This has been a busy two weeks with lots of visitors. We have also had lots of rain which is wonderful...but sometimes makes life a little more...challenging. Last week we had so much rain for so many days in a row that the main road out became impassable. On Tuesday there were lots of vehicles trying to get to Quiche and onto the City by way of the road to Zacualpa - the road that we use to get to Chiminisijuan. Anyone now who tries to get by with a two-wheel vehicle is doomed to hours of pushing their way through knee-deep mud...and slowing down the rest of the traffic. So it was on Tuesday as we attempted to get to clinic. We finally reached the path we can walk now (the road to the clinic is too muddy to drive) to get to clinic at about 10:30. After a brisk 30 minute walk we discovered that we were missing the key to the front door - so we had everyone enter through the window! People here are so accustomed to being flexible - they never even bat an eye, much less complained when we arrived 2 hours late and they then had to climb through the window!



The mud also makes flights in and out more challenging as the runway now is pretty slippery. We had planned a day out in San Pedro on Friday but by Wednesday night, the runway was so slick that Duane made the decision to cancel. On Thursday the sun began to shine a little in the afternoon and as we had not been able to reach the community leaders there, we decided to wait until morning to see if we could get out. Dawn on Friday morning proved to be beautiful and sunny, so Duane flew out to see how the runway was in San Pedro. He came back smiling and said it was a "go". So we packed up and flew out, saw about 125 people with the help of Dr. Lisa and her husband Brad, Heather and LeAnn who are all three in medical school. We treated lots of sick children and about 35 pregnant women. As soon as we got back home to Canilla, it clouded up and was raining again during the night. God's faithfulness to us, as always, is so much bigger than we can ever anticipate! Even when circumstances seem to scream that it is impossible, God seem to make a way. I pray today that you will see God's faithfulness even when it seems that the road is closed, that there is no way out. "Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD." Psalm 31:24.

We have visas!!! Thanks so much for all your prayers and support!

Juan and his family live in a three sided one room house made of sticks and aluminum sheeting that someone gave them. They have 4 sons ranging in age from 3 - 15 all whom appeared malnourished. We went to see them last week when we were told that they had no food. It was true. We found mom sick in bed with a fever, along with her 3 year old son who was sicker than she was. There was a campfire going with a small pot of corn cooking for tortillas to be prepared later - but that was it. We have had lots of rain in the last few weeks (thankfully) but there was nothing to keep them dry. They had a long story about how they arrived at this point...no property, no money, no work. It is a familiar story. And the dilemma is the same...how do you help someone help themselves - how do you teach them to fish instead of just giving them fish. It is a conversation that we have had around our dinner table a thousand times. Of course, we help with the immediate need of food and medicine but how can we help all of the Juans in this area for more than just a few weeks? How can we help them to help themselves? We don't have any good answers but we pray for Divine wisdom. And we pray that somehow He would be glorified, not just in our words to Juan and his family, but in the acts of kindness and service...that the Lord would be lifted up and honored. Because we know that when His name is lifted up, that men are drawn to Him. And that is the greatest need - but difficult to see when your belly is empty.

We ask for your prayers today as we go to the US Embassy. We have one final step before we can make our trip to Houston for Hannah's wedding and our time in the US. Grace and Abi need visas before they can travel outside of Guatemala. So we are praying for favor...that the US Embassy will not view our little girls as a "national threat."

Rachel is in Kentucky this week at the national "Life 2010" conference for young people. She left last week and will spend two weeks with our friend Adrienne who very generously arranged this trip for her. It is not an easy transition for our children to go from life here to American culture. They don't seem to "fit" anywhere (nor do we!) - not in the culture here or in the US. So before Rachel goes off to college, we are hoping to expose her a little to a country that she knows very little of...she has been here since she was 3. Thankfully, she is having a great time and we are grateful for this opportunity for her.