We have enjoyed a few quite days to re plan and rethink our goals and strategies.  Last week Ryan began plowing and dicing a three acre piece of property that he will be leasing. The hope is to plant beans on the property to either sell or use for our own feeding program.  The boys have enjoyed the extra time with their dad on the tractor, and I know Ryan hasn't minded it either.

Our dog Thelma had her pups as well last week.  She had nine puppies, 5 males, 4 females, and all healthy. 

We are thankful to have the month of October behind us as it always bring a very depressing mood over our valley and the rest of the country, especially during the local "Day of the Dead" festivities.  We retreated to Chiminisujuan again on Tuesday as normal, just as the parties were getting under way, and due to a very sick child needing IV fluids, we weren't able to return home again until latter in the afternoon. Coincidentally, after all the holiday traffic and hoopla had died down. 

Full of Hot Air

Our friend Ivan from St.Louis, came to visit this week. He has been coming along to clinics and making balloon animals for all the kids, and sometimes the adults.                

We are seeing a change in the welfare of our communities, continuing on from past weeks.  It always seems such a struggle to decide who is really in need.  As the harvest season here comes to an end, some of the families we have been helping with food and corn are able to support themselves again and no longer need our help.  We are so glad each time one on these families has had a fruitful season and can make do with what they have. For each family who achieves this, we meet another new family who is in dire need of help with food for all and supplemental nutrition for the children. We met one woman in our San Andreas clinic today who came in asking for milk for her 2 year old. When we asked her why she didn't have an adequate supply of breast milk, she explained that she had an infant at home  in addition to her other 8 children, giving her 10 all together. On top off all of her complicating circumstances, we also learned that she is now pregnant with her 11th.  It always amazes me that the children, even though they may be struggling with hunger or a medical illness, always respond to a gesture of love and kindness. As important as  medicine or food, or as seemingly insignificant as a balloon animal, it is all little reminders that God has not forgotten them, that we have not forgotten them, and that you have not forgotten them either.  Thanks for checking in! 

To Teach

Tuesday we had clinic in Chiminisujuan. The road was clear enough to enable us to drive the entire way there. We were able to bring several workers to help keep up the building and do some maintenance. We saw around 65 patients and families on our nutrition program. Many children with colds and some with Pneumonia. One girl in particular came seeking formula for her son. When we asked her why she wanted formula she just explained that she had been buying it for her 4 month old, and would rather have us give it to her. We were all frustrated with her mentality. She explained that she did not breast feed her baby, and couldn't, just because. We explained to her that she would not be getting formula for her son on our nutrition program, but we would be willing to teach her to breast feed again and coach her along the way. My heart was broken for this young mother as I watched her try to nurse her baby again. At just 16, watching her eyes well with tears, we tried to encourage her to not give up, and that she would be able to nurse her baby just fine if she could only make the commitment to work at it. I have thought of her often this week, and wonder if she has stuck with it or not. I wish we could spend more time with young mothers, teaching them and showing them the options that they have, and that their old ways and mentality are not exactly accurate and sensible.  I am very fortunate for the education that I received in school, but the people here do not have the same opportunities.

On our way down the mountain, we passed the young mother walking back to her home, up a steep hill, likely heading to another hard trail, and I am praying that she can make it through the next few weeks, and can find some sense in what we have taught her, that she may return to our clinic, trusting us a little more each time, until she can trust us about Jesus.

To Toil

Today, being Tuesday, was clinic in Chimanisujuan. Thankfully the roads were open, and some maintenance had been done to the road directly to clinic. We were able to drive the whole way there. 
We gave out about 50 numbers for medical consultations, and I saw about 20 families for food and milk. 

This was my first time back to clinic in Chim. since leaving for our trip to the states in August.  I really missed the people.  I feel like I have built relationships with families, even if it is just exchanging smiles or a few words. I was so glad to see some of the children were doing better, and was sad to see that some were not doing so well.

I spent a little time in the garden there in the mountains.  I was sad to learn that my peas were practically dead, and only a few had some life left in them.  I worked a little more ground, planted more seeds and cared for the few feet of lettuce that has survived, but has not changed in the last month. 
I can't imagine what it is like for the people who live there.  Most of the locals in that village plant corn to grow for there tortillas.  I am sure they have just as much trouble as I am with my garden.  I just wanted to leave what was left of my garden to rot. I was so discouraged when the plants were not healthy.  I can only imagine how discouraging it may have been if it were my entire corn crop that had perished.

I am hopeful that we may continue to minister to the people of this area. There is such a need for so many families for food and salvation.  I am so grateful for all of the blessings in my life, but when I spend time with the people in Chiminisujuan, I can't help but feel indebted to pour out what God has given me so that they to may have a life of fruitfulness, not just toiling in the clay.

Thanks for reading. I hope to have some pictures soon of my seedlings.

Rain, rain, go away.

As I mentioned yesterday, it has been raining.  We saw a few hours of sunshine in the morning, and thanks to my early riser of a husband, some dry laundry.  The power went out at around 9am, and stayed off until a little after one.  I always wonder when, or if the power will come back on, and how much extra trouble it will be for the men in the family if it doesn't.

We had a nice lunch, with Abi trying to 'sneak' Jacob away from the table. It is so funny to me the things that kids will try to get away with.  After lunch we had a good women only meeting, and disuced the next couple month's and the direction we would like to take as the seasons begin to change. 

I spent a few minutes in the afternoon harvesting potatoes out of my garden. For the most part is was a good crop, but I think I lost quite a few potatoes to some uniformed gardening.  I am excited to see how the potatoes in the mountain garden do. I just strated the seeds for my winter garden in the AeroGarden that someone gave me to improve ou seccess rate with seed germination. We should have a full blown veg, herb garden in about a month. Thanks Lisa!!!!


We hope you are enjoying the fall weather, and enjoying the change of season.

Ruby Slippers



Well, we made it. Home. We had a relatively smooth trip from the city, until we reached the last stretch. After Zacualpa, we ran into some muddy spots. With the new tires, the 4Runner did great in all the mud.  It was amazing to see how the water had changed the roads, making them muddy,  deeply rutted, or in some places completely relocated or non existent. It is extremely different here, with how this country is completely at the mercy of the rains and weather.  In the States, we have some control on the roads, or at least we think we do.   Here, if it rains too much... your stuck.



It started raining a little on our way home yesterday, and it has not stoped since. Aparently, the rains are really heavy in September and October. Last yaer we saw a drought, so the rain is a welcomed change.



Thelma, our family dog, made it here to Canilla without any trouble. After traveling for 5 days couped up in the car, she did manage to bail out the window or door a couple times, once at the airport.  She is enjoying the attention, and is a great reminder that our lives, though taking a different path then we had planned, can still be what they were.     



The boys are doing fine. Jacob is enjoting getting dirty again, and playing with toys and his aunts.

We are glad to be home, and still thinking of all of you, back home.

A year in a month.

Here we are, after a little over a month of traveling, and we are all exhausted.

Duane and Leslie are already home in Canilla, and catching up on clinics and work. 

We will return home to Canilla tomorrow after another long car ride.  I know that the boys, as well as Thelma, are looking forward to getting loose.

We had a smooth flight this morning from Houston,TX. We were able to visit Hannah and Matt (the newly weds) for a few hours and spend som time with friends at a Catahoula Dog trial in DeKalb, TX.

We are planning on running a few errands in the morning and having the wheels alligned on the car before we head home,  hopefully before noon.

Here, in Guatemala city, it is hard to find a hotel with a bathtub. Jacob wanted to take a bath in the sink, like his brother. 

We are so glad we had time to visit with so many friends and family back home. I wish we would have had more time with everyone.

If we missed you this trip we will look foreward to seeing you next year, hopefully in March or sooner.  

As always thanks for reading.