio gave David a picture of Jamie and her sister that was 9 years old stating it was all he had of them for the last few years and now he no longer needs them because he has his children back. Julio will continue to oversee the rebuilding of the house now that we are gone and perhaps that is how it was meant to be as one member of the team pointed out.
On Friday, we threw a “fiesta” for people living in the Limonada. We filled a huge piñata with candy and small toys, blew up balloons and enticed the children with sidewalk chalk. Once we had a decent group gathered of about 100 children and several adults, we let them at the piñata. Once broken, the expected chaos to gather the treats ensued. Then it was time for Pastor to share a message with the people gathered and then we provided them with bags filled with a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and a Jesus storybook. Everyone lined up and waited for their turn to receive their bag. Once the bag distribution began, more people appeared. Word was spreading and as we finished with the initial crowd, we stayed and served the stragglers as the continued to walk by. One of these late arrivals was a small boy, maybe 6 years old. Upon receiving his bag he squealed with delight. I don’t even think he knew what was in it and it obviously did not matter to him. As Maggie said that moment right there made it all worth it, all I could do was sit back in wonder at this child. Such a small thing to you and me was right now the world to this boy. I thank God for the opportunity to witness that moment and I hope the memory of it stays fresh and alive for a very long time.
Our goal was hope and to share God’s love with those we came into contact with in the Limonada. We know that Jamie and her family did not have a relationship with God prior to our arrival, we need to pray that our work there will have them curious enough to explore why a bunch of gringos would come to a foreign country to rebuild a strangers house. If they do explore it the answer they should find is God. Almost everyday as we dropped one group off at Hannah’s Hope and watched the other go off to the Limonada I doubted our work there because of the danger. However, this is what we are called to do. As Pastor reminds us, “I never promised you a rose garden”. We must stretch ourselves and move beyond our comfort zone to bring all people into the family of God. Risk and change now holds a new meaning in my mind. We saw hope in the Limonada while we were there and we pray that that hope continues to grow now that we are home.
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| Mama Carmen is an extremely kind hearted old woman. She currently has over 100 children in her care from 15 days old to 18. She has very little help beside herself. She looks tired, but I am certain she never stops. She will wander the streets looking for children who are sleeping in the road or any corner they can find. These same children during the day may pickpocket, steal or sell items, such as gum, in heavy traffic going from car to car. Mama Carmen gives these children a safe environment, at least for a little while. See, Mama Carmen does not believe in adoption. The children that she finds or that the courts send to her will not be adopted by families looking for a child to love. She, herself, has adopted many of the children in her care. Her desire is that these children grow up in Guatemala. A noble effort, but what happens once they become adults? What will their future hold? It’s a bittersweet unknown.
Watching the children at Mama Carmen’s is both inspirational and sad. We took bags for them that were filled with a Jesus storybook, a toothbrush and toothpaste. Ashley also arranged for Build a Bear to donate bears for the kids. The children were told to line up, which they did automatically by age – youngest to oldest. They received their bear and bag, clung to both and went to the side so others could receive their gifts. When it came time for cake, the oldest children made sure the youngest received their cake first. Once they were served, then the oldest would eat theirs. It is clear that these children look after each other and almost have no need of an adult. One image forever burned into my memory is of a girl, maybe 9 at the oldest sitting with a younger child across her lap. The younger child was sleeping and even when the older girl wanted to get up and move, she did not disturb the younger child, she simply stood up with her in her arms.
Did we bring any hope to Mama Carmen’s? I would like to think we did. Maybe we brought them the hope that there are people out there who love them no matter what and will spend some time with them just playing with them and hugging them. More importantly, maybe we brought them the hope of Jesus Christ and His love. While we were there we witnesses one child sitting intently reading the Jesus story we had just given him. If just one child realized the love of Jesus as a result of the storybook, or us being there then hope certainly was left at Mama Carmen’s.
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| If you want the Reader's Digest version of what we did in Guatemala, here it is:
* 3 days of vacation bible school activities at Hannah's Hope.
* Cleaned, sanded and painted crib pieces.
* Donated over $1500 of equipment to help establish Dr. Castro's clinic at Hannah's Hope.
* Provided materials and man power to rebuild a house in the Limonada.
* Passed our toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and booklets telling Jesus' life story to residents of the Limonada.
* Had a pinata for children in the Limonada.
* Passed out bears (donated by Build a Bear, toothbrushes, toothpaste, Jesus story booklets and cake at Mama Carmen's.
* Donated clothes, diapers, formula and other necessities to both Hannah's Hope and Mama Carmen's.
* Threw a farewell party at Hannah's Hope complete with 2 pinatas.
* Loved lots of children and made many new friends.
This does not even begin to tell our story, so I hope you will read the additional blog entries if this sparks your interest. | | |
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